Of Parisian Proposals & Enchanted Fables: Marry Me!

November 26, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The sparkling refreshing of the Pont de Arts, the playful intimacy of Café de Flore, the seductive glamour of Montmarte, the chic romanticism of the Luxembourg gardens… Lanvin has bottled the very essence of a Parisian romance in Marry Me! Replete with Tunisian bitter orange, Sambac jasmine, peach, jasmine tea, magnolia, rose petals, amber and musk, this fruity-floral is both fresh and delicate – the perfect embodiment of a love story.

Lanvin is a house that’s always handled relationships beautifully – which is not at all surprising given its heritage, which is woven within the label’s very fabric and identitiy. For example, read this note written by Roja Dove in The Essence of Perfume:

Jeanne Lanvin started her career as a milliner and opened her own business in 1885 with the money she had worked so hard to earn, including a gold coin known as a Louis, before starting to create clothes. Her house became one of the most refined of all the couturier houses and adopted the blue used in the paintings of Fra Angelico as its house colour. She had a daughter Marguerite on whom she doted, who married and became Marie-Blanche, Countess de Polignac. Jeanne immortalised her in the logo created by Paul Iribe showing the mother bending down towards her daughter.

She entered the perfumery world very early on, but Parfums Lanvin came into being with the liaison she formed with Andre Fraysse, who created one of the most perfect of all compositions, . It was very personal and very important for Lanvin as she commissioned it as a birthday gift for her daughter Marie-Blanche – again the doting mother bending down to give a gift. The role was reversed when Jeanne Lanvin died, as Marie-Blanche bent down at her mother’s coffin to place the gold Louis, which Jeanne had worked so hard to own, back in her mother’s hand.

Price: Rs. 3,300 for 50 ml / US$70 for 50 ml


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Spaaaah: Spirit of Ayurveda at the Trident

November 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

THE RITUAL: SPIRIT OF AYURVEDA, 150 MINUTES

THE LOCATION: SPA & FITNESS CENTRE, THE TRIDENT, MUMBAI

Practiced in India for thousands of years, Ayurveda is known for its holistic approach to wellness. And the Trident’s luxurious ritual takes this up a notch with a two-and-a-half-hour-long odyssey that runs the full gamut from an Indian head massage to body exfoliation, herbal pouch therapy, marma point face massage and a bathing ritual. The treatment starts off with a warm-up phase, which involves an Indian head massage combined with an inhalation therapy using essential oils to assist in opening the breathing passages and create a state of meditation. This leads to a delightful massage that calls upon Murivenna oil, which helps reduce inflammation or pain and relax the muscles.

A vigorous, full body exfoliation follows, utilising a blend of exotic Indian spices along with gotu kola and cardamom to exfoliate, refine and polish the skin. A unique part of this ritual is that the massage precedes the scrub – so the latter can help remove excessive oil from the body. Then come the warm poultices, filled with lemongrass, cypress essential oil, lemon essential oil, camphor, fennel seed oil, turmeric and ginger to bring warmth and pain relief, easing joint stiffness, improving mobility and increasing flexibility. It’s followed by a marma point face massage, which promotes relaxation and furthers the state of bliss.

The journey concludes with a neem and rose petal bath, which works on several levels: Physically, the ingredients poured into the bathtub are anti-fungal, antiseptic and purifying; more ephemerally, the physiological effects of heat and water clear the mind of stress, lower the blood pressure, improve circulation and release endorphins to create a euphoric mood. It’s the perfect end to a nurturing ritual that’s taken me beyond relaxation to a pure mind and body connection. One word of warning though: It’s one of those treatments that expand the mind as well as the muscles, so all you can do for the next couple of hours is mutter in incoherent bliss until you come down again!

Excerpted from Casaviva India, November 2010

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Spaaaah: Ila Kundalini Back Massage at the Four Seasons

November 19, 2010 By 1 Comment

The Ritual: Ila Kundalini Back Massage, 75 minutes, Rs. 4,200

The Location: The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel, Mumbai

It starts off with the peal of a temple bell and leads into the rhythmic chant of sacred verses. There is no jarring note and no jolt of pain. The ingredients are “beyond organic”; every movement is unhurried and gentle. Designed to soothe mind, body and soul, this treatment is testimony to the fact that pain and gain are not always interlinked – the latter is quite possible without the former, thank you very much! The ritual is built around Ila Skincare, which calls upon ‘vibrational energies’ to soothe, relax and balance the nervous system. Developed by Denise Leicester, a Brit who came to India and fell in love with its culture, traditions and flowers, it offers up a medley of floral and plant extracts, natural mineral oils and salt crystals. There are no synthetic chemicals and all the ingredients are directly sourced from local producers who work in harmony with nature. For example, the Rose Damascena comes from a farmer in the Himalayas, who grows and distills roses according to centuries-old methods. The water is drawn by solar energy, then mixed with petals in copper vats and heated by natural fire-fuel. The end result is a distillate of Rose Otto with a depth and richness that is so potent, I can smell the fragrance and feel its silken touch a full 12 hours after washing it off. All the products are artisanal and hand blended in accompaniment to energy and balance-imbuing chants that enhance their efficacy.

The treatment encompasses everything from the tips of my toes to the scalp. There’s no pummeling, just rhythmical touches, the idea being to clear blockages in the lymphatic system, which lie just below the skin, trapping toxins before they penetrate the blood stream. It calls on sensuous Kundalini oil (a blend of patchouli, neroli, jasmine, coriander) and relaxing Himalayan herb and salt poultices; all strokes are accompanied by chants that correspond to the various chakras being worked upon at that time. It’s all very gentle and the true effects start manifesting themselves a little while after the treatment is over. Half an hour later, I am completely spaced out and have to grab the seat to check that it only feels like an out-of-body experience. I am fast asleep halfway back home, and slumber blissfully through the night for the first time in months!

Excerpted from Casaviva India, November 2010

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The Great Big Mascara Mystery: Which One to Pick?

November 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

It can be short, squat, tall, plump, spiky, curly, thick, thin or spherical. It might even vibrate and come in a waterproof version. Yes, mascaras now come in every shape, size (and even colour) – so how do you pick the perfect one for your needs? The trick is in looking at the brush – like a magic wand, this is what has the maximum bearing on the final effect.

Want to curl your lashes? Look for a curved brush (like in the photo here). This will not only create an upward lift but shall also usually accompany a curling formula – resins and waxes to lift and bend your lashes upwards. Lancome Hypnose Drama, Clinique High Impact Curling Mascara

Volume? Go for a fat and bushy brush. Dior DiorShow, L’Oreal Voluminous

Volume and definition? Opt for one of the double-ended mascaras that have a white primer at one side to tame and define the lashes. L’Oreal Double Extension

Looking for length? Check out longer bristles or spikes – these normally come with a lengthening formula that includes nylon fibres that get deposited on your lashes and act as mini-extensions. Clarins Wonder Length Mascara, Givenchy Eye Fly

Separation? Go for a comb or vibrating wand that creates a zig-zag effect and precisely defines the lashes. Estee Lauder TurboLash, YSL Mascara Singulier

Everyday wear? You will be best off with a small wand, which will create a natural effect. Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara, Givenchy Mister Lash Booster

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Spaaaah: Discovering Clarins Skin Spa

November 16, 2010 By Leave a Comment

The Ritual: Hydration From Ouessant, 60 minutes, Rs. 2,550

The Location: Clarins Skin Spa

In an increasingly impersonal world of air kisses and the most fleeting of handshakes, the simple touch of a caring hand comes across as a powerful rejuvenator. And that’s the biggest USP of Clarins – eschewing machines in favour of  manual massages. Purvi, my therapist, puts it succinctly: “Machines are difficult to control, hands are not. Hence, through working solely with our hands, we can truly customise the procedure and get better results.” There is a gradual buildup of pressure – right from gentle tapping to a more energetic massage and the therapists use various parts of their hands, including the thumbs, palms, side and fingers to magnify the effects.

The other cornerstone of Clarins is that it works entirely with the structure of the skin, calling upon exclusive Pro-Active formulas containing highly concentrated active plant extracts and aromatic oils, which have remarkable skin-replenishing powers. Purvi lays out a platter of goodies that are designed to deliver a moisture rush to my dehydrated skin, counteract the effects of pollution, air conditioning, stress and way too many late nights. She starts by thoroughly cleansing my face with a milk-based formulation to preserve the skin’s natural water supply. This is followed by a hydrating toner to prep the complexion, a gentle exfoliator to banish dead cells, the Hydra Quench Cream Mask for intense hydration and the Santal Face Treatment Oil – and it’s at this last step that I fall in love!

At the start of the treatment, Purvi was convinced I would fall asleep; I was convinced I won’t. She wins! And I am happy to lose this battle, borne away by the luscious, warming aroma of sandalwood and cardamom that leaves both mind and body feeling languid. As I wander through the dream world, she adds a whitening mask, Shaping Facial Lift and the Younger Longer Balm, which has often been described as a “workout for the skin”. The result? Skin that feels silky-soft, comfortable and has regained its glow – the ideal canvas for beginning the party preparations in style!

Excerpted from Casaviva India, November 2010

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