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Over 100 of Bahrain's most prominent VIPs experienced the miracle that is La Mer at the recent unveiling of its first counter in the kingdom located at the Paris Gallery in Bahrain City Centre. With its striking 700-litre aquarium, private treatment room and modern design, La Mer offered personalised consultations from its skincare experts for both devotees and new fans. Emmanuelle Sabran, brand manager of Bobbi Brown, La Mer and Jo Malone, said: "Bahraini ladies are really attracted to beauty, skin care and more so makeup. What they don't realise is, in order to have beautiful makeup they must first have healthy skin. That is why skin care is so important and why I encourage women to come to our counter and speak to our beauty experts to learn the right regimen to follow and what products to use."
GulfWeekly's Mai Al Khatib experienced one of La Mer's luxury facials under the healing hands of Rachel White, Bobbi Brown and La Mer's sales and education manager for the Middle East and Africa.
Before starting the relaxing session with Rachel, I learned that the renowned Crme de la Mer 'Miracle Crme' brand of the Estee Lauder Group was inspired by the sea and formulated by aerospace physicist Dr Max Huber in an effort to heal his chemical burns.
After 12 years and 6,000 experiments, Dr Huber perfected the art of bio-fermentation, blending a mix of sea kelp with an array of vitamins and minerals and oils of citrus, eucalyptus, wheat germ, alfalfa and sunflower.
At that point I was more than eager to feel the cooling effects of La Mer's wide range of smoothing potions as I was told I have combination skin, meaning both oily and dry patches on my face.
Rachel asked what I wanted to achieve with this facial. After running around during the Formula One, my complexion needed a boost, I had bags under my eyes and was dehydrated so I explained I wanted a more radiant look and smoother lines.
Rachel first removed my makeup and cleansed my skin. I then underwent exfoliation using the refining facial which is a multi-action complex that instantly smoothes and boosts the skin's brightness and radiance.
The exfoliate utilised fermented acidic sea muds to soften my skin and lift away the dry surface cells. As the cream was lightly massaged onto my face, the pure diamond powder and polished sea quartz performed as physical exfoliants while smart minerals converted the massaging action into energy.
Rachel then removed the refining facial with a hot compress (hot towel).
A face lifting serum was then applied which usually works in synergy with the lifting intensifier. Both consist of a rare blue algae that lifts and energises the skin.
The lifting serum can be used every day, morning and evening, under your moisturiser to boost the brightness, clarity, elacticity and tone of the skin. It can also be used to heal any minor discolouration and sun exposure. At the end of it my skin felt lovely and plump.
Rachel then added the lifting intensifier. She applied it with a wand directly on the areas where most of my expression lines are visible. Once massaged in, The Concentrate was applied. This product is designed for fragile skin healing the problem areas and soothing any redness or sensitivities.
This product is excellent for those going in for an operation. Used regulary both before and after, it helps to maintain and restructure the skin and minimises scarring.
Rachel then applied eye balm to act as a moisturiser diminishing the appearance of wrinkles and undereye discolouration and smoothing any puffiness.
Once done, the original Crme de la Mer was applied as a face mask. Rachel applied an eye compress that was sprayed with a refreshing mist that contains rose water and marine botanical ingredients which soften and hydrate the skin.
After eight minutes she removed my eye mask and massaged my face and neck using the Crme on my skin.
She finished off by recommending the right skin care regimen for me and how to fight my oily T-zone and the dry patches on my cheeks.
During my treatment I learned that it's important to form good skin care habits early as problem areas appear once you get older. Maintain and use preventative treatments before you reach your 20s because at 25 your skin cells start slowing down and that results in developing fine lines.
It is never too late to start a skin care regimen because you can heal the damage and stop future problems from occurring.
Guests can book a consultation to determine their personalised La Mer beauty regime at the La Mer counter by calling 17178482.
