Meet Helen, Muddy Stiletto’s favourite beautician. This is what a walking advert looks like. She’s in her FORTIES!!!

I’ve had plenty of facials over the years, but I’ve never really seen the point of them. I rarely look or feel much different afterwards. Just shinier and blotchier. And poorer!

But I am a total, absolute, allelujah convert to the facials that Helen (above) gives in her beauty room at her Postcombe home (near J6 M40, on Oxon/Bucks border). I’m not kidding you, I looked about five years younger after her facial – massively less lines around my eyes and forehead. I couldn’t quite believe it but it was me.

So I’m here to share the good news. Here are 5 brilliant reasons to go and visit Helen for a treatment:

1. She never stops. I hate facials where the beautician faffs around with little pots of serum out of eyeshot, then plops a pair of cucumber slices on your eyes and goes off to have a cup of tea and crumpet for 15 minutes. Helen constantly massages, rubs, even plucks your eyebrows all as part of the fee.

2. Great service. Don’t like the music? No problem, what would you like to listen to? Not sure about the steamer treatment (that’s a real blower – you’ll either love it or hate it!) or ultrasound (yes, you read it right)? That’s fine, she’ll tailor the facial to what you like. It’s a much more personal approach than the facial-by-numbers that big salons tend to use.

3. She has muscles in her fingertips. No, not really, but -here’s another gripe about average beauticians (sorry!) - I can’t stand it when you ask for a firm massage and instead the masseuse tickles you from top to toe. During a facial Helen obviously won’t be pummelling away but, as I was on a roll, I did happen to have a hot stone massage as well (*sigh* it was amazing) and the pressure was just perfect for my knarly shoulders.

4. She’s Chinese and is a dab hand at acupressure, using it in her facial treatments as well as as basic principle in her back massages. I love all that sort of stuff. I had acupuncture a few years ago and I nearly exploded with newfound energy so I’m a big believer in it.

5. The price. When a 1.5 hour facial is really brilliant but only costs you £45, you know you’re onto a winner. A one hour facial is £35, and a one hour Chinese massage with hot stones is £40. That, my friends, is a total wacker dacker bargain.

So Helen, I crown you Muddy Stiletto’s official de-wrinkler.  It’s a job and a half but I think you’re up to it.

Helen, May Lee Beauty. Tel: 07711 889896. helen@mayleebeauty.co.uk. www.mayleebeauty.co.uk