Oskia Signature Glow facial with Abigail James

I don't generally like people I don't know well touching my face. The only facial I've had that I've gone back for again is a Suqqu Gankin Massage (preferably given by Noriko, who was my absolute favourite Suqqu lady and sadly left the counter a few years ago).

I do like Oskia as a brand though, and when I was invited to experience their Signature Glow facial this post by Beauty Mouth had me replying to that with an enthusiastic yes please. The Oskia Signature Glow Facial (and particularly Abigail James, who administers it) is really all that plus a bag of (organic, vegetable) chips.

Oskia balances effective actives with natural botanical and nutritional ingredients in its formulations. I like that it doesn't go mad with essential oils and the products have a very gentle, clean natural fragrance; I find that overly fragranced products, even from essential oils, can be just as irritating on the skin as artificially fragranced skincare.

The Oskia Spa Rooms are in the Good Vibes Exercise/Yoga Centre in Covent Garden. The rooms are immaculately clean, nicely decorated in a quiet and peaceful style, and smell lovely. Abigail James is amazing. She has the poise and posture of a dancer and a calm and soothing speaking voice.

The facial uses Oskia products, and began with a thorough cleanse, with hot damp flannels (waves at Mrs Hirons), followed by steam (good for the sinuses too), exfoliation, massage (Abigail's hands are magic), extractions if you want and need them, mask and then finally moisturiser and a back and arm massage.

I could feel the tension draining out of my face, neck and jaw, and my skin was smooth, even and glowing after the treatment. I have quite good skin anyway - I use good products, I follow a routine every morning and evening without fail (if I have the flu I still clean my face and apply a serum/oil in the evening), and I'm quite lucky genetically; both my parents look a good deal younger than they actually are.  My skin looked great after the facial no doubt, but for me the de-stressing effect was the biggest positive. I had to go back to the office after the facial, and I could deal with the most vexing emails in my inbox without grinding my teeth.

If you like facials anyway - this is brilliant. If you are stressed out and in need of some serious nurturing and de-stressing - this is brilliant. I'd particularly recommend Abigail James to anyone suffering from facial tension; a couple of weeks later and my jaw still doesn't feel tight. I'm going to book myself in for a deep tissue massage to properly sort out the tension knots in my back.

I was given some of the products used in the facial to take home and try; I'll write a full review in a month or so, but I'd already say that the Renaissance Mask and the Rose De Mai Massage Candle are seriously, seriously good.

The Oskia Spa treatment menu is here www.oskiaskincare.com/SPA/TREATMENT-MENU.

Being Content has a good offer on with Oskia at the moment : www.beingcontent.com/filter/brand/oskia-.html/1, giving away a Renaissance Mask with any Oskia purchase over £50 until the end of July. I'd recommend one of the moisturisers (both work for day and night; if you have dry skin get the Bedtime Beauty Boost, for normal to combination skin go for the Nutri-Active Day) to make the £50, or a combination of the Perfect Cleanser (I've reviewed this here: Oskia Perfect Cleanser) and the Rose De Mai Massage Candle (which works for a body oil or for facial massage; it's what was used in the facial).

Disclosure: I was a guest of Oskia for this treatment.