Getting the Glow at the Blue Lagoon
On our last day in Iceland, we opted for a "treat yo self" kind of travel moment and booked an afternoon at The Blue Lagoon, Iceland's renowned spa destination. It was the perfect respite after an intense week of roadtripping around the country. And despite a few hiccups ahead of our arrival (lost iPhone, anyone?), we managed to squeeze in a good few hours chilling in its silica-fused waters before our evening flight.
We booked our tickets (like everything else for Iceland) a few months in advance. I highly recommend this because popular Icelandic destinations like The Blue Lagoon book up fast. And if you can afford it, splurge on the Comfort tickets because you'll not only get a towel (which, like us, you're likely to forget) but two face masks and a beer. But don't expect a boozy spa session; there's a three drink limit per guest to ensure it doesn't turn into a British-stag-do kind of affair.
You're checked in relatively quickly and can move on to secure your belongings in the locker room. Sadly, I wasted a very precious 20 minutes waiting for someone to empty her locker only to discover rows and rows more as I headed to the showers. So be sure to wander around to find an empty locker. Once you're feeling squeaky clean, you're ready for your dip in those swirly blue waters.
I'll admit, once outside, it took us a few minutes to muster up the courage to strip down to our swimsuits (wooly hats still on) and face the bitter cold before diving into the lagoon.
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But with little time to waste, we mapped out our itinerary for the afternoon: a swim round the lagoon, a trip to the high pressure waterfalls for a good back massage, face-masking, a quick stop at the sauna and steam rooms and a final stop at the bar.
I could hardly contain my excitement at the face mask station. With the Comfort ticket, you're entitled to both the 1) silica mud mask - a mask made almost purely of silica straight from the lagoon and 2) the algae mask made of geothermal waters and algae that grows in the lagoon well. Both are collagen-inducing and help bring life to dull skin. We left them on for about 10 minutes each, washed them off right in the lagoon and then admired our glowing and silky-soft skin.
The silica and algae that naturally thrive in the lagoon's geothermal waters are surfaced from 2,000 metres below the ground and also account for the water's vibrant blue hue.
Unfortunately, these babies also wreak havoc on your hair so try and avoid getting it wet if you can. I didn't of course, but I doused my hair in the Blue Lagoon's brand-own conditioner (which smells divine) to try and re-nourish it straight away.
I know you'll find countless reviews that say that the Blue Lagoon isn't worth the hype or the money. And whilst I agree it's overpriced, I do think it's worth a visit. It's a fun, unique and indulgent day out, and if you're lucky enough to get some sunshine in combination with high algae levels, you'll be left in genuine awe of that remarkable baby blue water.
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In fact I wish we've planned a much longer day, so if you've got a full day to spare in Iceland, consider booking an early morning ticket and savouring the lagoon all day. There's no restriction on how long you stay and not having to rush means you make the most of your money and also truly unwind. And that’s what holidays are for.
You're also guaranteed to leave looking as fresh-faced as us!
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