Yesterday I found myself in the rather tired, old and weird Peninsula Shopping Centre where I discovered the joy – and the pain – of proper facial lymphatic drainage.

Don’t be put off by the location – it just means the rent’s cheap, so ultimately you’ll be paying less for your treatment….always good.

Devotion Lifestyle has been here for eight years and is tucked away in a corner towards the back of the third floor.  A one-woman show, Devotion is owned and run by Sally Hew who is an unblocker-extraordinaire.  Lymphatic drainage is all she does and she has a more-or-less back-to-back schedule packed with regular clients. Yesterday I managed to procure a 45 minute window.

Absolutely not to be confused with a facial – this is quite a different thing to what Joanne offers – Sally’s technique moves fluid out of your tissues into lymph nodes where it is then destroyed, along with other bacteria.

If you haven’t done it before or don’t do it regularly, be prepared that it is quite painful depending on how blocked you are (it feels similar to the sensation when a reflexologist presses a tender point on your foot over and over).  Bear in mind that I am a complete wimp, so if I can do it, it can’t be that bad.  It’s a cleansing kind of pain that leaves you feeling detoxified and rather smug afterwards…almost like a punishing yoga workout, but with more instantaneous results.

So…be warned and don’t come here expecting relaxation (there is a crackly radio on in the background and the room is definitely not what you’d describe as a spa experience – pictured below) but her technique is second to none and has been honed over 10 years of practice including her training time in Hong Kong.

My skin looks a million times better this morning and has an unusual glow that I am sure will pass after a few glasses of wine.  But I’m quite converted and think I’ll really try to come regularly; as a one off session it doesn’t really work – you need a cumulative effect to get the real benefit.  Just make sure you lay off the booze the day of your treatment and drink masses of water.

Prices start at a reasonable $118 for a 45 minute session.

Devotion Lifestyle Salon, Peninsula Shopping Centre, #03-18

T: (+65) 9337 5398 – as it’s just Sally there, SMS for an appointment rather than calling. She organises her schedule every Monday, so try to call a week ahead.