IN the second part of our look at spas in the region LIZ LAMB visits a countryside retreat while ANGELA UPEX tests out a city spa.
Feversham Arms
WITH her glowing skin and glossy locks, who wouldn’t want to look a bit more like Cheryl Cole? Well, now you can with the help of the Verbena Spa, where you can indulge in Cheryl’s favourite facial.
The X Factor judge has been indulging in regular Anne Semonin Royal Miracle Ice Facials to maintain her lovely complexion and as her skin always looks amazing I couldn’t wait to test it out.
The Verbena Spa is housed in The Feversham Arms hotel and is the perfect getaway for those who want to be pampered and preened in luxurious surroundings. Before my treatment I decided to sample the spa facilities so I headed into the heat experience.
The aromatherapy room was my first port of call where natural aromatherapy essences are released to help tired minds and bodies drift away from the turmoil of the day. After a hectic week at work it was the perfect tonic to help me relax. It was also great for my skin which smelt gorgeous as well as fabulously smooth afterwards.
I also forgot my troubles in the sauna, relaxed my feet in the foot spa and was left feeling energised after a brief spell in the salt vapour room. The spa area also includes the Ice Cave, which is based on the Finnish custom of rolling in the snow, where the user can take handfuls of ice flakes from the continuously fed ice bowl to rub into the skin, closing the pores and allowing the body to cool down quickly after experiencing a hot room treatment.
This was fantastic and helped brace me for the colder climate outside when I went to sample the heated outdoor pool and hot tub. Despite the bitterly cold weather, this was a fantastic treat and I didn’t feel cold once. It was marvellous relaxing in bubbles of hot water while everyone was wandering around in winter coats and woollies.
I had a brief interlude before my treatment started so I put my feet up in the relaxation room which is filled with huge comfy sofas and a library of magazines. The time flew by and when my treatment was due I was shown into a spacious room with soothing music and a lovely aroma.
The Anne Semonin Royal Miracle Ice Facial is one of the spa’s signature treatments but they also have other treatments available from the well-respected Parisien spa brand.
If the hectic Christmas and New Year period has taken its toll then this treatment is fantastic as it harnesses the power of Cryotherapy (ice-cold therapy) to fill any lines or wrinkles.
For the next hour and a half I was treated to pure bliss. All sorts of lotions and potions were applied to my skin to cleanse it and make it look radiant, but the real wow factor about this facial is Anne Semonin’s newly developed ice cubes which act as a natural alternative to botox.
The cubes are formulated using spring water, evening primrose oil and algae and were swept across my face and neck to tighten and plump the skin.
I was also treated to a sensitive facial and eye massage. The freezing sensation was unusual at first as I had never had a facial that uses cold products but I soon got used to it and the cubes immediately revitalised my skin.
My face felt fantastic afterwards and even my boyfriend noticed and said how amazing it looked. No wonder Cheryl is a fan.
I’d heartily recommend a visit to the Verbena spa, it’s a little pocket of luxury in a picturesque setting.
Anne Semonin Royal Miracle Ice Facial is priced £120 and lasts an hour and 15 minutes. It is available at Verbena spa at The Feversham Arms Hotel, Helmsley YO62 5AGT: 01439 772930 F: 01439 770346 E: info@verbenaspa.com
Liz Lamb
Page 2 - Serenity in the city >>