Former beauty editor and self-proclaimed beauty enthusiast Kate Milliken tried our amazing skin treatment, the Skinsmiths B12 Hydrating Facial - here’s what she thought…
Spoiler alert: I love steam, like a lot.
Here’s something I’m willing to admit to anyone who happens to be reading this article: I am a person who thinks about my own face a fair amount. I have an interest in my face and I find the concept and execution of embellishing and optimising it… fun. Your face is kind of like an ever-evolving billboard of yourself, and that’s actually pretty cool if you think about it.
And, of course, one of the key (if not the key) aspect of one's face is their skin. The thing about skin is that while you can absolutely fake it ‘til you make it in a lot of aspects in life, your skin health is not one of them. Your skin is a direct reflection of how well you look after it, and your body in general, and when you’ve been a bit slack on the old skincare and treatments, it will probably start to tell anyone and everyone you meet through the classic telltale signs: dryness, irritation and breakouts. All of this is a very long-winded way of saying that when it comes to having a face you can be proud of, there are no shortcuts.
So, if you want to put your best face forward, there are few places that can help you make that happen better than Caci Clinic. This is because they are constantly staying ahead of the skin trends when it comes to both skincare and treatments. If there’s a product or a facial worth knowing about, then Caci will have it in their skin-perfecting arsenal of offerings, and one of their latest additions to their lineup is the Skinsmiths B12 Hydrating Facial. I would trust Caci with my life at this point, so of course, when I had the opportunity to give it a whirl, I jumped at the chance. I have also been using the Skinsmiths B12 range at home, so I knew how luxurious and transformative the products themselves are.
So, let’s dive in, shall we…
First impressions
No matter what people try and tell you, first impressions matter, OK? And, seeing as I am gracing my local Caci Clinic every few weeks religiously, it’s a little bit hard for me to give a fully accurate ‘first impressions’ description for you. But what I will say is that each and every time I am interacting with the team at Caci, it’s professional and informative. They know their stuff, but in a quietly confident way, not an in-your-face sales-pushy kind of way.
So, when I arrived for my B12 Hydrating Facial, I was met with the same familiar smiling faces, soft lighting (crucial), clean scent and calm music that just kind of makes you immediately unclench your jaw. My therapist, Immy, knows me and my skin like the back of her hand by now, but we started with a few questions about how my skin has been, which product I’m using and any pain points I’m experiencing. When it comes to facials or anything skin-related, for that matter, my aspirations are always the same: I want hydration and glow. So, I knew I was going to love this one.
What the facial actually involves
The thing I love the most about Caci facials is that they are not over-the-top, elaborate, 12-step affairs. They always focus on quality over quantity with anything they do, and the B12 Hydrating Facial was no different. This treatment keeps it short and sweet, but also smart. Each step has a clear purpose, and together they add up to more than the sum of their parts, kind of like the products themselves, which you can read more about here.
Here’s a quick overview of what to expect during these thirty minutes of absolute bliss:
Step one: a good cleanse
As we know, a good facial always starts with a good cleanse, so Immy quickly got to work with a gentle, milky cleanser that lifted off SPF, makeup and any leftover city grime without stripping my skin. It felt creamy, comforting and calming. None of that tightness, tingly or squeaky-clean feeling you can sometimes get after a facial cleanse.
It may seem like a small thing, but take it from me, a facial enthusiast, that a proper cleanse sets the tone. If your first step is harsh, your skin spends the rest of the treatment recovering instead of glowing. Here, it felt balanced and calm from the start.
Step two: steam and enzymatic exfoliation
Personally, this was my favourite part. The whole time I was being steamed, I was wondering where on earth I could source one of these machines to use in the comfort of my own home (still looking BTW). Warm, gentle, and oddly meditative, this blissful steaming device was producing the kind of heat that opens your pores just enough to make everything that follows more effective.
Once my skin was softened, Immy applied the Skinsmiths Enzyme Polishing Powder, a smooth, slightly tingly treatment that dissolves dead skin cells rather than scrubbing them away. It’s chemical exfoliation without the sting, powered by natural fruit enzymes that quietly lift away dullness. I’ve never experienced anything like this before, and I wish to experience it many more times in the near future.
It’s an exfoliation that you can feel working, but not in that stingy or harshly physical kind of way, more like your skin is having a conversation as opposed to an argument. Once it had been removed, I could feel that my skin felt smoother without even touching my face. Although I was incredibly sad when the steam was taken away from me, I was quietly thrilled with the results I could already feel coming on.
Step three: hydrating mask
And of course, the name of the facial itself suggests that hydration is the name of the game here, so the B12 Hydra-Cream Mask certainly helps it live up to it. If you have had the absolute pleasure of using this product at home, you will know just how luxurious it is. The thing I love the most about this mask, as someone who has a permanently raised body temperature (no idea why), is that it’s cool on contact. Soothing, thick, and deeply nourishing, it truly is a hydration wrap for your skin barrier.
The formula is designed to flood your skin with moisture while delivering a boost of Vitamin B12, an underrated ingredient that supports your skin’s natural repair process and helps calm irritation. It’s the ingredient equivalent of a therapist and a glass of electrolytes rolled into one.
While the mask worked, my therapist treated me to a neck and shoulder massage that quite literally made me forget I was on planet earth, let alone in a clinic. This wasn’t one of those token ten-second massages, either; it was deliberate, rhythmic, and actually relaxing. By the end, I could feel my shoulders had dropped about two centimetres closer to sanity.
Step four: the finishing touches
At Caci, you know you will never be slap dashed out the door after your facial. They always make sure they equip you with what you need to take on the rest of the day, whether that’s your night-time skincare or SPF if it's still early in the day. I was going back to work after mine sadly, so Immy made sure my skin was protected with a good quality sunscreen before sending me on my blissed out way.
The afterglow
I don’t really know how to describe it other than my skin looked… awake? Straight after the treatment, it was smooth, juicy, and almost reflective in the most flattering way. My cheeks had that soft bounce that makes foundation glide on instead of cling. The fine dehydration lines across my forehead… gone. My complexion looked more even, my tone brighter, and the texture was silky to the touch.
And it wasn’t just a temporary glow. The next morning, I woke up with the same fresh, hydrated look… no dryness creeping back in overnight, no redness, no irritation. I actually skipped foundation that day (a rare event). And for a thirty-minute facial that’s actually pretty impressive, even by Caci’s very, very high standards.
A moment for B12
We all know and love our skincare alphabet: A for retinol, C for brightening, E for antioxidants, but seriously, B12 deserves a seat at that table. Like, where has B12 been hiding all of our lives?
Vitamin B12 helps your skin regenerate and repair itself. It supports the formation of new, healthy cells and helps strengthen your barrier, making it particularly useful for anyone dealing with sensitivity, dryness, or dullness. When applied topically, it also has anti-inflammatory benefits, which explains why this facial feels so soothing even while it’s working.
How this facial stacks up
I’ve been on the Reformaskin plan since I can remember, and that’s genuinely not an over-exaggeration. Did my mum sign me up at birth? So, anyway, I am fairly clued up about all of Caci’s offerings. And if you are too, you will know that there is no one-size-fits-all approach; each and every facial has its own unique purpose.
Where your LED Light Therapy and Microdermabrasions are more targeted, this facial is more about replenishment, relaxation, and glow. It’s definitely a more luxurious feeling than some of the other more futuristic treatments, and kind of feels like the nurturing little sister to go alongside your more corrective siblings. At $115, it sits pretty comfortably in that mid-range facial category, and it’s certainly more luxurious than your standard cleanse and mask facial.
Considering the quality of the products used, the therapist’s expertise, and the instant visible results, it’s well-priced. You’re paying for thirty minutes of pure focus on hydration, glow, and calm… and if your skin’s been struggling, it’s worth every cent.
