I visited the Lush Spa on the Kings Road in London today. I left there in a state of total pure bliss, like nothing I have ever experienced after a treatment. I also walked out of there extremely happy, and completely relaxed. I really felt on top of the world.
Who would have thought that a famous global company, well known for selling lots of pretty, cutesy smelly things, would create a world class beauty treatment like this that blows pretty much anything else I have personally tried, out of the water!
The originality, concept, spa design, and music is just so imaginative with deep thought and creativity going into the whole process.
Synaethesia, coming from the word ’sensation’ is a neurologically-based condition in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway.
This one and a half hour treatment of heaven, involving thorough massage of the face and body, stimulates all the senses.
I arrived at the Spa a few minutes before my appointment and I was met by my warm and friendly therapist Jen, who took me downstairs into the spa.
The spa is just like a cosy English Countryside style kitchen and bedroom, with a touch of Alice In Wonderland! Very quaint and quirky!
Jen and I sat down at the ‘kitchen’ table and she began to explain what the treatment involved and also got me to fill in a questionnaire. It was like sitting with a friend at their house! So relaxing and comforting. Whilst sitting with a glass of water I looked around the room and noticed the jars on the walls stacked with many different types of Lush Massage Bars. Jen told me that Lush had specifically designed these massage bars for the treatments and none were available to sell.
I had to choose a word from the list that she gave me and this told her how to change my treatment to give me the desired effect. I chose the word ‘energise’ as I have alway struggled with feeling energetic because of my chronic fatigue syndrome I have had for years. Jen took the massage bar designed for energising and gave me a little smell – very creamy, yummy with a citrusy flavour.
Then I had to choose from the table near the treatment rooms, a little bottle with another word that jumped out at me. I chose, ‘Focus on Life’ which is so what I wish for this year, to be able to do as much as I can and go after my dreams.
Jen took us through to the treatment room and I entered into another gorgeous room which was dimly lit and very warm and cosy.
I noticed in the corners of the room these little tiny shelves that had a type of glass cup on it that was sitting on a heated element. Jen put a few drops in each of them and I soon realised that there was dry ice in the cups and mixed with the drops, made scented vapor that filled up the room with my ‘focus on Life’ scent.
What word would you choose?
The dry ice made an amazing bubbling sound! I hung up my clothes on a lovely heated towel rack that was going to make my clothes toasty and warm when it came time to leave.
Lying down on the very comfortable bed which had an electric heating pad, I felt ready and excited for my treatment. As much reading as I had done on this treatment before the appointment, I still didn’t really know what was going to happen but I knew I was in for a treat as the reviews were just so good.
What makes this treatment one of a kind is the music. Lush have worked with an orchestra ‘ The Imagined Village’ and, together, they specifically created the music, sounds and singing to match this treatment which will take you away to heaven! The massage also has been entirely created by the Lush team with some unique massage movements.
The speakers are in each of the four corners of room and because the bed is in the middle you hear the music and nature sounds all around you, you actually feel like you are in the music.
I normally find it difficult to relax in treatments when there is music on but this was oh-o-so different. The music is what makes this treatment so special and effective.
It helps to transport you to places far away into your own mind. It may evoke memories of traveling or loving thoughts or perhaps send you to sleep (this would be a total waste though!).
I felt like I was meditating, something I never do when having a treatment.
This hour and a half was total relaxation for my mind, body and soul.
The treatment starts with a facial massage, then the energise massage bar is used and oh boy, does the bliss start there and then!
Being massaged with that bar, all over the body and with Jen’s amazing hands (she has fabulous energy) was out of this world. The massage bar is made up of cacoa butter, shea butter and essential oils that glides beautifully over the skin. The massage movements are very slow and long and combined with the music, you go into a deep trance pretty much immediately.
Massages normally seem to go super quickly but because this treatment is an hour and a half, you really feel like its lasts forever but totally in a good way, you do not feel its being rushed.
Hot and Cold stones are used on the face, body, and also on the chakra points. These were at times soothing and stimulating and the sensation of these just add another level to this treatment.
I have never actually had a treatment that involves these hot stones. With their perfectly smooth surface, they can either retain their heat or their coolness and send bursts of energy to certain points of the body. Having hot stones over the face just feels incredible, they are smooth like silk and the warmth gets the circulation going in the face.
Throughout the treatment you go from concentrating on the massage to the music and its beautiful melodies and nature sounds.
I loved hearing the owls hooting and birds chirping when their were some soft and quiet moments.
The music always changes in tempo but its never overpowering – it truly does suit the treatment and adds to the magic.
Only two products are used, the massage bar and something for the face, both so creamy and smelt lovely and contained no preservatives.
When the treatment was over, I did not want to get up, I was so relaxed and just in awe of the treatment that I almost didnt hear Jen say that it was over. I was almost speechless as to how great this treatment was.
I had to take my time to come back to life and get ready and meet her outside.
Jen also had a little gift for me which was a silver Lush tin with two bars inside. One was for use in the bath and the other was another massage bar to use at home. I was going to buy something similar as the bar is the perfect product for dry skin but to be given one just made this treatment even more special.
She made me a cup of herbal tea before I left which was a lovely touch. Its nice not to be scooted out the door like many salons can make you feel.
I had a good chat to her about the preservatives that are sometimes used in some of the products. She advised me that Lush are totally honest about what they have in their products. They realise that some of their formulations do not work without certain preservatives but that they were minimally in some of the range.
When they do use a preservative it usually is the percentage of about 0.01% so really, nothing to be worried about. I personally love Lush more than ever after today and was very impressed to hear about their charity work they do in foreign countries.
After the treatment, despite being super relaxed, I also felt very positive and happy.
This treatment is not cheap, for one and a half hours its £125 but, you know what? It was worth EVERY penny. You completely get your moneys worth.
I will treat myself again in a few months time, if I feel that I am stressed out. I think I almost hope I am so I can have an excuse to go again.
It would also make a fantastic gift for your mum on mothers day. If she loves treatments this one will blow her mind!
Please watch the video clip below on info about the treatment. The creators of Lush are interviewed and they also have footage of the orchestra and you get a taste of the music that is also available to purchase.
If you do go to visit the Kings Road Spa, please ask for Jen, she is fantastic! So much knowledge, so down to earth and warm and the best hands!
They also have a couple more spas around the UK that do this treatment. Look out for their facials as well I am yet to try but have been told they are equally as amazing!