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Sophie Hunter Health and Beauty, Chelsea - 3 bubbles
This pleasant and stylish Chelsea beauty salon offers effective treatments, but is not really a spa. Ideal if you want a top-notch facial or a quick beauty-fix, though.
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
What else could you have?
Why did you give the spa this rating?
Would you go again?
First impressions?
A smart shop-front with wide windows on the Fulham Road. Just a quick step round the corner from South Ken tube station.
How did they welcome you?
You have to press a buzzer to get in, but they're very friendly on the other side. The reception area is uncluttered, with pale wood floors and a light-wood curving desk, behind which are glass-fronted cupboards with product displays. There is a leather sofa to sit on while you fill in your consultation form, which I did, after Michelle, the manager, had relieved me of my coat, bag and scarf (it was a cold day). Michelle tucked my belongings tidily away into a cupboard, offered me some water, then checked my form.
What happens next?
Michelle took me down the wooden stairs, past the small manicure station, to the basement area where the four main treatment rooms live. Everywhere was very stylish and spare. A curved wall of turquoise tiles lends some softness, as did a tall pink orchid in the bathroom. The treatment rooms are compact, but make the most of the limited space.
Michelle took me through into a room where there was enough space for a bed and some equipment but no chair, so we had to stand while we discussed which facial I should have. I was tempted by the CACI (I am always drawn to treatments using micro-currents!) but was happy to go with Michelle's recommendation.
Which treatments did you have?
I had the Dr Sebagh facial (90 minutes, £125). This product range aims not just to make you look younger, but make you look better, too. I was in need of both, as my wintry skin was quite dry.
What were the treatments like?
Very thorough. I undressed down to my underwear and hung my clothes on the hanger provided on the back of the door. The beige marble floor felt quite cold under my feet, so I hopped onto the treatment bed sharply, and swiftly under the soft duvet.
Michelle cleansed my skin then covered my eyes and examined my face under a bright light. She pronounced that the Dr Sebagh facial would be perfect for my skin.
Michelle applied a deep exfoliating mask, which contained three different acids -- azelaic, glycolic and lactic -- and felt slightly tingly on my skin (so I knew it was doing something). She positioned me under a piece of equipment that washed my face with steam to help the mask do even more of its good work.
Michelle removed the mask with delicious warm cloths, then carried out the necessary extractions (only a teeny bit painful, but no-one had done this to me for a long time!). She also remarked on the fact that my eyebrows were a bit straggly and asked if I'd like them tidied up. Yes, please!
Michelle applied serums and various sweet-smelling oils; I'd have liked to know a bit more about what was in each, but didn't want to disturb the relaxed mood. I loved the apricot scents of the oils and the deep moisturisation of a smooth green tea and aloe vera gel face mask. What I loved most, though, was that as each product did its work or soaked in, I wasn't just left to lie there; Michelle massaged my arms and hands, my feet, my shoulders and, most effectively, my neck, which had been feeling very stiff and sore. This was all absolutely wonderful. For such an intense facial, the experience was surprisingly relaxing.
How did you feel afterwards?
Very reluctant to return to the world.
What happens afterwards?
After I came round, Michelle gave me a glass of water and told me to take my time getting dressed, as she would wait for me upstairs. Again, I was a bit sharpish on the marble floor after being tucked under a warm duvet for so long.
Michelle gave me my NatraGel face mask to take home; it looked a little alarming, but I was reassured I could use it another few times. (The hydrogel of the mask is calming, cooling, and designed to provide hydration to the skin.)
Long-term effects
My skin looked pinkly glowing immediately after the facial (with only a tinge of grey at the side, which turned out to be a smidgeon of mud that had escaped the warm-cloth washing). The next day, my forehead was a little dry, but my skin looked smoother and clearer than before.
What else could you have?
The treatment menu at Sophie Hunter Health and Beauty focuses on facials, using the Dr Sebagh and Snowberry product ranges, as well as CACI and Chromaclear microdermabrasion. Eyebrows can be shaped and tinted, as can lashes, or you could have semi-permanent eyelashes applied. You can also have Tisserand aromatherapy massages and Jessica nail treatments, too.
Why did you give the spa this rating?
We gave Sophie Hunter Health and Beauty a creditable 3 bubbles. If we had just been judging treatments, top marks! We were glad to have been invited to sample the Dr Sebagh treatment, but this is a beauty rather than a spa experience. They do offer massages, but there are no heat facilities or relaxation room, so this salon is best suited for those looking for immediate results rather than chilling out.
See more on how we rate the spas
Would you go again?
If I lived locally and wanted a facial, yes.
We visited Sophie Hunter Health and Beauty in November 2009
See also:
* Contact Details for Sophie Hunter Health and Beauty
* Facials
* Can I buy the products my therapist used?
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