Like all semi-workaholics/ OCD perfectionists/ Speedy Gonzales wannabes, I lead a pretty packed and hectic lifestyle, with days starting from 4.30am and ending at 11.30pm (no, I’m serious). Besides my full-time job, I blog everyday, I write for magazines and publications, and I also have to attend events and launches and what-nots. At times when I do unwind, I make sure it’s really, serious, quality me-time – I have to be thoroughly relaxed till the mind doesn’t even want to think of the next blog item to review, and the arm doesn’t automatically reach for the phone to check if there are emails or messages (I know, I know, I’m a maniac nomophobe). And guess what? I’ve found the place!
Located at Resorts World Sentosa (next to Hotel Equarius), ESPA is a destination spa i.e. it’s a place to head to, and to spend lots and lots of time rejuvenating yourself and recovering from the daily stresses here.
oh hai there, my make-believe home for the next 3-4 hours. Photo of lobby taken from the Internet.
Led to a cosy corner to perform the mandatory filling of the forms. As I check off the boxes and fill up my details (and try not to scribble illegibly), I realised that ESPA’s form is way more detailed than your usual. In fact, they even noted that I have a shellfish allergy, and asked if I was okay to use marine-based skincare products. Attention to detail: 11/10. I also get served a welcome tea with a towel to freshen up and get handed my locker key.
Now ESPA is a compound of many areas – separate villas, rooms, etc, so I was a little apprehensive about getting lost. Thankfully, there was always a friendly staff somewhere (quietly hovering) to guide me around.
Walking towards the changing / locker rooms
Clean fluffeh towels for your use
A large, spacious and clean wash area (and a lack of water splatters on the floor, which I love!)
Hair styling products for you to use when (and if) you’re ready to leave
I love that there isn’t that musky overused sweaty yoga-gym smell here – no sirree – everything smells really nice and soothing (some hint of herbs). I got allocated a locker in my own little “area” (I guess it was cos I went during an off-peak period), so I could leisurely change (without the usual apprehensiveness, for fear that I moon someone with my unsightly cheeks)
What’s in your locker – a gown, good quality disposable undies and slippers, and face and body towels. Next up – it’s time to start wandering around the premises.
From L-R: Rock Sauna room, Shower rooms, Ice Fountain, and Crystal Steam room
Where are the shower rooms you say? Head on in~
A closer look at the Rock Sauna Room, which comes with a view of the outside greenery.
Sun beds facing the Cold Plunge pool :D
And on the other side, the Outdoor Vitality warm pool (38 degrees celsius) with water jets (hydrotherapy) if you stand in the loungers. Notice that despite the large amounts of greenery, the pools are very well maintained with barely a floating leaf or dead twig.
This is the waiting room where your therapists will come and get you.
Have a cuppa, or two, and choose from lemon water or red date tea whilst you wait.
Plenty of plush sofas for me to sink my derriere into, but why should I, when the scenery outside is way more alluring? :D
Located just outside the waiting room is the Forest Onsen-style pool
The view from outside – clearly it’s a one-side window, so I guess you won’t be that conscious / aware that people inside the waiting room are looking / observing you?
The Forest Onsen-Style Pool with warm mineralised water (at 40-42 degrees Celsius)
Zomg this looks uber inviting, no?? But anyway, enough of the tomfoolery – it was time for my Personalised facial, and I went back into the Waiting room.
This is my treatment room – located in another block about 5 minutes’ stroll away from the Waiting room, the treatment rooms are all very spacious, and come equipped with personal toilets. (In fact, it kinda looks like a hotel room to me, except that the sleeping bed has been replaced with a massage bed). It’s very cosy with soothing music and herbal relaxing scents. Unfortunately, the ambient lighting was messing with my photography :(
Here’s a professionally taken photo- much prettier right?
ESPA provides a host of treatments and services – from facials to massages to grooming and more. What I opted for was the Personalised Facial.
Treatment information
- First, you’ll be asked to choose from a variety of scents (at this point, the soft-spoken therapist kneels in front of me on a cushion and I felt so bad and offered to share my chair with her, which she declined).
- After this, simply lie back and relax.
- Makeup removal was carried out with ESPA’s products, followed by a scrub and cleanse.
- Out came a special UV light thingamajig – it’s called the Vision Light which was used to check your skin condition.
- It revealed the dry patches, problematic areas and also showed where there were impending spots and pigmentation (OMG the horror!).
- I was told I had combi dry-oily skin, the usual – the T-zone was oily whilst the cheeks were dry. My treatment was then customised to suit my skin type.
- She turned the steamer on and bathed my face in a gentle warm mist for about 10-20 mins.
- Next up, a very gentle extraction (note that this isn’t one of those painful types), followed by a mask.
- By this time, I was dozing off, but trying not to, because I had to take notes on the process of this treatment. It was pretty relaxing and luxurious up to this point, but I was in for a further treat.
- Hand massage – Yay for the poor overworked arms that bang out articles and blog reviews non-stop on the keyboard.
- Shoulder massage – I liveeee for this. The knots were massaged out and I felt so fluid, like a squid with flailing arms. hah.
- Scalp massage – I’m not a fan of head/scalp massages simply because I get iffy about flat hair, so I skipped this portion.
- The finishing touch – An eye mask as I dozed off peacefully.
- The facial did leave my skin looking radiant, but I attribute this partly to the huge dosage of relaxation I got during my half day spent at ESPA.
- I didn’t get any breakouts either.
- I’d recommend this facial simply cos the overall relaxation and rejuvenation value you get.
- Plus, do remember to bring your swimwear so that you can indulge in all their facilities – you’re encouraged to spend the entire day there!
Once you’re done, you’re encouraged to continue making full use of the facilities, and in particular, the Sleep Zone with 18 special sleeping pods so that you can fully rejuvenate yourself. There is also a restaurant called Tangerine, which serves healthy, specially-created food, a gym, and even various exercise (yoga, pilates etc) classes that you can take.
Wandering around the compound, reluctant to leave and return to mainland Singapore
Creeping cautiously and quietly into the room to avoid disturbing anyone else who might be there – quickly doing my shots and getting out :D
Just before heading into the Social Lounge – rather than having you open the doors yourself or having a sensor, the door-open buttons are located a pillow away so you can literally saunter in like a boss. Hah.
Over at the Social lounge, you can just chill, have another cuppa or chat with your friends, or simply just stone and do nothing and let your mind rest.
This is a great location for a stay-spa-cation -it’s relaxing, it’s fun, it’s rejuvenating and you have a host of activities to do. Just make sure that you have an entire day to spend there to make the most of it – there’s even a Turkish Hammam here! The Turkish bath is a “traditional Middle Eastern cleansing ritual designed to revitalize the mind and body. Housed in a large and airy chamber with an impressive domed ceiling, and featuring a full-sized scrub plinth, oversized rain showers and a steam room with ergonomically designed benches, the Hammam is truly an extraordinary experience.”
How to get there via public transport:
- Take North-East line or Circle line to HarbourFront station.
- Take Exit E to VivoCity and proceed to level 3 to board the Sentosa Express.
- Alight 2 stops later at Imbiah station. With the Merlion on your left, walk to your right, cross a bridge and go down the escalator.
- Enter the doorway at the foot of the escalator to reach a lobby with a pair of Botero statues.
- You will find the entrance to Hotel Michael on the left of the lobby.
- Take a free shuttle to Equarius Hotel from the lobby of Hotel Michael.
- Upon alighting, instead of entering Equarius Hotel, turn left and walk a short distance to ESPA.
Note that if you cab in and you don’t have a frequent Sentosa visitor pass, you’ll be charged an entry fee of $6 (on top of your taxi fare).
ESPA, Resorts World Sentosa, 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269
Operating hours: Spa Facilities: 9am – 10pm (Daily), Gymnasium: 24 hours (Daily)
Appointment & Enquiries: +65 6577 8880
Email: [email protected]
Visit their website for more information or to make an appointment here
Read the review/article I wrote for LifestyleAsia as their contributing beauty editor here.
