Gold, diamond, sapphire or ruby?
I wasn't expecting this question and got stuck. I replied that I certainly don't want gold, but I'll go along with them.
They immediately decided it would be diamond.
Although I generally prefer to choose spa treatments based on their therapeutic effects, this time, perhaps because it's the end of the year, I was feeling so tired that I needed something relaxing. 100% relaxation, not therapeutic. It was as if the aches and pains I was feeling in my cervical area after hours of sitting at my laptop for the past few weeks didn't even matter. I simply wanted a spa ritual that would relax me - quickly and deeply.
I was in the reception Ana SPA Poiana BrasovI had just filled in the consultation form and met Mihaela - the spa manager and Andreea - my therapist.
I set a time to come and then we talked a little more. I found out they both worked at Ana Aslan Health SPA in Eforie Nord until 2010 when it opened Ana Spa at Ana Hotels Sport in Poiana Brasov. They moved from the sea to the mountains, in the same hotel chain, and have stayed here for 11 years.
Mihaela told me that at their Ana Aslan Health SPA, as at the seaside, all the therapists are physiotherapists - which means they have medical degrees. Even though most of the treatments on their menu are relaxing, as many clients come after skiing all day, they want to offer them a complete experience: relaxation, but also therapy.
What actually happened in my case, I'll tell you in a moment.
I came back at my appointment time. Andreea was waiting for me in reception. She took me to the treatment room. A large room with two areas: a massage bed and a waterbed. Actually, there were three areas, except that I hadn't seen the shower at first.
I immediately noticed the onyx wall and instinctively walked towards it. There was such a stark contrast between the onyx stone and the snow in which we had been standing outside until recently, that it seemed to me that the wall exuded warmth. That's when I found out that they have such a wall in all 8 treatment rooms.
Andreea invited me to sit face up on the waterbed, then left the room. Without thinking too much, she put me on the mattress and I lay down. Suddenly, I felt the warmth enveloping every square inch of my back. As you already know, I'm very cold, so I appreciated it. I wrapped myself in the towel that was waiting for me on the mattress and soon after Andreea came in.
I admit that I'm not generally a fan of exfoliation - in the sense that those little particles don't glide on like a cream, but I accept them because I know how much they help to remove dead cells from the superficial layer of the skin. So, once the pores are open, the body is ready to absorb the ingredients in the serums and creams it receives after this step.
In this case, however, the exfoliation was very fine. This piqued my curiosity even more and although I thought we would talk at the end of the ceremony, I couldn't resist and asked her what the products in this ritual contained.
We found out that they are micro-capsules with diamond powder, pure hydrolyzed silk, proteins, amino acids, coenzyme A and caffeine. A triple action is obtained: local slimming, firmness, the orange peel appearance is reduced and the skin remains smooth and velvety.
What she didn't tell me, probably because she wanted it to be a surprise, was how glowing the skin remains - as you'll see right away in a video I took late in the evening, a few hours after leaving the spa.
After exfoliation, he invited me to go to the shower. The shower was right next to the bed with the hot water mattress, but in a hallway. Then I noticed that there was also a wet sauna for two.
I finished my shower and got on the warm mattress. She gave me a serum with diamond micro-capsules, which has a powerful effect against cellulite and moisturizes deeply.
After she stretched me out, she told me that now she had to steam me. I was so relaxed that my only thought was that I didn't want to get up. Luckily that wasn't the case. Andreea fitted some sticks to which she tied the foil that was on the hot water mattress - which I confess I hadn't even noticed. I was in a tent, warm and very pleasant:
With my head out, I had no problem breathing. The mask has a nourishing, moisturizing and anti-cellulite effect. The smell is delicate, wild orchid.
I have no idea how long I was packed in there, but I think I also fell asleep a bit, even though I had imposed myself not to fall asleep so as not to miss any of the ritual steps.
The moment he lifted the sheet off me, I got in the shower again. And this time, as after the exfoliation, she asked me not to use the shower gel, even though it is there. Once the mask was removed, I went to the massage bed.
He asked if I wanted tea, lemonade or water. That's when I realized I was thirsty after the steam-packing.
A final cream massage followed. I had noted on the consultation form I had filled out before going in that I like deep massage. Without prompting, even though the protocol obviously included a relaxing massage, Andreea pressed hard enough to my liking. Then, she also noticed the contractures in my cervical area, and took care of them as well.
The result was that the skin had an elegant and discreet diamond sheen, but the back pain was gone.
I must confess it was my first gemstone spa experience. I never imagined my skin could feel and look like this:
The video above was taken late at night after dinner. Andreea had asked me not to get in the pool and shower immediately afterward. So I was left glowing for hours.
And after the shower, it was just as velvety. Only the discreet glitter was gone, but to the touch, it felt exactly the same.
When I set the appointment, I hesitated whether to do a facial or a body ritual. In the end, I decided that as tired as I was, I'd do both. Granted, at the time, I didn't know how relaxing the body one would be. But I'm glad I didn't, because I had another unique experience with the Diamond Facial.
Adriana, a beautician from Ana SPA Poiana Brasov, took me in.
I've talked a bit about my incipient rosacea, which I manage to keep under control, but which makes me nervous whenever I want to try a new facial ritual because I don't know how my sensitive skin will react.
She assured me that there would be no problems because the products are not aggressive at all, even the peeling is very soft. I learned then that the diamond facial ritual is an intense moisturizing and antioxidant protection treatment and contains diamond microcapsules and amino acids extracted from pure silk.
I was very curious to see what it would be like, especially since the skin on my body glowed so beautifully after the body ritual.
Perhaps because of my rosacea, she gave me a cleansing milk that cleanses deeply, offers suppleness and softness, but also has a moisturizing effect. It contains Omega 6 and Omega 9, vitamins A, E, calcium and magnesium.
Then followed a toning lotion with a soothing effect to balance the skin's pH. It contains a complex of vitamins B- B3, B5.
It was the only step I admit I was nervous about. She used a light peel, which provides gentle exfoliation. She asked me if it stung a bit and no, it didn't sting at all. So I calmed down and could totally relax this time. She told me that the peel evens out the texture of the complexion and leaves the skin smooth and radiant, but most importantly it opens the pores for the next steps.
After the exfoliation she gave me a deep moisturizing cream. She also gave me a super massage with it, until she felt that my face muscles were completely relaxed.
She then gave me a serum that is meant to deeply moisturize, velvet and brighten the complexion. My complexion absorbed it immediately, I even noticed that she wanted to give me another massage, but she didn't succeed. I asked her about it and she confirmed it, but also assured me that it's very good that the products penetrate into the skin and don't stay on the surface.
Well, I really like the feel of the brush on my face anyway, it's a feeling hard to describe in words. And it's also impossible for me to write how that mask felt. I would have expected it to be thicker than it looks in the pictures, I felt it as a kind of cream - very velvety and pleasant paste.
Adriana told me that it is a moisturizing mask with anti-oxidant protection that ensures a good absorption of the actives in the diamond extract.
While the mask was left to dry, I took another round of photos with Mihaela - the spa manager who helped me with all the photos in this article. When we were done, it was about time to remove the mask.
I knew that the last step was coming, so I tried to be as present as possible, to enjoy every moment that was left of the ritual. She gave me another cream, the final one, which was meant to moisturize, brighten and brighten the complexion.
In the end I couldn't get enough of looking in the mirror. And the truth is, I was glowing. On the outside the diamond particles were obviously shining, but inside I felt radiant too. I was so proud of how relaxed I was after only 2 hours or so of the full body (75 minutes) and facial (one hour) ritual. An incredible difference.
At that very moment, a line from a romantic comedy with Kate Hudson and Matthew McConaughey came to my mind: "women don't need men to give them dimonds, they can get them on their own".
And the truth is we deserve diamonds, we deserve such a spa experience. It's more valuable and more precious than diamond jewelry. And you don't just have to sparkle at the end of the year, but whenever you feel the need to deeply unwind and feel good about yourself.
To know that you've done something for yourself, that you've come out of there flying with happiness, that you're full of energy and good cheer. And brighter than you ever thought you could be.
Is there a more precious gift to give yourself?
Ioana Marian, founder of despreSpa.ro
Virtual Wellness Explorer
