Hey Guys! So this is an old post that I've decided to publish because it was due to be published before my phone was stolen with all the pics I needed for this post...  And many of you had enquired what the results of using Nimue were...

If you missed the part about where I won a Nimue hamper from Rubybox for me and a friend...
read up here--->My Rubybox Reveal

I have been using the entire pack for a month, and happy to report that I didn't run out of the products until the 5th and 6th week. As a muslimah, I obviously wash my face often due to wudhu thus necessitating reapplying the products a few times a day, so for it to last this long...impressive.

This is my verdict about the Nimue skincare based on real results. As you know, my skin was breaking out and dry...not very badly, but enough to get me to notice and start taking it alot more seriously than I already did.

In the first week, I was getting used to applying the toner with a gauze and night cream...I am particularly lazy at applying night creams religiously night after night but I did, and I missed at most 3 nights. The Gauze was also an issue for me, it rolls up when you applying the toner to your face. I thought it was the best thing ever, but I think a thicker gauze or few layers would be better or one which is more dense with fewer holes,  but then it wouldn't be a gauze.. Lol..

The conditioner tonic or toner, is a spray on application, which you spray onto the gauze and you can literally see the toner swiping through the gauze, which felt like a waste of good product. I would place the gauze on my palm to avoid wastage and then apply what was left on my hand.

I loved that none of the products have any scent, which is great for skin that is easily agitated by perfumes in skincare.

I found the day cream a little too thick for my liking, but it was hydrating. I am particularly fond of the SPF 40 in a tube. I would skip the day cream and just apply the sunscreen as it was so moisturising. It's also absolutely important to use the Spf40 once you start using the active lotion.

Does it work? Yes yes yes, 1000 times yes! Nimue skincare is amazing, even if you don't get all of the steps from cleanser to night cream.

I strongly recommend their cleansers, which leave your skin feeling fresh and awakened without the tight, too squeaky clean feeling (you know the kind that strips the skin of its natural oils). However if your personal option in cleanser works for you, stick with it.

Next, I recommend the night cream and chemical exfoliator as a must! these are what really give you results. You will see more hydrated skin in the morning, brighter, smoother (texture is dramatically improved), pigmentation or dark spots lighten up.

After 4 weeks of using the complete skincare, my skin was now ready for phase 2. I scheduled my complimentary active rejuvenation facial with my cousin Farhana, who also used  the Nimue Skincare at the Laser Beautique in The Zone at Rosebank (also coincindentally located in phase 2 of the Zone...lol). I thought as it was complimentary, it would probably be a very basic rushed facial, but now I truly believe that Nimue doesn't do anything halfway.

The facial was an hour long and amazing. It included all the bells and whistles of a luxury facial from cleansing, toning, exfoliating, a facial and head massage, use of an active rejuvenating lotion and my favourite the collagen mask which was placed after the active lotion and a layer of gauze. My therapist was excellent, her name is Shaista. Shaista explained how it doesn't matter how much water you drink, you facial skin is prone to dehydration and always receives less hydration, which only increases with age. So we require products to target hydration.

It's was then a few weeks after my facial and my skin is continued to improve, Alhumdulillah! I received my complimentary active lotion which is to be applied every alternate night. I also purchased the orange serum which I apply day and night after cleansing and toning. Even if you don't buy any of the other above items, save up and buy the serum ( I paid R750....worth every cent..I havn't seen my skin look or feel more hydrated, even after nights of little sleep), exfoliator, night cream and the active lotion, and if thats too much then just the active lotion and serum and be sure to exfoliate.

The serum works on a nano technology delivery system.


Pick your colour! A serum for each skincare concern...

Ask your nearest stockist for the starter kit to purchase, that's tailored to your skin type and conditions. if you have any questions...email me: waseema561@yahoo.com or leave your comments below. I absolutely love hearing from you!

A Review

September 2015, I had the opportunity of reviewing the Urban Bliss Day Spa on behalf of my dear friend and blogger Raeesa Sadik of Veiled beauty! Thankyou Raeesa! You are an absolute doll! It was an experience I will treasure!

Show her some love by going over to her blog here: Veiled Beauty..the blog

When I arrived at 85 Barry Hertzog avenue in Emmarentia at the Urban Bliss Day Spa, I was led onto the patio by Lerato Tlhame, Spa manager where the other guests were seated, sampling speciality tea. Lerato was on the ball and gave me a tour of the spa treatment rooms before we began treatments. 

The owner and founder of the Spa side of Urban Bliss, Ms. Ayesha Rajah, chatted to me with highly commendable courtesy, and immediately caught me up on everything that transpired, settling my traffic nerves.

The patio/ pool deck

I had opted for the Urban Bliss Day Spa signature Casablanca massage. As other guests were being attended to, the rest of us had the delightful honor of conversing with Ms. Ayesha Rajah.

She has over 20 years of experience in the skincare, beauty and wellness industry and is well known for her accomplishments.  She is the Managing Director of A&I importers and has introduced South Africa to world renowned and effective skincare like Priori, Skin Doctors and Phytomerto name a few. A highly distinguished reputation in the Spa industry, yet not jaded in the least by her success, she ensures along with her staff, that all her guests are comfortable and their cups filled with tea or glasses brimming with fresh fruit juices. 

Not to mention the array of delicious wholesome spread of gluten free muffins, sugarless chocolate balls and delicious quiches most of which sponsored by �Fuel Foods� located in Hyde Park�.so in love with their broccoli and cauliflower chipotle! Fuel foods has a modest approach to Banting, giving you results while being high on taste! Click on the link:

Fuel foods Hyde Park

A few of the things Ms. Ayesha touched on:

# The wellness trends and the spas ability to provide massages and facials while ensuring that they address wellness concerns. Such as the use of gellified sea water in their sea water massage, that delivers 104 trace elements to the body that is essential to living, which it cannot create on its own.  

It has no oily residue, so no need to shower after. A single bath sachet by Phytomer is equivalent to 10 visits to the ocean�how phenomenal is that!

Humorous and sweet Blogger Nicole from Joburg's Darling, trying out the gellified sea water

# Balance: holistically incorporating treatments in addition to your workouts, healthy eating, medication, and serums that aid particular concerns to achieve overall balance and wellbeing.

# Customisation and its trend. What�s in it for me? Treatments are customized to suit the individual and their concerns such as needing a facial and feeling exhausted so you can have a facial while detoxifying with a bubbling spinal wrap. The wrap warms up and bubbles, providing an additional reflexology treatment. # Sensory integration massage using specialized ambient mists in the room to appeal to sense of smell, uplifting a clients mood even before a treatment has begun.

# Body wraps effectively assist in losing cms after 3 sessions and upto a dress size after 6 to 8 sessions, when used in conjunction with a good diet and exercise. These warm up, bubble and promote lymphatic drainage and detoxification through sweating and include the use of a serum, which continues to work on your system 6-8 hours after the treatment.

Can�t get enough? More about the Spa:

Mission Statement:

�Urban BLISS goes beyond the traditional spa and salon approach to offer you a truly bespoke and integrated and holistic wellness experience in the heart of Johannesburg.�

Philosophy:

�To fuse the latest modern technologies with the ancient art of relaxation, through treatments that aim to create wellness by dedicated trained professionals.

Their service offering includes Spa therapies, Hair salon, Aesthetics, IPL hair removal, Pilates on their gorgeous patio deck and Yoga.� 

Mantra:

�Discover your Bliss with us!�

Aesthetics or Decor:

Treatment Rooms have been created with inspiration from the world's finest cities such as Tokyo, London, Paris and New York and appropriately named. Rooms have interleading doors between them so you can enjoy your treatments as a group or couple.

I have to say Urban Bliss Day spa is a blissful haven in the city!

The London treatment room

The Gorgeous waiting room

Treatments and offers:

Their aim is to �leave you feeling like you have been dipped in the ocean with their range of Wellness Massages, which assist with muscle spasms, relieves stress, increases relaxation and creates overall wellbeing.�

My treatment experience: Signature Cassablanca Massage

As expressed by the Spa:

�Our Signature Massage, the Casablanca incorporates various massage modalities to ease tension and knots without the next day soreness. It will have you lying in a candle lit room, listening to the sound of rain whilst experiencing the most blissful massage, leaving you feeling revived and rejuvenated.�

The above is clearly what I experienced and how I felt about the treatment, proving that the Spa has a reputation of meeting their objectives!

It left me wanting more, I even wanted to take the rain stick home�lol. My massage therapist was incredible and she kneaded my deep knots out of existence. I could feel swishing movements, like a wiper on a windshield, as she worked her magic and then incorporated other effective massage techniques. Then to finish off a treatment, which made me feel so much lighter, my therapist got up on my bed and pulled my hands up for a good stretch, such that my chest was off the bed, like a cool down after a great workout. Yes it felt a little weird, but I love that stretch! It aided in combatting any soreness afterward which usually follows physiotherapy or massages.

I left the spa feeling revitalised and with a gorgeous bag of Phytomer, Priori, Skin doctors, fuel food and other goodies. I cannot tell you how amazing these products are, you must experience them for yourself. 

I am in love with the Phytomer Souffle Marin cleansing foaming cream, it removes makeup like a dream and smells like the ocean, and 150ml will last you about 3 months as a little goes a long way. You can significantly up your skin moisture this Winter with Phytomer hydra original Hydration 24h night cream. The Priori invigorating Face and body scrub with advanced AHA, will leave your skin   noticeably smoother and brighter...be sure to follow it with Sunscreen after use. I am just going to dub Skin doctors as the miracle products, would love to try their eye circle and eye tuck cream I have heard so much about. These products are all high end and deliver on promises.

Be social with the spa, whether it's hosting a Bridal Shower, Birthday, Treating Someone special or Corporate team building, the event can be hosted by them. I know I am definitely headed back for a bubbling spinal wrap;)

Thankyou so Much Urban Bliss Day spa for a unique, mind altering and body invigorating experience!

Contact Details:

011 486 0512/ 3

Facebook:Urban Bliss Wellness

Twitter: UrbanBlissWell

A few days before my Birthday, my husband sent me an sms confirming a booking he had made with Life Day Spa Fourways at Design Quarter. He knows me all too well, so he booked and paid for it in advance knowing it was the only way to get me to go. 

I go on guilt trips from time to time, when I spend alot at a spa. I keep wondering how I could have used that money more wisely. I have been to numerous spas in Jhb, none of which I have been pleased with. One of my favourite spas Logique is located in Durban, Overport and  I was yet to find one that rivalled it until now!.

Truth is, I really needed some TLC and Life Day Spa at Fourways has me hooked! Let me tell you though, the only pitfall, is it's available to men too....luckily I didn't come across any...perhaps it was quieter then. You can keep your hijab on though, remove it for treatments.

Life Day Spa Fourways Foyer

In the pic above I am standing in the ladies change room entrance/ exit. To the left is the mens change room, in front of it is the rasul chamber and its shower and in front of that the mani station. Before the mani station is the reception area. To my left is an entrance to the treatment rooms. If you walk further down, at the end of the foyer is the spa pool and the flotation room. Use the stairs to get to the pedi station, coffee lounge and daybeds. 

Want more? Click on this link for the spa virtual tour...bare in mind you can do all of the treatments individually.

Life Day spa Virtual Tour

Ladies Change/ Shower room

In the mirror you can see large combination lockers, which are super easy to use and effective at keeping your precious items safe.

Hair Drying station

The reception and the spa itself is absolutely beautiful! When you arrive you feel like you have been transported to a place away from the concrete jungle, that is Johannesburg, where you can feel calm and at ease. What stood out most for me, is that the staff are friendly, welcoming and immediately take you on a tour through the spa to familiarise you with their rooms and the complimentary spa facilities, so you don't require any chaperoning or babysitting. 


Yes! I said Complimentary spa facilities! which are available to you with every treatment booked. I thought it was too good to be true or there must be a catch so I lost out...:( Complimentary spa facilities includes the following:
Use of the- 
Steam Room
Sauna
Swiss shower
Indoor heated pool (carry a costume)
Rasul Chamber- A middle Eastern Mud Ritual based on the Turkish bath, you are given a body scrub and clay body mask to apply and then enjoy a rain like shower.
Flotation therapy- one session equates to 4hours of undisturbed sleep, I didn't get to see this one as someone was already making use of it.

The Rasul Chamber

Okay get over it!, I know the pessimist in me lost out, but I'll catch it next time!;)

By the way, I met my spa attendant  Anneke Jansen, almost walking into the men's change room.lolll I have dubbed myself Queen of embarassing situations!... I was heading toward the Rasul Chamber and thought it was next door, too preoccupied with getting pics for you guys..hehe, I took the wrong turn.  Anyways Anneke, I could see wanted to burst into laughter but restrained herself like a professional...We got chatting quite a lot and I definitely have a new friend:) If you ever visit Life Day Spa, ask for Anneke, she is great at what she does;)

My treatment was a luxurious candle massage and a signature pedicure without the nail varnish ofcourse, but still soo worth it. My muscles felt more relaxed and my feet soft. I had neglected my feet to the point that I had cracked heels, which I had never done before, so having soft feet again was such a relief. 

The Pedi Room

For my 60 min massage treatment, massage candles are lit and melts to a warm massage oil. This is then massaged according to whether you want a deep, medium or soft massage. I chose deep all the way. 


The Signature pedicure is exactly that, their signature! Your feet are exfoliated with a scrub, your nails buffed, dry heels and toes gently filed, and my favourite.... the Caviar like treatment that intensely hydrates your feet while soaking in hot water. The signature salts expand and swell with the water to resemble caviar and get in between your toes too...quite the experience, fun to watch Anneke Jansen dispel the swelling...shhh, I'm not going to tell you everything..you have got to try it!

Enjoying my signature pedi

You also get complimentary tea or coffee and muffins, relax on their gorgeous day beds, and I got to take home an oil candle....you know who, I am going to use that on....Ok, stop those naughty minds and click on the link below to see their treatments on offer.

Life Day Spa Fourways

Day beds on the patio

Coffee lounge

Friendly staff

Coffee Lounge alternate view

Remember to book the complimentary facilities atleast the day before your treatment so you can pitch up an hour early and take advantage of them!

The spa offers Le Praire, Optiphi (created to suit South African skin) and Nimue treatments and sells quite a few popular products too. I bought a brilliant product which Anneke suggested and I am completely amazed with the results, so a post on that coming soon:)

Display

I really want to try the Le Praire facial or the Optiphi Skin rejuvenation peel with micro dermabrasion next and will definitely include before and after pics.

Love and Spa days.....
Waseema