8 Spots for Some Nomad-Worthy Facial Luxury

PUBLISHED June 28th, 2017 08:00 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 05:05 pm

One of the stickiest cities on this planet, it doesn’t help that life in Singapore gets incredibly hectic at times. And while we love this little red dot we call home, taking some little time out for a facial can be overwhelming with the sheer number of options available at Singapore’s spas and specialists. From anti-aging to eye-brightening, we’ve got you covered with this list to sooth, hydrate, and rejuvenate.

Best for acne skin & clogged pores

Located on the fringes of Orchard Road, the quaint spa is housed in a heritage terrace property. With a space that’s accented with white and floral accented interiors and dark wooden floors, My Cozy Room does well in making you feel at home and all cozied up, even before start your treatment. This is more than we can say for our skin, with all the dirt under our pores causing blemishes and clogs – probably a result of air pollution, late nights, and ahem, the alcohol intake.

My Cozy Room’s Premium Purifying Pore Extraction Facial ($288, 90 minutes) is an extensive 20-step procedure with a focus on manual extraction. The process – which includes double cleansing, steaming with an enzyme mask, facial massage, and a pampering alginate peel-off mask fortified with natural ingredients covering the face, eyes and even lips – yield pretty good results. Using high quality, plant-based BABOR products from Germany, what was most impressive was the skill of our therapist, who extracted black heads and comedones like an absolute pro; with minimal pain and redness post-facial and most importantly, our pores were closed and not open like craters. Oh, did we mention you get eyebrow trimming and a head, shoulder, and hand massage during the treatment too?

Psst, My Cozy Room is currently offering a 50% off for first time customers so you’re looking at this facial at only $144. Simply quote City Nomads 50% to enjoy the offer!

*Valid for first-time customers and applicable to Singapore citizens, permanent residents, and workers with employment and work permit pass holders only. Tourists can enjoy 20% off (usual price of $288).

My Cozy Room is located at 56A Cairnhill Road, Singapore 229667. To book, visit their website here or call +65 6732 0030.

For sensitive skin 

Tucked away in the basement of the Adelphi, Pure Tincture’s facials are not to be dismissed as they pack a serious punch. First of all, the ingredients used are a 100% natural and organic. In addition, we found out that thorough research has been done on their products to make sure that it’s all up to scratch before going anywhere near your skin. Now, onto the treatment. We chose their OSEA Super Sensitive Facial ($180), which lasted for 90 minutes, consisting of a Vitamin C boost toner, an aloe extract gel mask, corrective antiseptic serum and a last but not least, a luscious gel with seaweed extract. The basic aim of this facial is to replenish lost nutrients and get the skin to regain its natural ability of protecting itself against environmental damage.

We were handled with the utmost delicacy and their face and neck massages were to die for; every ounce of our skin felt gloriously soft and hydrated afterwards. Needless to say, the staff here really know their stuff because it shows. So remember not to hold back, if you wish to discuss your treatment with them. It’s the only way to make sure that your treatment is tailored perfectly to what you need.

Pure Tincture is located at The Adelphi, 1 Coleman Street, #B1-10, 179803. To book, visit their website or call +65 6337 6411 for more information.

Best for intense repair

Walking into the Spa Esprit, we were immediately transfixed by the cool, funky space – but don’t let that fool you into thinking that these guys are all style and no substance. Because when it comes to beauty, the staff here are pretty well versed! Treatment-wise, we recommend you go for their unusual King Facial, designed for normal, oily and pimple-prone skin in need of intense repair. It features a double mask combined with stem cell treatment, which aims to tighten and lift the skin, as well as reversing skin damage ($214 for 75mins). We found it to be the perfect combination of repair, hydration and some hardcore extraction (seriously, blackheads – be afraid!) followed by a soothing massage and – the most impressive touch – an amazing 24K gold facemask.

If that’s not enough, perhaps you’ll like to know that post-facial, chocolate brownies and ginger teas are provided. We especially adored the way in which our therapist softly communicated the whole spa process to us during the treatment, so we knew and understood what exactly was being done. She also identified our problem areas and gave solutions for healthy skin moving forward – without using the opportunity to sell products – which we appreciated.

Spa Esprit is located at 8D Dempsey Rd #02-01, 249672. To book, visit their website here or call +65 6479 0070.

Best for all out spa-tastic luxury

We could tell you about the super-soothing Rose Crystal Lymphatic Facial ($180 for 60 mins or $250 for 90 mins) that we were lucky enough to try, but first, can we talk about the spa? Auriga is one of those incredibly sleek hotel slash wellness centres that make you feel like a cat that’s got the cream. As soon as you step inside the hushed, yummy scented halls, reality pretty much just melts away. As you move from the reception area to the changing rooms, to the treatment room, to the steam room, sauna and finally the vitality pool, your stress levels dwindle away to nada.

The facial itself lived up perfectly to our expectations, featuring the fully natural and organic products of The Organic Pharmacy. After a brief consultation with a therapist we were treated to a deep cleanse, exfoliation, seaweed mask, acupressure massage, activating lymphatic massage and last but not least, an age-fighting collagen boost mask. Not forgetting the massages at the end. There’s even a special relaxation room where the therapist will take you after your treatment, to basically come back to reality, all whilst nibbling on some fruits and flicking through magazines.

Auriga Spa is located at Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, 098297. To book, visit the website or call +65 6591 5023.

Best for a facelift without the surgery

Having won Harper Bazaar’s Spa Awards back in 2016, it’s no wonder that SWUK’s non-surgical facelifts have been so highly raved about. A definite alternative to Botox, we hear that it’s a way less painful one too. You might wonder, how do you get the results you want sans needle? Well, tiny electrical impulses are used instead to lift and tone the facial muscles, improving skin elasticity and reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles whilst at it. Advanced technologies of Computer Aided Cosmetology Instrument (C.A.C.I.) and Capacitive Radio Frequency (CRF) are incorporated to ensure visible results of tightened and toned skin.

SWUK Aesthetics is located at 321, Alexandra Road, #02-25, Alexandra Central, Singapore 159971. To book, visit their website or call +65 6591 5023 for more information.

Best for feeling refreshed and hydrated

The Restorative Facial ($195 for 75 mins) might be an old treatment, but the fact that it’s been on Porcelain’s treatment menu for years is testament to how well loved it is. This 6-step bespoke programme is designed to get shot of any signs of stress on your fatigued mug. A case of tradition meets technology, expect a combination of hyperbaric oxygen infusion, with Shiatsu facial massage that’s suitable for all skin types as well as safe for pregnant or nursing mothers.

To promote elasticity and hydration in your skin, the shiatsu massage technique improves circulation and directs oxygen to the surface in order to promote a healthy glow and release trapped toxins. As for the hyperbaric oxygen, if it’s good enough for Hollywood celebs like Madonna then we say it’s good enough for us! By delivering pure oxygen at a high pressure, it smoothes out your skin and reduces any trademark signs of stress or tiredness. Warning: most of the treatment is icy cold! That said, in this kind of weather, anything icy cold – even if it’s on our face – is a great way to feel refreshed and hydrated.

Porcelain Face Spa is located at 15 Cantonment Road, Orchard Gateway, and Tanjong Pagar Centre. For more information and to book, visit the website or call +65 6227 9692.

Best for tired eyes

Low lighting, cool rooms and friendly staff greet you as you walk through door. You can’t it, but you feel immediately at ease. We tried their Divine Eye treatment (45 mins for $88), perfect for if you’re a little short of time and fancy a quick pick-me-up in your lunch hour.

The treatment starts with an eye massage, followed by an ultrasound treatment and finished off with a mask – all designed to promote firmness and elasticity, lighten dark circles and smooth out any naughty lines. The ultrasound treatment is a particularly potent weapon against tired eyes, as it’s teamed up with a special serum to improve blood circulation and banish puffiness. Choose from either an eye-brightening mask, packed with peptides to strengthen your skin and prevent UV-induced degeneration, or an eye-lifting mask containing dipeptides, tripeptides and lipopeptides – stimulators of collagen production. While the mask tingles a little on first application, it definitely results in a perkier pair of peepers.

Skin Revival is located at 22 Ghim Moh Link, #37-208, Singapore 271022. To book, visit their website or call +65 6699 7679.

Best for something new and totally different

Ikeda Spa is one of those great rare places that is truly dedicated to bringing you a unique and extraordinary experience. This isn’t just any spa – it’s a Japanese spa that features onsen spa therapy, whereby you bathe in piping hot water infused with hot spring minerals to be absorbed through the skin. The closest you’re going to get to a Japanese natural hot spring in Singapore, and the health benefits have been recorded as being good for everything from blood circulation, metabolism, aches, insomnia and stress. You’re encouraged to soak in here for up to thirty minutes before your treatment – to which end, we recommend following it up with a Geisha Organic Facial ($240 for 90 minutes).

There’s a secret ingredient at play in this treatment which we initially balked at, but decided to brave it in the name of science (and for you, Nomads!). Kabuki actors discovered it, and now, you too can have your face softened by the apparent miracle ingredient of Japanese nightingale droppings! With the Geisha Organic Facial, you can expect a full array of cleansing, exfoliation, massage, extractions, lymphatic drainage – all done purely with natural and traditional Japanese ingredients such as rice bran, azuki red beans, and peach moon water. These are apparently the secrets of the clear Japanese complexion, and as this facial has become Ikeda Spa’s most popular treatment, we reckon in our post-facial smoothness that it’s worthy the hype.

Ikeda Spa is located at 787 Bukit Timah Rd, 269762 – with a new outlet coming soon at Clarke Quay! To book, visit the website or call +65 6469 8080.

Top image courtesy My Cozy Room.