Boasting 17 years in the skincare industry, Israeli-born Keren Bartov started her career in the acting world (with her Katharine Hepburn cheekbones, it’s easy to see why).
She soon realised her talents were better suited to helping Israel’s glitterati achieve exquisite complexions — her clients include Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot (who calls Bartov her “face’s best friend”), as well as models Bar Refaeli and Rotem Sela, along with singers Harel Skaat and Agam Buhbut to rattle off but a few. Unsurprisingly, she’s highly sought after during awards season.
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Keren Bartov's new London clinic (Getty Images)
“Any famous people in Israel, trust me, I’ve seen to them,” she proudly tells me as I lie on her treatment bed, waiting for her to work her magic on my knackered, sleep-deprived punim.
Her reputation has travelled across the globe, with clients even coming to see her in Tel Aviv from the UK, hence why she has now set up shop in London’s well-heeled enclave of Notting Hill, dividing her time between the two cities.
Tucked away just off the Portobello Road, her clinic is suitably glamorous to match her celebrity credentials, with shiny surfaces and palatial decor, manned by a team of very friendly, multi-lingual staff. English isn’t her first language, which she keeps apologising for.
I didn’t find there was much of a communication barrier, but a knowledge of Hebrew might come in handy if you want a more in-depth chat.
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Keren Bartov client Gal Gadot (Getty Images)
Her facials are more results-driven than relaxing — so don’t expect any scented candles and woo-woo whale music. In my book, any facial worth its three-figure price tag should be like taking your car for an MOT — including a thorough skin analysis, some high-tech jiggery pokery that you can’t recreate at home, together with some tips on how to maintain the results in the long term.
After all, it’s Bartov’s expertise you’re paying for — not some nice-smelling essential oils, so it’s best to come armed with questions (her assistants are on hand to translate if needs be).
The clinic boasts all manner of space-age machinery, there is no treatment menu — everything is tailored to the client’s personal skincare needs.
Appointments begin with a lengthy medical questionnaire that seemed longer than the one I had to fill out for my life insurance policy. But fastidiousness is key when one’s face is concerned — especially when lasers, acids and micro-needling are involved.
My skin was then subject to further assessment under the eye-watering harsh glare of a spotlight (beauty is pain after all) where Bartov analysed my skin type, texture, and any ongoing issues I had.
As I’m expecting a baby, most of the exciting gadgets and gizmos were sadly off-limits (she has about 75 different technologies at her disposal), bar a few nifty, non-invasive facial devices.
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Bartov's clinic boasts all manner of space-age machinery
These included some collagen-boosting LED light, as well as cryotherapy to brighten and tighten my complexion (and reverse the effects of not having had an unbroken night’s sleep in the past six months).
The treatment also included pore extractions — which, to the uninitiated, involves literally digging out the gunk embedded in your skin. Not something you should attempt at home, this isn’t a comfortable procedure by any means — but necessary for city-dwellers whose skin is probably chock-full of pollution and grime.
A regular treatment with Bartov might also include ultrasound, IPL and lasers to improve the skin’s texture, diminish dullness and reinvigorate the cells for a plump, lifted complexion — as well as treat more serious issues such as acne and rosacea.
Sun and pollution damage are obviously endemic in a city like Tel Aviv, and she has the tools and know-how to tackle them.
I have a bit of pigmentation, which Bartov was confident she would be able to blitz with her impressive artillery of devices when I came back to see her, post-baby.
In the interim, I left with peachy, iridescent skin, the kind that you only usually witness on Oscars night, with my normal frown lines virtually non-existent — together with some sound skincare advice to boot.
Bartov doesn’t believe in Botox (she’s had none herself) and a facial with her might be a more natural-looking alternative for anyone still on the fence about going down the injectables route. (The cost is about the same.)
Either way, her talents are worth seeking out if your neglected skin needs some star treatment.
The Super Facial from £250, kerenbartov.co.uk
