If you're the type who faints at needles, flinches at facials where machine parts are applied to your face and have a pain threshold so low that cutting your nails causes distress, suffice to say that certain methods of achieving a V-shaped mien — such as botox/fillers, HIFU or other machine-aided skin tightening treatments and those torturous Korean bone-setting massages — are out for you. How then, when your jawline starts looking a little... scallopy?

There's hope, of course, and it comes in the form of the latest incarnation of Clarins' iconic V Shaping Facial Lift serum and the Clarins Total V Face Shaper facial. Designed to instantly refine and firm facial contours, reduce double chins and de-puff cheeks sans pain and machines, the serum and facial give us new faith in the human touch and the power of plants. Intrigued? Read on.

The fifth generation of the V-Shaping Facial Lift (it's been around since 1998!) will be available for sale on June 7, and besides a sleek new 2019 packaging, it wants to give you your own unique and natural V-shaped mien, 'cos we are all unique individuals. After studying the faces of countless Asian women and researching plant extracts, the new serum features a unique plant called agropyron, which is able hold onto and support soil, keeping it in place on dunes or hillsides. It turns out that organic agropyron extract is great for helping skin contours resist gravity’s downward pull, and boasts a 158 per cent increase in collagen XVIII, which means it's able to reinforce the skin’s support network and keep tissues in place. Whee!

The result is lifted and visibly tighter-looking skin and a slimmer V-shaped face that's natural and unique to you. A sweet combo of plant extracts works together to refine facial contours, reveal the natural shape of cheekbones and reduce the look of double chins. Other ingredients depuff the face for more defined features and radiance.

Ahh, the human touch. Machines are good for certain things, but nothing can beat the warmth and instinctive feel of a pair of hands. We spent most of the 75-minute facial sleeping like a baby (always a good sign) and woke up to a sharper jawline. Magic! The manual hand massage using Clarins professional products promises to instantly refine and firm facial contours, reduce double chins and puffy cheeks and restore radiance. We emerged from the facial room into the luxe make-up area with a visibly-sharper face, to be greeted by tea and a full suite of Clarins make-up at our disposal. Bliss!

The Clarins Skin Spa at Wheelock Place is a sanctuary of Zen and offers a number of facials ($185 to $250) depending on your needs, as well as an essential oil massage ($185 for 60 mins) and other treatments.

More info at https://www.clarins.com.sg/clarins-skin-spa. Clarins Skin Spa is at #05-05/06/07, Wheelock Place.

With a $250 facial designed to give you a V-shaped mien and two products also created for the purpose of making your mug sharper and more contoured — the new V-Shaping Facial Lift serum, $122, and the existing facial mask, the V-Facial Intensive Wrap, $89 (in pic above) — we can't fail, right? And we didn't. We slapped the mask on for 10 minutes, and felt the tingle and the lift. Coupled with use of the serum over a few days, and we definitely noticed a less puffy face in the mornings, a more defined jawline and, um, a more V-shaped face in selfies. V-ictory!

The products are available at the Clarins Skin Spa and Clarins boutiques and counters islandwide.