51 winners 115 treatments 29 categories We’ve tested them all, and you’ve voted for your favourites. Here’s our guide to the best and most effective facials, pampering massages and hair treatments this year.
Manual Facials
BEST CLARIFYING FACIAL
Astute Medical Aesthetics & Laser Clinic, #01-08 Tembeling Centre (tel: 6581-9633/9733)
The facial uses a machine with a handheld tool to vacuum out pore gunk, without discomfort. The therapist attending to our tester was very thorough, running the nozzle over the tester’s face multiple times before manually extracting stubborn clogs. Glycolic and salicylic acids were also used during the facial. Our tester’s skin, usually clogged and dull, felt clean and even glowed for a few days after.
Radium Medical Aesthetics, #03-326 Suntec City Mall (tel: 6837-0507)
The extraction-free facial is made for clogged yet sensitive skin. It uses two peels, two masks (a seaweed fortifying mud mask and a cucumber sorbet gel mask to prevent breakouts) and acids to deep-cleanse and protect skin. Our tester’s complexion looked brighter and felt softer after the treatment.
BEST FACECONTOURING FACIAL
Estetica. Visit www.esteticabeauty.com/contact for outlets.
The treatment reportedly boosts collagen and elastin production while lifting and firming skin. It’s recommended for older or fine-lined skin. To give you a more V-shaped face, it uses a facial lift plumper to reduce fat clusters around the face and neck. Extraction is optional. The facial ends with a 15min mask to brighten skin. The tester’s complexion appeared brighter and clearer, with less obvious fine lines.
BEST FACIAL FOR DULL AND TIRED SKIN
Epion Clinic, Tudor Court, 145 Tanglin Road (tel: 6732-2122)
This facial gets skin looking clear, smooth and radiant with its triple whammy of a mild chemical peel, aqua jet exfoliation and ultrasonic deep clean. It “spring cleans” by sloughing away rough, dull skin and blackheads. Then, a hydrating or brightening serum is applied, with ultrasound waves used to boost absorption. The finishing touch: a vitamin therapy mask to clarify skin, boost collagen production and reduce the look of wrinkles. Our tester confidently left the clinic barefaced after the treatment.
SK-II Boutique Spa. Visit www.mysk2spa.com/eshop/ location for outlets.
The treatment aims to improve both your mood and skin with a 45min (yes, you read that right) face massage and hand reflexology session, using certified organic essential oils. Following triple cleansing, steaming and extraction, the therapist gives you a lymphatic drainage and relaxation massage. The facial is capped off with SK-II’s Facial Treatment Mask, along with ultrasound treatment. Expect your complexion to look brighter, smoother and very much refreshed.
BEST BRIGHTENING FACIAL FOR UNEVEN SKIN TONE
Vidaskin, #04-05 Wheelock Place (tel: 6235-4429)
The skin-renewing facial includes two peels: an enzyme peel activated with steam, and a lactic acid peel, to get skin looking brighter and more even-toned. It also features two kinds of extraction: manual (thoroughly performed by the tester’s therapist), and hydra dermabrasion (waterbased microdermabrasion) using a machine tip with a vacuum-like action. Our tester’s skin felt soft and smooth for more than a week after the treatment.
Sulwhasoo Boutique. Visit www.sulwhasoo.com/sg/en/ spa/location.html for outlets.
Besides emerging with skin that looked brighter and felt suppler, our tester also felt completely pampered by the treatment. It starts with a warm foot bath and ginseng foot scrub. Done on a heated bed, the extraction-free facial uses the brand’s Snowise Brightening range and includes an acupressure massage, a massage using a white jade applicator said to help circulation, and shoulder and hand massages. It ends with a nourishing mask that fully covers the face – even the eyes and lips.
BEST BRIGHTENING FACIAL FOR PIGMENTATION/ ACNE SCARS
La Source Spa, #01-03/04 Thong Teck Building, 15 Scotts Road (tel: 6732-1318)
The treatment uses Dynamic Pulsed Light (DPL) waves to reduce wrinkles, melasma and hyperpigmentation. DPL combines intense pulsed light (IPL) with a hybrid laser, so it is said to be faster, less painful and more effective. The therapist also applies a purifying scrub and mask to prevent breakouts. The result: The tester’s skin looked significantly more even, clear and radiant.
Shakura Pigmentation Beauty. Visit www.shakura.com.sg/ store-finder or call 6312-1212 for outlets.
The spa’s signature treatment tackles pigmentation by using a special Shakura Active Formula from Japan made from milk essence and hibiscus sabdariffa flower. The treatment encompasses steps to exfoliate dead skin cells and rehydrate your complexion. After the treatment, the tester’s freckles were visibly lighter, and her pores looked smaller.
BEST ALL-IN-ONE FACIAL
Renelle Beaute, #01-158, Block 477 Tampines Street 43 (tel: 6345-8861)
Using organic products, the facial cleanses the pores, refreshes the skin and infuses oxygen into the face. Combined with deep facial massage, it involves double cleansing, two machine applications and two masks, as well as aroma peeling and extraction. It left our tester’s skin feeling revitalised, and a few days after, firmer and more radiant.
Sulwhasoo Boutique. Visit www.sulwhasoo.com/sg/en/spa/location.html for outlets.
The treatment pairs the South Korean beauty house’s red-pine-based Timetreasure Renovating range with a round amber applicator to give you the result of youthful-looking skin. Luxurious and pampering, it includes a foot massage, aromatherapy, and a therapeutic face massage. It left the tester’s face glowing, and feeling smoother and firmer.
BEST HYDRATING FACIAL TO TACKLE A RANGE OF SKIN PROBLEMS FROM DULLNESS TO SAGGING
Nature’s Spa by Jurlique. Visit www.naturesspa.com.sg/ contact-us for outlets.
Every step is geared towards hydration. Double exfoliation removes grime; double masks add moisture while smoothing and brightening; and the face and shoulder massages are highly relaxing. The star feature is a high-pressure blast of oxygen with Jurlique’s Chamomile-Rose Hydrating Essence. Skin looks clearer and feels hydrated, with an inner glow. Our tester found that the results lasted a few days.
New York Skin Solutions. Visit https://newyorkskinsolutions.com.sg/contact for outlets.
This heavy-duty treatment for heavy skin demands starts with magnified forehead, cheek, eyearea, nose and chin scans to suss out problems. Our tester’s concerns were dehydration, fine lines and pigmentation. Postfacial, the skin appeared more hydrated, lifted and plumped. Ultrasound waves paired with vitamin C gel got the good stuff deep into skin to even its texture, lift and hydrate. Results lasted up to the fourth day.
BEST HYDRATING AND SMOOTHING FACIAL
Prive Aesthetics, #03-02 Palais Renaissance (tel: 6737-6639)
The facial gives troubled skin intensive hydration and relief, refines its texture, and restores its radiance. Our tester’s dehydrated complexion got a big moisture boost and looked more even, translucent and lifted after the treatment. Muchappreciated pluses included an on-the-mark face massage that relieved facial tension, and a heated blanket on the bed.
BEST FACIAL FOR INSTANT LIFTING AND FIRMING
Sothys Premium Salon, #01-01, 23 Lorong Telok, (tel: 6588-3468); #04-13 100AM, 100 Tras Street (tel: 6543-6126); and #01-197, Block 283 Bishan Street 22 (tel: 6456-5633)
This pulls out all the stops. After exfoliating with a paste of volcanic rock powder and rice powder, and careful extraction (no redness after), two serums tackle sagging and lines. A toning balm is then used for a firm but soothing facial massage. The high point comes with the application of three masks at the same time – one for hydration and to “fill in” wrinkles, one to tighten and lift, and a peel-off one on top for a luxurious, pampering feel and enhanced tightening. Skin looks smooth and plump after, with a dewy glow, and pores that are far less visible.
Nature’s Spa by Jurlique. Visit www.naturesspa.com.sg/contact-us for outlets.
The key to this treatment’s success is its kick-ass two-part face massage. The first part uses heated rose quartz and a warm rose oil blend to improve circulation, hydrate and smooth. The second part involves a cool jade roller and Jurlique’s Nutridefine Superior Retexturising Facial Serum to boost lymphatic drainage, tone skin, relieve muscle tension and reduce puffiness. Finally, a warm cream mask is applied to hydrate and minimise the look of wrinkles. Not only did the tester’s complexion look fresher and more refined after, with no visible pores, it also had a youthful glow.
BEST FACIAL FOR INSTANTLY LIFTED AND GLOWING SKIN
One Farrer Hotel & Spa, 1 Farrer Park Station Road (tel: 6363-0101)
Immediately post-facial, our tester felt that the treatment had a lifting effect. The tester’s cheeks also looked smoother and firmer, hyperpigmentation was less obvious, and the skin was more even-toned. This extraction-free facial uses only organic and natural ingredients and is suitable for all skin types, although it is not for those who are allergic to pollen and nuts.
Sulwhasoo Boutique. Visit www.sulwhasoo.com/sg/en/spa/location.html for outlets.
The lifting and brightening effect lasted more than a week and eliminated the appearance of the tester’s faint nasolabial lines. The tester found the experience pampering and relaxing, from the pre-facial foot bath and scrub to the shoulder and hand massages. The soothing and nourishing mask, which was applied last, covered the eyelids and lips but didn’t feel uncomfortable.
BEST REJUVENATING FACIAL
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, The RitzCarlton, Millenia Singapore (tel: 6434-5203)
The facial primarily features La Mer products to alleviate dry skin and signs of ageing. A highlight is the use of the Genaissance de La Mer collection, which has a concentrated emulsion of La Mer’s Miracle Broth. After cleansing, the therapist applies Genaissance lotion and serum essence to hydrate and smooth. The complexion immediately looks significantly brighter and firmer. Best of all, says the tester, the results were lasting.
BEST CALMING AND SOOTHING FACIAL
Sulwhasoo Boutique. Visit www.sulwhasoo.com/sg/en/ spa/location.html for outlets.
Our tester’s upper-lip eczema vanished post-facial – that’s how effective the treatment was. Plus, it was such an utterly relaxing experience – pre-facial foot soak, ginseng foot scrub, acupressure massage, and shoulder and hand massages – that the tester even fell asleep.
BEST FACIAL FOR INSTANT GLOWING SKIN
Sothys Premium Salon, #01-01, 23 Lorong Telok (tel: 6588-3468); #04-13 100AM, 100 Tras Street (tel: 6543-6126); and #01-197, Block 283 Bishan Street 22 (tel: 6456-5633)
This uses Siberian ginseng (antioxidant and detoxifying) to soothe irritated skin. Even on the tester’s sensitive skin, it felt gentle. To prevent damage to skin, no tools are used during extraction. The treatment minimises skin redness, leaving the complexion smooth and soft.
HOW TO EXTEND THE RESULTS OF YOUR FACIAL
Sticking to your skincare routine after a facial helps the results last longer, says Astute Aesthetics. And you can still use a cleanser at bedtime – New York Skin Solutions says your skin would have absorbed the facial’s products by then, so you won’t be washing off any goodness. What else can you do? Apply a non-comedogenic, oil-free and paraben-free sunscreen. It doesn’t clog pores, and prevents sunburn and discoloration, which means a more even skin tone, says Porcelain. Keep your pimple-popping fingers to yourself. If zits appear, apply a spot treatment. Use a nightly hydrating mask that has sodium hyaluronate and ceramides to moisturise and clarify skin. Porcelain says one made of bio-cellulose fits more snugly, so active ingredients can be better absorbed.
