As beauty standards evolve from dramatic transformations toward more natural-looking results, Clinique Le Marais is carving out a space in the aesthetics market by offering premium treatments at prices designed to be more accessible to a wider clientele.  Located at the Magnitude Building just outside Eastwood City in Quezon City, the neighborhood beauty clinic is built around the belief that high-quality aesthetic care can be approachable without sacrificing the products, equipment and service associated with premium clinics.  “We believe in premium service at honest prices. We want to offer services that can keep up with the level offered by the big names in the industry without having our customers feeling that they need to burn a hole in their pocket just to look their best,” CEO Jacqueline Lozada said.  Lozada and partners Sunseeree de Jesus and Danilo Christian de Jesus III oversee the business and service side of the clinic, while partner doctors handle its clinical operations.    The clinic offers facial and skin care treatments designed to cleanse, refresh, hydrate and rejuvenate, as well as non-invasive body contouring for skin tightening and improved definition. Its services also include targeted laser treatments, Botox, skin boosters, biostimulators, fillers and thread treatments.  Despite the range of procedures, the clinic takes a conservative approach to aesthetic care. New clients first consult with licensed doctors about their concerns before a treatment is recommended, allowing the clinic to develop a program tailored to each individual.  The clinic also chooses procedures based on safety, effectiveness and worthwhile results rather than simply following the latest trends.  “People now, they want the natural look. Before, it was fillers — perfection. Now, it’s natural. You can have those little lines here and there, but it’s brighter. You look younger. You look like you’re sleeping every day,” Lozada said.  De Jesus said the popularity of treatments has also changed, with skin boosters and biostimulators increasingly sought after compared with fillers in previous years.   The same preference for subtle enhancement can be seen in lip treatments, with interest moving toward lip boosters.  “The result is more natural. It’s hydrated. It just becomes plump,” de Jesus said.  For Lozada, one of the biggest challenges in the increasingly competitive aesthetics market is helping consumers understand that price is not the only factor to consider when choosing a treatment.  “The most common question in our social media is, ‘Do you have a promo?’ Usually, people jump from one clinic to another looking for the best promo,” shared Lozada.  She recalled a customer who questioned why a Hifu (High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound) treatment at another clinic was priced at P1,500 when similar treatments could cost several thousand pesos.    Lozada said one important difference can be the number of shots administered.   “That’s the thing with us. Whether we’re on a promo rate or full rate, 30 percent, 50 percent, whatever, we give the same number of shots. So we don’t skimp on that,” she said.   The clinic has responded by producing educational content explaining procedures such as Hifu and Botox and what consumers should consider beyond the advertised price.   “What’s the difference between a P1,500 Hifu and an P8,000 Hifu? People don’t know. It’s simple — it’s the number of shots,” Lozada said. She said the same principle applies to Botox, where the number of units used can affect the end result.  “You can give promo Botox for this much, but the units are too low,” she said.  The clinic’s strategy of keeping prices accessible is partly based on operating with lower profit margins.  “Definitely lower, because we know our place in the market. We know we’re an SME,” Lozada said.  At the same time, she emphasized that lower prices should not translate into lower standards.  The clinic is currently holding its biggest promotion since Lozada took over the business, offering discounts of up to 50 percent on machine treatments and 20 percent on doctor-led procedures from September through December.  “That is one thing we are very proud of. Even if we offer a discount for our services, we maintain the same level of effectiveness in our treatments. We don’t cut corners,” Lozada said.   “We make sure to use the same dosages that are recommended by the scientific studies backing up the procedures to ensure that our customers get the maximum benefit — both immediate and long-term — from our services,” she added.   The clinic has four treatment rooms, including a VIP room, designed with privacy and relaxation in mind.   “We want it to be relaxing. More than anything, we want you to try the treatments, experience the service,” Lozada said.    For the owners, building lasting relationships with clients is ultimately more important than competing solely on promotions.   “In this type of business, customer retention and satisfaction is the most important. Because we want them to keep on coming back. This is a type of business that after three months, after six months, they need to come back to us,” Lozada said.    For Clinique Le Marais, the goal is to make aesthetic care more attainable while responding to a beauty consumer increasingly interested in looking refreshed and youthful without losing the features that make them recognizable.   Clinique Le Marais is located at 102 Magnitude Building, 186 Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. Ave., Quezon City.