Amara facial for men

What I tried: A marine active purifying facial at the Amara spa at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Dubai (Dh560 for 90 minutes). What I expected: After a certain age, it's hard to find a new experience that doesn't involve a Ford Mustang and a pair of flippers. I was willing to try a facial, although had managed to cope perfectly well for more than 45 years without one. I thought it might be painful, but most likely, excruciatingly boring. What I found: A very nice fellow called Mohammed who invited me to lie on my back in a darkened room and then proceeded to cleanse, tone, steam and cover me in creams. He also squeezed my nose quite painfully. I realised that nobody else had ever touched my nose, except perhaps my mother when I was a toddler. Then he mixed up some green stuff in a bowl and smeared it all over my face. It felt like a death mask. He had left a couple of little holes for me to breathe through, which was awfully kind of him. While the mask was solidifying on my face he gave me a shoulder massage, which was most pleasant. The final verdict: It was certainly the best facial I have ever had. I am told that some men in Dubai have facials once a month. This is excessive. As I came to the end of the treatment, I decided that as I had waited 47 years for my first facial, I might as well wait another 47 for the second. I hope Mohammed is still around to make my 94-year-old skin fresh and lithe again. But it was an enjoyable, if at times painful experience, and you do come out feeling that your face is very clean. The worst thing was the music: how anyone listens to all those dreary wind chimes all day is beyond me. Why not something a bit livelier, such as Talking Heads, or even perhaps Lloyd Cole And The Commotions' Perfect Skin?

www.theoutnet.com Fans of the shopping site www.net-a-porter.com will love its newly launched sister site www.theoutnet.com, which carries discounts of 40 to 60 per cent on designer goods and delivers worldwide, including to the UAE. We found a pair of Christian Louboutin pumps for 60 per cent off; a Zac Posen cocktail dress for 50 per cent off; and an Anya Hindmarch clutch for 40 per cent off. Besides being able to search by designer or item, we love the "Dress Me" function, which has suggestions for various events such as "meet the parents", "board meeting" and "weekend evening". Also watch for their 72-hour pop-up sales, with discounts of up to 80 per cent.

Why buy Tupperware when you can store your food in the deli containers you get at most SUPERMARKETS here? Marked "microwave safe", we've been using them to bring our lunches to the office. Just make sure you wrap them in a plastic bag, because they are more prone to leaking.