From hands rubbed raw from constant washing and sanitizing, to maskne and spotting new wrinkles as you stare at yourself on Zoom, many people are breathing a sigh of relief that beauty salons may be allowed to open their doors from April 12.

Here’s a few of the top-rated salons in our area that you may like to support.

Cedar Therapy is a chain of luxury salons offering a huge range of options including facials from CACI, Murad, Decleor and Guinot and massages with Aromatherapy Associates oils. Specialities include lash extensions, lash lifts and brow lamination. At their Deddington salon, they have an HD Brows stylist who uses a brow mapping programme to design new brows for you. They also have salons in Bloxham and Chipping Norton.

Monera Health and Beauty Clinic in Thame is a stylish modern salon set within a character building with exposed beams. As well as a variety of lifting and tightening anti-ageing facials, they also offer peels and dermaplaning – gently exfoliating the skin using a sterile scalpel. It might be time to try their Celebration Time package which includes a Swedish back and shoulder massage and a Jessica Express manicure for £58.

Aesthetic NV, within Summertown barbers, is offering a range of discounts on Swedish and deep tissue massages for NHS staff. There’s also dermaplaning and micro-needling – a treatment beloved of A-listers where the skin is pierced to stimulate collagen production and give a fresher appearance. The team have over 16 years’ experience and use the top brand Elemis products.

Utopia in Abingdon is a multi-award winning salon which offers spa experiences called Silks and Saffron (a massage with saffron balm), Eastern Shells (a gentle massage using warmed shells) and Mediterranean Light (massage using a balm warmed by a candle). As well as Botox, fillers and peels, they will shortly add a body contouring treatment that breaks down fat cells allowing the liquid fat to be removed from the body. It was voted Business of the Year in Abingdon five times and third most loved beauty salon in the UK three times.

Founded in 2013, The Little Beautique is a multi-award winning luxury beauty salon in Witney. Voted the Muddy Stilettos winner of Best Beauty Salon in Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire 2017, they offer waxing, microblading (semi-permanent tattooing for brows), body sculpting, brows and lashes treatments and facial treatments. They also offer a pay later plan.

Angel Beauty Parlour in Oxford’s Westgate Shopping Centre receives rave reviews for its acrylic nail extensions and eyebrow threading from £6. Other popular treatments are leg and underarm wax and a Shellac polish from £20. Therapists Sandhya, Manpreet and Heena are described as very friendly and professional. They also do henna tattooing from £8.

Finally, at Great Tew near Chipping Norton is the Cowshed Spa at Soho Farmhouse. It has 13 treatment rooms and four mani-pedi chairs. The spa uses natural treatments and offers facials, massages and body therapies. From their daybeds you can look out over the lake where there is a hidden island with steam room, sauna, restorative ice shed and hot tub with telephone to call for cocktails. Sadly it’s reserved for Soho House members and Farm guests.