Liberty and Aromatherapy Associates: Rose Infinity Facial treatment

I grew up on the border of Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire. As such, London and in particular, Liberty department store, had always been an aspirational place for me. It epitomised everything that was London. Everything that was luxury. It was the place that I would be able to shop once I had made it. Once I was successful.

Fast-forward to today and Liberty has not lost its shine. I still see a trip the Tudor styled maze as a special treat and a purchase an indulgence.

There are countless fabulous items across each floor. You are spoilt for choice. Unsurprisingly, I am addicted to the fragrance and beauty sections. I have been there countless times and I always walk away having seen something new.

Liberty’s Website

Liberty is so much more than just a department store. It is a shopping experience. This experience includes countless events ranging from talks by designers to presentations from perfumers.

All of the events are listed within the ‘Liberty Discovers‘ section of the website along with articles and insights. I had no idea that Liberty had, in effect, created an on-line magazine. The site is brimming with content. I check it at least once a week and always find something new to read.

During one of my research sessions I discovered that Liberty has beauty treatment rooms. Well, to me precise, they have converted an entire floor into a mini spa.

Omorovicza, QMS Medicosmetics, Sisley and Skin Laundry are all brands that have a permanent presence in the mini spa. In addition to these brands there are also monthly promotions and pop-ups which allow you to trial a whole host of brands. Again, these can be found in the ‘Liberty Discovers’ area of the website.

Key to a number of these pop-up experiences, whilst the majority of the treatments are at a fee, this fee can then be deducted against the purchase of products from the same brand. Put simply, you receive a free treatment, trial a new product and can then purchase a product from the brand. A no brainer!

Liberty is the gift that just keeps giving.

Aromatherapy Associates

As you will see, there are a number of treatments to choose from. I opted for an Aromatherapy Associates treatment. This brand was introduced to me by my Bostonian girlfriend Lauren; she kindly gifted me one of their candles as a hen party gift. I adored it! Prior to having received the gift I had seen the brand but I had not found the time to investigate further. Thank god that I have now been enlightened…….there is no turning back now.

Aromatherapy Associates started in 1985. The co-founders were Geraldine Howard and Sue Beechey. Geraldine sadly passed away in January 2016 but her legacy lives on with the brand.

Core to both Geraldine and Sue’s beliefs is/was the idea that ‘an enriching aromatherapy experience nurtures the body and boosts the spirits’. This philosophy has been applied to every aspect of the brand. It is one of the main reasons why Aromatherapy Associates products are stocked in over 50 countries. A testament to the brands strength and the quality of the products.

Aromatherapy Associates Website

The website contains a wealth of knowledge, especially for those who are new to aromatherapy products. For example, they have a page called ‘How Does Aromatherapy Work’ detailing the scientific process of how we smell. The page also contains details on the ways that our body can absorb aromatherapy oils. Like I said, a wealth of knowledge!

Whilst this post relates to the treatments offered through Liberty, the Aromatherapy Associates website details the treatments offered by specialists in spas across the country. Keep this in mind as Aromatherapy Associates do not have a permanent room at Liberty. You may have to go to an alternative location to have regular treatments.

Home Sweet Home

Of all of the areas of the website, the one of most interest to me is that educating you on how to perform aromatherapy rituals at home. The area of the website is named ‘Home Rituals’.

As outlined in my post ‘How to Make a Five Star Spa in the Comfort of Your Own Home: Urban Massage and Neom’, I am time poor. I often have to fit wellness around my busy schedule. Mobile therapists help me to achieve some of my wellness targets but I was determined to go a step further. I wanted to introduce aromatherapy into my daily routine. The ‘Home Rituals’ section provided advice on how to ‘Clear Your Mind’, use Aromatherapy products to ‘Sleep Deeply’, ‘Uplift Your Mood’ and as a ‘Jet Lag Cure’.

I suggest that you take some time to explore each and every tab of the website, you will not be disappointed.

The Treatment Room

Back to the treatment. On the day of the massage I reported to the Aromatherapy Associates desk on the ground floor and was led to the treatment suites.

Once in the suite I completed a short form and was shown into the treatment room. My room was as adequate as any spa that I have visited. It was the perfect temperature and smelled like heaven. A very floral heaven.

 

Key point, the spa is tranquil, far removed from the shop floor. The rooms feel luxurious with high quality linens and thick embroidered towels which makes you feel as snug as a bug.

Rose Infinity Facial

I had two treatment choices, a massage or a rose infinity facial. I opted for the facial which uses advanced natural ingredients to reduce lines and provide younger looking skin. It boosts skin moisture levels and stimulates collagen production with products filled with soy, yeast proteins and stem cells from the rarest plants.

As far as I can remember, I was not in the position to take notes, the facial started with a cleanse and tone (Hydrating Rose Exfoliating Cleanser and Hydrating Rose Skin Tonic). The Polishing Essential Enzyme Peel (currently out of stock across the UK) was then applied to my face and décolletage to help remove dead skin cells. The peel was mitted off and the Anti-Aging Serum was applied. This was followed by a Face Oil suited to my skin type.

Anti-Aging Eye Cream (currently out of stock across the UK) was then applied before the face oil was reapplied.

By this point I felt as though I had tried every product available. In the past I have been disappointed by the simplicity of facials. This was most definitely not going to be the case here. just when I thought my time was up, the therapist then applied the Hydrosol Sheet Mask and administered an eye massage. I usually shy away from sheet masks but this mask felt amazing. Whilst encouraging the skin’s absorption of the products it helps with the drainage of toxins and is incredibly refreshing.

The treatment ended with the application of the Firming Eye Serum and Rose Infinity Moisturiser.

 

I definitely received far more than my money’s worth. So much so that I had to reconfirm the details of the offer with my therapist. Thankfully I was not mistaken.

After I had dressed I was shown down to the shop floor where I received even more advice from the therapist regarding products for my body.

My Purchases

Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed the facial, I knew that I would not incorporate the products into my current regime; I had just purchased new facial products. Instead, my focus was drawn to the body products.

I have a very structured daily body regime consisting of oils, scrubs and moisturisers. I use certain products to wake me up in the morning and others to send me to sleep at night.

Given my addiction to bath oils, I decided to purchase Revive Morning Bath & Shower Oil.

 

On smelling the bath oil it’s combination of grapefruit, rosemary, neroli and juniper enlivened my senses and I knew that it would be the perfect tonic for those groggy mornings.

As outlined on the Aromatherapy Associates website, the oil contains the following:

• Neroli essential oil can be used as an anti-depressant. Further, it can help to calm the mind and body
• Grapefruit essential oil can help to improve circulation and is a natural digestion stimulant
• Juniper berry essential oil which aims to stimulate and detoxify
• Rosemary essential oils stimulates digestion, improves circulation while assisting with muscular aches and pains

This oil contains therapeutic levels of essential oils, approximately 30%. The oil only contains natural oils, another reason why I am comfortable using it on a daily basis.

Most important for me, my morning mantra is all about having the self-esteem and confidence to embrace the day ahead. This oil promotes these feelings. I cannot imagine a better way to start the day. As an aside, with regards to usage, one bottle contains enough oil for 20 showers and/or baths.

After Day Comes Night

In addition to the 55ml bottle of Revive Morning, given my travels, I decided to purchase a travel sized bottle of the Revive Morning Oil and the Relax Deep Oil. This set is aptly named the Perfect Partners.

 

 

The Relax Deep oil is best used at night. It contains camomile, Vetiver and comforting Sandalwood. Combined, these essential oils work to slow a racing mind and ready you for undisturbed, restorative sleep.

Again, as stated on the Aromatherapy website:

• Vetivert works to calm your mind
• English camomile aims to comfort and calm emotions
• Sandalwood relaxes the mind, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory

Vertivert and Vetiver are one and the same. It happens to be one of my favourite scents. I love it so much that I just purchased Tom Ford’s Vetiver Eau de Parfum and Diptyque’s Vetyverio Eau de Toilette within weeks of each other. Purchasing Relax Deep just made sense.

Having trialled both of the oils before writing this post, I can confirm that they feel incredibly indulgent. It is like having a spa treatment every day. I feel like I am spoiling myself and the difficulty is that I have become accustomed to this routine. How will I break this addiction? Actually, do I even need to break this addiction? I think not.

Free Gift

After having chosen the oils I headed to the till to pay. I was already on a high but can you imagine my surprise and delight when I was then told that I would receive a free gift. Winning in life! The best part, the gift included the Hydrosol Sheet Mask which was used during the treatment.

In addition to the mask, the free gift included a make-up bag which was filled with travel sized:

• De-Stress Muscle Gel
• Hydrating Renewing Rose Cleanser
• Hydrating Renewing Rose Skin Tonic
• Relax Body Wash
• Hydrating Nourishing Face Oil
• De Stress Mind Bath and Shower Oil

The free gift added even more value to what was a lovely and educational afternoon. Further, it meant that I could trial some of the rose products at home, dedicate some real time to considering whether I should change my face regime.

Liberty’s treatment rooms are an absolute delight. Aromatherapy Associates is now one of my go-to brands for a number of face and body products.

Have you trialled any of their products? Let me know your thoughts and send me your recommendations as to any of their other products that I should review.