Short and sweet escapes

MUD PLAY
Do you remember frolicking in the mud as a kid without a care in the world? Not me, unfortunately. I have heard of tomato and Holi festivals but an annual celebration of and in the mud for kids and adults alike sounds fun. In fact, the government-backed Boryeong Mud Festival has been proudly celebrated for the past 17 years, with locals and visitors from near and far basting in Daecheon Beach's mineral-rich mud for days.
The sea mud of Boryeong, a city in Korea's South Chungcheong Province, is regarded as one of the world's five richest muds. It's packed with minerals and micro-elements, bentonite and germanium, prolan and oestrogen, and an abundance of vitamins that detoxify and nourish the skin, providing a calming effect on top of a healthy, glowing complexion.
You don't have to book a flight to experience the cosmetic benefit of this natural wonder, though. In Kuala Lumpur, a "mud specialist" carries products and treatments that leverage on this fine sea mud. For starters, Boryeong Mud's Signature Body Mud Scrub (RM168) would make a great introduction.
To maximise the detoxification benefits, my therapist started the session by pressing inside of my upper arms to get the axillary and epitrochlear (lymph) nodes flowing. The thermal blanket is then pulled over my body for 10 minutes to open up the pores, increase metabolism and soften the skin tissue for better absorption of nutrients later. Its warmth was just right and comforting; nothing that will have you sweating profusely.
Next comes the highlight, where she uses a spa-exclusive mixture of Boryeong's Signature Mud Powder and natural almond seed to scrub over the entire body. The granules were finer in texture, as I found out in my palm, so it felt less harsh compared to the usual salt scrub however I didn't think almond seeds were doing less of a job at all. After she made sure that I looked like I'd been fooling around in a mud pool, I was left to soak it all in for a good 10 minutes before she assisted me to the shower.
It took a bit of rubbing to get the mud off but the results were palpable. Typically after a scrub, my skin would feel smoother but the mud scrub added a buttery finish and moisture. So much so it didn't occur for me to use the Boryeong Mud Body Cleanser that was inside the shower. To wrap up, my therapist massaged my body with a light layer of almond seed oil.
The session lasted an hour and 15 minutes. Considering the use of imported products, the scrub is an inexpensive indulgence that benefits in more ways than one – in fact, it's suitable for people with eczema too.
Boryeong Mud is located in NU Sentral and Quill City Mall.
A RELAXING TREAT
The mall is the last place in mind when you think of relaxing places to visit. I mean, why would you subject yourself to the very things – the throng of people and the cacophony of noise – that are the antithesis of zen?
But it was indeed in a mall that I found myself relaxing one fine afternoon. At the L'Occitane Petit Spa in 1 Utama Shopping Centre, to be precise.
A therapist welcomed me with a warm cup of tea, then assessed my skin condition with keen eyes. Upon her diagnosis, I was prescribed the Angelica Fountain of Glow Facial (RM288) and the Immortelle Divine Eyes Treatment (RM228).
Much like the decor in the salon, my assigned room has a wooden theme to it with pictures of scenery lining up the wall. The interior was easy on the eyes, and coupled with the soothing music, I was transported from the buzzing excitement of the mall into a serene countryside.
She began the session by pampering my feet with L'Occitane's lavender foaming bath. To help me unwind, I was given the relaxing essential oil to inhale before she commenced with cleansing, toning, and skin analysis.
In line with my treatment, the products used were from the Angelica range. Due to my oily and combination skin, my therapist opted for the Angelica Lemon Ultra Mattifying Toner because it contains lemon extract to hydrate as well as purify oil excretion.
Next was the skin analysis where she discovered I have uneven skin tone and blackheads. To soften the blackheads and dead skin cells for easier extraction, she scrubbed my face with exfoliating gel ahead of facial steaming. She also gave me a hand massage while I was undergoing the facial steamer.
Extractions are usually a dread, but I was pleasantly surprised as the extraction this time around didn't make me clench my fist in agony. Her gentle but firm ministrations allow me to remain relaxed.
And this sets the tone for I found myself half-asleep throughout the drainage massage. I was,nevertheless, lucid enough when she applied the Angelica Hydration Mask and the herbal mask. As a form of lip treatment, I was given the Organic Pure Shea Butter too.
The double masks marked theend of my 75-minute facial because after she gave me a shoulder massage, she commenced the eye treatment. It involved hot stone therapy, a unique hot and cold care, and pressure point massages at the scalp and feet to reduce puffy eyes and dark circles.
To conclude the 40-minute session, she applied basic skincare and let me take a whiff of the revitalising essential oil to energise myself. I thoroughly enjoyed my time and the result was almost instantaneous because my skin looked and felt rejuvenated,smoother, and radiant.