The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

LAST week, we told you all about the benefits of the chocolate facial. Today, we are highlighting another unique use for chocolate, namely in manicures and pedicures.

For Valentine’s month, the team at Skin Solutions at Cable Beach is launching its new special chocolate-covered experiences for both women and men.

The packages include a chocolate spa sampler, consisting of facials and massages; a chocolate escape package that offers a chocolate sugar scrub; a chocolate fondue wrap, along with a massage, and lastly, the chocolate lover’s delight that offers a facial, massage and mani/pedi experiences. All packages include champagne, and of course chocolates, for patrons.

As it concerns using chocolate on your hands and feet, Skin Solutions Day Spa & Salon owner Natila Saunders had this to say: “It’s a truly relaxing and indulgent calorie-free treat. Your hands and feet will emerge nourished and moisturised and feel smooth and silky. It’s quite popular in the beauty industry.”

And what exactly does this process entail?

Natila said it all begins with a hot butter brulée whole milk soak that softens and moisturises, before a sweet chocolate sugar exfoliation smooths all the rough spots. Next, a warm dark chocolate softening mask is painted over the customer’s hands and feet, left to nourish the skin with antioxidant-rich CoQ10 enzymes.

At the end of the procedure, you receive what Natila calls “a dollop of delight” – a whipped shea butter and live strawberry fruit cell massage which effects a deep, luscious hydration of the skin.

“Chocolate treatments are not unique to Skin Solutions. We offered seasonal chocolate treatments which were extremely popular. Due to the many health benefits, I decided to not only offer it as a seasonal treatment, but as a service that could be enjoyed all year round. So I created a signature collection of chocolate inspired treatments, including our chocolate fondue wrap, chocolate facial experience, chocolate sugar scrub and so much more. Since Valentine’s Day is synonymous with chocolates, I thought it was fitting to launch the collection in the month of February at a discounted rate. The special is valid for the entire month of February,” the salon owner said.

For Natila, being an aesthetician is a truly rewarding experience.

“It’s a very emotionally rewarding profession. Making people look good also makes them feel good, which in turn makes me feel good. I opened and operated Skin Solutions, which focused initially on therapeutic facials. Ten years later, in 2013, I proudly opened Skin Solutions Day Spa & Salon, a full-service spa and salon in the heart of Cable Beach, which employs 10 highly trained technicians and provides a full array of spa services, including therapeutic and relaxing facials, an assortment of massages, body treatments, manicures, pedicures and hair services,” she said.

Whether a person is having a facial, massage, manicure or pedicure, Natila said no two skin types are the same, therefore every client has different concerns which makes for no boring days on the job.