We Tried the Coolest New Facial in Town for Brides-to-be, and OMG, It Was Amazing!

When a new and awesome thing comes to town, it only makes sense to experience it and to review it for you guys - because brides need all the support they can get. So we sent our trusted writer, Sakshi who tried it out at the Lakmé Salon in Churchgate, Mumbai and she has a lot of nice things to say. Here’s all about it, and of course, the end result.

Picture of the Lakme Salon in Churchgate! 

What is the BeautySutra Ritual? Here’s what Lakmé says about it... “Treat yourself to the fabled beauty secrets of gorgeous Indian Queens. A backstage parampara in palaces across India. The most potent extracts of royal saffron, serene sandalwood, golden turmeric, wild rose and temple jasmine, caressed with traditional massage sanskara, purify and rejuvenate your skin giving you an angelic glow.BeautySutra Ritual…..indulge in luxury for the regal.” Well, it’s a treatment that is all about using the goodness of ‘Indian’ ingredients for that natural bridal glow. From saffron to turmeric to sandalwood - it is a facial that is guaranteed to give you a glow. It revives you and helps you relax.

The warm seating parlour at The Lakme Salon, very welcoming!

Why these ingredients? So, there’s always a reason behind why we use what we use on brides. The haldi ceremony happens because haldi has antiseptic and anti-tan properties, sandalwood, which is usually mixed in it has cooling and nourishing properties, saffron lends that coveted ‘glow’ and almond is a good exfoliator. That is why these ingredients are used traditionally for the bride in Indian weddings. And don't forget...this facial is an amalgamation of beauty recipes derived from the age-old traditions of Indian queens and princesses.

The Private Room Where The Facial is Administered

Sakhi’s Diary Skin Type: 25+, Combination, sensitive, prone to hormonal acne. I was greeted by a very warm and friendly staff, after which I was taken to the room, which was clean and well-equipped, with a disposable gown ready on the bed. Before starting the procedure I was asked about any allergies or anything my skin was sensitive to. Once I was all set, my skin analysis was done under a machine, which gave the beautician a better idea of my skin. She told me since I had some hormonal breakouts on the chin and jawline, so she told me she would avoid exfoliating that area too much. How it works So this facial is not like any other facial. Since it is for the pre-bridal routine, it includes more steps that just any other normal facial. Here’s how it goes, step by step!

The Lakme Lounge

Step 1: Basic Cleansing The first thing that was done was to cleanse my back. After a light massage which relaxed me instantly, the makeup on my face was removed using a turmeric cleanser. Step 2: Deep Cleansing This step started with a detan mask, which was left on the face for about 5-10 mins. After that was wiped off, a mild exfoliator with saffron was put all over the face, which smelt absolutely divine. The face was hit with some steam to open the pores, and the skin was lightly massaged. Extraction: Then came the cool part! Instead of using a manual blackhead extractor, they used some cool new device called a sonic peel, which liquifies the sebum and pushes it out of the pores... and the best part? It doesn’t even hurt! I had to touch my nose to believe it got rid of blackheads ‘cz it didn’t pain at all! And trust me, my nose has never felt so smooth! Step 3: Penetration So this step involves putting a vitamin C serum on the face and then an ultrasound machine is used to make sure that the product is absorbed by the skin well. Step 4 : Pampering After this, the face was given a nice relaxing massage with a sandalwood based cream which smelt really good. Step 5 : Nourishing So this was also pretty cool! Instead of using one mask, like in the case of most facials, a combination of 3 masks was used to target three different areas of the face. A cooling green mask for the forehead. A black charcoal mask for the nose and cheeks to purify pores. A yellow lifting mask for the jawline and the neck. The good part about these masks was that not only did they smell amazing, but they were peel-off gel masks, which I feel are more effective than normal wash ones. So while the masks were drying, I was pampered and treated to an arm, feet, neck and shoulder as well as dry scalp massage, which made me so relaxed that I dozed off for a while! Step 6 & 7 : Toning & Protection After this, the masks were peeled off, the skin was wiped clean and toned with a floral toner and sunscreen was applied. My Review

Before and After Pictures Of My Facial

So the facial was immensely relaxing... not just for the face, but the whole body! I really felt pampered like a bride-to-be, and the smell of the products was so divine and luxurious! Not only did I have an instant glow after the facial, but my skin felt super smooth! Even the tiny  breakouts I had on my chin subsided to quite an extent! My usually sensitive skin also reacted well to this facial! General tips to keep in mind before and after getting the BeautySutra Ritual: Avoid using any harsh chemical creams for a few days before and after the facial. NO harsh soaps or facewashes or exfoliators 24 hours after the facial. Avoid stepping out in the sun the next day, but if absolutely vital, cover the face when stepping out the next day and use SPF. No swimming after the procedure for a couple of days. Price- Rs 5100 Duration- 90 mins Recommendation – 2-3 sessions, with the last one 2 days before the wedding. It can also be done again 15 days after the wedding to maintain the glow. Availability: Across most Lakmé and Lakmé Absolute Salons in India. To know more about bridal skin routines and skin care, take a look at the pre-bridal looks for your D-Day and call for an appointment at any of the Lakmé Salons in your city!