Whether you want to glitter at the Christmas disco, shine at the festive work do (cheese & wine, optional) or add a little sparkle as the nights draw in, the Spa Spies share their favourite products, treatments and spas to sprinkle some extra glam on the occasion.
The Million Dollar Facial combines classic techniques with some science to deliver Insta-ready skin. From cleansing and toning to microneedling and lymphatic drainage, this epic treatment exfoliates dead skin cells, removes peach fuzz, polishes the skin, flushes toxins and stimulates natural collagen and cell turnover. That’s quite the treatment. The 10-step method increases absorption of active ingredients by 80% (as opposed to 8%), to keep you glowing into the new year.
Bathe in gold
Crowned Best Spa in London at the Regional Good Spa Guide Awards, Bulgari Spa in Knightsbridge is the one of the most glamorous subterranean spas in the UK. Bonus points for being just around the corner from Harrods – that’s the last-minute Christmas gift spree sorted. We highly recommend stealing a moment from the festive madness to relax in the gold-leaf tiled hydropool - where you can literally bathe in gold. Our Spa Spy reported: “The enormous swimming pool is also dotted with gold tiles – you can lounge on the poolside cabanas, order lunch and gaze at the gold reflection glittering on the ceiling.” Go on then…
Tata Harper medi & pedi
A visit to the super-glitzy Lanesborough Hotel in London is guaranteed to add some Christmas sparkle; giant floor-to-ceiling silver baubles and chandeliers fill the lobby, while a soothing orange/citrus scent fills the air. Head to the opulent art-deco spa – crowned Best Urban Spa at the Good Spa Awards – and try Tata Harper’s cult skincare. The entire range is free from toxins, fillers, artificial colours and fragrances, and the iconic green bottles are handmade at her organic farm in Vermont. We love the Tata Harper Manicure and Pedicure for a deep skin scrub, buff and nourishing mask - leaving you party-ready, without the guilt. We’re all for a greener Christmas.
Temple Spa’s TRUFFLESQUE Hydrating Radiance Face Mask
(75ml, £60)
Our Spa Spy discovered this little pot of gold as part her Champagne & Truffles Deluxe Treatment (90 minutes, £135) at Lincombe Hall Spa on the English Riviera. The mask contains a decadent combo of black summer truffles and silk particles to plump and smooth the skin, while gold and silver particles add luminosity and radiance. “This should be a bathroom cabinet staple any time of the year, but it certainly adds a little festive bling; the TRUFFLESQUE mask felt as luxurious and indulgent as it sounds,” our Spa Spy reported.
Comfort Zone Himalayan Salt Massage Ritual
(55 minutes, £78)
Take advantage of the ionising and healing properties of Himalayan salt. Our Spa Spy tried the Comfort Zone Himalayan Salt Massage Ritual at Fawsley Hall Spa and said: “This uplifting treatment used heated Himalayan salt blocks and Comfort Zone Body Strategist Oil to soothe my knotted back, before Himalayan salt was rubbed into my whole body. I was then wrapped in blankets and enjoyed a scalp massage. Once the remaining scrub was buffed off, I was enveloped in a firming D-Age cream, leaving my skin glowing and my energy restored.”
The post-party saviours…
Isla Rose Quartz Eye Mask
(£84)
Pop this beauty in the fridge before a big night out and you’ll thank yourself come morning. Made from rose quartz – known for its deep healing properties connected to the heart chakra – the mask moulds itself around the eyes leaving them feeling refreshed and refined. Our Spa Spy tried the mask as part of her destress massage at Bamford Wellness Spa and reported: “my skin looked so healthy and felt incredibly soothing. This is self-love at its finest.”
OTO CBD Facial Serum and Night Eye Treatment
(30ml, £68; 15ml, £49)
OTO’s CBD Night Eye Treatment uses high quality CBD with carrot-seed oil and lavandin to help banish those dreaded dark circles – a regular feature in party-season. Vitamin E & argan oil help moisturise the delicate undereye area, preventing water loss and soothing the skin. Slather on the Spa Spies’ favourite, CBD Facial Serum, for some deep nourishment for winter-weathered skin. The oil-like consistency soaks into thirsty skin, leaving it feeling silky smooth and plumped. The serum blends pure CBD with specially curated botanicals, like pomegranate oil, to protect the skin from UV rays and free radicals, and Moroccan Blue Tansy flower, responsible for the serum’s blue hue.
Jewels of Nature Christmas Treatment
(1 hour 15 minutes, £165)
So many of us feel overwrought in the lead up to Christmas… quieten the mind and release physical tension (bye-bye shopping bag strain) with a sensorial top-to-toe treatment. Gift yourself 75 minutes of bliss by booking the Jewel of Nature Christmas ESPA Treatment at Sequoia Spa at The Grove and expect: sensorial visualisation, a foot and lower leg exfoliation, hot stone massage, a facial cleanse and massage, a shoulder neck and scalp massage, followed by a soothing tea. This is one Christmas ritual we’re happy to embrace.
Scarlet Spy
13th December 2021
Spy Likes:
Nature-inspired spas, cold water plunges, sound baths, deep tissue massage, delicious food.
Spy Dislikes:
Thin walls in treatment rooms, lounger hoggers, soggy robes, bright lights.
