We try the Lush's Rewilding Facial at Lush Spa in Leeds

EVERYONE at work knows that I’m something of a Lush addict, shamelessly coming back into the office with a bag of soap that can be smelt before it's seen, but despite this, I’d never managed to make it to the Lush Spa in Leeds.

Strangely enough, my invitation to visit landed in my inbox at the perfect time - a day after a friend had been telling me about her recent visit and how relaxing it had been - and I just about fell over myself to accept it. 

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I arrived at the Lush shop in Commercial Street in Leeds city centre for my Rewilding spa treatment a few weeks later, at 3.30pm on a Saturday, and was checked in at the counter by the receptionist who took me through a list of allergies and preferences to pass to my masseuse. 

Originally, my treatment had been planned for two weeks prior, but due to a mix up with the booking system, it was never scheduled. As an apology for this, I was given an All the Best gift set (containing my fav soap, shower gel, a scrub, and body cream).

Priced at £125 for a 50-minute facial massage, my treatment was set to be the Rewilding Facial - Lush's first lifting facial, which combines lymphatic drainage, cold therapy, tension relief massage with a treatment designed to make you feel like you are ‘returning to nature’.

This is done through sound and smell with a soundtrack that Lush says is an ‘ode to nature’ and herbal treatments chosen for their scent, connections to the outdoors, and links to good causes.

After around ten minutes of looking around the shop, I was collected by my masseuse and brought downstairs to a relaxing terracotta room composed of plush sofas and a small kitchen that felt a million miles away from the bustle of Leeds city centre.

My masseuse then talked me through each item used for the treatment and I was given the chance to test everything for irritation - something I really appreciated because I have sensitive skin.

For this reason, I was also offered a substitute product to use in place of my first face mask, but decided against it after testing the original mask and thinking it wouldn’t irritate my skin (spoiler: it didn’t!).

It was then I was brought into the Nightingale room, a rustic space with a bathtub set up at the back and told to undress to what Lush call ‘Modesty Level 2’ (which involved removing my shirt, getting under preheated sheets, and ringing a bell when I was ready to begin the treatment).

The facial starts off slow and cold with a double cleanse and a firming brightening mask, all applied to the sounds of nature and bird song. After the first two treatments, a hot serum is used and the music picks up in a contrast which almost brings you along with it.

Every step of the facial was completed with purpose: movements often in time to the sound track and extended beyond my face to my neck, upper chest, arms, legs, and feet - something which made my whole body feel fully immersed.

Towards the end of treatment, I had begun to feel myself relax fully (a very rare thing for me) then the lifting part of the massage began, which is intense and uses sculpting techniques to keep the skin looking plump. 

While I wouldn’t say this part is relaxing, I would say it works and it’s followed up with a jelly face mask, a scalp massage, and moisturiser, which bring you back to a feeling of zen before the treatment ends and you’re able to return to the world at your own speed.

After emerging from the room, I was given a raspberry antioxidant drink and told to take my time to enjoy it. I spent around 20 minutes longer: redoing my makeup and skin with Lush products, soaking in the atmosphere, and reading my book on the sofa. 

I then headed to the railway station feeling utterly relaxed - which didn't change despite having to fight for a seat on a packed train.

The effects of the treatment were also clearly visible with my skin looking more toned and defined for a couple of days after it was all over. It also didn’t irritate my skin at all, despite having rosacea and other sensitivities, and made it glow!

Overall, I went into the Lush Spa with high hopes and I feel they were met.

If only they would open a similar spa in their Coney Street store…  (a girl can dream!).