It might seem unlikely in the midst of Christmas shopping mania, but nestled just a few streets back from the madness that is Oxford Circus lies one of London's hottest wellness destinations. We mean 'hottest' in both the literal and figurative sense, because the site in question is none other than Glow Bar, a wellness café, meets infrared sauna spot.
This small destination has been reeling in the likes of Irina Shayk(she even logged a visit on her Instagram stories) and Doutzen Kroes, and considering they have the pick of the bunch when it comes to luxury facials and VIP-worthy spas, this is no mean feat. So what exactly is an infrared sauna, and why are the A-listers going mad for them?
Infrared Saunas Explained
As the team behind Glow Bar explain, 'sweating as a means of healing has been used for centuries in cultures from South America to India. Using the most modern of technologies, infrared saunas allow you to have a similar healing experience with even more benefits.' Without getting too techy, infrared lights are used to emit radiant heat in these saunas.
This sort of heat can penetrate deeper into the skin than that of your everyday steam-based sauna, and it's this point of difference that implies the benefits of an infrared sauna. Several studies have indicated that regular infrared saunas can improve the appearance of skin, help to lower high blood pressure and even lessen the pain of rheumatoid arthritis. They have also been shown to lift your mood, boosting endorphin levels and lowering cortisol levels. Whilst we're not talking about a star-spangled miracle worker here, the pick-me-up factor is a serious draw, and you can see why the Hollywood elite have been booking in.
Visit The Café
Whilst the sauna section resides in the lower ground level of the Glow Bar, a supremely aesthetically pleasing café takes up pride of place on the ground floor.
Packed with wellness supplements from the Glow Bar range that you can purchase alongside a Moon Shake, or whatever else you fancy from the menu of gut friendly food and beverages, and laced with twinkling crystals that chime in perfectly with the millennial pink walls, the café is a soothing and calming spot you'll be drawn to time after time, with or without a sauna appointment.
Keen to visit Glow Bar? Head to 70 Mortimer Street, London, W1W 7RY, and click here to book an appointment.
Why not boost the benefits of your infrared sauna visit by trying a face mask? The heat allows all the good stuff to work its magic even deeper into your skin. Shop a few of our favourite sheet versions below.
Shop: A Few Of Our Favourite Sheet Masks
The BEST high-street face and eye masks
1 of 10Sand & Sky Australian Pink Clay Porefining Face Mask
Despite its small pot, this face mask is defo worth the price. After continual use, you'll notice a difference in your pores and your skin will look brighter and more even.
£34.00
- Rrp: £36.90
2 of 10Wake Skincare Face Mask
Run yourself a bath and let the clay mask soak into your skin. As soon as you rinse this off your face, it'll instantly feel smoother. Plus, the packaging is simply stunning!
3 of 10Banobagi Milk Thistle Repair Mask
Milk thistle extract is a pretty big deal, which is why we love this face mask. It's packed with antioxidants to protect the skin from free radicals and pollutants and can protect against UVA/UVB damage. This mask brightens the skin, is anti-inflammatory, repairs the skin barrier for a more youthful look and is suitable for all skin types.
4 of 10Too Cool For School Coconut Oil Serum Eye Patch
Need to combat dark, tired under-eye circles? These jelly-textured hydrogel eye patches do all the hard work to reduce puffiness and signs of fatigue.
5 of 10Murad Hydro-Glow Aqua Peel (4 pack)
Murad's luxurious two-step masks come with a retexturising swab which works to gently exfoliate the surface layer of skin before you relax with your mask; perfect for tired skin.
6 of 10MUDMASKY Facial Detox Purifying Recovery Mask
This mud mask from MUDMASKY is a bit of a wonder product - there's nothing it can't do. It refines pores, hydrates skin, slows down the ageing process, brightens and smoothes, leaving you feeling gloriously glowy. Perfect for those who dream of no-make-up-make-up, a little really goes a long way.
7 of 107th Heaven Pack of 12 '24 Hour Hydration' CBD Infused Bamboo Sheet Facial Mask
If you love a sheet mask, you can't go wrong with 7th Heaven. These new hydrating 24 hour hydration masks have been infused with a nourishing blend of vitamin E, CBD oil and sweet almond oil to calm and relieve fatigued skin. The masks are biodegradable, cruelty-free and dermatologically tested.
8 of 10Spacemasks Self-Heating Eye Mask - 5 pack
These ingenious self warming eye-masks will make you feel totally zen - and their cool design means you'll even be happy wearing them in public - perfect for long haul flights.
9 of 10Seoulista Beauty Gold Glow Instant Facial
If you don't have time for a facial, this pampering face mask will become your best friend. And infused with primrose oil and rose extract, it smells great.
10 of 10Tonymoly I'm Aloe Sheet Mask
Enriched with soothing aloe extract, this mask from super-cute South Korean beauty brand, Tony Moly is a saviour when you've stayed out in the sun for too long. Which is fab if you're jetting off for some winter sun!
READ MORE: The £44 Face Mask That Makes Chrissy Teigen's Skin Glow