A combination of skilled hands and great products proved just how much can be achieved in a short space of time when Liz O’Reilly headed to The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay.
It’s been a while since I visited the spa at Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay and I’d honestly forgotten just how impressive it is. The reception area is a massive space, high ceilinged with terracotta-tiled floors and veined marble fittings. Glass cases display a range of spa products, almost like works of art, while mother-of-pearl inlayed cabinets are home to further essences and botanicals. Two walls are lined with racks featuring exquisite pieces from premium fashion brand Noon by Noor and oversized arabesque lanterns hang from the ceiling, adding to the sense of place. I could go on, at length, but I think you get the idea that this is a rather sumptuous space that properly heralds the treatments I was about to experience.
I was quickly greeted and enjoyed a lemon and ginger Curcumin welcome drink while I filled out an in-depth questionnaire that even asked my preference of music – it’s that level of attention to detail that sets the really good places apart. Then my therapist, Eden, arrived to lead me to the first part of the day’s treatments: the hammam.
No matter how many times I experience the hammam, or Moroccan bath, I always forget just how the initial entry into the steam takes your breath away, the heat, immediately all-encompassing, brings forth beads of sweat across your whole body.
Eden invited me to sit on the marble bed before showering me with warm water and, once thoroughly soaked, she used long, sure strokes to apply olive-based black soap from marocMaroc to my arms, legs and torso before leaving me to cook for 15 minutes, the steam opening my pores and helping the soap absorb into my skin. A cool towel over my eyes and plenty of water made the experience quite pleasurable, though I was rather glad when she reappeared.
Then it was time for the scrubbing, which I don’t think any but the most stoic would claim to enjoy. Using a kessa mitt, Eden thoroughly exfoliated every centimetre of skin, even reaching behind my ears and between my toes!
Looking at the puddle of dead skin on the bed afterwards, the mild discomfort was soon forgiven and I was happy to lie still for the application of a wonderful smelling detoxifying balm made up of orange blossom, organic sugar, honey and neroli and argan oil. Eden showered me again, then told me to prepare for a small shock as she doused me in cleansing milk mixed with cold water to refresh and close my pores. It was indeed a shock but a not unpleasant one in the hot steamy hammam.
At the end of the treatment my skin felt almost glossy and thoroughly clean (a feeling that lasted for several days afterwards) as I headed to the cool relaxation area for lemon and ginger tea before my facial.
Soon Olga, my aesthetician, arrived and we headed to a dimly lit treatment room where she offered me a choice of products – something that’s never happened to me before.
I’m a big fan of the whole Biologique Recherche range, so my pick was obvious and Olga soon got to work on Soin Lissant a comprehensive skin care treatment perfect for those with thin, delicate and traumatised skin – that’s definitely me.
Starting with Solution Démaquillante Pour Les Yeux, Olga first removed the little make-up that had survived the hammam. She then applied cool Eau Micellaire Biosensible, with hyaluronic acid and plant peptides, to remove remaining impurities.
A final clean came courtesy of Lait E.V., a rich cleansing milk that was massaged into my face to deeply nourish and repair dry and damaged skin with essential fatty acids and Omegas three and six for barrier repair.
My complexion was sprayed with L’Eauxygénante, a refreshing and hydrating mist with orange, kiwi and edelweiss extracts, before a further comprehensive massage in which Olga’s confident fingers lifted, kneaded and rolled in slow circular movements to relax my facial muscles, preparing my skin to absorb the active ingredients to come in the Lotion P50V.
This exfoliating lotion restores skin pH, balances oil and smooths texture. This version was chosen for me as it’s formulated for mature, dull skin to restore firmness and tone. The key actives are alpha-hydroxy acid, beta-hydroxy acid and polyhydroxy acid, for gentle renewal, along with horseradish and burdock extracts for toning and purifying.
I must admit that, on application, it did tingle a bit and I was a little concerned. However, Olga quickly reassured me that this is perfectly normal, so I relaxed and prepared for my skin to glow, glow, glow.
Then it was time for the Core Treatment: Soin Lissant Booster, one of the brand’s professional-only protocols and the only area of the whole treatment that had not been chosen specifically for my skin.
Soin Lissant Booster combines a liquid and powder that are worked over the face with ingredients including hyaluronic acid, royal jelly, silk proteins and amino acids. The centrepiece of the treatment, it restructures damaged skin, plumps dehydration lines and restores smoothness.
After the slight sting of the exfoliating lotion, the almost grainy texture of the booster was a relief though, I have to admit, it did feel a bit strange and I was glad when Olga moved on with the long-lasting Masque Visolastine+, a gentle moisturising mask that restores lost lipids, relieves tightness and deeply hydrates dehydrated skin.
Crème Contour des Yeux Biofixine came next, dabbed around my eyes with a featherlight touch, the myorelaxant peptide and watercress extract helping to smooth expression lines and firm fragile skin.
We were almost at the end of the treatment and I really enjoyed the final massage as Olga used gentle upward strokes to help my skin absorb the Sérum Élastine and Crème PTO Métamorphique, a firming cream designed to combat sagging and redefine the contours of the face, neck and décolleté.
A slick of Biokiss regenerating lip balm and a coating of factor 50 sunscreen and I was ready for the all-important mirror test. It did not disappoint, I was happy to see visibly plumped skin and I even looked a bit brighter and less tired than when I arrived.
It’s amazing what an hour with skilled hands and great products can achieve and I will certainly gift myself this treatment again, particularly for a special occasion or when I’m feeling in need of a boost.
For more information or to make a booking,
please call The Spa, Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay on 1711 5045.
@fsbahrain