If you’re looking for a great place to relax, and stock up on your beauty essentials, look no further than Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door Boutique at ION Orchard
I don’t know about you, but when it comes to facials, I’m obsessed about seeing results. While I’ve had some great ones, I’ve also had lacklustre ones where I saw no difference in my skin, or worse, experienced breakouts. So when I heard that Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door Boutique would offer its iconic Red Door Facial Services, I knew I had to give it a go – I pictured glowing skin that makeup can only dream of faking.
Straight from its original, famous Fifth Avenue Salon, these customised facial services fuse skin-loving gadgetry with the brand’s spa-based skincare line. Products used aren’t from the standard Elizabeth Arden collections as they’re geared at extending the results of your treatment. Pick from five signature facials – they range from the introductory Elizabeth Arden Essential Facial ($120 for 60 minutes) to the sumptuous Ultimate Arden Facial ($280 for 90 minutes). My chosen treatment was the Oxygen Infusion Facial ($185 for 75 minutes), picked by my therapist Michelle (who, FYI, has the world’s most magical hands). Keep reading to find out whether this facial lived up to all my fantasies of achieving a new, youthful glow.
After getting comfy in the plushest of bathrobes, Michelle immediately began zapping away my work stresses with a mind-melting, gentle massage with a makeup remover and facial cleanser. Next up was a thorough analysis to determine my skin’s true condition – she intently studied my face beneath a magnifying light before deciding that my face desperately needed unclogging and brightening – the Oxygen Infusion Facial, along with extraction, would revitalise, brighten and smoothen my skin.
And so began over an hour of bliss, where my face was first treated to an indulgently drawn out skincare routine of toner, serum and moisturiser. Admittedly, I was more than a little terrified for what would come next: Extraction. But my fears were for naught – the Diamond Peel Microdermabrasion machine gently exhumed my pores, leaving my skin softer, smoother, and visibly brighter. A little manual extraction was necessary, but even then, Michelle delicately cleaned out my pores, making sure that I was comfortable every step of the way. As an apt reward, a luxurious, mega hydrating mask was applied on my face and I was left alone to nod off in total comfort.
The final step was the Oxygen Blast. I chose a brightening serum for my potent potion. Michelle smoothed it onto my skin, and sprayed a steady mist of pressurised oxygen onto my skin to penetrate deep into my skin’s cellular layers. The effect was immediate – my skin looked more radiant, glowy and I looked a lot more awake (gone were the sleepy eyes and grey skin!). To finish, Michelle gave me a heavenly arm massage with a body cream from the White Tea range, then sent me on my way home after thoroughly releasing the knots from my head and shoulders. I had to make a quick stop at the boutique though – I couldn’t pass up the chance to stock up on my makeup and skincare needs.
Elizabeth Arden Red Door Boutique, ION Orchard, #B2-48, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801.
Need some R&R? Read our best picks of facials and spas in Singapore.