Put your best face forward

Facials are seen as a luxury; when in reality all our mugs need looking after

When stepping into a good spa, you should feel a hush. Time stops. Noise, pollution and stress fade away, and instead are replaced with silence, fragrance and tranquillity. That’s how I know Equinox Spa is right up there when I enter its appropriately hushed reception.

The gambit here is to be treated like a goddess. Aphrodite’s image is the spa’s emblem, and you’ll find her peeking at you from different vantage points throughout. The décor is minimal; black and white reign, a deep indigo ceiling twinkles with star-like lights, in fact, some of the treatment rooms are named after stars in the night sky.

Swaddled in a white robe, I’m led by Maxine Dornon, my therapist, into one such room. I’m here today for a rejuvenating face treatment. The spa uses Dermalogica, Theravine and Nimue as their house products. The latter will be used for my facial. A South African product, Nimue was originally developed for the medical market for pre and post operative. The range is now firmly established in spa and wellness centres worldwide. The treatment entails targeting pharmaceutical grade nutrients, antioxidants, phytoceuticals, peptides and other powerful active ingredients below the skin’s surface.

Lying back, I let Maxine work her magic. Deft hands cleanse, tone and massage. I remark to Maxine how I’m practically floating away. “People don’t realise how relaxing a facial can be, much like a massage,” she says. “Plus you get the added visual benefit.”

After the treatment, I’m not only floating, but glowing too. Facials are seen as a luxury, when in reality they’re more of a necessity. Day-to-day our skin is ravaged by pollution, sun, and fatigue—and the stress shows.

To use a famous beauty brand’s line: you’re worth it.

By Malu Lambert

Cape Royale | 47 Main Road | Green Point | Cape Town | +27 (0)21 430 0512

The staff at Equinox Spa can tailor make a package for you that could include a facial, massage as well as a manicure, for example. Chat to your therapist about what you need, and they will formulate a treatment to your specifications.

A spa worthy face-mask you can do at home

This is an enzymatic mask to help with rejuvenating and hydrating the skin. Easy to make at home and perfect with the change of season. Formulated by Maxine Dornon.

Ingredients

Half cup of fresh papaya
Half cup of live plain yoghurt
Half a teaspoon of lemon juice
4 tablespoons of honey
Oats

Mix all these ingredients together till as smooth as possible, then add fresh uncooked oats until the consistency is thick enough to apply to the face with no run off. Leave on for 15 minutes maximum, then rinse off with luke-warm water and apply a night cream or serum.

Benefits

The enzymes in the papaya, lemon juice and yoghurt help with exfoliation and pigmentation. And the honey and oats are soothing healing and hydrating (which helps with the appearance of fine lines too).

Equinox Spa also does a Swedish candle massage.

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