You can start by indulging in bespoke treatments at Le Studio, Orveda’s exclusive collaboration with Raffles Hotel Singapore
Celebrities like Pamela Anderson and Italian fashion designer Giambattista Valli have all reportedly emerged from Orveda’s facial treatments with glowing skin ahead of important red-carpet engagements. Renowned for its potent, all-natural formulations, the award-winning French skincare brand has been described as a “best-kept secret”. But could this celebrated brand meet its match with someone like me?
Pushing 50 with eye bags, wrinkles and a jawline that have succumbed to the effects of gravity— not to mention more than a decade since my last facial— I seemed an ideal candidate to test the efficacy of Orveda’s “science-driven skincare”.
When an invitation came to experience an Orveda treatment—currently available at Le Studio, a pop-up of sorts at the iconic Gem Suite at Raffles Hotel Singapore—I was piqued to see if its products could indeed restore my face back to youthful radiance.
The menu offers three bespoke treatments: Glow is the New Lift (60 minutes), Anti-Fatigue Skin Rehab (60 minutes), and Omni Solution (90 minutes). I opted for the latter, intrigued by its promise to correct “premature aging and lack of radiance”.
Each session begins with a personalised consultation, during which an Orveda-certified therapist prescribes the products most suitable for the client’s needs. My wish-list was unabashedly exhaustive, from eradicating dark eye circles to tightening my pores. I imagined my therapist resisting the urge to limber up in anticipation of the task ahead.
Unlike traditional facials involving extractions and exfoliations, an Orveda experience prioritises relaxation and rejuvenation. The treatment focuses on soothing sensory massages and expert application of its products to hydrate, prime, and revitalise the skin.
Eschewing harsh treatments like retinol or acid peels, Orveda’s approach is grounded in what it calls “green science.” The brand combines biology and technology to create advanced molecules from natural, plant-based ingredients. Its products boast high concentrations of cosmetic actives concocted by way of unique prebiotics that is said to strengthen the skin’s microbiome, marine enzymes that fortifies the skin’s barrier, and even kombucha tea extracts that slow down the process of glycation in the skin.
The therapist rolled out the big guns for my session. The products used included the best-selling Vital Sap pre-skincare lotion, the Omnipotent Concentrate serum to repair and reenergise the skin, and the Eye-Contour Botanical Gel to reduce puffiness and dark under-eye circles. There was a host of other products that were lavished on me, which the therapist patiently explained before each application. But to her credit—and my embarrassment—I succumbed to a deep sleep mere moments after the treatment commenced.
True to its claims, Orveda delivers its signature “Orveda Glow.” After my session, I inspected my reflection and noticed that while the passage of time hadn’t been entirely erased, the lines around my eyes appeared softer, and there was a noticeable lift in the nasolabial folds framing my nose. Remarkably, all this was achieved without the usual post-facial redness or irritation.
“The future of skin care is all about strengthening our skin barriers, including our second skin, and our healthy bacteria, to make our skin more resilient and almost age-proof,” says entrepreneur Nicolas Vu, who co-founded Orveda with Sue Nabi, CEO of the American multinational beauty company Coty Inc, in 2017. While it’s too late to dwell on a past of neglected facial regimens, it’s reassuring for Orveda to remind me that there is a future yet, even for this well-lived visage of mine.
