What They Say
‘Located in the heart of Wimbledon Village, Skin By Anel Lamine is a tiny specialist skin studio offering bespoke facial treatments tailored entirely to the individual. Founder Anel Lamine combines over 25 years of experience in skin health and beauty with a results-driven but holistic approach focused on skin longevity rather than quick fixes. Every treatment is adapted in real time according to the skin’s needs on the day, using a combination of advanced skincare knowledge, targeted (but gentle) technologies, and high-performance products from a variety of skincare brands and products.’
The Process
Tucked along Church Road, Skin By Anel Lamine is a small, one-room studio that feels comforting and homey in a way many polished aesthetic clinics do not. There’s no reception desk, no army of staff in matching spa tunics. It’s just Anel.
“It’s different when your name is on the door,” she tells me as I arrive early (she’s surprised by this!), explaining that she carries out every single treatment herself. “I’m not procedural.” And that quickly becomes clear.
The facial begins not with machinery or analysis cameras but with conversation. Anel talks me through my routine, gently steering me away from over-exfoliating peels and suggesting natural alternatives to harsher retinols. She uses a variety of products (including BeautyLab) and explains that she sometimes changes treatments midway through, depending on how skin responds.
Once settled under the blanket, my skin is cleansed with glycolic acid and AHAs are applied using two soft fan brushes swirled across my face in sweeping motions. It feels silky and oddly hypnotic. Nothing stings or burns but there is, what a yoga teacher might call, sensation.
Next comes a facial scrubber device that emits a low humming sound – similar to an electric razor – which gently loosens dead skin cells from the surface of my face. Again, surprisingly relaxing.
Anel then moves on to what she describes as “micro-fusion.” Using a micro-needling pen with a shallower cartridge, she infuses glycolic acid and copper peptides deeper into the skin rather than aggressively puncturing it. I brace myself for discomfort that never arrives. The whole treatment feels remarkably gentle – more nourishing than corrective, designed to prevent rather than fix damage.
There’s little of the aggressive “no pain, no gain” energy that has become my go-to. Anel explains she prefers focusing on long-term skin health over dramatic, quick fixes, like lasers. While she does offer treatments like radio frequency and traditional microneedling, her philosophy is rooted in maintenance, consistency, and understanding the skin properly.
Towards the end of the facial, I lie beneath an LED hood glowing red and blue while a calming fan hums quietly in the background.
The final step is perhaps my favourite: an ice-ball massage rolled briskly across my skin, which feels especially glorious during the strange burst of tropical British May weather we’ve been having lately. My face is finished with a generous layer of SPF before I’m slowly brought back into the real world.
The Results
Immediately afterwards, my skin looked noticeably fresher and extremely hydrated – but without the post-facial redness I’ve come to expect from more intensive treatments. There was no soreness, peeling or lingering sensitivity, just healthy-looking skin.
What stayed with me most, though, was how personalised the whole experience felt. I can see why Anel has such a consistent clientele, relying heavily on instinct and experience rather than technology.
The Details
Bespoke Facial, 60 minutes, from £180
Skin By Anel Lamine Skin Studio, 23 Church Road, Wimbledon Village, SW19 5DQ
0333 800 3008
