Luxury facial, pedicure & manicure at Fortnum & Mason’s Beauty Salon
When I entered Fortnum & Mason in London’s Piccadilly my heart rate lowered and I felt my shoulders dropping.
Why, because it is a very calming and lovely place to be. This is a shop that opened in 1707 and has a number of Royal Warrants. But “so what” you say and you are right, that may indicate quality but it is the first hand experience that counts, and that word experience is critical. Thankfully it has not been “improved” it just does things very calmly and very well and in my book that is just lovely. Walk through the gentleman’s department, the ladies perfumes, the food halls and you can tell, thought and creativity have been used to create a haven for our senses and emotions.
Through the doors up the stairs and to the back of ladies perfumes you find Beauty a la Carte at Fortnum & Masons and you should definitely enter this into your little black book under refined, luxury grooming for Gentlemen.
The décor is extravagant and nurturing, crystal chandeliers, draped curtains and glass vases. You are entering a bespoke space, private, intimate and what seems exclusively yours for the treatment.
Sarah, who runs the rooms, was going to attend to my facial and with a big smile mentioned the words pampering before the treatment starts. For those gentlemen who find all this metro sexual attentiveness a little alarming it is very nice and once you switch off you will probably fall asleep.
I had the Bespoke Facial which includes cleansing, gentle exfoliation, dermabrasion, massage including lymphatic, mask and moisturise to finish. The dermabrasion is good for ingrown hairs. It will minimise the fine lines and generally brighten a dull lifeless skin. Gentlemen’s skin can be sensitive and dry if over shaved therefore a weekly application of a mask, express flower gel, can brighten and hydrate the skin. A Linden blossom mask is an excellent product to apply over the beard area as this will reduce irritation and redness.
I think what defines excellence is an ability to use ones knowledge and then adapt and go one step further. Sarah is just that, a nice chat about this and that and then when asked specific questions she comes up trumps, but more than that she added extra information above the treatment. This makes one feel very assured. My skin felt alive, I felt rested and was a very satisfied client.
After my facial I dressed and then was escorted to the Pedicure/manicure room which again is very private. The 2 ladies had big smiles and after I settled into the chair with a magazine and a cup of tea both treatments took place in tandem. One thing that is my pet hate is being uncomfortable so was very pleased that the pedicure/manicure thrown was comfortable and the beautician had space to move so I could just relax and let them take over. There are niceties about treatments but in general in my opinion it is about the positioning of the body, the product that is used and then lots and lots of experience. You can definitely tell the difference between a general all rounder and beautician who specialises. I was to find out I had no worries as both ladies were highly professional. My hands looked trim and especially noticed the cuticle work where Apricot cuticle oil had been used which softens cuticles and hydrates, though it was the pedicure products that really stood out, the Essie Brand, amazing, my feet feeling hydrated and very soft.
Loved it, professional, classic and relaxing, perfect.
Beauty a la Carte
Fortnum & Mason,
181 Piccadilly,
London,
W1A 1ER
+44 (0) 20 7973 4094