Genevieve Skin Care and Day Spa has just opened in Pinehurst South. Operator Ginny Page, a Southern Pines native, is a licensed esthetician who focuses on making customers feel good about themselves. First-time clients are even treated to a footbath, free of charge, during the initial consultation.

Page is not new to the skin-care business. Infact for the last two years she has had her own line of skin care products available on the internet. “We’re an international company,” says Page, “We’ve sent products as far as Russia and Bulgaria.”Even with products going so far away Page still has her own loyal following right here at home.

I’ve used her products for two years,” Diane Cerami said. “I can’t use anything else, and I’ve tried everything from Maybelline to Chanel. And it’s not just that; Ginny is just so helpful.”

Indeed, Page was helpful, at the opening of her spa Tuesday night. She answered questions ranging from, “How do I achieve the dewy look?” to “What is a pedi- polish?”

Page also dished out advice by explaining that the most important thing for skin care is to keep skin cleansed and moist. She described toner by comparing it to a damp sponge. A dry sponge will simply spread around water on a table. A damp sponge will absorb the water. If you apply products to your skin without the toner, you spread them around on your skin. “The toner allows your skin to absorb the other products you apply,” Page said.

The new spa offers a wide variety of services from facials to ear candling, a centuries-old soothing treatment for the ear. A cylinder is placed in the ear and lit on the opposite end to create a vacuum. There is no discomfort, and it removes old earwax and toxins.

Other services offered are paraffin waxing for the hands and feet, pedi-polishes ( a masque and moisturization treatment for the legs and feet) and micro-dermabrasion, which Page described as “sandblasting your face with velvet.” All treatments last about an hour and are given on a heated bed.

“I am looking forward to being a customer here,” Nancy Blasingame said. “She (Page) practiced on me when she was in school. I was getting the freebies then. Now I have to pay for it, but she is worth it.”

The spa will tailor its services to the needs of customers. There are specialized treatments for people who are going through hormonal changes, have acne problems, or have particularly dry skin.

Page’s customized skin-care products will be for sale at the spa. While most products contain ionized water as their primary ingredient, Page’s formulas are all aloe vera-based, which allows the skin to draw its moisture from the air. They also contain salicylic acid and glycolic acid, which help to remove dead cells from the skin.

Genevieve Skin Care and Day Spa is open Mondays through Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays by appointment. Interested persons can schedule appointments by calling 295- 3805.

Page said she would like to see her spa, “grow bigger, maybe eventually to develop into a franchise,” but her focus will continue to be on the people she serves.

“We were taught in school that everyone you come into contact with is a very important person,” Page said. “I want people to feel good about themselves when they leave here.”