Why women like facials
Men, when finding themselves adrift on the Sea of Gifts for Women (which, by the way, laps the shore of the Island of Female Pleasure), may, with understandable desperation, lunge for the first piece of driftwood they see, namely something that they (the men) would like to see them (the women) in/on/at. This strategy will result in a less than satisfactory outcome, however, as the strategy itself is flawed. Because a gift is for the person receiving it, not the person giving it.
I believe that men, generally, receive gifts that they desire because they articulate the desire for those gifts. Although I do get concerned at all those battery-operated revolving tie-racks that pile up on the circular tables in the middle of the men’s department during certain times of the year. However, as this column is not about YOU (man), it’s about ME (woman), I don’t at this moment give a fig if you do get that environmentally-friendly, foot-operated golf ball polisher.
Men get the gifts they want because they ask for them. Wait a sec, they don’t ask, they don’t even tell. Women just notice what men don’t have, and get it for them. Women don’t get the gifts they want because they don’t ask for them AND men don’t notice what women don’t have, and therefore don’t go out and get it. But as far as I can tell, women mystify men in general (quick, how many men can describe what Venestat is for?), so if you are a man and are stupefied regarding an upcoming gift requirement for a woman, may I help you out and suggest a facial?
Now wait, don’t go running out to buy the gift certificate (you do have to go inside the salon to get it, you know), let me tell you why a facial and most women love to get them (even if they don’t tell you so).
The facial lady, aka the esthetician (not a word on the SAT, as far as I can remember), does this and that that the other thing to the face, neck, and shoulders, all in the name of beautiful skin. That is not why woman love facials. There are lotions and potions and unguents (maybe a word on the MCAT) applied and tissued off. Still not why women go for this. There are machines that go “bzzzz” and “shhhhh” and “rrrrrr” (I don’t know about the machine that goes “BING!”). Again, no solo contende.
There are two reasons why women love facials, and why you should give them as gifts (as long as the accompanying card does not read “You look like you could use this.”) The first is that all facials are performed in separate rooms, one facial to a room. One esthetician to a facial, one facial to a room, one room to a client. The esthetician and you, and either a loop of “The Best of Enya” (please God will you stop playing her?) or Yanni (or maybe Kenny G) or music classical or new age. That’s it. The focus of the room is you. Everything that happens, happens to you, for you. You, you, you. You see? Men, you’re already used to this. Women, this is (somewhat) new, and really, really nice. There are no interruptions, no phone calls, no husbands, no boyfriends, no television, no kids (I have a friend who tells me she loves to go on business trips because it’s the only time she can shave her legs without anybody slamming open the bathroom door and asking “Can I have some chocolate milk?”). When you get a facial, it’s about YOU.
The other reason women love facials is the manual dexterity of the esthetician. In other words, the massage. Good skin requires good blood flow, so every facial will include a gorgeous face, neck, and shoulder massage. Nice smelling oil, gentle fingertips, slight pressure. (Note to estheticians: please don’t press on my eyeballs). It’s the touching, the stroking, the patting away of tension and nervousness, that is the biggest reason woman jump at the gift of a facial. Have you ever noticed how wonderful a woman looks, any woman, after she comes back from a facial? It’s because she’s relaxed, and the blood is flowing, uh, good. It’s not the creams, or the steam, or the pore manipulation (never mind about that). It’s the touching.
It’s the touching. Hmm, it’s the touching. And the pampering. Hmm, the touching and the pampering. Hmm, you know, a nice smelling candle, a body oil from the pharmacy, a quiet room with nice music playing softly in the background, and just two people in it, and you (man) could achieve the same glow from her. You don’t have to restrict the touching to the face. She’s got an esthetician for that.
She’s got you for other things…
Men, when finding themselves adrift on the Sea of Gifts for Women (which, by the way, laps at the shore of the Island of Female Pleasure), may, with understandable desperation, lunge for the first piece of driftwood they see, namely something that they (the men) would like to see them (the women) in/on/at.
This strategy will result in a less than satisfactory outcome, however, as the strategy itself is flawed.
Because a gift, you see, is for the person receiving it, not the person giving it.
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