SMART SKIN | Putting a spin on the science of beauty, medical aestheticians are all about a future forward outlook towards skin care
SMART SKIN | Putting a spin on the science of beauty, medical aestheticians are all about a future forward outlook towards skin care

When it comes to the best kept secrets between women, the most closely guarded one is of their facialists’s address. Tested and tried, these finger-smiths are the gold standard in any self-respecting beauty junkie’s vanity kit, and their fame spreads by the most exclusive channel, that is by word-of-mouth. Going a notch above the tribe of spa & salon based beauticians, blurring the strict lines between the hitherto mutually exclusive worlds of green and clinical beauty treatments, is the progressive clan of medical aestheticians. Promising an integrative approach to anti-aging and holistic beauty, bringing together aesthetics, skincare and wellness, these trained professionals are much more than just dermatologists, and their science is aimed at not just curative but also preventive practices. These medical aestheticians are now part of every beauty diva’s little black book of secrets and their names are taken in hallowed whispers at the lunching ladies’ tables.

PINS & NEEDLES | While fillers and botox treatments are now passé, there are more exciting prospects on offer like mesobotox, vampire facials, laser rejuvenation and more
PINS & NEEDLES | While fillers and botox treatments are now passé, there are more exciting prospects on offer like mesobotox, vampire facials, laser rejuvenation and more

One of the most liberating things about visiting an aesthetician is that you will not be referred to as a ‘patient’, which you’d be classified as in the dermat’s register. They bring to the table not the scalpel, but an arsenal of tools and procedures, which are the cutting edge of skincare services and innovations. Moreover, just surface treatments like facials and kitchen remedies might not deliver the same targeted and holistic effects that the precision-led treatments and customised elixirs at the aestheticians will do. Millennials have realised the potency of this trend and totally hearting these medicine men who come with the promise not of the potential fallouts of a nip and tuck gone wrong, or even a botched up botox session, but with the more enduring results of less invasive procedures like Vampire facials, microneedling, radiofrequency and laser treatments, Coolsculpting and more of these aesthetically enhancing cosmetic dermatology procedures, going beyond just the face onto specific problem areas integrating with the whole body.

BEAUTY GURU | Once Mumbai’s best kept secret, Dr Dinyar Boxwalla is the favourite B-tow beauties who swear by his customised skincare products 
BEAUTY GURU | Once Mumbai’s best kept secret, Dr Dinyar Boxwalla is the favourite B-tow beauties who swear by his customised skincare products

Leading this trend in India are our own expert medical aestheticians catering to the well-heeled and well-known. Names like skin aesthetician Dr Dinyar Workingboxwalla are not under-the-radar anymore as patronage by multiple celebrity clients including Lara Dutta, Mehr Jesia and Nimrat Kaur has ensured that he is now not Mumbai’s best kept secret. His mantra of “3Rs, rectify, restore and rejuvenate” has found credence in his approach which combines a holistic approach with stress on a routine beauty regimen. As he chooses to rephrases the term facial massage to facial treatment, it does speak of his training in cosmetology from reputed institutes across the world, further supplemented by a degree in naturopathy. Dr Boxwalla is a front runner among this novel tribe of skin and hair specialists, who straddle the new and the old with ease. Model Sheetal Mallar and Bollywood actress, Nimrat Kaur, swear by his products which he personalizes for them. His clinic in Bandra is also the hotspot for many a B-town celeb looking at not a quick fix but an advanced alternative to the regular dermatologist and a salon beautician. For those not about to visit Mumbai, his book, Beauty Unleashed, also has valuable advice and tips for getting a kickstart.

Based out of Mumbai is also Dr Jamuna Pai who set up Bluch Clinic, renamed SkinLab, a pioneer in providing high end aesthetic treatments and beauty services, which today provides global procedures like coolsculpting. Dr Pai has been the consultant cosmetic dermatologist for many beauty pageants and has her own line of products

ALL FOR AESTHETICA | Being the choice of many stars, Dr Jaishree Sharad is also the founder of Skinfinity clinics which offer the very best and latest skin and body treatments
ALL FOR AESTHETICA | Being the choice of many stars, Dr Jaishree Sharad is also the founder of Skinfinity clinics which offer the very best and latest skin and body treatments

With a clients’ diary comprising of Bollywood A-listers like Ranbir Kapoor, Salman Khan, Varun Dhawan and more, Dr Jaishree Sharad is also the Vice President of the Cosmetic Dermatology Society of India and the Executive Board member of the European Society of Cosmetic and Aesthetic Dermatology. She has founded her own skin clinic brand, Skinfiniti, in Mumbai where cutting edge treatments like the Exilis Skin tightening and body contouring were introduced and continue to be offered. Dr Sharad is also an international trainer for botox, fillers, dermaroller and peels where she teaches dermatologists all the above procedures, while she keeps herself up to date with all that’s latest in the field of minimally invasive cosmetic dermatology.

Another name which is a favourite among the Bollywood fraternity is that of Dr Rashmi Shetty, who also counts sports world luminaries among her clients, visiting her at her clinics in Mumbai and Hyderabad. She introduced breakthrough aesthetic treatments like like Juvederm and Voluma in India and is an expert when it comes to fillers. She believes that botox and fillers, when administered rightly, and combined with the correct skin care products can help maintain a naturally youthful look. Her experience of over a decade is bolstered further by the fact that she’s one of the first movers in the field of aesthetic medicine in India and is also the first Indian to be on the scientific board of World Congress of Anti-Ageing, while being associated with brands such as Pond’s, Unilever, Parachute, Bio oil, etc.

CAPITAL COMFORT | Going to a Skin Alive or Lumiere Dermatology is part of a ‘Sunday well-spent’ plan for many Delhi residents who are
CAPITAL COMFORT | Going to a Skin Alive or Lumiere Dermatology is part of a ‘Sunday well-spent’ plan for many Delhi residents who are

Next up is Dr Aparna Santhanam, a dermatologist, cosmetologist and trichologist based out of Mumbai who headed Kaya Clinics and is now associated with brands like Pond’s and Cipla. While she advocates the use of modern machine-based skin treatments, she belives that the doctor should know when to stop and educate the patient in the limits of cosmetic intervention. She also believes that “skin care must be easy to follow, with results to last you a lifetime”. Her best-selling book, Skin Deep, informs the readers about what to eat for glowing skin.

While one might think that with the above names being based out of Mumbai, one needs to travel for a date with the skin care expert, this is not the case. Two of the leading medical aestheticians in India are also based out of Delhi and their clinics offer a whole gamut of services for the face, body and hair. There’s Dr Chiranjiv Chhabra with her line of Skin Alive clinics which offer the latest innovations in tech-led beauty body therapies. She is also a member of International Society of Laser Surgery and Medicine, and founded similar outfits in India. Her clinics have state-of-art equipment for treatments such as AFFIRM, a fractional laser technology for skin rejuvenation, tightening and wrinkle reduction, for Thermage, one of the latest and most effective treatments available for skin lift, body contouring, and for oxygen age correction therapies which solve a lot of skin issues apart from anti-ageing. Dr Chhabra has also been awarded the ‘Best Dermatologist of the Year’ by Vogue magazine.

Trained in New York, Dr Kiran practises out of her Lumiere Dermatology clinic in Delhi and is also credited with having developed her own brand of cosmetic skincare, COSMEDIC. Named as one of the best dermatologists by Elle, she is American Board Certified with degrees in aesthetic medicine, cosmetic lasers while her focus is on exploring the intersection between cosmetic formulation and dermatology. She is also the go-to doctor renowned for her proprietary NY Facial, a triple therapy combination that gets you red carpet ready in just under an hour, and has long term skin benefits.

bulgari le gemme

Bulgari’s Le Gemme Collection for men is inspired by the discoveries made while in search of precious stones and comprises of six fragrances developed by Jacques Cavallier. The collection includes Gyan (The Sapphire) which has Patchouli and Jasmine as its main ingredients and Ambero (The Amber) with Vetiver and Indian ginger. Tygar (Tiger’s Eye)is built around grapefruit, deep woods and ambrox, while Malacheos (Malachite) hides lavender and oakmoss with a very rare bourbon geranium on a base of musk. Onekh (Onyx) encapsulates the “power of royal Oud”: leathery and spicy wood, with notes of saffron and honey. The last one, Garanat (The Red Garnet), is all rose and incense and still boasts great “masculine strength”. Now that is one we need to get a whiff of!

grand palai paris

The Grand Palais in Paris will be hosting a splendid exhibition titled “From the Great Mughals to the Maharajas: Jewels from the Al Thani collection”, featuring 250 items dating as far back as five centuries. On display until June 5, the exhibit is organised by Réunion des Musées Nationaux and in collaboration with the Musée National des Arts Asiatiques . Items of the exhibit are on loan from the Qatari royal family and have already been on display in New York and London. Highlights of the exhibit include the “Tiger Eye Turban Ornament” from Cartier, crafted in 1937 and commissioned by the Maharaja Digvijaysinhji of Nawanagar. The Turban ornament features an unusual 61.50 carat cognac-coloured diamond  surrounded by baguette cut diamonds. The other highlights include a 70.2 carat diamond named “The Idol’s Eye”, the largest cut blue diamond in the world since the mid 19th century and a 17th century Rosewater Bottle from North India that boasts gold, rubies, emeralds and pearls.

milan furniture fair

Louis Vuitton is all set to reveal ten new pieces from its travel-inspired Objets Nomades collection at the Milan Furniture Fair, from April 14 to 19. Pieces to be unveiled include Talisman Table by India Mahdavi, Blossom Stool by Tokujin Yoshioka, Bomboca Sofa by the Campana Brothers, Palaver Chair by Patricia Urquiola, Diamond Screen by Marcel Wanders, Lune Chairs by Marcel Wanders, Twist Lamp, Swing Boat and Belt Chair all by Atelier Oï, and My Shleves by Raw Edges.

medusa emblem

Versace revealed their line of elegant, luxury furniture and décor, celebrating their famous Medusa emblem, at the Milan Furniture Fair 2017. So we now have the Medusa chair titled “Shadov”, with a backrest echoing the outline of Medusa’s head. Available in wood or leather, it comes in a wide selection of colours, from “revolution red” and “armée green” to “cool gray” and “cloud.” Medusa also features in a new product line called “VM11,” with living and dining pieces in shades of black and white. The name is a reference to the Versace boutique in Milan, situated at Via Montenapoleone 11.  Of course, there is also the “Le Jardin de Versace” range, vibrant and perky with butterfly motifs, but Medusa rears her head here too— surrounded rather prettily by flowers and golden Baroque-inspired rings. The blue butterfly in the collection symbolises the meaning of life and acceptance, the yellow butterfly foretells happiness and change, while the purple butterfly symbolises spirituality. “Le Jardin de Versace” features cushions, as well as a limited-edition couch, with just 12 editions available.

 

Isharya

Kalyani Chawla’s trendy fashion brand Lulu and Sky and Gauri Tandon’s celeb-favorite jewelry brand Isharya are coming together this summer at The Four Seasons, Mumbai. Come April 12, they will be showcasing ‘Summer Edit’, a special collection jointly curated by both, featuring the finest pieces from both labels. Both are brands that target the ‘with-it’ generation that likes to flaunt it in style. The design sensibilities have a lot in common, and now they will be popping up at a common venue, too. To add to it all, Colorbar has created a special Lulu Rouge lipstick whose sales proceeds will go to the Modi foundation, for the education of children and young adults. Guests attending the preview will also be treated to Isharya’s first 3D-printed collection, Infinite Petals—an array of intricate yet feather-light jewellery, balancing the traditional with the contemporary.

medieval mansion

The Game of Thrones enthusiast can now really indulge himself with this gothic-styled medieval mansion that stands in Austin, Texas. Built from scratch and artistically customized from every nook and corner by Craig Turner and wife Ciera, this home is recently being auctioned by Sotheby’s International Realty. Complete with weathered stone walls and carved wood arches, custom oak cabinetry and a formal living room with a traditional travertine fireplace and Onyx floor, the mansion also features a 14th century stone cottage outside the main residence. This mansion boasts no less medieval glory either, with dry stacked stone interior and crafted stained glass ceiling paintings. Priced at a whopping $ 2.285 million, this is literary the medieval fantasy come to life.

bach mozart

Christie’s has announced The Metropolitan Opera Guild Collection, a dedicated auction of rare musical manuscripts and memorabilia, to take place in New York on June 15,the highlight of which  are annotated manuscripts and letters by the trinity of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven.  Two exquisite pieces of jewelry will further be sold in the Magnificent Jewels auction on June 20. Funds from the sale will benefit the Opera Guild and the Metropolitan Opera. Highlights will be previewed during a global tour with exhibitions in London and Hong Kong in April and May. The full collection will be on preview in New York June 10-14. The collection includes approximately 90 lots and represents a selection of autograph material from some of the most important composers of the Western classical tradition spanning from the Baroque era to the 20th-century. The majority of manuscripts come from the carefully assembled gift of Edwin Franko Goldman (1878-1956), renowned American composer and trumpeter with the Metropolitan Opera. The sale is led by the sole surviving autograph musical manuscript by Schubert for his Piano Sonata in A flat Major (estimate: $350,000-500,000). Illuminating the sale are objets d’art with provenance grounded in opera and classical music including Enrico Caruso’s Cartier gold eyeglass case with glasses and Arturo Toscanini’s Gubelin open-faced pocket watch.

starbucks japan

On the 13th of April, Starbucks Japan will debut a new and uber-cool Frappuccino drink that comes laden with a lip-smacking, crusty Cherry Pie. The flavor will be officially introduced for Starbucks fans in Japan on the occasion of Sakura or the Cherry Blossom season in the country. Unlike the regular Frappuccino’s, the novel coffee drink comes with a domes pie crust topping pierced with a straw, recreating the experience of digging into a pie with a fork. Underneath the pie is a layer of freshly whipped cream followed by a vanilla-flavored base, containing bite-sized pie pieces throughout its cherry compote. And this new sugar delight is a tribute the American cherry fruit and the whole tradition of pie-eating. Bon Apetit !

SINGH-AMBIKA | Created from a fusion of 32 rocks, this sculpture features Durga on a lion with trishool in one of her arms in finish of red stone, with trishool in rustic copper patina
SINGH-AMBIKA | Created from a fusion of 32 rocks, this sculpture features Durga on a lion with trishool in one of her arms in finish of red stone, with trishool in rustic copper patina

The right piece of art is a must for homes with character. A unique, non-replicable sculpture would certainly be the dream possession for the art aficionado. And if you’re looking for something that particularly channels the spirit of nature through stones, then Sang-e-Casa is the right place for you. An exclusive sculpture studio, Sang e Casa tries to create sculptures by letting nature have the upper hand. Munish Gangwal, founder of Sang e Casa, explains its philosophy thus: “It’s very true that no two stones, rocks can ever be identical in this nature created by God. Hence, not trying to change that, we create pieces by sourcing interesting naturally shaped rocks and let the imagination revolve around that. The artist himself cannot reproduce an identical piece again.” And so, what you get is truly remarkable, a one-one a kind piece of art shared between you, the artist and the original creator of the rocks and stones in the universe.

STANDING GREEN HORSE | Treatments involved in the making of these sculptures are sand blasting, acid wash, carbon-welding and steel reinforcements
STANDING GREEN HORSE | Treatments involved in the making of these sculptures are sand blasting, acid wash, carbon-welding and steel reinforcements

Gangwal further explains the process involved in creating sculptures at Sang e Casa, “The sculptures are usually made with a combination of stones or rocks or both of different shapes and sizes,” he says. “Once these are put together, the artist, using his imagination, creates different figures. There are also single rock pieces from which the artist has created different face structures. The natural texture on these rocks and stones created over millions of years helps in discovering an expression. This is what makes every piece truly one of a kind.”

Gangwal’s journey began 8 months ago, when he was searching for “good artefacts” for his Farm House, something particularly “rugged and rustic”.

“Most of the pieces I came across were not something that could fit well with the minimalist approach of my interiors,” he reminisces. “With muted colors and clean lines, I needed something that could stand out for its beauty and break the monotony. Being the creative kind, I have always made small pieces out of passion. I have applied my creativity in all my business ventures, be it exclusive furniture, designer garments or bespoke automotive fabrication. And so I started looking for naturally available materials. As I came across some very interesting shapes and textures, I knew I was one step away from building my own piece. Feeling content with my first creation as a sculptor, I instantly knew I wanted to take this forward and explore more and put my hobby in the business of Art.”

RAKTAANDAV | Shiva in pose of Tandav in color of Rakt or Red. Naag, Damroo & Trishool are in finish of rustic copper
RAKTAANDAV | Shiva in pose of Tandav in color of Rakt or Red. Naag, Damroo & Trishool are in finish of rustic copper

He developed his first full collection of sculptures using only pebbles, handpicked by his team. “Every stone had such a distinct color, texture and shape. It was impossible to replicate any piece. That is when I found exclusivity and started experimenting with rocks. Traveling to different parts of India, mountain bases, demolished architectures and riversides were some of the places from where we would handpick interesting shaped stones, pebbles and rocks and create pieces. This is when it got down to experimenting with materials and other manufacturing processes.”

For Gangwal, inspiration came from any and every life form, which found its way into his art. Combining some engineering with imagination, mythology, meditation, culture and human anatomy, Sang-é-Casa was born.

So, the guiding spirit behind the sculptures at Sang e Case becomes the original state of single rocks and stones in nature and the states brought about through the combinations of these. The complexity of the sculpture is decided by the number of stones, with the sculptors sometimes experimenting with even ten stones at a time. Some of the key pieces that you find at Sang e Casa are representations of facial expressions, poses, mythological characters, and meditation positions.

RAKTUNMAAD | A joyous, ‘crazy’ human with one leg on the ground and another towards the sky, created from a fusion of 14 rocks
RAKTUNMAAD | A joyous, ‘crazy’ human with one leg on the ground and another towards the sky, created from a fusion of 14 rocks

“There are only simple straight cuts given to take out some part of these stones to create balance, but they are smartly hidden from the eye,” explains Gangwal. Some of the treatments involved in the making of these sculptures are sand blasting, acid wash, carbon-welding and steel re-inforcements. A natural finish is achieved by the use of stone powder as the top coat.

Sang e Casa sculptures are created at their workshop/studio in Mumbai, by a team of highly skilled labourers. According to Gangwal, they also travel from time to time, locally and domestically, to find the most interesting raw materials. “We have also established a few very hard working families in particular cities like a village in MP to handpick these materials.”

NEELKANTH | Lord Shiva of Blue collar in his iconic pose of Natraaj, created from the fusion of 13 rocks
NEELKANTH | Lord Shiva of Blue collar in his iconic pose of Natraaj, created from the fusion of 13 rocks

So which of these creations would he list as his favorites? Gangwal has a list, which includes the sculpture of Lord Shiva in his iconic ‘tandav’ pose, another of the Goddess Durga, taking her place on the tiger, and numerous ‘Unmaad’ poses— Sanskrit for ‘mad’ or ‘insane’. Also in the list of favorites is Michelangelo’s famous Pieta, where Virgin Mary is depicted cradling the dead body of Jesus—created here with a fusion of 20 rocks.

The pieces at Sang e Casa range in price from Rs. 80,000 to Rs. 4,00,000 depending on the complexity of the sculptures and the availability of the stones and rocks.  Gangwal plans to take his artwork a step further and make the sculptures available at exclusive and high end interior decor showrooms and studios.

“Our plan is to establish Sang-é-Casa as a premium luxury home decor brand,” says Gangwal.  “We also have two very interesting collections in the works. The first is Kudrat: artefacts created from polished round stones or cobbles found near water streams of the Himalayas. The second, named Khalbatta features artefacts created from crushed rocks or glass or both using proprietary manufacturing processes.”

Sang e Casa exclusive creations are available at various addresses in Mumbai: Sang e Casa at Oberoi Garden City in Geregaon; at Indoors, Lakozy Mansion; and Furnitech Design Studio at Lower Parel.

 

(This article is a promotional piece.)