Beauty

Reinvigorate your face with an intense workout for radiance that keeps on glowing

An invigorating facial from Michelle Denham Studio Spa in North Berwick

The treatment

An Antonia Burrell Pure Facelift, £90 for 90 minutes, at the new Michelle Denham Studio Spa, North Berwick .

Why go?

Breathe the oxygenated air at North Berwick, as well as paying Michelle a visit. With over a decade’s experience, she was one of the top therapists at Fletcher’s Cottage Spa at Dirleton.

Now she’s opened her own business and as she’s the only staff member, you’ll get undivided attention, with an edited selection of treatments that includes Margaret Dabbs manicures, as well as massage, reiki and waxing.

Our spy says

I’m welcomed by Michelle and the cheery Highland coo that’s painted on the back wall.

She’s excited to tell me about this facial, which uses “holistic skincare” products and techniques by Londonbased facialist Antonia Burrell. It may be intense in parts, but I’m to let her know if it feels uncomfortable.

I hop on to the incredibly cosy treatment table, behind a screen, under a duvet and with a bolster slotted under my knees. We don’t use a pillow, so Michelle can easily get access to my neck and shoulders.

This experience starts with a cleanse using some zesty Antonia Burrell Natural Glow Cleansing Oil, with cypress, tea tree oil and bitter orange. While this strips off my makeup, along with hot flannels, a steamer puffs onto my face to get deeper into those pores.

I’m exfoliated with something that gently tingles, but also features little crystals to physically buff away grime.

Onto the heavy duty massage. Michelle uses repetitive lifting moves, following the contours of my face, along the jawline, neck and cheeks, massaging my ears en route.

She finds knots in the muscles, and works them out, which isn’t the most pleasant sensation – especially on the left, my dominant chewing side, and just under my cheekbone – but never enough that I need to say a safe word.

The suction cups are unleashed, and smoothed along my epidermis, making a guppy-like pop whenever they are released. Since my face is now pretty toasty, a soothingly cool mask is slicked on, and cotton pads are popped onto my eyes. Zzzz.

Then, using a turmeric infused oil to reduce inflammation, Michelle rubs my arms, hands and shoulders. After the mask has been removed, balm is dotted round my eyes and on to my lips. It’s all over, so I decamp to Steampunk Coffee, feeling like a very relaxed space cadet.

The results

With most facials, you see instant results that don’t last long.

In contrast, my face feels slightly tender for a couple of days, then looks radiant, plump and reinvigorated for the next week. Get me back to North Berwick quick, before my glow goes. n