Summers in the Lowcountry are healing for the soul, but if you are soaking up the sun at the beach or walking the hot streets of the city, you are definitely not doing your skin any favors. Whether your face just needs a little pick-me-up or you want to look your best for an event, luxury beauty product retailer Cos Bar has what you need. Since 2010, its Charleston location on lower King Street has been a required stop for those who seek the best beauty brands in the world.
Cos Bar Charleston recently launched the Natura Bissé spa, which uses Natura Bissé skincare products exclusively. Applied by an aesthetician trained in special massage techniques, these luxurious treatments promise to combat the signs of aging by lifting and firming tired or damaged skin.
This is no ordinary facial; it’s an experience—an oasis of peaceful rejuvenation just steps away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. I was lucky enough to experience the Diamond Treatment—an hour and a half of pure relaxation at the only spa in the world that is officially partnered with Natura Bissé. The company—a favorite brand of celebrity A-list beauties, like Elle Macpherson and Beyoncé—claims its products can turn back the clock on fine lines, wrinkles and fatigued skin in both women and men.
My experience was full of delights: soft spa music, soft sheets, soft scents and a trained soft touch. With a damp cloth over my eyes, the aesthetician had me blindly take a few deep whiffs of something citrusy and then sprayed a cool lavender mist that set the mood for deep relaxation. She took great care to focus on gently massaging nine facial muscles while working an array of Natura Bissé products into my skin. In addition to the expected calming and creamy applications, others were pleasantly surprising, like the light tingling of something spicy, and another like champagne bubbles on my face. The experience was so soothing that I caught myself on the verge of falling asleep several times, which I was told many customers do.
I’m happy to report that the treatment’s effects were noticeable immediately and lasted several days—even with young children, my perpetual “tired mom” look had vanished! I have since been able to maintain my rejuvenated skin with several Natura Bissé products.
The spa adds to Cos Bar Charleston’s already stellar reputation as the only local luxury skincare destination. The store carries a handpicked array of the world’s best beauty brands, including Tom Ford Beauty, Sisley-Paris, La Mer and more. But the world’s most touted brands are not the only reason customers love this place.
“Beauty is so personal; our team develops relationships built on trust with our customers, and that’s what keeps them coming back,” says David Olsen, Cos Bar CEO.
At Cos Bar, you can sit down with a beauty specialist to talk about everything from skincare routines to cosmetics and find solutions that work uniquely for you. Furthermore, the store’s packed event calendar invites you to have fun while improving your skin or trying new makeup. Meet beauty brand founders and industry experts to learn the science behind skincare products, or learn the proper way to apply them with national trainers and makeup artists. From chocolate tastings paired with fragrance lines to makeovers and master classes, Cos Bar offers plenty of opportunities to celebrate skin.
“The events allow customers to learn more and have a more personal experience with the brands that they love, or even to discover new ones,” says Olsen.
This August, beauty specialists at the Charleston location will be celebrating Cos Bar’s 42 years with a birthday party. Partnering with a local charity, Cos Bar will roll out the red carpet to customers, offering prizes, special shopping promotions, complimentary services, cocktails and light bites.
Whether your skin is begging for rejuvenation, you’d like some direction on your skincare routine or cosmetics, or if you just want to discover a new brand, Cos Bar Charleston will help you put your best face forward.
Anne Shuler Toole is a freelance writer in Mount Pleasant.
