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Bliss London - 5 bubbles
Our Good Spa Spy discovered the true meaning of "no pain, no gain" at these terrific London treatment rooms. The Bliss Tri-Oxygen facial is one of the best treatments she has ever had, in terms of results, although she'd have liked to have known more about what to expect. Simple, stylish and luxurious, Bliss delivers professional but pricey treatments from a comprehensive menu. If it's visible results you're after, though, you know where to go.
Was it easy to book?
First impressions?
How did they welcome you?
What happens next?
Which treatments did you have?
What were the treatments like?
How did you feel afterwards?
What happens afterwards?
Long-term effects
Was it worth it?
What else could you have?
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
Any special features?
Who do you think would like it?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
Was it easy to book?
Quite. We'd previously tried to book a treatment at short notice but had made the mistake of trying to get an appointment during BAFTA week. Our mistake. They're busy at Bliss, so our invitation was scheduled well in advance.
First impressions?
Simple but stylish treatment rooms, with a slightly clinical feel.
How did they welcome you?
One of the receptionists speedily welcomed me and showed me downstairs. I had trouble keeping up with her as she flew down the stairs to the subterranean spa.
First, she took me to the bright and spacious turquoise-and-off-white changing room. She allocated me a full-length, dark wood locker containing an impressively soft white robe and a bottle of Bliss-branded "H20" water. The receptionist took a glance at my feet and handed me a pair of turquoise Havaianas, which were mine "for the duration of my visit". She showed me how to secure my key-code locker and led me through a door to show me the waiting area, before instructing me to wait there for my therapist once I'd changed into my robe.
The waiting room doubles up as the relaxation area at Bliss. The space is comfortable enough but quite small, and the padded-bench design means that you have to do your relaxing in a bolt-upright position.
I briefly contemplated how much clothing to take off/keep on and decided to undress to my knickers even though I was only having a facial, on the basis that I'd been given a supremely inviting robe. I then made my way through to the waiting area to check out the much-heralded chocolate brownie: the receptionist had insisted that I arrive early enough to have time to enjoy this slice of chocolate heaven. A used tea-cup lay on the table next to a couple of clip-boards and my initiative told me to complete one of the attached consultation forms. I also helped myself to some refreshing home-made lemonade.
What happens next?
Camilla, my cheery therapist, greeted me and showed me through to the treatment room. Bliss London has seven treatment rooms. Five of the rooms are used for facials, one is a dedicated massage room, and one is a wet room for scrubs, wraps and body treatments.
My facial treatment room was a clinical-looking, dimly-lit room with a bed and oxygen cylinder. It was reminiscent of a private birthing suite, but the comfort of the warmed couch, lightweight fleece blanket and fresh cotton sheet said "spa".
Which treatments did you have?
I had the Bliss Tri-oxygen Treatment (85 minutes, £145). I deliberately avoided reading about what was involved in this facial so I had no pre-conceptions -- or fear...
What were the treatments like?
The Bliss Tri-oxygen Treatment was unlike any facial I've ever had in terms of interest, pain and great results.
Camilla led me to the clean and clinical-looking treatment room and instructed me to lie face-up on the cosy couch while, at my request, she told me about some of the new products that Bliss had recently introduced. With hindsight, I realised that this was my opportunity to find out about the treatment itself. But hey, everyone likes a surprise, right?
First, Camilla cleansed and exfoliated my skin and applied a fruit-acid wash. She advised me that the wash might "tingle a little" but this didn't really prepare me for the moderate stinging that ensued. I bit my lip and the "tingling" gradually subsided. Next up was the first "oxygen" element: a pleasantly soothing facial wrap, involving what felt like cling-film. The film locked in an "Oxygen Cream" and presumably, prevented the cream from drying out. Camilla advised me that the purpose of this cream was to open my pores. If only I'd known for what purpose....
I lay on the couch, eyes still covered with a mask, feeling suitably relaxed. I was really starting to enjoy the treatment when the ping of latex gloves heralded the next phase of my treatment: the "necessary extractions". Without any warning, or introduction, the keen Camilla pounced on me and squeezed my epidermis firmly to "extract" my pores. I was in shock. This hurt! But it couldn't go on for long...could it? I focused on biting my lip to simultaneously help me hold back my tears and prevent myself from yelling out expletives.
What seemed like a lifetime later, the onslaught came to an end, and Camilla applied a necessarily calming "Oxygen Mask". This mask must have worked some serious magic as, after my treatment, instead of looking like I'd stuck my head in a bee hive as I'd anticipated, my skin appeared subtly glowing and evenly toned. Once she had removed the mask, Camilla completed the oxygen trio with a cooling "Vitaminized Oxygen Spray", which she puffed onto my face directly from a canister. This brought the treatment to a tickly conclusion. I couldn't wait to check out the results of this roller-coaster facial.
How did you feel afterwards?
Surprisingly disoriented. I almost felt drunk. My skin felt great though -- supple and moist.
What happens afterwards?
Camilla took me through to the changing room to examine my skin in the mirror. I was genuinely impressed and surprised at the visual results. I blurted out that I thought I looked like I'd had Botox.
Long-term effects
During the three days after the treatment, my skin went through some kind of visible renewal process, as though ditching the top layer to reveal a new skin beneath. I was slightly surprised the day after my Bliss tri-oxygen facial when my skin took on a rougher feel as though I'd had wind-burn.
The next day, my skin went dry and flaky in patches to the extent that I decided that I needed to lightly exfoliate so that my make up went on evenly. I figured this was all part of the process to achieve the desired effect, but it would have been good to know what to expect.
Was it worth it?
This is the million-dollar question (OK, £145 question...) Tricky one. It's hard for me to consider any beauty treatment being genuinely "worth" £145. But in terms of results, my skin looked several times better than it has after any facial I've had before. So, in that way, yes, the facial was worth it.
What else could you have?
A huge range of facials and skin-care treatments, including the Hangover Herbie for post-party people, peels, seaweed masks, microdermabrasion, and specific treatments for eyes and necks. Men can enjoy a Homme Improvement oxygen facial.
You can have peels, scrubs and rubs for bodies, including a Quadruple Thighpass anti-cellulite treatment, and massages of all flavours.
You name a part of the body, you can have it waxed at Bliss. We haven't seen anywhere else offering ear waxing on a spa menu.
A range of pedis and manis round off the spa menu, including a Double Choc pedicure, which includes a cup of cocoa, and a Foot Patrol treatment, which promises "a facial for your feet".
What do you wish you'd known before you went?
It would have been good to have been made explicitly aware of the hardcore nature of the Tri-oxygen facial. Luckily, I didn't have any red carpet events to attend afterwards, but it's not a treatment to book the day before your wedding.
As someone who's not fully signed up to the "no pain, no gain" philosophy, it would also have been useful to know exactly what was involved in "extraction" and the level of pain-threshold needed to tolerate the process.
Any special features?
The quality robe and havaianas were a really nice touch -- and you'd be hard pushed to find a more comfortable massage couch.
Who do you think would like it?
Image-conscious Vogue and Grazia readers. Self-appointed beautiful people. The Bliss army of devotees.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave Bliss London 5 bubbles. Bliss offers a superior level of treatments, comfort and luxury touches and offers an overall top-notch treatment experience, albeit at a price.
We only had two criticisms. One, it would have been good to have had more information about what the treatment entailed and the products the therapist was using. I got the impression that Bliss has a lot of "regulars" who don't need an idiot's guide, but some sort of guide would benefit first-timers. Also, while the waiting and relaxation area was stylish enough with its French lounge music, there wasn't a lounger to be seen.
See more on how we rate the spas.
Would you go again?
Yes. Once my skin had gone through its renewal process, my face was left glowing and evenly toned. I would certainly consider the Bliss Tri-oxygen facial one of the best -- if also one of the most painful and expensive -- facials that I've ever had. Now, can I pluck up the courage to have another one?
We visited Bliss London in April 2009
See also:
* Contact Details for Bliss London
* Facials
* Treatments
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