THE SPA TREATMENT

Does your holiday gift say, "You're old"?

It never occurred to me that someone might be offended by receiving a $200 face cream. Every time I’ve given one, the reception is warmer than Las Vegas asphalt (well, when it’s not coated in snow).

It turns out, though, that some people think it’s the same thing as calling them old.

Sarah, who’s 49 (and has flawless skin), automatically answered “Yes,” when I asked a group of women in the SpaFinder office if they’d be miffed if someone gave her an anti-aging cream for Christmas. Lisa, who’s probably 30 years-old at most, said No. And then went on to say how Emma, another colleague of ours, gave her Bliss’s Fat Girl Slim last year. “But she knew I wanted it.” I’d bet my last lipstick that the gift would not have been equally welcomed if given to Lisa by her boyfriend. (Unless the jar also makes an interesting imprint when lobbed at the forehead.)

It seems to me that the skill in giving face creams is all in the name: Verboten are products with the words “deep wrinkle,” “profound creases,” or “super firming” on them. Also questionable: “works like Botox”, “facelift in jar,” and “age spot inhibitor”. Even good old fashioned “anti-aging” can be misinterpreted by an age-old friend. (Probably best to choose some other way to refer to her on the holiday card, as well.)

Creme de la Mer, on the other hand, which is associated with luxe indulgence, and not bulldog-like skin folds, would be gobbled up faster than the holiday candy piling up in the SpaFinder kitchen, according to my office poll. Also, benign: exotic spa products like Red Flower, Pure Fiji, Juara, and Malie, and Kai, as well as aromatherapy, bath salts, body scrubs. Just not the ones intended for cellulite.

What do you think? Would you cautiously give or begrudgingly receive an anti-aging cream for the holidays?