Beauty & Fashion | Beauty
Salon Hydration Fixes
Give your self a hudration boost with these fixes
- Compiled By Sudeshna Ghosh, Charlene Stubbs, Louisa Wilkins
- Published: 12:44 July 28, 2010
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Face
What: Customised Correcting Facial, 90 minutes, Dh759.
Where: Amrita Spa, Raffles Dubai, 04-3149869.
Expect: If you want to get hardcore on hydration, then book yourself in for this results-orientated facial. It comes with expert advice from the spa therapist and will see your skin getting the right treatment to combat problems and dehydration. For me, not only was my skin dehydrated, but also needed rebalancing and de-clogging. My therapist began with the Correcting Foaming Cleanser followed by the Refining Toner, which has hydrating properties. Normally within the facial, a potent glycolic peel comes next, but as my skin is overly-sensitive, my therapist switched this to a combination of a gentle face scrub, purifying mud mask and enzyme peel. All was applied under steam to open my pores and begin the decongestion process.
Once my skin was ready to soak up the goodness, it was time for the star of the show. An ultra-hydrating mask was literally poured over my face - this can get a little claustrophobic as the mask covers both your eyes and mouth - setting like a cool rubber seal. Left on for ten minutes, I enjoyed the benefits of a head massage, before my newly plump skin was unveiled. What followed was a slew of skin balancing oils, clarifying creams, and a hyaluronic serum, which is well-known for its hydration-boosting properties. The treatment finished with an in-depth consultation and tips on what I should use at home.
Results: To experience a facial that is specifically structured for your skin's actual needs is eye-opening. My skin was plumper than ever before and really benefited from the re-balancing aspects of the facial. If you want to invest in your skin, then this is the facial to do it. -
Body
What: Unwind Body Wrap, 50 minutes, Dh395.
Where: One & Only Spa, The One & Only Royal Mirage, 04-3999999.
Expect: Being prone to dehydrated skin as it is, the constant air con onslaught during the summer makes my skin feel a lot worse than usual - and in need of some slightly more serious attention than my haphazardly irregular moisturising.
The Unwind Body Wrap uses Espa marine mud, which contains trace minerals that nourish and rebalance dehydrated skin - just what the doctor ordered, then! The experience boded well with a delicious fruity drink to welcome me into the luxe spa. The treatment began with a dry body brushing to stimulate circulation, followed by an exfoliation. Next, my therapist applied the green gunk that is the blended marine mud clay; I'd had my reservations, but it actually smelled quite nice, felt smooth and cool to the touch, and I could almost feel my skin thirstily drinking up its goodness. After applying it all over, she wrapped me up in a plastic sheet, then swaddled me in towels to render me comfortably immobile. While the wrap worked its magic, she gave me a relaxing head massage using Espa Pink Hair & Scalp Mud, which moisturises and conditions the hair with its watercress and apricot kernel ingredients. Afterwards, she led me to the showers in the locker room to wash it all off and handed me a tube of moisturiser to apply, post-shower.
Results: I hadn't expected much more than refreshed skin on the day to be honest, but was surprised to notice how remarkably softer, smoother and healthier my skin felt for days after, with the combined effects of exfoliation and nourishment. -
Hair
What: Label.M Intensive Mask, five minutes, Dh120.
Where: Toni & Guy, Emirates Towers, 04-3303345.
Expect: Serious amounts of chlorine, sun and sea water abuse, and countless colour changes, have left my fine locks in a bad way - coarse, dry, perma-tangled and in need of regular conditioning hair masks. Stephanie, the hair technician at Toni & Guy, saysthat she has come across a lotof hair treatments, but that this is one of the best - even thoughit only stays on your hair for afew minutes.
After a quick shampoo, a handful of Label.M Intensive Mask was teased through my hair and I was treated to a stress-busting head massage while the hair mask seeped in.
Label.M is the brain child of Toni & Guy's co-founder Toni Mascolo and his daughter, Sascha. The mask contains bran, cottonseeds, shea butter and Amazon cupuau, to hydrate damaged hair from the inside out. According to Stephanie, the treatment also protects the hair from UV rays, chlorine and other damaging environmental factors. Although the tub recommends three minutes, Stephanie advises that you can leave it in for up to five minutes before rinsing out with warm water.
Results: I could notice the difference pretty much as soonas the towel came off my head.For a start, the stylist could pull a brush through my hair without scalping me and, as my hair dried,I could see and feel that it was softer and smoother - less like a Wild West tumbleweed and more like a head of silky, shiny hair.For best results, the mask needs to be applied once or twice a week, so take a pot home with you(Dh86 for 120ml).
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