It’s hibernation season, when we need to be extra kind to ourselves to get through to when the first daffodils appear …
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The focus in health and beauty now is “preventative” – ie not waiting until you’re burnt out or wrecked to do something positive for your body and mind. Our new year reset can be about putting things in place that give you a boost on dark days, from yoga sessions to upping the veg intake – whatever works for you. Don’t save any spa vouchers for later in the year – now is when they are most valuable.
And when it comes to treatments that can help restore mind and body, we are becoming wired for sound. Our hearing is the sense we’re starting to focus on – about time, since this has been the most neglected aspect in most spa treatments. So many lovely facials are wrecked by jarring generic music. But specific soundwaves can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system and reduce stress hormones. While some people can meditate and switch off easily, others need a bit more help to lull them into a peaceful state, and immersive sound therapies can offer a gentle but surprisingly effective route.
At Clinique La Prairie in Switzerland, famed for its cutting-edge technology when it comes to health and longevity, I experienced Audio Vitality, an innovative treatment where you lie in a soundproof room as different frequencies of sound are played. Strange at first, it’s a deeply relaxing experience; you feel like you’ve had a full night’s sleep after just 20 minutes. In a similar way, soundbaths – where you lie and bathe in the sounds, energy and vibrations produced by instruments – are an increasingly popular form of guided meditation. Practitioner Audrey O’Connor explains how they can help with managing stress, improving sleep and helping you find balance.
At the elegant Spa at Dromoland Castle, the Amber & Quartz Crystal Sound Bath channels the “healing power of sound as it resonates through your body”. The heated amber and quartz bed has therapeutic benefits, and a massage takes place to the sound of vibrations from sound bowls, helping to lull the mind as well as body. I love the way this spa offers a gentle guided meditation on headphones in the relaxation room too – it’s a lovely touch.
Daha Wellness, in Sutton, offers Vibroacoustic Therapy (from €80 per session) using a Vibe Bed, described as a full immersive multisensory system that “vibrates every cell in your body”. Earphones out, soundwaves in.
“My favourite time for a facial is evening so I can emerge from the salon after dark, depuffed, tightened and toned.”
Tried and tested: Signature Facial with Iryna
Iryna Protsepova’s bespoke Signature Facials (€250, 90 minutes) for new clients begin with a skin sensitivity test. Starting with a refreshing cleanse, pHformula products – based on individual skin type, with active ingredients of varying concentrations – are combined to brighten and rejuvenate. This resurfacing is followed by facial massage, firming the facial muscles, leaving the skin with a lifted look. The experience concludes with Celluma light therapy, which stimulates collagen production, leaving the skin glowing and radiant. Skin First, 93A Morehampton Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4; 085 735 3187; www.skinfirst.ie.
THIS MONTH WE RECOMMEND …
BALMY LIPS We’re sticking with forgiving balmy lip tints this year, such as Poco Beauty’s Bounce Balm Melting Lip Tints (€22); mattes are feeling a bit harsh and drying. Try also Clinique’s Lip & Cheek Oil version of their bestselling Black Honey shade (€28).
WINTER WEDDING BEAUTY Sugar Culture’s WeddingSweet is a one-stop destination for all things wedding inspiration. Check out the latest looks and beauty tips from the Brown Sugar experts on Instagram @weddingsweet_ie, and email weddings@ brownsugar.ie for info; www.brownsugar.ie.
COOL COCKTAILS We may be over the boozy season, but our scent can still have a kick. Kilian’s Old Fashioned eau de parfum (from €230) is a smooth and delectable aperitif of a perfume, with warm and sweet notes of whiskey and woods. Love the cut-glass bottle, too. At Brown Thomas.
BREATHE … Reset your sleep routine and try calming things to help you sleep better, from a natural candle with essential oils (€35) to chamomile tea. We’re intrigued by the Dries Van Noten Camomille Satin perfume, with notes of lavender, vanilla absolute and soothing chamomile – a joyful aid to relaxation, in a glamorous golden bottle. €275.
BATHING RITUALS Deirdre McSharry’s Le Nudie facecloths are made from 100 per cent organic cotton in Japan, and now she has a bath towel range too, from €60 for a super-soft bath towel, in a choice of four colours.
SEE MORE: The West Cork Seaweed-Powered Bath And Body Line Making Waves
