Beauty fix: The Peninsula's oxygen-infused facial
Tessa Chan
It is claimed that applying pure, pressurised oxygen to the skin enhances the absorption of anti-ageing products. Oxygen is also said to have healing properties when applied directly. The Peninsula Spa offers such oxygen-infused facials, which we decided to put to the test.
The experience starts with a sweet ginger welcome tea, the provision of fluffy white slippers, and a visit to the harbour-view heat facilities, before therapist Carmen gives me a consultation. I opt for the Opulence Brightening Treatment, designed to combat pigmentation and age spots.
Then she delicately removes my make-up and deep-cleanses my skin with a Clarisonic gadget. It feels like what it is: an expensive motorised facial-scrubbing brush.
A Wood's lamp follows, to determine problem areas on my skin. Carmen then uses what resembles a tiny metal airbrush filled with icy cold, damp air. The damp is a light serum infused into the oxygen that is blasted all over my skin. This is followed by a hydrating gel and "binding" cream. All three Intraceuticals products contain hyaluronic acid, which is layered on to hydrate, protect and balance the skin. It feels odd when the airbrush goes over my eyelids and nostrils, and it tickles the neck area, but I am soon relaxed enough to nearly nod off.
Carmen, who is friendly and professional, happily shows me the difference between the side of my face she has worked on and the untreated one. I inspect the mirror politely, as she points out how plumped up my skin looks on one side. At this stage all I can see is that one side appears to be coated in sticky film.
However, as I'm getting ready to leave and catching my reflection in the daylight, I do notice a certain glow and a slightly more even skin tone.
Weekly treatments are recommended, followed up with monthly maintenance visits. I instead opt to continue the treatment at home, with some Intraceuticals samples courtesy of the spa. After a week of using the products, my skin still looks noticeably better than usual.
The Intraceuticals Opulence Brightening treatment costs HK$1,800 (60 minutes) and HK$2,200 (90 minutes) at The Peninsula Spa in Tsim Sha Tsui.
