RISING TO THE OCCASION

With attention to detail each step of the way, the SK-II Boutique Spa aims to make every visit to the spa not only good, but a great experience.  This starts with the people who can make or break your facial experience, the beauty therapists. 

With the introduction of its Head Therapist Program, the spa’s clients now have access to the most experienced therapists.  For a small premium, you’ll be able to enjoy your session knowing you’re in the excellent hands of a head therapist. Head therapists are selected for their mastery and knowledge of skincare treatments. They also have commendable service standards, and a strong customer following.

Take Serene Chia, for example. Chia is part of the founding team of beauty therapists who have grown along with the company for 15 years, since its inauguration. Chia herself once suffered from troubled skin, so she knows what it’s like to be in the shoes of a customer with similar problems. It’s also the reason why she takes pride in focusing on restoring her customers’ skin health and checking in on them in between facial sessions.  With 24 years of experience in the beauty industry under her belt, Chia plays a pivotal role in helping to shape and strengthen the techniques used in some of the spa’s signature treatments. 

Fellow head therapists Riam Janthee Wipha and Denise Chong, like Chia, have more than a decade of experience working with the SK-II Boutique Spa. Wipha and Chong have dedicated their careers to helping customers improve their skin health, for 22 years and 18 years respectively. 

Another way the spa is elevating its services is by focusing on an integral, but often disregarded, part of any facial treatment: water.   

“The word ‘spa’ comes from the Latin phrase ‘salus per aquam’, which translates to ‘wellness through water’ – and that’s something we feel is important yet often overlooked at spa centres,” says Calvin Ng, founder and managing director of Senze Salus. 

Using filtered and distilled water on your skin may seem a little excessive, but it’s a move that Ng believes is best for customers. 

Singapore tap water may be safe on the skin, but it’s treated with chemicals such as chlorine, ammonia and fluoride which may leave skin feeling dry and taut because of their stripping effect, Ng says. Such chemicals can even irritate sensitive skin. To prevent that, the SK-II Boutique Spa invested in a four-stage filtration system to ensure that the water used to clean the face is free of all traces of chemicals. 

Furthermore, trace amounts of sediments may also be found in tap water as they build up in underground pipes. These impurities can be easily absorbed by the skin during facial steaming when the pores are opened up. Thus, only distilled water is used for steaming. “Distilled water is 100 per cent pure,  pH-neutral and extra gentle on all skin types. It’s another form of care for our customers,” Ng adds.

To add to the “wellness through water” theme, only high-quality alkaline water (which has a higher pH level than conventional drinking water) is served to customers. Alkaline water is said to help neutralise acidity in our bodies for a natural detox process – and according to the SK-II Boutique Spa, it also contains antioxidants that protect against free radicals, which are a main culprit of skin woes. 

And you can round off your spa session by enjoying a cup of premium first-harvest organic green tea – specially curated by a Japanese tea sommelier exclusively for the boutique spa – on the house, before stepping out.