Valen’s Vanity Square

Tomorrow I will be going for my second facial session at New York Skin Solutions.

Not sure if it’s pure psychological factor, or the facial is really working well, I do notice improvement on my skin.

Of course the pore and fine lines are still present, coz one can’t expect miracle to happen after just one or twice of treatment, right? (Is there such a thing as ‘miracle’ in this world?) However, the pores on both sides of my face are much refined now, and the fine lines near the corner of the lips less ‘densed’ (perhaps due to some lifting effect?).

May be the facial has helped reconditioned my skin, such that now it is able to absorb better the goodness of whatever anti-aging cream or hydration moisturizer I put on it, haha! Well, I still have to go through nine sessions of the facial to see the final results. That would be like…. 10 months later?

I went for my first PAID facial session at New York Skin Solutions on Monday.

I had the same beautician did my facial. Actually she will be the one attending to all my facial sessions. I think this system is better, as she will be able to monitor the progression of my skin condition.

This time I had Intensive Collagen Treatment, which mainly targets the inner layer of skin cells. It aims to help restore healthy skin cells and rectify problems like acne marks and emerging pigmentation problem from within. She was quite thorough in the extraction process this time. Kind of painful~~~

The result of this session wasn’t as obvious as the last one, but I could see that my complexion exudes a healthy, natural glow now. How nice if I can keep on doing facials even when I am 60, haha!

You know, in the US they have health insurance called Medicare for the seniors, and also medicare supplement policy to pay for health care bills not covered by Medicare. I wonder if our country will eventually develop some beauty care policies (as part of a health care plan) for senior women. Hey, I also want to look good when I’m old, okay? ;P

Went for a body massage yesterday at the Puteri Ledang Traditional Foot Reflexology and Body Massage @Gurney Plaza, level 4. It has been ages since I had my last full body massage. I think it was almost a year ago!

The massage center is simply a massage center; nothing fancy like what spa centers have. Its built-up area is actually quite small, with some shelves for window displaying their very own home spa products, and a small waiting area at the corner. There are only two rooms for body massage, a ‘bathroom’ for washing, and a room with several seats for foot reflexology. The massage rooms are very small, with a bed and just enough space for the masseuse to walk around.

Hubby and I both chose the 1-hour full body oil massage on the back. The massage costs RM70 per person. It is considered slightly at the expensive side by hubby’s standard. But after the massage session, hubby was satisfied with the skills of his masseuse because he could feel all the tension and aches on his shoulders and back diminished. Before this he kept complaining about how difficult it was to find a good (and cheap) massage therapist here.

I was happy with the massage session, too. My masseuse was indeed one strong girl despite her petite figure. You see, I like to be pressed hard and feel the pain going deep into and through the muscles. That really helped to relief the shoulder ache and back body ache that had been nagging me for a while.

I think we will go back again for our next massage session, hopefully sometime next month. Instead of 1 hour, we probably will go for a 90-minute session at RM90.

It’s result time!

In short, I’m very satisfied with the result after the facial. Pores were visually smaller, lines less obvious, the whole face was glowing, my forehead looked especially smooth. I noticed that my skin was firmer and slightly uplifted (an effect of the collagen?). Some might say that this is nothing to be amazed about; skin will naturally look better after a facial, right? But, honestly, I have never seen such significant before-and-after difference with facials at LD. Not that I can remember anymore!

Now, I know I’m going to sound very stupid. Despite reading all the negative comments about NYSS online - how they ‘harassed’ people into signing up their programs and the tactics they used to close deals - I signed up for a package of 10 sessions!

(Ya, ya, I know, I have to eat my own words now. *Chomp, chomp, chomp*)

The course comprises mainly of Intensive Collagen Treatment and Intensive Repairing Treatment (5 times each), topping up with ultrasound treatment and mineral mask treatment. Based on the printed price list, the original total price was RM5,400. I was given a discount (is this part of their selling gimmick, too?) and the whole package now cost me RM3,000.

You see, I didn’t just simply sign up, okay. I did because:

1) It is my intention to get a replacement for LD coz I no longer see effective results from their facials and products.

2) The result I experienced with NYSS looked promising. The instant post-facial improvement I saw didn’t just diminish the following day. In fact, the effect lasted for several days.

3) And very importantly, I can pay by installment with HSBC credit card 1-year installment plan. I wouldn’t have signed up if I had to pay them one shot.

Are they being pushy? I don’t know how pushy the staffs in NYSS can be, since I signed up so easily, haha! But I can tell you - they are all just the same, be it NYSS and LD. I suppose it is a standard protocol for the beauticians to start ’selling’ as soon as the customer lies down on the bed. But because I had been such a long-time customer with LD, they didn’t really bother to waste time pushing their promotions to me.

So, if you are a person who like to hop around different beauty salons for free stuffs, no harm getting a free or discounted facial at NYSS, as long as you are confident that you can say ‘no’ at the end of the day.

For those who are seriously looking for effective treatment to their skin problems, no harm trying as well. Just be prepared that, in case you are happy with what you see at the end of the first treatment, you will be tempted to sign up a program.

In short, it’s the customer that decides to buy or not buy their products or services. And always remember, there’s no such thing as FREE in this world.

Now, I will continue to share my experience at NYSS.

FYI, their current promotion offer for first timer is a FREE facial treatment (initially I thought it was the RM38 ringgit promotion) plus a set of basic trial kit (cleanser, toner and moisturizer). I don’t know how long this promotion is on, as they change it from time to time. So if you are interested, you should check out their latest promotion first.

First I filled up a questionnaire on skin and lifestyle related questions, then the beautician scanned and took photos of my skin, magnified! From the scan, I could see big and somewhat congested pores all around my face, a problem which I’m well aware of. I could also see many, many lines just below the cheeks, near to the corner of my lips - an indication of dehydrated and sagging skin!!! Also, there was a mild degree of pigmentation and uneven skin tone - Arrggghhh! Signs of sun damage to the skin, which will fasten the process of skin aging!

Scared or not when you see all your skin problems magnified? Haha!

Anyway. The beautician told me I have oily skin that is showing signs of dehydration and oxidation (e.g. lines, enlarged pores, slow healing), and the skin aging process has started to kicked in. Although it was a free treatment, the beautician still explained the value of treatment I would be receiving. Based on my skin condition, I would be getting what is called Intensive Repairing Treatment, which costs RM350 per session. It would be topped up with an ultrasound treatment (to assist penetration of serums) (RM90) and mineral mask treatment (RM75). So the whole treatment totaled up to more than RM500!

Was the facial session enjoyable? Hmmm, let’s see.

First, my face got double cleansed, then the beautician massage onto my face some peeling cream, which I think it’s meant for exfoliation.

After the cream was wiped off, she started the extraction process immediately. This is different from what I had in Leonard Drake, where they will ’steam’ my face (to open up pores) before the extraction process.

And unlike using a needle to ‘open up’ closed comedones in LD, in NYSS they use white head extractor. The extraction process was quite short, and was followed with a soothing mask and something I’ve never experienced before - my face got ’steamed’ with cool air instead of a hot one! This, I guess, is to help calm the skin and close the pores.

Next, good stuff - collagen!!! The beautician applied the collagen serum and cream onto my face and neck, and with the help of the ultrasound machine, massaged my face and neck to facilitate the goodness of collagen deep into my skin. This is a very important step. Just like a car that needs turbo parts to boost its power and performance, skin needs collagen to help boost the skin’s smoothness and firmness. After all, collagen is the major structural protein in our skin.

After the ultrasound treatment, the beautician immediately gave a face and neck massage with the collagen cream still on. In LD, I would describe their facial massage as… ‘elegant’. They use aromatherapeutic face oil, and press on your face very slowly and carefully to make you relax. In NYSS, the beautician’s hands moved fast on my face and neck, her touch was rather ‘rough’ compared to LD. Her hand were warm though, so I felt better by thinking that the warmth of her hands plus the massage would aid more collagen goodness into my skin.

Lastly, after the remaining collagen cream was removed, I was given two mask treatments - a mask that smelled of mint (for oil control) topped with a mineral mask. The mineral mask is the weirdest mask I’ve ever had. It was thick and heavy, and really pressed onto my skin that I had to ask the beautician to make a hole near my nose so that I could breathe. As the mask dried up, I could feel my skin being pulled and became tighter, while the mask became hard as if I was wearing an iron mask. (I guess that’s why you shouldn’t laugh or speak when you have a facial mask on.)

The masks were removed after about 15-20 minutes. My face was then toned and moisturized. Done.

How’s the result? Well, stay tuned for my next post!

Yep, I had my first facial treatment with New York Skin Solutions last weekend, and of course I will share my experience with them here. In this post I will mainly share about my first impression of the skin centre, then I will talk about the actual facial treatment process in the next post.

First of all I must say that whatever I am going to describe here refers only to NYSS at the Gurney Plaza outlet, as I have no idea how the other outlets are like or whether they are identical in settings and procedures.

Secondly, the comparison I’m going to make will be made against what I’ve experienced so far (a good 8 or 9 years, I think) with Leonard Drake beauty centre, as it was the one only and only ONE beauty centre I went before I tried NYSS.

In terms of setting and ambiance, Leonard Drake is a place where I feel like I’m being pampered. Smells of essential oils that are almost therapeutic as soon as I step into the centre, plus the nice setting that provides convenient and comfortable to their customers, such as a personal locker to my personal belongings, a changing room, slippers to change, etc. The whole place is bright and well lit, with soothing music to accompany me over the 1 or 2 hours of my facial. Although the room (where the facial is carried out) is small, it is equipped with a couple of machines, a counter top with basin and to place the necessary products used during the facial.

Well, it’s VERY different in NYSS @Gurney Plaza. There’s no changing room nor locker to keep my stuffs. I had to put my handbag next to me, on the bed. And before I entered the facial room, I walked passed many, many rooms, through a dark-dark aisle, you know, just like in the cinema when all lights are out before the movie starts. Haha!

I changed into the robe provided in the small-small and dark-dark room where my facial was carried out. The room was really small, with no cupboards to keep their skincare items. The beautician brought in only the necessary items, which are kept in a separate section outside the rooms. I only noticed a steamer machine inside the room (unlike all those high-tech equipments in Leonard Drake). The washing basin was also very small.

There was music playing alright. But somehow I felt as if I were lying in a creepy dungeon, that a dragon would suddenly appear and eat me up.

In summary, the two beauty centres are so totally opposite in their environment:
- Bright vs dark
- Big vs small
- Feel-like-a-pampered-queen vs feel-like-going-to-be-the-dragon’s-dinner.

Hahaha!

So, this is the first part of my experience with NYSS. How about the facial? Is it as good as it claims on TV and commercials? Stay tuned for my next post and find out!

Just came back from KL today. I felt really exhausted, although all I did today was sitting in the car, haha! I think it must be an effect of yesterday’s 1-day window shopping at Berjaya Times Square. ;P

As usual, tomorrow will be a busy ‘un-packing’ day for me. However, I must remember to call up New York Skin at Gurney Plaza to make a facial appointment on this Saturday. They are having special offer for first-timers, probably a facial session at a markedly low price and some skincare product freebies.

I was told that it will be a 3-hour session for first appointments. They will first examine my skin to find out what kind of ‘help’ it needs. I don’t think they will use any sophisticated medical devices to perform the task; may be just some sort of scanner that is able to ultra-magnify lines, pores, whiteheads, impurities, marks, pigmentation and all that I hate to see on my face!

I hope the facial session will turn out to be a good one, although I have read bad comments about their staff being very pushy on their customers to sign up for full package of facials. Well, they may use that tactic on me, but sorry, this customer is just too broke to help you meet your sales target. Haha!