It bears the name 'Dubai' in Arabic and dates back to the 1960s
There are those that promise to take inches of your problem areas (à la Victoria Beckham, who reportedly used seaweed wraps to regain her figure after the birth of her third son) - and others that simply offer to make your cellulite look better. The one-hour Detox Marine Algae Wrap at The Spa, The Address Dubai Mall, promises the latter.
The spa itself is a gorgeous place that makes you breathe a sigh of relief as you enter. My therapist, Leky, is a deceptively thin woman with super strength, as evidenced by her expert administrations. Did I lose any inches? Leky throws in the sensible disclaimer that the inch-reducing treatment is most effective after multiple sessions, diet and exercise. But was my skin smooth? Like a happy baby's.
Prior to heading over, I gave in to curiosity and read up on what to expect with a seaweed wrap treatment - and was pleasantly surprised to find they didn't do it the thick, green, goopy, messy way at The Address spa. Nor did it smell of a fish market, as others had warned. The session begins with a 30-minute scrub to exfoliate the skin and open the pores. A detox cocktail mix is then applied - and you're wrapped in cling film for 30 minutes - followed by a wonderfully hot shower, and a final application of a spa massage cream as moisturiser. Bliss!
There are no clocks anywhere. Everything is designed to encourage you to lose track of time. The soothing music, the soft lighting, the lounge area with its little treats... Makes you want to include a special room in future house plans, where you can recreate the same space away from the world.
The scrub, I have to say, borders on torturous - but I suppose that would be the case anywhere, even if you chose to scrub yourself at home. Thankfully, it is not an unnecessarily prolonged affair and is over before I can say 'Edvard Munch'. Hey, no pain, no gain!
Reservations: 04- 4388025
spa.dubaimall@theaddress.com
Cost: Dh530 for 60 mins
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