Why we're off to Gstaad for a facial
Niamh and I are both huge fans of Bamford organic spa products (Niamh gets her fix at Lime Wood hotel’s Herb House spa in the New Forest; I love the Bamford Haybarn Spa at London’s Berkeley hotel). Certified by the Soil Association, the products are organic and free of parabens, artificial colouring, mineral oils and synthetic fragrances and, just as importantly, they smell much nicer than most of the other organics out there. 
So we were excited to hear that Bamford has just launched a new range of skincare products and treatments at one of our favourite hotels in Gstaad, Le Grand Bellevue. The Gstaad Palace might be the most prestigious hotel in the glamorous resort but, built in 1912 as a ‘cure house’ and spa, Le Grand Bellevue has always been the place to go for wellness, boasting a 3,000 square metre, state-of-the-art spa. It was renovated a couple of years ago, along with the rest of the hotel, by its new owners, Daniel and Davia Koetser, and extensive facilities now include a number of heat treatment areas that utilise the healing effects of temperature therapy: a traditional Finnish sauna, set between 85 and 100℃, a Turkish steam bath and a stimulating ice grotto. 
The herbal steam bath stimulates the senses with herb extracts, while the brine grotto uses nebulised Himalayan salt to boost energy levels. There’s a 15m pool, a Jacuzzi opening onto a terrace of lavender and a relaxation area overlooking the mountains, not to mention gym, yoga and Pilates studio and even a sushi bar.
The 90-minute Bamford Signature Facial offered at the spa begins with a consultation to tailor treatments to different skincare concerns, and includes a cleansing footbath and a 30-minute deep tissue back massage using shiatsu pressure points, ancient yogic breathing techniques, foot reflexology and hot and cold jade stones for deep relaxation and tension release. And then there’s the facial itself …. The spa also offers a range of Bamford body treatments, including a Jade Hot & Cold Stone massage and a Herbal Poultice massage which cleverly combines Ayurvedic techniques with Alpine plants. 
Fans though we are of the Bamford brand, even we wouldn’t go all the way to Gstaad just for a facial. But that’s okay because the hotel has plenty to offer besides. Rooms, not to mention bathrooms, at the unstuffy Le Grand Bellevue are ravishing, the restaurant has a Michelin star, and transport from the airport is in a Bentley which used to belong to former Gstaad resident Roger Moore. And while we’re not sure our ski kit is quite up to Gstaad’s upscale standards, the resort is in the heart of the Bernese Oberland so we’ll be hitting the slopes, too – with plenty of SPF to protect our Bamford-blissed complexions, naturally. Half board at Le Grand Bellevue is from CHF620 (£426) per night, based on double occupancy in winter. The new Bamford facials are from CHF150 (£103) for 55 minutes.
