Bonding with benefits

If you're lucky enough to have a mother or a special older friend around to spoil, then how about making this Mother's Day the chance to enjoy a new experience together.

Or if you're busy with a school-age daughter who isn't old enough to do much more than deliver you toast in bed, then why not take time out to be girly together.

Simply enjoying each other's company is the nicest way to show true affection, but adding in a little indulgence and something new to talk about never hurts.

Here's a few ideas on how to bond with benefits:

THE MAKEUP LESSON

Refresh your look and your mother's, with a little professional help. We sent along Viva's 32-year-old photographer Babiche Martens with her retired mother, Yoke, aged in her 60s, who was readying for an overseas holiday, for a session with makeup artist Phoenix Renata. Babiche reports back on behalf of them both.

Babiche: Mum really enjoyed the experience, it made her re-think her daily makeup routine in that she should perhaps wear a little more foundation as it really boosted her self-esteem. She loved the fact that Phoenix really listened to her as she spoke about her preferred (natural look) makeup choices and respected these in her makeover.

Phoenix used a lipgloss on Mum which is not something that she's used to, but this sent her running to the counter to buy it and to book an eyebrow dye and shape.

I was very pleased with the end result also. My eye shadow was beautifully applied and quite different to Mum's even though we have the same eyes. The makeup lasted the distance into my Friday night - even after a carefully positioned shower!

Choices of eye colour and nude lipgloss for me were very modern and the foundation application was excellent. I felt comfortable going back to work and didn't feel overly made-up.

Verdict: Overall, we were both very pleased. The salon has a very relaxed upbeat atmosphere with clients of all ages, it's very pink! And we loved the "Pink Ladies" satin jackets that staff wore. The experience made Mum question to why she didn't pamper herself more often.

* A makeup lesson (or a makeover) costs $45, redeemable on products at Phoenix in Kingsland (Ph 845 6620) or Takapuna and takes up to 45 minutes. phoenixcosmetics.com.

THE MINI MANI

Good beauty habits are passed from mother to daughter, but tweens and teens often respond better to a stranger's advice, especially if they feel the centre of attention. I took my 9-year-old to Nbar so I could get titivated while she had a mini manicure.

Janetta: Neither my daughter nor I are overly girly, we're both too impatient to sit around painting each other's nails. I also can't abide painted little princesses, so Livia's first forays into cosmetics have been limited to the occasional party and critiquing my appearance in that oh-so-candid way daughters have.

"That colour's yuck," being heard way more often than "You look pretty mummy".

That's a long way of saying I wasn't sure how either of us would feel about her first trip for a treatment, but I knew this one was kiddy customised. Nbar co-owner Tracey Woolner even hosts children's birthday parties and has developed the Betty Boop Manicure for little ladies aged up to 12. This includes tips on cuticle care, a hand massage and a paint job in a colour of their choice finished with nail stickers or diamantes. The former nurse is big on nail hygiene and says some girls are given the treatment to stop them biting their nails.

The salon's drying area is a bonus, as it speeds up the process for wriggly little ones.

Verdict: If you've got a child in tow this is a great way of getting your own fingers or toes attended to while they're playing grownup and, of course, it's ideal for two grownups as well.

Livia wanted the stickers off her nails almost as soon as we got out the door, but otherwise the experience took. She headed home to display her peachy nails and tell her father he should get in the habit of pushing back his cuticles. The manicure involved more than just the picking the colour and having it applied that she'd expected. "The lady was really friendly and gave heaps of advice. It was nice with the little package with a nail file they gave me."

*The Betty Boop manicure lasts 30 minutes and costs $30. An adult shape and polish costs $25, manicures from $45. Nbar, 51C Ranfurly Rd, Epsom. Ph (09) 638 5091. nbar.co.nz.

THE HAIR SPA

A hair treatment followed by a great blow dry will leave you both ready to hit the town. You can further spoil your mother by buying her some individually prescribed shampoo and conditioner.

We sent busy PA Sarah, aged in her 30s, to Bettjemans hair spa for a Kerastase treatment. She took along her mother Carol, a former hairdresser in her 60s, who relished trying time in, rather than beside, the basin.

Carol: On entering the salon I immediately felt good. It appeared relaxing, friendly and professional. I was shown to a small "spa type" room, which had a very nice ambience and was given a Japanese tea, served in a beautiful little pottery teapot and mug.

Stephanie, who gave me my treatment was pleasant and confident and I felt very comfortable. I was given a cotton robe to wear and then pictures were taken to analyse the condition of my hair and scalp, which I found interesting and helpful.

I was prescribed a Kerastase "Age Premium" treatment followed by the best scalp massage I have ever experienced!

Following the treatment my hair was blowdried and styled. Stephanie took her time to work with care. I left the salon feeling very good about myself and my hair. I feel the product has made a real difference to my hair - for the next two days it looked much shinier than usual and the blowdry held until I washed it three days later. Due to my age, my hair is prone to dryness, but the product has improved the dryness considerably.

Verdict: I highly recommend the experience.

Sarah: I'd had a stressful day and entered the salon feeling rushed with a neck ache I'd had for the past few days ... by the time I left I felt relaxed and rested.

Bettjeman's spa is glorious - separated from the hum of the salon, it's peaceful and instantly relaxing. My therapist was informative and friendly without the gush sometimes experienced from hairdressers. What I loved most was the head massage. No wonder my neck ache disappeared.

The little extras, like the tea and the robe made the experience just that little more special. Based on a quick quiz and a magnified photograph of my hair cuticles to establish the health of my hair, it was decided I needed the Chroma Riche Masque for coloured or very sensitised hair. My hair is long, thick and can be unruly. This product, along with an expert blowdry, creates a smooth, soft, silky look. It feels and looks healthy.

Verdict: It's red-carpet hair in a bottle.

* A 60-minute Kerastase ritual and blowdry costs from $101 per person at Bettjemans, 52 Coates Ave, Orakei. Ph (09) 522 8030. 90-minute treatments also available. bettjemans.co.nz. For other Kerastase salons, (NB costs and treatment range varies), see kerastase.co.nz.

OTHER IDEAS
Be adventurous, pick up a gift voucher for something new.

FOOT MASSAGE
Lie back together and have your cares rubbed away.

At Ease Thai Foot Massage the atmosphere is international Eastern: polished wooden floors, dark green walls and inviting hyacinth weave armchairs and foot stools with saffron cushions. There's herbal tea to sip and almond oil scented with lemongrass for feet to be kneaded with and toes gently stretched.

The Thai staff use a small wooden tool on pressure points on the soles of feet. They're wrapped for warmth, while calves are worked a little and then, a nice touch, talcum powder is patted on to feet to absorb any oil before they're slipped back into shoes.

Then it's time for hands, arms, shoulders and neck to be given a massage through your clothes. This includes a little weight-bearing pressure and the stretching of arms above the head and behind the back. Walking out, you'll swear you feel lighter on your feet.

* This 45-minute treatment at Ease Thai Foot Massage, 49 Ponsonby Rd, cost $60. Treatments range from a 15 to 90 minutes. Ph (09) 360 0198. At ease-massage.com you can order a gift voucher to be sent by email.

* Bliss Reflexology is another good place to enjoy foot massage. There's several branches, and they also offer Chinese traditional body massage.

BROW TIDY

A well-shaped brow can make a surprisingly big impact on overall appearance. As women age and grey, their hair also thins, so combining a brow shape with a tint helps better frame the eyes and bring the face alive.

Threading is a good, quick option to give eyebrows a well defined shape and Ketut at East Day Spa is a whiz at performing it, making this a good place to try what is a widely used method of facial hair removal across the Middle East and India.

Cotton thread is used to essentially lasso hair, twisting it from the follicle. Ketut very quickly pulls the threads along, meaning although it feels a little similar to tweezing it's quicker. As with a tweezing you should be guided and consulted about the best shape.

Threading can also be used to pick up unwanted hairs along the lip line or chin area.

*Threading Eyebrow Shape costs $18 and an Eyebrow Tint $18 at East Day Spa, SkyCity Grand, Albert St. Ph (09) 363 7050.

* Off Wax and Brow Bars in Newmarket and Takapuna also deliver fine eyebrow shaping and tinting and sell a range of eyebrow grooming products for use at home.