Tag Archives: Manicure

On Set Off Set photo exhibition, cocktails, afternoon tea and manicures, Sofitel London St James

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The Sofitel in St James immediately evokes happy memories of Paris, it is a very sophisticated and stylish hotel. Although part of a huge chain, this branch has its own character and atmosphere, with immaculate tasteful decor and an understated sense of luxury.

To celebrate the current On-Set Off-Set Cinema Photography exhibition in association with Polka Galerie, a group of bloggers were invited to indulge for the afternoon and appreciate the photographs.

Arriving at 2pm we were directed through the opulent reception to the spacious SO spa where we chatted away and tried fruity cocktails. In turn we were treated to gorgeous mini manicures at the spa choosing our shades from the selection of lovely rich OPI colours. I chose a summery shade of coral.

The “pretty in pink” tearoom is an idyllic setting, with a musician playing gently on a harp and the iconic portrait photographs watching down from the walls. It was a glorious place to spend the afternoon sipping tea! Appropriately named the Rose Lounge, it is themed with girly features, and has an ‘Alice in Wonderland’ vibe. At the Sofitel ‘Tea en Rose’ is served daily between 2.30 and 5.30pm offering a selection of French inspired treats: finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and a variety of unique tea choices. For further luxury there are Parisiennes Pastries and Rose and Litchi Champagne cocktails on offer. I thought the scones were particularly good, arriving warm straight from the oven. I also loved my whole rose bud tea, light and sweet-edged, perfumed subtly with rose.

We were so preoccupied with the delicious food, I didn’t spend as long as I would have liked perusing the striking photos on display. Celebrating cinema in Europe, these photographs by Stefano De Luigi, Derek Hudson, Alain Loison and Emanuele Scorcelletti capture famous faces from Woody Allen to Johnny Depp, Jane Birkin to Penelope Cruz; moments caught on camera of the young and beautiful.

The Cinema exhibition finishes at the Sofitel St James at the end of May but I would highly recommend visiting either the So Spa or Rose Tea Room for a very memorable afternoon at this sensational hotel.

Visit the Sofitel website here for more information. More information on the photo exhibition here.

New York Manicure, The Chelsea Day Spa

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After discovering a real lack of nail bars in London, I’ve been on the hunt for places to indulge my fingers and toes. Satisfying the endless needs of Chelsea girls, The Chelsea Day Spa provides a huge variety of services: facials, waxing, eye treatments, nail therapies and massages.

The Spa opened in October 2011 on chic Hollywood Road. Sister spa to the popular The Chelsea Day Spa on King’s Road, this smaller venue is quieter and more discreet, the ideal place for a morning of pampering. It is an intimate and relaxing venue with carefully chosen ranges of face, body and nail treatments and products, three cosy treatment rooms and nail bar. There is a team of highly qualified therapists who perform the luxurious treatments.

The Chelsea Day Spa Boutique also offers basic grooming and express treatments for both men and women which include waxing with Perron Rigot, eyelash and brow tinting, plus express manicures, pedicures and ‘everlasting’ gels with Jessica. Light refreshments are available for visitors; parched after my manicure I tasted their delicious orange hinted water.

I tried the very popular New York manicure which is an ongoing offer – a high gloss, low cost, speedy treatment to smarten up your nails.

My expert beautician carefully soaked, cut, filed and shaped my nails working on my cuticles, with a lovely hand massage, moisturising and polish. Apparently while sitting in the nail bar you can watch various episodes of Sex and The City and enjoy light refreshments but sadly none of this was offered to me. The manicurist was efficient but I was a little disappointed that she wasn’t more friendly, she seemed distracted and barely spoke to me at all, maybe she was just concentrating on my nails, which she tidied and polished immaculately. The brightly coloured Jessica nail polishes on display looked great ordered by colour. I was very indecisive choosing a colour but I eventually opted for a vibrant pink with funky dark purple tips.

New York Manicure £15 (Was £30)

New York Pedicure £20 (Was £35)

New York Manicure & Pedicure £35 (Was £65)

French New York Manicure or Pedicure +£5

Visit The Chelsea Day Spa website here.

Space NK Spa, Knightsbridge

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No-one seems to know much about the Space NK Spas, so I hope, if nothing else this review raises awareness. This gorgeous make-up shop has grown tremendously over the last decade, and now also offers two Spa venues, in the Westbourne Grove and Knightsbridge branches. I love the Space NK brand, a smart but approachable shop that stocks up to date and innovative beauty products, and my favourite Diptyque candles.

I visited the Knightsbridge spa on a Tuesday afternoon after a long day of rushing around – I couldn’t have been more relieved to walk into this tranquil oasis. The spa itself was pristine and blissfully silent, a calming environment to relax and be pampered in beneath the busy shop floor. I was gently ushered in and offered delicious mint tea and water before reclining in the plush seat for my special treatment.

I received the Eve Lom hand treatment, a luxurious manicure and hand makeover that left my hands softer and more presentable than ever before. My therapist, a smiling blonde fresh faced girl was delightful, kind and chatty and obviously very experienced with the Eve Lom products. She carefully explained the treatment as we progressed, outlining the benefits of each stage. My nails were filed, buffed, cut, cleaned and shaped, the cuticles softened and trimmed so that every finger looked its best. After an invigorating hand, wrist and arm massage, a hot pot of liquid wax appeared, the secret Eve Lom paraffin wax – a miracle worker on all skin types. My hands were painted with layers of wax until entirely crystallised with the magic liquid. They were then carefully wrapped in plastic bags and inserted into hot gloves for ten minutes, it was heaven. Just as I was falling asleep in a state of utter relaxation, my therapist peeled the wax easily off to reveal cashmere soft skin. Finally my nails were painted in a coral red hue and left to dry.

As I left I hoped it would not be the last time I visited this spa and my lovely beautician. I am so tempted to go back to Spa NK for an Eve Lom facial before the Thoroughly Modern Milly website launch – it sounds like the ultimate facial, with soothing wax and softening creamy lotions, I can’t imagine a more luxurious treatment.

Visit the Space NK Spa website here for more information and to book a treatment.