The X Factor 2011 contestants have either had drastic makeovers or been left well alone. We take a look at what the experts chose for them and give our verdict.

Amelia’s pink hair

Along with upcoming model Charlotte Free in this year’s London Fashion Week, Amelia is the first of many to start embracing the ‘love it or hate it’ trend of pink hair. Few can pull it off and Amelia was certainly a talking point, but we think changing your hair colour to something different once in a while isn’t a bad idea. We saw two-tone and dip-dying come and go, so is full head dramatic colour the next big thing? Find the best places in London to colour hair.

False lashes

We couldn’t help but notice the start of another false lash face-off with this year’s contestants. Last year Katie Waissel both wowed and churned our stomachs with her bright white fluttery lashes, and this year is no exception to the falsie wars. Amelia kicked it off with her lower lash extensions, Misha showed off some twinkly ones and Kitty Brucknell’s huge butterfly lashes at Bootcamp almost stole the show. See all of our eyelash extension deals.

Frankie needs a haircut

Did Casanova have good hair? This one certainly doesn’t. Frankie’s barnet has been the talk of Twitter and prompted us to debate how we prefer our man’s mop. His ‘do looks out of control - it needs a good wash, tidy trim and a deep condition to keep it in check! Let’s hope he’ll take some advice from us. Search the top hair salons in the UK and their deals.

Spray tans

Which contestant caused you to re-tune your TV contrast? We know when X-Factor says ‘makeover’ they really mean spray tans, falsies and a cropped bob. Johnny appeared to have had quite a few spray tan moments and even Louis’ wildcard Sammi looked glowing. Check out all of our spray tan deals in the UK.

What did you think of the contestant's new looks? Let us know over on our Facebook page and Twitter.

Sensitive skin is a sensitive subject. When it comes to make-up removal, plenty of women endure products that dry out their skin and irritate blemishes as well as needing to scrub away to remove stubborn make-up. Now Klorane have stepped in with their soothing make-up remover, which harnesses the power of Cornflower water.

The unique ingredient has been known traditionally to decongest puffy eyes and Klorane are particularly pleased with its soothing and cleansing properties, especially for those with sensitive, intolerant or allergic skin.

Klorane’s concept

Their concept is simple - they use one plant to treat one specific condition. Their haircare range uses many different plants to address common hair dramas, and the skincare range takes exactly the same concept.

They’ve also created Phytofilière, a unique plant production system to guarantee a constant quality of their selected plants; and the Klorane Institute, a foundation to educate on plants, how to respect them and to preserve endangered plant species.

The products

The skincare range is newly launched exclusively at John Lewis stores nationwide and online, and consists of a lotion and wipes.

• Make-Up Remover Lotion is gentle enough to use on the delicate eye area, which is often the first place to feel irritated by heavy and harsh chemicals. Suitable for use by contact-lens wearers too, the paraben-free solution has a mild pH which is identical to that of tears. It’s not advisable to cry your make-up off though...

• Make-up Removal Wipes are the easiest way to remove stubborn make-up after a night partying and are particularly useful on long haul holidays. The wipes thoroughly remove make-up in a single stroke and have been ophthalmologically and dermatologically tested. Their handy resealable packet helps prevent them from drying out too, so you can be sure it’s highly hygienic.

You can purchase the skincare range over at www.johnlewis.com, along with their haircare products. Let us know if you enjoy Klorane's products over on Twitter

Summer holidays bring a whole lot of organising, packing, re-packing and preparation with them. It's the stressful run up to some of the most relaxing weeks of the year, so let us give you our top travel essentials and be a calm chameleon in the pre-holiday weeks.

Spray Tanning - Give yourself a headstart on your beach holiday with a cheeky spray tan or tanning moisturiser. Holidaymakers won’t be shielding themselves from your pale reflections whilst you’re sunning yourself on the sand and you’ll feel confident in your bikini from day one! See the best places to book a spray tan and check out our spray tan deals.

Power Plate Sessions - Whether you want to lose an extra few inches to fit into your favourite bikini or simply sort out that cellulite quick-sharpish, try out Power Plate and its vibrating mastery. The easiest way to shed the pounds without having to spend hours on a treadmill, it’s claimed that 10 minutes on a Power Plate gives the same results as an hour of training - we know which one we’d choose! Find great power plate deals.

Anti- jetlag Supplements - You know the feeling: you’ve been travelling for hours, there are delays and now a storm outside has decided to scupper your evening flight plans. Leaving on a jet plane can sometimes be a huge hassle, so it’s great news for worriers that extracts of pine bark can drastically reduce symptoms of jetlag - fatigue, insomnia, nausea and irritability (often also encountered if we don’t get our afternoon cuppa at Wahanda HQ). Pycnogenol contains extracts of pine bark from the maritime pine that grows along the coast of southwest France and is readily available from health food stores and pharmacies to help combat jetlag. Have a look at www.pycnogenol.co.uk to learn more about nature’s super antioxidant

Mani/Pedi - Summer is my favourite month, but the worst thing when the sun starts to shine and sales of ice-creams go through the roof is suddenly seeing hundreds of manky feet in pretty flip-flops! A quick pedicure is the best remedy for sun-deprived tootsies, sorting out hard skin and cracked heels as well as giving those nails a beautiful lick of colour. Search for pedicure offers near you.

Relaxing Massage - If you’ve had a busy week before you’re due to jet off or are a little nervous about being in the air, a relaxing massage is often the best way of relieving tension and getting you ready to take on the world. Swedish Massage can help with the final detox before braving the beach and Aromatherapy Massage can use specifically blended oils to help you relax before a long flight. Find your favourite massage offer.

An effective and simple way to banish cellulite and say goodbye to unwanted extra inches, Hypoxi Therapy is a celebrity-favourite workout with big results. Fans reportedly include Anna Friel, Cheryl Cole, Kerry Katona and even Robbie Williams!

As the Hypoxi revolution takes even more hold over the UK, a new Hypoxi Therapy Centre has opened in Surbiton to help you lose those inches and burn unwanted fat. The new centre is home to both the Hypoxi trainer and the Vacunaut, targeting the cellulite around the hips, buttocks and thighs and stubborn fat around the stomach. Exercising on their HypoxiTrainer is one of the easiest ways to shift that unwanted bulge and you’ll be able to see results in just 6 weeks. Each session at the new centre is supervised by a qualified instructor and is available to book from early in the morning until late, six days a week.

The therapy can be used by everyone, whether you’re a fitness fanatic or fiend, and is so easy to do you’ll wonder why you’ve not tried it before. Essentially a large vacuum pod, you’ll sit inside the machine on a cycle with a special vacuum skirt around your waist to keep the pressure constant and pedal for the 30 mins. A quick, easy and effective way to lose that unwanted bulge.

If you’re looking to get in shape for that beach holiday this summer, are a busy bee looking to start a fitness regime that allows you maximum results in little time, or simply want to explore a new way of busting that stubborn cellulite - try out the new Hypoxi Therapy Centre in Surbiton and talk to their trainers for expert advice on the revolutionary Hypoxi therapy.

If you’re not in or near Surbiton, see a full list of places offering Hypoxi Therapy.

There was quite a scramble at Wahanda HQ when we were invited to enjoy a facial using Benefit’s brand new b.right! skincare range. Thanks to Leanne and the team at Boots Oxford Street, the Wahanda ladies really enjoyed their skincare consultation trying out the new range and were talking about their refreshed skin for hours.

The Treatment

The facial started by using the oil-free Remove It Makeup Remover to take off any existing makeup, which left our skin feeling fresh before the treatment had even started! Suitable for contact lens wearers, the formula is kind to eyes too so it won’t sting or irritate. Then our skin was gently exfoliated with the Refined Finish Facial Polish, which brightened our complexion and purified skin to minimise our pores (just what we like to hear!).

After exfoliation we tried the Triple Performing Facial Emulsion SPF 15, which hydrates, protects and comforts the skin thanks to its oil-free and lightweight formula. Our skin felt instantly soft and ready to battle the elements, as well as giving us the ideal glow - not greasy or flaky, just perfectly hydrated. A few drops of It’s Potent Eye Cream gave those puffy peepers some life and helped fade the dark circles, then a smudge of Total Moisture Facial Cream on our neck made sure we weren’t just looking after our face.

Once we’d pampered ourselves with makeup application and learnt all about the Benefit brand, the treatment finished with a spritz of the Ultra Radiance Face Re-Hydrating Mist, which set our makeup and gave our skin a brilliant final boost.

The Results

We felt like pampered princesses thanks to the lusciousness of the b.right! products. Each one smelt more delicious than the last and gave us such a brilliant glow, we couldn’t help but grab all we could and head for the nearest till. We were pleased to hear the entire range contains nothing but natural ingredients, which work together to give your skin ultimate hydration. We really didn’t want to ruin our now-beautiful skin by battling a polluted Oxford Street on the way back to the office, but the products proved tough and we still felt radiant and refreshed even when it was time to go home!

If there’s one thing that personal trainers always notice about me, it’s not the chocolate bar poking out of the top of my bag - it’s my terrible slouching. "Shoulders back Charley!" they’ll shout whilst I hunch over the power plate like The Old Hag in Snow White. I’ve always been a sloucher. I was that kid in school who sat on her legs during classes and I still sleep curled up in a ball, lying straight just makes me uncomfortable.

In a quest to discover how to combat my terrible habit I ended up researching the best ways to improve my posture and asked my colleague to shout at me whenever she sees me slouching...

Asking a question on Wahanda

I asked on Wahanda which type of massage would help loosen up my knotted shoulders and in turn improve my posture. 37 answers later I had plenty of advice from therapists on the best massage treatments. The top answer came from IntegratedHealer, a therapist in Maida Vale, who said Alexander Technique combined with pressure point work, aromatherapy and some gentle stretching would help. She said:

"Your alignment is important to keep the balance within the muscle structure. Stone therapy would also help with the exchange of temperatures but I would recommend this with the stretching."

Tips from personal trainer

My power plate trainer, Jane at Fitness For Every Body in London Bridge, explained a little trick to do every day to help me get better at standing up straight and making the most of my height. She says to stand in front of a doorway and reach out your arms either side, gently pushing through the doorway and then stepping back, repeating a couple of times. I’ve adjusted the height of my desk chair too, so that I’m not leaning forward to read the screen.

Bowen Therapy

Bowen is an alternative therapy which has been sweeping the nation recently, being a drug-free and non-invasive therapy introducted to the UK in the 1990’s. The Bowen Technique is perfect for back-pain sufferers, which I of course get frequently thanks to my slouching habit. Therapists make sequences of moves with their hands, across the back, legs and neck. This causes your nervous system to wonder what’s going on and sort of ‘reset’ its systems - brilliant!

Hopefully by sticking to those tips and trying out some posture-perfecting therapies I’ll be back to my tall ways again with my head in the clouds. Anything to avoid a hunchback...

When we were asked to try out a Hot Stone Rejuvenation Experience, we jumped at the chance to get out of the chilly April air and throw ourselves into the blissful warmth of hot stones thanks to Vortex Therapies in Acton.

The Therapist

Vortex Therapies is lead by Bogdan Vasile, who is a member of the Federation of Holistic Therapists (FHT) and swears by 100% natural Tui massage waxes from New Zealand. Vortex Therapies is all about creating exellent therapies and adding value to the lives of others through those creations. They discovered that the best treatments are created by three ancient and vital values:

1. Respect for life and a deep understanding of the human mind and body
2. Massage methods
3. Multi-sensory environments with purified air, herbal teas, healing sounds and natural waxes and oils

Those three values create Vortex Therapies’ relaxing and beneficial background, offering treatments created for both mind and body and for the individual.

Vortex Therapies is located inside a Fitness First gym, but Bogdan has converted his treatment room into a haven of relaxation. Clean and light, an air purifier makes the room fresh and airy to make clients feel relaxed and at home. Healing sounds play and art on the walls makes you feel like you’re far, far away from life and its stresses.

The Treatment

The treatment began with a gentle chime of the mini-cymbals and the start of healing sounds. We lay on our back and the therapist began by gently cleaning and massaging our feet. Long, gliding strokes along our legs made sure all the tension from the week at work was lifted, and stretching techniques helped our limbs let go of aches and pains.

Using 100% natural Tui massage waxes meant that the room was filled with gorgeous scents throughout the experience and the healing sounds ensured we drifted off into a gentle slumber in no time. After massaging with the waxes, the therapist started gliding the hot stones along our back and legs before asking us to turn over. Using stretching techniques mixed with massage methods again, hot stones were placed in our hands and we drifted back to sleep whilst the therapist continued with the experience.

The Result

The experience ended with another gentle chime of the cymbals and we were left to return back to earth in our own time. Once we’d got dressed our therapist returned with a cup of natural Pukka tea and discussed with us how the experience felt.

Perfect as a treat for tired and aching muscles, the experience left us feeling completely rejuvenated and ready to fight off any stress that came our way. We sauntered home in a world of our own, dreaming of the next hot stone experience. Ahhh.

If you think meditation is all about sitting cross-legged on the top of a mountain in linen, think again. You can enjoy meditation anywhere, even on the number 39 bus. We visited Julie Smith at Nature Meditations to learn how to focus and manage our stress.

The Therapist

Nature Meditations is lead by therapist Julie Smith, who has had plenty of experience meditating in the most exotic parts of the world, including a 10-day course at Dhamma Gir in Igatpuri, India. Her approach to meditation is quite unique as she focuses on helping busy people who need to relax and manage their stress better. We arrived quite frazzled from the tube journey, but Julie put us at ease instantly with her warm welcome. We learnt about her experiences with stress and then with meditation courses, which made us realise more that even the most tired of city workers can benefit from meditation.

The room was set out with a friendly group focus, including cushions and mats at the front and chairs behind, giving each person plenty of room to feel there was space but to also feel together as a group.

The Treatment

The session began by each person saying a little bit about themselves and their experiences with meditation. The groups are small so we didn’t feel nervous, and as each person had something interesting to say we all benefited greatly from the discussion. Then Julie went on to begin a short starter meditation, where she taught us to breathe in positive thoughts and breathe out all our negative feelings. We thought of a positive word or picture as we breathed in and imagined all our bad thoughts leaving our bodies in a cloud of thick, black smoke.

Then we learnt more about the different types of meditation, including Mindfulness and Chakra meditations, and how they can benefit your everyday life. Julie taught us some special breathing techniques to do at work when we need to take some time out and we continued with the second meditation. This time we focused on the small section underneath our nose and above our top lip, meditating within that very small area. Julie explained that we need to train our mind to be aware of distractions and thoughts, but to bring our focus back to that very small area in order to clear our mind. She explained that our minds are conditioned to complete thought processes (which made us feel a bit better about thinking of dinner during the session!), but that we would learn how to focus better.

The Result

We arrived a little bit stressed and apprehensive about what we were about to learn but left with a clear mind, a lighter bounce and a pretty positive outlook on life. Our minds are often pre-occupied with distractions and unnecessary thoughts, so we were very pleased to learn some anti-stress tips and everyday advice on how to meditate on-the-go. Julie’s approachable and gentle teaching helped us feel completely clear once the second meditation had finished, so much so we even felt light and tingling before a rush of clarity right at the end. We skipped off to the tube, looking forward to booking in for another session and practicing our new-found techniques.

As the winter nights draw in and we start to wrap ourselves in bundles of scarves, hats, gloves and duffle coats, the chance to sit in a cosy steam room away from the bustle of Camberwell and enjoy an invigorating Turkish Bath was an offer too good to miss - so off we went to Pasha Beauty at Pasha Hotel London.

The Spa

The spa is tucked inside the hotel, through red-carpeted hallways to make you feel like a celebrity. Tucking into a Turkish tea, we learnt all about the origins of Hammam and the special black soap used to make your skin so soft, then were shown the marble steam room we’d soon be relaxing in. The changing room included a table decked out with fresh orange juice and cold water, in case we needed some refreshments at any point during the treatment.

The Turkish décor made us feel like we weren’t in blustery South London at all and in fact, we almost forgot we had to catch the bus home!

The Treatment

After a quick change into our swimsuit we headed into the room and lay on the heated marble to adjust to the heat and open our pores. After a couple of minutes we opened our jar of black soap and began rubbing it all over our body, then waited for our therapist to arrive. The Hammam began by splashing water over our body to clean off the soap, then the therapist used a mitt to roughly exfoliate our skin. Starting with legs and all the way up to our face and neck, our entire body was scrubbed of dead skin lurking on the surface.

After the scrub finished more water was splashed over us, but with varying temperatures - which made us squeal! Then we giggled even more as we were covered in soft bubbles and given a shoulder massage to release some tension. To finish off the treatment we were covered in a thin layer of volcanic mud, which was left to soak in for a couple of minutes and then washed off with (yes, you guessed it) splashes of freezing cold water. This closed up our pores and we were left feeling utterly refreshed in the very warm steam room. Ahhh…

The Results

We weren’t so keen on the freezing water, but after sitting in the marble room for so long it kept us refreshed and certainly revived us before heading out into a windy and rainy London. Our skin felt smooth and silky and we were complimented on our new glow thanks to the effects of the soap and steam.

We’re all too happy to sacrifice an afternoon in the office for a relaxing few hours in the comfort of a spa. So when we were offered the chance to try out a Full Body Massage and Mini Manicure at The Spa at The CityPoint Club, it didn’t take us long to put on our coats.

The Spa

Walking into the huge building in Moorgate, we were greeted by a friendly receptionist who showed us to the lift to go one floor down. Then we met another friendly receptionist who checked our bookings and sat us down in the seating area with a cup of tea.

After a quick refreshment, we were given a tour of the spa which showed us just how big this place actually is! It looks large on the outside, but you almost don’t expect the spa to be as big too. We were shown the treatment rooms first, which felt cosy, warm and inviting; we couldn’t wait to return for our treatments. Then we were led to the 20m ozone swimming pool and jacuzzi down the hall from the rooms. The pool has ozone treated water, meaning it’s good for the environment and you don’t have to suffer under the irritating chlorine smell.

We also had a peek in the relaxation room with comfy beds and calming music to indulge in an afternoon nap, as well as sauna and steam rooms to sweat out those impurities and invigorate the senses. After another tour of the gym and changing rooms, we hurriedly slipped into our robes and complimentary slippers and sat in the waiting room with a fruit juice for our therapists to collect us.

The Treatment

Our therapist led us to a quiet treatment room and asked whether we had any allergies and what kind of pressure we preferred, before leaving us to slip out of our robes and under the blanket. Laying on our back the therapist started by gently massaging our feet with a warm damp towel, then brushing our legs and arms before asking us to turn over to brush our back. The massage started on our back, with long and gliding strokes whilst the warm Elemis oils created a flurry of scents around the room. We relaxed and drifted into a slumber before turning over to move the massage onto our front and relaxed again with a lavender eye mask.

The therapist chimed some tiny cymbals to signal the end of the massage and left us to recover with a glass of chilled water before we moved onto the nail station for our Manicure. The therapist filed and shaped our nails before tackling our cuticles, then began preparing our nails for the polish. We picked a vibrant red from the huge selection of OPI polishes, and felt very sophisticated indeed once all our nails had been painted.

The Results

We felt so relaxed that the tube journey home was heavenly, melting into a seat and dreaming of the massage all over again. Our muscles were soothed and our nails looked brilliant, so we felt like a million dollars and eager to book in again for some more pampering.

Perfect as a winter retreat for a spa day, The Spa at The CityPoint Club is a great place to relax and rejuvenate when things have been getting a little too much. We came back down to earth after our treatments with a spot of lunch in the restaurant, curled up on the sofa in front of the news - it almost felt like home.

After spending most of the summer hiding our pale legs under opaque tights and skinny jeans, we were adamant our pins would get a look in before the winter weather set in – so we decided to try out a sultry spray tan before the summer sun said its goodbyes.

The Venue

On a bustling street very close to Oxford Circus, Scin Central London is handily located to nip in for a treatment during your lunch break or after work. The salon itself feels like a haven, but without the annoying whale music. The big glass window allowed us to view the busy street and people hurrying by whilst we relaxed in the calm. We were led downstairs to fill out our forms with a glass of cool water, and relaxed on a big green sofa outside the treatment rooms.

The Treatment

We decided to go for gold and get the pre-exfoliation treatment too so our skin was fully prepped for the spray tan. Our therapist led us to a treatment room with a shower, then left us to get undressed and relax under a towel. On went the salts to scrub away our dead cells, starting with the legs and moving up to the back and arms, then stomach and chest. The salts were then gently rubbed away with warm mitts to leave our skin feeling completely refreshed.

After a quick shower we were handed some rather attractive paper pants and a shower cap to protect our hair. Then we put on our robe and moved onto the next treatment room for the tan to begin.

It was our first spray tan so the therapist explained all the after-care instructions, rubbed our palms and soles with a cream so the tan wouldn’t stick in awkward places, and checked we’d put our shower cap on properly (she didn’t want us to leave with a line on our forehead!). Stood in the booth, we didn’t mind the paper pants so much after a while and were excited to see what our tan looked like.

The Result

After the tan had been applied, we were left to let it dry for about 20 minutes before dressing and heading back upstairs. We were a bit worried after being so pale for while we’d look a bit orange, but our friends commented on our ‘healthy glow’, which made us very happy indeed. The next day we showed off our bronzed pins in a short skirt, feeling very confident for the rest of the summer.

Instead of trying out the usual Massage or Facial, we decided to test something different in the name of health & wellness - Kriotherapy. Becoming human ice-cubes doesn’t sound too appealing but in the end we had the most fun we’ve had in ages, and left with the softest skin we’ve ever had.

The Venue

The fountain outside made us immediately unwind (and so did the complimentary fruit juice), and the smell of Elemis products got us in the mood for some pampering right away. Walking through the corridors, Champneys Tring is full of things to do and offers a homely feel even though you’re wearing your robes in front of complete strangers. You’re welcomed the very second you step through the door and everyone offers a polite ‘Hello’, even the guests!

The Treatment

Kriotherapy isn’t a treatment for the faint-hearted or the fashion-conscious. We didn’t walk around in our designer bikini, rather some very attractive shorts, a crop top and some clogs (don’t say we didn’t warn you…), but it’s supposed to be a brilliant therapy for those with sports injuries or who suffer from depression, fatigue, psoriasis and insomnia.

The qualified cryotherapist, Renata, gave us a brief examination, taking our pulse and blood pressure to make sure we were fit enough to handle the freezing chambers. If you have high or low blood pressure, diabetes, epilepsy, heart conditions, or are claustrophobic - it’s best you steer clear from the thrilling treatment. Renata then handed us our outfit - if you’re a fashionista who would never be seen dead in a white woolly crop-top, Kriotherapy might not be your favourite treatment! We wore two pairs of white shorts, two crop-tops, two sets of white hockey socks, and a headband to protect our ears from frostbite (eek). Then Renata told us to make fists with our hands whilst she covered them with gloves and tugged on some bandages over our elbows and knees.

We started to get a little nervous once we were dressed up, but Renata ensured us it was all for our safety. We also stood in front of a fan for a few seconds to dry any perspiration or water lingering on our skin, to ensure any water didn’t freeze and burn our skin inside the chambers.

Once we’d fixed a mask over our nose and mouth and all our extremities were covered up we were led into the first chamber, which is at a chilly -60c. After 30 seconds of acclimatising we jumped straight into the second chamber, which sits at a very frosty -135c. Squealing and laughing, we spent the next 3 minutes marching in circles, jumping up and down, laughing, giggling, anything we could do to keep warm in the freezing temperatures. Renata stood in the warmth holding a timer so we knew how long we had left, and held her thumbs up as we counted down the last 10 seconds between giggles.

After tumbling out of the chamber, we cycled on an exercise bike for a couple of minutes, then spent 15 minutes on a Powerplate to get the circulation going and our rosy body back to its usual colour. Whoever said feeling great didn’t require a bit of hard work?

The Result

Whilst we felt a little embarrassed in our outfit, the treatment itself made our skin feel the softest it’s ever felt and those big gulps of freezing air did wonders for our breathing. Any aches and pains we had previously had gone and we were left excited for a good night’s sleep later. We had been nervous about the freezing chambers, but Renata put our mind at ease and we ended up giggling throughout the whole thing.

We at Wahanda love all things relaxing, especially those that give us a chance to escape from the bustle of busy Central London. So we bundled ourselves off to the beautiful countryside in Surrey to visit Grayshott Spa near Hindhead, and left the hectic Waterloo station behind.

Grayshott is the Vogue of spas - it’s luxurious, known for its famous customers, and everyone who is anyone wants to be there. Our cab driver told us he’d picked up many an indulged customer and was more than happy to drop a few celeb names that had visited.

The Hotel

The surrounding countryside immediately makes you feel like you’re about to take a relaxing holiday and as we drove up to the building we knew we were in for a treat. Our heavy luggage was taken off our tired shoulders and we were given a tour of the building so that we knew where everything was. Once we checked into our rooms it was time for dinner in the Dining Room, which made us feel like very important people indeed.

The food is healthy and nutritious as Grayshott take their food every bit as seriously as the relaxation and exercise. We enjoyed a delicious starter of feta and cherry tomatoes, a main of asparagus and pea risotto, and a tasty fruit salad for dessert. The portions aren’t overly generous, but Grayshott keep a portion control called the Grayshott Healthy Eating Plate, which identifies the amounts of food recommended to maintain a healthy diet - rest assured they’re all about looking after you.

Once dinner had filled us up, we retired to our room and spent the next half an hour gawping at the size of the bath, the bed and our two, yes two, sinks. Feeling like Christmas had come early we sank into the soft bed and fell immediately asleep, dreaming of our relaxing day to come in the spa.

The Spa

After a beautiful nights sleep, we were more than happy to spend a relaxing day in the spa. Slipping into our robe and slippers, we made our way down to breakfast and tucked into some toast and tea before heading off to find the spa facilities. Once we’d checked our treatment time, we were shown where to go for the facilities and headed straight for the sauna. As we sat thinking about all the work we were leaving behind we completely relaxed and let the sauna work its magic on our pores, giving our skin a well-needed detox from the nasty impurities that we’d picked up in the city. Then we tried out the steam room, which helped our noses completely open and let the steam right in to delve deep and clear our lungs.

After a few minutes steam we headed off to the showers and enjoyed washing off all the sweat with herbal-smelling Aromatherapy Associates gel and shampoo, then walked through the peaceful hallways to the swimming pools. A quick dip later we were feeling very refreshed and already prepared to take on anything the world threw at us, but decided to spend the next half hour curled up in the relaxation room under a fluffy duvet. We didn’t want to leave the beds as they were so comfortable and the perfect place to unwind after a treatment with a cold glass of water. The facilities were close together and weren’t too crowded, which meant we were left to relax without having to wait for a sauna to become available or a pool to empty, exactly the thing you need when relaxation is at the top of your agenda.

The Treatment

After a relaxing morning pottering about the facilities without a care in the world, we were very ready to be indulged with our De-Stress Massage. Our therapist made us feel instantly relaxed, leading us to a dimly lit and aroma-filled treatment room where we made ourselves comfortable on the bed. Starting with our back, the therapist began to soothe all our aches and pains by massaging with special oils right from the base of our back all the way up to our neck. We could feel our muscles gently easing out of their knots and began drifting off to sleep in the most comfortable room we think we’ve ever been in.

After massaging our back, the therapist moved our arms to massage our shoulders thoroughly and really dig deep into our tired muscles. Then we turned over to get massaged on the tops of our shoulders and neck, which is where we found most of the tension was gathered - we can thank sitting in front of the computers for that!

After our treatment we were left to come back down to earth with a glass of water and some relaxing music, whilst our therapist discussed with us the best ways to combat our stress. We have to admit we felt completely rejuvenated, and the oils made our skin feel silky smooth.

The Results

After such a hectic week at work, we really enjoyed spending a little time away from the bustle of the city to relax and unwind in the beautiful countryside. Any stress we felt when we arrived was instantly washed away and we were left to rejuvenate at our own pace, leaving all our troubles at the door.

Everything was top notch, from the lovely staff and fantastic food to the relaxing facilities and even more relaxing treatments – meaning Grayshott Spa sent us soaring into bliss and disappointed to leave it all behind.

Perfect for a spa break or even a spa day, Grayshott Spa is ideal as the place to go for an uninterrupted break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. A sanctuary in the pretty Surrey countryside, you’ll not want to leave after being the most relaxed you’ve ever been - we’re already booking our next visit!

Us Brits love a good cuppa. One in the morning to get ready for the day, one at lunchtime in a little café, one in the afternoon with a chocolate bar to tide over the rest of the day, and one in the evening to relax before a good night’s sleep. Some might think that’s a little excessive with all the caffeine content but new research is finding that a cup of tea has marvellous health benefits.

It’s been discovered that green and black teas have a significant benefit on your heart, reducing coronary artery disease and blocked arteries and halving your chance of having a heart attack! With studies from Japan, France, Holland and the US, you can even get rid of that pesky Winter cold with a nice cup of whole leaf tea.

The key to these healthy cuppas are our best friends the Antioxidants, of which whole leaf teas contain 95% more than tea bags. Public health nutritionist Dr Carrie Ruxton of Kings College London tells us that "Drinking tea is actually better for you than drinking water. Water is essentially replacing fluid. Tea replaces fluids and contains antioxidants so it’s got two things going for it" Ruxton claims it’s an urban myth that tea is dehydrating, rather it does the opposite; that actually caffeine still gives us a net gain of fluid no matter how strong our tea is. She also explains that a good cup of tea contains fluoride, which is good for the teeth and gives us strong bones.

You can drink tea to battle against the effects of osteoporosis, gum disease, cancer and colds. Also helping beat superbugs and help your bones along their healthy way, green tea seems to be the most beneficial of all. So, put down the Evian and grab yourself a lovely hot cuppa. It is the weather for it after all…

Sources: sofeminine, medical news today, science daily

We’ve had that time of year where you’ve rested and indulged in some magnificent presents and relaxation. Let’s not forget the food - the Christmas dinner, the snacks after the Christmas dinner, Boxing Day lunch, and then the snacks after Boxing Day lunch, plus all the chocolate and sweet goodies leftover that will last well into 2010! After all that, many people decide it’s time to tighten up the tracksuit strings and get detoxing in order to lose the extra pounds and get back in shape. Whether you’re a fitness fanatic or simply thinking of trying out a post-holiday detox without committing yourself to a serious regimen, we have some fabulous fitness deals to help you along the way.

For the Fitness Gods & Goddesses

We all like to cut loose during the holiday season but fitness fanatics know how to work out, and they do it well. Detoxing is as easy as 123 when you find the perfect deals to suit you and your body, which is why a fitness programme is ideal to help you lose those extra pounds luxuriously. Champneys’ new 7 night Fit Camps at £950 are a great way to get your body back into business with daily regimes packed with fitness, nutritional meals and some well earned spa treatments to pamper yourself after all that hard work! Available at Champneys Forest Mere, Champneys Henlow and Champneys Springs, this dynamic fitness experience will make you feel like a new person.

If you’re a fan of making fitness a time to cut loose from the real world and enjoy endorphins in the fresh country air, health farms and retreats are the perfect way to lose unsightly bulges. Whilst kicking those extra pounds into oblivion, you get to enjoy staying in the lap of luxury and being given a nutritional diet to help with your fitness regimen. All you need to do is remember to pack your trainers! The 5 day Luxury Transformation Retreat (£1350) at Brandshatch Place promises you will lose up to 20lbs in just 5 days and includes 35 hours of exercise time in total with rest periods and nutritionally balanced meals to get you through the day.

For the Health Nuts

For those who like taking their detox seriously with some specially made treatments to aid bringing in the New Year the healthy way, body firming wraps and exfoliations are the perfect way to get your body in ship shape without the need to go under the knife or spend hours on a treadmill. With glowing skin (and not because of sweat) and a contoured body thanks to losing excess fluid, this enzyme body firming treatment at DestinationSkin (£25) is perfect for getting to grips with your detox – plus it’s with a 50% off discount! If you’re starting your health kick with a friend, this 2 for 1 Thalgo Body Wrap at Spa LONDON Swiss Cottage (£55) is an algae wrap rich in minerals, vitamins and micronutrients and is perfect for enjoying a bit of detox pampering together as well as being able to treat a friend for free.

For the Pamper Prince and Princesses

If you’re going to detox, you might as well do it with a bit of indulgence right? If that sounds like you then a luxurious spa break is just your cup of tea, packed with fantastic treatments that just happen to be great for your body. Sometimes all you need is a night away from your hectic lifestyle to get a good night’s sleep in a luxurious hotel and relax in the spa to get your mind back on track. By adding on some detox treatments, it makes the whole break completely worthwhile. This 2 for 1 One Night Purity Spa Break at the fantastic Formby Hall Spa in Southport treats you and a friend with a stay in a great hotel of peace and tranquillity and pampers you with a luxurious treatment each. Who said detoxing was hard? Wahanda loves giving people the chance to enjoy a great pamper day for less, which makes this Spa Day with Free One Night Spa Break at London Beach Country Hotel & Spa perfect for treating yourself to a bit of R&R. When you book a Spa Day at London Beach, you’ll receive free accommodation in the hotel for one night with a full English breakfast. Now that’s definitely something to detox for.

It’s always handy to get a freebie too, and we can offer you plenty of those. Our detox deals are full of free gym passes and fitness offers, including this Free 30 min Personal Training session at one of the 48 Harpers Fitness locations nationwide to help you get the fitness bug. If you’re looking for something a bit more involved, we at Wahanda love this Free 3 Day Fitness Pass at Nuffield Health Fitness & Wellbeing Centres (with a whopping 50 locations nationwide), which will also get you entered to win a year’s free gym membership worth up to £1100.

Like every other fashionista, I love Christian Louboutin and what his shoes do to our street cred if we’re lucky enough to own a pair. Those signature red soles did more for Carrie Bradshaw than Mr Big ever did! Buying a brand new pair of one of the most popular designer shoe brands in the world will set you back over £300 for a start, but you can get something just as sexy without needing to take on a second mortgage.

The Louboutin Manicure is inspired by those stylish soles, creating the same effect for your fingernails and instantly giving you designer paws. Created by Charles Worthington manicurist Zoe Pocock, the underside of the nail is painted with a red polish and the top a deep black or grey in homage to Louboutin’s classic style. The shoes may hurt your bank account and your tootsies too, but this manicure is the perfect way to explore new ways to paint your nails whilst looking stylish with the hottest new trends. The soles of Louboutin shoes never fail to captivate eyes after that first quick flash of racy red, and this manicure is sure to create the same effect.

To get the perfect Louboutin Manicure try out OPI’s colour range, perfect for this designer treat. For the underside, ‘The Thrill of Brazil’ provides that cheeky red to turn heads and for the top coating either 'Black Onyx' for the classic Louboutin look or 'My Private Jet' for a sleeker grey style. To give the extra wow factor at parties, use OPI's 'DS Reflection' or Barry M's 'Red Glitter' to give a shimmery look to the underside of your nails.