WTF Is It Like Inside Vancouver's Luxury Japanese-Inspired Oo Spa?
Opened since June 2022, Oo Spa is an aesthetically-pleasing, Japanese-inspired spa and barbershop located in the hard-to-miss inverted building known as Vancouver House.
Vancouver House, located on False Creek’s north shore
Two weeks ago, Oo Spa invited a certain pregnant blogger in to try their Oo Luxe Skin Facial Treatment!
All I can say is, they have impeccable timing. Third trimester lethargy is a different beast altogether! My feet were tired. My insides were tired. Every molecule in my body was tired. I literally ached for a spa day.
The Experience
The Oo Spa’s experience can be summed up in one word: omotenashi, meaning to wholeheartedly look after guests.
Currently, no sane airline is letting me fly to Japan without a doctor’s note to research Japanese hospitality, so you’ll get the Oo Spa’s version of omotenashi.
Spoiler alert: it was luxe.
Tino, Assistant Spa Manager, greeted me at the front desk and walked me to their haven of a waiting area, before taking my coat and handbag to the treatment room.
I sank into a plush, velvet chair and was offered a choice of beverages and individually-wrapped After Eight chocolate mint thins! Talk about service that anticipates your every need… for a sweet snack!
Amid the thoughtfully-placed dried floral arrangements and minimal aesthetics, Mari, my facialist, introduced herself and asked me to fill in a short intake form.
Mari then escorted me to a bright, airy, and expansive vanity area where I was outfitted in a satin robe.
After my hair was carefully pulled back behind a headband, Mari asked me about my skin concerns and goals for the treatment (Sigh, pregnancy skin - where do I begin?!) and took some “before treatment” photos.
I liked how Mari checked in to see how I was feeling before starting the Luxe Skin Facial. Instead of being a bundle of nerves like Serena from Sailor Moon and tripping over my own thoughts, I was now channelling the calm and collected Princess Serenity, haha.
The Oo Luxe Skin Facial Treatment || $235.80 | 60 MIN.
Oo Luxe Skin, is one of four facial treatments offered by Oo Spa, with goals of combating signs of aging and cultivating nourished, rejuvenated, & vibrant skin. I love that it provides all these benefits with zero downtime, because no one has time for that!
Just a heads up that if you’re not pregnant, your immersive luxury experience will be different from my own! Before booking this service, I was told that the Luxe-Skin device was not recommended for pregnant guests.
Based on Oo Spa’s description, this device makes up a big part of the Luxe Skin Facial. It not only works to lift, tighten, and sculpt the skin, but also to stimulate collagen production and remove impurities from the skin around the face, neck, shoulder muscles and scalp.
Instead of using the skin device, Mari manually applied all products and skillfully massaged them into my skin during treatment.
So What Was Pregnancy-Safe?
Oo Spa offers all-natural Myufull skincare products as part of their facial treatments.
Myufull is an exclusive Japanese product line that is not only pregnancy-safe, but baby-safe!
Mari started off the facial by applying the Myufull Natural Cleansing Cleanser, a gentle oil-free formula that I picked up after the treatment to pamper my skin at home.
After she artfully applied the cleanser onto my face, I was led to a sink to wash it off (different, compared to other spas where the facialist washes it off for you) before stepping into the treatment room where I received applications of the Myufull Natural Lotion, Myufull Natural Pack (mask), and the Myufull Rose EX Spray to combat redness.
Myufull Products in the waiting area to test out
Oo Spa Treatment Rooms
Dim lighting and serene spa music filled the treatment space as I sank into a comfy, reclining chair. A soft blanket sandwiched me in, and it was time to retreat into a haven of relaxation!
The newer spas in Vancouver have opted for reclining chairs instead of treatment beds. You’ll also find that treatment rooms are separated from each other by custom shelving and heavy curtains instead of walls and doors.
One thing I did notice was, if there was a guest in the treatment room next to yours, you would be able to partly see and hear them through the shelving’s opening.
Overall Experience
My experience at Oo Spa was a soothing and mediative one. I was so relaxed, Mari thought I had fallen asleep!
Looking at the “after treatment” photos, my skin was significantly less blotchy and red and the texture was soft and supple. If that was what could be achieved without the Luxe Skin device, I’m curious how your experience would be like with the device!
If you’re intrigued by Japanese gold standards of omotenashi, beauty, and wellness, book a session at Oo Spa. Don’t forget to mention ‘Tina Huynh’ at booking to receive 50% off your first facial treatment!
Stay well!
