The Pregnancy-Safe Facial Designed to Restore Tired, Hormonal Skin
Skin changes fairly dramatically during motherhood. Pregnancy, postpartum recovery and the general rhythm of caring for young children often leave complexions feeling dehydrated, slightly dull and more reactive than before. Products that once worked suddenly feel insufficient, while more intensive treatments can feel too harsh — particularly during pregnancy or breastfeeding when sensitivity is heightened.
Which is why booking in with Lisa Franklin, one of London’s most respected facialists, felt less like indulgence and more like sensible maintenance. Based at her Knightsbridge flagship, Lisa Franklin London, Franklin has built a reputation for bespoke, results-led treatments tailored entirely to individual skin needs.
Her approach sits somewhere between advanced skincare and holistic wellbeing — thoughtful, precise and deeply personalised rather than trend-driven. I visited to try the BYONIK Healthy Ageing Facial, a treatment designed to restore skin health at a cellular level without heat, irritation or downtime. What followed felt less like a traditional facial and more like a comprehensive reset for both skin and nervous system.
Facial Mapping with Observ: Understanding the Skin First
The appointment began not with cleansing, but analysis — a refreshing shift from the usual facial routine. Using Observ facial mapping technology, my skin was photographed under multiple diagnostic light modes, revealing hydration levels, pigmentation patterns and underlying inflammation invisible to the naked eye. The results showed clear dryness and reduced vitality — something many mothers will recognise as hormonal shifts, sleep disruption and dehydration quietly compromise the skin barrier.
Rather than guessing what my skin needed, the treatment was built entirely around these findings. Hydration quickly emerged as the priority: restoring moisture, improving luminosity and strengthening resilience long-term. It immediately set the tone for an experience grounded in understanding rather than aesthetics alone.
The Treatment: Rhythm, Light and Deep Hydration
Following cleansing, a concentrated hyaluronic acid antioxidant gel was applied — selected specifically to replenish the dehydration identified during the analysis. At this point, a small pulse monitor was gently attached to my finger, tracking my heartbeat throughout the facial.
This is where the treatment begins to feel distinctly different.
Instead of relying on heat or aggressive resurfacing, the BYONIK facial works in synchronisation with the body itself. Every four heartbeats, a soft pulse of laser light activates in rhythm with your natural pulse. You don’t feel it in the way you might expect from a laser — there’s no warmth or discomfort — just a steady, calming rhythm as the treatment unfolds.
Multiple wavelengths of light work simultaneously beneath the surface: stimulating collagen production, improving microcirculation and helping the skin absorb active ingredients more effectively. Gentle blue light helps calm inflammation, while deeper wavelengths support cellular repair and regeneration. The aim isn’t to shock the skin into change, but to encourage it to function better — restoring balance rather than forcing results.
As the treatment progressed, the experience felt surprisingly meditative. There were no dramatic sensations, no redness and no downtime — just the sense that something precise and considered was happening quietly beneath the surface. For mothers accustomed to constant stimulation and multitasking, that enforced stillness felt restorative in itself.
The BioRelax Mat: Treating the Nervous System Too
Throughout the facial, I lay on BYONIK’s BioRelax Mat, an optional addition that genuinely elevated the experience. Using Kleinsche Field Therapy, the mat interacts with the body’s natural electromagnetic field, encouraging a deeply relaxed state often compared to grounding. Subtle pulses run beneath the body, helping regulate ion movement across cell membranes and allowing the nervous system to settle. It’s difficult to describe until you experience it — breathing slows, shoulders soften and the treatment becomes a full-body reset rather than simply skincare.
The philosophy is simple: when the body is calm, the skin is better able to repair and absorb nutrients. For busy mothers, that pause alone feels invaluable.
The Results
Immediately afterwards, my skin looked brighter, hydrated and calm, with a fresh, healthy glow rather than anything overly polished. There was no redness or sensitivity just balanced, comfortable skin.
The real difference appeared over the following days. Hydration held, dullness softened and makeup sat more naturally. My skin required noticeably less effort overall, which during busy weeks felt like the greatest luxury of all.
A seriously detailed follow-up report arrived afterwards, outlining personalised recommendations based on the Observ analysis and treatment response. Rather than generic aftercare advice, it provided a clear roadmap for maintaining results — reinforcing the sense that this is less a one-off treatment and more an investment in long-term skin health.
Why It Earns a Place on Our Radar
This is not a quick-fix facial or dramatic overhaul. Instead, it supports skin through life stages where balance matters most — pregnancy, postpartum and periods of stress — using technology that respects the skin rather than overwhelming it. The experience feels holistic without being abstract, clinical yet deeply luxurious, and results-driven without sacrificing calm. Sometimes the most effective beauty treatments aren’t the loudest ones, but the ones that quietly help your skin return to strength.
Lisa Franklin BYONIK Healthy Ageing Facial from £355 | BioRelax Mat add-on £75. Lisa Franklin is the brand ambassador for BYONIK® in the UK.
Special Offer for Mother+ Readers
Mother+ readers can enjoy 50% off a first BYONIK or Signature Facial (90 minutes) with the code MOTHER50.