When you think of all things French and wonderful, what comes to mind first? Beauty, of course. The next logical question: Where is beauty without skin care? After all, isn't beauty skin deep? Right, now this is why Clarins Skin Spa ensures a spa experience (The tagline reads, “Science, Experience, Senses”) that indulges all your five senses for total well-being.
I walked in for a facial. No it's not something that involves precious metals or gems or even fruits or herbs. It fills in the gaping holes that your skin reveals after thorough examination by the Clarins therapist who figures out what your skin needs and asks you what you think the facial should offer you. Only then is the customised facial chosen among treatments like “The Youth Restorative”, “The Moisture Replenisher”, “The Skin Healer”, “The Lifting Face Shaper” or “The Radiance Reviver”.
Clarins believes in “hands and plants”, which means that their ingredients are all plant extracts and that the therapist only uses her hands to gently massage and treat your skin rather than use any machines or procedures that may harm the skin in the long run. Their speciality lies in their customised pro formulas for your skin type during the treatment.
For example, there are three main oils that are used in a facial — “Orchid Blue” with 100 per cent orchid extracts for hydration, “Santal” with cardamom essence for dry or sensitive skin and “Lotus oil” with lotus flower extracts for combination or oily skin in order to rebalance it.
The treatment itself begins with exfoliation with plant-based peeling lotions, draining and then the application of the aforementioned specific type of oil with the custom-blended pro-formula supplements before the mask and finally, the massage. The main ingredients in my (recommended) hydration therapy were “Katafray”, “Sea Lily” and “Raspberry extracts”. Apart from smelling and feeling wonderful, as a part of Clarins' five-senses tantalising target, they really did leave my skin gentle and glowing. Not to mention- the lulling music, the mood-lighting or even the spotlessly practical rooms and the thoughtful cup of green tea to top it all.
Clarins also offers similar body treatments like “The Figure Shaper”, “The Super Hydrator”, “The Anti-Ageing Special”, apart from their signature massages like the “Chill out Massage” and the “Wake Up” massage and a body exfoliating treatment.
There are also specific treatments for the eyes, neck and shoulder, back, waist and legs. Clarins even offers specific facials and eye treatments for men. Treatments begin at Rs. 1425.