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 The Zen Spa at the Beach Rotana Abu Dhabi has come up with a spa menu just for teenage girls. Not being able to convince anyone that we’re young enough for the treatments, Abu Dhabi Week sent along two youthful and willing volunteers...
Rhiannon Evans and Roisin McCormick are Year 11 students at the British School Al Khubariat Abu Dhabi. Both keen on a bit of girly pampering, they went along for an afternoon of testing out the treatments from the Teen Menu.
The girls’ experience:
When we arrived we were greeted by staff very politely and they addressed us both as ‘Miss Evans’ and ‘Miss McCormick’, which made us both giggle – we’re not used to being spoken to so formally!
After popping our bags into lockers, we were led by more friendly staff to a candle-lit treatment room and were offered Evian water or teas. We think it would have been nice to have been offered some fruit juices or cordial as not all teenagers really like drinking tea.We then met the spa manager Chantelle, who told us the treatments we were going to be receiving, and if we wanted to change anything. After that we were all set for some pampering!
Rhiannon had the Vanilla and Coffee Body Blitz: a body scrub, ‘rain shower’ and moisturise and a Pre and Post Exam Stress Buster: a back neck and shoulder massage.
The body scrub was very soothing and relaxing and the beautician used a variety of different exfoliants on my body. The back massage was very nice, but a little firm on my back, which caused a little discomfort. I really enjoyed the body scrub because it was very peaceful and left me feeling very relaxed.
My treatments involved a lot of lavender scented therapy. The body scrub was an exfoliant so was rough on the skin, but made my legs and arms feel really soft and I smelt lovely afterwards! The back treatment used a lot of scented oils too, so I smelt really good by the end of the session!
Roisin had the Balancing Tea Tree Facial: a 30min mini-facial as well as a Coconut Head and Scalp Massage.
Both treatments were extremely relaxing and gentle. My favourite was the mini-facial, because of all the products used – I could feel it taking effect on my skin. The treatment involved several facial scrubs and moisturising lotions. They used gloves to remove each scrub from your face which was a nice contrast between smooth and rough. The products were very soothing and very relaxing on my skin and smelt very natural and fresh.
The scalp massage was really good - but I would have liked it to have been a little firmer.
So what did they think?
We would definitely recommend the spa to friends – it’s a fun and relaxing way to spend a weekend or an evening after school. We would also recommend going with a friend, because it was quite daunting at first! Having a friend makes the whole experience more enjoyable and it’s nice to have someone to share it with.
We think more spas should do teen menus because it allows teenagers to learn more about what products are right for different skin types and how to relax before or after exams. We would need to save up though as the treatment prices are a little expensive, but we think it would be worth splashing out on as a treat, or for a special occasion. We definitely want to go again!
Mum’s thoughts?
“They both had a great time – both the girls were a little nervous at first and ended up in giggles! At the end of the session the girls both got a pair of Zen slippers, two keyrings, a thank-you letter, a price list and a skincare tip sheet especially for teenagers.
“I think it is still a little pricey for the average (expat!) teenager to pop along to, as most girls of a similar age would rather spend the money on clothes or make-up. But it’s a lovely idea for a birthday treat with a best buddy – and I think it’s a great way to treat the girls to a bit of pampering pre- and post-exam.
“It’s a shame the menu is just for 12-17 year olds – both Roisin’s mum and I were very envious!”
What? Spa menu for teenagers
Where? Zen Spa, Beach Rotana
Cost: The menu has six treatments on offer for 12-17 year olds. All but one last 30 minutes; the Tea Tree Facial is an hour – 30 minutes for a consultation and a question-and-answer session, 30 minutes for the treatment. The Tea Tree Facial costs AED 250; all other treatments cost AED 150.
Why? Perfect for a teen treat
Why not? Too pricey for frequent visits
Rated: 9 out of 10
Contact: 02 697 9333
[Writers] Rhiannon Evans and Roisin McCormick
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