by Lauren Furey, marketing manager at Wandsworth Town BID
Back in March we celebrated the arrival of the luxurious iLuvo Beauty in Ram Quarter, Wandsworth. Originally founded in 2018 by Lulu (not that one), who sought to create a high-end salon experience based on her time spent working with other premium brands, including Urban Retreat at Harrods.
So, when the opportunity came up to try iLuvo for ourselves, I naturally jumped at the chance.
Now, let’s be clear, making my selection from iLuvo’s range was no easy task. There are manicures, pedicures, arty nails, gel nails, nail extensions, infills, shellac, nail repair, and this is just the nails. That’s not to mention the skin treatments, lashes, threading, waxing, and consultation services.
But one thing, for me, stood out above all – a 60-minute focus area massage.
If you’re also a gal-on-the-go (or guy, of course) who’s forever lugging their work laptop to and from the office then you’ll understand my longing for a good back massage. So, this week, I booked myself in and was met warmly by the wonderful staff at iLuvo.
In mere minutes I was meeting with my masseuse for the next 60 minutes – Yasmin, who brought me to the wonderfully soothing massage room.
The treatment began with the addition of gentle music and hypnotic aromas that really instilled a sense of peace and calm. Once the sufficient ambience was achieved, Yasmin began to massage my back, expertly seeking out areas of tension and discomfort and applying pressure to relieve my aches and pains. The massage spread to my neck, ears, jaw, arms and hands, which created a wonderful feeling of full upper-body relaxation, helping to relinquish stress. Honestly, it’s a miracle I didn’t fall asleep. Yasmin was able to swiftly identify tension areas and was even able to provide advice on how to ease discomfort, post-massage.
Prior to this massage experience at iLuvo I had gone to another London-based salon and I was slathered with so much massage oil that I genuinely thought I was going to be put in the oven at one-ninety and roasted for a good forty minutes. I returned to work feeling very slimy indeed. At iLuvo, however, the massage oil was clearly a superior concoction because not only did it smell amazing but it also moisturised and soothed. To add to the luxurious experience, Yasmin covered me with a soft towel before wiping down the massaged areas with a warm towel, leaving me feeling refreshed and able to carry on with my day. A thoroughly slime-free experience.
The whole treatment was finished with a revitalising glass of chilled cucumber water.
In a world that constantly has us comparing ourselves to others on social media or breaking our backs trying to attain success in all its forms, it’s all too easy to forget the importance of self care. My trip to iLuvo at Ram Quarter was a stark reminder of the need to let go and relinquish control, even if only for 60 minutes. Every aspect of the iLuvo experience, from the wonderfully attentive staff to the high-end treatments, guarantees satisfaction and is a wonderful lesson in mindfulness.
You can book your treatment at iLuvo Wandsworth here, and don’t forget to follow them on Instagram.
