As assignments go, it was a tough one, writes Maxine Gordon, Evening Press lifestyle editor. Reader Anya Shaw had bid at a charity auction to do my job for one day, so when the opportunity arose to review some of the treatments at the Alquimia spa, I decided to throw her in at the deep end.

We met at 10am for a morning of serious investigative journalism. Anya, 33, of York, who is 36 weeks pregnant with her second child, was going to try out a facial, manicure and blow dry and I was bound for a stress-busting back treatment. Here are our reports...

Anya says:

The first thing I noticed was the attention to detail. All the rooms are beautifully decorated - as if you are in a lovely home.

It's opulent and luxurious, not clinical like some salons I've been to.

Even the legs on the chair in the hair salon go up as if you are on a recliner, which makes having your hair washed really comfortable.

Before my treatments, I had to fill out a thorough consultation form, which I thought was good. It even asked if I was prone to redness, which I am.

The facial took about an hour - although I lost track of time because it was so relaxing.

The therapist Jennifer Edmondson exfoliated, cleansed and toned my skin.

Then she carried out a 20-minute massage around my face and shoulders, concentrating quite a bit on the area around my eyes, using an oil with orange and lemon. Next she applied a Dead Sea mud pack.

My skin was glowing afterwards and felt really soft. It didn't feel dry or flushed and had no red patches.

It felt really decadent to also have a manicure and blow dry... and I felt well and truly pampered.

Maxine says:

I was in need of some stress busting, so spa owner Julie Sharp recommended the 45-minute anti-stress back treatment using Dead Sea products.

The treatment began with an exfoliation of my back, which was washed off with hot towels. This was a fantastic sensation - the towels infusing my whole body with heat. Then my back was covered in a mud pack, wrapped in a plastic sheet and covered in soft, fluffy towels. I felt safe, snug and secure. Soon my mind began to empty and I tuned out the building work noise outside and could only hear the soft, classical music playing in the treatment room.

My therapist Kelly Booth then massaged my calves, feet and ankles using an anti-stress body oil, before removing the mud pack with the hot towels again (still pure bliss) and finishing off with a good 15-minute back massage.

She then offered me a manicure, which included a brief arm and hand massage.

After a two-hour visit followed by a light lunch in the relaxation room, it was tough to head back to the office. But the feeling of well-being stayed with me for a few days afterwards.

Updated: 09:17 Saturday, March 02, 2002