Putting your feet up

WEARY women who have shopped until they are about to drop can give their fingers and toes some tender loving care before heading back home from a popular shopping mall.

Entrepreneurial beautician Sawsan Al Khaja has opened up a custom-built cabin of care in Sanad to assist exhausted mums and stressed, weary office workers too.

Having experienced first-hand the difficulties of corporate life for 16-years, Sawsan, a former production and quality manager at Hilal Corporate Communications, chose to change career direction and rent out a pavement at The Centre on Estiqlal Highway and open a hand and foot spa.

Using natural lavender ingredients imported from France, Sisi Mini Spa, aims to transform ordinary manicures and pedicures into extraordinary spa services at affordable prices. Sawsan, 37, said: "I have a great interest in beautification, spa treatments and body care and I love lavender a lot.

"My idea is to give attention to stress relief as I believe every woman needs to pamper herself. When I used to work I used to be very busy and was constantly on my feet from 8am to 7pm. So I know how it feels to need to be pampered.

"I wanted to concentrate on hands and feet because they are the most important parts of the body that often get little attention.

"All women go shopping and when you walk a lot in the mall your feet need to be pampered. So I was looking for a space in or around a mall.

"All my treatments are focused around lavender, which is best known for giving soothing body massage and pain and stress relief. I have imported my products from France. They are a little bit expensive but I wanted good quality."

Sawsan is also retailing sachets full of dried lavender flowers that can be used to get a fresh fragrance in the cupboard, bedroom, car or even a handbag.

A two-hour 'Max Foot Spa' treatment costs BD10 and a paraffin therapy for the hands only BD3. Sawsan added: "While my space is mini, my services are not! A full spa involves soaking your feet, scrubbing it, cleaning the nails and massaging.

spa treatment review

Combining my two full-time jobs as a mother and home-maker and reporter with a demanding newspaper is not easy, writes Anasuya Kesavan.

My days some times seem to disappear behind the wheel getting children around to different extra-curricular activities, school drops, shopping and work assignments.

So, when I was asked to review the foot treatments at Sawsan's spa I was naturally delighted.

Krisselle Fabian and Jennifer Rays, both aged 25 and fresh from Philippines, were my angels for the day ... kneading those sore points on my ankle and feet.

They sat me on an electronic massage chair and got a full body massage going. My foot treatment began by soaking my feet in water treated with lavender soap and salts.

A roller was placed under my feet to get to those tired unreachable points.

They then scrubbed it with a lavender scrub that is supposed to exfoliate my skin and help to make it smooth and soft.

They then scrubbed off the dead skin and worked their soft hands on my ankles and toes gave a lovely massage to those generally untouched parts of my feet.

Next the toe nails were given a clean up. My cuticles were groomed and filed into a nice shape and painted with a pretty nail colour.

My hands were not left alone either. They were massaged and made to look pretty in a similar fashion.

In about two hours I was ready to go home with a smile and a spring in my step.

A refreshing experience indeed!