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[title]Twice a year, more than 100 of New York’s spas and salons offer select spa treatments for just $50 as part of Spa Week. We sifted through the offerings for fall 2012 to discover a handful of our favorite treatments, including a body scrub at Rehoboth Spa Lounge, a massage at SKN Spa and a spray tan at Bake Spray Tanning.
RECOMMENDED: Best of Spa Week NYC
Shimmer Salt Body Glo Scrub at Rehoboth Spa Lounge
Check your modesty at the door of this sprawling nail salon before submitting to its restorative body scrub. If you can get over walking past pedicure patrons while wearing a waffle cotton robe and a shower cap, and then lying on a foam-padded table in nothing more than disposable G-string undies, your lack of self-consciousness will be rewarded with supremely smooth skin. The service takes place in a neutral-tiled, subterranean Vichy shower room, where six overhead nozzles douse you with warm water between each step. Your technician (we recommend Park Lee) begins by sloughing off dead skin with a coarse-bristled brush that also stimulates circulation. Using Dermalogica products, she first rubs on an exfoliating sea-salt scrub, limb by limb, in gravity-defying, upward motions. Next, a foamy, lightly citrus-scented cleanser is applied with scrub mitts in circular movements. Finally, a scentless body cream is massaged into towel-dried skin. You’ll emerge feeling soft and squeaky clean. 55 W 14th St between Fifth and Sixth Aves (212-462-4957) • 126 University Pl between 13th and 14th Sts (212-255-9303) • rehobothspalounge.com. 50mins, $50 (normally 40mins, $85). Mention TONY to receive this discount through October 28.
Queen of the Nile Stone Massage at Skn Spa
A quiet oasis in the middle of bustling Hell’s Kitchen, recently opened Skn Spa is offering a trio of Egyptian-themed services especially for Spa Week. Each treatment (choose from a facial, scrub or massage) is designed to make its budget-conscious patrons feel like royalty. We tested the Queen of the Nile stone massage, which uses heated rocks to loosen tight muscles. Hypnotic ancient Egyptian music plays while the therapist (we suggest Sophia Chen) puts tiny sizzling stones between each of your toes, and then places heated towels down your spine to help to relax the entire body. Using massage oil, your technician will knead the stones from head to toe, or focus on any particular area that ails you, slowly working out kinks and knots. You’ll leave feeling relaxed and refreshed, with radiant and nourished skin to boot. 698 Tenth Ave at 49th St (212-581-1398, sknspanyc.com). 60mins, $50 (normally $125). Mention TONY to receive the Spa Week deal for all three Egyptian-themed treatments through Nov 1.
Custom spray tan at Bake Spray Tanning
Certified medical aesthetician Abby Menard rents a back room inside Loft salon for personalized full-body spray tanning. She and her team use the Infinity Sun sunless tanning system, which combines a natural-looking formula with pink (not orange!) undertones with an antioxidant-and-botanical-extract blend. After stripping nude—although you can request a disposable thong—you’ll step inside what looks like a massive pop-up laundry hamper. Every inch of your skin is sprayed twice and you’ll stand in front of a fan for 5 to 10 minutes to dry. We suggest dressing in lightweight, easy clothing and bringing very little to carry home, as you’ll be asked not to put back on your undergarments or carry a bag on your shoulder to avoid lines. The results are worth the effort—people will be asking where you went for your sun-filled vacation. 122 W 26th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves, suite 1205 (917-284-3627, bakespraytanning.com). $50 (normally $65). Mention TONY to receive this discount through October 31.
Single-process hair color and nano carbonic scalp treatment at Hearts New York Salon & Yukie Beauty Spa
This year-old Japanese salon and spa combines amazingly intricate nail art services (averaging $3 per nail for crystals to $60 for a set of gel hologram designs) with reasonably priced hair treatments (cut $55–$70, color $60–$100, Japanese straightening $80–$350) and spa offerings (head massages $30–$100, facials $95–$175). Nail artist, hairstylist and owner Yukie Natori wants to bring cutting-edge hair- and skin-care technology from Japan to the States, so she added this new smoothing treatment to a bargain color deal to spread the word. The foaming mixture (called Fabulous in Japan) is said to repair damaged strands and stimulate blood flow to the scalp, which can help with both grays and hair loss. After a dose of Wella color mixed with Milbon smoothing products (which shield strands from chemicals) is applied, the suds are added to your tresses and create a tingling sensation. You’ll then be treated to a relaxing ten-minute scalp massage while the treatment sets in. For the best results, Natori recommends a series of ten, depending on how dry your strands are. Our tester—who has wavy, frizzy hair—reported soft, smooth, vibrant-colored locks after just one service. 40 E 58th St between Madison and Park Aves, second floor (212-810-6900, heartsny.com). $50 (normally $90 for single-process hair color and $45 for nano carbonic treatment). Mention TONY to receive 30 percent off all regularly priced services through October 21.
Vitamin C booster facial at Monty Beauty Spa
Owner Monty Li deems this antioxidant facial an ideal remedy for dehydrated, sun-damaged skin, thanks to its regenerative, brightening properties. Li starts off by applying a gentle Dermalogica cleanser and exfoliant, then extracts any blackheads. After a lengthy facial massage that pays special attention to pressure points along the forehead and jawline, Li applies the vitamin C treatment: a heavy, pastelike mask made from all-natural botanicals that Li imports specially from China. For the next 25 minutes, a refreshing, cooling sensation lets you know the nutrients are soaking in, while Li kneads out any remaining stress in the hands, neck, shoulders and scalp. Once the mask is washed off, and a rich, SPF-fortified moisturizer applied, formerly parched skin is left implausibly soft with a newfound, lit-from-within radiance. 2477 86th St between 24th and 25th Aves, second floor, Bath Beach, Brooklyn (718-333-2198, montybeautyspa.com). 90mins, $50 (normally $90). Mention TONY to receive this discount through October 31.