Beauty: The gift of time

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Mothers need "me" time so one of the nicest gifts you can give to someone who spends her time caring for everyone else is the gift of a little time out.

We're not saying you need to spend up large to show you care (cooking dinner or taking mum on a picnic would doubtless be much appreciated), but treating her to some self-indulgence is a great gesture, because you can bet it's unlikely to be top of her list of priorities, much as she might deserve it.

Viva has scouted out some of the nicest new beauty treatments about and come up with recommendations guaranteed to leave any mother feeling pampered and precious.

Spa splash out

The Chuan Spa at Auckland's Langham Hotel is the newest in New Zealand and with around $4 million having been spent to fit it out to five-star international standards you'd rightly expect the best. You can book into one of two special Zen-like spa suites for an overnight indulgence including private treatments in your room and full-use of the spa facilities and those of the adjoining gym and outdoor terrace pool, or drop in as a day guest where you will also experience Chuan's signature "journey".

The spa's rituals are grounded in traditional Chinese medicine and the environment is calmingly Oriental, but with localised touches such as the iridescent paua-coloured tiles in the herbal steam room which is infused daily with a carefully chosen aroma. I found the communal locker area a suprise.

Your treatment is individually tailored to restore personal harmony, starting with a questionnaire to assess which of the five elemental forces within needs to be rebalanced (metal and wood for me) and then using oils to match your inclination during the treatment, before ending with a cup of the prescribed tea and a vegetable juice in the Dream Room.

A Thalgo facial in the middle left my skin nicely hydrated and the range, rich in sea algae, fits in with the theme of the spa, the name of which translates as Flowing Water.

By the end of my three-hour treatment I'm not sure if it was the attention to the imbalance of my metal and wood that did the trick or just an excellent massage, but I was sleepily at peace with the world even after a detox in the steam room with an ice splash - another rebalancing ritual apparently, something about hot and cold, yin and yang.

As a plus, inclusive valet parking meant there was no nasty parking bill afterward to rattle my realigned senses.

* Chuan Spa, The Langham, 83 Symonds St, Auckland. Ph 09 300-2960.

During May an introductory Mother's Day package including a Thalgo facial, complimentary 45-minute exfoliation and massage for hands and feet is available at the special price of $105. This includes use of the tri-bathing facilities, parking and your "journey".

Anti-ageing facial

What better than to feel rejuvenated as well as relaxed, which is why high-tech anti-ageing facials are a fast-growing sector of the beauty treatment market, making salons look more like solariums by the day, with lights and lasers poised for action.

If you're curious about trying some of the new options out there, then a combination facial is a good way to go, - therapists reckon rolling them into one delivers faster results. Choose an established clinic where staff know how to use the gadgetry.

At About Face in Mt Eden, I tried the popular Power of Three facial, recommended as a great way to get your skin in tip-top condition before a big event - outshining the offspring at Mother's Day brunch perhaps?

The souped-up facial undoubtedly left my skin plumper and clearer looking for several days, but as lasting results are said to occur from the stimulus of repeat treatments, I can't vouch for longer-term effects.

First up was the choice between microdermabrasion or a skin peel to reveal fresher-looking skin by sloughing off the dead surface cells. I choose a mild AHA peel, being a bit averse to deep exfoliation, before moving on to the odd experience of a rejuvenation Omnilux photo facial which involved lying on my back while a very bright red light was shone on my face. This is said to stimulate collagen production and after the initial feeling that it would be torture to lie beneath, I found it curiously relaxing, like baking, eyes closed, in full sun, but without the burn.

Step three, the sonophoresis (an ultrasound technique) helped work vitamin A and C deep into the skin and left me feeling infused with baby-faced smoothness.

* About Face, 415 Mt Eden Road, Mt Eden Village. Ph 09 623-8400.

During May the Power of Three treatment costs $199 at all About Face clinics, compared with a price tag of $320 for the three steps taken separately.

- Janetta Mackay

Bali high

If you can't afford to escape to Bali this year, head instead for East Day Spa. From the minute you step through the front door you are transported to exotic places. Incense fills the air and soothing music washes over you.

I'm here to experience the spa's Mum's The Word relaxation package which draws on traditional Ayurvedic and Balinese healing rituals. Sound divine? It is. Suriani, my therapist, is from Bali so knows her stuff. To start with I am given a series of ampoules to sniff to see which appeals most to my mood and senses. I opt for the antioxidating green tea. (I've decided I want this experience to not only be relaxing but to work on a cleansing level as well.) The green tea is mixed with oil and this will be used during my massage.

But what massage to have? Thank goodness the tough questions are got over with at the beginning.

Do I want to experience the long, slow flowing strokes of a Shanti massage, or a full body deep tissue Veda version which is good for stress relief and aching musles?

Do I want a Chakra massage which focuses on pressure points around the scalp and neck (good for those who suffer headaches or computer neck), or the Kady Vasty traditional Indian massage, or the skin rolling, long stroking, pressure pointing Balinese version?

Yep, that last one sounds like it covers the lot and, indeed, is apparently the most popular.

First however, as part of the special package, Suriani leads me to a quiet room, where I am given a cleansing herbal tea to drink, and my feet are soaked in jasmine-smelling water crystals. Next she drops me off in the steam room for half an hour, where I really do feel like I am in the humid Ubud hills as my muscles relax and there's a wonderful sense of release as the body starts to sweat out any toxins. A powerful Vichy shower washes away any impurities and Suriani wraps me in a robe and leads me to the massage suite.

If there's one thing I can't stand is an insipid massage. But there's no fear of this with Suriani - the woman really does get in! Thankfully she asks how it's feeling, and eases off as my body succumbs to her strong, experienced hands. An hour later, with a complimentary chocolate rose in my hand, I float out of the door so relaxed I feel as though I've been on holiday for a week.

* Mum's The Word Ultimate East Day Spa Experience (1 hour 45 minutes), $155. to book, ph: (09) 363 7050.

- Amanda Linnell