Beauty

A spot to relax and rejuvenate in Itaewon, Seoul

Beauty haven

05.08.2017

By Su Fen Tan

A spot to relax and rejuvenate in Itaewon, Seoul

Tucked in a quieter area of the ever-vibrant Itaewon, La Maison Caudalie presents itself as an oasis of calm, with a beautiful and charming façade inspired by the brand founder’s family vineyard in Bordeaux. 

 

One of my favourite features of the boutique? The in-house wine bar, which serves a selection of wine, juice, coffee, tea, and even small bites. As I arrived for my facial appointment with a little time to spare, I gladly sipped on a refreshing glass of grape juice as I waited for my turn. Before long, my therapist of the day was at hand to tell me about the treatments available at their boutique spa. As my skin is typically in a dehydrated condition, I opted for the Vinosource Hydrating Facial, a 60-minute treatment to soothe and hydrate the skin. 

 

The session started off with a foot bath—a procedure that is unique to the Seoul boutique, to give guests the feeling of being refreshed from head to toe. Then, it was time to lie back and let the therapist work her wonders to salve my skin. The facial treatment started with a cleanse and gentle exfoliation, followed by a revitalising spritz of their iconic Grape Water and Beauty Elixir, which tones and prepares the skin for the next step. 

 

The next step was rather unusual, as the therapist proceeded to massage my face using fresh seedless grapes that have been cut in half. It actually felt really lovely and moisturising—the grapes are supposed to help hydrate the skin, tighten pores and stimulate cell renewal. Following this is another round of massage using their oils, and this time, she used cold stones for a different sensorial experience. It was so wonderfully relaxing and comfortable that I almost drifted off to sleep at this point.

 

Then, my skin was treated to deeper nourishment with a moisturising mask rich with polyphenols and anti-oxidants. As the mask was left to work its magic, the therapist proceeds to give me an upper body and foot massage. It was a much-welcomed form of relaxation after a busy work week. After the mask was removed, she added a few more spritzes of Grape Water and Beauty Elixir to awaken the skin, and concluded the treatment with the Vinosource serum and sorbet.

 

While it will take more than one facial to solve my skin problems, I was happy to walk out of La Maison Caudalie that afternoon feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, and my skin felt well hydrated and plumped, with a healthy glow to boot.  

 

The Caudalie Vinosource Hydrating Facial Treatment is available at RM279, Caudalie Spa, Bangsar Shopping Centre. Note: treatment steps might differ slightly to the boutique spa in Seoul. Advanced bookings are required (Tel: 03- 2095 0001)

 

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