www.womanthismonth.com March 2016 53 AL AREEN Palace and Spa is a regal fortress that is home to one of the most grandiose spas in the world. I headed out there to try out one of its most popular treatments, the Hot Candle Massage. It is a brand new offering at the spa, and this is the only place you’ll find it in Bahrain. Lek, the spa director greeted me at the reception and made me feel right at home. She left me in the able hands of my masseuse, Sunshine. The treatment room was generously filled with a relaxing aroma, which I soon found out was coming from a burning candle. After a gentle foot scrub, I was asked to lie facedown on the bed; my face being illuminated by the warmth of the burning candle. Sunshine sprayed some invigorating grapefruit oil around my body, rubbed some of it on her hand and asked me to inhale it deeply. She then took the burning candle, which is actually made of coconut oil and shea butter, and poured its delightfully hot molten constituents on my back and started the massage. The combination of the ingredients and their temperature gives skin a more intense hydration than conventional massage oils. The strokes used are an unusual blend of techniques created especially for the candle wax massage, and were thoroughly impressive. Follow this with a super saturating Exotic Moisture Dew facial and your skin will feel deeply replenished and baby soft. Take advantage of the venue’s new Spa Members Plus Programme which gives you a prepaid card, starting from BD300, and a host of discounts and other benefits. What: Hot Candle Massage Where: Al Areen Palace & Spa Favourite feature: Many, but the exceptional service given by my masseuse tops the list. Also her name; ‘being massaged by Sunshine’ does have a certain ring to it! glasses of water a day is a good idea, but you may need more or less depending on your activity level. Coffee and sodas do not count, because they contain caffeine, which is a diuretic, meaning that they draw water out of your system and your skin. The best way to know that you are drinking enough water is to take a look at your urine when you next visit the toilet. If it’s clear or a pale yellow then you are well-hydrated. Healthy skin is a reflection of your overall health and keeping your body hydrated improves circulation, digestion and toxin removal. Drinking fluids is just one way of keeping the skin hydrated. We are now fighting against strong external elements like harsh sun rays, being in air-conditioned environments for prolonged periods and pollution. Here are some other ways that help skin retain moisture. EAT HEALTHY Adding foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon, walnuts, olive oil, soybeans, navy beans, kidney beans, winter squash and ground flaxseeds, can improve the condition of your skin remarkably, often in a matter of just a few weeks. That's because omega-3s are responsible for keeping skin cells well lubricated, thereby contributing to a rejuvenated appearance. USE HUMIDIFIERS Although Bahrain gets excessively humid during the summer months, during winter it can become uncomfortably dry as well, especially when it gets really windy. Humidifiers are ideal for reintroducing moisture back into the air inside your home, where the bulk of dry skin problems originate during this time of the year. ADD MOISTURE BACK Moisturise immediately after showering by patting the skin dry with a towel so that it is left slightly damp. Immediately seal in that dampness with your lotion or body oil of choice. Apply the body oil all over, massaging gently. Note that the oil won't "sink in" the way a lotion will; you can expect to feel it for a little while. If your skin is exceptionally dry, you can apply a coat of a rich body cream after a few minutes. By keeping your skin hydrated and making sure its moisture isn’t lost easily, you will notice that it becomes plumper, smoother and has a radiant glow. The next time you feel thirsty, instead of reaching for that soda, grab a glass of water instead. Your skin, and the rest of your body, will thank you.
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