Pamper Yourself: Hotel Jen Tanglin’s 30-minute lavender facial review

You may have read our staycation review on Hotel Jen Tanglin. To catch you up, this four-star hotel (that really feels like a five-star one due to its impeccable service) was recently renovated to suit the style of the modern traveller, boasting fun and quirky details such as Singapore-themed wallpaper designs and adorable slogan cushions you can take a hipster Instagram shot with. Guests are encouraged to share tips and recommendations on a ‘Heart Map’ that is accessible to all, in order to spread the adventurous spirit of the hotel. In addition, not only does Hotel Jen Tanglin treat its guests with exceptional service, it also supports local talent and businesses, and aims to act as a space for local entrepreneurs to display their proudest works.

This season, Jen (the hotel’s virtual persona) has collaborated with Essence Vale Spa to bring to you the ultimate spa staycation package and full-day spa marathon promotion, both of which we know you’re going to love. As a simple preview, I had the privilege of booking a 30-minute facial appointment with Essence Vale at Hotel Jen Tanglin, and boy was I wowed by the experience.

The Treatment

Upon arrival at the spa, I was greeted by a crew of friendly staff who proceeded to show me around the cosy spa facility, consisting of three individual spa rooms, one couple spa room (termed ‘The Love Suite’) and a dedicated area for manicures and pedicures. I was then asked to fill out a consultation form to check if I had any medical conditions – you know, the usual pre-facial and spa process. Since the theme of the spa staycation and marathon has to do with the scent of lavender, I was also served a soothing cup of Lavender Herbal Tea (infused with honey, a very thoughtful addition by the lovely January), created by the team behind Le Château du Bois, a brand from Provence, France that prides itself on using purely organic ingredients in all its products.

My aesthetician, Yan, then proceeded to bring me into one of the spa rooms (I got The Love Suite!) in preparation for my facial. What I first noticed were the range of Le Château du Bois products laid out on the massage bed that I assumed was going to be used for the treatment. I was asked to remove my top and wrap myself with a towel since there were going to be some simple shoulder massages involved. Lying on the massage bed with the calming sounds of Eastern, spiritual music playing in the background and the scent of lavender in the air was enough to soothe my vexed soul. However, of course, there was more to come.

Yan began the facial treatment by cleaning my face with a cleansing milk infused with fine lavender that acts as a make-up remover and a lotion to remove dirt, oil and pollution from the face. After which, she moved on to double-cleanse my face with fine lavender floral water that serves to soothe and purify tired skin. A simple facial point massage followed, to stimulate the 15 pressure points on the face in order to increase blood circulation and relax those muscles.

A lavender mask was placed on my face for about 5 minutes, and my eyes were covered with two cotton pads soaked in lavender floral water. During the wait, Yan gave me a good neck, shoulder and upper back massage, complete with a hot towel treatment. As the minutes ticked by, I could feel a cooling sensation spread across my face, possibly due to the hydrating formula of the lavender mask. I was actually pretty surprised by how effective it was, considering it was only put on for such a short amount of time.

To end off the quick but extremely relaxing facial, Yan applied a nourishing moisturiser on my face to lock in the effects of the facial and to leave my skin feeling and smelling fresh as ever. The finishing back massage was the cherry on top of the whole process.

How I Felt After

I was 100% relaxed. So much so that all I wanted to do was to reach home in an instant, lie on my bed and fall asleep. I guess that’s where a staycation would come in handy. Imagine, after a two-hour lavender facial and spa treatment at Essence Vale in the afternoon, all you’d have to do to fully enjoy the rest of your day would be to take a lift up to your lavender-scented Hotel Jen Tanglin guest room, immerse yourself in a warm, lavender shower and head off to dreamland on a luxurious, king-sized bed lined with 300 thread-count linen. In the evening, feel free to head to the Club Lounge for Happy Hour refreshments, comprising of free flow alcohol and small dinner bites. At night, have a soak in the hotel’s pool for the ultimate treat you can give your body.

Hotel Jen Tanglin’s Spa Packages

The Lavender Spa Staycation package is now priced at a discounted rate of SGD300++ for weekend stays until 30 September 2016. The deal includes wonderful organic lavender products that you will be greeted upon entering your room, two 30-minute lavender facial treatments, two SGD50 vouchers for Essence Vale spa treatments, daily buffet breakfast at the hotel’s restaurant J65, and 24-hour Club Lounge access for you to soak in the sights and sounds whenever you feel like it.

The Lavender Spa Marathon package is priced affordably at SGD450 per person, consisting of the real deal – six full hours to treat yourself with a manicure, pedicure, steam bath, sauna, scrub, spa, facial, massage and healthy refreshments. What’s more, you’ll receive a SGD100 voucher to use on any purchase of lavender products by Le Château du Bois that are conveniently available at the spa facility itself. Since Essence Vale only uses natural and organic ingredients and products in all their treatments, you’ll be assured an authentic spa experience from beginning to end.

Well, now that you’ve got the scoop on how excellent the service will be at Hotel Jen Tanglin, you may proceed to book your staycation here. Enjoy your stay with a loved one, and remember not to bring along ANY form of work with you!

Dione Chen