Beauty: Zen Lifestyle, 84 Hanover St, Edinburgh

A SPA is a bit like a stage. The scene has to be set, with suitable lighting, furniture and scents. If anything is out of place – a bulb too bright, or music too loud – the whole production can go a bit skew-whiff.

Maybe I’m turning into a diva. Anyway, the new branch of Zen certainly appeals to the prima-donna in me, as they’ve thought of every detail to make a visit to this place a relaxing experience.

Although I do like a womb-like, cocooning feel when I visit a spa, this place is at the other, equally appealing, extreme. It’s fresh, white and Barbarella-esque, with Tom Dixon pendant lights, and two bars – one for nails and the other for brows – at the front of the space.

The treatment rooms are all glossy white surfaces and purple lighting. Their soporific effect meant I nearly conked out once I’d slumped onto one of their treatment beds with a bolster gently slid under my knees and classical music in the background, in order to try out their new Murad Pomegranate Facial.

This line of treatments, and their matching collection of products, have been designed by Hollywood dermatologistDr Howard Murad. Which, to be honest, put me off at first, as this kind of results-driven therapy can tend to sacrifice relaxation in favour of lots of prodding, poking, stinging lotions and extraction.

I needn’t have worried. Proceedings kicked off with a gentle cleanse using a refreshingly frothy potion, before my face was massaged with a scrub that contained lightly abrasive grains. Then, the main event – the Pomegranate Exfoliating Mask.

“This may tingle a little,” said my therapist, while she brushed a thick layer of this fruity-smelling gel onto my skin. While this peel banished any dead skin cells, I was given a good foot rub, before my tootsies were swaddled in warm towels. Then the mask – which, incidentally, barely tingled at all – was gently removed.

Now that my skin was prepped, it could be slathered and massaged with Murad’s Skin Perfecting Lotion, before my shoulders and neck were given a good rub down. Afterwards I was dusted with Priori mineral foundation, to prevent me from scaring civilians with my unpainted visage.

Not that I needed to worry, as my skin looked great. The main difference was to the pores on my nose. I imagine that each of these has the circumference of a five pence piece. However, after the treatment, they seemed slightly smaller and more refined. Also, my complexion looked even-toned and felt smooth.

With a face like this, I should be on the stage, darling.

Zen Lifestyle, 84 Hanover Street, Edinburgh (0131-225 7009, www.zen-lifestyle.com).