Orveda, Helena Rubinstein, J Laser & Aesthetics and IDS Aesthetics

Welcome to Prestige Singapore‘s Beauty In Review, where we try out the newest and talked-about beauty and wellness treatments in town. This month, we head to Orveda at Le Studio, Helena Rubinstein’s new flagship boutique, J Laser & Aesthetics and IDS Aesthetics.

This month at Prestige Singapore, we are thrilled to celebrate our Self issue. In the realm of beauty, our team explored – quite literally, on their “faces” – the latest beauty treatments aimed at enhancing appearance. We highlight a range of trending treatments, from soothing facials by Orveda and Helena Rubinstein to more intensive options such as laser procedures and injectables at J Laser & Aesthetics and IDS Aesthetics respectively.

Glow is the New Lift Facial, Orveda at Le Studio, Raffles Hotel

Recently, my partner finally uploaded a decade’s worth of photos onto a digital photo frame. Amid the smiles-for-the-camera and highlights of our adventures – because let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to showcase the best moments? – I saw my younger self. Having always avoided photo filters in favour of capturing the “real” me, I was now confronted with 10 years of ageing in a span of 200-odd images. The deepening lines and sagging that softened my face left me feeling wistful.

In need of a lift – both in spirit and appearance – I decided to try Orveda’s Glow is the New Lift treatment. The French brand’s gentle, green biotech approach to skincare intrigued me. Eschewing machinery and harsh treatments like retinol or acid peels, Orveda offers products that combine bio-fermentation, enzyme function, and plant cell culture to restore skin integrity and youthfulness. The formulas are created from a pool of over 60 active ingredients, including marine enzymes and kombucha.

Even the brand’s forest-green packaging is a refreshing sight, with its name blending “or” for origin and “veda” for Ayurvedic healing. The clincher for me was the spa location amid the urban calm of Raffles Hotel – just stepping into that lush colonial sanctuary felt restorative.

In the posh Gem Suite at Raffles Spa, a consultant walked me through the Orveda product line, which bridges the gap between commercial beauty products and professional spa treatments. Every item used in the facial can also be purchased, making the consultation more than a marketing pitch – it was an introduction to post-treatment care. The range includes everything from makeup removers and cleansers to essences, serums, and reusable masks. I was particularly taken by the smart tools, like the kabuki brush that exfoliates in addition to cleansing; and the silicone pad that makes the application of eye moisturiser feel like butter on the skin.

During the hour-long facial, the therapist deftly massaged each product into my skin, wrapping my face in a warm towel in between segments. There were no machines, no pricks, and no pain – just expert fingers and Orveda tools to facilitate lymphatic drainage and hit the pressure points. The session culminated with my hands enveloped in mitts for deep moisturisation.

The aim of the treatment is to introduce “glow, lift and smoothing properties to the skin” for faces that “lack firmness and luminosity”, ideal for individuals seeking an instant skin boost before an important event. The results I experienced were more holistic. My face certainly looked more refreshed and luminous; but the downtime I enjoyed – swathed in a plush bathrobe, sipping Orveda’s delicious tea, and relaxing on the massage bed – felt wondrous. It wasn’t just my face that felt rejuvenated – my spirit did too. – Jennifer Chen

Raffles Spa Gem Suite and Lounge, Raffles Hotel Singapore, 1 Beach Rd

Helena Rubinstein: Signature Regenerative Facial

I’m not usually one to stress about getting older, but even so, when I peer long enough in the mirror, there’s no denying it: The mug staring back at me shows clear signs of more than four decades of life, and exposure to Earth’s gravity. Slowly but surely, things are heading south, literally and figuratively, ending in my increasingly mushy jawline.

I headed to Helena Rubinstein, a legacy brand specialising in science-driven luxury skincare, to see what could be done about this state of affairs. Last October, the company opened its first Southeast Asia flagship store at ION Orchard. Within the pristine white boutique is a private cabin where a trained facialist carries out the brand’s Signature Regenerative Facial.

Before the treatment commenced, a consultant carried out a facial analysis for me using a 360-degree skin profiling machine, which scores one’s skin in areas such as skin firmness, pores, wrinkles and brown spots. To my pleasant surprise, my skin was given an eight out of 10. But why settle for eight when you can get a 10?

It was time to step into the private cabin, where my facialist began the 60-minute Signature Regenerative Facial. Incorporating the advanced elements that Helena Rubinstein prides itself on, the process involves manual techniques as well as electrostimulation delivered by a Thermo Repair device.

The manual techniques include a soothing, deep myofascial massage that targets the muscles and connective tissues, and also involve the application of the brand’s trademark anti-ageing products, such as Replasty Laserist Serum and Replasty Night Cream (which has 30 per cent Pro-Xylane, an active ingredient that aids skin recovery).

What’s unique about the facial at Helena Rubinstein is the use of its Thermo Repair machine, which first uses heat to stimulate collagen, then electric currents to tighten and firm the skin. It was largely uneventful, except for a couple of moments where the probe was directed at a sensitive area near my left cheekbone, and I felt a little zap. For the most of the time, however, I was lulled into a blissful, snore-y state.

The best part of emerging from this cocoon – right in the heart of town, mind you – was seeing my complexion in the mirror that my facialist handed me when the hour was over. Immediately, I could see that my skin looked brighter, my pores looked smaller, and, yes, my jaw looked visibly narrower. Helena Rubinstein recommends returning for the facial every month for the best results. I’ll be there. – Lynette Koh

Helena Rubinstein, #B1-15, ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn

Picosure Pro Laser Treatment and Rejuran S Injection, J Laser & Aesthetics

Covering the beauty beat at Prestige has given me many firsts, from attending the latest skincare and makeup launches to exploring professional treatments that elevate skincare to the next level. Recently, I experienced the latter with a customised treatment by Dr Ngiam Juzheng, founder and medical director of J Laser & Aesthetics. Under the care of a certified aesthetic doctor, I underwent a Picosure Pro laser treatment paired with a Rejuran S injection, to address my dark spots and acne scars.

This wasn’t my first time trying the Picosure Pro laser. My previous session with Dr Ngiam delivered satisfying results, and this time, the addition of Rejuran S promised to enhance the outcome. After a brief consultation to assess my skin concerns, Dr Ngiam explained how the treatment would work: the laser would target pigmentation and stimulate collagen, while the injections, containing salmon DNA known for its regenerative properties, would tackle uneven skin texture. This combination in a single setting treatment, according to Dr Ngiam, is a new trend in the aesthetics scene. It has shorter downtime and a lower risk of developing complications like postinflammatory hyperpigmentation (injury-induced darkspots).

The treatment began with facial cleansing and 20 minutes of numbing cream. The Picosure Pro laser followed in two phases: targeted shots for pigmentation, which felt like light pricks with a faint smell of burnt skin, and “toning”, where the laser swept across my face with a popping sensation to boost collagen production.

Although the numbing cream dulled the pain, the heat was palpable. But Dr Ngiam swiftly applied ice packs to cool my skin.

Next came the Rejuran S injections, which, as Dr Ngiam explained, are the gold standard for improving acne scars. Treating my ice pick and box scars required subcision – a process of breaking the tissue bands pulling the scars down. Using the Rejuran S syringe, Dr Ngiam performed this procedure, which felt like multiple paper cuts. I teared, but despite some bleeding the discomfort was fleeting, and my redness subsided within a day. One and a half weeks after the treatment, the results were remarkable. Some depressed scars appeared “lifted”, my skin looked smoother, and pigmentation was visibly reduced. Even my colleague commented on how much better my skin looked. I am already looking forward to visiting Dr Ngiam again. – Joseph Low

Deusaderm Collagen Injection, IDS Aesthetics

I am notoriously bad at keeping to a consistent sleep schedule, and that lack of discipline, coupled with the collagen loss that comes with being in my early 30s, has left my undereye area with persistent eye bags that need help beyond eye creams and gua sha tools. Enter Deusaderm, a collagen-gel injectable treatment designed to restore lost volume, smooth out fine lines and enhance skin hydration at targeted spots of the face.

Unlike dermal fillers, Deusaderm uses collagen that is similar to human collagen, offering more natural-looking results with a lower risk of a reaction. As someone who is open to skin-boosting injectables but apprehensive about fillers, I am drawn to the brand, which also stimulates collagen regeneration.

I visited IDS Aesthetics to try it out. My experience began with a consultation with Dr Ben Yim, who explained that he would treat my undereye region in two ways: injecting Deusaderm close to the skin, and then at a deeper level to really plump up the area between my eye bags and my nose. He also suggested treating my nasolabial region, which had started to show signs of collagen loss since I crossed the mid-20s mark, so I readily agreed.

The examination of my face was swift yet efficient. My skin was cleansed and numbing cream was applied to the areas that would be treated. The numbing cream took 30 minutes to take effect. Dr Yim asked how I wanted my undereye area to look like after the injection. “More refreshed, so I don’t have to edit them too much in photos,” I unabashedly said. My face was marked with a white pencil – then it was go-time.

A cannula – a thinner, flexible tube with a blunt tip and an alternative to the conventional needle – was inserted close to the top of my cheek to administer Deusaderm. I felt the collagen-gel enter my skin and the needle moving under it as Dr Yim carefully filled up my undereye area. I won’t sugarcoat it: the feeling was uncomfortable. When he began working on the more sensitive, left side of my face, I felt the pain double and teared up a bit.

Thankfully, each side took about a minute or so to complete. If the undereye injections were a six out of ten on the pain scale, I would give the nasolabial injections a one. As they were easier to treat, Dr Yim was much faster. The effects were immediate: my undereye and nasolabial regions were visibly more even. There was facial tenderness and a small bruise on my right cheek, and my face felt sore, but the discomfort was mild.

A friend I met that night commented that I look refreshed, like I had just taken a good, long nap, as opposed to enduring a long day at the office. It takes time to heal from injectable procedures and my experience with Deusaderm was no exception. My undereye region swelled the next day, though it slowly subsided in the days that followed. It typically takes a week for the collagen to integrate with the skin, and the benefits of Deusaderm are said to last up to a year. – Candice Chua