When it comes to facial treatments, Thailand offers all kinds of beautifying techniques for one’s visage from sketchy street side facials to luxury spa treatments and everything in between. Back in my teenage days when I was brave enough to try anything, I stumbled upon an outdoor facial treatment near the Phra Arthit Pier that leads to Thailand’s infamous backpacker’s paradise of Khao San Road. Laying under a tent that was ventilated by plastic fans, I experienced my first and thankfully only sidewalk facial treatment. At the extremely low price of THB200 you can’t really expect to have anything slathered on your face that’s actually good for your skin, right? Like I said, those were my young and naive days.
Now that I’m older and wiser I’ve realized the importance of using quality products on my face. Moving on to the second tier of my facial experiments, I used to frequent the massage parlor located in the basement of Robinsons Bangrak at Saphan Taksin BTS. I kept going back there because I loved the way the masseuse rhythmically twirled her fingers across my face. It was so relaxing, especially after a beach trip to nearby islands. The facial would always end with slices of chilled cucumbers laid over my entire face which was so refreshing. This was more of a facial massage without steaming or extractions, but once again at THB350 for an hour-long session the quality of lotions and creams used was questionable.
I finally moved up to a more adult version of the facial massage when I visited Healthland, a well-established massage business that has locations in every major part of the city. The private rooms are spacious, dimly lit, and always smell of some fragrant flower. You can definitely put your mind at ease here with their exclusive use of Jurlique facial products. There’s always a bit of head and shoulder massage at the end to help loosen those stiff muscles. I decided to purchase a packet of ten Ultimate Aromatherapy Facials which knock down the price to just THB1200 per treatment. Every time I come here I imagine how perfect life would be if I could have facials every day.
However, the most memorable facial massage I’ve ever experienced was at the Mandarin Oriental. Located on the majestic Chao Phraya River, you can arrive by the hotel’s river shuttle boat to the Oriental Spa. It feels like you’re miles away from the city at this total spa retreat. One thing that you’ll notice is how peaceful and serene it is, even in the lobby you won’t hear other guests chattering about. When it comes to the facial, the detail and precision is truly extraordinary. Believe or not, even the initial make-up removal process was stimulating in the most calming way. I nearly fell asleep as the masseuse gently rubbed off my eyeliner with a Q-tip in a small circular motion. The entire experience could be summed up with one word: bliss.
Another upscale facial that combines savvy technology and the warmth of a human touch is at Apex, one of this country’s most well known beauty clinics specializing in anti-aging and rejuvenation therapies. I tried the Ultrasounds for Ultra Skin Revitalization which uses a high-tech Ultrasonic device to massage the face at hot and cold temperatures. During the treatment it felt as if the heat wand circling my face helped to open up my pores to receive the moisture and nutrients. It was so therapeutic that I fell into a sort of trance before being slightly startled by the cooling part of the facial. Immediately after the session I felt my face had absorbed a major surge of moisture, and it was actually softer and smoother to the touch.
