Uniquely Organic Eco-spa, Brighton

'Organic' spas are few and far between, but even if you're not a card-carrying member of the Green party, this Hove-based spa is so worth a pilgrimage. (And at Beauty Bible, we truly applaud the efforts of spas and salons to tread a little - or in this case, a lot - more lightly on the planet.) At Uniquely Organic, they stock only organic ranges: Balm Balm, Acorelle natural fragrances (definitely worth sniffing out), including Pinks Boutique, a range we really, really love), furniture is Fairtrade, and eco-paints have been used in the decor. (Which is deeply, deeply restful: feel that blood pressure drop, once you descend the stairs to the treatment rooms...)

The staff are not only extremely competent, technically, but they really do tune into the treatment, rather than just going through the motions. (We've all had treatments like that. Actually, the Beauty Bible team has had more treatments like that than most, and these days we're off the couch and out of the door when it happens, trailing apologies. But life's too short to lie with your face in a be-towelled couch-hole, festering at the therapist's not-much-more-than-a-tickle effleurage.)

The spa was founded by Kirsty Taylor, who actually graduated with a B.Sc in cosmetic science but went down the natural beauty route after writing her final dissertation on organic cosmetics, and finding her passion in life.

The particular treatment that we enjoyed was the fab Pinks Boutique Eco-Chic Facial (from £38 for 30 mins) which incorporates this all-organic range's cleanser, gentle exfoliator and and facial oil in a really hands-on treatment that totally zaps facial tension, but also gets right into those knotty bits in the shoulders. (And the treatment we've got our hearts set on next time we're Hove-bound? Their Muladhara Chakrosanct massage, a deep, grounding treatment which works on the body's digestive system, immune system and general energy levels.)

The spa also sends out rather a good newsletter. If you're inbox is anything like ours, you're pretty inundated with e-communications, but Kirsty puts a lot of thought into hers. A recent favourite of ours focused on how to stop frustratedly repeating the same message, all the time - for instance, 'It's so infuriating; they just don't understand...' - and writing a new script, and also featured a wonderful quote from Buddha: 'Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned...'

They call it 'indulgence with a conscience'.

We call it: 'Entirely guilt-free pampering.'

U niquely Organic EcoSpa, 40 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 2FN/01273-726973 www.uoecospa.com