A Wren Says

Some how I found out that there were Guerlain Spas in the U.S. Even better, there was one right there in Boston, just walking distance from where I would be staying. During a week where I’d be treating myself, I could not pass up this opportunity.

I booked the tailor-made treatment. Based on my needs, they would design a session best for my skin.

Shortly after booking, I received an email with a link to a survey. It included questions about my skin type and concerns. It also asked me about my stress levels. I thought that it might just be more insight into why my skin was behaving as it was.

On the day of my visit, I went to the location at the Raffles Boston hotel. The spa entrance was essentially a mini Guerlain boutique, fitted with the entire fragrance collection, beauty, and skincare. I would come back and explore those after my treatment.

As suggested, I arrived early enough to enjoy the spa before starting my treatment session. The attendant gave me a quick tour of the facility and showed me to the locker room. She suggested this experiencing the offerings in this order. 1. Dry sauna 2. Experiential shower 3. Relaxation room 4. Facial.

I decided to start a 10 minute session in the dry sauna to begin the “detox process” and get my pores ready for what was next. I opted out of the experiential shower, because I didn’t want to head into my appointment with wet hair. But if I come back, I would love to see what it’s like. Instead, I went with a more controlled regular shower to test out the Guerlain bath products. Then finally, I went to wait in the relaxation room, until it was time for my facial.

The treatment room, was dimly lit, with Guerlain features sprinkled throughout. The signature bee, made of wire and crystal was holding my spot on the bed.

The facialist reviewed my answers from the survey and asked more questions about my skin. Of course, I had acne that came up just for the visit, but I had also noticed some dryness on my forehead and eyebrows and sensitivity around my nose. She continued to examine my skin and determined that I would need some exfoliation and to address congestion in my skin.

The treatment I received included lactic, salicylic, and glycolic acids. I’m going to be honest with you. I definitely felt a slight burning sensation that worried me. However, I stuck with it since that has been how my skin reacts with the at-home version of those products as well. She followed that up with a rice powder exfoliating treatment, then some extractions. She then transitioned in to steam and moisture.

Then it was time to relax.

Likely because of how I answered my survey, the treatment included a weighted eye mask, rose quartz for grounding, and a weight on my abdomen. And then she applied some light pressure across my body and finished with a fragrance of my choice. The goal was to support me with a moment of relaxation because I had indicated that I was experiencing a lot of work stress. Unfortunately, I never relaxed and then it was time to continue treating my skin.

Once the session was over, she ran through a list of recommended products from the Guerlain skincare line that would best meet my skins needs. And on top of that, she recommended some changes I could make that weren’t product based. Massaging my neck morning and night could help reduce the congestion around my chin and get the lymph flowing. Developing a night time shower ritual might help me drift into sleep more easily. And using lactic acid twice per week should help clear up some of the issues I’d been having with my skin.

I slowly strolled over to the relaxation room afterwards to enjoy the healthy snacks and reflect. I wanted to do more of this again. My skin undeniably looked and felt better that day and for days afterward.

If I can finagle staying at the Raffles hotel, I definitely want to come back to the spa and make for a fully relaxing day, where I don’t have to enter back into the hustle and bustle of the city afterwards. Maybe I would add on a massage, maybe I’d try the experiential shower. But mostly, I hope that I can be in the position to fully relax and let the day go, leaving with a mind that’s as refreshed as my skin.

Guerlain has spas around the world, with a new on opening in New York at the Waldorf Astoria. If you are interested in having a luxury experience to rejuvenate your skin and body, check out a location near you.