If you want a facial that targets pigmentation, the Pigmentation facial at ZARA is built for that job. It is a 2 hour appointment at £175, aimed at flat areas of uneven colour such as sun spots, post-spot marks and patchy tone. The steps are chosen for your skin after an assessment, so two people booking the same facial will not always have an identical treatment.
Not every pigment problem needs a long facial. Some well-defined spots suit our 1 hour Pigmentation treatment at £159, and skin that is dull rather than marked may only need a lighter clinical facial. At 304 Edgware Road, London W2, we decide which fits at a free consultation, before you pay for anything.
How is a pigmentation facial different from a regular facial?
A standard facial is mostly about cleansing, exfoliating and refreshing the skin. A facial for pigmentation is planned around one goal: helping darker patches fade so your tone looks more even. That means it starts with an assessment of the pigment itself, including its type, how deep it seems to sit and what makes it darker.
Pigment in the top layer of the skin tends to respond sooner and more fully. Pigment that sits deeper fades slowly and sometimes only partly. We may choose a facial-based route when your skin needs a gentler, more gradual approach than a stronger single treatment.
Who is a pigmentation facial for?
It is usually a good fit if you have:
- Flat brown marks left after spots have healed
- Uneven, patchy tone that make-up no longer evens out
- Sun spots on the face that you would like softened
- Freckles you want lighter, accepting that they tend to return with sun
Raised marks, textured acne scars and moles are a different matter. Scarring that changes the surface of the skin is handled through acne scar treatment, and any spot that is new, changing or undiagnosed needs a doctor's check first. Melasma can be part of the picture too, but it needs a particularly gentle plan.
Pigmentation facial or Pigmentation treatment: which should you book?
Both are pigmentation appointments, and the obvious difference is length: the Pigmentation facial is 2 hours at £175, and the Pigmentation treatment is 1 hour at £159. Which one suits you depends on the type and depth of your pigment and on how your skin is likely to react.
You do not need to decide before you arrive. Book a consultation and we will recommend one, explain the approach and give you the price of any course before you commit. If neither is right for your skin, we will tell you.
Can a regular clinical facial help with uneven tone?
Some people with mild dullness, rather than distinct dark patches, do well with a simpler facial first. Options on our clinical facials menu include:
- Microdermabrasion (face), £70. Buffs away dead skin and can brighten mild, surface unevenness, though it does not reach deeper pigment.
- HydroFacial, £80. Cleanses, exfoliates and hydrates skin that looks tired and congested.
- Mini Facial, £65. A short refresh, or a gentle first clinical facial.
Dermaplaning, priced at consultation, smooths the surface and removes fine facial hair, but it does not change pigmentation. If your main concern is dark marks rather than general dullness, the Pigmentation facial is usually the more direct choice.
What happens during a pigmentation facial?
Your first visit begins with a consultation and medical history. We examine each patch, ask when it appeared and what tends to darken it, and go through your medicines and how much sun you get.
If the facial is right for you, the skin is cleansed and prepared, the treatment chosen for your pigment is carried out, and the skin is calmed and finished with SPF. Before you leave, we explain how to look after your skin at home so the result lasts. Two hours leaves room for all of that without rushing.
Pigment rarely clears in one visit. In clinics generally, plans of three to six visits spaced a few weeks apart are typical, and results differ from one person to the next.
What does your skin look like afterwards?
Expect some redness, warmth and slight swelling, which usually fades within hours but can last a day or two, and some skin becomes dry or peels lightly. Treated spots can look darker for a short time before they fade, which is expected. Less common risks include blistering, infection and new dark patches, and rarely lighter ones.
For a few days, skip hot yoga and saunas, leave out retinoids, exfoliating acids and scrubs, and leave any flaking skin alone. Wear SPF 30 to 50 every day and keep out of strong sun and sunbeds, because fresh UV exposure is the quickest way to lose progress.
Who should not book a pigmentation facial yet?
Please wait if you:
- Have a current tan, sunburn or have used a sunbed recently
- Have active cold sores, infection or broken skin on the face
- Have taken isotretinoin in the last six months, or use a medicine that makes skin sensitive to light
- Have a mark or mole that is new, changing or not yet diagnosed
Tell us if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, as some methods are avoided, and if you have a history of keloid scarring. Darker skin tones can be treated with gentler choices and sometimes a test patch, because treatment itself can leave a new dark mark.
Close to Paddington, Marylebone and Lisson Grove
Our clinic is about 50 metres from the Bakerloo line entrance at Edgware Road station. Paddington station is around 11 minutes away on foot, Marylebone station about 9, and Church Street Market in Lisson Grove roughly 7. For a 2 hour appointment, a Saturday, or a Sunday afternoon between 1pm and 5pm, can be easier than a weekday.
Book your free consultation through the booking form, on WhatsApp at 07479 973309 or by calling 020 4619 8781.
Pigmentation facial: your questions answered
How much is a pigmentation facial?
The Pigmentation facial is £175 per session, for a 2 hour appointment. If we suggest a course, you get the total before you start.
Will one facial clear my dark spots?
It is unlikely. Some marks fade noticeably after a session, but pigment usually lightens gradually over several visits, and some marks only partly fade.
How many pigmentation facials will I need?
Most people need more than one. Plans usually run to three to six visits with a few weeks between them, and deeper or stubborn pigment can take longer. We review your progress at each visit.
Is a pigmentation facial suitable for darker skin?
Yes, with care. Darker skin has a higher chance of developing a new dark mark after treatment, so we choose gentler options, may suggest a test patch and sometimes plan a slower course.
Can a HydroFacial fade pigmentation?
A HydroFacial can leave the skin looking clearer and more even on the surface, but it is not a dedicated pigmentation treatment. For distinct dark marks, a pigmentation appointment is the closer match.
When in the year should I start?
Many people begin in the colder months, when it is simpler to stay out of strong sun while the skin recovers. Summer bookings are possible if your skin is not tanned and you are strict about daily SPF.
