Spa Treatments
Though some of the treatments offered in top New York spas sound like torture techniques, Manhattanites seeking the means to whiplash-inducing beauty will gladly pay top dollar for them. Here are some places you can bring your body for a tune-up. — Cotton Delo
PHOTO FACIALS at Shizuka
7 W. 51st St., 6th Floor, 212-644-7400
This Japanese day spa has photo facials with intense pulsed light to combat aging and acne. The former costs $250 for an hour and is designed to remove surface pigmentation and vascular lesions, resulting in improved skin texture and minimization of the appearance of fine lines. The latter is $200 for 80 minutes and is performed with a hydroxy acid and fruit enzyme peel; the intense pulsed light works to kill breakout-inducing bacteria. Chemical peels and microdermabrasion are also offered at the spa, as well as Botox, Restylane and Juvederm treatments for clients who want to step it up a notch. The décor is haute Japan, think kimonos worn by customers and Japanese tea and biscuits. shizukany.com
EAR CANDLING at Beauty and Wellness Day Spa
124 E. 40th St., 5th Floor, 212-983-9577
Gross or great, you decide. With origins allegedly in Egypt two millennia ago, this technique utilizes a hollowed-out candle to suck up earwax buildup. Proponents claim it’s good for headaches, allergies and vertigo. It’s $65 for an hour. spabeautywellness.com
LOVE HANDLES WRAP at Nickel
77 Eighth Ave., 212-242-3203
Available at $100 for an hour-long session at the men-only spa Nickel, the treatment first entails exfoliating the body to remove dead skin cells and increase circulation to the mid-section. What comes next is an application of the spa’s special gel, a massage and then a wrapping to reduce the appearance of unsightly bulges. Facials, massages and waxing – including a Brazilian for men and a full-body wax for $200 – are also available. nickelspanyc.com
GYNO SPA CURE at Juvenex Spa
25 W. 32nd St., 646-733-1330
Juvenex claims to be the first in the U.S. to offer what’s billed as an ancient East Asian remedy. It utilizes healing herbs to irrigate the vaginal passage. It’s $75 for 30 minutes, and 12 sessions can be had for $750. Treatments for other body parts include back and breast facials and the 15-minute Luxurious Luscious Lips, an exfoliating and hydrating treatment that’s meant to increase circulation for several hours – a fleeting alternative to collagen injections. For something a little more relaxing, there’s Japanese-style soaking ponds filled with sake, kombu algae, ginseng and other all-natural ingredients to luxuriate in. juvenexspa.com
FULL-BODY PARRAFIN at Dorit Baxter
47 W. 57th St., No. 301, 800-836-4542
This warm, oozing goo – consisting of antioxidant rich Vitamin E – is applied all over the body to moisturize skin and loosen muscles. The Vitamin E is meant to heal skin on a cellular level by neutralizing free radicals. It’s $125 for an hour-long session. But the spa is perhaps best known for its deft-handed masseurs, who can inflict a kind of exquisite pain with their fingers. Case in point is the deep tissue massage, ideal for sporty types, in which therapists put pressure on connective tissue and muscles to increase oxygen flow to inflamed tissue. newyorkdayspa.com
ENDERMOLOGIE at
Metamorphosis Day Spa
127 E. 56th St., No. 5, 212-751-6051
This FDA-approved, cellulite-reducing technique is accomplished through rollers and a special vacuum which massage affected areas to boost skin circulation and make skin appear firmer. It’s frequently used both before and after liposuction to maximize results and costs $90 for a 30-minute session. metspa.com
ACU-LIFT FACIAL at Exhale Spa
980 Madison Ave.; 150 Central Park South; 212-249-3000
If you don’t fear having needles plunged into your face, this facial – fusing acupuncture with the spa’s signature use of calibrated turning forks to improve muscle tone and diminish the appearance of fine lines and puffy eyes – is available. It’s $265 for 90 minutes. And though core fusion classes at Exhale are billed as a mind-body experience, the desired effects of the one-hour sessions that include pilates and yoga elements – washboard abs and a tighter backside – are all physical. The two Manhattan locations are frequented by harried businesspeople trying to keep their edge by preserving their youthfulness and loafers with all day to luxuriate. exhalespa.com
CARROT AND SESAME BODY BUFF at Bliss
568 Broadway, 2nd Floor, 212-219-8970
Designed to polish and smooth the skin, this fragrant 90-minute treatment costs $165 and starts with a carrot mulch and hot oil rubdown, a warm milk-and-honey drizzle and a skin-softening wrap. It winds down with a sesame-seed-and-sea-salt scrub to eviscerate rough patches. It’s also offered at Bliss’ 541 Lexington Ave. location. There’s a third Manhattan location at 12 W. 57th St. All three are renowned for inventive facials, cellulite-fighting treatments and celebrity clientele. blissworld.com
Spa Getaways in the Desert
Miss the warmth of summer already? Leave the crisp autumn air behind and head southwest to a desert spa retreat that will reinvigorate your body.—Kerri Fortune
La Posada de Santa Fe Resort & Spa
330 E. Palace Ave., Santa Fe, N.M. 866-331-7625
The city skyline won’t be missed when you step onto the rooftop terrace with mountain views. Some of the RockResorts Spa signature treatments are the unique Chocolate-Chile Wrap, rich in moisturizers and antioxidants, and the Spirit of Santa Fe, which includes a blue cornmeal and tobacco scrub, sage tea, cedar wood oil massage and sweetgrass tea herbal wrap. laposada.rockresorts.com
The Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa
34631 N. Tom Darlington Drive, Carefree, Ariz. 866-397-6520
This 33,000-square-foot spa situated near ancient boulders has 24 treatment rooms and a tea room with desert views. A meditation labyrinth, saunas, steam rooms, a heated swimming pool and a traditional Japanese bath are on site. Native American wraps are designed to promote physical and spiritual wellness. Personal training, hiking and rock climbing tours are also available. theboulders.com
Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain
5700 E. McDonald Drive, Paradise Valley, Ariz. 480-948-2100
Sanctuary Spa has outdoor and indoor relaxation elements. There’s a heated Watsu pool, meditation garden and reflecting pond, where lotus flower reflexology can be practiced. For stress relief, try one of the Asian-inspired methods, like acupuncture, reiki and luk pra kope, a Thai medicinal herb massage. sanctuaryoncamelback.com
Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa
2400 E. Missouri Ave., Phoenix, Ariz. 800-950-2575
Located on a 39-acre resort, this 22,000-square-foot spa utilizes wellness methods that range from ancient Eastern cultures to contemporary European approaches. The grounds, which have attracted celebrities and U.S. presidents, from Marilyn Monroe to George W. Bush, feature architecture inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. There are an array of treatments, including the anti-aging caviar facial, and massages like Shiatsu, Dreamcatcher Aromatherapy and Ayurvedic Dosha Balancing. arizonabiltmore.com
5 Anti-Aging Treatments
Manhattanites in ever-increasing numbers are taking preemptive measures when their first, faint wrinkles appear around age 30. Here are some of the city’s best-kept anti-aging secrets, but those intent on waging war with time should seek out a plastic surgeon.—Kerri Fortune
Diane Young Anti-Aging Salon
38 E. 57th St., 212-753-1200
This salon has Time Erasing LED Light Treatments to reduce wrinkles and redness and micro-current treatments that reposition your facial muscles. There is also makeup that specializes in improving the appearance of aging skin. dianeyoung.com
Spa at Mandarin Oriental
80 Columbus Circle, 212-805-8800
The Lifting Facial helps prevent wrinkle formation by using acupressure and connective energy to increase circulation and ease facial tension. The Vitamin Infusion Facial provides nutrients to hydrate dry skin. mandarinoriental.com.
Delluva Vinotherapy Day Spa
152 Franklin St., 212-937-7757
Delluva’s Deluxe Anti-Aging Facial uses the specialized Skin Booster and Eye Serum from TheraVine, a skin care line from the South African wine lands, to minimize the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines. delluvaspa.com
De Novo European Beauty Spa
115 W. 57th St., 2nd Floor, 212-581-8595
De Novo has an ultrasonic lifting facial that uses ultrasonic waves to exfoliate skin and promotes lymphatic drainage through increased blood flow, which reduces skin aging. The Photo-Rejuvenation Facial uses therapeutic light to decrease the appearance of wrinkles. denovobeauty.com
Eternity Aesthetics and Anti-Aging Medicine
31 E. 32nd St., Suite 908, 212-532-0002
This clinic utilizes a multi-faceted approach to anti-aging treatment, which includes DNA testing, nutrition and nutraceuticals to develop an age management plan tailored to your own needs. eternityaesthetics.com
