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One surefire way to chill

Sunburn in sunny Dubai is no rarity, but The Westin Dubai's Heavenly Spa has a soothing avocado treatment that can cool you right down

Dubai spas are all about heavenly massages - but that's not their only calling card. There's a plethora of body treatments on offer - from sculpting to detoxifying - that promise to renew and rejuvenate you. Which is why I found myself eyeing the Avocado Soother at The Westin Dubai's Heavenly Spa last week. "A cooling treatment to bring renewed energy to heat-filled skin", read the menu. Cool.
Fast-forward to the day, and my lovely therapist Nomphy is telling me all about how the treatment was designed to help combat the all-too-familiar effects of sunburn in sunny Dubai. Clearly, she noted, studying me, I wasn't being tortured by red, inflamed skin. Was the treatment worth checking out anyway? I was game to give it a shot - and wasn't disappointed.
Although temperatures are on their way down, being subject to dry and dehydrated skin is just about everyone's life story in the country. The treatment was as cooling and refreshing as it promised, and 50 minutes were over before I could say "chill out". What's more, I later spoke to others who testified to the treatment being one of their favourite cooling options in Dubai, even without sunburn! Now you know!

Therapy time
The treatment starts with a foot cleansing ritual, which puts you at ease almost immediately. This is soon followed by the application of an avocado mask, which Nomphy does using a small fan brush, while explaining how the mask works to infuse skin with moisture-locking ingredients and antioxidants. Though I wasn't suffering from sunburn, it wasn't difficult at all to imagine why this treatment would be perfect for someone who was. The fan brush ensures application is even and light - something your skin would certainly appreciate in that situation. A head massage marks the end of the hour.

What we loved...
The staff. It may be the first time I wasn't greeted by women at the reception, the first time my therapist wasn't from the Far East, and perhaps even the first time my therapist was so articulate! Nomphy was wonderfully warm, very media-savvy, and incredibly professional. Full score!

What we didn't...
It's not so much a negative as a 'note to self': the mask is super cold. Acclimatising my heightened sensitivity to the chilly mask only resulted in me cracking right up! Also, the music playing that day had an urgent, agitated quality to it; we'd have preferred more options or just something relaxing.

The treatment: Avocado Soother
Location: Heavenly Spa, The Westin Dubai, Al Habtoor City
Reservations: Call 04-4373300
Email: heavenlyspaalhabtoorcity@westin.com
Cost: Dh455 (50 minutes)
Our rating: 4/5
karen@khaleejtimes.com