High Performance Diamond peel with Stem Cell Collagen facial at Mario Tricoci

GOOD APPLE Any service that incorporates a diamond microdermabrasion, an “age reversal” peel and a collagen-infused mask is going to pique my interest, but when Mario Tricoci threw in a magic apple, the spa had my undivided attention. The secret ingredient fueling the High Performance Diamond peel with Stem Cell Collagen facial is the stem-cell extract from the Uttwiler Spatlauber, a mysterious, rare Swiss apple that can stay fresh for half a year. Doctors have discovered extract from the apple helps regrow skin on burn victims, and now spas are using it to turn back time for the rest of us. The high-end service begins with an organic flower grain–white diamond microdermabrasion, an increasingly popular way of removing old skin cells using a diamond-tipped suction tool (versus the more traditional crystal-tipped wand). The peel that follows stings a tiny bit at first, but within seconds my skin adjusts and I’m able to relax and enjoy the gentle facial massage. When it’s time for the finale, I’m not sure who is more excited—me, or my 48-year-old aesthetician with the skin of a 25-year-old. She’s practically giddy as she puts the papery mask in place and begins gently wetting it to release the collagen and apple stem cells inside. The mask covers my entire face, including my eyelids and my lips. The quickie collagen lip treatment doesn’t turn me into Angelina Jolie, but there’s a noticeable difference around my eyes, which lasts for about a week. I can see and feel an immediate lift and spend the rest of the day looking in the mirror. $255 at 900 N Michigan Ave (800-874-2624, tricoci.com).