I try: A Perfect Day treatment at Chuan Spa

I need absolutely no excuse to visit Chuan Spa at Auckland’s Langham Hotel, a veritable oasis in the inner city that never fails to make me smile. It also usually leaves me with a bright new outlook as well as some seriously great skin, and I always make sure that I arrive early to experience their Tr-bathing ritual, which makes things even that more gorgeous.
The reason for my visit one rainy Auckland afternoon was to experience their A Perfect Day promotion, which starts – or ends with - a Langham Signature Champagne Afternoon tea followed or preceded by a Natura Bisse Diamond Magnetic Body Ritual (a blissful 90 minutes long).
After tucking into some seriously beautiful wee cakes and savouries in The Winery I hopped in the lift to travel up to Chuan in time for the Tri-bathing Ritual. This is a complimentary ritual that simultaneously relaxes and stimulates the body. Begin with an aromatic steam, followed by a sauna to soothe tight muscles. As an interlude, splash on cooling ice and round off the ritual with a soak in the Jacuzzi or swimming pool, preparing you perfectly for your treatment.
Then it was robe on to meet with my therapist Minaxie, who ushered me into the beautiful spa suite where my treatment would be taking place. I’ve experienced a Natura Bisse Diamond Facial before, and have to say that everything that the Spanish skincare company create is seriously luxe. The treatment I’m about to receive is so far into the fabulosity zone that Beyonce has sung about it, and it’s rumoured to be her pre-red carpet experience of choice as it leaves the body delicately shimmering with diamond dust.
Minaxie begins by placing gemstones on my body before it is exfoliated top to toe with a mixture that includes ground diamonds. This takes a while and is incredibly soothing, before the coarser particles are removed using a magnet. This is pretty amazing to watch, so take a peek if you can! Next up she administered a seriously amazing massage to both relax and stretch the muscle tissue all over my body, using Natura Bisse’s seriously luxurious Diamond Body Cream (a pot can be yours to take home for $620.00). If you are looking for the ultimate anti-ageing body cream to get your skin in amazing condition, then treat yourself to this stellar pot of goodness that combines firming results with an intensive moisturising action. This luxurious body cream restructures and redensifies the skin, enhances firmness and elasticity, while protecting against dryness and loss of moisture. It is also really easy to use – apply daily all over the body, focusing on dry areas (legs, elbows and knees) or on skin lacking elasticity and firmness. This product has the most divine fragrance too, and the most subtle of shimmers.
By treatment’s end I am a jelly-like mess, feeling absolutely outstanding and – as always – pretty damn reluctant to leave this heavenly spot. But leave I must, and after a juice and a pot of the signature tea for that day (based on the elements) I’m off back into the traffic, drizzle and greyness of the early evening. But return I will, don’t you worry about that!

* A Perfect Day costs $390.00 per person and includes a Natura Bisse Diamond Body treatment (90 minutes) and Langham Signature Champagne Afternoon tea - to be enjoyed on the same day - pre or post treatment. It’s available Monday - Wednesday only until 31 July, 2011 and complimentary valet parking is available to all Spa Guests with a minimum of a 1 hour treatment subject to availability. And do ensure you bring your swimming togs if you wish to use the tri-bathing facilities.