Desert rose
With all of our new hard-win freedoms now making life easier, it’s time to write a list of all the places that need discovering — or rediscovering — now we’re out and about again.
After the long, lost days inside and out of sight, it seems only right that some pampering be in order. At the top of my agenda has been a return to Fenn, a new beauty and wellness sanctuary on Glenmore Rd.
Tucked between the Intersection’s dazzling boutiques, Fenn opened quietly in autumn in the capable hands of Clare McColl and Nicole Manning, a pair of experienced therapists who had made the move into their own business after working at Oxford St’s fabulous Onda.
If Fenn is unassuming from the outside and a beautifully airy retail space inside — find a curated selection of beauty essentials and pamper products — its true beauty is revealed once you head downstairs to the treatment rooms.
Descend into an otherworldly space, beautifully and sparingly fitted out in deeply comforting neutral and ochre shades that may put you in mind of the Arizona desert. Sink into the warmed treatment bed with its layers of blankets to stare at the sand dune shades of the ceiling as you prepare for an hour, or more if you’re lucky, of total indulgence.
The philosophy at Fenn is to offer 'a bespoke experience, from tailored product recommendations to bespoke facials, designed entirely to a client’s individual needs' and as the therapists begin their work, this indeed does seem the case.
I am here for a Fenn Foundation Facial ($220), a 60-minute experience of exfoliation, stimulation and hydration that includes a double cleanse and micro-dermabrasion, followed by some intensive (and brilliant) LED light therapy, a skin serum to support hydration, oil to moisturise and finally SPF for protection.
Under the skilled hands of the lovely Manning, my face is stroked, massaged, oiled and plumped until smoothed and softened. The LED lights add a psychedelic touch, their strobes working to stimulate collagen and freshness.
The experience is completely luxurious, professional and relaxing, and at the end of the hour, I wish I could stay longer. When I emerge, blinking, back into the real world, I’m shocked to see how fabulous my skin looks. Glowing? Positively, yes.
Fenn offers a range of beautiful global products for sale including Emma Lewisham, Maryse, Josh Rosebrook, Sans Ceuticals, Bare Hands, Addition Studio, Sodashi, Sphaera, and Medik8.
But it’s more than a store. The expertise of McColl and Manning, and their determination to make a beauty space of international standard, shines.
How wonderful to find this luxurious new almost-secret gem in our midst; another diamond in Paddington’s charming treasure chest of hidden jewels. Make a booking — you deserve it.
FENN
24 Glenmore Rd
fennstore.com