A treatement room at Clarins Skin Spa, Central Embassy.
Today’s fashion now favours an inverted triangle look rather than the egg-shaped oval once considered the ideal face shape for Thai women.
The V face profile, along with its pretty pointed chin, has become a trending youthful feature, driving the formulation of contouring skincare, whereas a jab or two at the dermatologist’s office can dramatically give a quicker U-to-V transformation.
A fourth generation of contouring serum coupled with a high-performance spa treatment affirms how French cosmetic firm Clarins continues to upgrade its facial reshaping programme introduced 17 years ago as a response to the demand of Japanese clients at its Parisian Skin Spa.
In Bangkok and Chiang Mai, six Clarins Skin Spas have revised their menus to include the 75-minute Total V Face Shaper (3,700 baht) designed to help give women a smaller and sharper face.
“Facial contouring is mistaken as something for those with a round face and chubby cheeks. It is actually for anyone concerned about water retention and puffiness of the lower half of the face,” said spa manager Tippawan Prasertadisorn.
The hands are the equipment used in performing Clarins facials. Clarins
The problem lies in the drainage system. With bad circulation and fragility of blood vessels, excessive water flow leaks from the microcirculation. The excess water cannot be reabsorbed or drained by the lymphatic system, resulting in swollen features, which can also be caused by stress, heat and hormonal changes.
Excess fat makes it a more prominent concern, contributing to the dreaded double chin.
The relatively new Clarins Skin Spa at Central Embassy is where you can comfortably unwind on a hydraulic bed with a sheepskin heat pad while looking at a blue-sky ceiling before the relaxing facial makes you sleepy.
“The Total V Face Shaper is one of our new TriActive Facials, which are even more effective through the use of innovative formulas and facial techniques that give immediate and longer-lasting results. They are also more relaxing, for example, from the customised neck and shoulder massage inclusive in the treatment,” explained Tippawan.
The effectiveness comes from the use of concentrated professional formulas and the 100% manual Clarins method, she added, that ensures clients come back for repeated treatments.
Key face-sculpting steps include the application of Facial Lift Total V Contouring and supplements according to skin concerns.
The following Shaping Sculpt Massage takes up 25 minutes of the session. The therapist first generously spreads V-Face Intensive Wrap on the skin before placing the ClarinsPro Refreshing Lift Mask on top. Massage movements then work on clearing excess fat and fluid and sculpting the face.
“Without equipment, the therapists’ hands can do more in applying the appropriate pressure in performing the detoxifying lymphatic drainage,” said Tippawan. “The professional formulas are more concentrated with the richer texture facilitating the massage for a better result, which can be maintained with the daily use of the Facial Lift Range.”
Founded in 1954, Clarins has long believed in natural beauty via active plant ingredients. The fourth-generation Facial Lift Serum combines botanical extracts from Amazonian guarana, zerumbet ginger and kaki (persimmon). In a sitting position with elbows on knees, product application follows the six-step manual auto-lifting method which takes two minutes to complete.
The 2016 reformulation also includes the third-generation V-Facial Intensive Wrap and Enhancing Eye Lift Serum, the latter with the same plant actives as the facial serum.
As a 10-minute quick fix for puffiness, the intensive wrap with a thick and heavy texture is applied on clean dry skin of the lower part of the face and neck. During the last few minutes, two steps of the auto-lifting method further helps to define the face.
“Whether at the spa or at home, beauty is in your hands in performing V-face contouring,” Tippawan said of optimally applying skincare products.
Facial Lift range for at-home use. Clarins
This source first appeared on Bangkok Post Lifestyle.