The Gin Spa, Glasgow, puts the treat into treatment

The Gin Spa’s tipple and treatment philosophy goes down a treat

The treatment

The Awakening Eye Treatment, £40 for 30 minutes, at The Gin Spa, Glasgow, includes gin and tonic and Justbe aromatherapy chocolate.

Why go?

This place launched at the end of last year and has been pretty much booked out ever since. The idea of combining a gin theme with spa treatments might have sounded a bit faddy, but, it seems, people can’t get enough of the treatment and tipple combination. This brand new addition to their menu concentrates on the eye zone - perfect if you’ve got dark circles, fine lines, or puffiness.

Our spy says

As with most of the treatments here, my experience starts with the sniffing of a couple of Justbe’s aromatherapy products, once I’ve told my therapist how I want to feel (uplifted).

I go for the Energised Oil, with ylang-ylang, pink grapefruit and geranium. Then I shuffle a pack of cards, featuring positive affirmations, and choose three, as instructed.

They say; “Stop expecting, start living,” “Anything’s possible” and “Don’t waste your time trying”.

I’m not sure if the final one is entirely positive, but I suppose it gives me permission to totally chillax.

We head through into a treatment room and I slide under a furry blanket.

My lovely therapist Anna begins by talking me through a few deep breaths, then she gently massages my neck and décolleté with scented oils.

After my face is cleansed, the next 20 minutes or so involve the steps of a regular facial, including a mask, and the spritz of a toner, but with more of a focus on the eye area.

My orbitals are rubbed and gently pinched, to get the sluggish lymph moving. A mask, which Anna says contains 24 carat gold, goes on around my peepers. While this works, I have a heavenly hand and arm massage (alternatively, you can go for a scalp version).

We finish with a few more unguents and lip balm, then Anna places a warm eye mask over my closed lids and a towel is looped under my neck and pulled down to give my shoulders a final stretch.

She leaves the room for a couple of minutes so I can regain consciousness, then she returns with some bottled water and Justbe milk chocolate to restore my blood sugar levels.

After getting dressed, I shuffle through to the reception area in my slippers, and order an Eden Mill Basil Smash cocktail, which is served with loads of ice. Clink clink, cheers to me.

The results

My skin is glowing, and my hayfever riddled eyes look a touch less puffy (and I’m pretty sure that’s not just because I’ve got my gin goggles on). n The Gin Spa (2 Virginia Court, Merchant City, Glasgow, 0141-471 0419, www.ginspa.co.uk)