Facial treatment at Organii Day Spa in Lisbon (Portugal)

Walking past Organii, you might have thought it was yet another organic cosmetics shop (stocking brands like Dr. Hauschka, Madara, Voya, Ilha, Absolution).

But it’s a well-known treatment address among specialists (featured on the list of favorite facials by the beauty editor of Vogue Portugal). And it’s so popular that sometimes you need to book 2 weeks in advance.

This shop / spa offers two types of facial treatments:

• a range of 60-minute multi-brand facials: where they pick from the products sold in the store, those that best suit your skin. They only stock organic brands, so you’ll get a mix of organic products for your facial.
• a signature 80-minute facial from one brand: some brands have “signature” treatments, which use the same technique across all their spas worldwide – using their products. The estheticians are trained to replicate the brand’s specific techniques.

So I went with the second type of facial. And I actually had two facials there.

Deluxe by Voya Facial at Organii Day Spa

For the first treatment, I chose a signature facial from the brand VOYA : DELUXE FACIAL BY VOYA – 80 min.

It’s a brand I had never heard of before. But after chatting with the salesperson, I learned quite a bit about the brand: it’s an Irish brand that originally operated as a spa – with seaweed-based baths.

People loved the experience so much (and especially saw the benefits for their skin) that they asked to be able to extend the experience at home. Now the brandsells – wait for it – a pouch of dried seaweed with salt inside. !!!! so that you don’t even have to go all the way to Ireland to bathe in it. Isn’t that just too cool? When are they going to deliver me some Eforie mud at home too?

Apparently, the seaweed is hand-harvested. They now have several lines of cosmetic products based on seaweed – the star ingredient.

Their facial treatment is special because we’ll actually be using those very seaweed from Ireland!

Right from the start, the welcome at Organii is absolutely top-notch; there are three of them waiting for me for the appointment, and I feel so privileged. While the beautician prepares the seaweed (they’re dried, so she has to soak them in a bowl of water for them to regain their usual form), the saleswoman explains the concept behind the VOYA brand and the products that will be used on my skin.

Next, the beautician explains how the session will unfold and leaves me to undress. I’m comfortably settled into a bed with a duvet cover!! She puts a warm towel on my back and feet to relax me, and gives me a dry brushing on my back. The first 20 minutes are dedicated to an oil massage on my back to help me unwind.

Then, I turn over, and she cleanses my face and décolleté twice. Each time, she applies a warm towel to remove the products, followed by a refreshing mist.

She has me deeply inhale some essential oil of I-don’t-know-what 3 times. That is followed by a very pleasant massage (a bit too quick for my liking).

And then, she applies a mask, and I think, “I know that smell; what is it again?” and suddenly, I’m starving. I realize I associate that scent with sushi… Hmm… but yes!! It’s a seaweed-based paste I’ve got on my face. Then, she starts applying actual pieces of seaweed to cover my face, and I must look like this, I reckon (just to clarify, the photo isn’t of me):

During the double mask, I get an arm massage. It’s great because I don’t like being left alone with a mask on my face, as I always feel like I’m paying for nothing. So, this is the best!

Next, she massages me and then applies a second mask. Meanwhile, she prepares the warm towels. Finally, she slathers my face with cream, massages me again, and massages my head. I think half a jar of cream has been used on my face 😀

At the end of the treatment, my skin, all plumped up, is gleaming, in a glowy dewyway; it’s thoroughly hydrated. The beautician confirms that my skin really loves seaweed, and that she used the night cream to get it hydrated at top speed.

Big surprise: since the seaweed is reusable, she sets aside the used seaweed from the session for me, so I can make a mask with it once a day for the next 3 days.

Okay, who’s the one walking away with new products? It’s meeeeee! I needed a new moisturizer anyway (I’m out, I finally have an excuse to get the credit card warmed up). The saleslady had me try several creams to show me the texture, so I left with “Me Time” (I love the name), a hydrating & rich fluid, but my skin loves it and drinks it all up. It’s great!

I also caved on a body brush, perfect for dry brushing. This brush is meant to fight cellulite and especially to better eliminate toxins (more info on another blog here)

What did I like? the wellness approach (body massage & aromatherapy) and the seaweed used as is. Super luxurious service and the bed was super cozy and warm.
What did I like less? facial massage not deep enough, and exfoliation almost nonexistent => not suited for impure or wrinkled skin

Budget

• Voya facial treatment: 90€ for 80 minutes
• Moisturizer: 60€
• Body brush: 22€

Practical info

How to book?

I went to book my facial myself in the store. That’s because I wanted to chat with the saleslady and get more info. But you can simply phone. She speaks English really, really well. For info, in February (2019), I only had to wait 3 days to get an appointment, but the saleslady told me it was thanks to my luck 😀 Each store has only one treatment room.

So if you absolutely want to book, think about it 2 weeks before your trip to Lisbon.

Addresses

1st address (where I went):
ORGANII BIO DAY SPA Príncipe Real
PRAÇA DO PRÍNCIPE REAL, Nº 26 – 1250-184 LISBOA within the concept store Embaixada, 1st floor on the left
TEL: (+351) 912932221
Tuesday to Saturday: 12PM-8PM

2nd address
BIO DAY SPA Lx Factory
LXFACTORY, EDIFICIO K, RUA RODRIGUES FARIA, Nº 103 – ALCÂNTARA
TEL: (+351) 210990638
Monday to Saturday: 10AM to 7PM

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