The Black Diamond Facial is one of the newest treatments on offer at The Langham Hotel’s Chuan Spa. As a woman never known to say no to diamonds, I was in the door before you could say ‘girl’s best friend’ (though rather later than I’d hoped, after struggling to navigate the hotel’s labyrinthine corridors), where I obediently submitted to the ministrations of my therapist, Gosea.
I was a little surprised — OK, horrified — to find that the crushed gemstones would be applied to my face suspended in a thick black sludge. However, not only was the hour-long treatment wonderfully relaxing — Gosea swaddled my feet in hot towels and gave me a sleep-inducing face and neck massage while the black stuff worked its magic — but the tiny flecks of diamond left my skin with a satisfying twinkly glow, and deeply nourished thanks to the rehydrating, plumping properties of the zinc and iron in the mask. The results lasted a good week — but sadly, in this case, diamonds aren’t forever.
Chuan Spa Black Diamond Facial, £95
The Langham Hotel, 1C Portland Place, W1
(020 7973 7550; chuanspa.com)
