Into the Wild: Trialling Wildsmith’s Radical Botany Facial
Go forest bathing at Liberty with a deeply restorative treatment from the biodynamic British brand
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Into the Wild: Trialling Wildsmith’s Radical Botany Facial
Go forest bathing at Liberty with a deeply restorative treatment from the biodynamic British brand
Have you ever wanted to have a facial in a forest? The Radical Botany Facial from Wildsmith gets pretty close. Cloistered away on Liberty’s Fourth Floor, the Wildsmith treatment room - called The Treehouse - is like a portal into the grounds of Heckfield Place, the biodynamic Hampshire estate where the brand was developed, and the home of its award-winning wellbeing space, The Bothy by Wildsmith. At the entrance, two trees from Heckfield welcome you into the space, which is designed to mimic the experience of forest bathing. Videos of the estate’s woodland are projected onto gauze drapes around the treatment bed, accompanied by a soundscape of rustling leaves and birdsong.
My therapist invites me to lie down on the heated bed, covering me with a warm towel as I settle into the peaceful surroundings. Above my head, Liberty’s trademark Tudor eaves and the gentle bell of the clock tower nearby are the only reminders of London life. The rest is the blissful embrace of Mother Nature.
At Wildsmith, all of their products and treatments aim to mimic the ecosystem of the natural world, working in harmony with one’s circadian rhythms. This means that despite being called a facial, the treatment also incorporates breathwork, stretches, and body massage.
Wildsmith's cleansing duo
The first product the therapist applies is a Wildsmith bestseller, the Active Repair Nourishing Cleansing Balm. It’s a silky and unctuous formula which glides satisfyingly onto the skin using massage techniques, melting away dirt and dust particles from my morning commute. Then comes the Energising B5 Gel Cleanser for a second hit.
After the cleanse comes the exfoliation, which is performed with the Dual-Action Exfoliating Treatment. It’s a combination of a pineapple enzyme chemical exfoliator, and a physical one made from cherry stone powder. In my calm, meditative state, I’m able to notice the different temperatures and textures of each product as they’re applied to my skin.
The sensory journey continues when my therapist uses a gentle brush to dry my skin, prepping me for the myofascial release. Fascia is the thin layer of connective tissue that exists throughout the body, including on our faces, and the myofascial release targets pressure points to release tension. The motions are more like gentle sustained pressing, rather than sweeping strokes - those come next with the chest, shoulder, neck and face massage.
Wildsmith's Active Repair Copper Peptide formulas.
At this point, things become hazy - the massage is so relaxing that I accidentally fall asleep. Whilst I’m dozing, the Double Clay Refining Mask is applied, a clinically proven formula to instantly hydrate and improve skin texture, with Bioactive Capsicum to boost cell metabolism and revitalise tired skin. I’m also treated to a thorough hand and arm massage using the Body Oil. There are three different types - Vitality, Purity and Stillness- designed around the circadian rhythm. Vitality is the one for me, as it’s 10am so I probably shouldn’t sleep all day (for bedtime, try Stillness).
Then it’s time for a chamomile tone - the formula is cold and refreshing, and smells wonderfully earthy and herbaceous. The therapist tells me that the flowers are handpicked on Heckfield Estate, and each Wildsmith team member gets a chance to help with the harvest.
A few more balms and ointments later and the treatment is over. I feel like I’m lying on a picnic blanket on the forest floor, the canopy of trees swishing gently overhead. Real life awaits, so I emerge from my cocoon like an animal after hibernation. My skin is soft, supple and fragrant, my complexion bright and healthy. If you haven’t got time for a forest walk at Wildsmith’s Hampshire home, then a Wildsmith treatment at Liberty will transport you there instead. Book yours at the link below.
