Much like a diamond, clarity and radiance go hand-in-hand. The smoother the surface, the better its ability to reflect light. The same can be said for the complexion: the more refined it is, the brighter and clearer our skin appears. Sadly, glow-robbing forces—late nights, poor nutrition, alcohol, sun damage, fluctuating hormones, and more are constantly in play.
A must for anyone who is looking to regain their lustre, this list of Singapore’s best skin-brightening facials offer the sensoriality of a spa escape with the results-driven nature of aesthetic treatments. Often loaded with radiance-boosting ingredients such as vitamin C, licorice or in The History of Whoo‘s case—heritage hanbang herbs that amp up blood circulation—they effectively clarify skin, stimulate blood circulation, and promote cellular turnover for a lit-from-within look. Signs of dullness, stress, and skin fatigue are treated in 90 minutes or less, and you’ll emerge fresher and with red-carpet-ready skin to boot.
Of course, while these brightening facials are a boon for overall luminosity, eradicating hyperpigmentation, acne scars and melasma entirely is going to take the help of the big guns. But if general radiance is what you’re after, these facials will help you emerge with positively glowing, glass skin. Read on to get switched on to Singapore’s best brightening facials.
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Pietro Simone Aurum Radiance Facial at Freia Aesthetics, $680 for 120 minutes
Some facials pride on getting you in and out the door in 60 minutes or less. The Aurum Radiance Facial is not one of them. In fact, this is where we voluntarily escape to when in need of an indulgent 120 minute daycation. Featuring five massage techniques, potent peptides, 24k gold, and slew of collagen producing, skin-renewing actives, we just can’t get on Freia‘s facial bed fast enough.
The facial begins with a welcome massage to stimulate the lymphatic system, helping to rid the body of toxins and excess fluids. Next, a new sensation to the uninitiated: a cotton thread exfoliation gliding across the face, sloughing off dead cells and leaving brighter, smoother skin in its wake. Anti-inflammatory 24k gold flakes are mixed into a skin peel containing lactic and brightening mandelic acids to further refine the skin’s texture.
Pietro’s signature dry massage follows suit. As the name suggests, the dry massage is performed sans serums or oils as your therapist’s expert hands are focused on deep compression, rhythmic pressing and working out tense facial muscles deep and connective tissues in the face. The result? A jawline that’s visibly sculpted with signs of stress and tension released.
With your mien at last relaxed, the skin is then able to receive the full benefits of Pietro Simone’s moisturising, peptide boosted, water activated pure oil gel mask. The skin is treated to a second helping of 24k gold to further amplify the ingredients as you’re treated to a deep tissue massage under the rays of rejuvenating photo light therapy.
Just when your skin couldn’t get any glowier thanks to the seemingly endless rounds of micro-circulating massages, your therapist at Freia delivers the perfect finishing touch: a reinvigorating neck and shoulder massage that aids in promoting the flow of blood to our body’s meridian points. Float out the door and glow on.
Freia Aesthetics, 435 Orchard Rd, #19-03 Wisma Atria Office Tower, Singapore 238877. Tel: 9109 1574
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The Vitality Rejuvenation Facial at Rationale, $340 for 75 minutes
Face looking a little lacklustre? This high-performance treatment by Rationale is a triple threat, helping to deeply hydrate, refine texture, and flip the switch on your skin’s natural glow. With ingredients that help chase fatigue, uneven tone and pigmentation away, the antioxidant-packed treatment is best for those looking to address fine lines, dehydration, hyperpigmentation and glycation.
“The Vitality Rejuvenating Facial has been designed for skin showing signs of uneven tone, dullness, pigmentation and is particularly for those seeking to restore radiance,” explains Katie Matten, Rationale’s head of education.
An essential double cleanse helps to ready the skin for the Enzyme Reactivation Complex which refines and resurfaces the skin’s texture. Here, ingredients such as pyruvic acid, amino acids and skin identical minerals assist in reactivating youth enzymes, hydrating, and re-acidifying the skin’s pH. Next, an antioxidant infusion which sees layers of vitamin C of different textures, from vitamin C powders to water-based serums and oils, driven into the skin via electroporesis. These warm and cool settings help to further reawaken luminosity.
And if that’s not pampering enough, the luxurious treatment concludes with a micro-circulatory massage and a multivitamin infusion.
Best for resilient (read: non-sensitive or troubled) skin types.
Rationale, 252 North Bridge Rd, #01-19, Raffles City Shopping Centre, Singapore 179103. Tel: 6436 3567
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Epion Aesthetics Signia, $300 for 90 mins
Boasting two floors of aesthetics know-how, Epion is located just off Orchard Road and is a must for instant as well as long-term skincare solutions.
Whether you’re looking to restore your glow or prep for a red carpet event, the non-invasive Signia treatment promises to hydrate, plump and promote radiance in no time. The process involves radiofrequency waves which encourage a firmer, sculpted appearance. The skin is then purified and resurfaced with HydraFacial MD’s essential four-step treatment of deep cleansing, exfoliation, vacuum extraction and serum infusion. Kick back as your complexion is bathed in a potent cocktail of AHA, BHA, peptides, antioxidants, and algae extracts which encourage skin turnover, hydration and softness.
As a finishing touch, a relaxing hand massage is administered as you wait for the soothing marine algae mint mask to take effect. Ultimately, this medi-facial strikes the perfect balance between being a pampering treat and a results-driven experience.
Epion Aesthetics, 145 Tanglin Rd, #02-02 Tudor Court, Singapore 247931. Tel: 6363 2122
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The History of Whoo Royal Pearl Brightening Treatment, $220 for 70 mins
The History of Whoo‘s Marina Bay Sands flagship is where you’ll unlock beauty secrets developed for ladies of the royal court of the Jin Dynasty. As the name suggests, the Royal Pearl Brightening Treatment is an intensive skin illuminating treatment designed to help you achieve rested, lit-from-within skin.
Following an intimate skin consultation, your beauty advisor will incorporate medicinal-formulated products from the brand’s Gonjinhyang: Seal Line, which is geared at helping you achieve porcelain perfect skin.
If you love your acupressure face massages and multi-mask treatments, you’ll be delighted to know this treatment incorporates pressure point and traditional Korean massage with its jewel facial roller. A gua sha massage amps up your glow and prepares the skin for one of several masks.
As the TCM-influenced Cheongidan range contains authentic deer antler tips, the experience is by no means a vegan one. However, the tips are by-products of antlers that naturally shed and regenerate yearly. It’s this vigorous cell activity and abundant collagen which History of Whoo and TCM in general regard for its nourishing, anti-dryness, blood- and fluid-forming properties.
The History of Whoo Whoospa, 10 Bayfront Ave, #L1 – 31 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore 018956. Tel: 6688 7084
