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Mid Life Crisis: Signature Facial at Lindsay Cowley
(alcohol units 0 (it is 11.30am) cigarettes 2, black coffees 4, calories 371 (mostly all of a Starbucks Rise and Shine muffin, bar the bit the dog ate) weight, God knows, probably twice Victoria Beckham and she’s pregnant, crow’s feet at last count 3… birthdays to date 33…)
Crisis has struck. It’s the morning of my thirty-third birthday. Notably not woken in suitably appropriate manner by devilishly dark handsome man but by Radio 2. It has happened; I have been struck down in a semi-conscious state by impending middle age. Opened present from Mum in slight trepidation with real fear of impending Teasmaid gift as nod to now mid-life meltdown.
Pressie waiting from my sprightly, nubile twenty-two year pixie-perfect colleague – ‘Signature facial; Lindsay Cowley style’. Back in the car heading to Rococo, Lemon Street an hour or so later to meet Lindsay and her miracle hands. Soundtrack for journey: Daft Punk (desperate nostalgic nod to wilder days).
Always a joy to meet and greet Team Rococo, but scurried upstairs to Lindsay Cowley’s therapy studio, instantly deep karmic sigh of relief, air is infused with wild fig and grape aromatherapy candles; lighting is dimmed (instantly knocks off ten years so am now in fact only 23) piles of fluffy white towels in abundance and a great big massage-style table ready waiting. Lindsay tells me that her signature facial incorporates back, head, arm and foot massage and was I alright for time? Absolutely. The only thing knocking at my door this afternoon being the menopause and spinsterhood.
Lindsay uses the Eve Taylor range of professional aromatherapy skin and body care (and candles note). Eve herself is the founder of the Institute of Clinical Aromatherapy and has clocked up nearly four decades of respect in professional skin care circles. Eve Taylor products follow strict criteria of being naturally safe and effective. Based on the very best quality essential oils (ET make the aromatherapy oils for Dermalogica). Without all the hype, packaging and chemicals of other skin-care ranges which promise the world to us desperate thirty-somethings searching out our misspent youthful twenties again, ET are affordable, pure and fabulous. It can happen girls – Eve holds the secret!
Right so, stripped down to jeans Lindsay gets to work on the most marvellous back and shoulder massage before even embarking on the facial itself. Fifteen minutes feels like half an hour and its heaven. Pretty chilled now (must be the essential oils, its surely not the coffee for breakfast) and with a background track of yogic tunes, seagulls and the gentle purr of cars looking for parking on Lemon Street below I drift-off, rousing momentarily when Lindsay tells me that the oil she is using to massage my arms and hands is in fact the wax of a melted candle (which is palm oil not paraffin, feeling and smelling divine). A further blissful sixty minutes passes and my time is up. Feeling relaxed, buffed and a good decade younger I glance my fresh-faced glow in the mirror. OK, so fresh yes, mascara free, yes, glowing, most definitely …hair? Bed-head slightly in shock look (Lindsay did pre-warn the risk but let me assure you the head massage is so worth any dishevelled locks) and with a few purchases to-go and some anti-ageing night cream to boot, I bid Lindsay a grateful goodbye and am sure to make this a monthly date in my diary. At £39.50 it’s an hour and a half of exceedingly great luxury.
The great news is that Lindsay is offering all Good Cornwall Guide Readers her Signature Facial (this is with the back, head and foot perks) for the price of a regular facial.
Not just for facials. Lindsay is a master of the dark art of Brazilians (rest assured I have this on very good authority), less up-close and personal waxing also, manicures, pedicures, massage and tanning.
