Treatment:
Mama Mio
Bikini Boot Camp
(90
minutes, £105)
An intense treatment of
double exfoliation and
deep tissue massage.
Using scrubbing exfolia-
tors, serious glycolic peels
and an algaenate masque
along with the famous
spa-strength Mama Mio
products (Shrink To Fit,
Get Waisted, Skin Tight
and Boob Tube). This is a
boot camp for bulges, and
helps to improve skin tex-
ture, tighten slack, spongy
skin, reduce the appearance
of cellulite and ease water
retention. We cer tainly
noticed how silky-soft our
skin was, and would recom-
mend this treatment just
before you go on holiday –
after the diet and fitness push, before the spray tan. It cer tainly makes the biki-
ni that bit less scary...
SPAVERTA
Hotel Verta, Battersea
Best for....forgetting about everything
Inside Spa Ver ta you could be anywhere in the world, so just surrender
yourself to their exper t team and relax. They have a great selection of
shor t treatments, extended ‘journeys’, day programmes and overnight
packages. Product ranges used include Anne Semonin, [comfor t zone]
and Mama Mio. It’s wor th taking the time before your treatment to enjoy
the cave-like subterranean wet facilities, including a state-of-the-ar t
hydrotherapy pool, experience showers, sanarium, steam room and
sauna. Lie back on the heated loungers and dream of warmer climates!
The treatment rooms are huge, with their own shower to ensure
complete privacy. Each treatment is highly personalised and therapists
are able to adapt and prescribe accordingly. After your pampering ses-
sion, make your way to the sublime relaxation room, complete with cosy
loungers, duvets, herbal tea bar, soothing music
and reading material. It’s difficult to leave.
Treatment:
Black Sand Salt Scrub & Massage
by Anne Semonin
(90 minutes, £130)
Black sand from Tahiti and aromatic oils sweep
away dead skin cells, leaving skin wonderfully soft,
silky and radiant. The delicate smell of verbena
helps you drift into a state of relaxation. After the
exfoliation it’s time for a quick shower (in the
room) and then aromatic oils are applied all over
to nourish and soften the skin whilst you enjoy a
rejuvenating full body massage.
URBAN RETREAT
Harrods, Knightsbridge
Best for.....spa-while-you-shop
This is one of the biggest salons in the world, with 32 treat-
ment rooms and 45 styling stations. It’s not somewhere you
go to relax, as you go straight from the shop floor into your
treatment and then are thrust back into the throng of it
straight after. It’s where you go for effective, hard-hitting
treatments rather than a pampering day – from big names
like Crème de la Mer, La Prairie, Guinot and Thalgo.