I’d not long been back from holiday when I made my way to Neal’s Yard in Covent Garden to meet Ka Hang Leoungk of Pointspace for a Cosmetic Acupuncture session. I had a bit of time to spare, and having not been to Neal’s Yard for a while I took the opportunity to try a smoothie from Salad Pride as I hadn’t had time for lunch. I don’t like going to a treatment hungry, but neither do I like going full up, so a smoothie from next door seemed the perfect solution.
Ka Hang Leoungk is a member of the British Acupuncture Council and her website can be found at pointspace.co.uk – she practises both at Neal’s Yard and on the Kings Road. As soon as we meet, Ka Hang makes me feel like an old friend; welcome and at home. Coming in from the hustle and bustle of central London, there’s a tranquility in her treatment room.
We all know that life in London is hectic, and personally I’m getting to the point in my life where I’m ready to leave the London life behind (just as long as it’s not too far away!) Ka Hang Leoungk’s facial techniques are where holistic meets cosmetic acupuncture beauty procedures. Ka Hang’s use of needles helps not only life and tighten, relax tense areas on the face but also offer relaxation on a deeper level; bringing about calmness and leaving you feeling rather Zen after treatment.
The treatment begins with a consultation where one fills out the obligatory card and highlights your beauty and holistic aims for the treatment, as well as concerns. Mine on this occasion were rejuvenation and dryness respectively; Cyprus had totally dried my skin out. Not the sun alone, I believe the arid atmosphere was a large contributing factor.
Once on the couch, Ka Hang begins with a cleanse to ensure clean skin, imperative of course for any facial treatment. Then begins the cosmetic acupuncture. Needles are inserted in various pressure points: the hair line, the bridge of the nose to forehead, upper lip, jawline and cheeks. There were many more needles used in Ka Hang’s treatment than my experience at Cosmedic in Camden.
Ka Hang also inserted some needles at various points on my legs to help achieve a heaviness during the treatment. This feeling is known as “Deqi” (pronounced duh chee). My legs did feel heavy during the treatment, but after I got up to leave I had a feeling of lightness in my legs, as well as suppleness.
After removing the face needles, Ka Hang Leoungk delivered a gentle facial massage utilising one of my favourite products from Neal’s Yard – the Frankincense Facial Oil. Post treatment, my skin feels softer and smoother, not quite as dry as when I walked in, and looks fresh, dewy and rejuvenated.
For those scared of needles, fear not! Ka Hang also offers a needle-free facial massage, as well as a combination of needles and massage.