WHAT: The 60-minute FIL Premium Gold Face Therapy is said to moisturise, uplift and brighten dry, dull skin with its use of gold. According to FIL, its gold-plated rod helps skin absorb the products faster when it is massaged over your skin, creating an almost “instantaneous” improvement after the treatment.

Gold, the star ingredient of this treatment, is also featured in the Miracle Gold face mask applied at the end of the treatment: the mask contains vitamin C, pearl, as well as valuable Chinese herbs, ginseng and tian qi (pseudoginseng) as well.

You’ve also the option of combining the Premium Gold Eye Treatment ($150) with your Premium Gold Face Therapy to alleviate your dark circles and lighten your eye bags. This 30-minute treatment aims to reduce puffiness and fine lines around your eyes.

One caveat: due to the use of gold in this facial procedure, the treatment is not recommended for the customer with sensitive skin. It’s best to avoid this treatment if you are allergic to metals.

We tried the Premium Gold Face Therapy at Far East Finance Building, 14 Robinson Road, #01-00, Singapore 048545, Tel: 6221 0606.

The Premium Gold Face Therapy and the Premium Gold Eye Treatment are available separately at FIL for $258 for the 60-minute facial treatment and $150 for the 30-minute eye treatment session. Visit www.fil.com.sg for ongoing promotional offers and the full list of FIL locations in Singapore.

REVIEW: As with every facial, this treatment started with the removal of makeup and the cleansing of skin with a facial cream. After that, a cool, minty exfoliating scrub was applied onto my skin: it was soothing to breathe into the pleasant whiffs of camomile from this all-natural scrub too.

Once the scrub was wiped off, the therapist proceeded to the extraction of my blackheads. It wasn’t a painful experience either: I felt only faint, prickling sensations during this extraction.

Not to worry, if you’re unsure of how your skin will take to this procedure. The facial therapist explained that first-time customers will receive a milder form of extraction. Their subsequent sessions will then be customised according to how well their skin had reacted to pore extraction.

Thereafter, a thin cotton veil was placed on my face for the next step. A buzzing rod was applied in a circular motion around my face to rid any remaining bacteria after the extraction. Although I could smell a sterile, mechanical scent that did remind me of the dentist’s tools, the smell was not that unpleasant.

At this point, a cream that contained gold essence was applied onto my skin. Then the therapist began kneading the cream firmly around my face and neck, purportedly to firm my skin and bring out the contours of my face.

Following that, the therapist continued with the added Premium Gold Eye Treatment ($150) before applying the final Premium Gold Face Mask. She adds that it’s time-saving if you would choose to apply the eye treatment concurrently with the last steps of the facial.

Before applying these masks, the therapist massages around the area around my eyes with a smaller probe, in a soothing, rotational movements. Then she proceeds with a 10 minute facial massage. I love the scent of the cream that she’d used. It had the scent of honey dew, so sweet and fresh that it smells almost as if I could eat it.

The last step: the therapist applies the clay mask to my face with a brush, which is left on my skin for fifteen minutes. The eye mask does feel warm on my skin: the heat is meant to promote blood circulation around the eyes. The cool face mask on the other hand, would refine pores on my skin.

After 15 minutes, the mask is lifted from my face: it’s literally hardened into a clay mask. My only gripe here: a few small bits of the mask did irritate my eye but these were easily rinsed off after.

In all, the effects really looked instantaneous. My skin looked more radiant and firm after the treatment: even my cheeks looked lifted when I was still lying on the bed — halfway through this session, the therapist had handed me a mirror to have a look at the effects of the facial.

I also felt confident enough to head straight to my next meeting right after, even without wearing an ounce of makeup on. Although the effects were most apparent right after the facial, my skin did stay bright and clear in the days after.

Verdict: 4 / 5.