Philippine Daily Inquirer

BEFORE BUYING THAT SERUM, TEST IT AT THIS ‘OPEN SPA’

- By Ruth L. Navarra @mayfairwit­ch

Online shopping is convenient. But there are things that are still better when you get them directly from the store.

“We have to be online, this is where we find the millennial­s,” said Marine Lux, Clarins senior area manager. “Everyone spends a lot of time on their mobile phones and tablets. One thing is for sure, when it comes to cosmetics and skincare products, you need to try before you buy.”

That is why the luxury skin- care and cosmetics brand gives importance to its boutiques. Clarins opened its newest concept store at the R1 level, new wing of the Power Plant Mall in Rockwell on July 24. The boutique may be small, but it has enough space for customers to experience the beauty journey that Clarins promises.

The store has the makeup offerings, skincare and body care. There’s an entire section for the maternity line, which is an often forgotten market. Testing and trying the products on offer are encouraged.

Men will also be glad to find the Clarins Men line in the store. It includes shaving cream, anti-aging creams, serums and toning treatments.

The store is highlighti­ng the 20th anniversar­y limited edition packaging for the Shaping Facial Lift.

30-minute facial

But the ultimate way to test what products to get for yourself is to avail of the instore Open Spa treatment. It differs from the Clarins Skin Spa in Rustan’s Makati, as the Open Spa is exclusivel­y for facials, and a treatment only takes 30 minutes.

“It is meant for the modern woman who works and is busy and cannot spend 60 minutes at the Skin Spa,” Lux said. “It is a concentrat­e of the Clarins spa experience. You come here, you lie on the chair, the girls fix you and you get up feeling so much better.”

She added, “The Open Spa is an opportunit­y for you to try the products before you buy them.”

Lux describes the service as akin to drinking a shot of espresso. Some customers might find a product too expen- sive, so they hesitate to make the purchase. They are unsure if it will work for them.

The Open Spa solves that problem. They can test the product they want to try with a combinatio­n of other products and decide if it suits them.

She added that if you have no idea of what your skin needs, the staff can make recommenda­tions for you.

How many products will one get to try for each treatment? Lux said a minimum of three, but it is typically a combinatio­n of five products. Seven types of products, she said, are just too much.

 ?? —ALEXIS CORPUZ ?? Rustan’s April Marquez, SSI Group president Anton Huang, Clarins’ Marine Lux, Rustan’s president Donnie Tantoco and Rockwell Land’s Lisa Gomez open the new Clarins boutique in Power Plant Mall.
—ALEXIS CORPUZ Rustan’s April Marquez, SSI Group president Anton Huang, Clarins’ Marine Lux, Rustan’s president Donnie Tantoco and Rockwell Land’s Lisa Gomez open the new Clarins boutique in Power Plant Mall.

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