Soma Rituals Gua Sha Facial Fusion Treatment

This post was created in collaboration with Soma Rituals.

Self-care comes in many forms and is often different for each of us; what we need can change from day to day, even from hour to hour. Listening to our bodies is key to understanding what we need.

Occasionally, I put my self-care needs in the hands of others; every couple of months, I book a treatment with an experienced therapist. It may seem indulgent to some but if it’s something I know will benefit me, isn’t that a good investment of my time and money? The type of treatment I choose and the therapist that performs it have a huge impact on how beneficial it is. Before I book anything I consider what it is I feel I’m lacking, I research different treatments, read about the therapists that perform them and ask questions. This way, when the treatment is over, I come away feeling good about the time and money I have invested.

I recently visited Chandra Casali-Bell, the talented therapist behind Soma Rituals, in her Marylebone treatment room. Chandra takes a holistic approach to her clients’ wellbeing. The light and airy, therapeutic space helped me begin to relax as soon as I stepped through the door. The room is comfortably warm, decorated in natural tones, with lots of plants and a few well-chosen decorative details. A candle burns with a pleasant relaxing scent and light floods the room from the large sash window.

Chandra and I talk about the treatment she has recommended for me, a Gua Sha Facial Fusion with Thai herbal poultice. The treatments she currently practices have been taught to her by internationally-renowned, US educator Cecily Braden. Cecily spent decades training with various Thai Masters and Indonesian Healers, learning their techniques and developing her therapies. Chandra lets me know there is a carafe of water and a glass for me, before leaving the room to allow me time to get ready.

As I lay on the bed trying to let go of all the thoughts passing through my busy mind, there is a knock and Chandra enters the room. She tells me that she doesn’t intend to talk to me much throughout the treatment, so that I can focus on using the time to fully relax and feel taken care of. Just as I’ve experienced at the start of many yoga and meditation classes, she reminds me that this time is for me, that thoughts of other things may come up, to try to acknowledge them and then let them go; a reminder I’m grateful for.

The treatment begins with Chandra’s warm soft hands massaging my face with an oil cleanser. Her light but firm touch gently caresses my face, neck and the upper section of my décolletage. She gently removes the cleanser and follows it with a balm cleanser and then a lighter, oil cleanser. All of the products she uses contain only natural ingredients and smell incredible. A hot towel opens the pores and removes any remaining product from my skin.

By this point I’m feeling incredibly relaxed. Chandra begins to massage my face with a heated Thai herbal poultice; containing organic healing botanical ingredients such as hibiscus, lemongrass, ginger, java apple leaf, and more. The poultice warms the muscles, helps to release tension and detoxify the skin. Chandra combines acupressure and lymphatic drainage massage to help reduce swelling and dark circles, and improve nutrition to the skin, as well as lifting and contouring. It’s hard to tell that she’s using a poultice and I mistake it for one of the gua sha tools I saw on the side before my treatment started; it feels smooth, hard and hot, reminiscent of the stones used in the hot stone therapies I’ve had in the past. The heat feels incredible on my tense muscles.

Chandra then moves on to use her gua sha tools; these beautiful, professional tools are made from high-quality gem stones. She chooses and uses the various different shapes and stones based on my specific needs. She massages my face with each, helping to release congestion in the connective tissue, renew lymph fluid, activate circulation, release tension in the muscles and stimulate cell activity. Her movements are sometimes small and precise, other times the gua sha tools glide across my face. It all becomes a bit blurry as the rhythmic massage sends me into an incredibly relaxed state.

Just when I think it can’t get any better, Chandra gives me a Thai Wai Facial Massage – to reinforce the benefits of the treatment so far. She uses her hands, feeling deep into the skin, moving and draining the lymph, improving the health of the skin and sculpting my face, as she does so. She follows the massage with a beautiful herbal face mask and head massage, releasing the tension around my hairline and scalp.

I come around feeling utterly cared for, in a way that I had forgotten was possible in my 40s. Chandra’s treatments are precise, prescriptive, and intuitively practised in an incredibly compassionate way. She gives you the time and space to stop and allow yourself to rest and feel restored. When I take a look in the mirror, my face has a golden dewy glow and there’s something more youthful about it. I leave feeling re-energised and so grateful for the experience. It was unlike any treatment I’ve had before and I think that is largely due to Chandra herself, and the care and energy she has so generously shared with me.

I had the Balancing Herbal Ritual, a 90-minute Gua Sha Facial Fusion therapy. It took place in Soma Rituals’ treatment room in Marylebone, London (Soma Rituals has since moved to Edinburgh). Please contact Chandra for further details, or book a treatment online.


d’still Products

During the treatment Chandra used products containing only natural ingredients from the British skincare brand, d’still.

Pfeffer Sal’s ‘Gently Does It’ Facial Treatment

This post was created in collaboration with Pfeffer Sal.

If you’re looking for a short-term escape from the intensity of life in London, and you want long-term effects, it’s a good idea to book yourself in for a Pfeffer Sal ‘Gently Does It‘ facial treatment. I had my first experience of this incredible treatment a few weeks ago and it had such an amazing effect on me and my skin.

It’s not uncommon for me to completely relax during a good massage but never before have I had this experience during a facial. Raluca (my facialist) is an absolute genius with her hands! I was cleansed, massaged and moisturised until I was in a Zen-like state. I could have dropped off to sleep at any moment and would have stayed in the warm cosy bed for an hour longer, were it possible. I spent the first 15 minutes letting go of the days worries and tensions, getting used to the new surroundings and chatting to Raluca. I find it easier to relax if I have a good idea of what my facialist is about to do, that way there aren’t any shocks along the way.

The ‘Gently Does It’ facial is all about nourishing and cleansing your skin in a gentle but effective way. It’s perfect for those with sensitive skin, those who are pregnant or those simply looking for a facial that uses natural and chemical-free ingredients and technology.

It begins with a double cleanse and gentle exfoliation with a enzyme exfoliator. Steam is directed onto the skin throughout to help open up the pores and prepare the skin for extractions. (I know extractions aren’t that common in gentle facial treatments but my skin really needed some help and it was done gently, leaving no red marks.) A lovely custom blended serum is then applied to the skin and ultrasound technology is used to help it penetrate deep into the various layers of the skin. Live probiotics are then massaged into the skin to help rebalance, hydrate and boost the skin’s natural micro-biome, which are key to optimal skin function and structureA growth factor mask is then applied and left on long enough to stimulate collagen production, boost skin renewal and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Don’t worry, the Epidermal Growth Factor in the mask comes from barley seeds, nothing gross. A botanical and silver-rich mist is then spritzed across the face. Colloidal silver is antimicrobial, meaning it helps eliminate acne, firm skin and heal infections. To finish a face cream and SPF are applied.

Pfeffer Sal is located at the end of a pretty little mews between Warren Street and Great Portland Street stations. You walk down a few steps and through a rustic grey wooden door. Beyond you find yourself in a little underground oasis with air filtering plants and anti-bacterial copper pipes used for door handles, furniture frames and taps. There’s also an air filtration system throughout, combatting London’s polluted air. It’s a calming space with soothing music and soft lighting. The perfect place to relax and recoup.

COS x The Gentlewoman Architectural Tour of London

Whilst I was away in Croatia I received an exciting invitation, COS and The Gentlewoman were getting together for an architectural tour of London entitled Glimpses of The Future, and they had invited me to go with them. Years ago I had considered studying architecture but in the end chose design and art direction; I’ve never lost my interest in architecture though. (On a side note: For those of you that are leaving school and still don’t know what you want to do, don’t worry, give it time and go experience as much as you can.)

We were lucky to have the very knowledgeable, lecturer, Joe Kerr as our guide for the day. He led us around London on an old 1965 Routemaster bus, divulging the history of some of the capital’s most iconic housing projects. All were conceived by architects that were looking to create a better future and living experience for its inhabitants, hence the title of the tour, Glimpses of The Future.


The Boundary Estate, Boundary Street, London E2

Architect(s): London County Council Architects
Completed: 1900

A collection of 23 housing blocks built in the Arts & Crafts style. It was designed to replace one of the worst slums in London (one in four children died before their first birthday) but sadly most of those displaced by the earliest social housing scheme didn’t get to live there, as it was considered too good for them and that they would lack the motivation to work living in such wonderful surroundings. William Morris, a forerunner in the Arts & Crafts movement, believed that beauty should be accessible to all. In the end only ten of the slum’s over five and a half thousand tenants were housed in The Boundary Estate. It was built to accommodate 5,524 people in 1,069 tenements, each with two or three bedrooms. In the centre of the estate is Arnold Circus, a large mound formed from the earth leftover from excavating the foundations for the site. On it sits a beautiful Japanese-inspired bandstand. Many of the buildings (including the bandstand) are Grade II listed.


Bevin Court, Cruikshank St, London WC1

Architect(s): Berthold Lubetkin
Completed: 1954

Moving towards Modernism (my favourite era for architecture) we stopped to take a look at Bevin Court, built post-war on the bomb site of Holford Square. Originally it was proposed to call the building Lenin Court after the revolutionary who had lived in a building on the site from 1902-3, while in exile from Russia. There was already a memorial (designed by Lubetkin) on the site which was to be incorporated into the build but British Fascists repeatedly vandalised it. With the Cold War, Britain’s relations with Russia waned and it was decided by Finsbury Council that the memorial was not appropriate and suggested a change of name. The memorial was buried in the foundations of the staircase and the building was renamed Bevin Court after Britain’s anti-communist foreign secretary Ernest Bevin. The Constructivist communal staircase is the building’s showpiece, with each spiral upwards it offers different views of the city.


Royal College of Physicians, St. Andrews Place, London NW1

Architect(s): Sir Denys Lasdun
Completed: 1964

Architect Sir Denys Lasdun (who also designed the Royal National Theatre) was asked by the Royal College of Physicians to design a new building for them that would blend in to its surroundings. It sits on the edge of Regent’s Park surrounded by the Regency architecture of John Nash, though subtle I’m not sure it exactly blends in. The Grade I listed Brutalist building is one of the more attractive of its era, with its mosaic-clad concrete boxes and curved blue engineered brick wall which conceals a peaceful medicinal garden. The influence of Le Corbusier can be seen in the way the upper level appears to float, this was made possible with some very clever engineering. Lasdun observed the way the college’s previous building was used and designed the new college to work well for its needs, then and well into the future.


Alexandra & Ainsworth Estate

Architect(s): Neave Brown, Camden Council’s Architects Department
Completed: 1978

Famously known as the longest housing terrace in London, the Alexandra and Ainsworth Estate in Camden is quite an unusual sight. It is made up of three parallel crescent-shaped blocks with a public park between two of the blocks. On the one side, it resembles a football stadium, deflecting the noise of the West Coast Main Line train tracks that run alongside it. From the other, it’s a quiet pedestrianised residential street. The unpainted reinforced concrete was built on-site using wooden forms, you can still see the board marks if you look closely. Each of the 520 two-storey maisonettes, built in a ziggurat format, have a private garden or balcony, meaning all that live here have some private outside space, unlike the tall tower blocks nearby.


Isokon Building, Lawn Road, NW3

Architect(s): Wells Coates
Completed: 1934

Our final stop, and my favourite of the tour, was the Isokon building in Hampstead. Built for Molly and Jack Pritchard, it’s an elegant concrete block of 36 apartments; each with a living room, kitchenette, built-in storage, facilities for a bed and a place to wash. They were originally serviced flats with the option of included meals, shoe cleaning and bed making. Its inhabitants have included Bauhaus émigrés Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer, and László Moholy-Nagy; architects Egon Riss and Arthur Korn; and writer Agatha Christie. It was Breuer who designed much of the bent ply Isokon Furniture collection. Moholy-Nagy designed the identity for Isokon and Riss designed the Isokon Donkey Mark I. It became quite a hub for intellectual life in North London. In 1972 the building was sold to Camden London Borough Council and gradually deteriorated until the 1990s when it was completely abandoned. In 2003 Avanti Architects were employed by Notting Hill Housing Association to sympathetically refurbish the building. It is now Grade I listed and its current inhabitants include Magnus Englund, one of the founders of Skandium.


If you are interested in taking part in The Gentlewoman events sign-up to The Gentlewoman Club. There’s a guide for the London tour we took in the latest issue of The Gentlewoman.

Fire + Ice Skin Resurfacing Treatment

This post was created in collaboration with Mayfair Aesthetics Laser & Skin Clinic.

Leaving the Mayfair Aesthetics Laser & Skin Clinic my skin felt cleaner and fresher than it had done in months; and a little tighter, too. I was quickly reminded just how important it is to have a regular facial; it had been a few months since my last and I regret that I had left it so long.

I visited the clinic to try out a new treatment in London, the Fire + Ice Skin Resurfacing Treatment, reputed to be fans are Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Jessica Alba. Don’t worry the name sounds a lot more scary than the reality. The treatment was perfect for me as it not only moisturises but also tackles pigmentation, uneven skin tone and fine lines; all of which I have.

The treatment started with Siobhan (my therapist) taking me through the iS Clinical products she would use during my treatment. Once I was comfortable and tucked up under a blanket, she began with a thorough cleanse using the Cleansing Complex, a gentle but effective cleanser that contains white willow bark (a source of salicylic acid), sugar can extract (a source of glycolic acid), chamomile oil, as well as vitamins A, C and E. It can be used by all skin types.

I was a little concerned about the next stage of the treatment, the ‘Fire’ part, as it would be my first ever peel. The Intensive Resurfacing Masque contains 18% unbuffered glycolic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, malic acid, vitamin B3, retinol and potent antioxidants, including green tea extracts. My concern, however, was unwarranted, it was more of a prickly heat akin to when you touch your face after cutting chilli than the burning sensation I had expected. Initially I felt nothing, the tingling starts to develop after a couple of minutes. Siobhan regularly checked I was comfortable and asked where I could feel the mask and at what intensity, 1-4. Only 4 minutes later and it was all removed with another thorough cleanse.

This was followed by the ‘Ice’ part of my treatment, Hydra-Intensive Cooling Masque, a cooling, soothing masque with hyaluronic acid, Japanese green tea extracts, aloe vera gel, liquorice extracts, rosemary extracts and grape seed extracts. Whilst the masque worked its magic, Siobhan worked hers, with an incredible head massage. She gave me the option of dry or with oil, I chose dry as I didn’t want my hair looking like a bird’s nest when she finished. I was close to falling asleep by the time she had finished.

My skin goes red quite easily, even when I wash my face at home, just a light scrub with a cloth can effect it. It returns to normal quite quickly though. Still just to be sure, Siobhan used the Hydra-Cool Serum, after taking off my mask with a third cleanse. She also applied Youth Serum around my eyes and Extreme Protect SPF 30 sunscreen. A high SPF is important as the treatment works with deeper layers of the skin than a physical exfoliant and reveals new skin cells.

A Weekend Guide To Shoreditch With citizenM Hotels

This post was created in collaboration with citizenM hotel, Shoreditch.

Jaeger Wool Wrap Coat in Black* | Baia Small Drawstring Bucket Bag in Dalmation Print* | Eastpak Tranzshell S Black Luggage*

Let me put it out there, I love Shoreditch but I wouldn’t want to live there. I’m happy in the quieter, less hip part of town I call home, a sleepier area of South West London that offers me an escape from the city. I do, however, spend a lot of time in the East, as there are so many creative businesses and start-ups based there. It’s also one of my favourite areas of London for eating, drinking and shopping.

A little wander down Redchurch Street will give you a good idea of what the area has to offer, independent boutiques sit side-by-side with cafés and pop-ups. Hackney is still one of the poorest boroughs in London and was once a fairly cheap area of London to live, this brought a lot of creatives to Shoreditch, starting studios and opening shops, as well as cafés and restaurants. It’s these entrepreneurs that have made the area so desirable to me but also larger brands (getting in on the buzz). I like the fact that even these guys are offering a curation of their products that would appeal to the more affluent residents of the area.

Last weekend, we stayed a night Shoreditch, at the recently opened citizenM Hotel. Tucked just behind Shoreditch High Street, the hotel is in the centre of all the action.

The hotel is pretty epic, it centres around a social, open-plan first floor with a bar, lots of lounging areas and spaces to work. There are design books everywhere, as well as lots of iconic pieces of design, and furniture by Eames like their Lounge Chair, Cone Chairs and cute little Elephants for kiddies.

The rooms are small but cleverly designed with large bathrooms and a large double bed. An iPad in each room controls the TV, with lots of free movies. We were up on the 8th floor with an east-facing window over Shoreditch High Street. It was pretty wet and windy when we stayed but I could still spot some of my favourite places.

There’s a really creative vibe to the hotel that’s reflective of the area, it feels buzzy but chilled. For once, I wasn’t rushing from one meeting to another and got to relax. It’s funny what a small suitcase and no laptop will do to help you let go. I saw it as a chance to spend some quality time with the hubby, show him some of my favourite spots, enjoy a coffee together and do a spot of shopping.


Shops

A.P.C. 15 Redchurch Street (womenswear & menswear) | Aesop (beauty) 44 Redchurch Street | Aida Shoreditch (lifestyle) 133 Shoreditch High Street | Aimé (womenswear) 17 Redchurch Street | Ally Capellino (leather goods) 9 Calvert Avenue | Goodhood (lifestyle) 151 Curtain Road | House of Hackney (homeware & womenswear) 131-132 Shoreditch High Street | Le Labo (fragrance) 61 Redchurch Street | Labour and Wait (homeware) 85 Redchurch Street | Luna & Curious (lifestyle) 24-26 Calvert Avenue | The Mercantile London (womenswear) 17 Lamb Street | Modern Society (lifestyle & café) 33 Redchurch Street | Monologue (homeware) 93 Redchurch Street | Sunspel (womenswear & menswear) 7 Redchurch Street


Food & Drink

Blixen (restaurant) 65A Brushfield Street | Boundary (rooftop restaurant) 2-4 Boundary Street | Dishoom (restaurant) 7 Boundary Street | St. Leonard’s (restaurant) 70 Leonard Street | Forge & Co. (café) 154-158 Shoreditch High Street | Lyle’s Tea Building, 56 Shoreditch High Street | Paper & Cup (café & bookstore) 18 Calvert Avenue

Best Vintage Shops In London

Belstaff Roadmaster Jacket in Navy Blue (vintage) | Baukjen Thompson Striped Shirt* | Paige Verdugo Skinny Jeans in Black* | Woman by Common Projects Original Achilles Low Trainers in White | Radley De Beauvoir Tote Bag in Black* | UNIQLO Cashmere Scarf in Light Grey | Ace & Tate x It’s Nice That Sunglasses* | Felice Dahl Första Ring in Gold* | Dinny Hall Bijoux Star Stud in Gold* | Dinny Hall Bijou Pentagon Stud Earring in Gold* | Littionary Tiny Dot Stud Earrings in Yellow Gold

I like new clothes as much as the next person but I also love a good vintage find and we’re lucky to have so many great vintage shops in London.

In the summer I picked up this Belstaff Roadmaster wax jacket in one of my favourite haunts in Notting Hill, a little shop that’s been around for years and is a major treasure trove of vintage clothes, shoes and accessories, Retro Woman (there’s a Retro Man a few shops down). It’s one of the few vintage shops where I have to decide which piece I’m going to buy as I stumble out of the changing room, arms laden. Last time I was there I tried on pieces from Joseph, Equipment and Nicole Farhi, all reasonably priced and in good condition. They have a brilliant selection of sunglasses, too.

Goldsmith Vintage is the best place I’ve found in London for vintage Levi’s. It’s pretty much opposite Electric House.


Best Vintage Shops In London


Retro Woman
| 20 Pembridge Road, London W11 3HL
Beyond Retro Soho | 58-59 Great Marlborough Street, London W1F 7JY
Beyond Retro Cheshire Street | 110-112 Cheshire Street, London E2 6EJ
Goldsmith Vintage | 253 Portobello Road, London W11 1LR (great for Levi’s)
Rokit | 42 Shelton Street, London WC2H 9HZ

Need To Know Places In Marylebone

This post was created in collaboration with Jaeger.

Jaeger Wool Wrap Coat in Black* | Jaeger Cashmere Slouchy Sweater in Charcoal* | Jaeger Wool Cigarette Trousers* | Jaeger Mini Oxford Cross-Body Bag in Black* | Whistles Cornel Suede Pointed Pumps in Nude | Susan Caplan Asymmetrical Ori Earrings in 18ct Gold Vermeil* | Felice Dahl Första Ring in Gold*

In the last year, I’ve spent a lot more time in Marylebone, an area of London I had previously thought of as north of Oxford Street and home to Madame Tussauds. That was until we had brunch at The Providores (the Turkish eggs are incredible) for Dan’s birthday and I discovered that there’s a whole lot more to the area. It has the feel of a town high street, yet it’s in Central London. There are lots of nice cafés and restaurants, as well as some great shops, including Jaeger who recently opened a beautiful new store on the main road, Marylebone High Street. I thought I’d share a few of my favourites with you.


Shops in Marylebone

FASHION
Jaeger 12 Marylebone High Street
L.K.Bennett 94 Marylebone High Street
Loft Designs By 36 Marylebone High Street
Sandro 6 Marylebone High Street
Theory 1 Marylebone High Street
Whistles 1 Thayer Street

BEAUTY
Aesop 69 Marylebone High Street
Space NK 83a Marylebone High Street

HOMEWARE
Skandium 86 Marylebone High Street
The Conran Shop 55 Marylebone High Street

Food & Drink in Marylebone

The Chiltern Firehouse 1 Chiltern Street
The Ivy Café 96 Marylebone Lane
Monocle Café 18 Chiltern Street
Nordic Bakery 48 Dorset Street
Pierre Marcolini 37 Marylebone High Street
The Providores  (now closed)

Yoga At The Top of The Shard

This post was created in collaboration with Farfetch.

So much has happened over the last couple of months that I want to share with you. Please be patient with me whilst I slowly fill you in on all the details. I promise I will be sharing more about my wedding and our trip around France soon but first here’s an exciting morning I spent doing yoga with Farfetch.

Just before I disappeared off to France I was up very early one morning (6am), as I had been invited by Farfetch for an early morning yoga session with Yogasphere, at the very top of The Shard. At the time it was being built I freelanced at The Body Shop at their head office just below it but in all this time I’d never been up it or even in it. I’m such a Londoner in that I live in this incredible city and yet I’ve not visited many of its amazing sights. And the view from the top of The Shard is one sight you don’t want to miss. It’s sensational and left me lost for words, although that may have been down to it being about the time my alarm usually goes off.

Leo from Yogasphere gave us a full body stretch, just what I needed after all the strength training I’d been doing to tone up for the wedding. It felt really good to be back doing yoga again as I’ve had a little break from it – there are only so many hours in the day. Aside from teaching yoga classes at the top of the tallest building in the UK, Yogasphere plant ten trees for every person that takes a class with them; impressive, right, a sustainable yoga class.

I felt really invigorated by the class and even though it was still early and I hadn’t eaten a bite I felt very ready for the day. As we descended in the lift I suddenly felt my stomach and realised that food was a good idea. Which is about the time that the Farfetch girls let on that we were heading down to the Shangri-La for a private breakfast. It was such a lovely surprise to be greeted with a fresh fruit salad, an egg white omelette with asparagus and smoked salmon, and lots of little tasty nibbles. It was also a great opportunity to catch up with some of my friends in the industry and meet some new ones too.

Thank you so much Farfetch for spoiling me in the healthiest possible way.

A Perfect Shirt (Part I)

Baukjen Teresa Cotton Shirt* | Samsøe & Samsøe Hoff Coat Hat in Sand Grey | Topshop Cigarette Trousers in Black | Sekonda Seksy Leather Strap Watch in Blush* | Whistles Cornel Suede Point Pump in Black | Ace & Tate Nina Glasses in Autumn Leaves* | Fedora Hat (from a small shop on Portobello Road)

I own a few shirts, they’re a weakness of mine but with good reason, I tend to wear them a lot. If I’m wearing a shirt I don’t feel scruffy, even when I’m going for a casual look. They also reflect the androgynous style to which I’m so often drawn. They’re the foundation pieces of many of my outfits, and it’s taken me years to find shirts that work for my style and shape.

Baukjen are a brand that I often turn to for shirts. The fabrics they use are soft on the skin and hang beautifully. The cut is well-tailored across the shoulders but not too fitted around the chest and stomach, they have that borrowed from the boyfriend feel but without completely swamping you.

I’ve styled two of my favourites which you can find in their current sale, the Teresa cotton shirt (which I’m wearing in this post) and the Coco chambray shirt which I’ll be sharing in my next post. I will be wearing these all year round as they’re season-less styles. The Teresa, with its longer length, will also make the perfect beach cover-up.

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