LING Skincare, Madonna's go-to brand since the 80s, is now available in Manila
It’s no secret that celebrities and A-listers rely on experts to keep their skin flawless and healthy. But to achieve their goddess-like complexion means we have to have access to their facialists as well. Luckily, one celebrity aesthetician's facials and products are now in our shores.
One such spa popular to the Hollywood stars and supermodels since the 80s is LING Skincare. This Asian-owned beauty brand, known for its holistic prevention approach to skin, has partnered with The Retreat Spa at Okada Manila to bring their top-of-the-line skin treatments and products closer to Filipinos.
“To pass on to continue our legacy into the Philippines is, I think, a great opportunity of a lifetime,” told Patrick Chan, CEO and chief product developer of LING Skin, to PhilSTAR L!fe.
LING Skincare was founded in 1984 by an immigrant named Ling Chan. She opened her first spa at the renowned intersection of 57th street and 5th avenue in NYC, and has since expanded to other parts of the world like South Africa, London, Denmark, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, and finally the Philippines.
The facial center has been touted as the “Best Facial” in the Big Apple by several magazines, and has a clientele list including the likes of Naomi Campbell, Barbara Streisand, Meg Ryan, Mariah Carey, and Madonna, who was a client since the 80s.
Simplifying skincare
In a time where beauty innovations and products emerge every so often, Ling remains to keep their approach to beauty simple, focusing only on fundamentals that are essential to humans such as air and hydration.
“The Ling way is to simplify everything,” said Patrick, who noted that balancing, hydrating, and preventing skin problems are part of LING’s philosophy.
“When you think of skin care, it's only a few steps, five steps. Purifying, one. Hydrating, step two. Serum, which is solving whatever issues, step three. Nourish or moisturize, step four. And step five is renew, which is facial,” he added.
The brand was among the firsts to come up with products without known irritants such as mineral oils, lanolin and artificial fragrances. In creating products, they keep in mind skincare that would either bring value to the clients or to the therapist.
Luxury facials that work
To complement her products, Ling has developed facial treatments based on Asian beauty principles and with the goal of preventing skin issues.
Popular facial treatments include the Ginseng Herbal Facial, or the classic express facial for hydration; the Bye Bye Breakouts Facial for acne-prone skin; and the Pore 2 Pure facial which is a gentle exfoliating facial to treat uneven skin tone; and the Oxygen SparkLING Glow for dull and uneven skin, which you can do in-between breaks.
Those who are looking for a full experience may also try the DNA DoNotAge Facial and Relaxing Body Wellness, a two hour pampering session “designed to promote relaxation, reinvigorate, and address signs of premature and aging skin types.”
Holistic beauty
Keeping true to their holistic preventive approach to skin, LING Skincare has expanded its line with a new collection for the youth called Spark*LING. Spark*LING is Patrick’s “game-changing solution” to help encourage self-love.
“I didn't want our value as a brand to stay topical. I wanted to help people build their self-confidence and self-esteem through self-love,” said Patrick, who is also a motivational speaker.
Patrick wanted to reach to young individuals, especially women, who struggle with finding confidence because of social media.
“When COVID hit it was really a pivotal moment where I had to really tap into my talents and gifts and purpose in life. I really wanna help people feel that confidence not just topical care,” he said.
One of their best-selling products include the Instant DIY Oxygen Facial Kit, which promises “WOW" facial results in just two easy steps. The kit also includes a QR code that links you to a positive affirmations audio which you can listen to while doing the facial.
“If you do the facial it’s like an empowerment to remind yourself that you are enough,” he explained.
LING Skincare facial and products are available at The Retreat Spa in Okada Manila.
