Published: Wednesday, 30th June, 2010 6:30pm

Get the full treatment...in your local pharmacy

A friendly welcome awaited me in O'Hanlon Pharmacy as I arrived to meet with Sandra Marlow, a local woman with years of beauty therapy experience having previously worked in a spa hotel and a destination spa in the Midlands.

Sandra has set up the Beauty Room in O'Hanlon's to make the various treatments more accessible to people who might not have the time or inclination to go to a spa or salon for a treat. And with parking right outside the pharmacy, this helps make popping in for a manicure or wax even less of a chore!

After a hectic work day, I was lucky to receive a much-needed Decleor back massage and a Shiseido facial with Sandra.

Starting off with the back massage, Sandra explained the ethos behind Decleor, which is a French brand that believes that beauty should work from within as well as on the outside. Decleor products are designed to enter the bloodstream, however the brand starts by working on your senses, such as smell and touch.

Using fabulous oils, Sandra first of all got me to inhale a few deep breaths taking in the scent of oil. My brain instantly snapped into relaxation mode.

Sandra managed to get rid of all the tension and niggles in my shoulders and neck with firm, relaxing movements in a thorough massage that lasted for around 30 minutes. She worked away at releasing my tight right shoulder and to my great relief, I could feel the little knots loosening up and disappearing. Lying on the comfortable massage table, with the scent of calming oils surrounding me, slowly all the stresses of the day melted away.

The Shiseido range also used by Sandra, is a high-end brand from Japan, which while containing essential oils, is very high-tech and a lot of research goes into each product. The philosophy behind the range is to promote both wellbeing and beauty. Sandra said that with Shiseido, you see instant results. She said that by using these quality brands she knows that people are going to benefit.

Now I love getting facials, but sometimes you're left thinking, is that it? However, after receiving the Shiseido facial with Sandra, I was completely satisfied. The facial was great. It was so refreshing and relaxing and brightened my mood no end, it was like chocolate for my skin! What more could you want?

As part of the Shiseido facial Sandra used a hot towel in between each stage of cleaning, toning, the scrub and face mask to remove the product, instead of cotton wool or a facecloth. She wrapped the towel over my face and patted it down over my neck and shoulders. This hot towel trick was amazing. Such a simple idea which felt so shockingly refreshing and revitalising every time. If only someone could do that to wake me up every morning!

When my face mask went on, there was no time for a quick break for Sandra. She started to massage my hands and arms for a relaxing few minutes and then popped both hands into large, comfy, electrically-heated gloves. So then I was left tucked up in a warm blanket, hands happily moisturising away, ensconced in the warmest mitts I've ever worn, while the Shiseido mask worked its magic on my face!

I could have happily stayed that way until closing time, or longer and happy thoughts of sleep were drifting through my mind.

After this luxury, Sandra was back for one more hot towel clean, and then she applied some moisturiser and eye cream and I was done.

When I looked in the mirror, there was a different face starting back at me than the tired, grey, sleepy one that had greeted me that morning at home. I looked bright-eyed and bushy-tailed; my skin was clear and glowing, and I felt refreshed in both body and mind.

I left O'Hanlon's with a smile on my face, as my aching shoulder was gone, the aromatic scents of oils and lotions wafted around me, and my face looked good as new! I was ready for the weekend.

Sandra provides a full range of facials, manicures, pedicures and holistic treatments such as reflexology, aromatherapy and hot stone massage.

The Beauty Room is open in O'Hanlon Pharmacy from Tuesday to Saturday from 11am to 6pm.

Contact the pharmacy on 090 6438677.