HOT: Aesop Facial Treatment , 153 Toorak Rd, South Yarra 3141

During my teen years, I was lucky enough to display smug, blemish-free skin while everyone else at school was bulk-buying Clearasil. My luck changed though when I hit my last stressful year of school and for years later I was stuck in a quagmire of testing, searching and discarding skincare products - until I was Saved By Aesop *light shines from the heavens*.

To be more specific, I was saved by Maria, who works at the Aesop South Yarra store. Maria is the queen bee of Aesop's facialists, having been lured out of retirement by the founder of Aesop to develop a series of facials for his products, and who also trains every Aesop therapist. There are only two people in the world I trust with my skin now - Maria and Ingrid (ex-Aesop therapist at Liberty in London).

The whole Aesop facial experience is calmly luxurious. When you enter, you are handed a light sarong and then given a choice to shower before the facial. You then lie back on the super-comfortable bed, snuggle up with a duvet and a cashmere throw, and let Maria do her magic. Basically, I trust her to do whatever she wants with my skin - she not only uses Aesop products, but will incorporate fresh 'botanical booster' ingredients, while at all times giving a sure and steady massage. This time she decided to give my ravaged skin an antioxidant Vitamin C boost. Not cheap for $150 but a lovely treat.