Is this the most indulgent treatment ever?

13/01/2016 / Don't try this at home

When it comes to our beauty regime we’re all about results these days which begs the question; where has all the pampering gone? Our editorial director Liz Hambleton sets off to find out…

Like everything else in life, our beauty regime has been forced to be condensed, speeded up and made to multi-task. If we can’t do it in under 30 minutes then we’re not interested. Taking the time out to indulge in anything longer than a brow tint or half a head of highlights seems so very frivolous doesn’t it? According to Rachel Burke, Spa Manager at the luxurious Espa Life At The Corinthia London we’re missing a serious trick because pampering has moved on. ‘Modern pampering is just as much about results as it is relaxation with treatments offering a holistic approach to physical and mental well being,’ she explains. ‘We call them lifestyle treatments.’ I’m lucky enough to get to try one of ESPA’s most luxurious offerings , the pure indulgence body ritual, a two hour extravaganza of modern pampering to find out exactly what Rachel is talking about. All in the name of research you understand…

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It's all about you

Pampering is nothing without personalisation. If it’s not bespoke and tailored to your individual requirements then it’s not pampering. Fact. ‘Every aspect of this ritual is based on how you’re feeling, what you want to achieve and what your mind and body need at that particular moment,’ explains Rachel. First, I’m asked to inhale two equally dreamy aromatic Espa oils and select the one that most appeals. I’m drawn to the uplifting, ‘detoxifying’ option as i’m feeling tired and sluggish that day. ‘The oil you select tells us what your body needs, from this we can then work out the kind of massage we should use, as well as the type of clay your system would best respond to during the body wrap.’ Even the position of the bed can be personalised allowing your body to melt into it just that little bit more…

One treatment does not a pampering ritual make

This two hour ritual is a triple, actually make that quadruple whammy of treatments. It kicks off with a stimulating full body exfoliation with dry body brushing followed by a powerfully polishing spearmint scrub. At this stage my skin and mind are already thanking me for bringing them to this happy, happy place. After the scrub is removed i’m covered in the clay mask my therapist selected for me based on my choice of body oil. ‘We’ve gone for a marine algae wrap, which is highly detoxifying and will help to eliminate those feelings of sluggishness you have today, this will really get your system going,’ says Rachel. Wrapped in a plastic blanket and covered in towels i’m left to sweat it out as the heat of the bed amplifies the effects of the mask. When I say left, what I actually mean is that i’m treated to yet another treatment (!) a blissful cleansing scalp massage to aid relaxation and release tension. As if i’m not relaxed enough! And we haven’t got to the best bit yet – the personalised body massage…

Why have a massage when you could have a massage synergy?

Why is it always so damn hard to switch off when you're having a massage? Well in this ritual, after a full hour of unwinding, your mind and body, like mine, will have already to turned to mush by the time you get to the massage bit. ‘The beauty of finishing with the massage is that you’re so much more receptive to the effects of the massage at this stage. . Your body is right where we need to it to be,’ says Rachel. ‘We use what we like to call a synergy of massage, which is a 360 degree approach to relaxing and releasing the muscles. A light, stimulating massage kicks things off and this is followed by a deep tissue technique (pressure personalised to your preferences naturally) that encourages deep rooted tension to melt away. Blissful doesn’t even come close to describe how you’ll feel.

Image credits: stocksy

Image credits: Stocksy