We’re always on the hunt for facial treatments that promise brighter, clearer skin. As facials target different skin types and issues and our skin’s needs change through the years – from treating acne to extraction, pigmentation and anti-ageing – we put some of the best facials in Singapore (for different skin types) to the test. Read on for our reviews of facial spas and beauty salons in Singapore for you to try.
10 of the best facials in Singapore at beauty salons
Skin Pple for light, ultrasound and radiofrequency facials
I experienced nothing but pure bliss during my 80-minute facial treatment from Skin Pple’s experiential range. What makes these facials different from the rest? They use light, ultrasound and radiofrequency to transform your skin.
There are four experiential treatments or face spas to choose from, but I was intrigued by the collagen renewal promise of one called Chasing Rainbows. It’s suitable for all skin types and focuses on a light lymphatic cleanse.
As a yoga practitioner myself, the first thing I noticed in the treatment room was a huge LED screen on the ceiling radiating the colours of the seven chakras and playing tranquil background music.
The facial treatment started with deep breathing and aromatherapy to help me relax. After my therapist had cleansed my face, she used gentle aromatherapy steam and a light scrub to get rid of dead cells. Then came the organically sourced Chasing Rainbow pumpkin enzyme peel, which felt a little spicy on the face as it worked its magic. I enjoyed every minute of the high-pressure JetPeel treatment that followed, immediately cooling the décolletage, neck and face.
Speakers played the wisdom of Ram Dass’s Be Here Now book while the LDM lifting treatment regenerated and moisturised my skin. The 20 minutes flashed by.
Finally, you can opt for a vitamin boost before a sheet mask is applied. A good hand massage, some facial misting, toner, serum – et voilà, my facial was complete. How did I feel? Absolutely rejuvenated, glowing and youthful. More good news: Skin Pple has a makeup corner with everything you need for a touch-up before getting on with your day.
Judit Gál
#03-08C Takashimaya S.C., Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Road
6011 0011 | skinpple.com
Astalift – skin rejuvenation facial
Astalift takes the guesswork out of the best facial treatment for your skin with a diagnosis at the start of the session. My beauty therapist Corinne used images captured by a facial skin analysis machine to pinpoint skin concerns. Now I was ready for the 95-minute Multi-modal Accelerated Skin Rejuvenation facial to improve wrinkle lines, boost collagen and restore elasticity.
After a bubble cleanse, the advanced AMS (Aqua Microjet System) delivered powerful jets of fine mist and controlled suction to thoroughly clean my pores.
Corinne then used an Optimal Energy Delivery probe followed by a Deep Energy Delivery probe to deliver short bursts of ultrasonic energy around my jawline and cheeks. She explained that this technology provides fast and visible skin firming and tightening.
The next part was a combination of treatments that promote natural cell renewal, hydration and skin brightening. Following the application of tri-functional collagen and a hydrating elastomer mask, she used cryotherapy to enhance the brightening effects and lock in moisture. While waiting for my skin to absorb all the goodness, she gave me a relaxing shoulder, neck and scalp massage. The finishing touch was Astalift products specially chosen to complement the treatment. My skin glowed from the pampering. What’s more, the lifting effect was immediate and lasted for around a week.
Patricea Chow
#01-62 Plaza Singapura, 68 Orchard Road
6238 6385 | astalift.com.sg
Face Bar – a beauty salon in a heritage shophouse
For a memorable facial in soothing surroundings, give Face Bar a try. The location is perfect: the beauty salon is in an atmospheric shophouse in Holland Village, right opposite the famous hawker centre.
Face Bar offers three renowned beauty brands: Guinot (French), Bellewave (Swiss) and Anesi Lab (Spanish), so there’s something for everyone. I chose the Bellewave range for my 100-minute indulgence, because it’s been formulated with marine collagen and hyaluronic acid to rejuvenate both normal skin and more mature skin. (“Mature” sounds better than “ageing”, doesn’t it? Sort of wise and experienced, just like me.)
You know when you’re in the hands of a highly skilled beauty therapist, and that’s Yvette to a T. After several rounds of efficient cleaning – my mature skin must have been super-dirty – she applied a “soft peel”, dimmed the already low lights and left me to mellow for exactly eight minutes.
The facial massage that followed was surprisingly vigorous, yet gentle on the soft tissue around the eyes. Yvette paid special attention to my mature jaw-line, effectively warding off any incipient jowls. Meanwhile, I could almost hear the lymph gurgling down the glands in my mature neck.
Next, a few minutes of steaming and then some welcome and well-overdue extraction on my T-zone. Why overdue? Because I’ve been marooned in Australia, where extraction simply isn’t a thing.
Then she applied a nourishing mousse-based mask, before dimming the lights again and discreetly slipping away for 20 minutes. Finally, a soothing neck and shoulder massage and a cup of lemongrass tea brought me back to the real world – sincerely grateful that places and people like this exist for our health, pleasure and happiness.
Verne Maree
21A Lorong Mambong, Holland Village
6462 0525 | info@facebar.com.sg
Sense De Belle for an oxygen facial plus RF
My wonderful experience at this beauty salon started from the moment therapist Ginny welcomed me with a fabulous smile. She immediately made me comfortable in sharing my concerns. Being 45, my face is starting to age and lose hydration: I have fine lines here and there and areas of uneven skin tone and pigmentation.
After analysing my skin, Ginny confidently suggested the OxyGeneo Facial treatment.
First, she cleansed and prepped my face for the treatment. She then gave it a warm, enjoyable massage with a radiofrequency (RF) device, adjusting the strength so I wouldn’t feel any discomfort. The effect was transformational – my skin looked immediately tight and bouncy. Now it was time to give my desperately dry skin some love and moisture with the Royal OxyGeneo treatment. This advanced treatment does three things in one:
- Exfoliates the outer layer of the skin, preparing it to receive active nutrients. (I’d never seen an exfoliation pod, but Ginny assured me that she’d adjust the time according to my skin’s needs. It felt lovely!)
- Infuses revitalising formulas.
- Oxygenates the skin.
After giving my face a heavenly massage with an active ingredient serum, she applied a mask and treated me to a relaxing shoulder massage. I really needed that!
After 90 minutes of pure bliss, I walked out of this beauty salon with a younger, fresher, firmer face and feeling amazing. I highly recommend this facial treatment, even if it’s just a one-off treat. You’ll really see a difference.
Susan Knudsen-Pickles
#02-02 Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road
6734 9919 | sensedebelle.com.sg
Chez Moi de Beaute for a no-injection skin booster
If, like me, you aren’t ready to use injections to boost your skin, this facial combo will sound very appealing. The Cell Revive Filler Facial increases moisture in the skin to make it look brighter. It shrinks pores too, which have been an issue for me lately – and I definitely needed a good pore clean-out. In addition, it also lifts skin and softens wrinkles!
Advanced Korean DDS technology promises to deliver the equivalent of a filler injection facial, but without discomfort or downtime. It infuses pure oxygen and cellular-rejuvenation substances deep into the dermis to lift, refine, hydrate and brighten. Here are the steps:
- Your therapist chooses one of three skin booster ampoules to suit your key need.
- She applies an arginine peel to gently exfoliate skin and promote natural healing processes. This unclogs the pores while preparing the skin to receive the active ingredients from the ampoule.
- Spraying with purified high-pressure oxygen prepares the epidermis for optimal penetration, oxygenating cells and encouraging skin detox through gentle lymphatic drainage.
- Finally, a facial massage, a Regeneration Biocellulose Mask and an enjoyable shoulder massage.
For intensive repair or rejuvenation, do a six-week course of weekly facials. For regular maintenance, one of these facial treatments every three-to-four weeks is recommended.
I found a noticeable difference in skin texture. A few days later, my skin is still glowing, and the small scar on my forehead has smoothened. It makes such a difference when I put on makeup too, as everything is so much smoother. Done regularly, I think this treatment could make a huge difference.
Rebecca Bisset
Special offer! Try the Cell Revive Filler Facial for $120 (usual price $238).
#04-75/65 Far East Plaza, 14 Scotts Road
6738 6108 | chezmoi.com.sg
La Source Spa & Beauty Salon – five facials in one
After returning from holiday with some mild sunburn, I stepped anxiously into the relaxing ambience of La Source beauty salon in the hope that their 5-in-1 Superfacial could repair some of the damage.
The 5-in-1 is a beautiful facial spa treatment designed to achieve younger, fresher looking skin. The amazing Geneo device delivers multiple levels of technology to increase oxygen in the skin while working with luxurious skincare products to stimulate the skin inside and out.
From first greetings to the end of the treatment, the staff were warm and hospitable. My lovely therapist, Karen, did a careful analysis on my face to assess my needs.
A series of steps followed the initial cleansing, using various products and this multi-talented machine. Ultrasound helped to stimulate collagen. Then, Karen chose one of five OxyPod capsules, specifically to suit my individual requirements. She explained that Geneo OxyPods react with Geneo Primer Gel to gently exfoliate the skin and create a bubbly, CO2-rich environment on the skin’s surface.
After extraction and an eyebrow tidy-up, Karen’s relaxing face massage was a key step: it works to sculpt the face and optimise the absorption of various ingredients. She ended with a cooling mask selected to suit my needs, and massaged my hands and arms while it took effect.
This 90-minute massage is recommended for all skin types. It costs $488 and is worth every cent.
Jacqui Young
#02-17/18 Voco Orchard Singapore (formerly Hilton Singapore)
6732 1318 | lasource.com.sg
The Face Place for bespoke facials
The Face Place is in a lovely private loft studio high above The Central mall in Clarke Quay with stunning river views – the perfect spot for some precious me-time.
What I like about the Bespoke Facial ($280) is that you can combine up to three signature treatments into one session to target different problem areas. After a short discussion, my therapist recommended a customised combination of hydrating, lifting and rejuvenating therapies using shiatsu techniques and organic serums for optimal benefit.
The face spa began with gentle cleansing, exfoliating and steaming, followed by chemical exfoliation with AHA to prevent the skin from drying during extraction. Then came a high frequency treatment to get rid of bacteria and reduce any inflammation. This was followed by my favourite part of the treatment, a facial massage with geranium oil – I could literally feel the tension draining from my face.
It didn’t stop there! She then treated me to a cooling Oxyjet Facial followed by a soothing Cryo Facial to calm and hydrate. After that, she used a microcurrent machine to massage collagen cream into my tired facial muscles, lifting and tightening the skin. This was a little uncomfortable, but can be adjusted to suit your tolerance.
Lastly, the beauty therapist applied a cooling and hydrating mask to seal in all the goodness. While it worked its magic, she gave me to a relaxing head, neck and shoulder massage (and I drifted off!). The 110 minutes flew by. After the treatment, my skin felt noticeably hydrated and plumper and my family commented that I looked glowing. The next day, it still looked refreshed and firmer. I am very keen to do this more often!
Juliet Keys
#12-83 The Central, 8 Eu Tong Sen Street
8233 1723 | thefaceplacesg.com
Skin Glow’s hydrating and exfoliating facial treatment
My main skin concerns are dry skin, pigmentation and the beginning of fine lines. The Ultimate Hydration package was perfect for me as it exfoliates, cleanses and then hydrates the skin.
My lovely therapist, Maria, is a long-term Singapore expat like me. The beauty salon is located in the East of Singapore, and is connected to a hair salon where you can get a very good deal. (See the “don’t miss” section below!) Starting with the microdermabrasion, Maria used a diamond and pearl peel to gently exfoliate the most superficial layers of the skin with a fine abrasive. This removes up to 30 percent of dead skin cells, not only making it easier for the hydrating serum to be absorbed, but also your regular home serums.
She then introduced me to the Dermadrop machine, explaining how it assesses your face’s hydration levels so as to distribute the active ingredients where they are most needed. And may I say “Wow!” – what an enjoyable experience this was. The aromas were lovely and the experience was almost dreamy – such a contrast to being poked and prodded like I have been in past facials. Straight away, my face felt deeply hydrated.
Honestly, if that had been the end of the facial I would have been satisfied. But there was more: LED light therapy treatment plus a Japanese collagen mask. LED is used to improve the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines, scars and pigmentation. The large light is used for about 30 minutes, penetrating down to the deep layers of facial skin. You can also opt for a full body treatment that targets cellulite by stimulating cellular regeneration and collagen production.
Michaela Bisset
Don’t miss: For just $30 you can have a wash and blow-dry at the hair salon.
c/o Musubi Hair Salon, 275 Tanjong Katong Road
9484 5541 | skinglowsingapore.com
Trimmings Salon & Spa – Skin Balancing & Hydration Facial
With its beautiful setting in a renovated black-and-white, Trimmings hair and beauty salon is always a calming spot that’s ideal for some relaxing “me-time”. What I loved especially about this 75-minute facial were the firm massage and the thorough extraction. In fact, for the next two days, I could really feel my skin was different and improved.
Elaine offered me a few options as part of the facial, like dermabrasion versus an AHA fruit peel; I chose the latter. She was very thorough with softening the skin using an Oxygen 2% Mask and steam before the extractions. There’s also an eye, neck and décolletage treatment included, as well as a double multi-vitamin mask. There’s also a little “glider” machine that feels a little strange but helps the hyaluronic acid and V-LIFT active boosters penetrate your skin.
As an intensive repair facial, this treatment focuses on building stronger and healthier skin by restructuring the basal layer for denser collagen formation. It does this using nourishing ingredients like oxygen, hyaluronic acid and vitamins. With the amazing massage and the little machine, you do feel like you’re getting the product more than skin deep.
Trimmings is also the flagship store for Karin Herzog, stocking a wide range of the brand’s skincare products. They’re all paraben-free, cruelty-free and hypoallergenic – I had the anti-ageing range – and they smell and feel so good! Shop at the salon or at trimmings.com.sg/karin-herzog.
Rebecca Bisset
Don’t miss: The Skin Balancing & Hydration Facial is $175 and includes $155 worth of complimentary home care.
Trimmings Salon & Spa
75B Loewen Road
8511 5085 | trimmings.com.sg
My Cozy Room – pore extraction special
Better out than in, say the queens of extraction!
From hormone changes, to cocktails with friends or simply a few too many sugary snacks, my skin always finds an excuse to break out. Add in Singapore’s humidity and the effects of air-conditioning, plus my oily T-zone and dry cheeks.
I’d been battling acne around my chin for months, and was at my wits’ end. Then I walked into the plush, golden interior of My Cozy Room, conveniently located just behind Orchard Road.
I discussed all my skin concerns including sensitivities, hormonal acne and clogged pores with one of the therapists. The best fit for me, she said, was the award-winning Ultimate Pore Extraction Facial, a 22-step experience over two hours.
She led me to a private room with a royal theme, a soft bed and a comfy duvet. The treatment started with a relaxing guasha head and scalp massage while an aromatic mist gently soothed my skin. Next, she carefully exfoliated my face before applying renewal peel and then a pore-refining mask to soften blackheads and whiteheads.
Then came the pore extraction itself. It was the first time I’d had my pores professionally cleansed, and it felt so satisfying. I was shocked to see the tissue with the impurities she had safely purged from my skin, but also relieved to know they were no longer part of me!
I wondered whether the extraction would leave red marks. However, she was skilled and experienced enough to know exactly which areas needed to heal naturally, and to leave them alone.
After some eyebrow-shaping, a high-frequency treatment, a lovely cooling mask and cool light therapy soothed my skin. She then applied a layer of collagen gel to curb overactive sebum production.
Finally, a hot stone shoulder massage and alginate mask finished the treatment and left me in total bliss. After a calming cup of tea, I left the salon with skin that felt clean, light and moisturised. My cheeks were soft and glowing, my pores seemed smaller and there was no sign of dryness. Nor were there any red marks!
Best of all, several days after the facial my skin has noticeably started to clear, with barely any new blemishes.
Megan Hobson
56A Cairnhill Road
6732 0030 | mycozyroom.com.sg
You Time Facial Retreat – Herbal Facial
I did not think a shopfront facing busy Shenton Way would feel like a retreat. But, once the doors were closed and drapes pulled, sitting in the calm space with music and essential oils burning, I could take a deep breath and relax.
The owner Keiko is Japanese and a former spa therapist. She focuses on natural, gentle products and skin massage techniques at all stages of the treatment. Many of her clients come to her with skin concerns like eczema, redness and other skin imbalances, which these products and facials are perfect for.
The Herbal Facial is a treatment to help grow healthy skin and slow down signs of ageing. Keiko started with a cleansing, followed by a skin softening massage. Then, a fine herbal powder was gently rubbed into the skin – the powder is anti-inflammatory, contains antioxidants and helps to regenerate the skin cells. It felt like a very mild exfoliant. Keiko is against harsh treatments and extractions that can put the skin out of balance. Vitamin C essence with herbs and plant stem cells was applied for anti-ageing and pigmentation reduction.
While the hydrating sheet mask that followed was on – I got to enjoy a lovely head, neck and shoulder and foot massage!
By the time I left, my skin looked clear, plump and hydrated, with no redness, and I felt relaxed from my head to my toes.
Danielle Rossetti
Special offer: Enjoy the Herbal Facial for $160 (80 minutes; usually $180)
#01-11 Eon Shenton, 70 Shenton Way
9173 0757 | youtimesg.com
This article on the best facials in Singapore first appeared in the March 2023 edition of Expat Living. You can purchase the latest issue or subscribe, so you never miss a copy!
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