Spas in this city are a dime a dozen, but what if you are after something truly special in a treatment? Angela Beitz finds it at Remède Spa at the newly opened The St. Regis Abu Dhabi on the Corniche.
The Remède Spa brand is well known in cities such as New York, San Francisco and Singapore, and the branch at The St. Regis Abu Dhabi is the first one to open in the UAE. The stunning 3,200 square metre spa is a special sanctuary for guests looking to unwind in one of the 11 treatment rooms, the wet area or the relaxation lounge.
We meet spa director, Christian Kiefer to get some insight into the brand. ‘We are all about unique, personalised service. I think people today are looking for something more from their spa experience. It’s easy to become bored with the standard treatments and we are really looking to establish ourself as the best spa in Abu Dhabi,’ he tells us. ‘In terms of signature treatments I think that The St. Regis Splendor is really something special. Guests will receive four hours of pampering including a delicious Japanese-inspired lunch designed by Gary Rhodes. There are different types of edamame and lots of other options.’
The spa uses products from the Remède brand itself, Elemis and the very funky Bliss from New York. ‘We are looking to suit each client individually and want to give very personalised treatments. A product can look amazing and smell great but if it doesn’t actually do anything then it’s not worth it. We really like to offer products and treatments that see results and give benefits.’
Christian also tells us that a Hommage gentleman’s atelier, hair and nail salon and popular ladies’ salon Sisters Beauty Lounge will hopefully open up within the spa in October. ‘I am very excited about these two salons opening. Hommage is a real favourite of mine and their service is excellent. We want to give people a real experience. We are offering executive shaves and an amazing relaxation ritual, so whether you want to come in and relax or whether you are in a hurry we can suit your needs. Sisters is very well regarded in the UAE and we are so happy to have them within our spa. It will mean that guests can come in and get several services done in beautiful surroundings’.
Since we love to put these things to the test (it’s a tough job but someone has to do it) we are booked in for a 60-minute Remède customised facial and the Remède customised massage. We are ushered into the changing room by our lovely therapist, Sutini. The rooms are beautiful, with lots of white marble and it has a nice Art Deco feel to it. We are already impressed, but for a hotel with 790 chandeliers we are not overly surprised.
We are taken to the treatment room which is decadent and spacious and, again, with an opulent Art Deco theme. We choose the orange massage oil and Sutini starts by soaking our feet in paraffin as we relax on the massage table. Paraffin is a soft wax with a low melting point, therefore it melts at a temperature that is cool enough for your skin to be immersed in it. It works by relaxing your muscles and increasing blood flow. It is also amazing at softening your skin.
We ask for a deep tissue massage and Sutini works at our tired and knotted muscles using stretching techniques and a lot of forearm moves to thoroughly relax us. The massage is utterly blissful and we feel soothed, yet uplifted from the lovely orange oil.
We then move to the facial which is personalised to suit our dry skin and Sutini uses products from the Remède brand which feel beautiful and hydrating. She cleanses our skin, assesses it and then follows with a spot of microdermabrasion, two facial massages and a head massage that she performs while putting the same paraffin treatment from earlier on our hands. A thin layer of paraffin is also applied to our face followed by a rich hydrating mask before the facial is finished off with an oxygen treatment to plump up the skin.
We feel completely and utterly refreshed and all our back pain is completely gone. Our skin is glowing and we finish the treatment by reclining on a day bed in the relaxation room with tea and fruit. Highly recommended for a pure pampering experience with very talented and passionate staff.
The Remède customised facial costs Dhs450 for 60 minutes and the Remède customised massage is Dhs495 for 60 minutes. Remède Spa, The St Regis Abu Dhabi, Corniche Road (02 667 8770).
More wow treatments
Diamond Ice Lifting Facial
If you are looking for luxury in a facial, frankly you can’t do better than this. The whole treatment works to firm and lift the skin while also hydrating it. They use live DNA and other products kept in the freezer for the lift affect.
The 120-minute diamond ice lifting facial costs Dhs1,100. Atarmia Spa, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi (02 407 1170).
High Skin Refiner
Products from Babor brand are used to give your skin a special treat. They will triple cleanse your face, massage it and use two amazing masks to indulge your skin. The results are a luminous complexion that is intensely hydrated.
The High Skin Refiner facial cost Dhs725 for 100 minutes. Iridium Spa, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort (02 498 8996).
