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Congratulations to our lucky winners of our 12 Days of Christmas competition, and thanks to all you lovely people who took part. Here are the gifts that got away, but there is still time to add them to your Christmas list. Our wish list features beautiful presents from prestigious spa brands such as Natura Bissé, Temple Spa, Espa, Elemis, Comfort Zone, Neom and Aromatherapy Associates. There are gifts for party animals or fitness enthusiasts, the stressed out, adventurous and seasoned spa-istas, with prices ranging from £950 to £20.
Without further ado, here is The List. If you didn't win, you could always send the link to Santa. It is Christmas after all...
Natura Bissé Inhibit High Definition Serum and Patches worth £950
This exceptionally elegant product comes in a sleek white box – no Christmas bling for this elegant Barcelona based skincare company. Inhibit bills itself as a miracle product, filling, lifting and erasing ‘expression’ lines in just four weeks – Botox for those who hate needles, and like to be able to move their facial muscles. Use the High Definition Patches to magnify the results.
The High Definition Serum contains triple hyaluronic acid, conotoxin (a sea snail venom that performs similarly to Botox), copper and collagen peptides for tightening, a platelet derived growth factor (PDGF) and BioMimetic Placenta® to trigger production of collagen, elastin and hyaluronic acid to “redensify” and rejuvenate the skin.
The Contourist Six Skin Remodelling and Brightening Masks (£50): An instant lift and brightener for any occasion and all skin types. The magic, apparently, is in the ‘diamond weave technology’ that hugs the face while infusing the skin with serum. Includes anti-aging Mediterranean pomegranate, red clover, liquorice and vitamin C.
The Skin Specialist Skin Therapy Hero Collection: Provides you with a mini spa experience. Eight Temple Spa hero products in a turquoise travel bag includes a mini Toning Essence, In the Beginning cleanser, Breakfast Smoothie exfoliator, Purification mask, Repose cream, It’s all Good face oil and Windows of the Soul eye treatment.
Drift Away Relaxing Bathing and Massage Oil (£25): A Temple Spa classic with patchouli, lavender, camomile, frankincense, myrrh and orange.
Life Defence SPF 25 (£38): A light moisturiser with UVA/UVB protection.
Airs & Spaces and Light-Hearted: Reed diffusers and aromatic mist from the beautifully packaged Christmas collection, deep blue boxes, gold Art Nouveau style flowers and gorgeous dark bottles of home aromas inside.
All in Hand Cleansing Hand Wash (£18.50) and All is Well Hydrating Hand Lotion (£20): A huge success in the powder rooms at The Good Spa Guide Awards. Gives any bathroom a glamorous lift.
The stylish blue/grey jar of Hydramemory Cream (£42) and tube of Hydramemory Mask (£30) are packaged in quite a jazzy box for Comfort Zone, who mostly go minimalist on the outside with the focus on complex botanicals inside. The hydrating cream is a blend of natural extracts of apple, lentil and watermelon rind with fair trade moringa oil, said to be good for acne. The Hydramemory Essence increases hydration and maximises the effectiveness of products used on top.
Elemis Bath and Shower gifts worth £85
The Sleep Life Elixir (£55) is elegantly packaged in a smart white box with a purple rim. This unlatches pleasingly with a magnetic clasp to reveal a delightful bottle of sleep-enhancing bath and shower oil. The blend contains 13 essential oils, including elemi and palmarosa, in a conditioning base of amaranth and bacuri oil. A divine present for a stylish insomniac. (Gift not pictured.)
The Body Beautiful shower set contains a White Lotus and Lime Bath and Shower Nectar and Body Balm which is scented with sacred aquatic white lotus, sweet orange and lemon blossom. The base is rich in cold pressed moringa oil, rich in vitamins and minerals, so as well as smelling divine, you’ll be giving your skin a real treat.
You know how Christmas candles can be a bit heavy on the spice, making you feel like you’ve fallen into a vat of mulled wine (no bad thing). The Perfect Peace scented candle is a blend of 25 pure essential oils, including pine, myrrh and lime peel, and manages to be uplifting as well as festive. Don your angelic halo and treat a loved one to Neom minis in Home of Calm Collection with a bath and shower oil and hand balm, or the Total Calm Collection with a hand balm, On the Go mist and body wash and lotion.
Neom’s Christmas packaging is almost as gorgeous as their scents. We love the detail in these elegant silhouetted houses in silver and gold: they make perfect gifts for anyone, especially travellers, although we would be tempted to hold the candle back for ourselves…
As connoisseurs of spa robes – we have tried and tested many – this is the Spa Spies’ absolute favourite. This luxurious towelling 550gsm bathrobe is 100 per cent Egyptian cotton, and has a wide shawl collar with attractive raglan sleeves. It also maintains its softness wash after wash.
The Good Spa Guide logo is also something to wear with pride, and it’s no bad thing to keep the staff guessing as to whether you are really a Spa Spy …
Mii’s Supernova Matte Lip Trio in Flirt (£31) has two limited edition shades – Naked OO (peachy nude), Infatuation (cool fuchsia) – plus the fabulous Sassy 03 (pillar-box red). The sparkly packaging is inspired by the night’s sky. Jessica’s Beyond Indugence Set with Spongelle Honey Blossom Sponge contains a Jessica nail varnish in Champagne bubbles (clink, clink) with a Spongelle travel-friendly body wash infused Spongette buffer in honey blossom. Time to sparkle, people.
The perfect gift for someone who works out, this Christmas collection includes the new Muscle Rescue Balm (25g), as well as Fitness Body Oil (50ml) and a full-szie Energising Shower Gel. The three items are packaged in an elegant gift box with a subtly festive green ribbon.
The mini glass tub of balm contains instantly cooling peppermint and eucalyptus to soothe strained muscles and general aches and pains. The half-size body oil has warming Indian bay and clove bud oils, with lavender to calm the mind and sweet almond oil for soft, supple skin. The shower gel makes a reviving, and gorgeously scented, post-work out cleanse.
The perfect antidote to all that festive carousing, this is a rather smart stocking filler for the party animal in your life (possibly you). The Gel Patches contain Actiflow which is rich in polysaccharides from yeast to prevent puffy eyes and dark circles. The Gold Eye Serum (£36) has Andean tree extract, aloe vera, seaweed and hyaluronic acid as well as minute real 23c gold particles. The bright yellow packaging is nicely anti-cliché, and to quote NSF, “we don’t test on animals… only party animals.”
A heavenly offering for stressed city slickers, the gift box is a comfort and joy in itself. Gold flakes tumble onto a charmingly drawn London skyline. Open the top with a gold fabric tab to reveal a lovely de-stress muscle gel, body oil and small but perfectly formed bottle of bath and shower oil floating above mirrored gold box interior.
The Special Edition De-Stress Muscle Gel is a refreshing mix of rosemary, lavender, patchouli and ginger essential oils. The bath and shower oil (13ml) in its mini bottle is a Savant Spy favourite: rub into your achy limbs and step into the steam for a comforting hit of bitter orange and rosemary. The body oil (20ml) is travel sized, a mix of all the above oils and smells of verdant Christmas forests.
Here is one for the merry gentlemen who like a quality shave and spruce. We love the packaging – not the usual (yawn) minimalist lettering just because it's for blokes, as though chaps aren't supposed to like fancy things. French company Thalgo harness the power of the sea and use the anti-ageing properties of marine minerals. This chic coffret contains a full-size Regenerating Cream (£36.50), After Shave Balm (£27.50) and half-size Wake Up Shower Gel (100ml): perfect to pack into a suitcase if you fancy a quick getaway.
Starting from £25
For the beauty lover that has everything, what better gift to give than the gift of a spa day. Treat the lucky recipient to spa time at your favourite spa (with you of course!) or let them choose their own perfect experience. With hundreds of spas in the UK and overseas, they will be spoilt for choice...
The Spa Spy
28th November 2017
Spy Likes:
Intuitive masseurs, inspired or outlandish treatments and design, posh products and celeb spotting.
Spy Dislikes:
Anyone po-faced (guests and therapists) or stupid, boring design and treatments.
