USP This buzzing day spa is perfectly located for shoppers and office workers who seek express preening – the brochure even tells you to arrive on time because “every second counts” (no pressure!).

The Selfridges location means it’s minutes from Bond Street tube station and has generous opening hours – 9.30am until 8pm or 9pm every night (Sunday midday-6pm).

There’s a novel pricing structure that offers the services of one or two therapists in time slots, for example, the 30-minute “quick blitz” costs £65 and includes a microdermabrasion facial, and mini manicure or pedicure, or there’s the “beach babe's hour”, which includes a half leg wax, bikini or underarm wax, lash tint and pedicure or manicure from £95. Alternatively, you can opt for individual treatments.

AMBIENCE The spa has three treatment areas divided by curtains. This means noise carries across from the rest of the spa and the beauty counters outside – so you’ll hear the buzz of shoppers over the light pop music as well as the chatter from the adjoining treatment areas.

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BACKGROUND

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• Ark Spa, Wimbledon, London

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Despite the lack of privacy, the curtains are stiff so there’s no cause for concern about being exposed, and the spa is tucked away in a corner on the ground floor – there’s just an absence of serenity – this spa is about quick fixes rather than relaxation.

EXPERIENCE I had the 30-minute urban flash oxygen facial, which used both Crystal Clear and Dermalogica products and techniques. It started with a cleanse and light scrub and followed up with a serum mask and oxygen treatment before a final moisturise.

The oxygen treatment was a bizarre experience – cool jets of air blown onto the skin via a pencil-sized nozzle. It was refreshing in places and ticklish in others, occasionally emitting a “raspberry” when the air got trapped between the skin and the nozzle, much to my initial amusement.

The half-hour went quickly and my therapist, Hong, kept the chat professional, asking me about my skin-care routine and recommending suitable Dermalogica products. If this is the “hard sell”, it was done subtly enough.

From overhearing the conversations of neighbouring cubicles, the chat followed much the same lines (and I was glad to hear another spa-goer giggling at the oxygen noises in the same way I had).

My skin felt smooth and moisturised at the end and a little plumped up, as Hong had promised – certainly less tired and lacklustre than when I’d arrived.

After the facial I had the spa’s latest treatment – semi-permanent eyelash extensions. There’s no enjoyment to be taken from this treatment (although 90-odd minutes reclining in a comfortable chair with your eyes closed is hardly purgatory), it’s just that there’s no pampering as such. It’s also expensive - £150 for a full set of lash extensions.

That said, the results are impressive – very natural-looking lashes that last six weeks or longer if you avoid rubbing or wiping eyes excessively. It means you can go mascara or even lash-tint free for your summer holiday – perfect if you want to look as polished when you get out of the pool as you did when you went in.

FOOD There’s no food served at the spa, but with the Selfridges Food Hall nearby and the shop’s many cafes, restaurants and bars, there’s plenty to choose from.

There are healthy options at all the restaurants, but if you want a sin-free snack, the Food Hall’s Energy Kitchen has juices and salads, or there’s Raw for raw food snacks and Yo!Sushi for fish and rice dishes.

IN-CROWD My fellow spa goers were exclusively 20, 30 and 40-something women squeezing in beauty treatments on the way home from work or shopping – the sort of women who regard their treatments as monthly maintenance rather than a one-off extravagance.

WALLET WATCH The urban flash oxygen facial costs £50 and lasts 30 minutes, or you opt for the one-hour version for £90.

A full set of semi-permanent lash extensions costs £150 and takes 90 minutes. You can also opt for a half set for £80 (50 minutes). These last four to six weeks.

The temporary lash extensions cost £45 for a full set (30 minutes) and last up to one week.

NEED TO KNOW Groom, Ground Floor, Selfridges, 400 Oxford St, London, W1A 1AB; www.groomlondon.com

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