Working at British Vogue, there are occasional moments that actually do feel like being on The Devil Wears Prada set. Such as when Emily Blunt’s facialist, Lord Gavin McLeod-Valentine, tells me that “Sienna” introduced them. Of course. Who else?!
The four-year love story between facialist and star is well-documented: earlier this year, when asked what she couldn’t live without, Blunt quipped, “Lord Gavin’s hands!” Indeed, as hands go, his are a hot commodity. An Augustinus Bader global ambassador, as well as being on speed dial for Blunt, he also treats Zoe Saldaña, Cate Blanchett and Anne Hathaway. Quite the client list.
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What makes an appointment with the Lord so coveted, though? Is he using gadgets, gizmos and cutting-edge technology, or just very, very good at facial massage? The celebrity sculptor agreed to break it down for British Vogue.
While his recipe for Blunt always centres around a sculpted glow with minimal downtime, no two appointments are the same. “I see machines as tools that support the treatment, not replace the therapist,” he explains when I press him for a step-by-step routine. “My hands feel things that technology can’t. Like, tension, stagnation, sensitivity, changes in texture. So, I use both together – technology for precision and performance, hands for intuition and artistry.”
The technology he does employ ranges from tools for deep cleansing to microcurrent, oxygenation and LED devices. What he chooses is determined by a client’s skin – “the hydration levels, barrier strength, sensitivity, congestion, inflammation, elasticity and any muscular tension.” As well as what their life looks like: how stressed they are, how much they travel, and how much they sleep. This, he says, is the “roadmap” for the treatment.
For Blunt, it’s a blend of massage and lifting techniques to keep her looking “fresh, defined and energised”. She has the type of skin that “responds beautifully to treatments that focus on sculpting, circulation and glow”, McLeod-Valentine says. She wants radiance without any downtime – a girl after our own hearts. “The goal is always to leave her skin looking healthy, luminous and naturally polished, rather than overworked.”
When it comes to taking inspiration from his approach at home, McLeod-Valentine’s advice is relatively straightforward. “Keep it simple and consistent. Cleanse properly, protect your skin barrier, wear SPF every day (he loves the Augustinus Bader The Sunscreen SPF50 formula), and don’t underestimate the importance of sleep, hydration and stress management.”
As for the advice he gives his clients: “Great skin is built in the habits you repeat daily and in the quality of product you use. So, invest in a few excellent essentials.” Sure, he may operate in the rarefied world of A-list celebrities, but that’s advice that works for everyone.
