Beauty fix: Samadara Age-Defying Facial

Ayurvedic-inspired Australian brand Sodashi is available for the first time in Hong Kong at the Oriental Spa at the Landmark Mandarin, together with a series of specially designed facial and body treatments. Top of the list is the Samadara Age-Defying Facial, a 105-minute treatment that utilises the newly launched Samadara range, which is packed with rose quartz water and other natural goodies.

After taking a few deep breaths of essential oil, the facial begins with a standard cleansing, exfoliating and toning of the skin using various Sodashi products. I am immediately surprised at how emollient the formulations are, especially when compared to other natural brands I've used (most tend to be drying with a waxy texture).

The magic begins when my therapist applies a rich yet lightweight oil to my face. This is followed by a luxurious 25-minute facial massage designed to lift the skin using warm rose quartz crystals that look like pink pieces of jade. I've never had a facial that uses natural stones, but rose quartz is said to rejuvenate and heal the skin, so I start to relax as she gently massages my face using various pressure points and light strokes.

While I can't feel much at first, I start to detect an electric sensation as the stones move across various areas of my face, particularly around the eyes and cheeks. I am so lulled that I fall asleep (my therapist later tells me that the electric sensation was energy being transmitted from the stones to the skin).

Once the massage is over, she applies a thick layer of cream to my face before covering it with a layer of gauze followed by a thermal infusing mask. This is designed to help the ingredients penetrate further into the skin.

While the mask is left to work, a jojoba polish is applied to my arms followed by a light oil. Twenty minutes later, the mask is peeled off to reveal tight but moisturised skin that feels firm. While I am still unsure of the magical properties of the rose quartz, the products did seem to deliver brighter and clearer skin.

divia.harilela@scmp.com

Samadara Age-Defying Facial costs HK$2,200 on weekdays and HK$2,350 on weekends and holidays, and is subject to a 10 per cent service charge. Oriental Spa at the Landmark Mandarin