I’ve just had the Siberian Petals Facial at K West and if I was a cat, I’d be purring. Here’s why…
First Impressions
In the lift on the way down to the spa, a lady told me she’d tried a good few spas but kept coming back to K West because the treatments are consistently good. You can’t beat consistency (it’s annoyingly common to get a brilliant massage followed by a mediocre one from a different therapist next time at the same spa) and it comes from an ethos of great customer care.
The Hotel
Any hotel that has Dean Gaffney hanging out in the café as you enter (Well ‘Ard wasn’t with him) is good enough for me. The hotel stands out in a quiet street off the busy main roads of Shepherd’s Bush – like a glass-fronted dolls house at the end of a line of old houses. I could people watch the clientele all day – an eclectic mix with lots of creative-looking media types from nearby production companies sipping skinny lattes.
The Spa
K West’s Spa reception feels a bit space age – everything pristine, bright, clean and delightful. I was given a card with which I could access all the rooms, including a chill-out lounge and shown through to the changing room with fluffy towels and bath robe. I was a day visitor but felt like a hotel guest who had just rolled out of bed and taken the lift down to the spa, rather than taken the sardine-like central line to Shepherd’s Bush. This immediate change in perspective is no mean feat and testament to the calming effect of a great spa.
I couldn’t use the hydrotherapy pool or sauna because I was pregnant but even so, I loved the area and relaxed in a booth big enough to lie down. Sticking to glass theme, the pool was like a giant square goldfish bowl and uber cool.
The spa is a great place for locals who can take membership and
make use of the gym as well as exercise classes. When I was there, a Zumba class was on. But you’d never know if you were in the spa treatment rooms, reception or hydrotherapy area, which remain an oasis of calm.
Showers for me and I’m sure most people are about getting in and out as quickly as possible so as not to run late, but I spent time actually enjoying a shower in lovely surroundings. Shampoo, conditioner, body cream, flip, flops, bath robe, hair straighteners – all there for your pampering.
The Treatment
First up, the smell of the products was heavenly. The therapist (who was excellent and experienced) detailed the ingredients before we started and even hearing my pores would be filled with natural extracts like white orchid made me feel fresher of face. When she actually applied them along with her well-crafted techniques, my only concern was the hour-long treatment would end all too soon.
What differed to this facial and others I’ve had is that – as well as the various stages like exfoliating, cleansing, moisturizing and so on – my face was massaged with expertise so that I could feel the blood circulation really improving. This felt like it was doing by whole body good and afterwards, I noticed my face had more colour and looked healthier.
I felt pampered, with product after product applied liberally, from exfoliating to a moisturizing mask at the end and a blissful (are they ever anything else?) head massage.
The Location
Five minutes walk from Shepherd’s Bush tube station on the central line. And you know what that means? Westfield shopping centre is but a few minutes away so after some holistic and beauty therapy, a little retail therapy anyone?
Top Tips
- Try to make time to chill out in the Relaxing area before or after your treatment. Dim lighting, padded loungers, headphones with soothing music and a pile of magazines. Phone off. In the moment.
- If you fancy a girly treat with a family member of friend, this is perfect because you can make a day of it – ambling from treatment to nail bar to chill-out to steam room and hydrotherapy pool, followed by a bite to eat or drink…and did I mention Westfield shopping centre is but a stone’s throw? A few women had the same idea and it was lovely to see.
- If you happen to be pregnant, I’ve heard good things too about K West’s prenatal massage, with a specially-designed bed to lie on with a hole for your tummy so you get to lie on your front.
What else to say, but..Prrrrrrrrrrrrr
For the original review head to Spa Breaks: https://www.spabreaks.com/hottub/2013/04/celebrity-spotlight-martel-maxwell-visits-k-west-hotel-and-spa/
For details of the Russie Blanche Siberian Petals Facial as explained by Bonnie Friend click here: https://www.spabreaks.com/hottub/2013/04/why-it-works-russie-blanche-siberian-petals-facial/