Let’s be honest, no man wants to sport the haggard and weather-beaten look. Daniel Craig pulls it off, but he’s probably the only one. Unfortunately though, if exposure to UV rays and pollution from being outdoors doesn’t damage your skin, dehydrating air-conditioned environments and a stressful lifestyle will. Healthy looking skin is a sign of success, not to mention attractive. Lucky for us, The Strand on Wellington Street, Central has a wonder marine facial that will sort you out in one sitting. But be prepared to wear more masks than Zorro.

The Algotherm Signature Facial with Eye Treatment at The Strand lasts for a glorious 75 minutes and costs HK$1,180. My therapist, Tamara Hockly, who I can only describe as a beauty alchemist slash genius – concocted various serums, peels and gels tailored to my skin. She greeted me at the spa with a refreshing peppermint scented towel, and was clad in a purple Zen-like robe.

The men’s floor at The Strand is perched on the second level (they have five levels) and overlooks the Mid-Levels escalators. The interior is modern and minimalist with neutral tones, wooden floors and grey veneer walls. Stylish black barber chairs imported from Tokyo add a boost of testosterone to the décor. The salon, relatively new on the scene, offers skincare and spa treatments as well as hairstyling for both men and women. For my facial, I was whisked to the private treatment rooms on level three.

After examining my face, Hockly suggested that I take the skin-brightening route. “Bring it on,” I thought, especially after three consecutive nights of insomnia. As much as I love pandas, I don’t enjoy looking like one. My spa facial journey began with the steamer. The puffs of warm air over my face were an apt transition to the dream-like sequence of massage and skin-hydrating bliss that was to follow.

Let me interrupt though to give you the quick lowdown on Algotherm. It is a French brand that has been around since the early sixties, “forever” in spa years. The company uses natural marine ingredients in all its products such as seaweed and seawater. These are rich in bioactive molecules like vitamins, micronutrients and minerals. Put simply, it can perform miracles on your skin.

One of the highlights of the treatment included the purifying facial peel with enzymes that, I was told, eat away dead skin. But my favourite part was the facial massage. For this, Hockly used a gel that combined nourishing Moroccan argan oil with oxygenating and acne serums. The soothing massage is designed to stimulate lymphatic drainage and expel toxins from the face. The gentle but firm rhythmic movements of her hands and fingertips were perfectly timed with the sound of the waves coming from the music system. This coupled with the scent of the sea from the Algotherm products, instantly transported my mind to a relaxing beach getaway.

The Jetlag Eye Treatment was an experience in itself and must be mentioned. A heavy and cold paste was placed over my eyes. As it dried, I was given a calming head massage. The mixture was then peeled off, and the results were pretty much instant. It really plumped out and firmed up the area by stimulating the circulation around the eye and hydrating it. If you don’t have time for the full facial, I would recommend just doing the Jetlag Eye Treatment (HK$490).

I was then given another oxygenating brightening mask containing sea algae accompanied by a hand and arm massage. Hockly personally sculpted the mask so that I was not completely mummified. Before the treatment, I ticked the box on the form that said “claustrophobic”. I was impressed that she had taken note of this. The facial ended with a mask for my T zone to remove any impurities, and a blackhead extraction.

I had dinner with a friend visiting from out of town that night who told me that I looked younger and should stop complaining about my age. Needless to say, the results were visible and immediate. My skin looked alive and fresh plus I was very happy to bid farewell to my dark circles. I will be back to The Strand for round two soon.