The new soothing Nirvana Glow Facial at Lakme Salon

I really am impatient, especially when it comes to reviving my inner calm and outer glow. I know I could spend hours meditating, and deep breathing for that. But what does a busy girl like me do when she needs to turn up with a glowing skin, and inner calm in a day’s notice?

Sign up for a session of Lakme’s new Nirvana Glow Facial, of course! I rushed to the nearest Lakme Salon and asked for the whole works — a mind-body balancing therapy based on face reflexology, acupressure, aromatherapy, and skin treatment with active skin brightening products. That’s what the brochure said, but on enquiry I found that my 2 hour long treatment included facial, body massage, head massage, shampoo, and blow dry — the whole works.

I was justifiably thrilled. In the therapy room I took in the soft mood lifting aroma as the therapist cleansed my face and scrubbed it gently with an exfoliator. To improve the tone, and feed my dry skin, she used a cool, tingling hydrating mask and massaged in the Glow serum. Then came the fun bit when I was made to choose the aroma oil that best defined my mood at the time — you get four options: floral, calming, balancer, mood uplifter. I picked calming, and my therapist was quick to note my actual state of mind. It was impressive. Then came the actual face reflexology massage with tapping, kneading, friction and de-stressing strokes — I recommend it for those looking for a truly new facial experience. This was followed by the hands and feet acupressure and the Oriental Bundle Poultice Massage for the back. By the time I was given the head massage I had drifted into a tranquil space.

As I stepped out after my treatment, I knew I would be heading back there again soon for my monthly calming session.

Lakme Salons. www.lakme.com. Price: Rs 2,900.