Get there a little early

To enjoy your day spa gift certificate, it’s a good idea to leave plenty of time before your appointment. As well as allowing for the possibility of queues, this also means that you have time to fill out any forms that may be required and, most importantly of all, relax before your treatment.

Leave your baggage behind

While many spas have locker facilities, for your own peace of mind it is generally better not to take any valuables with you if you can help it.  If you must bring it with you be sure to turn your phone off, too; not only will it stop you relaxing but it may also disturb other people.

Therapist preferences

Some spas have both male and female therapists, so if you have a preference it’s best to mention it when you book.  Regardless of gender, however, all therapists are trained in proper draping techniques and will respect your boundaries at all times.

What to wear

Considering that you’ll likely be spending most of your spa visit in a bath robe, something that is comfortable and easy to change in and out of is recommended.

If you intend to use saunas, hot tubs, baths or similar then a swimsuit is also advisable (just make sure to shower off before any other treatments).

Additionally while it’s better for you to undress for full body treatments such as massages, you don’t have to; your comfort is key.

We would normally club together to buy a gift for whoever’s birthday it was on that particular month, but this year we’ve decided to each treat ourselves with a spa day gift in London and have a day of pampering all together.

We all took the day off work on a Friday last month and headed to the Sanctuary’s Covent Garden Spa to have our chosen treatments.  It was a fantastic day, finished off with a few drinks and some dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Five of us had facials, with the Oxygen & Collagen treatment being most popular and the Tailored Prescription Facial coming in a close second.  I don’t think any of us managed to stay awake, peacefully drifting off to sleep for some much needed R&R while the therapists worked their magic on us!

I often use the Therapist’s Secret Facial Oil at home and thought to myself during my treatment that I must try to apply it more like a therapist would and less hurried!

Massages

One of our group was pregnant and so chose a massage specifically tailored to the mum-to-be.  She commented this was possibly one of the best gifts for pregnant women.  As with many women, the pregnancy was making her feel particularly tired, so a day of pampering was just what the doctor ordered.

Sleep Retreat

We are planning on getting a spa day gift for next year too and have our sights set on a ground-breaking treatment that encourages deep, meditative relaxation. The therapist informed us that during the treatment you lie on a special bed which has low frequency sound waves (this causing a gentle vibration) running through it in order to gently relax both mind and body.

It is claimed this treatment, along with the accompanying meditation journey, will leave us feeling refreshed and tension free – sounds good to me!

Roll on next year!

Spa days for pregnant women are one of the best ways to achieve this. Great for both during and after pregnancy, I’ve listed some of our top treatments and products to help mums and mums-to-be enjoy some “me time!”

Full body pregnancy massage

Massages are great for soothing away those pregnancy aches and pains, especially when performed by one of our expert therapists.

However, if you can’t make it to the spa for a full body pregnancy massage, I’d highly recommend our Mum to Be Stretch Mark Oil to use at home. This is one of our most popular products for use both before and after pregnancy – it’s also free from parabens and is midwife approved.

Pedicures

Swollen, uncomfortable legs and feet are a really common pregnancy complaint, which explains why foot treatments are so sought after with mums to be.

It’s a nice idea to give the pregnant lady in your life a foot rub or even a full-on pedicure if you’re feeling adventurous! If not, we can take care of that for you in one of our spas!

The dreaded stretch marks!

The “gold dust” beauty treatments for pregnant women are those that focus on the prevention and reduction of stretch marks.

As well as the aforementioned stretch mark oil, we’d also recommend the Mum to Be Bounce Back Firming Cream. This helps to rejuvenate the skin, improve elasticity, and reduce the appearance of stretch marks.

Quick to apply and quick to dry – a must when you only have a small window to work with during baby’s nap time!

So if you’re stuck for gift ideas this Christmas you can’t go far wrong with a spa day gift– trust me. Whether it’s for your mum, sister, wife or any other special lady in your life, a day spent at one of our Sanctuary Spas is bound to be appreciated.

In case you’re wondering what you get for your buck, I’ve put together a brief overview of the type of treatments you could enjoy with our spa gift experiences so you know what you – or the lucky recipient – could look forward to!

Facials

The Sanctuary offers a number of unique facial treatments geared towards dealing with everything from dull, dry skin to wrinkles.

Our expert therapists can assess exactly what your skin needs before treating it with a prescription facial or deliver a more focused treatment of your choosing.

• Tip: For a facial pick-me-up in between professional treatments, try one of our facial products. I love the 5 Minute Thermal Detox Mask.

Massages

A personal favourite of mine, The Sanctuary Spa has massage treatments to suit everyone.

Arguably the most anticipated part of many pamper days our skilled massage therapists excel at making you leave the spa with a spring in your step.

Just a few of the massages on offer include:

• A relaxing aromatherapy massage
• A soothing muscle melt
• A calming cocooning body wrap.

Manicures & Pedicures

A classic beauty treatment, you can get anything from an express polish to a luxury pedicure complete with leg and foot massage. Great for a treat in December in preparation for the Christmas parties that are starting to fill our diaries!

These incredibly smooth shells are filled with either super heated or super cooled gel and in turn are used to massage along your lymph lines from foot to tummy. First the cold shells then the hot shells are firmly pressed and slid along your legs from ankles to thighs and then a quick hot/cold/hot/cold which really leaves your skin tingling. I can’t say that it is the most relaxing of treatments, but then if you have ever tried any anti cellulite treatment you will know that very few are, but it certainly was skin firming and tightening and it left my cheeks rosy (and no I am not talking about my face) and my tummy flatter for a few days afterwards. I have a theory that this would also make a great upper back and shoulder treatment to relieve tension and pain. How often have I been to my osteopath and Pilates instructor and they have told me that the secret to treatment of acute muscle pain is alternate hot and cold packs? So it makes sense that this would be brilliant at alleviating work weary back and neck tension.

I was finally pampered and moisturised with a deliciously scented, circulation boosting Aromatherapy Associates Revive Body Oil and given a lemon detox drink to help cleanse my liver. I then went on to the restaurant and had a wonderfully light seared tuna and wasabi salad. The result was that I had a definite spring in my step, was given a much needed energy boost and felt lighter and brighter. This makes this the perfect pre party pampering treatment to help you slip into that LBD or super tight skinny jeans, or even post party detox treatment if you feel that you have overdone it.

A special thanks to my therapist Theresa (who had no idea that I was going to write about her until after I had my treatment), and to Natibel and Laura who looked after my sister and mum. It was the anniversary of my father passing that day and they really do know how to look after you, cosset and cocoon you at The Sanctuary. We promise we will all be back again soon; in fact I think my Mum and Sister would like to live there. • The Sanctuary Glacial Shell Detox Massage is £85, for 55 minutes.

Why not try a day spa treatment? Day spas combine traditional nail treatments such manicures and pedicures with a series of luxurious skin, facial and body treatments. There are also massages to help our skin stay healthy and bright, lifting our spirits and helping us to get through the long dark days of winter which always creep up on us faster than we’d like.

Our Covent Garden spa has been rated Favourite Day Spa by 2011 SpaFinder Readers’ Choice Awards.

Our range of treatments are some of the best in the industry; designed to help you feel and look great while working to improve your overall health and wellbeing.

Facials and skin treatments are our most popular, with a range of choices from anti-ageing facials to active vitamin treatments, hydradermabrasion, microdermabrasion and more. These treatments are great to help rejuvenate both your skin and your spirit.

Our many fantastic body treatments are a wonderful way to relax and unwind, as well as renewing your body, mind and soul. We have a series of treatments including exfoliating salt scrubs, aroma steam, holistic body experiences and therapeutic water massages in our hydro baths. Our popular wrap treatments also help to improve circulation as well as your metabolism, helping to increase energy and aid weight loss.

Our Covent Garden Spa is very popular, but we also have some luxurious pampering spas near London, Richmond, Cambridge and Bristol. Spa package gift vouchers are a great way to treat a special someone. They also make great Christmas presents!

For great spa days, London is the place to be. An afternoon spent at our Covent Garden Day Spa is sure to bring a smile and a happy sigh to any visitors who are lucky enough to spend time there.

Located within The Sanctuary Spa itself but accessed separately, Skin Spa in London’s Covent Garden offers a wide range of scientific facials at the forefront of technology. You won’t find any namby pamby facials here. It’s results-driven, scary sounding facials all the way. And this is what I went to find out, exactly how scary are they?

Whilst just off of the main spa’s reception, Skin Spa feels private and it’s hard to believe that you’re sitting in the middle of the hustle and bustle of London. The friendly assistant smiles and puts me at ease and even gives me a delicious mint tea to help me relax.

My treatment begins with a 10 minute consultation with skin care Environ expert Hannah White. She takes me through my skin complaints, what products I use and shows me using a Visia skin camera which shows a computerised skin analysis, my wrinkle damage, sun damage and areas for future concern. The computer also shows a computerised aged shot of how I potentially look in five years time, which I’m relieved to see isn’t all that bad.

You can choose which facial you’d like to have but I went on the advice of Hannah from my consultation. She recommended the Environ Vitamin Facial at £85. This anti-ageing vitamin facial is great for all skin types and uses pulsed electrical currents (eek!) to push the product ingredients deep into the layers of the skin, allowing the vitamins to benefit the skin at a more intense level. 

Hannah shows me where I have slight broken capillaries around my nose which aren’t visible to the naked eye and recommends products to help reduce them.  She goes through various areas of my skin, confirming that I also have greasy areas which need attention when I thought I only had dry skin – all very useful advice when you’re spending a fortune on which are probably the wrong products! She then recommends various Environ products for me to use at home but thankfully there’s no pressure to buy there and then.

Once my consultation is over I sit and wait anxiously for my Therapist, Lizzie to arrive. This is the most scientific facial I’ve had so I’m not sure what to expect, usually any facials I have are of the pampering variety with lots of lovely facial massage and soothing oils, the Environ facial I’m told by my therapist is not that kind of facial, ‘it’s all about delivering results’.

My facial begins with a pre-cleanse, exfoliation (with no granules, Environ products work using a non-harmful acid to remove dead skin) and then a final cleanse.
Lizzie lets me know that I will hear a strange sound when the Environ machine is turned on and placed on my skin, apparently the machine uses the same sound frequency as Dolphins and that’s the noise I will hear!
The machine starts up and I indeed do hear the strange noise, the machine creates a strange skin tingling sensation, it’s definitely not painful but then again it’s not overly enjoyable either.
Lizzie then massages my face with the probes from the Environ machine which pushes the Environ moisturiser 4000 x deeper into my skin than just applying a moisturiser in the normal way. She tells me that I have ‘good skin’ but that it’s ‘very thirsty’.

Once the probing stage is over, Lizzie asks if I’m claustrophobic, my mind starts wandering, does this treatment involve putting a blanket over my head or something? No, Lizzie says, it involves a thick setting gel mask which covers the eyes and lips. I agree I’ll be fine so Lizzie gets started on applying the mask. As the gel starts to cover my face it feels like a thick liquid blanket, I’m secretly thinking I’ve changed my mind, but it’s too late I can’t back out now.

The mask sets and does feel very thick on your face, all that’s left uncovered are your nostrils so if you do suffer from claustrophobia then perhaps this treatment isn’t for you.
The mask is left on for 10 minutes and is attached through cables to the Environ machine which sends a fine current through the mask to your skin, again no part of the facial is painful.
The brief but lovely arm and hand massage takes my mind off the setting mask and I try to take my mind of my mildly claustrophobic state.

Once the 10 minutes have passed, Lizzie removes the mask and throws it in the bin, I have an urge to ask to see the mask but restrain for fear of appearing a bit odd. A final layer of Environ moisturiser is applied and I’m good to go. 

My skin looks radiant, plump and all most importantly all of the dry patches have gone. Would I choose the scientific route over the all-indulgence option? For regular pampering time, I’ll definitely stick to the indulgence type of facials but a ‘top-up’ with a scientific one is definitely a must. Especially if you have a specific skin complaint you want to address.

Before I leave, Lizzie reiterates that I should start using Environ products to get the full benefit of the facial, I’m reassured that Lizzie uses the Environ range herself ‘I have to be able to advise clients on how the products work’ she says and is the picture of youth and vitality itself. She also tells me it’s advisable to book another treatment in 3 months time, ‘this way we can go back to your previous Visia consultation results and see if your skin has improved’. ‘Great’ I say, ‘a facial which actually gets measured on results, now that’s progress’.

This super relaxing treatment takes the traditional hot stone massage to another level. Heated Tiger Clam shells are used to relieve the deepest aches and pains within a full body massage, whilst hydrating oils moisturise the skin, leaving you feeling in a state of complete relaxation.�
I’m yet to try to treatment out for myself (I’ll be booking myself in shortly!) but I’m told it’s a deeply relaxing experience and is a top fav within the Sanctuary office and spa.

For your benefit entirely, many beauty editors have tried this treatment out themselves and have also loved it. See the reviews below for yourself…

Wedding Status: I went to one of my old school friend’s wedding at the weekend, which was so much fun – now I’m really in the mood for my own big day! Florist is booked (although severely over budget!) next thing on the list is to choose food and drinks – looking forward to the menu tasting!

Fitness Regime: Easter has slightly impeded my momentum on the fitness front, but after a bit of over-indulgence I’m back to salads and lots of chicken!  Back to the Gym.

Skincare Issues: Significant improvement.

Beauty Regime: MD Formulations everyday and my third MD Glycolic Peeling Facial.

Finally a breakthrough! My skin has definitely turned a corner and generally is smoother and with minimal break outs. It feels just so much more comfortable, it feels hydrated and feels healthier overall.

I had my third Peel with Lizzie, she left it on for a bit longer this time as my skin is getting used to the process. Luckily there was also less extraction to do after the peel which means my skin must be starting to behave itself! As I didn’t suffer anywhere near the level of breakout after the last peel I need to have another one in a weeks time and then I can go down to every 2 weeks.

I’m really getting on with the MD products as well, I have to say they have really made a difference. If I do suffer a breakout the serum calms it right down very quickly and things seem to heal much quicker.

Overall, a really positive few weeks, I don’t expect things to go completely smoothly but now I feel there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Our back stage spa was dropped in on by many a celeb all wanting to escape the hustle and bustle for a moment or two and take five to relax in our amazing chill out spa.

Our very own Emma got flirty with Peter Andre, telling him she was cold so like a true gent he gave her his coat (and a kiss!) to keep her warm…ahh! Peter enjoyed a relaxing foot massage, if you want to see Pete and his feet check out the clip: http://www.brits.co.uk/videos/interview-with-peter-andre

Emma also got flirty (you can tell she had a difficult evening’s work!) with Capital Radio’s Kevin Hughes whilst our lovely therapist Catherine massaged his tense and tired shoulders as he tried to get her to dish to dirt on all the celebs popping in for treatments -  true to the therapist rule book Catherine kept it all to herself; what happens in the therapist room, stays in the therapist room!

Check out the link to see Kevin Hughes and Margherita Taylor from Captial on a back stage tour – Emma’s the very small looking person around 2.11mins in talking to Kevin Hughes -  maybe we should have given her a box to stand on or at least some heels! Only joking Emma I’m sure he was extra tall rather than you being extra small!?

http://www.capitalfm.com/music-showbiz/brit-awards-2010/watch-our-backstage-brits-video/

Unfortunately, Emma and Genevieve only got as close as her dressing room in meeting Lady Ga Ga but that didn’t stop them rubbing shoulders with all the other celebs. Both Nicola Appleton and Melanie Blatt dropped in to say how much they loved The Sanctuary the last time they visited and said they would love to pop in again soon for another pamper session; you never know you may be rubbing shoulders with them next time you visit the spa.

The Sugar Babes nabbed themselves a goody bag as did Marvin from JLS as he enjoyed a head, neck and shoulder massage. Both Florence and Dizzy Rascal took some time out for some much needed R&R before their performance, with Florence and her 10 harpists (!) getting their mitts on all number of our products

Comments from Emma from working on the night “It was an amazing evening! I can’t begin to count how many stars I spoke to (Sugarbabes, Nicole Appleton and Melanie Blatt, Tom the lead singer of Kasabian, Peter Andre, JLS boys, Jo Wiley, Emma B, Jodie Kidd, Natasha Kahn from Bat to Lashes, Florence….. and soooo many more!)”  so many celebs so little time …. jealous Moi? Well maybe only teeny bit.

Watch this space for more Brits updates coming soon.