You all know I’m a facial buff right? I love trying out new facials and my personal belief is that regular facials do help my facial skin. This might not be a view shared by everyone 🙂 This is also the time when I escape for 2 hours into my own little cocoon of relaxation which helps my mental state and keeps me sane 😛
My recent facial experience was at the Sothys 128 Faubourg Salon at the new Empire Shopping Gallery in Subang Jaya. I was there to try the new Hydroptimale THI3 Intensive Treatment – a moisturizing facial.
The Sothys 128 Faubourg Salon
The Sothys salon is relaxing and exudes luxury. The prices of their facials are on the high side but they always have introductory prices for those who are new.
The facial rooms are a little smaller than I’m used to. The salons I go to usually have larger more spacious rooms but in the Sothys one, you get the facial bed dominating the room, and recesses for you to hang your clothes and the like. The room at 128 Faubourg at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is the same. Its not cramped. Just a little smaller than I’m used to.
You are given a loose tube top which you change into, and a shower cap for your hair and are then requested to sit and soak your feet in some hot water. This is something new for me compared to other salons and its super comforting and relaxing! The therapist will wipe off your feet and when you sit on the facial bed, she gives a nice short neck shoulder and back massage. Ooh luxury!
The Hydroptimale THI3 Intensive Treatment Facial
The Hydroptimale THI3 Intensive Treatment is a new facial offered by 128 Faubourg and other Sothys salons. It offers intense hydration with the active ingredient of Padina Pavonica Extract (brown algae) which also helps keep skin supple.
The treatment starts with cleansing of the skin. Exfoliation follows with the use of a crystal that felt rather like salt crystals in a scrub. It felt rather rough on my skin although there were no marks or redness after that. If you have very sensitive skin, you might have to tell the facialist to take it lightly else it might hurt you. After some intensive scrubbing of the face and neck area, a cold gel is applied which dissolves the crystals and imparts a cool feel to the skin. This gel helps add moisture to the skin as well. It is then cleaned away.
Sothys salons do extractions if you need it and they also tidy your brows. If you don’t want either, be sure to tell the facialist. I was going for a brow trim a couple of days later so I told them I was growing out my brows and they skipped that.
The next step is the application of a serum and a Biomimetic Balm. Thereafter, a Modelling Hydra cream with Optimizer SC Complex is applied to facilitate the Digi-Esthetique massage. This cream is supposed to reinforce the cellular structure to regulate water diffusion at different layers of the skin. The massage uses long firm strokes but I’m not sure what else happened because it was at this point that I fell asleep 😛
I woke up in time for the double mask on my skin. First a cream mask is applied, then a piece of netting (I think) is placed, and then another mask is applied over that. I’m then left to stew in my juices which is when I fell asleep again 😛
Again, I woke up when the mask was peeled off my skin, and my skin was cleaned and moisturized before I was sent on my way.
My experience
I did enjoy the facial experience, in particular the facial massage – it was very relaxing and soothing. This facial takes about 2 hours and immediately after the facial, I did not find that my skin was very wet or oily as many hydrating facials tend to leave it. It was dry and not shiny. The nice thing about using the shower cap instead of having a towel wrapped around my head is that I did not experience post-facial hair! You know that horrible hairstyle you leave a salon with? 😛
Despite the non oily feel, my skin felt supple and hydrated and I couldn’t stop looking at myself in every mirror or shiny surface I passed by 😛 I personally felt that the results were actually better a couple of days after my facial. My skin looks better and smoother and more moisturized. If you have dry skin, you will likely benefit from this Hydroptimale THI3 Intensive Treatment because I do and I did 🙂
The 2 hour facial costs RM390 *wince* but if you are new to Sothys, the special introductory price is RM278 – yay! I will be going back, but I’ll go to the 128 Faubourg salon in Bangsar Village II – its closer to where I live and work and just more convenient for me 🙂 There are some existing facial promotional packages I’m interested in that cost just under RM200 for 2 facials but I’ll have to go talk to them to see if there are any hidden terms and conditions – if you have tried them, please share!
Oh and whilst I was introduced to packages they have, I did not experience any hard sell either during my previous experience at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur or at the outlet in Empire Shopping Gallery.
One point to note: At time of writing (May 2010) there are still renovation works ongoing at Empire Shopping Gallery so there might be drilling noises which can be a little distracting depending on how near or far they are to the salon.
Have you tried facials at any Sothys salons or 128 Faubourg? I will go back occasionally because I can afford the facials even if the skincare is beyond my reach 😛
Paris B
128 Faubourg salon locations are at www.128faubourg.com.my and Sothys dealer locations can be found on www.sothys.com.my
Really wanna try ever since I saw their outlet in BV2, like you said, I think I will save the first time promo for special occasion 😉
Hehe any special occasion coming up? 😉
my two sister-in-laws are used to be the ROYATIES of the one in One U. Now it’s only my dear old mother-in-law as she is the one with big fat $$$. LOL. the younger SIL has since moved to try out Aesop stuff and does home stuff and is sticking to that brand (though I am not sure how long will she last). The older SIL is hooked onto Natopheral Dermal Vitamin E stuff and never went back to the EX Sothy… They both said not $$$ wisely spent.
Well, my not own experience but as close as can get. I, however, don’t visit any salon for skin care as I am afraid of people touching my skin!
I never used Sothys products and I might never do. I do enjoy the facials though because some of the less intensive treatments aren’t much pricier than many other salons out there 🙂
Hi PB,
Like your review on facial especially, as i am addicted to facial too. I like to try on different facial salon, experience their service, products and the salon environment. (prefer a bigger treatment room ). But some beutician told me that, it’s not good to try on many different facial but stick to one. hmm…not sure about this. But first trial offer usually very acttractive ! haha
I used to be loyal to just one salon but I realized after a while that my skin was getting “bored” of the same treatment over and over. Now if I salon hop, I do find my skin looking better. I must say however that if you are undergoing a treatment course of facials, sticking to the same salon is a good idea.
well u r certainly going to experience hard sell at bangsar viallge sothys. my mum hates gonig there cause they hard sell nonstop when she just wants to sleep.
oh darn! If thats the case I’m going to be very wary when I go – thanks for the heads up
making me has 2nd thoughts le
just tell them you have loads of other skincare brands that you havetn finished. better yet, tell them you bought the whole La Prairie platinum serum set. that’ll shut em up. lol
Haha! Oh so you mean they try to sell products? But I’m used to deflecting these so I should be alright 🙂
Reading this makes me can’t wait for my facial appointment next Monday! I always fall asleep… sometimes I’m too tired and I snore! So embarrassing! ;(
Happily I don’t think snoring is something I have to be concerned with – but drooling… 😛
I recently paid a visit to the 128 Faubourg in 1U and underwent their Hydra Lift Professional Treatment (Under their Synergy Face Treatments category). It was a very nice experience overall, since they didn’t hard sell their packages or products. The facialist recommended a package and a product to me, but didn’t mention the name/price, only if I was interested. I said I wasn’t (Under a budget, after all), and she didn’t pursue the matter further. It was so relaxing! 😀
I salon hop too because it makes me – my previous facial before the one at 128 Faubourg was at Leonard Drake 1U, but they did hard sell their packages despite a really good job and experience there.
just wondering how is the one in Bangsar like? So far, that is the only outlet which I have kept encountering hardsell from their therapists, but not at the others.
Afraid I haven’t been there CY so I can’t say.
I have always been skeptical about going for facials, but had my 1st yesterday with Sothys! Was recommended the Hydroptimale treatment as well, and my skin felt the difference after! I definitely learnt a few things I wouldn’t have known about my dehydrated skin if it wasn’t for this facial. So overall, it’s good! But then again, it is my 1st and I don’t have anything to compare with… Which would you recommend between Clarins and Sothys?
I can’t remember the Sothy’s experience anymore since it was a while ago, but I remember it was very relaxing. So is Clarins which is also quite comfortable. The best way is to try a session at Clarins and see if you like it. The other consideration is also whether the products suit your skin. Ultimately we will have personal preferences when it comes to facials and the skills of the facialist also plays a bit part.