Singapore Tatler Best of Singapore
EXUDE VITALITY FROM EVERY FACET
Maintaining a healthy diet and keeping fit through exercise is just the starting point. Heed these tips from the experts and you just may achieve your best self ever.
EVERYTHING IN MODERATION
Caring for your skin is more than just using a single miracle product—it’s a balanced and holistic solution that combines lifestyle changes ( proper diet, rest, and exercise), regular professional facials, quality skincare products, and individualised clinical treatments, says Serene Seah, founder and director of Freia Aesthetics. “Good skin doesn’t happen by chance,” she adds.
It’s therefore no surprise that the bespoke facial and body treatments offered at this spa are based off carefully developed protocols that use some of the world’s best premium and cult products. “Every protocol is developed by our team, endorsed by our medical director, and tested countless times to perfection before it is offered to clients. We now have protocols to address almost every skin concern, from problematic congested skin to pigmentation and sensitive skin,” Seah says. “For example, our extensive range of Biologique Recherche facials are designed to target any skin condition, and our strong focus on [staff] training ensures that clients receive the very best treatment every time they step into our luxuriously appointed treatment rooms.”
PRIORITISE YOUR SCALP
“The heat and humidity in Singapore can cause hair follicles to get clogged quickly. And people tend to pay more attention to their skin, forgetting about their scalp— until they experience significant hair loss,” says Elizabeth Leong, general manager at Follicle, adding that “severe hair loss takes a much longer time to treat”.
“The sooner you begin scalp treatment, the better success you will have,” Leong advises. “At Follicle, we rely on science and technology to help achieve a healthy scalp that is conducive to hair growth, as it’s the only proven way to get real results. Our trichologists are continually working with our Korean dermatologist partners to upgrade their skills and learn the latest advancements in scalp care.”
UNPLUG AND UNWIND
An increasing awareness of the ills of stress is leading more people to prioritise health and wellness, but many forget to “unplug from digital devices, despite it being a fact that over-connectivity and excessive screen time contribute to squinting, a lack of sleep, the loss of focus, and stress—which leads to lines and wrinkles, dull skin, poor circulation, and other health issues,” says Buraya Ng, director of SK-II Boutique Spa by Senze Salus.
Book yourself a Senze EO+ Facial session here, and you will get to relax in utmost luxury on a Senzational Bed while skilled therapists pamper you with premium organic essential oils, SK-II products, and a lymph-draining facial massage. “A visit to our spa—for this or any other treatment—not only gives your skin the quality nutrients it needs, but also gives you one to two hours of total relaxation. In fact, our aim is to induce sleep as that lowers cortisol levels and encourages the skin to be less sensitive, and more receptive to treatment,” Ng says.
DIVINELY SMOOTH
“Most women care about their intimate area, but there are some who don’t see the need to pay attention to it, because ‘nobody sees it’,” observes Ow Shin Yann, director of Honeypot Group. “They forget that feminine care is about loving and caring for yourself; hygiene is the most important reason for hair removal.”
“One of Honeypot’s missions is to educate women on the benefits of Brazilian waxing, intense pulsed light therapy, and even tightening treatments for the skin in the intimate area,” Ow says, adding that staying niche is what enables the brand to monitor and maintain high service quality standards at every outlet.
She recommends the Brazilian Radio Frequency Skin Tightening treatment for the intimate area. “It’s a non-invasive treatment that uses bipolar radio frequencies to elicit an immediate visible improvement in skin texture and tone.”
BALANCE YOUR PH
“Many conditions, such as acne, actually stem from a ph imbalance in the skin,” says Pauline Ng, founder of and managing director at Porcelain. “When the skin’s ph is disrupted, its water and oil levels are imbalanced, and the skin’s protective layer is less effective against and more vulnerable to bacteria, pollutants, and free radicals, which contribute to oily, acned, and inflamed skin.”
Ng explains that while “many products and treatments deal with skin problems symptomatically, truly healthy skin can only be achieved by fixing the root—internal—issues. Porcelain’s products and technology are designed to help balance the ph of your skin and encourage the skin to repair itself naturally, helping you achieve clear, radiant skin from the inside out.”
As such, the Porcelain Skincare range of products leverages hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and aloe vera to help replenish moisture in the skin from within—because dehydrated skin tends to overcompensate for its lack of moisture by secreting more sebum (oil). One such balancing product, Balance— Sebum Control Essence, is said to result in smoother, softer, and more balanced skin after a few months’ use.
STAY IN SYNC
“With good ‘vital qi’ , the body is less susceptible to infections that cause us to fall sick. Having strong lungs, spleen, and kidneys contributes to this as immunity is very much influenced by equilibrium and harmony among the body’s organs,” says Tang Yue, senior physician at Eu Yan Sang. She adds that stress—including negative physical reactions to emotions such as anger, worry, grief, fear, and shock—can disrupt the smooth flow of qi in the body, which then affects blood circulation, which can lead to various ailments.
“In TCM, true health and wellness is a holistic state of being in which one’s mental, emotional, and physical health are in sync, and balancing the qi creates harmony among all these realms,” Tang explains. “A combination of herbal medications, acupuncture, cupping, and tui na aids in stimulating smooth blood circulation and the natural repair of damaged tissues. And for certain aesthetic conditions such as acne, wrinkles, chloasma, and sagging skin, we can achieve a therapeutic effect with acupuncture by focusing on the underlying causes of those conditions.”
ENHANCE YOUR HEALTH
“The secret to maintaining a positive selfimage and presenting your best self to the world every day lies in a healthy immune system,” says Milissa Wong, assistant manager (marketing) at Bao Zhong Tang. “A well-functioning immune system puts a glow on your face, and gives you the energy and enthusiasm to keep up with the fastpaced modern life and pursue your dreams.”
Thankfully, strengthening the body is not difficult. “Get adequate quality sleep, keep your gut happy by eating right, and minimise stress,” Wong says. “TCM’S ‘prevention is better than cure’ philosophy and treatments will help—acupuncture can help calm the nerves and so improve sleep, aid in promoting digestion and hence strengthen the gut, and help raise your energy levels.”
TCM medication and treatment work by boosting and maintaining good health before diseases even take root, so visits to a sinseh need not occur only when one is ill or in pain, Wong adds. “It’s similar to taking supplements!”
UNLOCK POSITIVE EMOTIONS
When considering medical aesthetics work, it’s important to pick a doctor reputed for skill, excellent results, consistent track records, and high safety standards. Also—especially for injectable work such as Fillers and Threadlifts— you want to be sure that the doctor has a keen eye for aesthetics, and will tailor a treatment plan that truly addresses your needs and wants. “It’s all about having the clarity to identify the factors that contribute to the negative messages that the face conveys, and having the expertise to improve them, while retaining and enhancing the positive messages that make each face beautiful and unique.”
So says Dr Felix Li, founder of and medical director at Dr Felix Li Medical Aesthetics Clinic. As an accomplished injector who trains other doctors both locally and internationally, he definitely knows what he’s talking about. Combining his expertise with an insistence on using only the best medical products and devices, this clinic has made it its mission to deliver results that go beyond achieving the desired aesthetic outcomes, to making a positive and meaningful impact on its patients’ emotions, self-image, and confidence. Often recommended by scores of satisfied clients, Dr Felix has more than earned his position as one of Singapore’s best and most trusted aesthetics experts.