Celebrity Life

Join the club if you’re in need of an escape — from the stresses of work, the hustle and bustle of city life and sometimes even reality, if only for an hour and a half. So when one of the most luxurious hotel spas in Hong Kong launched a Wellness Escape package, we decided to book ourselves in and retreated all the way to Wan Chai.

Wellness Escape

The Treatment: Blue Diamond Brightening Facial

Spa Cuisine: Black Rice & Quinoa Wrap

Duration: 2 hours (including lunch)

[caption id="attachment_147549" align="alignnone" width="1080"] Omorovicza Facebook[/caption]

Products:

The brightening facial features Hungary’s luxury skincare brand Omorovicza, which is powered by the country’s mineral-rich thermal water to refresh, renew and refine the skin. It’s exclusive to the Plateau Spa in Hong Kong and the facial makes use of the extensive skincare range with a total of eight products in the treatment. Some examples of the products used include a Reviving eye cream, which immediately reduced puffiness and was absorbed into my skin as if I had been dehydrated for weeks on end. It also helped to minimise the dark circles underneath my eyes. A wonderful smelling neroli and rose-scented mist, named the Queen of Hungary, was spritzed on the skin with incredibly refreshing after effects. Another product used to moisturise and give my skin an instant upwards boost was the Rose lifting serum. Similar to botox, it’s designed to relax facial muscles to inhibit the development of fine lines and wrinkles, especially around the eyes.

Service:

On arrival, I felt like I had stepped out of Hong Kong and into some far-flung resort spa. An invigorating yet calming scent wafted through the air as I’m asked which treatment and which dish I would like to enjoy. I’m advised that my spa cuisine will be prepared and ready for me as soon as my treatment ends, which was music to my ears given that the time it ended would indeed be lunch. I was invited to rest in the reception area, which overlooks a water garden and tree-lined courtyard, to fill out the rest of my consultation form. Setting the scene for the treatment to come, I’ve already started to shake off the stresses of the city and before long, I’m whisked away into the treatment room. The service at Plateau is swift and I’m greeted softly and warmly by all members of staff throughout the treatment — even whilst I take my lunch outside in the courtyard after.

[gallery ids="147550,147548,147547,147551"]

Environment:

The spa feels like an elegant resort and utterly different from the business hotel it’s situated in. This is intentional of course, since it is Hong Kong’s first and only spa that offers accommodation with ten guest rooms. Effortlessly tranquil and timeless, the spa design is sleekly furnished with pale wood furnishings warmed up by the mahogany-coloured granite. They all include infinity-edge whirlpool soaking tubs, some with their own private terraces too, for that extra touch of luxury. Beside the spa is an expansive garden space which leads to the 50-metre heated outdoor pool and sauna. But for those that want to get active before they relax, the 24-hour fitness studio, 400-metre jogging path, golf driving range, tennis and squash courts should do the trick.

[caption id="attachment_147546" align="alignnone" width="945"] A head massage during the brightening facial[/caption]

Experience:

There were a number of steps in this facial treatment that intended to firm up, brighten and restore my skin’s ‘fitness’, and it all started with a good cleansing. My therapist was nimble and removed my makeup gently with a moor cream cleanser before she used a buffer to exfoliate the skin. This was amped up with a warm steam treatment to remove dead skin cells and other impurities more effectively. Thereafter it goes a little deeper. At first, it’s with a mud mask that feels cool on my skin as it clears my congested pores. All the while she’s working her massage magic at the top of my head and around my temples as if to untangle some knots in my brain. Next up, it’s the extractions. And if you’re an extraction facial regular, you’ll know that it can get a little painful — what with all that squeezing and pushing around the face to expel any blemishes. Luckily, my therapist utilised a drainage massage technique which was much less painful. Though in more sensitive areas around the nose, it can’t be helped. The final application was three-fold; hydrating, lifting and regulating the skin’s condition which helped to awaken my lacklustre skin.

As the facial comes to a close, I’m offered warm tea and fresh fruits in the room. I’m also told that I can take my time to continue relaxing or clean up, but as my stomach growled for lunch, I remembered that I put in my order for the spa cuisine and head straight to the courtyard. The food is pleasant and gently seasoned, which I assumed was because they had my health interests at heart. However, it did begin to get a little too warm in the courtyard, and although the serene surroundings seemed perfect for lunch, the humidity of summer said otherwise. Upon my departure, I was saddened that my retreat ended so quickly and as I take the lift back down to the hotel lobby, I catch a glimpse of my glowing skin and vow to make a return, and escape, very soon.

The post Spa Review: A Wellness Escape to Grand Hyatt’s Plateau Spa appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Posted in facial treatments, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, Plateau Spa, spa review, Spas, Wellness

Read more

Spa Review: The Youth Intensive Treatment at InterContinental’s I-Spa

by Fontaine Cheng May 08, 2019

Cleanse, exfoliate, tone, moisturise and apply sunscreen. Most of us have our daily skin care regimen down to a T (for T zone), but there are times when you just need a bit of extra help from the professionals. That’s why we headed to the Intercontinental’s I-Spa to inject a little life back into our dull, post-winter skin and here’s what we found.

The Treatment: Youth Intensive Facial

Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Products

If you’re going to trust any kind of skin care product, go with a brand that's backed by science and research. At I-Spa, they’ve opted for Parisian brand Sothys, which was founded over 70 years ago by medical biologist Dr. Hotz. These days, scientists collaborate with universities and laboratories to formulate products that combine technology and well-being -- one of which has resulted in the Youth Intensive Treatment at I-Spa. The facial includes a total of six products from this line for exfoliation, lifting and dermo-filling. Here, core ingredients such as saffron, sophora, and peptides claim to help slow down the ageing process while stimulating skin cell regeneration. The products felt light on the skin and held a delicate scent, nothing too overpowering. I was asked to allow the product to fully absorb into the skin even after the treatment was complete, and I was pleasantly surprised by how dewy and refreshed my face felt for the rest of the day.

[caption id="attachment_142687" align="alignnone" width="720"] The Youth Intensive Treatment (and line of Youth creams) by Sothys claim it can turn back the clock on your skin.[/caption]

Service

One of the things that can be a little bothersome, even before you set foot in the treatment room, are the forms you need to fill in. At I-Spa, this consisted of a very short consultation form and instead, the therapist spent more time with me to ask about my current skincare routine and possible sensitive areas. She also gave a detailed explanation about the treatment products, procedure and expected results. It was good to know that not only was I was in safe, knowledgable hands, but that the treatment procedure was geared towards my preferences and skin condition. The execution of the double serum face massage was also incredibly effective with firm yet relaxing massage movements throughout.

[caption id="attachment_142686" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Infinity spa pools offers a striking view of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour for further relaxation with all spa experiences.[/caption]

Environment

The spa décor is pared back and simple, with a marble design that looks refined but slightly dated. However, I forgot this as soon as I entered the dimly-lit rooms, which are spacious and feel calming just the same. Each private spa suite comes with its own sauna, steam shower, whirlpool bathtub and massage facilities to enable a full-on luxury spa experience. For further wellness, the gym is open 24 hours and a large outdoor swimming pool offers a terrace, while the infinity spa pools show off a stunning view overlooking Victoria Harbour.

[caption id="attachment_142683" align="alignnone" width="1417"] There are 7 steps in the Youth Intensive Treatment which includes cleansing, exfoliation, toning, face massage, youth modelling, mask and finishing.[/caption]

Experience

I entered the private spa suite after sipping a warm cup of mint tea, so it felt like the perfect temperature as I disrobed, though I was maybe a tiny bit too warm as I slipped under the cashmere blanket. But as my body temperature dropped during the treatment, I was extremely grateful for it in the end.

After cleansing of the face and neck was complete, a two-step exfoliation process ensued with light pinching movements, which is said to better prepare the skin for absorption. Warm mitts were used in removing lotions and pastes, which not only felt great but also ensured the skin was completely clean. The facial then moved on to toning, before a simultaneously relaxing and invigorating face massage was performed. My therapist’s movements were firm yet thoughtful, as she lifted and contoured the skin around key areas such as the forehead, around eyes and lips, and the neck and décolletage. More youth modelling followed, along with a short massage on the neck and nape, too.

During the face mask elements of the treatment, my therapist kindly explained when she was going to cover my face or would gently tap to indicate her next movements. Experience, I’m sure, told her that some may feel sensitive when certain areas (especially around the eyes) are treated. I rested assured as I was in competent hands, and I drifted off naturally during a scalp massage. It was only when the finishing touches, with serum and moisturiser, were applied that I finally awoke and thanked her for skilled application.

Feeling fresh-faced, I returned to the the real world and was immediately complemented for my glowing skin. "That’ll be the facial", I told them, but when I think back to my experience, it most definitely was more than that. The Youth Intensive Treatment at I-Spa, with optional quick nap, is the “facial workout” that your face needs as much as your body requires the gym.

The post Spa Review: The Youth Intensive Treatment at InterContinental’s I-Spa appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Posted in facial treatments, I-Spa, intercontinental hong kong, spa review, Spas, Wellness