USP Located in achingly hip Notting Hill, just around the corner from Portobello Road, Scin combines boutique charm with the practical philosophy of "providing simple, quality treatments that work". Bespoke facials and specially designed massage are just a taste of what you can expect from this newcomer, founded by sisters Anna and Nicky nine months ago.

AMBIENCE Upstairs the white décor is fresh and modern, and avoids being too stark with shelves displaying a colourful array of coveted beauty products; I‘m like a child in a sweet shop. Beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows flood the spa with sunlight, making this the perfect place to relax and watch the world go by while having a pedicure or manicure. Downstairs things get a little cosier, with body treatments taking place in well-proportioned cream and milk-chocolate hued rooms with delicious scented essential oils wafting throughout.

EXPERIENCE As I walk through the door, all flustered and desperate for a cup of tea (I have a 9am appointment), I am greeted with a warm welcoming smile and I start to relax. There are plenty of wonderful things on the thoughtfully conceived menu at Scin, from an eyebrow wax to a very delicious sounding Face, Scalp and Body Massage. I find it difficult to choose but, after a consultation, I plump for package number 2: hydrotherapy, buttock and thigh treatment, pedicure. I have felt rather sluggish of late, especially in the lower half of my body with the dreaded cellulite making a comeback and leaden-feeling legs. I was eager to see what could be done. The package kicks off with hydrotherapy, (a warm water treatment to increase circulation and relax muscles - ideal pre-massage as it gives the therapist a head-start on breaking down knots and tension).In the downstairs treatment room I change into my swimming costume and prepare to submerge myself in the most gorgeously dinky candlelit hydrotherapy bath. Designed for two, I enjoy having it all to myself, sipping a perfectly made cup of tea while being pummelled by warm, white-water rapids - and this is just the start! I emerge after 15 minutes feeling rather invigorated. Next up is the Organic Circaroma Buttock and Thigh Treatment. Designed by Anna herself (the therapist half of the sister team), she expertly takes me to task. First Anna body brushes me, then using a high quality orange scented oil she combines perfectly paced and pressured deep tissue and lymphatic drainage massage techniques to release built-up tension, toxins and water retention to get my sluggish system moving. This is so effective that I immediately feel lighter and more energised. My upper body feels very left out. To complete the package, I return upstairs for my luxury five-step OPI pedicure .To be honest, I am not a big fan of the pedicure. I love having perfectly painted nails, but find it all a bit fiddly. However, on this occasion I enjoy every minute. By the end my feet are so soft and perfectly painted I barely recognise them. I returned to the office with a definite spring in my step.

IN CROWD Notting Hill is, essentially a residential part of town, so it is hardly surprising that the majority of clients live locally. When I visited on a sunny Wednesday morning in August there was a gentle flow of new and regular clients with the occasional, curious passer by. I imagined, because of the location (and being one down from Coco Ribbon) that their regulars would be a little too cool and nonchalant but Nicky (the PR half of the sister team) reassures me that they (male and female of all ages) are "lovely". Some patrons, it seems do have their moments though; she recalls the occasion when a client insisted that her handbag-sized pooch remained firmly on her lap throughout her hour-long massage.

FOOD Liquid form only. Take your pick from herbal teas, or if like me you are a little less saintly, tea and coffee are on tap too.

WALLET WATCH Essentially Scin’s pricing is what you would expect from a London Spa of this quality. Expertise and quality don't come cheap, but packages offer good value, at around £100 for three treatments, £15 for a bikini wax, £25 for a manicure and £45 for a Dermalogica facial. The specially designed treatments are a little more pricey but not extortionate. Massages start from £45 and a Dr NV Perricone 60-minute facial will set you back £200 – but then his products cost a fortune, so having them applied by an expert is probably a worthwhile investment. Scin also offers an annual membership for £200 that gives you a 15 per cent discount and special offers on retail products including quirky brands such as Anatomicals, "This Works", Scin's own range of organic oils and lotions.

NEED TO KNOW Scin Spa, 27 Kensington Park Road, London (0203 2200 121; www.scin.uk.com)

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