PUBLISHED July 10th, 2017 04:00 am | UPDATED May 18th, 2020 05:05 pm
While spas these days look quite different from those of five years ago – think clinically clean, pretty women in freshly-ironed white outfits, fruity detoxing tea, and more towels than you need – My Cozy Room wasn’t and still definitely isn’t your stereotypical spa. Located on the second floor of a quaint shop house on the fringes of Orchard Road, the décor might be a little gaudy, furnished with random ornaments and products that look as though as they have been hoarded for year. which though they could have been hoarded for years.
BUT somehow, it works, without being too Umbridge-like. It’s hard to not feel cozy in this room, coupled with plenty of tea and efficacious facial therapy.
After getting all the pertinent information – such as allergies, skin concerns, and the current facial products that I was using – I was led upstairs, where the space was sectioned into a few different treatment rooms. Naturally, the first thing my therapist did after I changed out of street clothes was to remove the existing makeup on my face and assessing my skin to determine the best course of treatment. I already knew I was prone to clog pores due to genetics, the late nights (I’m writing this at 4am in the morning), and dehydration from the bar hopping.
The Premium Purifying Pore Extraction Facial ($288 a la carte), like all facials at My Cozy Room, utilizes skincare systems by premium German brand Babor. While I generally don’t use oil-based cleansers because of the way they feel on the skin, the plant-based HY-OL® hydrophilic cleansing oil wasn’t too bad, but I enjoyed the slightly tightening effect of the second cleansing with the Phyto-active combination treatment essence better. Exfoliation follows next with a papaya lactic & enzyme mask to remove as much dead skin as possible.
Steaming of the face might be the next step at some spas, but at My Cozy Room, they apply a deep pore lotion to soften skin and open up the pores in preparation for extraction. The steamer was also, thankfully, not directed straight at my face so I could actually breath air and not steam. Then comes the part we all hate, though I find it somewhat therapeutic since you could really feel the removal of each blemish, blackhead, and whitehead. My therapist definitely put in more effort in the extraction what I’ve experienced at other spas – she probably spent double the average time on it. Perhaps it was because it was my first facial with them, but I think the extraction process could have been even more thorough since the pain was really minimal (no pain, no gain, am I right?).
If you’re usually quite anxious when it comes to extraction facials, don’t worry; this is where you can start to relax. Tonic is applied to disinfect, soothe the skin, and reduce redness, followed by an aromatic rose toner to calm and hydrate. A high frequency wand then goes over your face to shrink enlarge pores, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, decongest puffy eyes, and even fade dark eye circles. Another bonus is that the facial also includes eye brow shaping so you save on that session of threading or waxing.
After my therapist made sure my brows were the right frame for my face, she proceeded with an eye massage using a refreshing icy rose quartz roller in the direction of lymph outflow. The lymphatic drainage continues with a facial massage, allowing your skin to carry on detoxing through massage techniques. Before the special face mask goes on, the blemished and areas on your face affected by the extraction are treated with a blemish serum and a purifying mask.
The alginate mask by BABOR that My Cozy Room uses in its premium range of facials is supposed to be rich in trace elements, allowing the deep-sea algae to flush out our metabolic wastes and refine pores for an even and clarified complexion. It’s also meant to be deeply hydrating, which all of us definitely need sitting in air conditioned rooms and offices all day long. The only thing I really didn’t like about it is that it covers your entire face, even the eyes, nose, and lips. It got a little uncomfortable after the first five minutes since the liquids from the mask were leaking into my eyes. That said, I’m sure they’ll put cotton pads on your eyes to soak up the moisture if you ask them to.
While the mask is working its magic, your therapist will work her magic with a head and shoulder massage with BABOR body spa products and a pampering hand massage (something you don’t really get else where). After removing the mask, you’re sent on your merry way, after applying tonic, moisturizer, and sunblock, of course.
The flaws at My Cozy Room are generally structural; such has gaps between the partition and the ceiling so you can hear what’s going on in the next treatment room (especially if they’re talking), which is a little lacking for complete rest and relaxation during your session. That said, the best thing about this facial is the flexibility for customization. Depending on the condition of your skin, you might be using something different that your therapist picks out. Definitely not for the no-frills folks, but no harm giving it a try if you’re striving for (close to) perfect skin.
My Cozy Room is located at 56A Cairnhill Road, Singapore 229667, p. +65 6732 0030. Open Mon-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat-Sun 10am-8pm.