Treatment: Utilising a range of products from the high-performing, luxury London-based skincare label 111SKIN, this treatment is designed to detoxify, repair and strengthen your skin against environmental pollutants, bringing back that healthy glow to irritated, dull complexions. 
 
Experience: Facial treatments don't get much luxurious than this—a sky-high pampering ritual at the world’s highest hotel, The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong. Before the treatment begins, you’ll be treated to a rejuvenating foot soak and massage.

Once on the bed, the facial commences with a double cleansing and an exfoliating ritual to diminish all traces of dirt and makeup. This is followed by the Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask—which is packed with 24k gold, damask rose, antioxidants and other anti-ageing ingredients—to soothe inflammation and nourish the skin. While waiting for the healing effects of the mask to set in, you will enjoy a series of shoulder, hand and scalp massages. The last step to the facial is the application of the NAC Y2 Pollution Defence Booster and the Celestial Black Diamond Serum, which are coupled with firming massage techniques to prevent breakouts and stimulate collagen production in the deepest layers of the skin.

Verdict: If you fancy a harbour-facing spa suite room, then you’ll love this treatment offered by The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong. Our skin felt instantly refreshed and looked significantly smoother and radiant after just one session. A must-try for those who are looking to soothe irritated skin quickly and effectively.

Price: HK$2,880 for 75 minutes 

Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong Spa, 116/F, International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West, Hong Kong, +852 2263 2263

See also: The Best Hotel Spas In Hong Kong—Plus Top Spa Treatments To Try

Treatment: Harnessing the power of the leading beauty brand Dibi Milano’s Calm Perfection line, the 75-minute facial is designed for sensitive and intolerant skin, which aims at reducing redness caused by pollution and temperature changes. 
 
Experience: After a gentle facial wash to remove excess grime and dead skin cells deep in the pores, a calming serum is applied on the cleansed complexion—which is then massaged into, and absorbed by, the skin. Next, the therapist will saturate a gauze mask with a soothing concentrate and apply it on the face, neck and décolletage for deep hydration. This is followed by the application of the Calm Perfection Soothing Mask to restore a healthy skin barrier, giving immediate relief to irritated skin for a clean, re-energised complexion. To enhance the results, a sample of the soothing concentrate will be given after the treatment, which should be applied in the mornings and evenings daily before moving on to your usual skincare routine. 

Verdict: The treatment is ideal for those who have breakout-prone skin. Results are immediately visible, where you’ll find the skin (especially around the delicate areas) feeling and looking smooth, hydrated.

Price: HK$1,500 for 75 minutes 
 
Plateau Spa, 11/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, 1 Harbour Road, Hong Kong, +852 2584 7688 

Treatment: Combining advanced thermal cryo electroporation technology with top-notch prebiotic formulations from Natura Bissé, this cryotherapy treatment is designed to tighten large pores and revive tired skin, delivering instant and noticeable firming and smoothing effects.

Experience: Taking place in a beautifully designed treatment room with gorgeous city views, the luxury facial experience begins with an elaborate cleansing ritual to remove impurities. A soothing exfoliating ritual is then performed to slough off dead cells, followed by a blackhead extraction. Next, the therapist will select and apply a serum according to your skin concerns, before the electroporation transdermal machine is used.

A few minutes of heat and then a gradual decrease in temperature (-10°C) will be delivered to the skin with the machine during the process. Completely painless and non-invasive, the procedure maximises the penetration of serum into the skin while activating the collagen layer of the skin. A cold shock is given to the skin as the therapist glides the machine across the face gently, resulting in vasoconstriction—a reduction in blood vessel size—to offer plenty of benefits, including tighter pores and firmer, brightened skin. The facial is rounded off with a hydrating mask to seal everything in, accompanied by a relaxing scalp and body massage to relieve muscle tension.

Verdict: If your skin is in need of some serious pampering, this cryotherapy treatment is a great option as it keeps you cool in the summer heat while offering nourishment and hydration to your tired skin it needs. After only one session, we noticed our skin was glowing with pores became noticeably smaller. Those brightening and firming effects were immediate and powerful that we realised our skin still looked and felt plumped, refreshed on the following days. 

Price: HK$3890 for 90 minutes

Bliss Spa, W Hotel, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, Hong Kong, +852 3717 2222; w-hongkong.com

Treatment: Based on the Chinese philosophy of Five Elements—wood, fire, earth, metal and water—this therapeutic facial is tailored around these elements to cater to the client’s individual needs, restoring the skin's natural balance during the changing season. 
 
Experience: This treatment utilises highly effective, all-natural products from luxurious British skincare brand, Elemental Herbology, to incorporate the power of Chinese herbal medicine into the facial to help reboot the skin. Before the treatment begins, the therapist will examine your skin condition carefully and offer you a short consultation to explain your skin concerns.

After delivering a deep cleansing ritual with a peel to remove dead skin and brighten your complexion, a soothing facial oil and a rich serum—chosen according to your skin type and goals—will be applied. Your therapist will then pick the right therapeutic masks and apply them to the face to target your specific problem areas. The lymphatic and acupressure massage used by the therapist will help flush out the toxins and tiredness that can contribute to a dull complexion. Lastly, a cup of hot Chinese tea will be served to conclude your treatment.  
 
Verdict: If you’re looking for a truly bespoke facial experience, this one’s for you. In our case, the facial was built to tackle skin issues caused by combination skin, where products were applied on T-zone and the cheeks appropriately. After the relaxing treatment and short slumber, we awoke with a visibly clearer, brighter complexion.  
 
Price: HK$1,520 and HK$2,150 for 60 minutes and 90 minutes respectively from Mondays to Thursdays; HK$1,730 and HK$2,360 for 60 minutes and 90 minutes respectively from Fridays to Sundays.  
 
The Mandarin Spa, 5 Connaught Rd Central, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2825 4888 

See also: The Best Lightweight Moisturisers To Try For Summer 2021

Treatment: Parisian Award-winning medi-spa EstheClinic’s latest skincare treatment, AquaPure, is a results-driven, non-invasive facial that combines cutting-edge patented technology with nutrients to cleanse and hydrate the skin with a purified, glowing complexion. It's designed for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Experience: The treatment begins with a soothing cleansing ritual to remove impurities and all traces of makeup. The therapist will then use a patented device that creates a vortex to suction away dead skin cells, oil, and dirt. During the process, which is completely painless, the small machine is applied in gentle gliding movements to unclog the pores, whilst removing blackheads and infusing the skin with antioxidants and hyaluronic acid to nourish the skin.

Verdict: The 30-minute facial is a must-try for people who want an express treatment that can fit into their busy schedules. The facial gave us immediate results, where we found our skin visibly smoother and brighter after just one session. It’s best to have AquaPure facial regularly, say, a few times a month, to yield long-term benefits. But it’s still worth a try for instant results and some much-need relaxation.

Price: HK$600 per session  

EstheClinic, 16/F, 8 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hong Kong, +852 3615 0919; estheclinic.com.hk

EstheClinic, Shop F, G/F, King’s Hill, 38 Western Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, +852 2612 1388; estheclinic.com.hk

Treatment: A deep-cleansing and skin-redefining facial specially designed for congested, sensitive skin, this treatment uses Valmont’s top-notch skincare formulas from its Purity collection to shield your complexion from city grime for a healthier complexion.

Experience: The treatment will take place in one of the four uniquely themed, opulent VIP suites at The Spa by Valmont, where guests can expect a luxurious pampering session set amongst the elegant surrounds of the suite. To begin, the therapist will apply a series of cleansing products on your face and then utilise the exclusive “butterfly” message technique to gently remove impurities and every stitch of makeup from your face. This is followed by a refreshing exfoliation and a blackhead extraction to remove dead skin and improve circulation.  
 
Finally, the therapist will apply rich layers of Valmont’s signature Purifying Pack and Moisturising With A Mask on your T-zone and cheeks respectively to purify the skin and deliver a hefty dose of hydration, leaving it looking plumper and more luminous than ever.  
 
Verdict: The beautiful spa suite is almost enough of a reason to book in for a treatment. We were very pleased with the results as the facial gave our congested, distressed skin an effective deep pore cleansing and a significant moisture boost.  
 
Price: HK$1,380 for 60 minutes 
 
The Spa by Valmont, Shop B01 Lee Garden One, 33 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, +852 2972 7868  

See also: The Best Lightweight Moisturisers To Try For Summer 2021

This article was originally published on 11 May, 2020 and was updated on 24 May, 2021.