Scin Spa

The treatment bed is ingeniously heated from beneath and I'm already more relaxed than I have been in a long time. Quiet classical music and candle light sets the mood, and I can feel myself veering dangerously close to alpha wave sleep already.

The various exfoliators and creams are applied expertly, and the warm compresses feel deeply cleansing. But the ultimate clincher for me is the scalp massage: utterly heavenly and administered with perfect pressure and pace, all the nagging and unimportant thoughts of the day melt away.

Nodding off
I'm afraid to admit that I did nod off, despite my best efforts, and after being out for the count for an undefined period of time I woke myself up with one of those embarrassing jerks. The therapist told me that nine out of ten clients do find themselves nodding off at some point during the facial, which is reassuring, and also makes me think that the poor highly strung ten per cent who don't fall asleep could probably do with a longer session.

For me, this experience was precisely what a spa should be: simple, unintimidating, indulgent and luxurious. The prices are what you'd expect of an inner London boutique (£15 for 15 mins in the hydrotherapy bath, £70 for the facial) but it's good value for what you get.

Be warned that this is a small place so do not expect shower rooms and complimentary Molton Brown products to pamper yourself with before leaving. I found myself leaning over a hand held mirror resting on a treatment bed with less than sufficient lighting to put on some Friday night slap.

In hindsight, I should have given up the idea of going out to a crowded bar afterwards, it would have been nice to indulge in the lovely serene feeling a little longer before snapping back into the real world.

27 Kensington Park Road
Notting Hill
London
W11 2EU
020 3220 0121

www.scin.uk.com