Tried and Tested Marine Prelude Body Treatment

By KATHLEEN MANSON

RECOVERING from a rotten cold and a hectic week at work, I felt about as attractive as a lump of plasticine. What I needed was something to revitalise me.

I book a slot at Richardson Murray, a hair and beauty salon on Great Western Road.

Perusing the menu, I feel like a kid in a sweetie shop and can’t decide. I ask my therapist, Sandie Beagrie, for some advice.

She recommends a Thalgo body treatment called a Marine Prelude. Thalgo are a French company who specialise in products made with natural marine mud and minerals.

I explain I am feeling a little fragile so I don’t want a treatment that may get results but feels more like torture.

I once had a treatment that included being scrubbed, wrapped in bandages soaked in ice cold water and left to chitter for half an hour.

Sandie has a very soothing presence and reassures me that I will like this treatment. I fill out a questionnaire and she gives me a quick-run down on what the treatment entails.

The first wonderful surprise is that the treatment bed is heated – bliss Within a few minutes the warmth of the bed has lulled me into a dreamlike state.

Sandie begins with a short session of reflexology.

The premise of reflexology is that certain pressure points on the feet relate to parts of the body and by stimulating certain areas you can promote healing.

Sandie works on my lymphatic system, kidneys, solar plexus and the intestines to help with fluid retention.

Sandie keeps talk to a minimum as she works allowing me to fully unwind.

She then sprinkles my body with salt – avoiding my face and bust – sprays me with warm water and lathers me in thick, grey mud, and wraps me up in a plastic sheet and covers me with towels.

The salt is coated in starch to act as both an exfoliant and skin softener, while the mud replenishes the skin with minerals.

This could be a highly uncomfortable experience, but Sandie works quickly, wrapping up one part of my body at a time.

Unable to move, but still snug on the heated bed, Sandie takes my mind off the tingling salt sensation with a blissful head and facial massage.

About half-an-hour later she unwraps me and scrubs the salt into my skin. I then step into the adjoining wet room, grateful to be washing off the salt and mud.

All clean, Sandie proceeds to give me a full body massage with a sweet smelling, intensive nutrition cream.

Almost two hours later I am baby soft and extremely relaxed – just what the doctor ordered.

GBP45 for 1hr 30mins