Latest news with #ESPA
The Courier
7 days ago
- The Courier
10 top luxury spa days in Dundee, Perth and Fife
There's no better way to treat yourself or someone you love than with a relaxing spa day in either Dundee, Perth or Fife. Whether it's for a full day or just a couple of hours, a trip to the spa can be rejuvenating and help us take some time out from busy routines. If you're searching for a spa day experience in Dundee, Perth and Fife, there are several options to choose from. Here are 10 luxury spas where you can swim, soak and steam your worries, aches and pains away. Why not enjoy a spa day in Dundee at the Yu Spa based at the Apex City Quay Hotel? The spa has had an upgrade over the past two years with a new hot tub, sauna and state of the art gym equipped with Technogym equipment installed. It also recently added a new steam room. Yu Spa offers various body, face and wellbeing treatments, as well as day packages. The 'Essentially for Yu' spa day includes a back massage using various aromatherapy oils, a facial involving cleansing, exfoliation and massage using Cryo Globes) and a reviving scalp massage. You can also enjoy enjoy two hours of access to the spa facilities and two mini plates in the hotel restaurant. It costs £99 (Mon to Thurs) or £120 (Fri to Sun). The Yu ESPA Signature Treatment lasts 55 minutes. It costs £80 (Mon to Thurs) or £85 (Fri to Sun). It includes a relaxing aromatherapy back massage, a facial (cleansing, exfoliation and massage using Cryo Globes) and a reviving scalp massage. You can also experience the ESPA Inner Calm Massage. This features a full body aromatherapy massage, calming rose quartz crystal massage and a scalp massage. You can choose from a 55-minute treatment – £85 (Mon to Thurs), £90 (Fri to Sun). Or 80-minute treatment – £110 (Mon to Thurs), £115 (Fri to Sun). Address: 1 W Victoria Dock Rd, Dundee DD1 3JP If you are looking for a Dundee spa day offering serenity, rejuvenation and an escape from the daily grind, look no further than the Admire Spa at Piperdam. There are various spa day packages available which start from £60. All the spa experiences include time to spend in the heated swimming pool, sauna, and steam room. Or you can work out in the fully equipped gym. After your treatment, you can relax relax in the Zen Den with a chilled water and a cup of herbal tea. The Bijou day spa experience includes an Elemis back, neck and shoulder massage. It costs £60 per person on a weekday and £80 per person on a weekend. While the Lush Day spa experience includes an Elemis express facial, hand and arm, foot and leg treatments. Afterwards you can enjoy afternoon tea in Howie's Bar or Room with a View Restaurant. It costs £130 per person on a weekday and £150 per person at the weekend. There are various other spa day experiences on offer at Admire Spa. Address: Piperdam Leisure Resort, Fowlis, Dundee, DD2 5LP. Just outside Dundee you can enjoy a luxury spa day at the spa based in Carnoustie Golf Hotel which re-opened in February this year. The newly refurbished spa which previously had three rooms now has eight luxurious rooms. The facility offers a wide variety of treatments, including manicures/pedicures, facials and massages. It also offers an oncology massage, specifically designed to suit the individual needs of each client. Current offers include a spa day for one or two people available until June 30. You can indulge in a 25-minute massage, followed by a 25- minute facial, with access to the leisure facilities and relax room available throughout your day. Optional soup and sandwich menu add on available. It costs £80 per person or £150 for two people. A golfers tonic massage is also on offer. It is designed to target a weary body after a challenging round. This treatment provides a refreshing scrub, coupled with a massage to sooth aching muscles. Normally it costs £95, but now it is £66.50. Other treatments include: Hot stone massage and the spa's signature Ebb and flow 90 minute massage. Address: Links Parade, Carnoustie DD7 7JE The Gleneagles Hotel spa near Auchterarder in Perth promises a luxury spa day from the second you step in the door. There are various spa day packages, which begin at £180, entitling you to a two course lunch and access to the spa and health club for the duration of your visit, as well as at least 45 minutes of treatment time. The mud and steam ritual spa day involves a 45 minute self-application restorative ritual that treats the whole body. It uses Himalayan and Scottish sea salts to cleanse and exfoliate; a mud application to purify and refine and you can then relax in the private steam room before washing away all the mud to reveal silky-soft skin. The experience is then completed by applying calming body balm. A two course lunch and access to The Spa and Health Club facilities is included. It costs £180 for one or £290 for two. There is also the Gleneagles spa day and afternoon tea. You can enjoy your choice of a 50-minute spa treatment followed by afternoon tea. It costs £295. Address: Auchterarder, Perthshire Scotland PH3 1NF Crieff Hydro isn't just a place for family fun or afternoon tea with a view – it's also perfect for a spa day in Perth. Spa treatments include facials from £45, nail treatments from £30 as well as a range of bespoke hydro full body massage treatments. Victorian baths sessions are also available for two hours and cost £30 per person. There are also spa packages available. The Tranquillity spa package includes a two-hour Victorian baths session, facial and foot treatment and two-course lunch. It is available Monday to Friday and costs £130 per person. Hen Party – This package includes a manicure or pedicure, facial and a glass of fizz. It's available Monday – Friday and costs £110 per person. One or two night spa breaks are also on offer from £150 per person. Address: Strathearn House, Ferntower Rd, Crieff PH7 3LQ If you are looking for a five-star luxury Perth spa day look no further than Fonab Castle. At this spa hotel in Perth you are invited to enjoy the ambience while indulging in soothing massages, revitalising facials, and calming body treatments – all while enjoying access to the spa facilities, including hot tubs and a tranquil aroma steam room. There are various spa day packages available starting from £55. The Woodland Spa experience includes access to a 15-metre swimming pool, spa pool, sauna, aroma relax room, thermal suite, steam room and outdoor hot tubs. Packages include a spa day with afternoon tea. It offers full access to spa facilities and afternoon tea for £89.50. Various separate spa treatments are also available. Address: Foss Rd, Pitlochry PH16 5ND The Coach House has cottage-style treatment rooms where you can relax and try various facial and body treatments. The spa facilities include a hydrotherapy pool and sauna. Current spa day treatments on offer are: Summer Serenity and Summer Refresh and Revive. Summer Serenity includes: 30-minute use of the hydrotherapy pool and sauna facilities followed by either a 30-minute back, neck, and shoulder massage or a 30-minute express facial. It is available Tuesday to Thursday only, lasts 60-minutes and costs £50. Summer Refresh and Revive includes: A back exfoliation, 30-minute full body massage, citrus hand and arm massage, foot mast with double cleanse, mini-facial, full body moisturise and scalp massage. The 90-minute treatment costs £110. Address: The Avenue Kinross House Estate, Kinross KY13 8ES This iconic hotel in St Andrews is the pinnacle of luxury and is the perfect place for a Fife spa day. Kohler Waters Spa offers a relaxation pool paired with a hydrotherapy suite and a second pool to help your cares float away. There is also a sauna, steam room, experience showers, cold plunge pool, and special bathing treatment rooms. Kohler Waters Spa is currently undergoing a refurbishment and is due to re-open late summer 2025. The upgrade will include a revitalised spa café, upgraded male changing rooms and the addition of an innovative snow and sauna cabin, which will deliver the ultimate contrast therapy experience. Meantime a selection of Treatments are still available including stress-busting massages and rejuvenating facials. Treatments include The Kohler Waters Signature Massage which is a full body massage lasting 80 minutes. It costs £150. Also offered is a Golfer's Recovery Massage. This is a personalised massage designed especially for golfers, using passive stretches and golf balls for more intensive pressure where needed. It lasts 80 minutes and is priced £150. Address: Old Station Rd, St Andrews KY16 9SP The Fairmont Spa is open to non-residents every day of the week and is the perfect place to unwind. There are 10 treatment rooms, a relaxation room, 16 metre swimming pool and poolside lounge, a jacuzzi, aromatherapy steam room and sauna. The spa provides signature treatments including the bespoke 'Escape to the Hebrides' treatment, which promises to quieten the mind and relax the senses through guided breathing and therapeutic massage. The Beside The Sea Sleep Ritual helps clear the mind and switch-off. It includes a foot ritual, breathing and visualization exercises, a full body massage with hot stones and a therapeutic scalp massage. New to the offering is also Ishga's 'Tides of Change' ritual, a restorative treatment that promotes hormonal balance through abdominal massage and energy work. Day spa packages with the option to include afternoon tea are available from £110, as well as massages, facials, manicures and pedicures. Address: St Andrews, KY16 8PN The spa at Kinnettles Hotel in St Andrews offers you the chance to step into a serene sanctuary and relax. There are a number of facial and body treatments available and you get private use of the spa facilities which can be reserved when you book a treatment. The spa facilities include a jacuzzi, infrared sauna and steam room. Treatments include a full body bespoke massage, available for either 60 or 90 minutes, using Gaia oils. It costs £120 (60 mins) or £180 for 90 minutes. You can also try a Crytogenic facial which aims to firm the skin and refine the skin surface leaving it smooth, soft and rejuvenated. It lasts 60 minutes and costs £125. The full list of spa treatments for a relaxing Fife spa day is available here. Address: 127 North Street,St. Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AG
Metro
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Get over £150 of beauty products for just £45 with this LOOKFANTASTIC summer edit
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Holiday season is here, and LOOKFANTASTIC are treating us to yet another bountiful beauty box to help us get us geared up for the sunny season. The Summer Heroes Edit, a new curated beauty box from LOOKFANTASTIC, features all the skin and haircare goodies your next getaway needs, boasting the perfect mix of product sizes to enjoy. Worth over £150 but yours for just £45, this limited-edition edit is the perfect way to stock up on cult-favourite products for your next sun-soaked getaway, with four full-size and two deluxe-size heroes across skincare, sun care and haircare. Worth over £150 but yours for just £45, this limited-edition edit is the perfect way to stock up on cult-favourite products for your next sun-soaked getaway, with four full-size and two deluxe-size heroes across skincare, suncare and haircare. shop £45 (Worth Over £150) From Color Wow to Caudalie, this curated edit is chocka with labels you know and love – truly one that's not to be missed. A standout product for us is the ESPA Optimal Skin Pro Serum 30ml – a full-sized product that's ideal for bringing hydration and glow to dry, lacklustre skin. Priced at £55 alone (£10 more than the entire box), this ESPA must-have makes the Summer Heroes Edit more than a total steal. The box also contains a full-size Color Wow Pop & Lock High Gloss Finish, a top-rated product that you'll want in your holiday haircare kit. This high-gloss hair serum adds mirror-like shine to your style while providing conditioning benefits and radiance-reviving properties. More Trending Looking for the perfect hand-luggage hydration hero for beach days and beyond? The affordable edit features a deluxe-size of the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream, perfect for slipping in your bag and delivering lift and hydration when you need it. ESPA Optimal Skin Pro Serum 30ml (Full-Size) – Worth £55 Eucerin Sun Face Pigment Control SPF 50 50ml (Full-Size) – Worth £24 Iconic London Instant Sunshine Bronzing Drops 13ml(Full-Size) – Worth £22 Color Wow Pop & Lock High Gloss Finish 55ml (Full-Size)- Worth Over £22 Caudalie Beauty Elixir 30ml (Deluxe-Size) – Worth £18 Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream 25ml (Deluxe-Size) – Worth £10 Despite being a new release, shoppers are already obsessed with the LOOKFANTASTIC summer edit, calling it 'such a bargain' and the 'perfect selection'. 'I love the ESPA and Caudalie in this box,' raved one five-star reviewer. 'Both smell divine. The ESPA I used overnight and awoke to beautifully soft skin which still feels great hours later. Box is totally worth it for these 2 products and the colour wow!' Another added: 'LookFantastic, you've smashed it again! Where else will you get these well-known brands & high-quality items for such a bargain price?! Over the moon with it all!' Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below MORE: These 7 travel buys made my economy long-haul flights feel bearable MORE: From spicy margs to dirty martinis – Abercrombie's new graphic tees are a summer vibe and start at just £22 MORE: Damson Madder's cult reversible trench is finally back – but it won't stay in stock for long
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Love a luxury candle deal? These candles usually cost £37 each - here's how to get TWO for £50 before the deal ends
ESPA's soy wax candles are the go-to for the seasoned hostess, thanks to the smokeless, clean burn. And now you can shop the iconic scents for less with our exclusive offer. Described as 'blissful' by shoppers, you shop both the brand's Soothing and Restorative candles for just £50. Worth £37 each, this deal will save you £24 whilst making your home smell completely luxurious. ESPA Soothing Candle 200g You can now shop two bestselling 200g ESPA Candles for £50 (worth £37 each, saving £24) with the code ESPACANDLES. Both candles are hand-poured and made with aromatherapy oils and a soy wax to soothe and relax both the home and the mind. You have until May 28 2025 to take advantage of the offer - perfect time to shop ahead of the busy social summer season. £50 (save £24) Shop ESPA candles have long been touted as a hosting hack, filling the room with soothing scents that will impress even the trickiest of guests. Now, for a limited time only, you can snap up two ESPA candles, worth £37 each, for £50; just enter the code ESPACANDLES to redeem. But there's a catch, you have only until May 28 2025, to take advantage of the offer - perfect time to shop ahead of the busy social summer season. Offering a sense of calm and warmth in any season, candles are an inexpensive interior trick to elevating your space. And ESPA has long been regarded as offering some of the best around. Famous for their hand-poured aromatherapy soy candles, the candles are made with essential oil aromatherapy to bring the soothing scent of a luxury spa into your home. The ESPA Soothing Candle is one of the brand's bestsellers, composed with mellow Myrrh, Rose Geranium, and warm Frankincense that is a treat for the mind as much as it is for the home. Better still, as the wax originates from soybeans unlike a lot of other cheaper candles, they are free from the potentially toxic chemicals found in paraffin and have a smokeless burn. And shoppers can smell the difference, with one writing: 'The fragrance from this candle is so soothing. It provides a strong but not overwhelming smell. Creates a lovely atmosphere as part of my sleep routine.' And if you prefer more floral scents then you're going to love the ESPA Restorative Signature Blend. Filling your space with the comforting aroma of Rose Geranium, Sweet Orange and Lavender is the perfect scent to light when entertaining. One rave review wrote: 'Blissful. Smells wonderful, everyone coming into my home asks what the nice smell is.' Another agreed, adding: 'The lasting restorative enveloping scent of this candle is very comforting. Excellent quality, looks elegant in design. Would highly recommend.' You can now shop both of the ESPA bestselling candles for £50, worth £37 each, saving you a generous £24 with the code ESPACANDLES. And that's not all. ESPA has a not-to-be-missed ban holiday offer with up to 25 per cent off spring essentials plus free standard delivery with the code - FREEDEL25.
IOL News
06-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Government intervention crucial for a sustainable steel industry in South Africa
The government intervention to allow a deferral of the wind down of the AMSA Longs Business provides an opportunity for the fundamental structural issues facing the steel industry to be addressed, and to place it on a sustainable path by removing the market distortions that have been created. Image: Supplied By Tami Didiza Louis Brandeis famously coined the phrase, 'Sunlight is the best disinfectant'. Given the repeated willful misrepresentations peddled by the steel mini mill companies of the Electric Steel Producers Association (ESPA), it is in the public interest not only to set the record straight regarding their unfounded claims, but to reveal the inconvenient truth behind their operations. Before doing so, it may be useful to provide some context regarding the steelindustry. A sustainable steel industry in South Africa will be able to contribute to economic growth and job creation, support infrastructure development and contribute to the country's decarbonisation goals, while at the same time creating an opportunity for the development and export of greener steel. Unfortunately, the sustainability of the steel industry has been threatened due to national constraints such as high energy and logistics costs as well as the creation of a playing field that is not level, due to preferences such as a scrap export tax, scrap price preference system and preferential funding provided to the mini mill sector, all to the detriment of the rest of the steel industry. In light of the recent decision by ArcelorMittal South Africa regarding the closure of its Longs Business, the government has recognised the need for intervention and to work towards creating a level playing field to ensure a vibrant and competitive steel industry. It is therefore unfortunate that the recipients of these significant unfair advantages over a prolonged period should now express concerns about a 'distorted market' when funding has been made available to ArcelorMittal South Africa. The entire existence of the steel mini mills sector has come about at great cost to the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the South African taxpayer. Some R14 billion of IDC money has been poured into the founding, operations and ongoing support for ESPA members. Additionally, a number of these companies have been unable tooperate successfully and could have closed had the current dtic policies of scrap intervention though the Price Preference System, Scrap Export Tax and an export ban not saved them over the last five years. Despite government support and protective policies, a number of ESPA member companies have still gone into financial distress. In addition to the significant IDC funding these mini mills receive a scrap steel subsidy of some R5-6bn per year –all of which is effectively funded by the producers (manufacturers, fabricators, etc) and collectors of scrap. Steel mills on the coast that operate in a Special Economic Zone benefit from an additional 10% discount in addition to a 30% PPS discount. They also benefit from investment incentives such as paying no corporate tax for 10 years, along with SARS/PAYE subsidy benefits. Critically, they are also the beneficiaries of lower electricity charges and import duties on steel products in the order of at least 10%. With respect to ESPA claims of job creation, regrettably the opposite is true, an estimated 50 000 scrap collectors have lost their jobs and income merely to fund a small number of mini mills. There is no scrap shortage in South Africa. The scrap reservoir of South Africa is abundant as the historical generation of steel has always been higher than the consumption of metal. However, scrap prices have been pushed to below the cost of salvaging obsolete scrap - resulting in lower scrap supply. Scrap is often found inland dumps in remote areas as it has been made economically unviable to collect and transport it to an ESPA mini mill. Were the ESPA mini mills to offer international scrap prices of R7 000 per ton, they would find abundant scrap available. This would increase jobs and boost the competitiveness of South African manufacturing industry. Unlike publicly listed steel producers who share their operations, financials, labour, and sustainability practices through public records and annual integrated reports, ESPA companies operate without publishing their results or opening their operations to public review. In addition to financial and operating aspects of ESPA mini mills that merit further examination, some questions have emerged about potential anti-competitive conduct that may warrant attention from relevant authorities. Greater transparency in the protected mini mill steel sector could potentially benefit the entire South African steel industry value chain, as well as consumers and taxpayers. It should be noted that mini mills are largely utilising scrap that can be used to support the country's decarbonisation efforts to produce largely low value products. In essence, the mini mills are induction furnaces with simple and basic technology in scrap melting that produces lower value-added products such as rebar and a limited range of commercial quality sections, which cannot be used for critical engineering applications. The limited product range is often exported as billets – in effect, this uses valuable electricity to make a product that is exported and beneficiated outside of the country, instead of maximising local beneficiation. The government intervention to allow a deferral of the wind down of the AMSA Longs Business provides an opportunity for the fundamental structural issues facing the steel industry to be addressed, and to place it on a sustainable path by removing the market distortions that have been created. Tami Didiza ArcelorMittal South Africa Group Manager for Stakeholder Management and Communications Image: Supplied Tami Didiza is ArcelorMittal South Africa's group manager for stakeholder management and communications. BUSINESS REPORT
Asia Times
05-05-2025
- Business
- Asia Times
Japan sets the pace for private sector economic security management
Japan continues to pace like-minded governments when making economic security policy. Successive administrations in Tokyo have made economic security a priority, passing legislation and adjusting the bureaucracy to realize those ambitions. Those efforts continue. Governments concerned about economic security should be studying Japan's efforts and work with Tokyo to address these challenges. Only concerted efforts by countries alone and together can ensure economic security. Of special significance are increasing efforts by the government to work with the private sector to increase awareness of economic security and hone private businesses' response to this challenge. These efforts, too, are pacing the world. Japan, like other countries, has been forced to address threats to economic security. Its consciousness of those dangers preceded that of other governments. The country was subject to economic coercion – a cutoff of important rare earths exports from China – in 2010 after the arrest of a Chinese fishing boat captain who illegally entered the waters surrounding the Senkaku islands. That incident shook Japanese decision-makers. More significantly, it wasn't a one-off: Economic coercion became an increasingly frequent and favored tactic of Beijing. The first step in the promotion of economic security by Tokyo was the creation in 2020 of an economic bureau in the National Security Secretariat. This move prompted ministries throughout the government to prioritize economic security as well; many of them established economic security offices to focus efforts. Fumio Kishida, then the prime minister, picked up the pace during his administration. He made economic security a pillar of his government's growth strategy; his seriousness was clear in October 2022 when he established the position of minister in charge of economic security in his cabinet. The same year, Japan passed the Economic Security Promotion Act (ESPA) with the aim of promoting Japan's economic security by ensuring its strategic autonomy and indispensability. The legislation has four pillars: ensuring a stable supply of specific critical materials, securing the stable provision of critical infrastructure, supporting the development of specific critical technologies, and implementing a secret patent system. Building on the first pillar, manufacturers of certain materials – which have been categorized as 'critical' based on their importance for the survival of the Japanese population, dependence on foreign suppliers and the risks of supply chain disruption due to foreign actions – are encouraged to submit stable supply plans to the government. If a manufacturer's plan is approved, it receives subsidies to offset some of the costs of applying that plan. By June 2024, 85 plans related to semiconductors, batteries, machine tools, fertilizers and antimicrobial substances had been certified, with subsidies totaling $6 billion. As for the second pillar, over 200 companies across 15 sectors, including energy, logistics and finance, have been designated as critical infrastructure companies. These companies must undergo government review when implementing critical information systems, providing detailed supplier information down to the end of the supply chain and reporting on risk management measures. The government can then demand improvements in risk mitigation strategies or changes in suppliers. Some regulatory agencies have even requested the exclusion of Chinese and Russian companies from supply chains. Regarding the third pillar, Japan has identified 50 crtiical technology areas including maritime, space, aviation, cyberspace and biotechnology sectors and has allocated approximately $3.5 billion for research and development support. The last pillar of ESPA, the secret patent system, covers fields such as aircraft stealth and concealment technologies, attack and defense systems for submarines and technologies related to the disassembly and reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel and heavy water, which could cause substantial harm to Japan's public life and economic activities. Twenty-five technology fields have been identified, and when companies or research institutions file for patents in these areas the government can designate the technical content that needs to be preserved and not applied in commercial use, compensating for any losses resulting from the restrictions. This system has been operational since May 2024. Another critical economic security policy is the security clearance system based on the Act on the Protection and Utilization of Critical Economic Security Information, which was passed in May 2024. This system expands the scope of protected information beyond the traditional realms of defense and diplomacy to include economic security-related data. This will strengthen Japan's ability to manage and share sensitive information. Japan is also actively updating existing policies to enhance economic security. A notable example is the recent revision of the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act (FEFTA), which now includes new regulations requiring certain technology transfers abroad to be reported to the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI). This change is a direct response to incidents in which Japanese-developed technologies were utilized in ways that could jeopardize national security. METI's recent public tender from the Economic Security Policy Division of the Trade and Economic Security Bureau reflects the Japanese government's commitment to engaging the private sector more fully to address economic security challenges. The government intends to establish an economic security code of conduct for businesses. While the specifics of this code are not yet available, broad guidelines that extend beyond the ESPA could lead to increased investments among the private sector in critical areas such as supply chain resilience, information protection and open-source intelligence. Given the collaborative culture of Japanese companies' interaction with authorities, any guidelines published by METI are likely to become the standard for economic security management among Japanese firms. As a result, major Japanese global corporations will likely require non-Japanese supply chain partners to adhere to these guidelines as well. Consequently, this new policy from the Japanese government could soon give rise to a 'Tokyo effect' in economic security management within the private sector with international consequences, shaping not only Japanese multinational companies but all their contractors as well. That would be good for Japan and for countries that emulate it. Shotaro Nagino ( is a Young Leader at Pacific Forum and a senior manager at a global consulting firm in Tokyo, where he leads economic security consulting and engages with the global business and academic communities in policy research and assessment, corporate strategy formulation, organizational design and reform. Brad Glosserman (brad@ is deputy director at the Center for Rule-Making Strategies, Tama University and senior advisor at Pacific Forum.
