The moody Mumbai monsoon had a rosy glow, as Verve and Estée Lauder invited the city’s women to experience two afternoons of luxury preening and pampering. The legendary beauty brand’s plush store at the Trident Galleria was the venue for the event, where the invitees enjoyed Estée Lauder’s signature services, featuring their cosmetics and skincare ranges.

“This was an event dedicated to women,” says Anjali Gaekwar, sales and education manager for Estée Lauder, Mumbai. “It brought together Verve and Estée Lauder — both highly esteemed names — their patrons and readers, for an interactive tête-à-tête, addressing various skin concerns and offering solutions.”

City fashionistas and 50 lucky Verve readers were treated to complimentary makeovers and skincare consultations. The ladies looked radiant as they enjoyed their beauty lessons over an assortment of delectable chocolates and refreshing beverages. Estée Lauder’s highly trained skincare consultants offered personalised advice regarding care regimes, and demonstrated the new Re-Nutriv range — the über luxurious skin repair products, featuring top-of-the-line ingredients like 22k gold flakes, South Sea pearls, Hawaiian deep sea water and ginseng. “This is precious skincare,” said a consultant. “We offer only the best to our customers.”

The event was well attended by Mumbai’s elite circle — noted designers, artists, entrepreneurs, professionals and socialites added to the glamour quotient. Akanksha Nanda, Priya Kishore, Sangita Kathiwada and Rashmi Dogra were all smiles as they surrendered to the pampering. “I love the fresh fragrance of their products,” said Priya Kishore, style diva and owner of Bombay Electric store. “I especially like the cucumber and tea aromas… I regularly use their Double Wear base… Every product makes a good statement.”

>Designer Vidya Zaveri, who was not very familiar with beauty consultations, felt ‘educated’ after the interactive session. “I had previously used only their lipsticks,” she told us. “But this consultation has made me more comfortable with the brand.” Verve reader and entrepreneur Kalpana Asar agreed. “This event was a great idea. Professional opinion is very important in beauty and skincare, and now I am going to follow all the advice that I received.”

Many were delighted by the “transforming touch” of the creams, powders, colours and brushes. “Wow, let’s celebrate and go for lunch. We look so good!” chirped an enthusiastic Verve reader, after she and her friends received their complimentary makeovers. “Thank you. I feel beautiful. You made my day!” another reader beamed, as she struck a pose for our camera. The exuberant ladies wasted no time in purchasing their magic potions. But the best surprise was the ‘goodie-bag’, which contained complimentary Estée Lauder samples, fine chocolates and the latest issue of Verve.

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