The promise
The Westin Abu Dhabi Spa’s deep-cleansing and relaxing 75-minute facial treatment promotes firmer, brighter and softer skin.
The experience
The treatment starts with a cup of cold blackcurrant and hibiscus tea, which we sip in the waiting room. The floral infusion triggers feelings of relaxation already.
Soon we are guided down the hallway, where we change into a robe and head to the relaxation room. Reclining in a chair, we flick through a magazine as we sip some water before the treatment.
Within minutes, we are led into the treatment room where the technician takes a moment to explain the facial we are about to have, and chats to us about our skin type. She is extremely knowledgeable and clearly listens during the discussion, asking follow-up questions to make sure she accurately identifies the root of our skin woes.
The facial starts with a quick, gentle scalp and shoulder massage, then our technician gently pulls back our hair and removes our makeup with cool, moisturising pads.
She gently cleans our face with a citrusy cleanser. The care with which she treats our sensitive skin is much appreciated.
As she works, she explains what products she is applying, as well as the hows and whys. She continues by wiping our face clean and performing some light extractions.
While we wish she had gone a little further with the extractions – our skin has seen better days and still seems to be adjusting to the climate – we understand that she’s just trying to be kind to our sensitive skin.
The treatment ends with a seaweed mask. The light covering is refreshing because it doesn’t harden into a dry, uncomfortable shell like many others of its kind.
When the mask is peeled off, we can almost feel the impurities going with it. It feels like so much good has been done to our skin with so little irritation.
To decompress from the treatment, before we’re released back into the stressful world, we are led back to the relaxation room where we enjoy a cup of ginger tea, which promotes digestion of toxins – furthering
the benefits of the treatment.
It’s hard to leave this relaxing getaway, but at least our face is glowing and we are happy.
The results
The treatment was incredibly relaxing and at the end, our face felt clean and glowing. There was no irritation. We could throw on some makeup and (reluctantly) head straight out from the spa.
The pros
The vitamin C products and seaweed mask really do leave your skin feeling plump and bright.
The cons
The extractions were too few and gentle. For someone with mild acne or spotty skin, this won’t necessarily clear your pores.
4/5
Dhs590 for 75 minutes. Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa, Sas Al Nakhl (02 616 9999).
