Spa Treatments

A majority of the last decade was doused in popping bottles, months of reservations and overpriced jumpsuits. If the 90’s were the dawn of decadence, the turn of the century ignited man’s ability to visually underachieve. Visually, I said. Defying decadence? You ask, wondering what that might mean. Allow me to clarify: this decade began with American Psycho-style bankers blowing the concept of “valuation” out of the proverbial waters. It was a nasty combination of overpriced track suits and Chinatown  handbags. The last ten years were want, want, want. While we love the SATC wardrobe, the media saturated our minds with what we needed to look like Carrie & Co. Real Housewives, Entourage, even my beloved Gossip Girl make our lives mediocre compared to what we could have. In the end, we stood drenched in materialistic messages.

So we took a step back.

Next year, decade, season, we aim to root ourselves in…well, in ourselves, and live less focused on things and more focused on And in terms of making your face the prettiest in town, think from the inside out. Sure there are great spa deals; and we understand wanting a little lift here or a teeny tuck here. How we treat our bodies, however, is the true reflection of beauty. A more organic approach – water, stretching, balanced eating habits – will make weekly spa treatments unnecessary and allow you to use your spa visits and dinners out as more special, rewarding occasions. Oh, wee will still report the best restaurants, spa deals, sales and trends. (I mean, hello, that’s our job!) However, making our purchases reflect the person we aim to become will allow the next ten years to glow more genuine.

From TVC to you, Happy New Year.

Emma Dinzebach

If you visit spa-addicts.com or spa-nyc.com or any of the other pamper-loving New York City spa sites, you will be pleasantly greeted by an array of holiday spa specials. Buy one get one 50% off is a great deal at Skintology on 7th Ave and Graceful Spa on West 14th is offering discounted massages. Other specials include couples massages, free add on services with purchase of a facial, complimentary oxygen treatments, and so on.

At The Spa at Chelsea Piers, for every $150 gift card purchased, you receive a $30 credit, and for every $250 gift card, you receive a $50 credit. (Yeah, they apparently cannot perform simple math over there.) But hey, these are good deals! And if you are a little late on your Christmas shopping and can’t decide what to get your mom, sister, brother’s on again/off again girlfriend and so on, check this. You might just be rewarded for procrastination. At spas like Ettia Holistic Day Spa on the Upper West Side, for every four gift services you purchase, you get a fifth free. So if you have four people to buy presents for, you can get a free massage, facial or body wrap.

Even better? Spas are desperate for new clients in the new year, making it the best time to ask for what you want. If you love Ettia’s special but heart Haven’s services, ask them to match it. We tried last week, and four out of the five spas we called were willing to throw in a complimentary service with the purchase of four gift services. (The fifth that turned us down was Bliss.) So go for it. And relish in your present to yourself because by golly, you deserve it!

Emma Dinzebach

It’s been a hard year. Your brain is overloaded with numbers sporting nasty minus signs, your hair missed its 6 week appointment about 3 weeks back, and your skin desperately needs it to choose a season already. As if your current state isn’t dull enough, you look around to see that you are actually outshining all of your loved ones. You feel badly for them. But it’s Christmas and Hanukkah and stuff, so you decide it’s time for everyone on your list to get their glow on and start 2010 shining brightly.

For your visiting bff: Gilt.com is offering Equinox spa specials on massages, facials, training sessions and more. Each purchase includes a 3-day trial membership where out of town visitors or you (because oh, you forgot, you canceled your gym membership in April) can take advantage of the gym, classes, steam room and more starting at just 100 bones.

For your niece: Fourteen year-olds aren’t stressed! Save the massage for yourself and visit blissworld.com. There you can customize a gift box of goodies for your loved ones. Choose from staples like body scrubs and lotions or these way cool hair removal strips. Spend $25 and you get…free shipping! Your niece loves her smooth upper lip, you love the black numbers in your checking account.

For him: Your brother – Head downtown to Freeman’s Sporting Club where you can give him a $25 trim, $40 straight razor shave or a $25 hangover treatment. You don’t know what that is, but it sounds cool.  Your brother-in-law (why do you always pick him?) – Choose John Allan’s because he might be eaten by anorexic hipsters if you send him searching for Freeman Alley. A “Full Service” includes a scalp massage, shampoo, condition, hot towel, manicure and shoe shine. Your sister will thank you.

And if you have any scrilla left over, buy something for yourself something to get your shine on. Glow on sista. Glow on.
Emma Dinzebach

Spa-Nyc.com is an online resource with a directory of New York City spas. The site features reviews and has a side panel of categories including, but not limited to, medispas, hands & feet, and hair removal. But don’t expect their cyber-holding place to hold an aromatherapy candle to the serene spas they feature. The website is messy. The font is blue and white and highlighted and bold and underline. The featured spas on the front are all smashed in, and it is hard to discern why these are featured. Are they advertisements? Is spa-nyc.com getting commission if they refer customers to these spas? Regardless, the presentation is messy and unpolished. You would think after seven years, they can clean up their website.

But for November, it will be worth it to visit spa-nyc.com because they are offering 50% off all spa services as a “thank you” to their clients. (We think it might be conjunctive ploy with the spas to get people in the door; but either way, we’ll take our discount.) There are different discounts for different days that include half off of the following services: hair cut and color, massages, body scrubs, body wraps, Brazilian wax and laser hair removal. It says “Each day you can find different spas offering 50% off of something great.” (They also need new writers.) So you have to click through the specials to avoid misinterpretation, but when I called to book a few, each place confirmed they were offering the 50% off proving the deal solid.

We’ll get to spa-nyc.com with some feedback on their site. You just use your November discount to relax before the holiday rush.

Emma Dinzebach