Oh boy, Oberoi

Media professionals in the UAE certainly take the ‘work hard, play harder’ mantra to heart, with little or no time in between all the deadlines, meetings and events for a bit of me-time. But when we were promised rejuvenation in just an hour, Team TMN simply had to squeeze the time in…

What:  Sodashi Pure Radiance Facial

Where: The Oberoi Spa, The Oberoi, Business Bay, Dubai

When: Every day from 9am – midnight

The promise: “We will take your skin on a journey of total renewal. This facial experience is tailored to your skin’s needs and is enhanced with the Sodashi Facial Massage. The luxurious Sodashi Plant Esss needs ence Synergies will leave your skin revitalised and fresh”

Did it deliver? Tucked away on the third floor of The Oberoi hotel, we felt totally separated from the city’s chaos as we entered the peaceful calm of the reception.  Welcomed by the delightful front desk, no time was wasted as we were led to the private changing room, complete with a steam shower and complimentary products, which adjoined the treatment room – think hotel suite, spa style.

Donning white fluffy towels, the treatment began with adjusting the massage bed to suit personal preference, which was a great touch if you suffer from any back troubles. While advertised as a facial, the experience proved to be much more than that as our therapist Ruma put her skills to work, beginning with a decadent hot towel foot wrap. This combined with the intoxicating oils that Ruma held over to gently inhale left you entirely relaxed.

Eagerly anticipating the effects of the reputed Australian skincare brand, the treatment began with an aromatic warm facial compress, which left the skin feeling tingly and soft, as well as lightly exfoliated.  A light yet velvety facemask followed, and the accompanying Sodashi Facial Massage achieved new heights of luxury – the treatment really made the most of every minute. Topping it all off with a head massage, the hour was over before we knew it. Coming back to reality with a cup of herbal ginger tea, it was much more than just our face that felt revitalised.

The verdict: If you have a spare hour and you’re looking for a bit of me-time, this is the perfect treatment to indulge in. Efficient without feeling rushed and utterly luxurious, at AED400 the Sodashi Pure Radiance Facial offers so much more than a simple facial scrub. While more convenient for those who are in the Downtown area, for a stand out facial it’s worth the trek.