Editor’s Diary: Trying an Omakase-Style Facial at Freia Aesthetics

The Singaporean cult-favourite aesthetics clinic is now available in KL at The Five, KPD.
freia aesthetics

It’s not often you book yourself a facial not knowing what treatment you’re getting, but that’s how it works at Freia Aesthetics, as I soon came to find out. Hailing from Singapore, Freia Aesthetics has gained a loyal following since its opening in the last decade. In fact, co-founder Serene Seah-Ma said that it was precisely because she had so many Malaysian clients coming into Singapore just to get a facial done, that she decided to finally open a branch here in Kuala Lumpur.

Tucked in a cosy corner at The Five, KPD, this medispa does not look like your regular sterile aesthetics clinic. In fact, I’d liken it to coming into your most stylish friend’s zen home, where the lights are comfortable, silhouettes are organic, and the colour palette is muted yet feminine. Basically, make this my home. The rooms carry a similar feminine aesthetic, decked out in toile de jouy printed sheets and Chinoiserie-inspired tropical printed wallpaper.

At Freia Aesthetics, they don’t encourage you to pick a facial treatment as you normally would at any other treatment centre. Although you may know the default skin type you have, our skin actually changes from day to day—it might need a little more hydration one day, or feel congested another day. It’s completely normal, and that’s why Freia Aesthetics encourages you to undergo a skin analysis with their top-of-the-line Visia Skin Analysis machine right before your treatment. This high-tech device captures photos of your skin from three angles and is said to “accurately detect skin imperfections such as wrinkles, pores, hyperpigmentation, uneven texture, sun damage, bacteria, and oil plugs”.

I can tell you for sure that I got a very up-close and personal view of my skin.

The Visia Skin Analysis machine in action.

My major issues for the day were congestion, enlarged pores, and texture. Everything else was at a good percentage, including my dark spots (thanks, sunscreen!), so my facial therapist Ally recommended a combination of two treatments designed for congested skin: the Ultimate Hydra-O2 Experience and Clear Skin Facial. I was then whisked away to my private treatment room, where I would enjoy 90 minutes of uninterrupted bliss and pampering. Some might say that 90 minutes sounds a little too long for a facial, but as Seah shared during the opening, they wanted a longer time to allow customers to relax and enjoy themselves. After all, self-care should never be rushed. I wholly agree.

One of the things I never quite enjoyed at a facial, despite needing it, is the extraction procedure. As someone with oily-combination skin, congested skin is a way of life, and extractions are one of the most effective ways to prevent acne on my skin. However, I also have sensitive skin, and a session of extraction usually leaves me blotchy for hours after. My fears were dispelled by Ally, as she promised that their methods would be gentler. After a ritual double cleansing with Ayuna products, she moistens the skin with an oxygen infusion using the Hydrafacial machine, a high-tech device that allows clinics to use different serums for better product penetration into the skin.

Once my skin was sufficiently moist and primed for extraction, Ally continued with suctioning out the impurities from my pores. Since it’s been a while since my last facial treatment, Ally continued with a manual extraction that, while not pain-free, did not leave me with blotchy skin after the rest of the treatment. To soothe the skin after all that extraction, Ally continued with a mask. While the mask was working its magic, she too worked her magic with a neck and shoulder massage, then left me to enjoy my time with a short nap.

It’s not often I wake up feeling beautiful, but the evidence was clear in my skin. After all the suctioning, serum infusions, and masks, my skin was baby-soft to the touch. I was also surprised to find that it was not blotchy, and I was pretty much ready to head out with no downtime. My verdict of Freia Aesthetics? It’s a great medispa to visit if you want better insights into your skin’s condition and a thorough facial treatment that properly addresses the concerns your skin needs at the moment, alongside top-of-the-line devices.

Want to experience Freia Aesthetics for yourself too? Make a booking here.

Address: Suite C-2-3A Aras 2, Block C, The Five @ KPD, Kompleks Pejabat Damansara, No. 49, Jalan Dungun, Bukit Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, 50490, Malaysia.

Opening Hours: 10AM – 8PM (Monday to Saturday), by appointment only on Sundays.