I know what you mean about the upselling, and sometimes they completely lack any tact – the wrinkles thing being a case in point. I don’t have any more or fewer wrinkles than most people of around the same age but the last time I bought perfumed body spray (Clarins)the shop assistant put the hard sell on me to buy anti-wrinkle cream as well. It could have been very embarrassing as I was with my toy boy at the time. Fortunately he’s also my husband of almost fifteen years, so we could just laugh about it. But I wasn’t very amused.

This is what I wrote about it after the event:

I went to get my hair cut this morning, and coincidentally met a friend in the beauty salon. She had just had a facial and said how wonderfully relaxing it was, and she certainly looked great. So I thought I’d treat myself. I’ve never had one before and told the beauty assistant that this was the first time for me so I wasn’t sure what to expect.

First, she asked me did I want this funny name facial or that funny name facial. I said I didn’t know because I’d never had one before.

She said, “OK we’ll do the this funny name facial because it’s good for wrinkles.”

“Gee, thanks” I said.

So, off she starts blatting lotions and potions onto my face and pummelling it about. This is all taking place with me lying on a bed-thing in a tiny darkened room.

Next, she covers my eyes with cotton wool and blats some some sticky stuff onto my face. And then wraps my head in tin foil! I can hardly breathe. Then I hear her leaving the room. Meanwhile not a word about how long I am expected to lie there like an oven ready turkey.

It’s very uncomfortable so I start to try to loosen the tinfoil but it’s stuck to the gunk on my face. I start to feel like I’ve been buried alive. My imagination runs wild and I decide that I’d really rather not go through with this. After all I did it because I thought it would be relaxing – not because I expected to be beautiful.

So I call “hello”, several times.

Nothing.

Eventually I had to yell: “Can somebody please help me!” and two people came running. It was all a bit embarrassing.

Anyway, I don’t think I’ll be having another facial.

i have to admit i am not always a fan of mud slapping treatments and i think the british reserve can also hamper our enjoyment but a fabulous massage or facial can really hit the spot and a great atmosphere in the place is essential. i wish you better spa luck in the future!