HARPER’S BAZAAR SPA AWARDS 2021

FACE THERAPIES

The facials to tap for both general upkeep and specific concerns

BEST ACNE-REDUCING FACIAL

MASK AVENGER

$390 for 90 minutes, Spa Esprit

Don’t let mask-ne get you down. Designed to tackle pimples and outbreaks on the cheeks, nose and chin, this clarifying facial deeply cleanses and sloughs away pore-clogging surface dead skin cells with a peel and an ultrasound device that gently exfoliates. Pores are then cleaned out through manual extraction, before electroporation drives the actives in the serums used deeper into skin while stimulating lymphatic drainage to help rid the body of toxins that can cause skin flare-ups.

BEST ANTI-AGEING FACIAL

DUO PHYTO STEM CELL TREATMENT

$380 for 50 minutes, AsterSpring

Young at heart, but don’t always look the way you feel? Close that gap a little with help from this facial, which targets wrinkles and skin laxity using a combination of cutting-edge technology and manual facial techniques. At its heart is the Duo Phyto Stem Cell Serum, which has stem cells derived from argan trees and white horehound. The former encourages skin cell renewal as well as collagen and elastin production, while the latter, an antioxidant two times more powerful than vitamin C, shores up your defence against skin-ageing free radicals.

BEST BRIGHTENING FACIAL

SNOWISE BRIGHTENING TREATMENT

$260 for 80 minutes, Sulwhasoo

Sulwhasoo’s facial treatments are known for being machine-free, relying instead on the therapists’ skilled hands and the brand’s range of holistic skincare fortified with natural ingredients to help you achieve the skin of your dreams. This one is no different, with products from the Snowise Brightening range expertly massaged into skin both manually and using a half-moon-shaped white jade applicator to improve blood circulation and boost radiance.

BEST CLARIFYING FACIAL

LACTIC SURGE

$170 for 60 minutes; $200 for 75 minutes, Aesop

Trust Aesop to elevate a pampering hands-only treat into a cinematic experience. Ultra-exclusive cabin aside (the one at Tangs at Tang Plaza has just a single treatment room, so you’re the only guest at any time), the facial is performed to relaxing classical music played over a great sound system, with the therapist’s strokes moving in tandem with the sound of strings. Designed to reset the skin’s renewal cycle (which naturally slows with age) to an optimum 28 days, the treatment itself uses products with lactic acid and sodium lactate to help improve skin clarity, brightness and texture.

BEST DETOXIFYING FACIAL

MERIDIAN DETOX FACIAL

$380 for 90 minutes, Estetica

Everyone needs a good skin detox every so often and for that, there’s this bojin facial that works in a similar way to gua sha. A specialised bojin tool is used to massage acupressure points to clear meridian blockages, promote circulation and stimulate the body’s natural healing abilities. The massage also encourages lymphatic drainage, so expect a visibly lifted visage as well. Fair warning though: If your meridian channels are really blocked, brace for a significantly more painful facial than