Spoil Yourself

As if you need a reason to book a beauty boost, February is the month of love. Here are the latest treatments for top-to-toe pampering.

- CRYSTAL LEE and NAFEESA SAINI

GUA SHA FACIAL

Gua sha is a buzzy massage technique with strong cultural origins in ancient China. Translating to "scrape" and "sand", the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice involves press-stroking the skin with a flat, rounded tool to relieve tension, encourage lymphatic drainage, boost circulation, tighten skin and sculpt the face. With its current popularity, gua sha tools are widely available in various shapes and sizes for home use, but you'll reap more benefits under the hands of an expert.

Enter Spa Esprit's Gua Sha Facial. Incorporating new-age sound cleansing and aromatherapy, the treatment is designed to lift and detox the skin while healing the mind, body and spirit. It starts with a TingSha Bell sound ritual to dispel negative thoughts and energy, followed by a hot herbal towel compress on the face to open the pores, soften skin and melt residual stress and tension. The herbs used in the compress are rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Next comes steaming, which helps loosen dirt and excess oil while hydrating and soothing skin. Thereafter, the therapist performs a gentle extraction to deep-clean the pores so that nutrients from the subsequent mask are better absorbed. For the gua sha, the experienced facialist uses light, deft movements to tighten, clarify, soften, brighten and depuff skin without leaving it red and bruised. This step is so comfortable, it's easy to sleep right through it and wake up looking radiant, lifted and more youthful.

SERIOUSLY SOOTHING FACIAL