Fionnuala Carolan takes a trip to the Mandarin Oriental Spa to try their new Imperial Jade Ritual treatment.

Every once in a while, everybody should make a space in their diary for some personal pampering time. When you step out of the lift and into the Mandarin Oriental Spa, you start to wish you had taken the whole day off and not just a couple of hours. With its light wood furnishings and traditional Chinese decor, it is the perfect haven from all the stresses and strains of the outside world. You are greeted by the receptionist and immediately offered a cup of soothing Chinese tea while one of the girls takes your shoes and slips your feet into a fluffy pair of slippers. Ah, this is the life, you think, as you put on your robe in the changing room with the heated floor. Before meeting your therapist there is a chance to relax in the cosy lounge where you can enjoy hot or cold drinks and fruit.

I was booked in for the Imperial Jade Ritual, a two-hour treatment incorporating a body scrub, a body mask and a ginseng facial. You are advised to arrive about 45 minutes before your treatment time to unwind and use the facilities. The therapist explained the benefits of the treatment and we discussed which oils to use. All the oils used at this spa are from the Aromatherapy range and are entirely pure and additive free. I decided to choose one that would deal with undernourished skin. Also on offer were oils for stress release and jet lag relief, among others.

I lay on the bed and the treatment began with a Chinese-style massage used to stimulate different points in my body and to balance my energies. I had already forgotten about life outside the very luxurious treatment room and was drifting in and out of sleep. Then came the scrub containing a blend of sesame oil and ground rice. This felt great as it made the skin slightly tingle. However, I got a shock when the piping hot green tea and algae body mask was first applied but it immediately cooled and I became quite cold. I was covered with towels to keep warm and after a minute or two I warmed up again. This mask is designed to eliminate all the toxins from your body. While this was left on my skin to work its magic, I received a lovely ginseng face mask which left my face feeling soft and thoroughly cleansed. After about 15 minutes, I washed off the body mask in the shower and when I came out my therapist gave me another massage to leave me feeling calm and centred. She advised me to drink plenty of water for the rest of the day to rid the body of all the toxins that had been stimulated during the treatment. I felt fully rejuvenated and although it would have been nice to stay longer, I was able to go back and face the world with renewed vigour. The next time I feel in need of some ‘me’ time, I’ll be back.

Mandarin Oriental Spa, 5 Connaught Road, Central. Tel: 2522 0111