I Tried the Event-Prep Facial Elsa Pataky and Rita Ora Swear By

Before I get into it, I must mention that Elsa Pataky and Rita Ora ‘swearing by’ might be a stretch. After all, Rita Ora wasn’t even in Australia for that long, so there were only so many times she could’ve gotten it.

What is 100% true, though, is that they’ve both tried this facial, and so have Elle Ferguson, Renae Ayris, Bambi Legit and Sonia Kruger. It’s certainly a celebrity-favourite and, because of that, one I was definitely keen to try.

It’s the Laser Genesis, an excel V treatment by CUTERA. While Elsa Pataky visits the Skin Divinity Cosmetics Clinics in Byron Bay (there’s one on the Gold Coast) too, I would be trying it at the All Saint Clinic, a discreet clinic in Sydney’s Double Bay, where all of the other celebs I named-dropped above got their treatment done.

“Laser Genesis is suitable for just about everyone, and it’s so safe and effective,” says Heidi Salfield, owner and director of Skin Divinity Cosmetics. “Our clients love that there’s no downtime and they can achieve quick and incredible results right before an event or for just an instant glow to life the spirits and feel good.”

The outside of All Saint Clinic looks like a beautiful home, and it feels like one on the inside, too. Candles burn bright, creamy carpets cover the marble floors and thick curtains hang against the floor-to-ceiling windows — it feels grand and not unlike a Kardashian home.

My dermal therapist Jacqueline Baker led me to a huge room where I’d be doing the treatment and waited outside while I took my top off and got under a thick blanket on the treatment chair. When she came back, she examined asked me a bit about my skin and what products I used, and then examined my skin to tell me how I could improve my routine. Then, she did a deep cleanse on it to get rid of all my makeup.

Baker explained that the Laser Genesis treatment works by adding bulk heat directly into the deeper layers of the skin. “A sensation similar to warm raindrops being painted onto the skin,” as she described it. It felt like leprechauns tap dancing on my face. Oh, and there was the slight smell of singeing, though I didn’t mind as I took it to mean the treatment was working.

The actual Laser Genesis took only about 20 minutes (it takes between 15-30 minutes depending on the dermatologic concern you’re targeting), though the entire treatment was well over an hour (I could’ve stayed in that comfy bed all day!).

As Baker worked, she told me people scheduled a few sessions of the Laser Genesis treatment in the lead-up to a big event, like a wedding. With candles burning in the room, piano music on in the background and Baker’s hands massaging my face, with an added oxygenation treatment and a light Lactic Acid peel that was personalised to my skin, I felt more relaxed than I had in weeks.

As promised, I left the clinic with glowing skin, loaded up with iS Clinical products. While I didn’t notice much of a difference to it in the days that followed (as compared to how it was before the treatment), I loved getting the facial and would 100% do it again.

Who wouldn’t want to take some time out to calm their mind and treat their face to cutting-edge tech that’ll make it glow? The face massage alone is something you’ll seriously be craving — after all, here I am writing this story weeks after the fact, daydreaming about booking another appointment.