They are sometimes known colloquially as “sauna suits,” and for the most part this is a relatively accurate way of describing how they work; the wrap becomes like a unique, form-fitting sauna tailor made for your body.

Trim and Tone Body Wrap

One of the most popular body wrap treatments at The Sanctuary Covent Garden Day Spa is the Trim and Tone Body Wrap.

As its name suggests, the wrap’s aim is to tone the body – specifically the tummy and thighs – as well as helping with such common body woes such as cellulite and water retention.

The wrap also has other benefits such as encouraging lymphatic drainage, stimulating circulation and aiding in flushing toxins from the body.

Do body wraps work?

As with any treatment, the results can vary from person to person.

The immediate slimming effects of body wraps are primarily due to the sweating caused by the sauna-like wrap (and as such it also pays to have some water on hand so as to avoid getting dehydrated).  However, body wraps can also help to detoxify, firm and tone the skin.

If you want to try doing a body wrap at home then why not take a look at the Trim and Tone Body Wrap kit?

Cleanse & Exfoliate

The all important first step in any good skin care routine.

Whether you use a cream cleanser or a gentle scrub (although using one of these at least once or twice a week is generally recommended), be sure to give your face a good massage before rinsing it all off with clean, warm water (too hot or too cold can damage your skin) and patting dry.

Manufacturers of some of the best skin care products for women recommend using special facial sponges or cloths (such as our Spa Facial Muslin Cloths) for the perfect polish.

Tone

A good toner swept across the face and neck will remove any last traces of cleanser as well helping to balance your skin’s pH levels, close your pores, and prepare your skin for moisturiser.

Moisturise

Arguably the most important part of your skin care routine. Vital for all skin types from dry to blemish prone (ranges of the best skin care products for oily skin tend to include special non-greasy ones), a good moisturiser will leave your skin hydrated but not shiny as well as ensuring that it will not overcompensate for dryness by producing excess oil.

There are also a few little extra things you can to treat your skin every once in a while. These include:

• Some intensive overnight skin repair (for example our Night Concentrate)
• A detoxifying facial mask (I love our 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask)
• An anti-ageing face peel (see our 30 Day Youth Revolution).

The salt scrub vs. sugar scrub debate

Both kinds of body scrub have their own particular pros and cons.

A sea salt body scrub has larger, coarser exfoliating crystals, meaning that they are particularly good for dealing with very tough, dry skin.  They can also be a little drying (which can be good for oily skin).

Sugar scrubs, on the other hand, are generally softer and finer, making them better suited for more sensitive skin types.

How to apply a body scrub

The best way to apply a body scrub is with small, circular movements towards the heart, preferably starting with your feet and working upwards.
Always make sure you rinse off all the scrub properly; this is usually best done in a warm bath in order to allow the salts and other beneficial ingredients plenty of time to absorb into your skin.

For the best results try and use a body scrub at least twice a week.

Be sure to target problem areas

Areas that need a lot of scrubbing (but not too hard!) include:

• Elbows
• Knees
• Feet (especially heels)
• Legs (this helps prevent ingrown hairs)

Always moisturise afterwards

A necessity after bathing; scrub or no scrub.  While the oils and other ingredients included in the best body scrubs do help to hydrate your skin, applying body oil, lotion or butter is key in maintaining long lasting skin softness.

Here at The Sanctuary Spa, however, we’ve brewed up a little secret of our own.  Our Therapist’s Secret Facial Oil is, in my opinion, one of the finest facial products for women.  It will have people wondering what your secret is in no time (or at the very least complimenting your glowing, radiant skin while they try and figure it out for themselves).

What’s in it?

• A mixture of pure oils including sunflower, jojoba and wheatgerm oil (rich in vitamin E) to hydrate and condition your skin
• Rosehip oil to help repair and strengthen
• Rose and frankincense to calm and soothe.

How does it work?

The natural ingredients work together in order to pamper, plump and moisturise your skin without being too greasy.  Use after a thorough cleansing by sweeping a few drops over your face and neck.

Is it right for me?

Therapist’s Secret Facial Oil is suitable for all skin types from combination to sensitive.  Its versatility means that it can be used either as a base for make up or a restorative night moisturising treatment.

As well as being sensibly priced, our customer reviews have proven it to be effective for a number of different skin types and environments.  In short, as it’s one of our most popular skin care products, we must be doing something right!

Just remember: it’s a secret…!

See the complete skin care range here.

Regular facials are a great way of keeping your skin healthy and glowing, so it’s no wonder that they are still one of the most popular day spa treatments.  I personally try to have a facial at least once a month.

Capable of helping with a variety of problems from acne scarring to crow’s feet, they can be both relaxing and invigorating.  But what kind of facial is right for you? Are you looking for one of the best anti-ageing facial treatments money can buy or a quick microdermabrasion session to smooth and lighten your complexion?

Here’s a short guide to help you decide on the best solution for you:

Rejuvenation
If you’re looking to rejuvenate your skin and give it a boost of radiance then you can’t go wrong with a Pure Oxygen Brightening Facial.

Utilising the regenerative powers of pure oxygen this treatment cleanses, tones and exfoliates as well as aiding with the healing of such common facial skin problems as acne and scar tissue.

A perfect pick me up before a night on the town.

Scarring
If you suffer from acne or have badly sun damaged skin then the Environ Lactogel Peel may be just the treatment you’re looking for.  A mild but effective peel that speeds up the repair process, it can also help with rough, dry facial skin providing instant – and glowing – results.

Anti-ageing
The Sanctuary offers a number of different facials in order to combat the tell-tale signs of ageing:

The Carita Pro-Lift Firming Facial gives you an expert, non-surgical face lift, leaving you looking youthful and feeling relaxed.

However, the Sanctuary Chroma Oxy Ultimate Facial is also a strong contender for the anti-ageing facial crown.  A 5-in-1 facial that includes microdermabrasion and a hyaluronic mask, the Sanctuary Chroma Oxy Ultimate Facial will leave you and your skin feeling wonderful.  I also like to use the Firming Youth Serum to keep me going between treatments.

I’ve learnt you have to be careful when looking for beauty gifts for pregnant mothers due to the prevalence of parabens and other ingredients in some products. However, our mum to be range is completely SLS and paraben free, as well as being both hypo-allergenic and midwife approved.

With this in mind, here are some great gifts for pregnant women; after all, a happy mum means a happy baby!

Maternity beauty products

Relax

Bath time was always my favourite opportunity for a bit of relaxation while I was expecting.  We have a selection of special mum to be bath products which are perfectly suited for helping you to unwind while in the tub. The Mum to Be Pure Pamper Bag contains everything you need in order to feel cared for top to toe both before and after baby arrives.

Care

A mother to be’s skin needs special care in order to keep it in tip top condition.  I used The Sanctuary’s Mum to be Bounce Back Firming Cream, which helps to rejuvenate skin and maintain its elasticity as well as combat stretch marks and tone up problem areas such as the tummy, bust and arms.

Protect

One of my biggest concerns (and one that I share with a lot of expectant mothers) was stretch marks, so I was thrilled with The Sanctuary’s Mum to Be Stretch Mark Oil.

Helping to reduce the appearance of stretch marks in addition to leaving skin smooth, moisturised and supple, it was a beauty cabinet staple both before and after pregnancy!

Beauty Gift Ideas

I like to put together a few of the travel sized items and bundle them into lovely baskets with ribbon and festive decoration.  That way, my friends get to try a wider selection of products and it’s got a personal touch too.  I love crafts and have been indulging in “Kirstie’s Homemade Home” on C4 and have some ideas up my sleeve for adding decorative touches to the baskets I put together this year!

Us-Time

A friend of mine has the most romantic husband I’ve ever heard of.  For their anniversary this year he whisked her away to their favourite restaurant, then onto her favourite West End show, followed by an overnight stay in the capital.

However, it was the little touches that made it so special.  He’d bought her favourite candles from the Sanctuary and decorated the bathroom with them – now that’s thoughtful!

Spa Day Gift Cards

The ultimate in pampering luxury, experience days for women are an incredibly popular gift option all year round, offering traditional beauty treatments such as facials, massages, manicures, pedicures and more.

Some spas, The Sanctuary included, also have fine dining facilities so you can while away a complete day in the serene surroundings.

And if you missed my earlier post, just to remind you we’re currently offering a 15% saving on all Christmas Gift Card purchases.

There’s something for everyone – no matter what your budget.

It’s never too early or too late to start an anti-ageing skin care routine, and with more than 35 years of experience in caring for women’s skin under The Sanctuary’s belt we like to think we know a thing or two about it.

Here are our tips for ensuring your skin is looking its most youthful, from head to toe, whatever your age (we won’t tell if you don’t).

• Face – invest in the best anti-ageing moisturiser for your skin

Whatever your age, it’s important to keep your skin properly cleansed, toned and moisturised and do it routinely!

As times passes, skin can get thinner and drier, meaning that using the best anti-ageing moisturiser you can afford is vital.  Also, spend some time understanding what your skin type is, and invest in a cream to best suit your needs.

One of our most popular anti-ageing products is Stop the Clock Moisturiser SPF 15 (and its nocturnal counterpart Night Concentrate), which works expertly to protect, soften and hydrate your skin.

• Body – slather on a rich body butter as part of your routine

Just because you’re wrapped up under more layers of clothing at this time of year, it’s still important to look after the skin on your body too.

As well as making sure to exfoliate regularly (which is great for toning as well as improving the overall condition of your skin’s surface), getting a nourishing body moisturiser such as our Youth Boosting Body Butter, is a great way to pamper older skin in particular.

Don’t wait until Spring/Summer and panic when it’s no longer acceptable to wear opaque tights – prep your skin all year round.

• Hands – never too young to snap up the best anti-ageing hand cream you can find

The hands are notorious for giving the game away, age-wise, which is why looking for the very best anti-ageing hand cream is so important.  And remember; apply regularly to really reap the benefits.

My favourite hand cream for its anti-ageing properties is the Anti-Ageing Intensive Hand Mask; I’ve got my eye on this little gem for Christmas presents this year!

“I’m just going to enjoy myself this Christmas and detox in the New Year,” seems to be the agenda for many of the ladies I know.

The word “detox” has always instilled a little bit of fear into me.  The thought of having to cut out many of the things I enjoy, such as caffeine, dairy and the odd glass of wine has never appealed!

However, since bedding into the beauty industry, I’ve discovered a new type of detox; the skin detox – for both face and body.  Let me share this with you:

Body wrap treatments

There are various ways of getting a full body detox treatment. Spa body wrap treatments are particularly popular, helping to draw out impurities and, in some cases, even help you shed an inch or two!

I gave our Trim and Tone Body Wrap kit a whirl at home this week, and let’s just say I’ve now got that extra bit of confidence in wearing my Christmas party outfit.

However, if you don’t fancy fiddling around with bandages then you can try a body mask such as the Warming Detox Body Mask.  After applying, you can either allow it to warm up and then rinse it off, or relax in a warm bath in order to create a detoxifying soak.

Detox Masks for Face

I’m pleased to say I’ve found a great product for facial detox too.  I thoroughly enjoy using the 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask at home, which is based on homemade remedies for clear skin.

We instantly know when one of the girls in the office has used this product – the results are fantastic for drawing impurities from deep within the skin, smoothing, soothing and rebalancing oil levels. Fabulous!

In my quest to save us all from a winter of cracked, undesirable skin, I’ve dug out a few of  what I feel to be some of the best skin care products for dry skin; time to bid flakiness a not-so-fond farewell!

Salt and Sugar Scrubs

First things first, and this is something I admittedly must do more of myself, but try to get into the habit of using a Scrub (either a Salt Scrub or Sugar Scrub) at least once or twice a week.

Getting rid of the dead skin cells that can build up is a key part of preparing the skin for the next stage; moisturising!

Tip: don’t forget the skin on your face will benefit from a similar routine with a gentle facial exfoliating product!

Body butters & lotions

A vital part of any dry skin care routine. Slather a moisturising body butter or lotion into your skin after a shower to lock in all the nourishing ingredients.

I can’t get enough of the Sanctuary Spa body lotion, but then again, I’m currently hooked on anything that contains ginger – I blame Pret A Manger’s delicious “Hansel, the Gingerbread Snowman,” on which I am completely hooked!  I love them – so Christmassy!

Getting back on course, I would say the best body butters are those that contain ingredients such as cocoa and shea butter as well as soothing, hydrating oils.  Look out for these when making your selection.

Lip balm

In my opinion, there’s nothing that makes you feel more unattractive than chapped lips.  Hello?  I’m sorry, but there’s little excuse for this behaviour in my books, this is one battle we can definitely win!

If you’ll only take one piece of advice from me this winter, it’s to get yourself a decent lip balm!  For less than a fiver you can pocket one of these divine balms.  I’d exchange “Hansel the Gingerbread Snowman” for one of these any day of the week!

Hand cream for cracked hands

Lastly, don’t forget your hands!  Again, for me, shea butter is the stand-out ingredient in hand care products.

And I’m not embarrassed to admit I’ve taken full advantage of our current “3 for 2” offer and bought three of these hand creams; one for my car, one for my desk and one for home!!