One of my new year's resolutions for 2014 was to make health and beauty a priority in my life. As such, I enrolled in a Chinese medicine class and started experimenting with different exercises, treatments and speaking to experts in those areas.

Recently, I indulged in the Bastien Gonzalez and Sodashi Pedi: Facial: Synergy Treatment – an impressive new collaboration between two of the biggest names in luxury spa experiences – at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental Spa. Their programmes have never disappointed me, and this time the cherry on the cake was the opportunity to also meet with Megan Larsen, the Founder of Sodashi; and Albin Brion, Studio Manager of Bastien Gonzalez.

In her line of work, Larsen has developed her own beauty routine and follows it religiously to achieve a combination of mental and physical well-being. During our conversation, she stresses over and over again on the importance of being happy and at ease with oneself. She acknowledges that life has its challenges, but that it all depends on how we see and handle them.  Some see challenges as the dark tunnel of despair but we should always try our best to see them as opportunities. As the saying goes, as one door closes, another opens.

Physically, Larsen takes very good care of herself on a daily basis. She wakes up and ends her day with transcendental meditation and adds a spot of physical exercise during the course of the day. She sees skincare as food for the skin, and also believes that nourishing one's skin should be taken as seriously as eating. We would normally not go on for a day without food, and that same principle should also be applied to skin care. Furthermore 60 per cent of what we apply to our skin goes into our bloodstream, and as such, we should try to use the best and most natural ingredients possible.

Beauty Tips from Megan Larsen and Albin Brion

1. During long-haul flights, drink watered-down fresh apple juice every five hours. This helps water absorb better and hydrate your skin.

2. Skin has a 28-day cycle, so having facials done every 4 to 6 weeks would be ideal.

3. If you suffer from corns on your feet, massage them with Bastien Gonzalez Le Baume cream in a circular motion, then softly pinch the corn for 10-20 seconds.

Brion explains that this helps to increase elasticity in that area and even goes as far as to guarantee that if you do it religiously every day for four months, your corns will disappear forever.

4. If you wear high heels regularly, give your legs a rest by stretching your calves every day for 10-20 seconds each. 

As for the treatment, one can tell from the name of the treatment Bastien Gonzalez-Sodashi Pedi: Facial: Synergy that it is one that takes care of you from head to toe. For busy Hong Kongers who are time poor and yet would like to find time and relax and look their very best, this four hands treatment is performed simultaneously by two therapists, and you will certainly walk away feeling like you’re walking on clouds.

The Bastien Gonzalez-Sodashi Pedi:Facial:Synergy is available at HKD 2,490 (Weekday) / HKD 2,620 (Weekends). Prices are subject to 10% service charge.