The glow-getter: The two-step treatment behind this year’s best radiance award

You can do everything right for your skin, like double cleansing before bedtime or never skipping SPF in the morning, but why can it sometimes still look uneven and dull? The issue, perhaps, is that your routine can only go so deep. 

The Astria Luminous Hydration Protocol at Astria Medical Aesthetics, recognised as Best Radiance Boosting Treatment at this year’s Her World Spa and Hair Awards, is built around one idea: that no two complexions are the same, and no two skincare treatments should be the same either.

Created by founder and medical director Dr Sarah Too, the treatment combines two technologies – HydraFacial and Pico Laser – addressing both the surface and the deeper layers of the skin for a comprehensive approach to skin renewal.

Well-known for its anti-ageing treatments, Astria Medical Aesthetics has designed this protocol to suit all skin types – particularly those whose skin has plateaued and needs something more targeted to reset and revitalise.

How the Astria Luminous Hydration Protocol works

Her World’s senior digital writer and reviewer Shazrina Shamsudin, who has combination skin and arrived at the clinic with an inflamed blemish on her cheek, appreciated the thoroughness of the team and doctor.

The treatment starts off with the HydraFacial, a non-invasive, medical-grade exfoliation and infusion treatment. It gently draws out blackheads, whiteheads and other surface impurities – a process Shazrina found “comfortable – it mostly felt like light tugging on certain areas” – while simultaneously delivering targeted serums into freshly cleared skin. By hydrating and resurfacing the skin first, the HydraFacial creates a cleaner, more receptive surface, allowing the laser’s energy to penetrate more effectively.

The session is followed by a 3D facial analysis that maps your skin’s condition – from texture and tone to hydration levels – and a consultation with the doctor allowing the treatment to be personalised and fine-tuned.

“Dr Sarah asked about my skin concerns and walked me through what the treatment could do, such as reduce pigmentation, brighten the skin and improve hydration, so it looks smoother, more radiant and plumper overall,” she shares.

Numbing cream is applied before the Pico Laser step – and the sequencing is deliberate. Astria Medical Aesthetics’ complete numbing procedures enable a comfortable laser experience. 

The Pico Laser delivers ultra-short pulses of energy across several rounds, each targeting a different concern like stimulating collagen, reducing pigmentation and improving overall skin tone. Its settings can also be fine-tuned to suit each individual’s specific concerns such as enlarged pores, uneven texture or dark spots.

“The laser process felt especially quick and pain-free,” Shazrina notes, “and it only took 15 minutes. That’s when I understood why this is considered a lunchtime treatment. You could easily get everything done within an hour.”

Real results, one session in

A little post-treatment flushing was the only minor trade-off for Shazrina, which settled in around three hours. “My skin felt noticeably plumper and looked glowy after, and the blemish on my cheek became lighter,” she says.

For skin that’s hit a wall despite a solid routine, the Astria Luminous Hydration Protocol offers something more – a genuine reset towards clearer, brighter and more radiant skin.

Book your appointment here.