As is so oft the case in life, sometimes a facial isn’t all about what is being done but who is doing it. This facial was very reliant on the skill of the giver, and I was fortunate enough to have the very gifted Carol administer it.
I’ll start at the very beginning.
Spa NK is my local refuge from stress. When I walk into the locker room I begin to feel myself metaphorically shedding the skin of London life. I’m comforted by the fact that I will probably be shedding some actual old skin during my stay, and beautifying is always a tonic to me. There is also the knowledge that I won’t be ushered out after my treatment and will instead be offered a herbal tea to enjoy in the relaxation area (where there is also a stocked library – perfect for my inner bookworm). There is the final pièce de résistance in the form of the shop upon exit – there is nothing more seductive than shelves of products after having been subject to their unctions.
Here is the lowdown on the treatment:
Once ensconced in the dressing gown from my locker (where I found a little treat in the form of a mini Sai-Sei gift bag – freebies are always a nice touch) I moseyed along upstairs where I was greeted by Carol and taken to the treatment room.
Once lying comfortably she started with a spinal massage. A bit off area, you may think, but the theory behind this bad boy is that the toxins which are so pesky when they emerge facially all travel from other parts of the body and, that being the case, you have to start on the body and work your way to the face. All that aside, it felt pretty good to have a massage and facial for the price of one.
The facial part consisted of a good cleanse followed by a few extractions where needed, and then a great deal of applying and removing masks and ointments. Some of these smelled medicinal, some of them needed to be left on for a while, and others just seemed to be moisturisers of some sort. This was the mainstay of the treatment – applying and removing things. Had it not been for the little extras, I probably would’ve felt a little conned.
Thankfully, I didn’t, but that was all down to Carol and, had she not been so competent, it may not have worked as a treatment. As it was, the sense of this being a body treatment, rather than just a facial, was continued throughout - during the ever-cumbersome waiting-for-a-mask to dry period, Carol even massaged my hands and feet.
The result? My skin is glowing, and as a bonus I feel I have been unburdened of some of my stress. Although this is a facial, i wouldn’t recommend it for anyone with problem skins – this is a treatment for those in need of a little TLC and a good complexion for the weekend. Would I have this again? Possibly, but only if Carol were delivering it.
