Valentine’s Day is no treat if you’re pregnant. You know how frustrating it can be to be forbidden so many things. You feel it even more when the hallmark holidays kick into high gear, because so many things on the table are no-no’s.
It’s not just food that makes up a large chunk of the prohibited list. Even dolling yourself up presents so many hindrances. Expecting moms, as I’ve found out lately, aren’t allowed to color their hair or go through chemical salon treatments. Even manicures and pedicures should be avoided because studies show that you absorb through your skin about 60 percent of whatever you put on it. Some of these things can be full of harsh chemicals that are bad for your overall health and especially your baby.
So to pamper the one that needs it the most in the heat of Valentine’s Day, I accompanied a seven-month expecting mom to have a salon day. She was hesitant at first because she knew the limitations of her visit. She rants: “It’s so frustrating when my roots grow four inches out and I know I can’t color my hair.”
Well, while color dye for pregnant women has not yet been invented, we can still celebrate because there’s an organic line that expecting moms can use.
Invented by haircare expert Davines, the Authentic Formula product line consists of luxurious products that are said to be 98- to 100-percent made of wild-crafted and organic ingredients.
To try them out, we visited Basement Salon in Shangri-La Plaza. After the success of the Power Plant branch, Basement furthered its reach by opening the Shangri-La branch—a stand-alone structure in Shangri-La mall’s car-park building. The Salon offers services such as hair cutting, styling, hair treatment, reconstruction, makeup, hair removal packages and spa treatments. Heading the team is Stefan Wilczynski from Berlin.
In the salon, we tried the organic system of treatment for the body, hands and feet. Davines hair treatments start at P1,100-P1,600, depending on the length of hair. My friend also had a haircut by the senior stylist (P1,000). And while we waited for the hair to soak, we were given relaxing back massages.
The aroma from the essential oils and the carefully studied massage strokes definitely improved energy circulation throughout the body. At the end of the day, I felt energized, and my friend not so heavy with child. Just the aroma from the products surely helped our minds and bodies relax. The essential oils in the ingredients helped to pamper the skin and rejuvenate the flow of energy in the body.
Davines Authentic Formula products are available for home use. Try:
Authentic Cleansing Nectar, 1,250
Authentic Moisturizing Balm, 1,250
Authentic Nourishing Oil, 1,875
Authentic Replenishing Butter, 1,550
Basement Shangri-La Plaza is at GD 106 Carpark Building, Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City; tel. +632-6382222, +632-6386666; fax +632 6382033.
Beautiful skin recreated
Looking to give your mom something that will make her feel and look younger? Lancome has a range of facial products that correct wrinkles, pores and skin imperfections. Visionnaire is Lancome’s first skincare line capable of fundamentally recreating more beautiful skin. The Visionnaire Milky lotion (P2,295), Emulsion (P3,995) and Serum (P4,950) are designed to penetrate through skin layers, triggering a cascading series of micro-transformations.
As a result, you have visibly more beautiful skin after four weeks of continuous use. Clinical studies show that one out of two women aged 35-49 years tempted by a cosmetic procedure decided to postpone it after using Lancome’s Visionnaire.
The result: On the surface, wrinkles and pores are visibly corrected, imperfections like signs of UV damage and acne marks appear diminished. So, let’s treat mom to something she’ll truly enjoy. After all, a happy mother makes a happy household.