• Home
• /
• Lifestyle

Is fatigue taking a toll on your skin and body?

A super lift facial and a relaxation massage at The Spa in Dubai's Steigenberger Hotel elevates mind, spirit - and, of course, body + face. Sushmita Bose reports

I discovered something at the Steigenberger Hotel's spa: the virtue of getting a hot compress on the sole(s) of your feet as you're lying face down. It sets the tone for 'relaxation'. A sort of warm relief courses up your body, and you feel all's well with the world. Because it was unexpected (I couldn't see it coming), it thrashed me out of my lassitude.
At the end of the hour-long massage, I was nicely perked up, and looking forward to the facial: the silicium super lift, that uses a range of products from Thalgo (with marine algae as their base). Allegedly, for women over a "certain age", it works wonders. Facial contours are refined and toned, and your face becomes your fortune with less wrinkles and frown lines (less of frown lines is something I wouldn't mind). The facial session was super relaxing; I distinctly felt 'pressure points' on my visage melting away (at least temporarily!). There is, however, a seriously high-voltage beam of light that's pointed at you while the exfoliation and skin analysis is done (only to be expected, I guess); it penetrates even the eye pads you are given.
Post-facial, my face was definitely smooth and glowing. But how long will it last? And do I need top-ups every now and then? Watch this space!
Therapy time
Sixty minutes of relaxation therapy, followed by a 60-minute super lift facial. The massage was simple enough... My masseuse, Janice, used firm, long strokes to ease out tension with special focus on back and shoulders. An hour went by in a flash. The facial was more complex: toning, scrubbing, steaming, exfoliating, skin analysing... capped by a mask and then a serum face massage. The great part is that one doesn't need to leave the therapy bed, so the transition - from massage to facial - was seamless. But be warned of a really high-intensity beam of light during a good part of the facial!
What we loved...
The massage technique was effective; and my therapist was instructive - she gave me a complete lowdown as to what was happening to me, without being too talkative. Therapy room was nice and ambient; I liked that there was a snatch of A.R. Rahman (instrumental) being played.
What we didn't...
At Dh650, the facial is a bit expensive - even though it lasted an hour, and even though they used premium marine-based Thalgo products. The spa layout is slightly confusing, at least for a first-timer: I'd have been happily lost had it not been for the nice lady usher who escorted me around.
Pure Relaxation Massage + Thalgo Silicium Super Lift Facial
The Spa, Steigenberger Hotel, Al Abraj Street, Business Bay, Dubai
Reservations: Call 04 3690000, ext. 3045
Cost: Massage - Dh450 (60 mins)
Facial: Dh650 (60 mins)
Our rating: 4/5
sushmita@khaleejtimes.com