Near+Far’s ‘Feeling Well’ series explores the Middle East’s most innovative, calming and sophisticated wellness spaces and beyond. The series highlights the spots in the world for health-conscious travellers and luxury lovers who want to feel well while at home, and away. Here, we enjoy a luxurious new take on the classic Hydrafacial in Dubai at the city’s heavenly Mandarin Oriental Spa

New HydraFacial Dubai at Mandarin Oriental Jumeira

The treatment

Skin-conscious Dubains will be no strangers to HydraFacial – the patented technology founded in 1997 in Southern California and now with a legion of fans across the globe. The treatment works without lasers, instead using a suction tip to remove dead cells, extract impurities and literally ‘wash’ the skin with water, leaving it squeaky clean and hydrated – before layering on various clinic-specific serums. While there are dozens of spots for the Hydrafacial in Dubai, all at varying degrees of cost and time, there are very few ultra-luxurious ones – ones that combine the full, robust, deep-cleansing experiences but in a sublime setting with a host of added TLC.

Enter Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Dubai, one of the city’s slickest and most expensive beach resorts, and with it, one of the city’s most stunning spas and wellness centres. Perfectly primed for pre-summer holiday beautification and post-travel rejuvenation – or just some much-deserved self-care, the spa has launched the new Mandarin Platinum treatment, which offers an amped-up version of the HydraFacial, taken to new heights with lymphatic drainage, deep cleansing, exfoliation and LED light therapy. This is not just a 30-minute routine session but a languid and luxurious affair. The 90-minute treatment starts with a deep cleansing, exfoliation and extraction are entirely painless and are all done using the HydraFacial machine (unlike a handful of HydraFacial Dubai locations, which opt for painful manual extraction). What slight redness there is then soothed with an LED light therapy mask, further reducing inflammation – and, therefore, signs of ageing. While the mask is on, we enjoy a blissful head massage, lulling us into a stupor, before being greeted by our glowing new complexion. After weeks of travelling, sunscreen, sweaty beach days and dining out, this HydraFacial Dubai was just what we needed to reset our skin and kick-start our post-travel wellness regime – with just a few hours of slight redness, giving way to a squeaky clean, dewy glow.

The space

A real delight, and even more of a reason to nook this HydraFacial Dubai over its competitors, is that all guests have full access to Mandarin Oriental’s sublime spa facilities – 2,000 sqm of utter tranquillity. Make a morning or afternoon of it by arriving early to use the sauna, steam room and vitality pool and unwind in the relaxation areas. Post-treatments, recover in the zen relaxation room – dotted with private ‘pods’ which double as cosy cocoons to hide away, sip herbal teas and snack on healthy granola bars, protein balls, dried fruit and nuts. It’s also possible to go straight from the spa to any social plans, or even work, as the spa has plenty of showers with luxurious shampoos and conditioners, Dyson hairdryers and styling tools, deodorant, face moistures and more. If you have the time, grab a coffee in the lobby bar post-treatment or a nourishing lunch at the Mediterranean The Bay.

The vibe

The Mandarin Oriental’s Spa goes against the trend for stripped-back spaces, instead offering a completely sumptuous space complete with every facility, lotion, ritual and more – without any feeling or being rushed out. It’s peaceful and exclusive, and you’ll find it hard to run into another guest, which will make you feel like the wonderful facilities are open just for you.

The price

The Mandarin Platinum facial is available for AED1,600 for 90 minutes, including lymphatic drainage, deep cleansing, exfoliation, extraction, arm, neck and head massage and LED light therapy. A streamlined version of the treatment is also on offer for AED1,200 for an hour – deeply cleansing, exfoliating, extracting, and hydrating with super serums filled with antioxidants, peptides, and hyaluronic acid to address each specific skin concern, with a booster of your choice (eye or lip). All treatments ends with LED light therapy.

Mandarin Oriental Jumeira, Jumeirah 1; open daily 9am to 9pm; modub-spa@mohg.com, +971 4 777 2243, mandarinoriental.com

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