Edinburgh's Guerlain Spa
Sometimes, being a beauty writer is a very, very nice job. I was lucky enough to be invited to the Guerlain Spa at Edinburgh’s Waldorf Astoria Caledonian Hotel last week to try out their Signature facial, the Orchidee Imperiale Prestige Treatment.
The Guerlain Spa in the newly refurbished Edinburgh hotel is the first in the UK – and well worth a visit. It is a beautiful, luxury spa, in the heart of the city, and you can tell you are in for a treat the minute you step through the doors. From the ridiculously comfy bathrobes, to the excellent ‘Beauty Coach’ welcome, to the serene treatment room, this has the true mark of a special spa.
Of course it should. Guerlain is the oldest beauty house in the world, after all, and one of the most revered and luxurious. Their products and treatments do not come cheaply. But if it is a complete relaxation and pamper you are after, then book in.
After being welcomed, and taken on a journey through Guerlain fragrance – at the heart of the brand – I was invited to choose a scent for my treatment, purely from smelling fragranced funnels, without knowing which it was. My treatment was on a Monday morning, so it’s not hard to explain why I was drawn to the citrus fresh, uplifting Eau de Cologne Imperiale!
I was then taken to the treatment room, left to change into my robe, and then taken to the gold curtain lined relaxation room whilst Alison, my Beauty Coach, prepared my room. The treatment began with a warm foot bath and lower leg exfoliation, before getting comfy on the duvet-covered, adjustable bed, which was a dream!
Once settled, Alison had a good look at my skin, and pointed out everything she saw, and asked if I agreed with her – it was an in-depth evaluation, and precise diagnosis, and I knew I was in capable hands.
The Orchidee Imperiale Treatment uses the range of products Guerlain took years to develop, using orchids, grown in their own Orchidarium, coupled with massage techniques from 1939, when Guerlain opened their first Institu de Beaute in Paris.
It is both invigorating and relaxing, with the exclusive Orchidée Impériale firming massage repeated three times by alternating deep massage sequences with softer relaxing ones, to act on the muscles of the face, neck, décolleté and the upper part of the back. Under the action of precise movements, the muscles are stimulated, the facial contours redefined. It felt amazing, not sore, but really like something was being done, and I was looking forward to the results.
My skin was also nourished with three different masks. Mostly everything was applied with Kabuki brushes, which felt lovely, and at the end of the treatment, I was offered a mirror to see the effects. A week late, I was still absolutely convinced that my most prominent lines, the laughter ones at my mouth, were plumped and smoothed, and less apparent. I definitely felt a general ‘plumping’ of the skin. I was delighted with the results. However, my poor dehydrated skin (my own fault!) was dry again later on that day and needed more care – perhaps a four mask treatment would work for me!
I was also offered an eyelash tint, or eyebrow shape during the treatment, but opted for soothing and rehydrating under eye patches to be placed on instead.
It was a wonderful way to spend a Monday morning, and at £250, a very luxurious one. The Guerlain Spa at the Waldorf Astoria has a range of treatments with prices ranging from around £18 for eyebrow waxing, to nearly £600 for a complete 7 hour, Caledonian Cure!
For Mother’s Day there is a great package on offer, at £150 per person. It includes the Orchidee Imperiale The Interlude Treatment, full use of the spa, with that luxury robe, a glass of champagne and macarons, and a ‘Special Gesture’ to remember the day by. You need to book in advance, the details are below.
Of course, there are lots of other spa deals on offer through 5pm Health and Beauty should you not be able to visit the Guerlain Spa at this time.
For more information, visit the Waldorf Astoria Caledonian Hotel website, or call 0131 222 8836. For more on Guerlain, visit Guerlain.com
