5 things the Spa Spies are loving this season

My goal to get fit and healthy in my forties led me to contemplate my relationship with alcohol - discovering a vibrant sober-curious community on Instagram has been a game changer. I’ve also been exploring AF alternatives to replace my ritualistic end-of-day tipple, from DASH Water – sparkling water with wonky fruit and zero-calorie (yep, you heard that right) - to Three Spirits ‘Livener’ promising euphoric feel from guayusa, guava leaf and schisandra. My favourite, though, is Pentire Coastal Spritz, a non-alcoholic aperitif that comes in a beautiful Gin-like bottle and is blended with blood orange – lending its distinctive colour - sea rosemary and Oakwood, giving it a bitter-sweet flavour. Serve with ice, tonic and a slice of orange and voila - a drink that looks as good as it tastes; my new go-to tipple for autumn/winter evenings.

Having tried traditional Turkish baths in the past I wasn’t eager to book another (all that harsh scrubbing is a little too much for this Spa Spy). When I heard about Cairndale Spa teaming up with Annandale Distillery and Tribe517 to create an Uncasked Hammam treatment (60 minutes, £89) showcasing their own whiskey, vanilla and coconut sugar scrub, I had to give it a go. Entering the spa’s hammam – with its white marble walls and floors, and central marble plinths - Christina, my therapist, applied the almost edible smelling whiskey, vanilla and coconut sugar scrub and removed it with a hand-woven cloth submerged in a wooden bucket of soapy water. A slow and rhythmic massage came next, starting on my back and moving down to my limbs. Afterwards, my skin felt smooth; my muscles relaxed from the hot marble. 10 out of 10.

If I could give any advice to my younger self, it would be to use suncream every day come rain or shine. Not only does this protect your skin from those pesky low UV rays that (sometimes) peak through the clouds in the colder months but it doubles up as a moisturiser. Monpure’s SPF 50 Sunscreen for Scalp & Face (30ml, £75) is a game-changer with its attractive slim forest green bottle and mess-free top. Its core ingredients are the golden children of beauty, too, namely Hyaluronic Acid and Niacinamide. A little goes a long way, too which – given the high price point – is a blessing. My only issue is keeping it out of the sticky clutches of my 12-year-old red head who uses it to protect her oh-so-sensitive scalp on sunny days (if you’re reading this Lily-Jane, please hand it back).

As soon as the nights start drawing in, Comfort Zone Tranquillity Candle (280g, £29.50) always takes centre stage in my house - I’ve been obsessed with this little beauty since stumbling across it a few years’ ago. Not only does it look super-chic in its a sage-coloured ceramic pot with creamy centre but the sweet orange and cedarwood combo smells divine (it reminds me of an expensive cologne; warm and sensuous rather than your typical aromatherapy essential oil spa scent). With 55 hours of burn time, I light mine as soon as the sun goes down (no saving for best here); the scent gently fills the room and makes me feel like I’m being wrapped in an oversized cashmere cardi. It would make a great Christmas gift, too (if you can bear to part with it, that is).

I recently had the pleasure of trying The Municipal Hotel’s new Bath Butler Service (£40), the first of its kind in the North-West. A member of the concierge team will come to your room at a time chosen by you, head into your bathroom, turn on the bath taps, drizzle your chosen oil into the water, run the water to your ideal temperature, place a wooden bath bar across laden with neroli and sweet basil shampoo and conditioner and leave the room for you to unwind. You, meanwhile, use a QR code to download some soothing tunes to listen to whilst bathing. Lying in the warm, bubbly water – notes of Petitgrain and Black Pepper filling the air – I sunk my shoulders under and relaxed. Sound a little like something out of the Victorian ages? Don’t knock it until you try it. I also slept like a baby.