Spa Review: We Tried Hotel Bel-Air Spa's Bee-Inspired Facial by Valmont

The Spa at Hotel Bel-Air. [Image courtesy of Hotel Bel-Air]

With my wedding less than three weeks away, one of my biggest concerns as a bride is my skin. Since it’s going to be the most photographed day of my life, naturally I want my complexion to look as flawless as possible. As of late, my skin has been on the drier side, so when I had the opportunity to visit the Hotel Bel-Air Spa to try out their Elixir des Glaciers Majestic Treatment—a super luxurious facial inspired by the essence of ingredients from the bee hive—I jumped at the chance.

The Majestic Treatment incorporates a unique luxurious array of Elixir des Glaciers products crafted with Switzerland’s noblest ingredients in exceptional concentrates with specialized facial massage techniques to energize, lift and rejuvenate. Elixir des Glaciers is the most prestigious skin care offering from Swiss beauty brand Valmont, and one of their most recent innovations is Essence of Bees—a new line that pays tribute to bees, flora, science and luxury by bringing together the essence of the ingredients in the bee hive.

Treatment room at Hotel Bel-Air Spa. [Image courtesy of Hotel Bel-Air]

“Our Valmont Majestic Treatment gives immediate sculpting and nourishing results through the complex potency of the unique blend of honey, propolis and royal jelly,” says Nichole Hester, Director of Spa and Boutique at Hotel Bel-Air. “Your skin is left feeling smooth, regenerated and glowing!”

So what does the 90-minute facial offer? The Majestic Treatment includes: cleansing (twice), exfoliation, a lifting and nourishing facial massage with Essence of Bees Masque, an energizing radiance facial massage, face and décolleté mask with Valmont Collagen, hand care with Essence of Bees Masque and Hand Nutritive Treatment, rejuvenating facial massage with Essence of Bees Cure and Essence of Bees Serum for Eyes, then final touches with Prime Lip Repair, Prime Neck, Vos Yeux Eye Creme and Moisturizer.

The treatment also features two new massage techniques:

• A lifting and nourishing massage, inspired by the face lift surgical techniques. It’s a real face lift that tones the muscles and relaxes the features.

• A rejuvenating massage inspired by the Kobido technique (“ancient beauty way”). Kobido was created in Japan in 1472 for the empress, and it later became a traditional art of rejuvenation. It involves specific pressure and sliding movements on meridians and acupuncture points on the face and neck. This technique offers a true rejuvenation of the face with a sculpting and modeling effect.

The Essence of Bees collection from L’Elixir des Glaciers. [Image courtesy of Valmont]

My esthetician tailored certain parts of the treatment according to what she felt my skin needed most (she did some extractions, for instance), and yours will do the same, since everyone’s skin is different. I emerged with a glowing complexion, and I wasn’t red or flushed at all—I actually felt completely confident going in public afterwards, although my therapist recommended that I stay out of the direct sun for a few days for maintenance and protection. My skin also felt super hydrated, as in several layers deep into the dermis. I’ve never felt that before from a facial, and it was truly an amazing feeling!

At $625, this treatment is not cheap, but you definitely get your money’s worth. My esthetician also advised that I don’t need to get this facial all the time since its effects on the skin are long-lasting. Of course, she has clients that opt to get this every couple of weeks, but she said that since I don’t have mature skin quite yet, this would be a great treatment to get every now and then, mixed in with more standard facials, to add hydration and nourishment to my skin whenever I feel it needs an extra boost. And the best part is, now I feel wedding-ready—bring on those pictures!

To book this facial or another treatment, visit Hotel Bel-Air Spa’s official site here. The  Essence of the Bees collection is available for purchase at boutiquevalmont.com, saksfifthavenue.com, Hotel Bel-Air Spa, and SPA Valmont at Hotel Plaza Athénée.