Indulge in the ultimate mani-pedi from AUUM The Honest Nail Spa

AUUM The Honest Nail Spa has been around for four years in Singapore, with its first pop-up in Pasarbella, followed by a stint in The Fullerton Hotel Spa. But for the last two years, it has served as a mobile nail spa — a useful service for its well-heeled clientale. By booking an appointment online, the spa's nail therapists will do your service of choice in the comfort of your home. It even lets you pre-select 10 nail polish colours beforehand so you still have a choice of colour — and the option to change your mind. Polishes on offer include cult brands like NCLA, Deborah Lippmann, Priti NYC and Butter London — owner Zi believes in offering her customers only the best quality polishes that are free of harmful chemicals and also vegan. Many of her customers are vegan or pregnant, so all of AUUM's services are suitable for even the most discerning clientale. If you want to do gel nails — as we tried — the spa uses two brands, Bio Sculpture and NCLA, as well as a special aloe vera-based remover that is acetone free and doesn't damage or dry out your nails.  

Zi is also a firm believer in hygiene and in our experience AUUM is one of the few nail spas in Singapore that that takes this very important issue seriously. Every client gets a sealed pack of tools that is disinfected the way dentist tools are. To keep things super clean, disposable toe separators, nail files, buffing pad stickers and towels are used, to minimise the spread of any fungal infection. I was attended to by Zi herself in AUUM's new permanent home, the So Spa located within the premises of the Sofitel Singapore Sentosa Resort & Spa and besides the high-quality products and great service, there were small touches that we appreciated as well. Unlike most other nail salons we had been to, Zi did not 'attack' our feet with a razor blade in an attempt to shave down hard and callused skin, understanding that this would only cause the skin to grow back thicker in these areas. We were treated to the spa's Aromatherapy Mani and Pedi which consisted not only of a full manicure and pedicure but a suite of hand-blended skincare products including a scrub, mask and cream that is made fresh and disposed after each day. Our hands and feet were baby soft after, but according to Zi, the spa's paraffin treatments are even more moisturising. AUUM has even created its own special tools for the paraffin treatment that ensures there's no double-dipping — a major no-no in our books.

The services at AUUM are not cheap compared to the prices that you'll find in your run-of-the-mill neighbourhood salon. A classic manicure costs $80 and a pedicure $100, with an additional $38 charged for home visits. But if you want a truly hygenic experience as well as polishes that are both fashion-forward and safe for your nails, this is pretty much the only place to go to. Our advice? Head down to the Sp Spa to treat yourself to an aromatherapy mani-pedi and you'll be able to use the spa facilities, including the sauna room, jacuzzi, mud pool and outdoor pool and make a day out of it. There's even a free shuttle back to Paragon if you think that transporation is an issue. AUUM also does manicure parties making this a great option for bachelorette 'dos, baby showers and any 'treat yourself' occasions.

AUUM The Honest Nail Spa is located within the premises of So Spa, Sentosa, 30 Allanbrooke Road, 6463-9713