Get bikini-ready with the boot camp in Glasson

Heading for my bikini bootcamp on an early morning when I hadn't quite woken up yet sounded very appealing, once I realised it involved indulgent scrubs, wraps and creams; and not push-ups and weights and jogging! With all this unseasonably good weather we've been having over the past few weeks, there's been plenty of chances to hit the coastline, or even just to wear our summer clothes out and about, and for once a sun holiday abroad does not seem to be of such a necessity this year. However, like every woman, I know that if it's bikini time, then a full body service is needed! Exfoliating dead skin, moisturising, even fake tanning, is what we'd ideally like to do for our bodies every day if we had the time and patience. However, with the Bikini Boot Camp, all it takes is a few relaxing sessions to get your body into shape! Using products from the Mama Mio range, which was exclusively developed for pregnant and post-natal women but has now been extended to spoil the rest of us, the bikini boot camp promises to get rid of cellulite and firm up all those areas of concern like your tummy, your bum and your thighs! The Skin Care and Beauty Clinic's therapist Louise O'Rourke talked me though the treatment and explained how the products work. The bikini boot camp involves a full body exfoliation treatment, a high lymphatic drainage massage and a special wonder mask. Once she had me settled down on the treatment table - with a electric blanket keeping me warm and cosy - Louise got to work on the exfoliation. This full-body treatment helps to get rid of dead skin cells (which can make the skin look dull and tired) and also helps to increase the level of moisturiser soaking into the many layers of your skin. The exfoliation involved absolutely no effort from me at all and the grainy texture of the scrub wasn't too harsh on my skin. It only took minutes, as Louise carefully washed if off with no mess at all, so I wasn't left lying there feeling sticky or wet. Next up was the lymphatic drainage massage, which helps to increase your circulation and eliminate waste and toxins from the body and can even help to shift cellulite. Definitely one to get before you put on that bikini! The massage was relaxing and really did feel like it was giving me a boost. Again, all I had to do was just lie back and enjoy it! The final step was the alginate mask, which helped to firm and tone up those problem areas that go a bit loose or wobbly and are always the bits we're more conscious of on the beach. The secret behind this mask - that feels ice-cold on the skin after the massage has got the blood flowing - is that it sets on the skin which forces all the goodness into the skin. Louise painted on the mask quickly, selecting only the problem areas, such as the arms (the bingo wings area), the thighs and tummy. Louise then wrapped me up in insulating foil to let the mask dry and as I slowly chilled out in the warmth and calming atmosphere, she gave me a fabulous head massage, which along with the eye mask, really helped me to relax! Once the mask was well set and had done its job, Louise easily removed it, again with no mess and left me to relax for a while. I was really surprised by how mess-free the whole process was and I was able to get dressed straight away, without having to wait for anything to dry off, which was handy as I was heading straight back to work. I felt the benefits of the lymphatic massage almost immediately, I had more energy and felt really alert. It helps to drink lots of water afterwards too. Louise was able to answer all my questions and was able to send me on my way, leaving Glasson feeling like a rose in bloom! Other fabulous products in the Mama Mio range that are becoming increasingly popular with everyone include the Boob Tube - great for loose, crepey skin around the chest/decollatage area, the Tummy Rub Oil - great for stretch-marks and popular with people who have lost weight or those who want to get rid of scars and the Shrink to Fit products. Call into the Skin Care and Beauty Clinic in Glasson Pharmacy, owned by Mary O'Connell, for more information about the bikini boot camp or to find out more about the Mama Mio products on offer.