There are several noteworthy new spa treatments on my must-try list this year, but first I have to tell you about two treatments I recently experienced – both new, unique in their approach and memorable in their results.
The first is the Swiss Eye Specialist Treatment at The Shelbourne hotel in Dublin city centre. Created by Swissline – a consistently excellent treatment and product line available at The Shelbourne – its new Swiss Eye Specialist treatment targets the eye area.
Designed for puffiness, fatigue and fine lines around the eyes, this treatment combines gentle but firm massage with intensive hydration and targeted masking.
Two specialist eye masks are used, including a cryo mask with precision rollers that help reduce fluid build-up and work to cool and refresh tired eyes.
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It can be booked as a 30-minute stand-alone service or added to any Swissline facial at The Shelbourne. Prices start from €80 for 30 minutes, with a 15-minute add-on for €40.
And the second: Codage Magistrale Treatment at Velvaere Spa, Radisson Blu Royal, Dublin 8. This is a treatment I’m already planning to rebook because the results are remarkable.
The Codage Magistrale Treatment comprises more than 400 facial massage movements, from pinching and rolling to deep pressing techniques that release tension while lifting and sculpting the face. It definitely flirts with discomfort at times without quite crossing the line, then finishes with an intense glycolic acid peel and a deeply restorative neck-and-shoulder massage.
The result is undeniable when I look in the mirror: brighter, firmer-looking skin and visibly lifted brows, and my neck and shoulder muscles are completely relaxed. Prices start from €195.
On my to-try list this year:
Tóg Go Bog É Treatment at The G Hotel, Galway
The spa at The G Hotel in Galway has a new suite of treatments created by Cork brand Ground Wellbeing and designed around the idea of deep rest. The treatments claim to slow the nervous system and bring the body back into balance.
Tóg Go Bog É, which means “take it slowly”, looks like one of the standouts, with a full-body massage supported by guided breathwork and aromatherapy to reduce both muscle and mental tension.
The ritual includes facial gua sha and a soothing scalp massage for a head-to-toe experience. Available in 60- or 90-minute versions, from €130.
Elemis Cryo Treatments at The Johnstown Estate Spa, Co Meath
The Johnstown Estate Spa in Enfield, Co Meath, is the first spa in Ireland to introduce the Elemis Expert Cryotighten and Firm treatments, a series of advanced body treatments that combine heating and cooling technology with sculpting massage and targeted skincare that promise results after one session.
According to the brand, each is clinically proven to firm, tone and tighten – specifically targeting areas prone to cellulite such as the thighs and abdomen. Each treatment combines alternating temperatures with Elemis’s signature lifting massage and active ingredients which they say will help define body contours, reduce bloating and support detoxification. From €175.
Fréamh Muscle Recovery Ritual at Faithlegg Hotel, Co Waterford
Fréamh (pronounced fray-uv), meaning “root”, is a new collection of Irish-made spa products available at FBD Hotels and Resorts, including Faithlegg, Co Waterford, Castleknock Hotel, Dublin, The Heritage in Killenard, Co Laois, and Killashee in Naas, Co Kildare, sustainably produced and designed for use in treatment rooms and at home.
The Fréamh Muscle Recovery Ritual at Faithlegg is top of my wish list, promising a firm, flowing massage to target tired muscles to ease stiffness and support recovery after exercise or stress, with a focus on circulation and tension release. Available as a 60-minute back-of-body massage or a 90-minute full-body treatment. Prices from €115.
This week I’m buying… Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
Newly reformulated, Armani Luminous Silk Foundation (€55 from Brown Thomas) has had a quiet makeover. The frosted bottle is gone, replaced with a sleeker, clear glass design, while the shade range has expanded from 40 to 44, with improved undertones for olive and deeper skin tones.
The formula now includes added skincare ingredients such as glycerine and niacinamide. Whether purists will approve remains to be seen, but on skin it still delivers that signature luminous finish.
