Perfectly pampered

May 31 2008 by Hannah Davies, The Journal

Hannah Davies experiences a new pampering experience in Seahouses.

USUALLY when I think of Seahouses, fish and chips and the Farne Islands come to mind, not a luxury pampering session.

But the Ocean club is trying to change all of that.

Set by the seafront in Seahouses, and part of the Seafield caravan park, The Ocean club has set itself up as a welcome addition to Northumberland’s pampering places.

A very popular coffee shop judging by how busy it was when my companion and I were there at 2pm leads the way to the beauty rooms, gym and large swimming pool with a sauna and a steam room adjoining.

We’re here for the pampering however, an oxygen facial and a Thalgo Algae massage using mud retrieved from the bottom of a Scottish loch.

The key to getting any beauty experience right is a combination of atmosphere and skill and luckily the Ocean Club provided the right ambience and the therapists the skill.

I experienced a facial, looming motherhood counting me out of any full-body treatments, and after looking at my skin my therapist Amanda, from Alnwick, decided an energising, moisturising oxygen facial would be ideal to clear out the city’s impurities and any dullness.

Thalgo products were a new one on me as well so I was keen to see what they could do.

The brochure exclaims them, “A true innovator in the world of marine beauty,” which essentially means they use a lot of marine extracts in their products, ideal for our location.

To my pleasure I found the products light and effective without being too harsh. A gentle exfoliation cleared the way, with a little inevitable tingling on the face, this was followed by deliciously cool and soothing eye and face masks.

The creams were deeply moisturising as well without being too cloying and even my husband noticed my complexion glowing more than just with my newly-acquired “pregnancy glow”.

Meanwhile my friend, who had joined me from London for the weekend, experienced the “slimming” algae body wrap.

She was massaged, exfoliated, covered in mud and heated up – all of which she found to be a most satisfying experience.

“I’m not convinced I look any thinner but I feel much more relaxed and I can’t stop touching my skin it’s so smooth.”

I was in the same position, my face feeling fabulously soft, and also unable to stop stroking my own face!

Ocean Club is a bit of a find for those who discover it, and adds an extra dimension to that trip to the Northumberland Coast.