Image © Aurora Spa

What: Kerstin Florian Active Botanical Facial
Where: Aurora Spa Retreat, St Kilda
Duration: 60-90 minutes
Beauty Therapist: Katrina

Experience:

• Prior to my facial, I had the opportunity to meet with the founder and director of Aurora Spa Retreats, Lyndall Mitchell. We had a good chat about how the spas were created, her vision for the business, how she created her range of Aurora Spa Ritual products and so on. It was very interesting listening to her speak because I could clearly see how much she loved her job. If time wasn’t an issue, I could hear her speak about the spa for ages and not get bored. 🙂
• Lyndall proceeded to give me a tour of the spa. I had the opportunity to peek into the steam rooms (must try this one day!), Time Out Lounge, individual treatment rooms and the manicure/pedicure area.
• I love the concept of the Time Out Lounge. It’s a lounging area where you sit on comfy armchairs in a thick fluffy robe and enjoy sipping a cup of warm tea or water. It’s for clients to relax and wind down before the beauty treatment. The beauty therapist brought be a cup of herbal tea while I took my time filling in the customer details form.

Image © Aurora Spa

• When Lyndall told me how pedicures were done in Aurora Spa Retreat, I was gobsmacked. Get this: what happens is that you sit back on a reclinable armchair. The therapist will recline the chair back till you’re almost horizontal. You’ll get to pick a selection of either meditation or relaxation tunes on an iPod, listen to that iPod with provided earphones and have an eye pillow over your eyes. All this while you’re having a pedicure! How freakin’ awesome does that sound?! I’m definitely going to try the pedicure out in future, that’s for sure.
• Soon, it was time for my facial. Katrina, who was my beauty therapist for the session, escorted me to the ladies’ changing room where I changed into a thick fluffy robe and white slippers (I stored my belongings in one of the provided lockers). I had a cup of tea at the Time Out Lounge before proceeding to my facial.
• The facial I had was the Active Botanical Facial using Kerstin Florian products. It was 60 minutes of pure bliss. The therapist didn’t leave the room after she applied a mask on my face (a lot of beauty therapists will. I don’t like this). Every so-called free time she had (e.g. whilst waiting for the mask to set, etc), she massaged my scalp, neck, shoulders and feet. Not a single minute was wasted. Now that’s more like it!
• Katrina applied just the right pressure I liked for facials and massages. The Kerstin Florian products she used on me felt good on my skin and didn’t break me out.

Image © Aurora Spa

Products Used:
Aurora Spa Rituals (ASP) Rose Hydrating Facial Hydrosol, ASP Vanilla & Honey Lip Moisturiser, ASP Peppermint Pedi Repair Cream, Kerstin Florian (KF) Rejuvenating Cleansing Gel, KF Rejuvenating Thermal Tonic, KF Clarifying Raspberry Extract, KF Correcting Muti Vitamin Day Creme SPF15, KF Correcting Rescue Creme, KF Correcting Brightening Eye Creme, KF Correcting Intensive Renewal Glycolic 15, KF Clarifying Vita-Marine Masque.

A quick snap of the loo; With founder and director of Aurora Spa, Lyndall Mitchell; Before and after the facial

Verdict:

• When I looked at the list of products Katrina used on me, I did a double take. I can’t remember the last time I had THAT many products used on me during a facial!
• I can only think of one word for the entire experience at the spa and the facial. SUBLIME.
• The best way to gauge the level of comfort and relaxation achieved from a facial/massage is falling sleep. At least, it is for me. My mind is usually very active during a beauty treatment because for some reason, that’s where some of my best ideas come in. But when it’s that relaxing and I fall asleep, that’s the sign of a good facial/massage. This time, I even snorted in my sleep. 😛
• The objective of the Aurora Spa Retreat is to take time out for complete relaxation, which is why I highly recommend giving yourself at least an extra 30 minutes at the spa. E.g. if you’ve booked in a 60-minute facial/massage, do arrive 15-20 minutes earlier to slowly wind down at the Time Out Lounge. The reason I mention this is that if you only set aside 60 minutes for the facial, you will still spend some time at the Time Out Lounge before going in for your treatment. This will eat into your treatment time (unless you inform your beauty therapist prior to the treatment).

Image © Aurora Spa

• As the Aurora Spa Retreat offers a more luxurious atmosphere and experience compared to many spas and beauty salons (excluding salons at major international hotels), the prices for the treatments are significantly higher. My 60-minute Botanical Facial retails at $160, which is more expensive than the facials I usually go for at Endota Spa. But I have to say that the facial was superb and I left the spa feeling like I was on top of the world.
• To date, this is the most luxurious spa I’ve been to. The atmosphere and service surpassed my expectations.
• I shall be treating myself to one of the spa retreat packages for my birthday in June. Why not, eh? 😛 I highly recommend that you check out the spa if you can. Treat yourself or a loved one to one of the treatments. I’m sure you are going to absolutely love it. It’s my first time to the spa but I know it’s definitely not my last. I can’t wait to go back!

Aurora Spa Rituals goodies I have kindly given to try. Thanks Aurora Spa!

Hook me up!

Aurora Spa Retreat
The Prince Hotel
2 Acland St, St Kilda, VIC 3182
Tel: 03 9536 1130

Was this a complimentary service? Yes, courtesy of Aurora Spa.