Review / We review Altira Spa Macau’s new Prodige des Océans Face and Body Ritual

With all the developments at the main Cotai Strip, it’s not surprising that Altira Macau has been slightly in the shadows of late. That’s not a reflection of the fortunes of a hotel which has just celebrated 10 consecutive years of achieving 5 stars for hospitality and service from Forbes. The hotel has long been one of my favourites in Macau, especially if I’m looking for a relaxing staycation and not frenzied gambling or shopping. Because of its location, it’s understandable that it sometimes slips from people’s minds when they are planning a trip to the enclave. However, that can also make it a haven away from the tourist crowds, and the luxurious set up of the Altira Spa adds to the ambience. The hotel has long been one of my favourites in Macau, especially if I’m looking for a relaxing staycation and not frenzied gambling or shopping The spa is huge, taking up more than 6,000 sq ft on the 15th floor. A bright, warm reception area opens into a maze of treatment rooms in cosy hues of gold and brown. I remembered the spa’s treatment rooms as being big, but I am taken aback by the size of mine when I walk in. Amooma Spa’s tourmaline crystal massage led to my best sleep ever A massage bed greet me near the entrance, with another double divan up on a high, raised platform. There’s a steam room (plus shower), toilet (of course) and a large shallow jacuzzi wider than a king-size bed, with floor-to-ceiling windows offering a great view of the Macau Peninsula. I’m here for the new Prodige des Océans Face and Body Ritual, and there are subtle hints of the coming oceanic experience: some seashells here and coloured sand, pebbles and reminders of ocean life scattered elsewhere. Even the massage bed, my therapist tells me, is a “waterbed”. What is it? The Prodige des Océans Face and Body Ritual is a 150-minute treatment that promises “an innovative treatment experience dedicated to youthfulness and relaxation” through Thalgo La Beauty Marine’s similarly named line made with the luxury Intelligence Marine Régénérative, a youthfulness concentrate that has 63 marine nutrients in it. What’s a karma-releasing spa treatment like? The Prodige des Océans line includes the rich antioxidant La Crème which works to firm wrinkles; the L’Essence which firms and smoothens complexions; and the smoothing and plumping Le Masque, all of which contain the patented Intelligence Marine Régénérative. Together with my therapist’s firm strokes and kneading, and the ambient sounds of the oceans sifting through the room, I can feel the tension escaping and I’m lulled into sleep in no time The concentrate is said to hold the key to youthful skin by reactivating 64 proteins and Thalgo claims that it smooths wrinkles, restores firmness, corrects dryness, controls pigmentation marks, evens complexions, and protects against oxidative stress. No wonder they have named it Wonder of the Oceans. The treatment starts with a brief relaxation period, followed by an hour’s massage and then the facial using Thalgo’s products combined with seven exclusive Thalgo massage techniques, which include the Kobido-inspired signature massage. The Kobido technique, from Japan, is known as a “Japanese facelift facial” for its firming effects. What does it feel like? The exclusivity of the treatment sinks in when the therapist tells me to take about 20 minutes to chill out in the jacuzzi and steam room before the treatment actually starts. Having the privacy of my own steam room and jacuzzi certainly makes relaxing a lot easier without having to deal with other people. After about 20 minutes or so, following the shower, I am ready for the start of the Body Ritual. Although I was initially concerned by the thought of sloshing around on a water “bed”, the bed is actually a warmed, thin water pack that is sufficient to give my body some motion while my therapist deftly kneads the knots out of my tired muscles. The water motion is gentle, like small waves lapping my body, and the comfortable massage bed gives me a feeling of being on an anchored boat. Together with my therapist’s firm strokes and kneading, and the ambient sounds of the oceans sifting through the room, I can feel the tension escaping and I’m lulled into sleep in no time. I hardly remember turning over, but a light mist wakes me and signals the start of my facial. I can barely open my eyes, but it doesn’t matter as I feel deft hands slathering on cleansers to rid my skin of the remaining make-up. Each of the products releases the subtle comforting scents of the ocean and is gently massaged into my face with confident but tender strokes. From Thalgo’s special techniques to the Kobido-inspired massage, the movements are intended not only to smooth the skin, but also to clear toxins and firm the face. The whole treatment passes in a blur as I drift in and out of sleep. Before I know it, we’re done and I’m gently being helped to sit up and led to the chair for some soothing ginger tea and snacks. What it’s like to get a knife massage Conclusion I feel more relaxed than I have done in a long time. The massage obviously got a lot of the kinks out, although I wouldn’t have minded another hour of kneading! My face, however, is showing the full effects of the Prodige des Océans: it is clearer and visibly firmer, with a smoothness that leaves me stroking it repeatedly in wonder. There seem to be fewer “creases” and, although nothing would get rid of the wrinkles forever, the remaining lines look lighter, having been filled out by the oxygenating effects of the mask. I am ready to tackle the stress and pollution of Hong Kong again! The massage obviously got a lot of the kinks out, although I wouldn’t have minded another hour of kneading Anything else? Although the 20 minutes in the jacuzzi and steam room negates the need to go to the spa earlier to wind down, you might want to also make use of the award-winning spa’s other wet spa facilities, including vitality pools, crystal steam rooms, saunas, an ice fountain, Rasul and experience showers. Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The location of the Altira Macau and the comfort of its spa make it a haven away from Macau's tourist crowds

The location of the Altira Macau and the comfort of its spa make it a haven away from Macau's tourist crowds