I've never really tried facials to be honest, so when I found some amazing deals for a bit of pampering, I thought I'd take the plunge. I chose the Diamond facial package, which also included a 30 minute back and shoulder massage and eyebrow/lip threading. This was all at the Mercury ladies salon in Al Qusais.
On first entering, the salon is nice and intimate with pleasant and friendly staff. Muted colours, with pleasant Arabic music playing, the faint smell of oud incense and the rippling sound of water from the little fountain in the reception area.
I'm shown into a little room for my back and shoulder massage - which I'm really looking forward to, after a while of feeling lots of tension in these areas. The massage therapist makes me comfortable on the massage table and gets to work. She uses some delicious smelling strawberry body lotion and starts with an overall loosening massage, before she gets stuck into my problem areas. She's constantly checking if the pressure is ok, it is, this woman knows exactly what she's doing and my tired knotted muscles are thankful at being relaxed and I'm a little bit sad when my massage is over as I could have laid there all day.
I'm next shown into another room and again made comfortable on the therapists table, as it's time for my facial and today I'm trying the Diamond polishing facial, which uses VLCC products.
First my face is cleansed and cleaned of any make-up or grease, then a scrub is applied and worked all over, including the décolletage (neck down to the bust, upper shoulders and upper back). My therapist uses upwards and outwards massaging techniques to work the facial muscles and encourage blood flow.
After a good exfoliation, next comes a thick layer of detoxifying, balancing cream, which helps to take impurities out the skin and even up skin tone. This is left for a few minutes, before being massaged into the skin and removed.
Next comes the massaging gel, which is left on the longest as it's a deep nourishing treatment to really get into the skin cells and rejuvenate them, getting rid of pollution and other nasties that have built up. At this point my face is given a really good massage to make sure the products are doing their job and to ensure good coverage. Whilst the massaging gel is on my face, hot steam is used on the nose and cheek area to open up the pores and to make the removal of blackheads much easier. That part comes next and after the gel has been removed, my therapist sets to work with a blackhead remover unclogging all the pores around my nose.
The final stage of the facial is the face mask, which goes on as a gel and dries. This moisturises and nourishes the skin. Once the mask is completely dry, it's then removed with water and my entire face and décolletage is cleaned of any remaining product.
Immediately my skin feels softer, firmer, clearer and totally refreshed.
The final part of my treatment package is eyebrow/lip threading. I didn't do the latter, as basically there is nothing on my top lip to thread off! However, my eyes brows can always be a bit of an issue, but the same lady who gave me the wonderful massage, now skillfully tidies up my bushy brows. She pays great attention to detail, making sure the shape and thickness are just right. I've always been a fan of threading, I just think it's quicker, cleaner and far more accurate.
After nearly two hours of pampering, I feel fantastic! I'm vowing to do more facials and pampering in the future and if other deals are as good as this one (original price 430 Dhs - deal price 200 Dhs) then all the better.
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