Spa with cosmetics

By Yun Suh-young, Kim Bo-eun

Hotels usually have brand name spas on their premises, many of which are not the same as the hotel.

Cosmetic brands with their own spas using a particular cosmetic line are increasingly settling into hotels, offering their own style of treatment. Here are W’s reviews of three hotel spas that use cosmetic lines.

Ocelas Spa

The newest addition to hotel spas is the Ocelas Spa which opened on Sept. 17 at the Grand Ambassador Seoul in Jangchung-dong, central Seoul.

The spa brand, which operates an independent shop in Gangnam, will close its Gangnam headquarters and start its second branch at the Palace Hotel in November.

The signature treatment at Ocelas Spa is “Welcome to Ocelas” which includes facials, body massage, LaStone back treatment and feet massages.

The massages take about 20 minutes each. The length of each depends on whether the customer wants more treatment on a particular area.

For the facials, the therapist first exfoliates the skin, applies vitamin-replenishing products, and ends by applying moisture cream. The spa brand uses products by Comfort Zone, an Italian spa cosmetic brand. As the cosmetic is organic, there is no need to wash the face after the treatment, according to the therapist there.

The body massage is just like any other but what’s special about Ocelas Spa is that it offers LaStone therapy which uses hot and cold stones.

For the back treatment, the therapist rubs the back with hot stones while the customer holds one in each hand. At the end of the hot treatment, cold stones are laid on the same spot, making the customer wake up. The foot massage is conducted shortly after with oil. The entire treatment takes about 80 minutes.

There are four one-person massage rooms and one two-person room equipped with a Jacuzzi and shower. Ocelas Spa also offers head spa and Vichy spa, a capsule machine which allows detox, music, steam, and thermal body wrap therapies.

Address: B1, Grand Ambassador Seoul, Dongho-ro 287, Jung-gu, Seoul

Phone number: (02) 2270-3277

Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. (closed on the first Wednesdays of the month)

Pevonia Spa

Pevonia Spa, a spa brand created by the LVMH Group, is one of the representative brands using its own cosmetic products. It opened its local hotel branch at the Ritz-Carlton Seoul in February this year.

Pevonia Spa is the first spa line created by the Pevonia brand. Pevonia boasts of using the purest and holistic botanical and marine ingredients. The cosmetic brand is popular among Hollywood celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Beyonce.

What’s unique about the Pevonia Spa is that it offers a four-hands massage treatment as an option at an additional cost of 85,000 won. The four-hands treatment is where two therapists massage one customer at the same time. According to Pevonia Spa, this method increases the massage effect in a shorter amount of time.

To receive the four-hands treatment, customers can add the option to the signature treatment Stress Away Treatment or the Holistic Beauty Treatment. The four-hands option is included only in these two treatments for 60 minutes or 90 minutes.

Before receiving the massage, customers immerse their feet in a bowl of water and are offered a salt scrub by a therapist.

When the four-hands massage begins, two therapists each take charge of the upper and lower bodies. The therapist in charge of the upper body treats the face and back while the lower body specialist takes care from the thighs to the feet.

The downside of the four-hands treatment, however, is that the skills of the masseuse may differ drastically, making the treatment uneven in strength and technique. It’s up to luck which therapist you end up with unless you’ve been there a couple of times and make reservations for a particular one.

Address: The Ritz Carlton Seoul, 120 Bongeunsaro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul

Phone number: (02) 565-4422

Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. (Closed on third Mondays of the month)

Aequalis Spa

Located on the 28th floor of the Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel, Aequalis Spa boasts a great view and an abundance of natural light ― factors that are always welcome in a city densely packed with buildings. These also happen to be elements not so commonly found at hotel spas, which are usually located in the basement or lower levels.

The view of course will not matter so much once you lie face down on the bed. Once the treatment begins, you’ll find yourself staring at what looks like a cactus floating in a bowl of water lit with candles.

There are a variety of treatments for the face and body all of which use products of Elemis ― the British spa and skincare brand. The massage therapist will gently whisper the names of products as she skillfully rubs and pats the fluids into your skin.

One of the most recommended facials for dry skin in the fall is the Pro Collagen Quartz Lift, which will have the customer emerge with a visibly plumper and more hydrated skin. Afterward, you can sink into a reclining chair, put your legs up and enjoy a hot cup of tea while taking in the cityscape.

It is probably better to visit the spa when you do not have any following schedules, so that you needn’t apply makeup afterward and can head straight home to let the products seep into your skin.

Address: 28F, Sheraton Seoul D Cube City Hotel, 662 Gyeongin-ro, Guro-gu, Seoul

Phone number: (02) 2211-1680

Opening hours: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.