Hold the front page: honey isn’t just for eating

Does this sweet session at the Rosewood’s Sense Spa really banish dry skin?

If you’re like team What’s On, you probably only put honey on your toast. But it turns out there’s another use for it – smother it all over your body and it’ll help hydrate skin. But the honey used at the Rosewood’s Sense Spa is a little bit different to the types you find in your local LuLu store – the one used for the hotel’s Argan And Honey Hydration treatment is locally sourced, pure dark Arabian honey, and it’s used in conjunction with several other lotions and potions, including argan oil plus an exfoliating cream from Moroccan cosmetics company Les Sens de Marrakech.

The session lasts two hours and starts with a body scrub using the aforementioned cream and is followed by the main event – a body wrap with the honey and some Shea cream and argan oil. Being wrapped in a warm silver sheet (the treatment table is heated underneath) can feel a little bit clammy but it’s not unpleasant and you’re only wrapped like a turkey ready for the oven for around 15 to 20 minutes. Your therapist makes good use of that time, though – your face is given a cleanse before a honey mask facial is applied. A quick visit to a shower follows to wipe off all the honey, and the treatment ends with a full body massage, before argan oil is applied to and massaged into your scalp.

So does it work? What’s On found it to be an effective treatment that helped reduce dry, itchy skin, and while not the main part of the session, the massage was also well executed, and helped revive tired limbs. Rosewood Abu Dhabi, Al Maryah Island, Abu Dhabi, daily 10am to 11pm, Dhs962 for 120 minutes. Tel: (02) 8135537. Taxi: Rosewood, Maryah Island. rosewoodhotels.com