Beauty Booster: Amazing Pre-wedding Facial

I’m so relaxed, I can barely hold my arms up to type this blog. This facial was one of the best tension-releasing treatments I’ve had in a long time. And while yes, you can go and book yourself a massage for that, you won’t come out with the same glowing complexion as I just did.

Decleor, in case you don’t know the brand, specialise in natural, aromatherapy-enhanced products. It hails from Paris, where creams, serums and masks are packed with botanical ingredients.

The facial started off with a warm bed. I lay face down on the lovely electric blanket. My therapist, Danielle, placed a warm weight on my lower back, which had a grounding effect, and started to kneed my shoulders, upper back and down my spine, coercing the tightness from my muscles. She used the most gorgeous smelling body product, Decleor Spa Relax Balm, with the essential oils of neroli, lemon, lavender and patchouli. After cleansing my face and applying a light enzyme peel, she began poking my pressure points:  eye sockets and ear lobes, nose and temples. The technique she used, Armomapressure, is inspired by Shiatsu and helps the oils to penetrate the skin. Over a thin layer of gauze, a thick, doughy product was slathered on my face. The Aromaplasty mask is an ancient recipe; a mixture that smells like porridge and bananas – both familiar and comforting (yes, and delicious!). It decongests the skin and helps all the other products do their job better.  Danielle massaged my hands and arms and between my shoulder blades while we waited for the mask to work.

Now the treatment began to get hazy. I let myself drift from conscious thought. I was swept way with an incredible sense of wellbeing (and in all honesty, this feeling remained for the next 12 hours).

After the mask she must have applied the two new Decleor products in succession: Life Radiance Double Radiance Scrub, $70, and then Double Radiance Cream, $90.  The scrub features a cocktail of exotic seeds, beads and essential oils which together remove dead skin cells and lift the “dull veil” from the complexion and make skin feel silky. The cream is housed in two separate canisters to ensure its longevity. Blended together, they aim to revitalise the look of your skin while protecting it from pollution, “like a coating of scotch guard,” as Danielle explained before the treatment.

I emerged incredibly relaxed. All my limbs felt heavy and my skin was practically beaming.

Why not treat yourself to something like this a week before your wedding? It will go a long way towards helping you unwind as things get increasingly hectic. If you have more time on your hands (and cash in your wallet), have five treatments for maximum radiance.  Although I noticed a huge improvement after just one.

Decleor Life Radiance Facial, $160 (90 mins) available at a range of salons around the country. Visit Spa Universe  for more information.

Are you having a pre-wedding facial or other treatment?