This article is a translation of the original French article “La médecine esthétique & le sauna infrarouage sont-ils complémentaires ?” and is intended for the French market. Treatments, availability and prices may differ at our London clinic.
Hello Carla, could you introduce yourself and tell us about your background?
I'm Carla, I'm 29, and I'm passionate about wellbeing and beauty – I created Belleyme 3 years ago. During my business school studies I was lucky enough to spend a year abroad (the USA and London), where I discovered the world of alternative beauty/wellbeing/food solutions. I came back to France and, after my first professional experience at an audit firm, I decided to leave everything to follow my instinct and create a concept bringing together different solutions to take care of your wellbeing and health in a natural, innovative way. I suffered from various chronic ailments (migraines, skin problems, fatigue, stress…) and these solutions really helped me take care of myself and guided me towards a healthier lifestyle that respects my body and its needs more, so that I feel better day to day.
You opened Belleyme – can you tell us more?
Already passionate about wellbeing, I became really interested in food supplements and the infrared sauna when I understood the beneficial effects they could have on me. As a real foodie, I needed to find healthy alternatives and solutions that respected my body while still letting me treat myself. That's what I loved about discovering brands of supplements in the form of chocolates or drink mixes, for example. Pleasure remains at the heart of Belleyme's DNA. That's the case with the infrared sauna, which does you an enormous amount of good while keeping that feeling of a wellbeing moment just for yourself. It combines a multitude of health and beauty benefits by working in depth: elimination of toxins, muscle recovery, reduced inflammation and chronic pain, reduced stress, radiant skin… there's something for everyone!
How do you see the complementarity between the infrared sauna and aesthetic medicine?
For me, it's about complementarity between the different tools available to us to feel good and act on our appearance, and therefore on our wellbeing. The infrared sauna works in depth on the metabolism, toxins, relaxation, pain… Aesthetic medicine, on the other hand, has a much more targeted power over the small imperfections that bother us and can make us lose confidence. Personally, I'm thinking in particular of the quality of my skin, which has always been a big source of self-consciousness and lack of confidence. I work on it in depth through the way I eat, using the infrared sauna, the skincare I apply and my lifestyle in general, but I know that deeper, more technical and advanced treatments like those offered at Innerskin are a real plus for achieving incredible results.
What are the benefits of the infrared sauna for the skin?
The infrared sauna is a real gift for the skin because it acts on a multitude of problems. It helps fight acne and blemishes because it eliminates toxins, opens the pores and acts on cell renewal (so it has an effect on healing in general). There is also a collagen-boosting effect, and you come out with an instant glow. It also has great benefits for all inflammatory problems such as eczema, psoriasis, etc…
The only contraindication as far as the skin is concerned is rosacea, because heat dilates the blood vessels.
Blemishes are a recurring concern – what is your advice?
There is no magic recipe, but rather a multitude of actions to put in place, and therefore a lifestyle to stick to. The first point is diet, which is the foundation; it's also good to take food supplements. Having a beauty routine with a double cleanse in the evening and non-comedogenic products is also essential (beware of the urge to strip your skin, which is counter-productive). Finally, anything that lets you take care of yourself regularly and in depth: specific treatments for blemishes at Innerskin (microneedling, peels, Hydrafacial) and the infrared sauna at Belleyme, for example ;)
What is your favourite treatment at Innerskin and why?
I admit I want to try them all and come as often as possible to take care of my skin, but my little favourite is the Hydrafacial treatment because it ticks a lot of boxes: it cleanses and hydrates my skin in depth, and it leaves no marks or redness, so it's easy to fit into a day (socially speaking!). I love the feeling: like a big spring clean!
