Wherever you are in the world, a quick pamper session in these cities are always a game-changer
New York
Known as “Mean Christine,” Christine Chin’s celebrity client list of Christy Turlington, James Franco, Penelope Cruz, Padma Lakshmi, and Gisele Bündchen (Naomi Campbell was once a client before she was banned for being late) all attest to her ability to clean out pores and leave skin with a smooth, luminous glow. The downside is Chin’s no-nonsense attitude towards skin and her unorthodox methods in delivering the goods. Chin calls an excess production of oil glands in the pores doughnuts, and to clean them out, she sticks a needle in to dig and scrape out the glands. The immediate end result is a face that feels and looks painful, but the long-term advantages include an exceptionally clean and clear face.
For more information, visit Christine Chin.
London
While luxury facials are de rigueur in the British capital, the new treatment taking the Brits by storm is Face Gym, a bootcamp for the face. A masseuse knuckles and whips the face to stimulate circulation to imitate the look of a facelift without the needles. An electrical muscle stimulation device emits mild waves to energize the muscles and improve skin elasticity. While the sensation of being karate-chopped in the face might be uncomfortable, the after-effect of prominent cheekbones makes this a worthy endeavor.
For more information, visit facegym.com.
Paris
The go-to hairstylist of the well-heeled Parisian lady is David Mallet, whose list of clients include Charlotte Gainsbourg, Carla Bruni, Natalie Portman and Kate Winslet. To get an appointment with the man himself at his salon (originally a mansion built in the 1640s) in the 2nd Arrondissement might be harder than meeting with the French President, but thankfully the salon hosts a cohort of other sought-after stylists and colorists that give the desired French Girl look: nothing too obvious, nothing too done, while looking perfectly disheveled and polished at the same time.
For more information, visit David Mallet.
Japan
For a more traditional relaxation session, a stay in a ryokan offers opportunities to try an onsen bath. The Gora Hanaougi onsen at the Hakone region offers a hot spring facility with alkaline spring water that keeps the body warm and helps maintain skin texture.
For more information, visit Gora Hanaougi.
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By Sara Siguion-Reyna
