I can honestly say that I’ve never experienced a facial like the one at Spa Chakra on Fifth (the former Cornelia Day Spa). I went in to receive my Age Defying Enhanced Facial (90 minutes) covered in blemishes (looking every bit like a teenager) and emerged with flawless, moisturized zit-less skin.
My aesthetician, Joanna Batalia, attended to my skin like a nurse in the ICU. She slathered June Jacobs products with the keen eye for detail and customization as a couture outfitter on Saville Row.
First, I was taken to the lovely relaxation Library where I was able to make myself a latte, eat biscotti and nibble dried kiwis. Then I was ushered to my treatment room (all treatment rooms are named beautifully like “Perla,” “Cornelia,” etc.). I lay on the table and dipped my feet into a pool of water for my foot scrub. This is a great idea and perfect for those who love multitasking (get a facial AND a foot massage in one fell beauty swoop).
Then came the slathering of June Jacobs Cleansing Milk, Massage Milk and all sorts of yummy goodies from the terrific spa line. One can tell a lot from a spa about their choice of products. June Jacobs is probably one of the top brands out there, along with Eminence Skincare (from Hungary) and a few others.
Then came the painful extractions which was similar to Boot Camp (hey, you know what they say…no pain, no flawless face). And along with all this came the lovely Paraffin Hand and Foot treatments where your hands and feet are ensconced in hot wax-filled gloves. I have to admit, I did feel all hot and stuffy at one point but the wax quickly cools and you’re left with nothing but buttery soft hands and feet. MOMS who wash DISHES all day, TAKE NOTE!
After my extractions, the Age Defying Mask was slathered all over my face. Joanna told me that each facial is completely customized for each person and my treatment was meant for my face and DNA. Spoken like a pro!
She also gave me some “eyebrow” love and tweezed my strays until my arches were photo ready. At the end of my treatment my face –hitherto covered in blemishes– was clean and flawless. I had also had a lactic peel as part of the treatment.
The price of this facial hovers around $375. While this may seem like a lot of money (especially today), I have to say that this kind of top notch facial doesn’t come cheap. You cannot skimp on quality, especially when it comes to your skin, and Spa Chakra treats your canvas like royalty.
Like the MasterCard commercial, we say it’s priceless.
Spa Chakra on fifth
663 Fifth Avenue, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10022
212 871 3050