Spa Treatments

While wandering through Tribeca, pooch in tow, I saw a tranquil sign that said, “Tribeca Beauty Spa.” Beauty Spa? I love beauty! Enter me and said pooch to a calm, serene dimly lit spa. The first think I noticed was the organization. Are we still in cramped Manhattan? I asked the pup, and reached to the neat, glossy brochure to browse the menu of their services. A full-service spa, Tribeca Beauty Spa offers everything from traditional Swedish and hot stone massages to Holistic Rebalancing Therapy – a combination Swedish massage that infuses reflexive therapy and hot stones, placed on the seven chakras of your body. The massage therapist then performs an energy balancing treatment over your entire body followed by a hot stone massage.
What was more exciting were the variety of seasonal specials at Tribeca Beauty Spa. For a limited time, they are offering the Holistic Rebalancing Therapy for $150 rather than the original $175. Too steep for your budget? Never fear. The Tribeca Beauty Spa aims to work within their clients needs. Their most recent offer included a free pedicure with purchase of any 60 minute massage. Their average hour long massage goes for about $105, and while you may be able to find a massage less expesive elsewhere, you cannot find a massage and 45 minute pedi for this price. The Tribeca Pedicure is heavenly. They offer the traditional cuticle trim, exfoliation and polish with extra luxuries like a salt glow and moisturizing massage.

Tribeca Beauty Spa became my favorite place to buy gift certificates. Less showy than Bliss and Glow but with the same clean, serene atmosphere. Plus, spending an afternoon in tranquil Tribeca is a wonderful break from the suits in midtown or tourists in Soho. So wonderful, I might just move there.
Tribeca Beauty Spa   8 Harrison Street; 212-343.2376

Emma Dinzebach

When a friend told me about Green Tea Spa, I thought “Is that an organic food store?” A little googling and citysearch led me to their website, where I discovered that Green Tea was not only a really popular name for a massage spas nationwide (who knew?), but also Murray Hill’s answer to the cheap Chinatown massages…but nicer.

Green Tea Spa is named after green tea, which they provide after every service. The green tea is said to speed post massage blood circulation while circulating toxins and uric acid in the joints, which will later elimate through sweat or urine. Basically, it cleanses you and gets out all your nastiness. Who couldn’t use that? Green Tea Spa provides back, foot and full body massages for men and women as well as foot reflexology, accupuncture and spa facials. The full body massages are their forte and for the mere price of $48, a true New York City bargain.

Unlike the cheap massages of Chinatown, they don’t bring you into a dark room with questionably sketchy sheets. The rooms are nice and smell like aromatherapy, and the staff are kind and soothing. The regular full body massage is the perfect amount of pressure on back, arms and legs and leaves you feeling peaceful and relaxed days after. Just specify your aches and pains and the therapists will customize your massage with a combo of Swedish, Shiatsu and Deep Tissue. (Word of caution, Deep Tissue really gets in there. It’s not for pain-phobes!) Make sure you note sports injuries/pains, headaches, sinus issues, etc. There masseuses specialize in tailoring each massage to your needs.

For $35 you can also get a hot stone facial. My friend splurged and indulged in one raving about how it helped her headaches and sinus issues. I’m not going to lie, I was jealous. Next time.

Green Tea Spa  240 East 28th Street between 2nd and 3rd 212.683.4048 Open daily 10:30-10 p.m.

When the temperature heats up, skin kicks into overdrive, spewing out more technical problems than a 1989 Audi.  A perfectly temperate complexion may suddenly transform into a hot mess of oil spills, dry patches and irritation, leaving one to wonder if she needs to call her dermatologist or a mechanic for a fix.  While summer is welcome with open arms, problem skin is not.  A good face mask is like one-stop shopping for the skin, offering temporary relief from the throes of humidity and, with continued year-round use, the promise of more even skin tone, a subtle glow, and well-behaved pores.  I tested a few for the sake of The Vogue City readers’ inquiring minds (and even included a homemade favorite that costs pennies – literally) and budgets. 

Clay masks reign supreme in sopping up T-zone oil, and are goof-proof:  apply, let it dry, and wipe clean.  I like Best Bath Store’s Dead Sea mud mask for $19.95.  Its rich formula is chock full of minerals, nutrients and has a grainy, thick texture that feels glorious when swiped on the cheeks, chin and nose.  I use it about once a week, usually when I’m busy stalking, er, browsing, Facebook and sipping a cup of green tea.  Do-it-yourself relaxation, indeed. 

If your forehead is dryer than the Sahara and your chin might spontaneously combust from dead flakes, I recommend the Body Shop’s 3-in-1 Honey & Oat scrub mask for $16.50.  While my genetics have me destined for a lifetime of blotting paper and hand-held fans, I have friends with dry, sensitive skin who swear by this eco-friendly power product.  The option to apply twice a week is there – if your skin is sensitive, start with a once-a-week application and work your way up.  Kind of like the starter boyfriend you have mixed feelings about:  easy does it.

Now, if your skin is neither here nor there and is lost in the transit of being labeled (and what’s in a label, really?), look no further than your pantry for a cure.  Honey, that delicious sticky sap that sends my aforementioned tea into a tailspin, can be applied as is to dry skin for a tasty – and cheap – mask.  Honey is naturally moisturizing, but also zaps oil and provides a hit of natural antioxidants to calm even the sassiest skin.  Just be careful to wash, not lick, it off after about 10 minutes or so.

Masks:  summertime skin saviors or time sapping treatments better left for the birds?

-Karyn Polewaczyk

Browsing through this weeks random free and almost free publications, I noticed a variety of Mother’s Day spa specials. Doggie moms are moms too, right? And since my pooch don’t got no daddy, I treated myself to an early Mother’s Day present and booked a day of services Friday.

For $89 plus tip, I was promised a papaya mango body polish, a 30 minute massage and a mani/pedi. When I arrived at the spa, I was immediately turned off by the late 70’s style chairs they have at the manicure stands. My brain reminded my mind not to judge a book by the cover, and I moved swiftly past said chairs to check in. The staff were courteous and contained only a little of the New York edge I usually encounter at these spa special joints. I was offered a choice between a Deep Tissue, Swedish or Craniosacral Massage, which I thought sounded like only a doctor should perform. I chose door #1, then took my robed and slippers to change.

The body scrub was okay. This may sound petty, but I get weirded out when I don’t know the brand of products used. I’m fine going to Elizabeth Arden, Bliss or Aveda, but feel skeevy when random “papaya” lotion is lathered on my naked body. The woman scrubbed me all right. She damn near scrubbed this doggie mama raw; but afterward, I felt five pounds lighter and my skin soft like a baby’s. My deep tissue massage made me scream in pain. I request three times not sooooo deep, and eventually she lightened up. Word of warning: if you can’t take the heat, don’t go in the Deep Tissue Massage’s kitchen. Choose #2 or #3.

The mani/pedi concluded my treatment and was pretty standard with a little more scrubbing and massaging on my now nothing-but-bone calves. It was the same caliber you would get at a Bloomie’s but with uglier chairs. My overall rating for this service is a low B. I would probably give it a C if it weren’t so cheap and might even give it a low A if I knew the products used.

Is it worth it? If you need smoother skin and a massage, yes. But like everything these days, it depends on you budget. Should you give a Vada Spa for a gift for your mother? Probably not. But it is totally fine to get a friend or your brother’s wife. No, really.

Vada Spa 387 6th Avenue between Greenwich and Waverly Open 9a.m. to 10p.m. 7 days a week. 212-206-1572