Beauty Swellness: Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie Paris
One of my favourite spas in Toronto (in fact, it’s probably my most favourite) is Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie (which happens to me in one of my favourite hotels, the Shangri-La). The luxe decor, which has a Moroccan feel, is stunning (although I find I get lost in the hallways, is it just me?) and the quiet lounge where you can grab a spot on a cushion with a magazine as you enjoy some grapes and baklava with your tea is worth booking off at least an extra hour in your day for so you can kick back after your treatment.
Interestingly, the founder, Surinder Bains, says her mission is to go “back to basics.” But I see what she means: for her it’s more about quality, not quantity–so you won’t find a dozen variations of a massage or facial. For her it’s always been more about offering the individual a cultural experience in a spa environment (so you’ll find treatments that take inspiration from Morocco to Bordeaux), and ever since she fell in love with the hammam and gommage treatment (her favourite treatment at the spa), it’s been the mainstay in her spa business. “With the steam releasing toxins and taking you on a voyage with the scent of the eucalyptus–we all need that. And it’s a way to travel without getting yourself to the airport,” she laughs.
Bains swears by a hammam and gommage treatment once a month. To be honest, having tried the treatment once, it wasn’t for me…when you’re getting rinsed off, it’s as though someone’s bathing you…which I guess I just prefer to do myself (but I do enjoy the hammam and the actual gommage itself), but to each their own, right?
My most recent visit to Miraj Hammam Spa, I tried their new oxygen facial, during which the aesthetician chose to use a glycolic masque on my dehydrated skin, to help remove dead skin cells and allow the hydrating serum to really soak in. I left with glowing, plump, hydrated skin and, as always, felt totally Zen after some quiet time in the lounge.
Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie Paris, 188 University Ave., Toronto, 647-253-5770
Leave a Comment October 31, 2014