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| Jamie's Top 5 - New York City Facials |
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Let's "face" it – our faces definitely need lots of TLC. And with all the choices out there – botox, microdermabrasion, collagen injections, chemical peels – it's pretty darn easy to make sure our skin stays looking young and fabulous! But before diving into the bevy of non-surgical and surgical procedures, why not just try a facial or two? You'll be surprised at how great your skin ends up looking after just an hour or two of masks, creams and massages galore! Below, the best five New York City has to offer. Time to plan that next vacation!
By Jamie Sanders, Associate Editor
BLISS
Hydrated skin, unclogged pores and decongested T-zones, oh my! The Bliss Basic Facial will give you all that and more. If you're new to the facial regime, this is a good way to start out. Aestheticians are trained to be kind and gentle and are extremely knowledgeable about how to keep your skin looking great even after your facial is over. All the basics are here, of course – masks, facial and cranial massage, and those oh-so-lovely extractions. But what's best about Bliss is the amenities you get to experience before and after the treatment! Take full advantage of the lounge present in the spa – complete with lemonade, tea and goodies like crackers and cheese or miniature brownies. Take a long, hot shower in the individualized stone grotto-esque showers – each equipped with the best-smelling Bliss products, of course! And some locations even have steam rooms. At the end of the day, you'll be glad you pampered yourself. And you'll leave with your skin glowing! Totally worth it.
$100 for 60 minutes
Bliss 57: 19 East 57th Street, 3rd Floor
Bliss 49: 541 Lexington Avenue in the W Hotel
212.219.8970
www.blissworld.com
Dorit Baxter New York City Day Spa
Teens know better than anyone the trials and tribulations of problem skin. And it's even worse when you've got combination skin, isn't it? Oily T-zones, dry and scaly cheeks, normal chins … we run the gamut of skin problems! Luckily, the aestheticians at Dorit Baxter Day Spa are trained to help teen skin. Check out the Classic Facial – the basic facial offered here – and you'll be amazed at how much better your skin looks in just an hour! With a skin nourishing, cream-infused facial massage starting things off right, your aesthetician will proceed with those really fun extractions. Finishing things off is a pore-tightening facial mask. What's great about this treatment is the facial add-ons, each between $25-$35, that will really help make your skin go that extra step in looking beautiful. Some greats are the Facial Wrap (peppermint-scented hot towels to ease extractions), the Herbal Pack (warm fresh herbs that soften and moisten skin), and Oxygen Spray (oxygen blasted on your skin to nourish cells and open up your pores). It's time to welcome in clear skin!
$69 for 60 minutes
47 West 57th Street
212.371.4542
http://www.newyorkdayspa.com
Julia March Integral Skin Care
If you're into home remedies – like mixing yogurt, berries and honey to make a great facial mask – then you're in for a treat at Julia March Integral Skin Care. Julia is an absolute goddess when it comes to making your skin look fresh, young and totally amazing. Before beginning the facial, Julia sits down with you in her treatment room – a very nice, cozy room with burning candles and aromatherapy that puts you right at ease – and goes over everything under the sun involving your skin. She'll ask you everything from how many glasses of soda you drink a day to how often you work out to any health problems you might have, so that she can really customize the facial for you. And then comes the facial! With 9 facials to choose from, there's something for everyone. But the one to try is definitely the Splash Facial, which involves tons of different masks, scrubs and creams that clean up your skin in a heartbeat. After blasting galvanic current on your skin to open up the pores, she'll begin the extractions – which are surprisingly painless! To end this amazing treatment, Julia prepares a mix of sour cream, kiwi and berries to really make your skin radiant and glowing. Your skin will thank her!
$130 for 75 minutes
177 Prince Street, 3rd Floor
212.253.2242
http://www.juliamarchskincare.com
Gloss Day Spa
Twinkle, twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are … okay, you get the picture. But what you don't know about this song is that it's also the name of a fabulous teen facial at Gloss Day Spa. Yes, the Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star Facial is a fantastic facial customized especially for teens! Involving all of the goodies present in a regular facial – cleansing, toning, an upper body massage, and yes, those really fun extractions – what's particularly great about this one is that aestheticians work with each client to make sure the mask is personalized. Oily T-zone? You'll get a special mask just for that. Dry cheeks? There's one for those too! And the aesthetician mixes it right then and there – using the spa's own line of products – so you'll feel extraordinary and unique knowing it really is created just for you! As an added special treat, you'll get your very own bag of sample facial products when you leave so you can continue the good skincare regimen at home. Your face will be twinkling like a star before you know it!
$125 for 60 minutes
51 East 73rd Street
212.249.2100
http://www.glossdayspa.com
La Prairie at the Ritz-Carlton Day Spa
And finally, the absolute indulgence. If you are seriously into pampering – and come on, who isn't? – you must try the Silver Rain Facial at La Prairie at the Ritz-Carlton Day Spa. It might just be the best hour and a half you could spend at a spa! More of a full-body treatment than just a facial, it involves everything from warmed jasmine and vanilla oil rain-dropped over your body, crushed coriander to exfoliate your skin, and an energizing mask wrapped over your face to bring out that special radiance within. But that's not all! Don't forget the neck and shoulder massage, the foot and hand reflexology, and the cranial massage. And of course there are the typical extractions, masks and creams applied, and facial massage guaranteed to make your face glow. And since this is the La Prairie spa, only La Prairie products are used – and they're among the best! It's not cheap – but you can't put a price on looking beautiful, now can you?
$275 for 90 minutes
The Ritz-Carlton New York: 50 Central Park South
212.308.9100
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Properties/CentralPark/Spa/Menu.htm
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