To cater to the time-strapped individual, more skincare labels and spas are now offering express facials that take 30 minutes or less.
Their customers? Busy working adults and stay-at-home mothers who want fast treatments they can squeeze into their hectic schedules.
Labels such as local skincare brand Skin Inc and spas Freia Aesthetics and La Source Spa added quick-fix facials to their menus last year. Other spas say that demand for such treatments has gone up by up to 20 per cent in the past year.
These facials typically cost about half the price of full-length treatments and are completed in half the time. Regular facials usually take 60 to 90 minutes and cost as much as $600.
While the shortened versions are less luxurious on the pampering scale compared with a regular facial, some include a pared-down massage or light therapy, such as variable pulsed light which treats a range of skin issues including pigmentation. Most, however, involve only cleansing, exfoliation, application of serums and moisturisers.
Where to go for express facials
#1: Sugar K Organic Peel Bar
What: Organic Peel, 20 minutes, $55. Customers get a skin analysis before their skin is cleansed and prepped with a pro-peel toner. An organic peel is applied and removed with a toner. The treatment is finished off with serum, moisturiser and sunscreen.
Where: Kew Organics, 03-83 Clarke Quay Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, tel: 6904-4161; open: 11pm to 9pm (Mondays to Fridays), noon to 8pm (Saturdays and Sundays), closed on public holidays
#2: Freia Aesthetics
What: Classic Express Facial, 30 minutes, $58. This treatment includes exfoliation and a mask and is capped off with serum to moisturise the skin.
Where: Freia Aesthetics, 19-02 Wisma Atria Office Tower, 435 Orchard Road, tel: 6734-3219; open: 11am to 9pm (Mondays to Fridays), 10am to 7pm (Saturdays), closed on Sundays and public holidays
#3: Skin Inc
What: Facial In A Flash Treatment, 20 minutes, $45. A treatment using Skin Inc’s Optimizer Voyage Tri-Light, a handheld device that uses coloured light-emitting diode (LED) chromotherapy. The label says this helps to lift and firm skin, among other benefits.
Where: Skin Inc Concept Store, 03-14 Scotts Square, 6 Scotts Road, tel: 6536-6789; open: 10am to 9.30pm daily
#4: Spa Esprit
What: VPL Power Facial, 30 minutes, $192.60. Variable pulsed light (VPL) is used to treat sun-damaged, ageing, wrinkled and pigmented skin.
Where: Spa Esprit Paragon, 05-10 Paragon, 290 Orchard Orchard, tel: 6836-0500; open: 10am to 9pm daily, closed on selected eves of and public holidays
#5: Porcelain
What: Cosmopolitan Pick Me Up Facial, 30 minutes, $80.25. A facial designed to rejuvenate the skin, provide hydration and stimulate cellular repair and collagen production.
Where: Porcelain, three outlets including one at 15 Cantonment Road, tel: 6227-9692; open: 11am to 10pm (Mondays to Fridays), 9.30am to 8pm (Saturdays), 9.30am to 7pm (Sundays)
#6: Damai Spa
What: Express Facial, 30 minutes, $188.32. Each session includes a consultation, cleansing, exfoliation, a personalised facial mask, a short facial massage and application of a booster serum.
Where: Damai Spa, Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Road, tel: 6416-7156; open: 10am to 10pm daily
#7: Jet Concepts
What: Express Facial, 30 minutes, $78. A treatment that involves exfoliation to get rid of dirt and bacteria to clean and brighten skin.
Where: Jet Concepts, three outlets including one at 03-05 Wheelock Place, 501 Orchard Road, tel: 6733-7055; open: 10.30am to 9pm daily
#8: Adonis Beauty Studio
What: Quick Fix Facial, 30 minutes, $85.60. Each facial includes a cleanse and massage or exfoliation.
Where: Adonis, seven outlets including one at 04-50/51 Nex shopping mall, 23 Serangoon Central, tel: 6634-2466, open: 11am to 9pm daily
This story first appeared on herworldplus.com
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