I felt like my body was floating – no aches, pains or tightness. It was remarkable – The Irish Times

Over the years I have used many words to describe spa treatments: relaxing, mind-expanding, rejuvenating, and so on. One word I rarely use, however, is “personal.”

I have rarely come across a treatment that focuses on the finer details – namely how my body, muscles and skin respond to the treatment. Even rarer is a 10-minute debriefing that discusses what was observed during treatment, along with recommendations on self-care practices to extend the benefits at home. This was my experience Cardboard house Spa.

I had never visited Carton House in Maynooth before, despite hearing great things. Due to the arrival of Storm Ashley, my visit started a little later than planned. The wind was practically pushing cars across the road, trampolines were wrapped around signposts – you get the idea. When I finally arrived, I quickly changed and rushed to the spa.

( Simone Gannon: Four of the best beauty advent calendarsOpens in a new window )

Housed in a carefully restored 18th century mill building, the spa is small but cozy. I had booked the Forest De-Stress Ritual (€210), one of the many new Susanne Kaufmann treatments available. It included an hour-long full-body massage, followed by a 30-minute facial and a large bottle of Susanne Kaufmann Hayflower bath oil to take home.

After completing my short pre-treatment questionnaire, my therapist, Natalia, came to pick me up. Warm and friendly, she immediately put me at ease. As she entered the dimly lit treatment room, she asked a few more questions: What pressure would I want? What specific problems did I experience in my body? How severe was my lower back pain? When she noticed that I had marked my skin type as sensitive, she went further and asked if this was always the case or if it was caused by something. Her questions were thoughtful and made me feel like I was receiving customized treatment.

The full body massage came first and was bliss, although there were times when I gritted my teeth due to the tension in my shoulders and back. Several aspects of the massage stood out, especially the unique, almost needle-like approach to releasing tension around my spine and shoulder blades. Unlike many full body treatments that skip the abdominal area, this one was included, which I found refreshing. The stomach is an important area of ​​tension, but one that is often overlooked.

After the full body massage was over, the facial began. At this point I felt like my body was floating, an almost surreal feeling of weightlessness – no aches, pains or tightness. It was remarkable.

However, after the intensity of the full body massage, the facial itself felt like an afterthought. The movements were gentler and slower, which was to be expected, but compared to the vigorous massage, they felt slightly underwhelming. That said, Susanne Kaufmann’s skincare products were impressive – the textures and scents unforgettable.

At the end, Natalia gently woke me up when I had fallen asleep and slowly pulled up the bed. She asked how the treatment was and if I felt comfortable. She complimented me on my skin and added that the tension in my shoulders was significant, likening it to being stuck in ‘fight or flight’ mode. She asked what I did to relax at home, and I talked about my half-hearted attempts at stretching every now and then. “Is it okay if I give you some recommendations?” she said. I happily said yes and then she left the room so I could get changed.

When we walked down the hallway a little later, she handed me a card. It included several suggestions for ways I could relax and release tension at home, including warm baths and applying a specific anti-inflammatory body oil to tense areas before going to bed to allow the oil to work overnight.

As I left the spa, I bought the aforementioned product – Susanne Kauffman Marigold Body Oil (€35 at Carton House Spa). I applied it to my neck and shoulders that evening.

I don’t remember falling asleep, but when I woke up it felt like I had been asleep for years. I’m not sure a spa treatment gets more personal than that.

This week I’m loving…Hildun Beauty Lip Collection

Fresh from the stables of the excellent Irish beauty brand Hildun Beauty comes a new collection of lip products: Silk to Set Longwear Lip Pencil (€20 from hildunbeauty.com) and Melting Moisture Lip Balm (€23). I am so impressed with the latter that it is now permanently in my handbag. Available in three universally appealing shades – my favorite is rose gold – this rich lipstick-meets-balm formula nourishes and soothes while delivering an intense tan without any stickiness.