SHAPE UP YOUR SKIN

New and advanced facials for nearly every targeted concern

SCULPTED CHEEKS AND FACIAL CONTOURING TREATMENT

Noesa, #01-23 Raffles Arcade, 9754 6967, noesa.com.sg

Make-up and personal skincare routines can only do so much to help you achieve sculpted cheekbones and a defined jawline. Without going as far as injectables or cosmetic procedures, the right facial – like the Sculpted Cheeks and Facial Contouring treatment by ultra-luxe, high-tech German skincare brand Noesa – can subtly reshape your face.

I visited the Noesa store within Raffles Arcade where I was asked to choose either the Empowering or Relaxing Serum, before the treatment began at the nearby Raffles Spa. The two serums, named after their intended purposes of either improving mental clarity or releasing stress, combine soothing essential oils with the brand’s biophotonic energy harnessed from wild plants to absorb into the nervous system for immediate effects.

My chosen Empowering Serum was applied as the third step, after a deep cleanse and an application of the Enzymatic Peeling Mask, which gently removed dead skin cells and impurities. While the mask sat on my skin, the serum was massaged on to my head, neck and shoulders, relieving me of aching knots and coaxing me into a much-needed nap.

A series of steps continued that further infused Noesa’s proprietary alchemetics, which refers to super energy substances that boost cell activity, into my skin. The Skin Hyper Idealizer, for instance, works as a booster that activates skin cells from deep within to smooth fine lines and pores.

To contour my face, a massage was administered using the Glow Booster Serum, Day Potency Gel and Add-on. Together, the trio of products reinforce skin defence mechanisms, repair the skin barrier and leave a luminous complexion. Halfway during the invigorating massage, the therapist did a side-by-side comparison of my face to show me the immediate lifting effect on the side she had worked on. While I would also recommend taking photographs before and after the facial, the results were obvious. My cheekbones looked sculpted, my eye area looked lifted and my jawline was visibly slimmer.

To lock in hydration from the previous steps, the Skin Tonic was applied to my face and neck. I left with a thin application of the Super Look on my skin that functioned as a primer to soften skin and blur fine lines, ensuring that I needed no make-up at all to face the day. –

APOTHECARY GLASS SKIN FACIAL

Locations islandwide, onlyaesthetics.sg

Just by its name, the ONLYSKIN Apothecary Glass Skin Facial is a temptation you’ll want to try. But it’s not just another beauty procedure with the promise of a luminous complexion like that of a K-pop star. The treatment by home-grown medical aesthetics brand ONLY Aesthetics by ONLY Group also achieves supple skin along with a youthful lift.

Following a simple cleanse to remove grime and excess oil from my stress-ravaged skin, the therapist put Serumange, the world’s first hormesis ion roller, into action. Made in Japan, the handheld massaging tool resembles the ubiquitous jade roller. The difference is the twin rollers are wrapped with hormesis silicon, an anti-ageing agent that generates negative ions. Its many benefits include the promotion of blood circulation and acceleration of metabolism. Little wonder that Serumange has won rave reviews from Japanese women for its ability to lift and tone skin, while diminishing puffiness and wrinkles, simply by rolling the tool for 10 minutes – think of it as a natural form of Botox.

Next, ONLY Aesthetics’ proprietary H2 Glass Skin Essence and H2 Glass Skin Emulsion worked their magic. The former shrinks and tightens pores as it pumps in hydration and nourishment. The latter then seals all these benefits into the skin via a lightweight, non-sticky formulation with molecular hydrogen antioxidants to fight harmful free radicals. A nanomist device was used in conjunction to ensure effective product penetration, after which an LED mask was placed over my face to enhance skin rejuvenation and radiance.

The five-step treatment took around an hour, but it felt like time flew by. I woke up wowed by a newfound dewy sheen and a fresh glow that looked fluorescent-lit. The dull-to-dazzling transformation balances uneven skin texture, but bonus points go to the dream-come-true defined silhouette from the treatment’s lifting effect. – JA

LA OXYLIFT 5 IN 1 FACIAL

La Source Spa, #02-17/8 The Shopping Gallery @ Hilton, 6732 1318, lasource.com.sg

It had to be at least six months since my last facial, and after putting up with skin plagued with dehydration and redness, I couldn’t wait for some professional help. This 90-minute facial is suitable for all skin types and also boasts anti-ageing and brightening effects.

The treatment started on a good note with the use of spa-grade Inni by La Source products on my skin. The creamy Milk Cleanser was a dream, and so was the lavender water-infused Purifying Botanical Toner. The rest of the treatment is powered by the new radiofrequency-based Oxygeneo machine, which offers three steps of exfoliation, oxygenation and infusion of nutrients. Their delivery is through the use of an Oxypod, which is made of 100 per cent therapeutic ingredients and affixed, fresh, to the machine for every single treatment.

A gel was smoothed over my face before the therapist massaged it for 10 minutes on each side using a softly pulsating handpiece to firm skin. A purifying activated bamboo charcoal mask was then applied to my skin, before a non-vacuum handpiece was used to gently buff over the surface.

I felt a mild fizzing during the exfoliation process, which generates carbon dioxide bubbles that permeate the upper skin layer to trigger a physiological response known as the Bohr Effect, whereby blood vessels dilate to boost blood flow, oxygenation and cellular activity within the tissues. The machine also infuses nutrients, vitamins and active ingredients that revitalise skin.

I was given a light extraction of comedones. A soothing mask followed, after which the therapist ran a handpiece with ultrasound function over my skin, improving ingredient absorption and imparting a lifting effect. When the session concluded, my skin was no longer flushed and angry, and stayed calm and plump for the next few days. – YT

PEP.BLU DEEP TREATMENT

IDS Aesthetics, #05-07/8 Novena Specialist Center, 6568 3559 or #02-01 International Building, 6450 3555, idsaesthetics.com

I have always enjoyed my experiences at IDS Aesthetics, and was eager to try its new Pep.blu DEEP Treatment to perk up my tired skin. The key technology here is the unique non-invasive DEEP Electroporation Technology, which creates new temporary openings in the skin for better penetration of nutrients.

It is paired with the Pep.blu Serum, which delivers high concentrations of brightening and cell-stimulating ingredients, including growth factors, peptides, vitamin B9 and acetylated glutamine, into the dermis to stimulate collagen and increase fibroblast and elastin production for firmer-looking skin.

My hour-long treatment began with a soothing double cleanse before water microdermabrasion, during which a multi-mineral solution and small suction device removed deep impurities. Next was the DEEP Electroporation step, when my therapist ran a machine applicator, starting at intensity level 1, over my face. It felt like mild vibrations on the skin, but upon moving up to level 2, which is the highest level used on most customers, the pulses under my skin tugged at my muscles and caused a slight prickly feeling on the surface. While it was a strange sensation initially, it was not painful.

After first working on the left side of my face, my therapist held up a mirror. Compared to the right side, my skin was slightly more lifted around my cheeks and laugh lines were less visible on the left. As she moved on to the rest of my face, I grew more comfortable with the pulsing sensation and fell asleep.

The Pep.blu Serum and electro-currents were then applied to my skin to allow for optimal absorption of the serum’s skin-loving peptides. A hydrating face mask completed the treatment, after which an LED light was shone over my face to enhance skin recovery. Post-treatment, my skin glowed and felt healthy. – AT

EVERGLOW PIGMENTATION FACIAL

Radium Medical Aesthetics, #03-325/6 Suntec City Mall Tower 2, 6837 0507, radium-aesthetics.com

Lasers can do wonders for the face. Dark spots? Zap. Wrinkles? Zap. Rough skin? Yes, zap it off. Yet, after an intensive treatment, you may be looking for something soothing but no less effective in achieving clearer, brighter skin. That’s where Radium Medical Aesthetics’ Everglow Pigmentation Facial comes in.

Designed by founder Dr Siew Tuck Wah as a boost for his clinic’s laser programmes, the 70-minute treatment targets dark spots on the skin with a customised facial regime. There are no machines involved; only medical-grade topical products are used accordingly to break down stubborn pigments.

Before getting on with the procedure proper, a therapist assessed my current skin condition with an imaging device, identifying the problem areas that needed the most attention. Several photographs of my face were taken from various angles. The facial then began with a standard cleanse. Next, a tingly vitamin C-loaded pumpkin peel was applied to remove dead skin cells, lighten spots, stimulate blood circulation and brighten skin. A series of massages and masks followed, each step rich in powerful pigment-reducing agents, such as cysteamine to further target unwanted discoloration like melasma, blemish scars and age spots.

A little over an hour later, I peered into the mirror and noticed that I looked like I had clocked eight or nine hours of beauty sleep, although I barely slept the night before – no thanks to alcohol. The dark circles around my eyes were gone, and the brown spots around my cheekbones were also visibly lighter. More than that, my skin felt wonderfully soft, plump and glowy that I skipped my trusty highlighter for the rest of the week. – CL