"DID you know that one cup of coffee takes at least six glasses of water from your body to assimilate? That means, with every cup of coffee, you are inviting dull, lifeless skin with fine lines!" Mita Avatramani paces among the nodding heads in their 20s and 30s, all listening intently.

They have made it to the Oxford Book Store in Churchgate, Mumbai on a hot summer afternoon, to know the secrets to smooth, radiant complexion.

Mita, a national training manager with international skincare brand Clarins, doesn't have to try hard. A mere mention of fine lines and dark circles gets her rapt attention from the crowd.

Just as she finishes her workshop, we catch up with her.

The general gyan discussed at the workshop is fine, we persist, but what about the specifics?

How does a modern woman, hard-pressed for time and with no bandwidth for hours-long beauty routines save her skin?  

"Hours? I have a beauty routine that can keep the skin in the best of health - and it doesn't even take ten minutes a day. Don't you think a glorious skin is worth ten minutes of your time?!" she asks, laughing disarmingly.

Ok, we are game and want to know all about this secret recipe to beautiful skin.

"Wait! Since you want specifics, Let us do a skin analysis - a case study that can help you decide your own problems and possible solution," Mita insists.

And we have a volunteer - Chetna Shahdadpuri-Rajani, the quintessential urban professional with the run-of-the-mill 12-hour-job and a dire wish to extend the day beyond the given 24 hours. Recently married, Chetna has a lot more things on her 'priority' list and skin, naturally, has to take a backseat.

"I have recently crossed over to the wrong side of 30. Life is ever more hectic and I know the stress may be getting to my skin!" Chetna admits, "My skin needs a saviour!"

Mita's ready with her saviour plan, but first, she needs to know Chetna's preference. 

"I need to know whether she likes her cleanser in the gel form or milk, whether she prefers liquid lotions or dense creams. Personalised skin solutions make you feel comfortable with your own skin routine - that's basic." 

Then, Mita starts her analysis by feeling the texture of Chetna's facial skin. Nothing escapes Mita's expert eyes - every little change of colour and contour, every bump and fine line is 'registered'. 

Photographs: Sanat Tanna

In the photograph: Top: Clarins training expert Mita Avatramani speaking at the skin workshop at Oxford Book Store, Mumbai on Friday, June 20.

Bottom: Mita analysing Chetna Shahdadpuri-Rajani's skin.