Glasgow Reviewed; The new Benefit boutique

party time!

I absolutely love talking beauty and skincare and everything in between with anyone who will listen. Even better than that though is talking about it with someone as interested and passionate about it all as I am, and that is just what I found at the launch of the new Benefit boutique in House of Fraser Glasgow. Obviously at a beauty blogger event you would expect me to be in this situation but it was actually the staff members I was caught up talking to on this occasion. I had a million and one questions ( no seriously, I was relentless) about the fact they now have private rooms for waxing and spray tans and I was just blown away with the level of care and attention they are offering in their new home. Alongside their famous brow wax and tints (absolutely no-one can give me an arch as good!) you can now choose from a whole host of treatments just like you would at any salon and for absolutely fantastic prices too considering the level of service they are offering.

I love that the private rooms they now have means if you are a little shy about having a facial area waxed or shaped you can now opt to sneak away from the shop floor, or if it is your first time and are a bit nervous there is somewhere you can go and relax while having it done. The staff are so well informed on the techniques and products they are using and have really listened to customers and what they want- making sure the experience is absolutely flawless for every customer no matter what treatment they are going for. I was bowled over with the prices too, for instance a Brazilian wax is only £26 for hot wax or just £20 with strip wax which is a huge markdown on many places I have been, the Vita Libera spray tans they offer in a range of shades are only £20 and on top they offer a fab loyalty card service which gains you bonus treatments along the way!  Having staff as interested in the customer experience really made me think about how many places I have visited where this is just not the case and how sad that seems on reflection. I can’t say I have ever really been ‘excited’ about getting a wax but with that staff passion combined with the lovely retro-feel surroundings they have created,  I actually can’t wait to give these services a whirl!

amazing loyalty card freebies 

Benefits new boutique in House of Fraser means they have really been able to spread their wings on what they can offer. This space, that is of course still jam packed with all their amazing products, goes much further than the make-up which is something I love and was super impressed with. Of course if it is their make up that is your favourite thing then they having something for you in their new boutique too. You can book in to their adorable VIP section for only £12 which gives you a full make up lesson, mini bottle of Moet AND a Benefit product to take home, I think this is such a fab idea and perfect for a pre-party pamper or even teen girls who are new to the whole thing.

If you are in Glasgow I cannot recommend going and checking their new home out and having a peruse of all that they offer, the Benebabes there are so lovely and welcoming, you will feel right at home! 

mid wax me!

 fresh brow wax and tint!

If you get in quick and book any of their services like a £12 brow wax before the 4th of December, you get ANY body service free which is such an amazing offer just in time for the Christmas party season!

Shrinking Violet Body Wrap At the Chamomile Sanctuary Spa

the amazing relaxation room at the Chamomile Spa

I am the first to admit I had a very strange picture of body wrap treatments and how they worked in my mind before I went along for one on Sunday. I had this Full Monty-esque vision of being swaddled in what was essentially cling film before getting incredibly warm and just sweating out a tonne of water weight. Parts of that are not a million miles away from how this amazing new treatment being offered at the Chamomile Sanctuary Spa in Edinburgh is performed, but turns out the process is far more scientific than I thought...

The Shrinking Violet Body Wrap treatment begins with my therapist giving me a brisk cactus bristle body brush ( not as sore as it sounds!) all over. This stimulates the blood flow before the application of the heavenly smelling Shrinking Lotus oil to the skin. Quick and light to apply, this oil is where the magic happens as it contains Lecithin which encourages lipolysis via heat transfer to occur. This might all sound a bit technical but essentially what happens is the lethicin breaks down the triglycerides in the fat cells and breaks them into  fatty acids which are then easily transported away and excreted in fluid ( you need to make sure to drink lots of water in the days following). On top of that, this wonder oil also contains lavender which helps to cleanse and tone,all important Cypress which helps with your dreaded cellulite and juniper which can help shift any swelling. I wanted to nab the bottle off her and drink the contents after hearing that kind of ingredient breakdown!

So there I am in the all together ( except for some delightful paper pants) all oiled up and ready to go and my therapist grabs the cling film look-alike and gets to work. Despite looking very similar, it turns out it is not actually cling film at all but a  a non-toxic and much stronger and stretchy roll of film that is wrapped tightly around your body and shrinks while you lie in it, which helps the oil penetrate the skin and do its work. I could not help but giggle at this part of the treatment, having my naked self mummified was something I never pictured myself trying but I am so glad I did. My therapist was amazing, she had explained everything up front and expertly and swiftly guided me while she wrapped me up tight, always making sure I was comfortable and happy with how it felt.  Being wrapped up is certainly one of the oddest experiences I have had but not at all unpleasant- you just feel pretty restricted and well, a little bit silly but it is in no way painful or uncomfortable.

Then comes the fun part- waddling over to the bed and being helped to lie down on the bed, no mean feat when you are tightly wrapped up!  A warm blanked is placed on top and then there you go- it is chill out time. Lights dimmed, ipod on ( with the option to play your own music) and you let the ingredients do their magic. I have to add at this point right now the spa are offering an excellent add on to this treatment, you can opt for £25 more to have the amazing Guinot Hydraclean facial while you are relaxing. I have had one before and can highly recommend throwing it in. On this occasion however I just took the time to chill out- the wrap although tightening on the body is not at all uncomfortable, you don't heat up like I had feared and apart from a brief moment of thinking " I really hope there isn't a fire alarm" I was in bliss. I was checked on to make sure all was well and then at the end was cut free and that was that- time for the results!

clearly not my stomach- that is not for sharing!

Before we had gotten under way and as the treatment was being explained my lovely therapist had taken my measurements and marked my skin where they had been taken so there couldn't be any cheating. Afterwards we took them again and I was amazed that I had lost four and a quarter inches from around my body. My thighs are never ones to change so to lose an inch  and a half from them was amazing, my arms responded well too with an inch and quarter coming off them. and a half inch off my bum was just incredible news! Not only that but my skin felt much smoother, especially around the backs of my thighs and bum cellulite-prone areas. Not bad for just lying around huh? 

I know others have lost even more in a session with feedback on twitter being between 4 and 10 inches- which is absolutely incredible when you think it is actually fat that has been blasted away and not just water weight. Even better is that the oil continues to work for 72 hours so as long as you aren't piling any of the bad stuff in your losses can increase as you head home. I was super impressed with the whole experience and think this is PERFECT for getting you ready for special occasions, or kick starting a new routine. I can totally imagine that for getting ready for the Christmas period and again for the new year health kick this treatment will be booked out so get in there and give it a go. The shrinking violet treatment is only £50 instead of £65 for the whole of November and you can add on the gorgeous Guinot facial for £75, a fab price for a 90 minute treatment with really tangible results. I felt a million dollars walking out of Chamomile  after this and three days later I still feel perky in my now decidedly baggier jeans!

For further information or to book, call the spa reception on 0131-220 1000 or visit chamomilesanctuary.com