60 minutes, 4 hands + 2 machines = 1 mini transformation
Time poor? Results driven? Need lunch hour TLC? Isn’t that all of us? Hong Kong’s Landmark Mandarin Oriental totally gets it and The Oriental Spa’s Facial:Pedi Transformation is the perfect weekday pick-me-up.
I arrived in a rush (what’s new?), was shown straight into the treatment room, changed, lay down and breathed one of those sighs that seems to expel a tonne of stress. Taking a few more deep, slow breaths, my body felt suddenly muscle-less. It sank gratefully into the bed and I felt my heart beat calm and my mind begin to clear.
Wendy and Bina, my therapists, arrived. I sent a silent apology to Bina who had the dubious pleasure of doing Bastien Gonzalez’s infamous BGA pedicure on my hobnail feet, and smiled encouragingly at Wendy who would be performing German brand SEYO’s deep skin therapy on my face…
…And awaited transformation.
I’d had one of Bastien’s divine pedicures before. Dry, it seems to cosset your feet, scalpels precisely shaping, ‘drills’ gently buffing, and an hour later toes and nails have been sculpted into perfect submission. Occasionally ticklish, but mostly just gentle and soothing, Bina got to work straight away.
Meanwhile, it took Wendy about 0.2 of a second to decide I needed the anti-ageing and hydrating program. She started with a double cleanse using fragrant Aromatherapy Associates skincare, and then a natty little microdermabrasion scourer to gently exfoliate. The SEYO machine was up next, blasting cool rejuvenating oxygen and hydrating nano-active serum into my complexion, boosting the circulation and feeding my skin’s cells.
With so much going on at once, at first my mind was zipping between my face and my feet, trying to work it all out. Eventually I had to give up and just relax…
And then Wendy smoothed a face mask onto my face and both therapists started a four-hand massage, choreographed to work in tandem; Wendy on my arms and Bina on my lower legs. My brain switched off and I nearly fell asleep. Definitely my kind of lunch hour!
After the final applications of moisturiser to face and eye area, I was dreading the moment when I’d have to return to reality and get up. Comforting ginger tea and a snack of refreshing blueberries softened the shock of having to abandon the comfy bed, change and leave.
Beauty in a super efficient nutshell, in no time I found myself back on Hong Kong’s CBD streets wondering if it had been a dream. But no, my face was plumped and dewy, my feet were smoothed and looked like they belonged to someone else, and I felt like I’d had a power nap.
Mission beautifully accomplished!
The 60-minute Pedi:Facial Transformation treatment is priced at an introductory rate of HKD2,400 ++ until 31 July 2018 and includes complimentary use of The Oriental Spa’s heat, water and relaxation facilities. Book at +852 2132 0011, lmhkg-spa@mohg.com.
