Have you heard of a lounge bar dedicated to serving ladies only? A place where you could go to confide your deepest secrets and get the best over-the-counter advice, without having to consume all those unnecessary calories that you will regret with certainty the next morning and never having to worry about the walk of shame but rather you walk out glowing, literally. I always wondered what that might be like, until I was told a story. ‘A Skin Story.’ By a very charming young storyteller who has brought this new concept lounge bar to our very doorstep right here in Bandra.
Nikeeta Vishak had a fabulous idea, to give women the kind of lounge bar that they had been longing for, whilst some didn’t even know that was what they needed. Her facial lounge or facial bar, a one-of-a-kind concept, first in Mumbai, is called ‘Skin Story’ and specializes in artisan facials that are designed and individually customized for women, whether they have troubled skin, sensitive or seasonally affected skin or even if they have flawless complexions and would like to ensure it remains that way.
Nikeeta, holds a degree and diploma in esthetics CIDESCO/ CIBTAC from New York and Mumbai, she believes that women spend far more attention on their hair while sidelining what should be of utmost importance, our faces. Every one of us who has had a zit or a pimple growing up or even in our adulthood know how disheartening it is as we make a beeline to a dermatologist or to find the right concealer to hide this harsh reality.
At Skin Story, you will not only be guaranteed a facial treatment customized for your skin type but also a royal experience that will ensure you never want to take off that crown. (Now that’s something that will surely make the men jealous.) With exquisitely designed and well-maintained interiors, they are easily located at the junction of Pali market and Ambedkar road, which is often referred to as ‘Pali Naka’ though finding parking around here may prove to be quite daunting.
The products used by Skin Story are from the popular French Luxury brand – Thalgo, which are completely marine based products. I’m sure you’ve read the research by now and are quite aware that ocean plants have anti-ageing and other nutritional benefits and the varied importance of marine based skin care products. The Thalgo range of products are available at many spas in and around the city but it’s likely to cost you an arm and a leg. Whereas this esthetician has decided to keep it affordable, as it shouldn’t be treated as a once-in-a-blue-moon experience, she believes that our faces require constant care coupled with the correct skin care regimes, which she is quick to tailor make for you. Moreover the treatments here are 100 percent hygienic, with everything that is used being either sterilized or disposable assuring that you’re in the hands of skilled therapists while your eyes are closed.
I confess to being one of those women who prefers to let her dermatologist pinch and poke her face, as I believed that they know best. However, a little TLC, a light spray and a gentle scrub that give you the benefits of the sea may have just transformed me. And since it’s easy on the pocket (treatments start from 1300 INR), which is almost hard to believe, you can easily accommodate these affordable luxurious rituals into your regular skin and beauty regime.
Quick tip: These treatments also make for great gifts!
Francesca Mascarenhas is a travel enthusiast and a freelance writer. Her love for adventure and eclectic view on life encourages her to explore the world collecting countless stories to tell and memories to frame. For a little insight into her world log on to thechicaway.com
