The Pizzazzy

Well I did this really rash thing on Saturday. I needed a facial; it had been a long time since I visited the parlor. And after having a good lunch I was casually window shopping in White Sands mall, I came across New York Skin Solutions. I went in and asked them if they do facials. They said yes, and promptly told me about the promotional offer of $18 for first timers. I was very happy. I was made to fill out a form which asked lots of questions on health and skin.  And I was doubtful of what they will be doing with me in the name of a facial.

My consultant of the day told me that she will first analyze my skin and then suggest what kind of treatment my skin needs. Treatment!! After recovering from the shock of the word, I asked her if she was a dermatologist or a beautician, she has dermatologist and she explained that how my skin needs to be treated. But she didn’t appear like a Dermatologist. Anyways who needed one? She then started her expert talk about how my skin had uneven tone and how my skin was dry but oily. That was another thing which I couldn’t simply understand. I have been using all kinds of oil free products to avoid those acne and pimple b’cos my skin tends to become oily within hours. She further explained that my skin’s oil and water level was imbalanced and it is internally cracking up because of that. Grrrr!

She told me that skin needs to be oily to retain the moisture, it shouldn’t dry out. So they needed to treat my skin for the water and oil imbalance, the collagen which is giving the uneven tone. I could actually see the uneven tone of my skin and really felt I needed them more than they needed me. Alright! I had started having this stupid complex looking at all the beautiful girls walking around with their translucent, lovely skin.

And the next thing she asked me was how much I was ready to spend on my face. Tricky question huh. I asked her what she has to offer. Then she told me before getting into more details I should get into the first session (the promotional one costing $18 only). And she assured me that I’ll be seeing some results. By this time I was almost trapped with a very bleak chance of escape.

It was 1.5 hours session where she step by step first cleansed and hydrated my face then did some oil control balancing, collagen treatment and then eye control. It made me really feel good. Especially after the collagen treatment which she did first on the right side of my face and then showed me the comparison. I am only in my late twenties, and there are some fine laugh lines set in, and I could see that they had vanished. Great work! But wait a minute I never noticed before that I had them and also those dark circles around my eyes. Anyways the whole thing was quite relaxing.

After the session she started her sales talk very aggressively, and no one who knows me will believe that I was trapped by all that rubbish. By the way I negotiated a custom package for 5 sessions of all the above steps for $650. Oh God!! Was I thinking I pulled a nice one by coming down to that from $1800. I just ran a mental calculation of 5 sessions of facial and concluded that it would also cost almost the same and thought okay (By the way this was a consolation thought, kind of save yourself from that kick yourself feeling).

Honestly speaking, I was the right bait and I fell for it, it must have been the look my husband gave me while having that good lunch I mentioned earlier (He also suggested me to visit some parlor soon ). And this sales girl, yes that’s what they are, hit me where it hurts: talking about my skin which used to be really great, a few years back. And so many times I have been reminded of my baby skin by my old friends. It really hurts to realize how my busy schedule, stress, laziness has taken its toll on my face.

After I came out of NYSS, and took a gulp of fresh air, I realized what I had done. But my husband gave me an appreciative look, my skin was radiant (don’t know whether it was the realization of the foolishness or may be the session worked). I kept telling him that I have spent already $700 with the $650+$18+taxes. He kept telling me it was okay and don’t fuss about it and all but when I reached home and sat in front my laptop, I immediately looked up some consumer forums. And Oh! My God, I have been taken for a ride. I am praying nothing happens to my skin.

This might have never made to a post if I really thought I shouldn’t make a fool of myself anymore, but I would really like everyone to steer clear of any such enterprise. If any of you planning to visit New York Skin Solutions don’t even think about it. Or if you go there attracted by the promotional schemes etc, only thing don’t sign up. First check out on the net or friends about the place.

My husband keeps telling me that we ladies enter shops with some thing on mind and come out with something else completely. I think I proved him right this time. Well this can be challenged but some other time, have some pity people.