Health: Omorovicza Deep Cleansing and Pore Refining Facial at Aspen North, Edinburgh

Sales shopping? If you feel your blood pressure rocketing as someone barges past you to swipe the last of the discounted cashmere sweaters, I suggest that you take a deep breath.

Then head downhill to Aspen North, which is just a five-minute walk from Princes Street.

This compact space is a calm little grotto, which consists of a shop (selling cosmetics and jewellery) plus an adjoining therapy room.

The owner of this independent salon, Nadia Toland, has just launched a range of beauty treatments from the cult Hungarian beauty line, Omorovicza. She discovered them while on holiday in Budapest, and was totally sold on their preparations, which contain a mixture of botanical extracts and local minerals.

The brand must have impressed others too, as it's soon to be stocked in Harvey Nichols and Space NK. Nadia got there first, however, and I'm keen to try out her 90-minute Deep Cleansing and Pore Refining Facial.

Once I've taken my position, prostrate on the fluffy treatment bed, Nadia asks me to inhale a blast of Queen of Hungary mist. This pick-me-up product, which contains rosemary, sage and orange blossom, is based on a 14th-century beauty recipe that was originally made for Queen Elizabeth of Hungary.

Next, my skin is cleansed and toned before Nadia sloughs off any dead skin cells with Gentle Buffing Cleanser. According to the literature, this contains diatomaceous earth, as well as pineapple, rosemary and white pepper extracts. After this is steamed off with warm flannels, Nadia applies a layer of Deep Cleansing Mask. This product contains another interesting ingredient - Hungarian moor mud, which is supposed to help reduce the size of pores. While this tingles on my face, my hands and arms are gently massaged with Gold Shimmer Oil, which leaves skin with a subtle sheen.

Then it's time for the rich mask to be removed, before my skin is moisturised with serum, eye-cream and a balm that smells of marzipan. There's lots of facial massage at this point, which seemed to encourage my skin to absorb the products.

Afterwards, my cheeks looked rather flushed, so I can only guess that my circulation had been given a kick-start. It also felt slightly softer than that cashmere sweater you missed out on in the sales.

Omorovicza Deep Cleansing and Pore Refining Facial, 70 for 90 minutes, Aspen North (7 Dundonald Street, Edinburgh, 0131-558 1855).

• This article was first published in The Scotsman on January 15, 2011