Banana Leaf Massage at Spa St-James
"Me time" We all hear and see and read about it, and in theory, it all looks and sounds great, but do we really get enough of it? I struggle to find "me time" for the simple reasons that I have 3 children, a husband that works crazy and long hours, a household to run and a blog to write. And to be quite honest, sometimes I feel guilty penciling in time for myself when I look at my schedule. Yes, I post about going to the gym, but that time is for my sanity (and those extra 10 pounds I need to lose) and yes, I post about going to events, but that is for my job (which I love). For me, "me time" is about my all around well being, finding balance and replenishing my energy and when that happens, I always come to the conclusion that I am more efficient and productive. Now I may share on my Instagram stories that I am getting my hair coloured or a mani/pedi etc..., but I rarely blog about it. However, the massage I received (when I finally booked in time for myself and got over the guilt) was so fresh, new and invigorating, that I had to write all about it.
First and foremost, the massage I got was at the Spa St. James that was relocated to The Ritz Carlton Hotel. I am happy that it moved because it got a beautiful upgrade. Their facilities are stunning and their relaxing area before and after your treatments is Instagram heaven. Now let me tell you about my Banana Leaf massage. You have the choice to have it performed with two or four hands. I chose four because I had never experienced that type of massage before, which they call their ritual. I did have my doubts about them being synchronized and staying out of each other's way, but those doubts completely disappeared because they were like a well oiled machine (pun intended)! The ritual begins with the application of slightly heated banana leaves to prepare the skin and the senses. Then a coordinated sequence of traditional massage techniques are put into motion while using the Smoothing Body Oil Zoé (more about those devine products in a bit) The ritual ends with hydrating dry areas such as hands, feet and elbows. The smells and sensations made me feel like I was in a tropical rainforest and not only did the massage do my body good, the banana leaves, body oil and hydration at the very end made my skin silky smooth and vacation ready.
The effect on my skin could not have happened without the products they used from a company called Luxcey. Created with natural and noble ingredients these simple and minimalist products are born from a love of slow living and precious rituals by the founder Rose-Gwet. She created each element using inspiration from her cultural mix between Cameroon and France and each product is named after a personal experience, a person she loves, or a dose of creativity that has crossed her path AND all Luxcey products are organic and derived from plants or fruits.
Her smoothing body oil, called Zoé and which was used during my massage and is the heart of the ritual, is infused with 7 precious oils including macadamia and rosehip. This heavenly oil softens the skin but also helps restore elasticity and reduces theappearance of cellulite. Zoé can be also used after your shower to prevent dehydration and a few drops applied to the ends ofyour hair or as a mask the night before a visit to the hairdresser will do wonders. She also has an upgraded version of this oil, called Zoé Or. This decadent oil not only nourishes your skin but illuminates and envelops the skin with a golden veil and subtle tanning. A few drops of this sublime oil can also illuminate hair.
As it is recommended to use a body scrub before slathering divine body oil all over yourself, Luxcey has created The Noah Body Scrub. This smoothing scrub saturated with macadamia oil, apricot kernel oil and volcanic black sand, firms up, tones and softens the skin all while reducing the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks. It helps to avoid ingrown hairs, extends the duration of your tan and removes dead skin cells while leaving the skin moisturized and silky. Doesn't that sound amazing!!!
Luxcey not only has products for the body, but also for the face. You can cleanse your face with her Absolute Cleansing Oil called Eden or use the brightening exfoliant and mask Ulysse, the Divine Smoothing Serum Léo to nourish the skin and the moisturizing mist Loni which provides hydration, softens and balances the PH of the skin and hair. The mist can be used after a shower or anytime during the day.
photography by Patricia Brochu
In conclusion, the massage and combination of the lovely Luxcey products, was amazing, relaxing and 100% guilt free. I cannot wait to do it again. So if you would like to treat yourself or are wondering what to do for Valentine's day, look no further and head to the Spa St-James, you'll thank me later!
Photography by Patricia Brochu