Forevermissvanity - A UK Lifestyle Blogger : spa

A Day Visit to Thorpe Park Spa, Leeds

If your idea of the perfect weekend is to lounge by a pool, to take a dip in a steamy hot tub, to be massaged until thoroughly relaxed and then have the opportunity to feast on scrumptious afternoon tea, Thorpe Park Hotel & Spa should be on your weekend bucket-list. Thorpe Park Hotel and Spa is situated on the outskirts of Leeds, in an ideal location for those looking to stay in the vicinity of the city centre, but would like to escape the city hustle and bustle and it is also perfect for those looking to venture to other nearby tourist locations such as Harrogate, York and the Dales. The hotel recently won Hotel of the Year in the White Rose Tourism Awards, with the spa facilities being one of the key areas for winning this award.

When it comes to spa days I usually travel quite far out to country retreats, so I was really excited when Thorpe Park Spa asked me to check out their facilities which are almost on my doorstep. I had heard so many great things about the spa and was really keen to see what they had to offer.

The spa features a pool, whirlpool, steam room and sauna as well as an onsite gym, cafe and restaurant area. Spa day visitors depending on which package they choose can pick from a two course meal or an afternoon tea. Visitors to the spa are asked to sign the obligatory spa documents and then make their way into the relaxation area for complimentary refreshments. These refreshments included nuts and fruit and an extensive range of Taylors of Harrogate herbal teas, which is one of my favourite tea brands. The relaxation area itself is superbly decorated in luxe blue, purple and grey colours, with comfy lounging chairs all accessorised with plush velvet pillows.

Once we had felt settled in the relaxation area, we grabbed our robes and made our way down to the poolside. The pool was nice and spacious and despite being used by hotel guests, it wasn't too overcrowded either. There was ample of chair and lounger space so that each guest was able to have somewhere to sit and for those who wanted to relax out of the way of the pool, there was also a separate relaxation area which on a nice day would open up on to a patio. As well as the pool, there was a whirlpool, Turkish steam room and sauna. While the facilities were all lovely, very clean and in immaculate condition, I feel that if I didn't have treatments I wouldn't have had enough to do to have spent a full day at the spa as there was only a limited amount of activities.

After spending a few hours by the pool, we then made our way to the restaurant for afternoon tea. I opted for the vegetarian version of the afternoon tea which consisted of hummus, grilled vegetable and cheese and onion sandwiches, a fruit scone, raspberry yogurt, chocolate and coffee cake and macarons. The afternoon tea itself was plentiful and a delight to eat, however I did feel slightly disgruntled that I wasn't given a choice of tea which most afternoon teas do offer and although I personally didn't mind that much, I do feel that the vegetarian and meat afternoon teas should have both been on separate stands.

Overall it was a lovely relaxing day and a great opportunity visit somewhere local for a change. I really enjoyed the facilities and the afternoon tea and I wouldn't mind going back, but next time to check out the hotel alongside the spa.

Have you been to Thorpe Park Spa before?

If your idea of a perfect weekend is spending the day in the grounds of picturesque Georgian building with a world renowned spa, Seaham Hall is a place you need to add to your bucket list. Voted as one of the world's top 100 spas, the Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall blends together 44,000sq of unadulterated enchantment, designed to deliver the ultimate in terms of tranquility and wellbeing.

Built on the grounds of Seaham Hall, a Georgian country house which dates back to 1791 and has a fascinating history linked to the American prohibition and Lord Byron, the serenity spa features: a 20-metre pool, outdoor balcony hot tubs, a hydrotherapy pool, jacuzzi, 17 treatment rooms and Hammam with snail shower. Last Sunday I was invited by Seaham Hall to test out the serenity spa amenities and compare this to other leading UK spas that I had previously visited.

When we arrived at the spa we were greeted by the spa receptionists and given a welcome drink of freshly squeezed lemonade along with a tour of the facilities. Stepping foot into the Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall is like taking a fast track flight to Thailand. The spa features teak wooden beams, an array of red and purple fabrics and decor which is typically associated with Thai culture such as ornamental elephants.

Once we had been shown the changing rooms and slipped into our fluffy white robes and slippers, we headed straight to the pool area and the hot tubs. The pool at the Seaham Hall serenity spa is one of the more larger spa pools I have visited and because of this it felt like there was plenty of space for everyone to have their own part of the pool and feel relaxed, without any overcrowding. The hot tubs were on a balcony surrounded by greenery and fencing for privacy, but if you stood on the steps, it overlooked the Seaham hall gardens. Unfortunately the weather wasn't that great so we were unable to bask in the sun all day, but the heat of the hot tub was just the right temperature for us to sit back and relax for half an hour.

After an hour of relaxation in the pool and hot tub area, we focused our attention on the additional spa facilities such as the saunas, hydropool, solarium and the Moroccan Hammam that I was intrigued by. The Moroccan Hammam was one of my favourite parts of the spa, it was like walking into an eastern paradise - a room with dark gemstone walls, where you can sit in a jacuzzi bath and take in all the steam in the air. It was a sensory heaven and something that I hadn't seen at any other spas.

Like most spa breaks, our spa day came with lunch and this was in the Ozone restaurant which serves pan-asian food to accompany the overall theme of the spa. The Ozone is a charming, informal brasserie-style restaurant with floor to ceiling windows overlooking Seaham Hall grounds, a cocktail bar and an open kitchen. Restaurant guest attire consisted of slippers and dressing gowns, although you did get the odd guest who came specifically for the restaurant and they wore their usual clothes. The menu was extensive with plenty to choose from and vegetarians and vegans had their own menu which I really appreciated - it's very rare these days to get restaurants that go and above and beyond to cater vegetarian diners.

For my starter I opted for the vegetable spring rolls with plum sauce and for main I chose the tofu marinated in sweet chili sauce with jasmine rice. Both meals had plenty of flavour and were cooked to perfection. It was the first time I had tried plum sauce with spring rolls and it was revelation - I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Once we had digested our food, it was time for my husband to head to the gym and for me to head up to the treatment area for Seaham Hall's newest treatment - a 90 minute Ytsara Ultimate Fusion facial. The Ytsara facial is a special one of a kind treatment only available at Seaham Hall which blends together together Eastern and Western skincare techniques to give the ultimate face ritual. The facial features a Chinese Guasha Jade stone massage, Thai warm poultice and French massage techniques to awaken and rejuvenate the skin, leaving it feeling soft, toned and glowing. The spa therapist was a lovely Thai woman who told me about the skin therapy they use back in her homeland of Northern Thailand and how they had been incorporated in this particular treatment. She also gave me a 'foot cleanse' as soon as I entered to the room to 'banish negative energy' - something which is really popular in Thailand and that I had done plenty of times when visiting the country last year. Although I do think 90 minutes is a little bit excessive for a facial treatment, I did thoroughly enjoy it and my face still feels remarkable one week later. At £130, this isn't your run of the mill weekly facial and it is something a little bit more special. If I was to visit again, despite the long treatment time, this is something I would definitely consider saving up for.

Walking to the car park at the end of our spa day, I did get a sense of sadness leaving Seaham Hall. It is a place of remarkable beauty and in all honesty, I didn't want it to end. My day at the serenity spa was second to none and definitely the best spa I've had the pleasure of visiting. From the food to the treatments, to the spa facilities and the staff, everything was first class and it's easy to see how this spa got it's world acclaim. Would I go back? Definitely.

Have you been to Seaham Hall before?

*My trip to Seaham Hall was complimentary and all views are my own

There's nothing I love more than going on a spa break. The thought of stripping off into a fluffy white robe and slippers, sipping detox juices and listening to calming acoustic music relaxes me. I love swimming in fresh non-chlorinated pools, pretending to be in a hotter climate by visiting the steam rooms and saunas and having someone give me a massage while I sneakily drift off to sleep with cucumbers on my eyes. If you haven't been to a spa break before and you're looking for a weekend escape that isn't a city break, here's my five reasons why you should visit a spa.

Relaxation

These days we live in a fast paced world where many of us work ridiculous hours, often having multiple jobs that stretch way beyond the 9-5 working hours. Sometimes we all just need a few days where we switch off from our busy lives and just relax. Spas are a great place for relaxation as soon as you enter you are greeted with calming music and the smell of fresh scented candles, you can choose to spend your day as you wish with no schedule - whether you opt for a treatment or simply chill by the pool and many spas have 'relaxation zones' where you park yourself in a bean bag all day in nothing but a fluffy robe and a pair of slippers and you can catch up on all your favourite books and magazines.

Digital Detox

Spas are a great place to go for a digital detox as firstly many of the more luxurious spas are situated in the countryside where there's no mobile signal and secondly, if you can get signal on your phone, most places prohibit them anyway. For a day, a few hours or a weekend you can switch off from the social world and focus on what really matters - your well being.

Spend time with your friends or partner

Many spa breaks offer deals if you take your partner or your friends, so it's a great excuse for you all to get together in an environment where you can talk to each other without being distracted by the loud noise of a pub, your mobile phones or the television. You can sit back in the pool and really spend some quality time together.

Pampering

Leading a busy life leads to strain on our bodies from aching joints from walking around all day to stiff necks and backs from sitting at a desk for seven hours, stress from work can also put a strain on our mental health. There are many treatments at spas that can help with many of those problems and also help you relax which can help reduce stress.

Escapism

Spas usually have tranquil settings that are purposely designed to mentally whisk us away to somewhere exotic and stress-free. Spas are a great way of escaping everyday life and spending a few hours dreaming of your idea of paradise.

If my five reasons to visit a spa have convinced you to make a booking, here's just a few of my recommendations of what you should take with you. When visiting a spa you're usually handed complimentary wardrobes, towels and slippers, but it always helps to bring a pair of flip flops like these ones from New Look with you for near the pool. One thing I always forget to bring with me to a spa is gymwear. A lot of spas have gym areas and classes and also an array of activities that you would need alternative clothing for. These Sweaty Betty leggings and the 'Believe Achieve' top for New Look are definitely going in my bag for my next visit. And finally, don't forget to bring your swimsuit if your spa has a pool. I love this Wolf and Whistle swimsuit from Simply Be swimwear range as the pattern is really striking and tropical and it has a really flattering design.

Have you been to a spa before?

When it comes to beauty and hair salons, I admit I can be really choosy. The salons I go to have to be trendy, relaxing and have a certain ambience about them. There's nothing I loathe more than a dull salon that looks stuck in the 80s and where the hairdressers seem more interested in themselves than the clients. I've been around the block a few times when it comes to hairdressers and beauty salons and I'm not afraid to try new places. After all the average cut and colour these days can set you back anywhere up to £150, if we're paying those type of prices, we definitely deserve the best.

Recently I was invited down to RMUK in Leeds for processco, canapés and to review a few of their treatments on the official launch night. The newly opened hair salon and day spa is situated on George Street in a beautiful traditional Georgian Property boasting a whole host of original and unique features. From the moment I walked through the door, I was blown away by the beauty of the building and decor. The salon looked elegant, clean and polished and exactly what Leeds was in need of, a new upmarket, vibrant and trendy place to relax and be pampered.

The salon and day spa covers 3,500 sq. ft and consists of a spacious top floor hair salon complete with spacious styling stations, a real fire place and exposed beams and a floor dedicated to beauty, which includes a bar and pedicure spa, private treatment rooms and an Aveda day spa. The floors are beautifully decorated with buddha statues, colourful asian style lanterns, all of which are set against a tranquil beige and earthy brown colour scheme.

For those who fancy a little something extra, the salon also has its own private bar and rooftop terrence. These are wonderful places to sit back and relax after a day of being pampered whilst having a glass of much needed Prosecco or a cocktail. Yet again the bar area is beautifully decorated with stunning woodwork and brass lamps on the ceiling. The bar is quirky, yet sophisticated and the best bit is that it is only open to spa guests.

When I read my invite, I couldn't wait to see the rooftop terence and when I got the spa, it did not disappoint. The terrence area is well secluded and although the buildings behind are not the prettiest sight to see, the plants, the seating arrangements and the lovely sheltered canopy make it for it. It is a relaxing area and a lovely place to chill out with friends post treatment, especially in the summer.

Once you are finished for the day, the official RMUK taxi can drop you off home (depending on distance) or to the train station. The salon has created a city first with the launch of the RMUK Pamper Cab, a refurbished black taxi that will provide customers with a free chauffeur service, picking them up and dropping them off at locations across Leeds. If it wasn't for this cab, I would have missed my train that evening and I'm really grateful. I think the cab is a wonderful addition to the salon - especially for days when it is wet and the weather is horrible, after all no-one wants to leave a salon looking as bad as when they entered.

Overall I was really impressed with the spa and hair salon and I'm already planning my next treatments for when I go back. It's a great place to go whether you are looking for a day of 1-1 pampering or a day out with your friends.

Have you been to RMUK Leeds?

A few days ago my husband and I took a two and half hour drive to Moddershall Oaks for a day of relaxation over the bank holiday weekend. Moddershall Oaks is a spa set in the countryside of Staffordshire. The spa boasts an outdoor heated pool, indoor pool, hydro pool and sauna, experience showers, gym and gourmet restaurant, all of which is set in the most idyllic surroundings, complete with its own lake.

I have heard so many brilliant things about Moddershall Oaks and couldn't wait to experience it all for myself. When we arrived both of us were blown away by the beautiful scenery and the pretty buildings. When we checked in and were given a tour of the spa everywhere was clean, immaculate and very peaceful, everything you look for in a spa visit.

The first place we headed after getting changed into our swimwear was this amazing outdoor heated vitality pool. The weather was sunny, but not too warm yet the pool made us feel like we were abroad. I loved being able to back and absorb all the scenery whilst bathing in a heated pool complete with jet streams and bubbles. The staff also walked around offering poolside service - I couldn't resist the non-alcoholic mojitos.

After relaxing in the pool for awhile, my husband and I decided to sit back in the relaxation area and order a few poolside nibbles. I ordered a scone with jam and unfortunately due to a mix up in the kitchen this took an almighty one hour and a half. Apparently the scones hadn't been baked yet and there was a misunderstanding between the waiter and the kitchen staff. The waiter was more than apologetic and I am one of those people that accepts that mistakes do happen, but I wasn't impressed when then after an hour and a half of waiting they decided to cancel my order without making it clear to me. In the end everything was resolved and dealt with in a professional matter and I was given a full apology and also a free scone in the way of compensation for my time. I'm pretty sure this was just a once off and would probably never happen again as the rest of the spa staff went above and beyond all day for their customers and I personally found everything else to be faultless. I'm not holding any grudges at all - I suppose the scone was better late than never and the cherry scone in particular was absolutely delicious.

After the scone situation, we decided to check out the indoor spa and the rest of the spa facilities. The indoor spa has an indoor swimming pool, hydrotherapy pool, heated tiled loungers, experience shower and reflexology footbaths. The room was nicely decorated, I loved the artwork and lighting around the hydropool and most importantly it felt relaxing. As most people were outside enjoying the nice weather and heated outdoor pool, my husband and I had the pleasure of having the pool all to ourselves for awhile.

We spent about an hour playing around in the indoor spa and afterwards my husband and I went to try some of Moddershalls latest spa treatments from their summer treatment menu. I opted for a Mojito Manicure and my husband had a rosehip back massage. Both treatments were greatly received and the spa therapists were friendly and professional. I loved being able to drink a mojito whilst having my nails done and I was really impressed with the overall colour one it was done.

When our treatments had finished my husband and I then headed down to the restaurant for our lunch. We had a table reserved for 1.30pm and the reception staff took our food orders on arrival that morning so the service was fast and efficient. I loved the restaurant. It was classic and elegant and the waiters were so friendly. I had the bruschetta for starter and the Portobello Mushroom burger for main. Both dishes were amazing and the Portobello Mushroom burger has to be on the best mushroom burgers I've ever had. The relish was full of flavour and I loved the chunky chips. I couldn't fault it and both courses filled up for the rest of the day.

Despite one little criticism, my day at Moddershall Oaks went above and beyond my expectations and my husband and I are already looking into booking an overnight stay early next year. The spa facilities were great, the food was so delicious and the countryside location makes you feel secluded and relaxed. The fact that I couldn't get phone signal all day meant I was forced to switch off from all my work and have some 'me time' and I couldn't have wished for a better way to spend my bank holiday.

Have you been to Moddershall Oaks?

I admit, I've never been one for regular visiting beauty salons apart from getting my hair done, but recently I have began to see the appeal. A few months ago I had my first facial and fell in love with it. I loved how soft my skin felt, the relaxation of sitting back in a chair and letting someone else do the work and the priceless advice that the beautician gave me regarding skin care. After my first facial I vowed to make going to a beauty salon a regular occurrence and that I would look into more treatments that they have to offer.

Recently I was invited down to Bellissima Exclusive*in Guiseley to test out a few of their services. Bellissima Exclusive is one of Yorkshire's Premier Beauty Salons and Skin clinics specialising in all beauty treatments and facial aesthetics. After an extensive browse through their treatment list, I opted to try DiamondTome Mini Microdermabrasion with the Omnilux Renew light therapy and experience their digital skin analysis.

For those commuting from Leeds, the train only takes 10 minutes to get to Guiseley and passes through the village every 15 minutes. Once you arrived at the train station, it is a five minute walk down the beautiful town streets with plenty of charity shops and stores to occupy your time if you are a little bit early for your appointment. When I arrived at the Bellissima Exclusive salon I was happy to see that the salon felt very hygienic, very smart and looked highly professional. The staff were highly accommodating offering me a drink upon arrival and it was only a few minutes sat in the waiting area before my appointment.

I was then lead to a small room with a clinical grade camera to have my skin analysis. The consultation began with questions about my overall skin health, how much time I spend in the sun, my diet, stress levels and my skin care regime. The questions were really in depth and you knew that by the end of the consultation that the therapist would have everything they needed to know to answer any of your skin based questions. During this consultation I felt at ease as the skin therapist joked and laughed with me and made me feel very welcome. After my initial consultation, I was asked to place my head on the camera and have my photo taken. This photograph is then downloaded to the computer and a detailed analysis pops up 5 minutes later. I have always looked after my skin and the analysis clearly showed this. I'm 24 and luckily received a skin diagnostic age of 25. The only thing said to be aging me was the fact that I had severely dehydrated skin from being in and out of hospital. After the consultation the therapist gave me a few product recommendations based on her findings and then led me to treatment room where I would have my microdermabrasion facial.

I'm not going to lie, the thought of having a microdermabrasion facial terrified me. I envisioned a large roller being applied to my face and expected pain, but it was nothing like that. The therapist selected a really fine roller no bigger than a marker pen and gently glided it along my face. Throughout most of the treatment the roller just tickled, but there was an odd pinch here and there on the more sensitive parts of my face. One the dead skin had been removed, the therapist applied the Omnilux renew peel and placed me under a bright red light whilst wearing a pair of protective sunglasses. The intensity of the light took some getting used to, but once my eyes adjusted I felt very relaxed. I was under the light approximately 15 minutes and after the treatment, she proceeded to the final stage of applying my facial. As previously mentioned I have been suffering from extensive dry skin due to being dehydrated so the therapist used a really nice hydrating mask.

Once the treatment had ended, I felt renewed and like a different person.The microdermabrasion had taken awhile all my dead skin to leave me with a baby soft face and the moisturiser applied at the end made it even softer. I had a small amount of redness for an hour or so after the treatment due to the slightly invasive nature of the microdermabrasion but nothing I couldn't handle and it was definitely worth it for the after result. My face remained soft and vibrant for at least 2 weeks after the treatment and I can't wait to book in again.

Have you had a microdermabrasion treatment before?

Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire famous for its Betty's Tearoom, old spa waters and beautiful gardens. The town is a popular tourist destination attracting visitors worldwide and repeatedly the town has been voted one of the best places to live in the UK. In a poll ran by Secret Escapes 2013, Harrogate was also voted as the third most romantic destination in the world beating some of the top named cities in the world such as Paris, Vienna and Rome.

Despite living relatively close to Harrogate, I have never had the opportunity to properly look round and it has always been something that I have wanted to do. Last week my best friend and I decided that we needed a girls day out and today we went to Harrogate for a spot of shopping, an Afternoon Tea at Betty's and I also popped into the world renowned H2K salon for a cheeky pre-shop massage.

The H2K salon is situated in the Montpellier shopping region of Harrogate. Montpellier Quarter is known for its independent boutiques, exclusive stores and cobbled pathways leading to quirky cafes, award winning restaurants and salons. Outside these amazing shops lies Montpellier gardens, an array of lush greenery, park land and places that are perfect to sit and admire the beauty of Harrogate town.

H2K of Harrogate is a successful beauty salon situated in Montpellier Quarter and is known for being one of the leading suppliers of toiletries to UK and international hotels. The Flagship Store opened in Harrogate in 2013 which showcases their wide range of toiletries and also offers treatments and massages using all their own products. Before shopping I decided to pop by H2K of Harrogate for a back massage and I was impressed by the friendly professional staff, the beautiful decor of the salon and the wonderful oils they used during the treatment. The spa therapist knew exactly what was needed to ease my aches and pains and also paid close attention to the problem areas that I spoke to her about in the consultation. The treatment rooms have dimmed lighting, beautifully scented candles in the background and a comfy bed with soft fluffy towels and covers. My back massage lasted approximately 30 minutes and left me feeling invigorated and energised, ready for the day ahead.

Our next stop was the world renowned Betty's Tearooms. Betty's Tearooms is a 96 year old tea room situated in the heart of Harrogate town. The tea room overlooks the beautiful Montpellier gardens and is highly regarded due their high quality confectionary, elegant rooms, friendly hospitality and above all, their high level of professionalism. Betty's tearooms is a great place to visit if you're looking for a relaxing environment to sit and eat breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or an evening meal.

My friend and I opted for the Betty's Traditional Afternoon Tea which consisted of a pot of tea, scones, cakes and sandwiches priced at a reasonable £18.95. The Afternoon Tea was beautifully presented with silver tea pots, china cups and the food looked mouth wateringly good as it promptly arrived in front of us.

Seeing as though I don't eat meat I opted for a vegetarian afternoon tea and the staff were more than willing to accommodate. The vegetarian option came with a variety of cheese sandwiches from a traditional cucumber and cream cheese to a mediterranean vegetable and cheese sandwich. All of which were cut up into small bite size pieces and were light to eat at the start of the meal.

Next course was a traditional scone with clotted cream and jam. Having a stomach problem means I currently need to avoid too much dairy and regrettably I had to pass on the clotted cream, but the scone was light and fluffy with the perfect amount of raisins and was made to just the right size, leaving enough room to manage dessert.

Dessert consisted of chocolate coffee cake, a custard tart with raspberries and a macaroon for the non-vegetarians. The custard tart tasted fresh and sweet and the pastry melted in your mouth. The coffee chocolate cake was a little bit on the rich side for me, but cut at just the right size, they were manageable and finished off the meal perfectly.

Finally my friend Josephine and I ended up to the high street to do a spot of shopping. With everything from high street classics such as Topshop, River Island, The Body Shop and Lush to premium brands such as LK Bennett, Joules, Jo Malone and L'Occitane, the Harrogate high street caters for every tourist and resident alike. I had such a wonderful time in Harrogate, it really made me think of what other wonders I am missing that are on my doorstep. Harrogate is a beautiful town and I would really urge others to visit.

Have you been to Harrogate before?

*This post was in collaboration with Visit Harrogate

Image source

Sometimes we all need a day to relax, be pampered and revitalise our bodies and our minds. After a long week of illness, a relaxing weekend away from the stress was something I definitely needed. A few weeks ago I was asked by the Radisson Blu Edwardian Sienna Spa* in central Manchester if I wanted to come down and see their facilities and this weekend I decided to take them up on the offer. With one of my best friends in tow, we set off for a girls luxury pamper day in Manchester not knowing what to expect from the Sienna Spa, but when we left our emotions were both of sadness and joy - sadness that they day had to end at some point and joy that it was one of the most relaxing, beautiful spas both of us had ever visited.

Our day started with spa treatments in the Sienna Spa treatment rooms. I opted for the 30 Minute Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage plus a 30 Minute Express Facial. After being poorly all week, I had aches and pains that needed soothing and my skin had reached the point of dehydration. The spa therapist started with an initial consultation asking questions about my daily skin routine, my lifestyle and the treatments I particularly enjoyed, followed by a sensory test to discover which massage oils and creams would benefit me the most. It was no surprise that I subconsciously picked the 'relaxation' oils and after being left to get undressed, I was led over to the table. I'm often a little bit nervous about getting my kit off during a massage, but the therapist was highly professional and kept me relaxed throughout the entire treatment. I opted for a 'medium' pressure massage which suited my aching muscles to a tee and after the treatment ended, I was left with soft skin and most importantly, I felt ache free for the first time in days. The therapist then proceeded to the express facial. I've had several facials in the past where I felt that the products used had been too heavy for my skin, but the ESPA products this particular salon used felt great. Each product had a distinctive scent and sent me on a sensory journey throughout the facial. I can recall essence of lavender and different types of herbs, followed by sweet scents such as roses. My skin was left glowing after the treatment and several hours later. my skin still feels as soft as baby's bottom.

After a casual swim and visits to the sauna and steam room, Lizi and I headed upstairs to the Opus One Bar and Restaurant where we were served an Afternoon Tea. To start with both us of were presented with a complimentary glass of Champagne to set the mood and were then given the menu to help us decide on our luxury treats. The Opus One Bar and Restaurant has two types of Afternoon Tea - a classic afternoon tea with sandwiches, scones, desserts and tea and a Gentleman's Afternoon Tea which instead has mini Yorkshire pudding, warm pork pie, mini fish and chips, a selection of sandwiches and homemade scones and preserves. Lizi and I both went for the Traditional Afternoon Tea which catered for our specific dietary requests - mine being vegetarian and Lizi's being gluten free. The staff were more than accommodating and went above and beyond to ensure we had a pleasant time.

When we were presented with our Afternoon Tea's I couldn't quite believe my eyes. There was so much choice and everything was beautifully presented.

My vegetarian option had four types of sandwiches - egg, hummus, cheese and onion and cheese, with the hummus one being my favourite. It was so full of flavour, yet light enough so you could eat more.

These scones were probably the nicest scones I had eaten in a long time. Fluffy on the inside, crisp on the outside. The scones were served warm with sides of jam and butter, which combined melted in your mouth and left you wanting more.

The desserts were every sweet tooth's dream. I was served a Banoffee pie, a lemon cheesecake, a brownie and a Battenberg. There's no way I could eat them all, but I did my best to sample a spoonful of each. The Banoffee pie pictured in front was creamy and indulgent - my only criticism was that it seemed to lack much toffee in the bottom. The brownie was rich, but served in a small enough portion to handle and the Battenberg was perfect in every way. The one dessert I couldn't stop eating had to be the lemon cheesecake. The cheesecake was light and fluffy with a seductive tangy lemon flavour. I'm not usually a fan of desserts, but here I could eat every one of them.

As if the Afternoon Tea and Champagne wasn't enough, we were then presented with the new Opus bar Halle cocktail. The Halle cocktail had been named after one of Britain's most renowned Orchestras, the Halle Orchestra in Manchester. The cocktail was made up of Chambord, Vodka and Raspberries topped with Raspberry foam and fruit. It was a sweet, summery cocktail and was something that I'd often go for on a night out. I can imagine too many of these would rather sickly, but one or two would go down a treat.

Lizi and I had the most perfect day at the Sienna Spa at the Radisson Blu Edwardian in Manchester and I would go back in a heartbeat. All the staff were friendly and accommodating and the atmosphere felt relaxed and inviting. If I had to pick out one criticism it is probably that the women's changing rooms is a little bit on the small side, but that would be nitpicking. The spa is faultless for those looking for relaxation in the big city and with a hotel on site, it's the perfect location for a weekend break. At £79pp for a Luxury Pamper Day with a spa treatment, use of the Health Club, pool, a light lunch and champagne it is one of the most affordable spas I have visited but felt no less luxurious than some of the most expensive spas I have visited also. If you're planning on visiting Manchester soon, I highly recommend this place.

*This visit was complimentary and arranged by the Radisson group. All views are my own, if I didn't like something I would say.

Last week my friend Lizi and I had the pleasure of attending the Beauty Matters salon launch party in Garforth, Leeds. Beauty Matters ie one of Leeds' oldest independently owned beauty salon businesses and recently the team invested a six figure sum into a new, large premise in the town of Garforth. The new salon has an opulent yet homely feel and was fitted out by the same team who built the Harrod's Dior counter and the Ben Sherman shop in Covent Garden. There's mood lighting in the massage rooms giving you a sensual feel, there's bright beautiful lightening in the main salon area and the corridors are liking walking through someone's home with fluffy warm cream carpets and gorgeous furnishings. All these attribute to the salon being one of the most relaxing atmospheres I have seen and felt in awhile.

During the evening we were given the chance to sample a few of the Beauty Matters treatments that set them apart from many salons in the area. One of the product ranges they were keen to share with us on the night was Eviron. Environ is an effective and proven skin care brand from South Africa, favoured by the likes of Elle MacPherson and Naomi Watts. The salon uses these products in a number of treatments such as facials and the product are also available for customers to purchase at home.

Environ an effective and proven skin care brand from south africa favoured by Elle MacPherson and Naomi Watts, which will be used in a number of treatments such as facials and ill also be available for customers to purchase for use at home.

Another one of the Beauty Matters prized treatments is 3D Lipo. 3D-Lipo is probably one of the most advanced machines of its type and offers a new dimension in non-surgical fat removal, treatment of cellulite and skin tightening in one award-winning machine. Beauty Matters has a number of 3D-lipo specialists on hand to give you treatment advice and offer you the best course of action when it comes to non invasive fat removal. During the evening we were led to a room where we could watch a 3D lipo demonstration and I found it really intriguing. The woman was laid on the bed with a machine grabbing part of her stomach and freezing the fat cells. It looked slightly painful, but when I asked the woman how she felt, she said 'it didn't hurt one bit'. If I had £1,000 to spare (which can be paid in installments) I'd be all over this. The staff raved about how well it worked and if this an alternative to going under the knife, it would be something I would consider.

Next stop was the nail bar where Lizi and I were treated to an express manicure. I'm usually not one for getting my nails done as I tend to chip them really easily or pick them off when I'm stressed (which probably one of my worst habits), but I was really impressed with the CND Vinylux polish that they use. I opted for a really bright red colour and it stayed on my nails at least five days without chipping after the event.

Of course it wouldn't be an event without great canapes and champagne and boy, did the Beauty Matters team deliver. All the canapes from the event were locally sourced and some of the vegetarian offerings consisted of griddled aubergine, cheese stuffed pastries, blue cheese and pepper on bruschetta and for dessert, the most yummy chocolate mousse.

At the end of the night guests were encouraged to help raise funds for the local Macmillan Cancer trust who supported this event and as always, I was happy to donate to such a deserving cause. The next day I received an email saying that I had won a facial from their raffle, which has to be the most perfect excuse to visit the Beauty Matters team again. If you live in Leeds, Garforth is only 5 minutes out of the centre by train and I thoroughly recommend popping by. If you're in need of a girly day out or a little bit of 'me-time', Beauty Matters is the place to go.

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