Body - Firm The Flab! Anti-Ageing Ginseng Scrub Down at Damai!

Even as I write, I am aching from yesterday’s gym session. Admittedly I have not worked out for a while, and the aching muscles are just screaming for some TLC. Which brings to mind a sumptuous spa treatment I experienced not long ago at Damai, the 5th floor spa at the Grand Hyatt Singapore. It's the Korean Ginseng Body Polish treatment which was launched barely a month ago.

What’s unique here is it is an anti-ageing, anti-oxidant scrub and makes use of saponin, found in Korean ginseng. Designed by a Korean medical doctor and Grand Hyatt Seoul’s spa specialist, Sue Yoon, it is also meant to tone the skin. There are other active ingredients in the potion – Jang Neoi Sam which gives the skin elasticity, Young Ji mushroom, an anti-ageing ingredient, Chun Moon Dong for skin tone and Nok Yongm, also for anti-ageing. Aside from the mushroom, I confess I don’t know what they are apart from the fact that they are natural herbs which the Koreans use.

I admit I don’t like the taste of ginseng and I was afraid I would emerge from this treatment smelling like a ginseng root…But rest assured, ladies, the smell is gentle and actually quite pleasing to the olfactories. Maybe it’s 'cos they use six-year-old red ginseng – mellowed like we are with age, but just as potent!

Based on Korea’s bath culture, this is, I am told by Sue Yoon, a far cry from the most utilitarian, basic and horrifyingly efficient scrub-downs in Korea’s popular public bath houses! In these institutions of cleanliness, the staff – all older women dressed in painfully little – score, shred, scrub and exfoliate clients down to the dermis and across every last embarrassing inch, upside down, inside out and sideways with nary a thought for customers' dignity. Cries of “Open wider!” are apparently not uncommon, and you are expected to submit and comply obediently!! Eeeew!

But this is the Grand Hyatt Singapore, and as with all Damai’s treatments, the session here is indulgent, tranquil and relaxing. It all starts with a foot soak with thorough explanations from the therapist, then it’s down to business! First a most relaxing scrub with the herb mixture using long strokes. The mix is quite rough but not uncomfortable, and the smell is pretty soothing. This is followed by a vigorous scrub down with the Korean bath mit – nothing langorous about this, it is proper scrubbing almost everywhere, including your armpits, which was super odd to me...but gentle on one's dignity!

That over, I am rewarded with a soothing massage that sent me to sleep, only to be woken later with a “scalp cleansing and massage”. In other words, a hairwash with more ginseng, plus a nice head massage after that. While it's meant to be relaxing, I felt rather strange having someone wash my hair while lying down - a little like the armpit scrub. But, its a small issue when you look at the greater indulgence of the treatment in its entirety. Then it’s a quick shower down to get rid of the scrub mixture, and back onto the treatment bed for a final basting of lotion. Six steps in 90 minutes, plus a sauna, jacuzzi or steam beforehand.

For an affordable $170++, this got me pretty invigorated at the end of the session, and indeed my skin felt exfoliated, soft, and yes, I guess a little firmer than my usual saggy self. And I smelt nice, too. Definitely a must-do especially before a swanky event! (Together with the Madonna facial as mentioned in an earlier post!) 

Grand Hyatt Singapore
Level 5
10 Scotts Rd
Tel: 64167156

- by Ee Waun

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Beauty - Quick and Cute Pure Tincture All Natural Skincare at Raffles Place

I notice one thing about us girls – the older we get, we more we spend on skincare. Thousands of bucks on facials – and many are religious about it – hundreds on a single bottle or two of serums, and lots of interest in whitening and firming. After all, it’s the only face we’ve got and it’s a good investment to make sure it takes us, firm and gorgeous, into our later years.

So we were thrilled to discover Pure Tincture, a cute skincare boutique in Raffles Place, run by Helen Lien, a simplyfab lady who did a mid-career switch from engineer to skincare expert and business owner. What’s fantastic is that she brings in really niche brands of skincare from all over the world, all organic and many originally created by women who developed them for their own needs to begin with.

One of their main brands is cosmeceutical line Suki, an American brand that uses only natural ingredients, all organic – said that earlier – and suitable for all skins, from normal to super sensitive skin, including those who have severe eczema. It claims to use only ‘high potency botanic concentrate’ as its base rather than water, which packs in lots of goodness. I liked the SukiSpa range which is more concentrated and gives higher levels of performance.

If you want something that gives immediate gratification, the sukispa Renewal Bio-resurfacing Peel (S$150) is the thing to smear on your face. It’s a light lotion with a delicate floral fragrance which promises to whip away the dead skin and rough surface of your face, to reveal glorious smoothness and radiance below! So I did just that on a hot afternoon. It was so relaxing and the smell so soothing I fell asleep on the couch. I had expected some tingling or even stinging sensation – ‘cos it said ‘resurfacing’, didn’t it? – but I felt nothing. Madam woke up with a start half an hour later, washed it off and voila! Very smooth, pretty soft and yes, I must say, the face looked significantly ‘brighter’. The next thing I’ll try is the suki Bio-C 10% Formula Face Serum (S$160). This high potency potion claims to be designed as a ‘super antioxidant specifically to support collagen production and help reduce future signs of ageing’. That’s for me!

Pure Tincture also carries Madara, a natural skincare range from Latvia. It’s a more basic product, but I just loved the way the moisturisers give this minty, refreshing feel on the skin once you slap it on. Other brands she carries – all non-comedogenic and natural - Balm Balm, SantaVerde, Pure Lochside, Nostalgia, etc.

Pure Tincture also does facials in its premises. Don’t expect the bells and whistles of Clarins-style treatments or a spa setting, but it’s super convenient for those working in the area. The set up is pretty basic – two little rooms at Helen’s unit un UOB Centre. But they are completely private, neat and pleasant with proper treatment beds – and what’s more, Helen will give you the facials and massage treatments herself, using cabin products by the brands she carries.

Pampering at Pure Tincture ranges from 40-minute sukispa Short and Sweet facials (from $55) to sukispa anti-ageing facials ($140 for 90 minutes – a real steal!), a la Clinical Purify and Heal facial ($120 for 90 minutes) and an anti-cellulite body massage using Madara firming oil and anti cellulite cream ($130 for 120 minutes). There are plenty other treatments to choose from, and if you don’t want to pay up each time, it’s probably easier to get a bundled package – from $600 for treatments with $120 worth of free treatments, and $600 for homecare products, with $60 worth of free products tossed in. For busy babes, you can even buy your products online at her funky website www.puretincture.com

1 Raffles Place
OUB Centre #04-22B
Tel: 6533 1723

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Beauty - Lift, Roll and Recover, here's your 10 minute facelift!

Picture this: 

1980 flashback: bored Secretary answers phone whilst filing nails with latest diamond head nail file

1990 flashback: bored Secretary answers phone whilst SMSing boyfriend on her new Motorola

2000 flashback: bored Secretary answers phone whilst on MSN chat with cute colleague in next cubical

2010 flashback: who says the Secretary is bored? The phone is on speaker and she gives herself a daily 10 minute facelift whilst talking, waiting at the same time for the office Aunty to bring her Nespresso over. And how is she giving herself a 10 minute facelift? With Oregon Scientific's Platinum Beauty Roller of course!

Asked by the PR company in Hong Kong to try out Oregon Scientific's latest little innovation, I was thrilled to trial this gadget for a week, just to understand how I could save a trip to the plastic surgeons in favour of this facial massage tool. Designed by the Japanese (of course) this 'beauty massager/roller' comprises two rollers made of Platinum and Ceramic Alloy, elegantly encased in a wine red plastic casing and is light and easy to carry. No batteries required, you are supposed to use it as part of your beauty routine and even with make up on in the middle of a busy day. The pamphlet instructs in Japa-english "Just make facial massage, part of your daily routine for that young and glamourous look!" 

How to use: 

In upward strokes, first use the platinum roller that is coated with a special Spa mineral, to lift and therefore rejuvenate and tighten the inner layers of your facial skin and neck. Apparently this action has a special rhythmic 'piano touch' effect that massages and imitates fingers springing lightly on the piano keyboards. The vibration coupled with the roller design, forms a balance force to enhance lymphatic flow and enlarges the blood capillaries that transports excess water, wastes and fat to be discharged from the body making the face firmer, smoother and more radiant. The coolant roller massages and smoothens the skins outer layers. The dual action facial treatment apparently combines nourishing minerals and unique massage functions to tighten the inner layers of the skin and “massage and smoothen” the outer layers with it. No electricity needed, you can do it anytime of the day. 

What it does: 

1) Gives you an instant facelift in minutes

2) Restores skin's firmness and elasticity

3) Reduces fine lines and wrinkles

4) Use it with any water soluble beauty essence before you sleep at night for maximum absorption

At first, over the first few mornings and evenings, I kind of felt very silly using it and looking for effects which honestly are not instant as the benefits are actually internal. I liked the cooler as after 10 minutes of the massage and your skin warm and stimulated, it kind of feels nice to have something icy cool rolling over the skin's surface.  

I got creative after a few days and one evening when I was particularly exhausted and in a horizontal position, lights dimmed and aircon at just the right temperature. With my moisture gel mask on and with the smooth cool Platinum roller massaging the product into my skin (for better absorption,of course) .. it was indeed a small slice of private heaven. A nice indulgence at HK $1,680 and a fun-to-have if you are a beauty fanatic with moments in the day that you can remember to lift and roll. Available at all Oregon Scientific stores. Have a look at the video  to  learn how to use: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zO-O82zqS8A

- Elaine

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