WELL-BEING

The Emirates Palace Spa has a new way to boost your mineral intake

The Emirates Palace Spa has a swanky new way for you to get a magnesium boost

M ost people in need of more calcium or magnesium would grab a bottle of vitamins from their local pharmacy, but this being the UAE, there is a more extravagant way to boost your mineral intake.

The Emirates Palace spa has recently introduced two new treatments using products by French company Thalion that give you an extra dose without you popping any pills – instead, it’s applied through your skin.

What’s On opted for the The Magnesium Mineral Therapy treatment, and a quick science lesson is needed first to explain why the mineral is so important to us humans. Magnesium keeps blood pressure normal, bones strong, reduces inflammation and keeps your heartbeat regular. The spa claims this treatment, which lasts 75 minutes, will also help soothe muscles and relieve stress and tension, especially after exercise.

The session kicks off with an exfoliation scrub and a five-minute visit to a steam room. The goal here is simple: it’s time to open the pores so that the magnesium mask can be applied and penetrate your skin more effectively. After a quick rinse, the body is covered in a magnesium oil, which curiously makes the skin tingle in the areas where you need more of the mineral. Next, a magnesium mask is applied on top of that, and then your body is completely rolled and wrapped in cling film, leaving you feeling and looking like a sausage trying to escape its skin. While the oil does its work, the therapist gives a soothing scalp massage and then the oil and mask are rinsed off. Finally, it’s back to the bed for a covering of a velvet body butter – this last stage of the treatment adds moisture back to the skin after a session of exfoliation and pore opening.

So, does it work? It’s a resounding yes from What’s On for what has been one of the best treatments we’ve tried this year. While some sessions at a spa can leave you feeling a bit dozy and groggy afterwards, we left the Palace with a noticeable spring in our step.

Emirates Palace, West Corniche, Abu Dhabi, daily 10am to 11pm, Dhs800. Tel: (02) 6909000. Taxi: Emirates Palace. emiratespalace.ae