Emma and Oliver's Skin Journey
When planning a wedding, most couples share the big tasks: venues, flowers, playlists, even workouts. But for Emma Hoareau, the skincare influencer known for her expert advice and beauty insights, and her fiancé Oliver, the shared project was something more personal: a skincare journey. With their wedding approaching, they wanted to feel confident, fresh, and flawless on the day and beyond.
For Emma, already a Pfeffer Sal regular and well-versed in beauty trends, it was a natural step. For Oliver, it was his first real exploration into advanced facials and laser treatments. Together, they committed to a 10-month plan that combined in-clinic treatments, at-home routines, and a little friendly accountability — supporting each other through every serum, session, and SPF reminder.
If you’re searching for the best facial London has to offer ahead of a wedding, event, or simply just looking after you, their story shows how expert guidance, thoughtful planning, and time-tested treatments can help boost confidence and make you feel amazing!
Photo Credit: Claire Menary.
How It All Began
“I suggested it,” Emma smiled. “I’ve been to Pfeffer Sal before and had such a great experience. I knew they’d create the perfect plan for us both.”
The wedding acted as motivation, but both recognised the value of long-term skin health. “When you’re getting married, you become more aware of the things you want to improve — not just for the photos, but for yourself,” Emma explained.
Doing it together made the process more fun and meaningful. “It’s like training together for the wedding,” Oliver said. “You’re in it as a team. And there’s something nice about lying in the treatment bed knowing your partner’s just a few rooms away doing the same thing.”
Step One: The Consultation
Every skin journey begins with a detailed consultation. For Emma and Oliver, this happened ten months before their wedding. Using the Observ Skin Scanner in their Three Sixty appointments, their dermal therapists could assess not just surface-level concerns, but deeper layers of the skin.
Emma’s skin showed some dehydration and sensitivity from years of city living, while Oliver’s scan revealed congestion, uneven tone, and a lack of hydration — unsurprising for someone who hadn’t focused on moisturisers before!
Together with their dermal therapists, they mapped out a bespoke treatment timeline alternating between technology-led facials and massage-focused treatments. Importantly, they also received product recommendations to maintain momentum at home, ensuring in-clinic results carried through daily routines.
Emma’s Plan: Smoothing, Brightening, Sculpting
Emma’s primary goals were to tackle stubborn pigmentation, even out texture and tone, and subtly lift and sculpt — particularly around her jawline and décolleté.
Microneedling Face + Neck with Décolleté add-on (x4 Treatments)
A Pfeffer Sal favourite, SkinPen® microneedling uses micro-channels to stimulate collagen and encourage skin renewal. For Emma, it helped soften textural irregularities, reduce pigmentation, and firm her skin. The décolleté add-on revitalised the chest area, ideal for her strapless wedding dress.
Who it’s for: Ideal for anyone tackling uneven tone, fine lines, textural concerns, or early signs of laxity.
Why it works: By encouraging the skin’s natural repair process, microneedling smooths, plumps, and strengthens the skin from the inside out. Using SkinPen®, the first FDA-cleared microneedling device in the world, this high-tech method establishes a pathway for the potent cocktail your dermal therapist personalises for you, that will plump, firm and refresh your face.
Bespoke Laser Package (x2 Treatments)
A tailored treatment plan combining ClearLift laser and Near Infrared (NIR) therapy. ClearLift gently resurfaces and stimulates collagen, creating a “filler effect without filler,” while NIR uses heat in precise sculpting motions to lift and contour the jawline and neck. Emma loved the sculpting effect — especially with no downtime.
“I’ve always loved microneedling since I first came to Pfeffer Sal,” Emma says. “But discovering how effective NIR was at sculpting my jawline was a total game-changer.”
Who it’s for: Clients looking for subtle lifting, sculpting, plumping, and long-lasting radiance — perfect for weddings, special events, or those starting to notice early signs of skin laxity.
Why it works: The combination of laser resurfacing and heat-based collagen stimulation tightens and tones, especially around the lower face and neck. Thanks to NIR being a non-invasive, pain-free treatment that gives your skin’s collagen a proper workout. While the ClearLift reduces the appearance of enlarged pores, fine lines and wrinkles and improves skin tone and texture for a plump and youthful appearance. This treatment is safe for all skin types and suitable for treating conditions like melasma.
For a last-minute radiance boost, Emma had this facial in the days leading up to the wedding. Combining gentle resurfacing, hydration, and Dermalux® LED light therapy, it refreshed and illuminated her complexion, leaving her skin ready for close-up moments. This 50-minute facial is designed to slot seamlessly into your schedule, giving you the power of a full skincare reboot in under an hour.
Who it’s for: Ideal for anyone needing a pre-event radiance boost or a restorative treatment after travel, sun exposure, or long weeks.
Why it works: Think of this facial as a maintenance must-have, perfect for when your skin needs a little pick-me-up. Whether your complexion looks tired, congested, or just needs a glow boost, the Reset + Go Facial has you covered. Using a custom blend of serums, sonophoresis technology, and a sprinkle of relaxation, this treatment not only tackles visible skin concerns but also delivers a blast of hydration, plumpness, and rejuvenation.
Oliver’s Plan: Calming, Strengthening, Repairing
Oliver’s goals focused on sensitivity, broken capillaries, and overall redness. His plan, created with his dermal therapists, used advanced technology to restore balance and strengthen his skin.
The Three Sixty + LASER PATCH TEST
To begin his skin journey, Oliver had our fully comprehensive, The Three Sixty facial. Over 100 minutes, we learn everything about your skin and how we can best support it with a 20 minute in-depth consultation with nifty skin scans thanks to our Observ Skin Scan machine, followed by a bespoke 80 minute facial which is a truly indulgent and results-driven treatment. For Oliver, this appointment ensured we could focus on his skin concerns: redness, sensitivity and broken capillaries. He also had a laser patch test to start off his wedding skin preparations.
Who it’s for: A must for anyone starting a skin journey, especially ahead of a milestone such as getting married.
Why it works: Ideal for starting your skin journey with in-depth knowledge of your skin. Whilst a laser patch test means you are primed for your skin journey.
Reset + Go Facial with AFT + ND/YAG Laser Small Area (x4) Add-on
Oliver has several 50 minute Reset + Go Facials with a 30 minute laser add on. This combined treatment approach ensured that he was able to enjoy a deeply relaxing and hydrating facial, followed by his AFT + ND/YAG to target his redness and capillaries all in one appointment.
The AFT laser treats pigmentation and vascular issues gently, while ND/YAG targets deeper vessels. Oliver was impressed by how painless it was and how quickly he saw results. “After the first couple of sessions, I saw a real reduction in broken capillaries. It felt like — wow, this is actually working.”
Who it’s for: Ideal for all, the best of both worlds, pairing our signature facials and advanced laser treatments. Perfect for grooms, brides, and practically anyone seeking clearer, calmer skin whilst having our signature facials as well as our laser treatments.
Why it works: Non-invasive, effective, providing rapid visible improvements with minimal downtime. Oliver's appointments are great for those who have redness, sensitivity, or capillary damage.
Our signature facial is ideal to rebalance and hydrate the skin barrier. A firm favourite for a reason and one which Oliver was able to appreciate ahead of his big day as it nurtured, soothe and supported his skin after his laser treatment course to maximise his skin health before his big day as a groom.
Who it’s for: This all rounder is a go to treatment for anyone wishing for a total skin reset, skin barrier maintenance, or as a recovery treatment after targeted procedures like laser, peels or microneedling.
Why it works: Focused on overall skin health, this bespoke facial is calming, therapeutic, and guaranteed to leave you glowing and rejuvenated, while producing long-term results.
A Shared Experience
Doing a skin journey together transformed the process into a shared ritual. There were reminders about SPF (“Emma definitely kept me on track,” Oliver laughs), evening LED sessions at home, tips swapped on products and routines, and celebrations of the small wins together. The only challenge? “Trying not to fall asleep during treatments,” they joke.
They also picked up habits from each other: Oliver learned consistency, while Emma became more mindful about explaining the purpose behind each step. “In our house, products are for anyone and everyone,” she says. “No stealing necessary.”
Emma: “The pigmentation on my cheeks has softened, and my overall tone feels brighter and more even. My skin looks and feels firmer.”
Oliver: “There’s more balance to the tone and colour of my face. I can see how much my skin enjoys moisturisation. And there’s a glow now — which I never thought I’d say.”
Beyond aesthetics, they both feel differently about their skin. “When you see real results, you understand why consistency matters,” Oliver reflects. “I’ve built habits I’ll keep long after the wedding.”
Ahead of the Big Day
With the wedding in sight, both Emma and Oliver feel confident. Emma’s final pre-wedding treatment was a Reset + Go Facial, while Oliver had a House Facial.
“It’s amazing to see the difference,” they say. “And the best part is noticing it in each other — up close, you see how much healthier and more even our complexions are.”
Advice for Other Couples
“As soon as you have a date, get your plan sorted,” Emma advises. “Skin takes time to change, and you don’t want to rush or experiment too close to the event. We gave ourselves 10 months to achieve our goals slowly and steadily. And most importantly, work with expert aestheticians like the team at Pfeffer Sal. They guide you pre- and post-treatment to get the best possible results.”
Why Pfeffer Sal
The best facial London can provide isn’t off-the-shelf. We create bespoke skin journeys, personalised around your skin, goals, lifestyle, and schedule.
“It’s not just about the wedding,” Emma says. “I’ve learned what my skin actually needs and how to care for it.” Oliver adds, laughing, “I’ll keep coming back. I’m not going to let Emma have all the fun.”
Skincare might not be the first thing that comes to mind when planning a wedding, but for Emma and Oliver, it was an investment in themselves. Together, they’ve shared months of expert treatments, thoughtful homecare, and a little pampering — creating confidence, glow, and healthy skin that lasts.
And as for who takes longer in the bathroom now? “It’s close — but it’ll always be Emma. She loves making a ritual of it.”
Ready for your own Skin Journey?
If you’re planning to visit us regularly, or embarking on a skin journey with us, why not go for a course of treatments? You're welcome to mix and match treatments too!
Buy 3 treatments, receive the 4th half price.
Buy 5 treatments, receive the 6th for free.
THE DESTINATION FOR SKIN HEALTH
+44 (0) 20 3883 4702 - PFEFFERSAL.COM
THE STABLES, 10B WARREN MEWS, LONDON W1T 6BY
