REGEN's three facials, compared — when each is the right call

In a clinic the word "facial" is doing too much work. It covers a sensory ritual on a Sunday afternoon, an active medical-grade peel on a Wednesday morning, and a machine-driven exfoliation on a Friday lunchtime. They're all called the same thing, and they answer completely different questions.

At REGEN we offer three. They're genuinely different, and choosing the right one matters more than people realise.

The REGEN Bespoke Facial — manipulation, drainage, calm

Our Bespoke Facial is the most hands-on of the three. It's a manual treatment built around skilled facial massage, lymphatic drainage, gua sha, contour work, and sensory cues — warmth, scent, texture. Think of it as the antidote to a stressful month. The skincare actives applied during treatment are calibrated to be calming and supportive rather than aggressive. The real work happens in the hands.

Clinically, manual facial work increases blood flow to the skin, reduces facial puffiness, soothes muscle tension you didn't realise you were holding, and produces an immediate softening effect that's both visible and psychological. There's an emerging body of literature on lymphatic drainage and parasympathetic activation that supports what good aestheticians have known for decades — touch matters.

Choose the Bespoke Facial when: you're stressed, run-down, in need of a real reset, or you want a sensory experience as much as a clinical one. It's also the right answer for skin that's currently too sensitive or compromised for active interventions.

It is not: an active peel, a machine treatment, or a way to address pigmentation, scarring or significant skin texture issues. Those need a different facial.

Read more about the REGEN Bespoke Facial

The REGEN ZO Facial — active, concern-led, peel-based

The ZO Facial is named for what it actually contains — ZO Skin Health professional treatments — and it's structured entirely around the specific concern you walk in with. There's no single "ZO Facial." There's an acne ZO Facial, a pigmentation ZO Facial, an anti-ageing ZO Facial, and a sensitive-skin ZO Facial. The protocol is built per consultation.

Most ZO Facials include one of three peels: a Regenerative Peel, a Stimulator Peel, or a 3-Step Light Peel — chosen by the practitioner based on the concern and the skin type. The peel is paired with prescriptive ZO actives selected for the same target.

This is the most active of the three facials. Done correctly, it produces meaningful change in the skin's behaviour over the following weeks — improved tone, reduced pigmentation, smoother texture, calmer breakouts depending on which protocol was used. Done incorrectly or for the wrong skin, it can flare or compromise the barrier. That's why this facial is medically led.

Choose the ZO Facial when: you have a specific clinical concern — acne, hyperpigmentation, ageing, dullness, scarring — that you want to actively address. You should also be on, or willing to commit to, a structured ZO Skin Health homecare protocol; the in-clinic facial compounds the at-home work, not the other way around.

It is not: a relaxation experience. There may be transient stinging, flushing, or mild peeling for a few days. The point is the change, not the comfort.

The HydraFacial — machine-led, standardised, polish

The HydraFacial uses a clinical platform — we use the HydraFacial Syndeo system — to deliver a standardised three-step protocol: a deep cleanse and exfoliation, hydraulic extraction of impurities and blocked follicles, and an infusion of actives chosen by tier (Signature, Deluxe, or Platinum at REGEN). The machine does what the machine does, reliably and repeatably, and the result is consistent across sessions.

Where the Bespoke Facial relies on hands and the ZO Facial relies on chemistry, the HydraFacial relies on a device — and that's its strength. You get a comprehensive cleanse, a measurable extraction, and a serum infusion in 30 to 60 minutes with zero downtime. It's also the most photographable of the three — you can literally see what came out of your skin in the canister at the end.

Choose the HydraFacial when: you want a clean, consistent polish — pre-event, pre-photoshoot, before a wedding, or as a no-fuss monthly maintenance treatment. It's also a good entry point for clients new to clinical skincare.

It is not: a substitute for a structured concern-led protocol. If you have stubborn pigmentation, the HydraFacial will help, but a ZO Facial paired with prescriptive homecare will address it more meaningfully.

Read more about the REGEN HydraFacial

Which one is yours?

Most clients end up using more than one over time. A Bespoke Facial in the run-up to a stressful week. A ZO Facial when an active concern needs addressing. A HydraFacial before a major event. They're not in competition; they answer different questions.

If you're currently on a structured skin plan, your ZO Facial probably aligns with the active phase of your homecare. If you're in maintenance or you've recently completed a course of regenerative treatments, your Bespoke Facial is supporting the work. If you've got an event in three weeks and want polish without commitment, your HydraFacial is the right call.

The honest truth is that the right facial depends on what's happening in your skin and your life right now — not what's on offer or what your friend just had. That's a consultation conversation, not a booking decision.

That's what the Reveal Consultation is for. It's where we work out which facial answers your current question — properly, on your skin, before any booking is made.

— Dr Chris, Founder and Medical Director, REGEN Clinic

Want the full clinical detail and pricing? Visit the Bespoke Facial and HydraFacial treatment pages.