Reinvigorate your skin, hair and body with some of the best and unique spa treatments across the city. By Shrabasti Mallik
The mercury has rocketed to 46.7 degrees. And according to the MET department, the weather is not going to improve in the next few days either. You can do your bit to stay cool — using umbrellas, shades, swimming and keeping yourself hydrated. But an occasional spa can go a long way in not only cooling you down but also replenishing your skin with lost nutrients. And since you deserve the best, we tracked down the best spa treatments in and across the city.
For the body
You can step into Club Olympus Spa and Salon at Hyatt Regency Delhi and treat yourself with a watermelon body scrub. This is mixed with rice powder, which helps in removing dead skin and opening skin pores. This helps in deep skin purification (detox), stimulates blood circulation and delivery of oxygen to skin cells, firms and strengthens the skin, compensates for deficiencies of minerals, preserves the sun tan and deeply relaxes your body. An hour of this rejuvenation will cost you Rs4,100.
While there, you can also try out their signature June Jacobs collection body treatment. It is a targeted conditioning and hydrating treatment for body, hands and feet which helps stimulate cell renewal and counteracts the signs of ageing. This is well-suited for the summer because it deeply nourishes dehydrated skin and repairs tanning. You will have to shell out Rs5,100 for an hour of this treatment.
Shanaya Spa at The leela Ambience Hotel has two specialised treatments to beat the heat with. You can choose their Summer-soother therapy — a rejuvenating body ritual which first exfoliates and refreshes your skin with the cooling and toning effects. “Then the whole body is massaged with cooling gel using palm pressure to concentrate in creating energy for the whole body and to drive out the heat. It is both cooling and soothing,” said a spokesperson from the spa. It is priced at Rs5,000 for one and a half hour.
Its Summertime radiance package, priced at Rs2,000 for half an hour, includes cooling burnt skin with glucose and algae base face mask. This brings down temperatures by up to five degrees and lends the skin a natural glow. It will also provide your skin with the much-needed antioxidants and vitamins, brighten and tighten them and take care of your eyes, lips and face.
It’s interesting to learn that the treatment at The Spa at The Gateway Resort, Damdama lake, Gurgaon, is actually called “Beat the heat.” As the name suggests, the one-and-a-half hour service begins with a rejuvenating body rub, which first nourishes and refreshes your skin with the cooling and toning effects of cucumber and aloe vera. Then the whole body is massaged using palm pressure.
At the resort spa, you can even give your back a good one-hour massage with its signature offering, “Backless.” A treat to your back with a scrub and wrap of your choice is followed by a soothing back massage. It will help you relax and regain some strength.
Although the Morpho–Keratine TM discipline hair ritual at The Imperial Salon (for resident and non-resident guests) will pinch your pockets (priced at Rs4,000, plus taxes, for one- and-a-half hours) it will make your hair feel fresh and leave you in high spirits.
Discipline is the new range with Morpho–keratine TM and guarantees 72 hours of anti-frizz and anti–humidity. The treatment starts with bain fluidealiste sulphate free shampoo for all unruly hair types and especially suited for over processed, unmanageable, indisciplined hair that is difficult to style. It is followed by maskeratine masque for very thin hair and intensely nourished with suppleness. The fluidissime offers a glossy finish with frizz protection for faster, long lasting blow dries. The treatment lasts even after five washes.
Its Njavarakizhi ayurvedic treatment (only for residents) is also worth a try. The treatment starts with oil massage followed by strokes with poultices made of Shashtik rice. It is a very cooling treatment, good to increase the efficiency of vital elements of our body and above all an immune-enhancing rejuvenation therapy.
Nothing cools better than some good old mud and the spa at Shangri-la’s — Eros Hotel is offering a restorative ritual. This therapeutic treatment, ideal for aches and superficial skin problems, uses marine mud and rich in trace minerals. The treatment starts with body brushing using special herbal powders followed by a full body mud pack. Body brushing helps our lymphatic drainage system to remove toxins from the body while the mud pack restores the vitality of the skin. This includes a full body exfoliation and a deep scalp treatment. You will have to cash out Rs4,000 for an hour and 15 minutes of therapy.
At Salon Di Wills, WelcomHotel Sheraton, New Delhi, you can unwind and discover the beauty of relaxation. You can choose to cool off with the summer special spa therapies that offer a synergic blend of therapeutic and rejuvenating treatments based on traditional Indian Ayurveda and Oriental spa rituals. You may also pick from an array of soothing massages, signature facials and body treatments and avail the super saver package of 35 per cent at the salon.
For hands and feet
Accept it, as much as your body bears the brunt of the heat, your feet and hands are affected the most. luckily, we found a few spa treatments specially curated to specially cater to these areas.
At the leela Ambience Hotel, you can treat your feet to the unique cucumber cooler. Closer to reflexology than a standard pedicure, this summer special uses traditional principles and cucumber to revive your tired feet. It starts with a soothing foot soak of essential salts and cold cucumber slices, which adds a pleasing extra chill when the odd slice slips across your skin, before an invigorating foot exfoliation using cucumber extract to remove dead skin and grit. It is then followed by a feet and lower legs massage with cooling massage gel, focussing on reflexology points on feet. This treatment, priced at Rs2,500 for 45 minutes, will help you feel more chilled out all over.
The Hyatt Regency, Delhi, too, has a special pedicure and manicure treatments. You can opt for a mango manicure and pedicure at Nailspa. This particular mani-pedi range is ideal for a relaxing rendezvous with effective results. The mango extract enriched scrub exfoliates and hydrates dry, rough skin and the natural skin softening agent found in the extract hydrates your skin. The mango enriched soak is very gentle on your skin and leaves it clean and nourished.
The process starts with an application of cuticle cream on filed nails and then soaking the hands/feet in warm water containing the mango enriched soak for five to seven minutes. The feet are then scrubbed with a scraper. The cuticles are cleaned and pushed back for finer and finished look. Then follows a relaxing massage in circular motion with the mango enriched scrub and the process lets the mango aroma invigorate the senses. The product is then removed and the hand/feet are massaged with a mango-enriched balm. The process is completed with the application of a pack which contains natural mango extract and removed after five to seven minutes.