The Retreat At Blue Lagoon Iceland Is A Transformative Trip

I came.

I saw.

I conquered my cortisol.

Earlier this year, I had the enormous pleasure to visit The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland, while on a Viking Cruise. I have to say, it was the highlight of my trip and an upscale experience that I highly recommend.

Now, most people visit The Blue Lagoon and call it a day. The Blue Lagoon, in fact, is an enticing body of water that is one of the wonders of the world.

But if you are seeking some enchanted enclave – I suggest that you visit The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland, which is a secluded epicenter of luxury relaxation and rejuvenation (and where you will also experience the super products of Blue Lagoon Skincare. More on that in a minute. But did you know — every 20 seconds, someone worldwide experiences the power of their iconic Silica Mask? I’d like to give a toast to that — Here’s mud in your eye!)

Award-winning, The Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland, in Grindavík, to exactly clarify, consists of

The Retreat Hotel

The 62-suite Retreat Spa

The Retreat Lagoon

Moss Restaurant

And Spa Restaurant.

The Retreat is not on the land – it is OF the land. As I was told, when built, it was to preserve the bond between man and nature. The architects were guided by the principle that structure and geology should become one – unified by the convergence of form, function, and the volcanic earth. So here is the dirt on that: The guiding principle was harmony and not contrast. All shapes, colors and materials were conceived for the synthesis with the landscape, where modernist lines converge with the natural patterns of the surrounding environment to erase the boundary between interior and exterior.

So now let’s talk about the H2-Oh! And yes, it is an “Oh!” The waters here are unique in all of Iceland. The seawater here is an excess resource stream in the harvesting and production of geothermal energy. No other mineral-rich lagoon or hot spring is composed of geothermal seawater. The waters’ terrific Trifecta of three elements are silica, algae and minerals. The beneficial effects of these elements have been researched and documented by Blue Lagoon’s team of scientists at the company’s research and development facility, which I had the privilege to visit, and where I conducted an exclusive interview for Forbes.com. (More on that in a minute too.)

Iceland itself is a 20-million-year-old volcanic island on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at the edge of the Arctic Circle —and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is the seam in the earth’s crust where two tectonic plates – the North American and the Eurasian – are slowly spreading apart, releasing the planet’s molten energy. This is the source of Iceland’s volcanism.

My visit at The Retreat At Blue Lagoon started with a lunch at its Michelin-starred Moss Restaurant. Here, I deliciously dined on gorgeous gazpacho that is typically offered with a daily selection of caviar – then I joyed a yummy hummus and crackers. I accented this appetizer with two healthy drinks — ginger shots called “Fresh Forever,” made with juices of carrots, oranges, apples, and ginger. It was terrific. It was complemented with a cod in a special mussel sauce and grilled broccolini. Dessert? It was Japanese strawberries accented with Icelandic skyr, almonds, basil, and chocolate. In fact, I wrote in my notebook that I wished every strawberry that I ate in my life was this lusciously lip-smacking.

Then I headed to the changing room-for-two. It was the size of most New York studio apartments, and luxe from the get-go, complete with double dinner-plate-sized shower heads, a blow dryer and flatiron, robes, and sample kit of Blue Lagoon Skincare products. One thing to note: Yes, the layout does replicate the land, and it is very very dark inside this part of the location. It features deep-gray-concrete walls, and it is cavernous and dimly lit. I actually found the halls inside a bit too dark. But the outdoor spaces are light and bright, making it so fun to take a dip in the geothermal waters. (But I have to tell you – I was there in June, and it was really really cold outside. I wore my bathing suit under my robe, and had to very quickly disrobe and jump into the warm waters so I could avoid the wind.)

Next, it was time to be buffed and sloughed. The subterranean spa here offers a wealth of natural-wonder facials, such as the seven-part Deluxe Facial that includes surface and deep cleansing, hot-stone massage of your face, neck, and shoulders, cold Gua Sha to boost circulation and skin function, a mask chosen specifically for your skin type, head massage, serum and cream. Other services include an in-water massage including one with a full-body silica salt scrub, and float therapy so you can experience weightlessness and gentle bodywork. It is drippingly deluxe.

There are several welcoming areas for relaxation, which, thankfully, are dark, and you can also take advantage of the Mask Bar and so much more.

Beforehand, I conducted an extensive interview at the Research and Development facility for Blue Lagoon Skincare, which is the signature product line of the Retreat Spa and has a fascinating history. In the early 1980s, local residents who bathed in the warm blue reservoir discovered that it helped with psoriasis. I was told that the privately held Blue Lagoon Ltd. was founded in 1992 by CEO Grímur Sæmundsen, a doctor from Reykjavík who saw the enormous potential in the waters, so he then started a free medical clinic there. “It all started with a shed in the Silica Hotel,” said one of the scientists, Ása Brynjólfsdóttir, who I interviewed at length. A team of scientists researched and developed the Blue Lagoon Skincare line and it has been the subject of more than 20-peer-reviewed papers. This is science-backed skincare that I would say it is on a par with Augustinus Bader and Dr. Barbara Sturm, two very luxurious skincare brands.

My favorite product is the award-winning BL+ Eye Serum — This roller rocks! Elle magazine called it a “Green Beauty Star” and among other things, in 2022 it was an Allure Magazine “Best of Beauty.”

What makes it special, unique and different? This refined formula is powered by BL+ COMPLEX designed to intensely hydrate your eyes, containing bioactives that target dark circles, promote collagen production, prevent UV-induced collagen degradation, fight against environmental aggressors, and reduce free radical damage. The roller is an advanced delivery system designed to penetrate deep into the skin. It contains niacinamide (a water-soluble form of Vitamin B3), ceramides, squalane and hyaluronic acid to “plump up the volume” in your face. I have to say, this water-based formula is a wow, and I have found that it really minimizes the bags under my eyes, making them appear more youthful.

The Retreat starts at $1,899 USD per night, while Silica Hotel starts at $826 USD per night. For a day visit at The Retreat Spa, prices vary depending on the selected time of your admission.

All in all, you will be saturated with silken service.

For more about my Wanderlust and Wellness travels, please Follow me on Instagram at @DebbiKickham.