Spas and Salons
The time a facial made me see the light
A pic of me with my husband after one of the greatest facials of my life -- yes I used a filter for IG, but my skin really glowed just the same!
When I first moved to New York, I was hired at a big publishing company, an experience which I’d fantasized about most of my life but which quickly turned sour, thanks to a Devil-Wears-Prada-esque boss who told me she wanted to “crush my face.” Disillusioned, I swore off publishing and went to work as a receptionist at a medical day spa on the upper east side, owned by a renowned plastic surgeon. This was before the financial crisis caused the spa to close. It was a time when medical facials were considered a necessity, not a luxury, and where UES ladies in fur coats were as ubiquitous as NYC parking tickets. I became familiar not only with the ins and outs of good, scientific esthetics, but also the contours and the width of the American Express Black Card (its titanium is nearly as thick as the hard cover of a book). The estheticians at the spa were medically trained, and worked with products that combined essential oils with top-level chemistry. My face looked and felt like a 16-year-old’s when I worked there, thanks to the legendary employee perks of the financially confident, indulgent aughts.
About nine months later, I came to my senses, and returned to work in publishing, but I was left with an indelible sense for what constituted a good facial. And let me tell you something: for as much as NY has a reputation for having top-of-the-line everything, it seems almost impossible to get a good facial here. Almost every spa I’ve patronized since working on the UES has provided only the most basic–and the least scientific–of services. A scrub (or at best, an enzymatic) exfoliation. Painful extractions. Inappropriate use of oils. I even recently had a facial at one of New York’s most upscale spas–as a media guest at that–and the esthetician botched it to such a degree that I broke out in practically every corner of my face. Oh, and her fingers smelled like cigarettes and her breath like tobacco-infused paprika. I learned a lesson about smoke and mirrors that day, my friends.
So last week, when I discovered that an esthetician I’d long-ago worked with at the Upper East Side spa had moved on to Paul Labrecque, I immediately booked an appointment with her, not caring what the cost. My face hadn’t been touched by experienced fingers for years, and I’d gone from looking 16 to looking my age, and that just wouldn’t do. Thank God—no, seriously—for Tatiana.
Paul Labrecque salon and spa
European Wax Center’s purple wax
Folks, it’s that time again where I tell you about another amazing spa find for your waxing needs: European Wax Center. At this point, I’m just amazed at how many different types of wax and methods you can come across in one city. Note, previous places I’ve raved about: Strip: Ministry of Waxing and Uni.K.Wax where I’m a regular. The purple gourmet hard wax though that you find here though is something else.
Comfort Wax
Their trademark Comfort Wax is imported from Paris (fwancy), made of 100% natural beeswax. And their method ensures a practically painless experience. First they cleanse the area, then use a pre-wax oil to ensure the wax stick to the hair – not skin. When they’re applying the wax, there’s absolutely no double-dipping…they’ll literally use a brand new sanitary wooden spatula every time they apply the wax on you. They finish up with a dose of their Ingrown Hair Serum to prevent bumps and breakouts.
Columbus Ave location
The best part? There was no sting or even a trace of sticky wax afterwards. Oh, and more incentive to check it out: Women get a complimentary bikini line, underarm or eyebrow wax just for the first time. Men can get in on this too with a free eyebrow, ear or nose wax. Plus, they have 429 locations sprawled across the country, but if you happen to be in NYC and you happen to go to their salon in the UWS on Columbus Ave., ask for Meredith. She’s a dream.
Spa info:
European Wax Center
314 Columbus Ave
at 75th Street
New York, NY 10023
(212) 799-5999
Upper West Side
x
Shy
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De-stressing (with chocolate!) at the Ritz-Carlton Spa in LA
This trip to LA has been the most time I’ve ever spent in the city, and not going to lie, it’s been a welcomed break from the hustle and bustle of New York City. Add the God-awful weather before I left, I felt like I could use some sun and beaches. And, yeah, a massage definitely couldn’t hurt either. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, because the Ritz-Carlton just rolled out their seasonal offerings at their spa and had previously invited me to check it out. I had to (painfully) decline at first because, well, I was in New York at the time. But once I bought my ticket, I took them up on the offer and made an appointment.
Their seasonal services are pretty enticing: a Pumpkin Spice Hydrating Facial that uses pumpkin and orange to revitalize the skin and frankincense to moisturize, a Cranberry Promegranate Body Treatment where they use the aforementioned fruits to polish the skin with the added benefit of blueberry shimmering lotion to leave a glow, and a Peppermint Pedicure where they use essential oils and a peppermint mask on your feet before applying the nail polish of your choice. But I really couldn’t resist trying their Hot Chocolate Stone Massage , and what’s more de-stressing than combining chocolate and a massage? (Nothing.)
Ritz Carlton Spa's Sanctuary Room
More on that in a second though. In what I could have only expected from the Ritz, you are first led to the locker room to put your stuff away and get cozy in a plush white robe. Then, you’re led into this gorgeous sanctuary room.
Sanctuary Room
Brooklyn We Glow Hard: A facial at Tres-Belle Spa
There are not a lot of things that can make me trek down deep into Brooklyn (or really, anywhere outside of my apartment) on my day off, but Allison Tray really has her ways.
Tres Belle Spa
The vivacious owner of Tres Belle Petite Medi-Spa has practically been my e-penpal for months–months!–as we tried to pin down a date for me to visit her spa that Refinery29 touted as one of Brooklyn’s hottest.
Local NY beauty primping spots I love
Ah. Finally back from vacation, and just before my whirlwind trip I realized there are plenty of places in the city I go to for primping that I thought would be nice to list in one post:
For a blowout…visit Blow (342 W 14th St, btw 14 St & 8th Ave, New York, NY 10014). I went here for the first time before my trip looking for a blowout that will last til the first wedding festivity (which would be two days after touching down on the west coast!). A tall order, but Erin over here made it happen. After 45 minutes in her chair, I had volume and waves that lasted through two flights and a car ride down to the wedding. Blow outs start at $40 (for my medium length hair, it was $50 so it depends on hair type).
not me.
For a haircut, visit…Chris. He was at Medulla, but now at Brush (9 E. 19th St (Between 5th and Broadway). He’s been my go-to for a while now and I loveee his precise cuts (his resume speaks for itself — he’s also worked at Bumble & Bumble and Rita Hazan!). Also, I’ve always loved Pich at Warren-Tricomi at the Plaza if you want more options!
Satori (photo via Yelp)
Eco-Manicure and pedicure at Om Aroma & Co.
Admittedly, I’m not one to go too frequently to get my nails done. For one, I find staying at home and doing my own a bit therapeutic. Two, I’m so impatient, I can’t sit in one place for my nails to dry, so at least at home I can walk around and finish all my little tasks. But more important, I’m a stickler for sanitary and clean salons where are not always easy to find in the city. If you live uptown, I always recommend Polished Beauty Bar to my friends, but for downtown, I found a new urban oasis: Om Aroma & Co. in the West Village.
Inside Om Aroma & Co.
Inside Om Aroma & Co.
