New York spas: where to go on the Lower East Side

Daily city commutes leave my feet feeling tired and tender—a problem that this hour-long treatment promised to remedy. Esthetician Donna Marri firmly milked the aches out of my lower extremities, starting with the top of my toes and working up toward the bottom of my knees. The brown water-filled soaking tub seemed unorthodox at first, but I quickly realized the hue was a result of the malted soap bath bombs that filled the air with the service’s eponymous scent. The sweet smell carried through the remainder of the session, which also incorporated a sugar scrub-turned-mask and a cocoa-infused moisturizer applied after my feet were pumiced and buffed. The last step was a meticulous paint job with cherry red Zoya lacquer—one of the 50-plus big-brand shades available. $45.

Beauty buffs tout the staffers at this 1940s-themed salon—replete with retro bulb-trimmed mirrors and vintage styling chairs—for their ability to spice up old Hollywood glamour with edgy,modern twists. Niko Laidos kicked off our one-on-one time with a thorough pre-cut wash and conditioning, followed by a near nap-inducing scalp massage. Before I could start snoring, he passed me off to stylist Rochelle La Bar, who reshaped my haggard mane, gave it glamorous Veronica Lake-esque curls and bestowed a couple pointers for how to make the glamorous ’do last for the next few days. Women $85, men $60.

This spa’s hidden basement locale belies the luxe treatments on offer. I was whisked back to a warm, dimly lit treatment room, where Kari Li diligently worked on my face and neck for 90 minutes. She began with a light cleanser, followed by a dead skin-diminishing exfoliator and a series of mild extractions. Unlike other similar services I’d tried in the past, the steam portion of my appointment helped me relax (instead of causing me to gasp for air). As the facial progressed, Li vigorously forced the knots and tight muscles in my upper back, neck and shoulders into submission. A duet of 24karat gold-infused serums—said to reduce inflammation and tighten skin—were then applied to my vissage and sealed in with an ultrasonic wand, which stimulated my skin cells with tiny zaps of electric current. Lastly, I was left alone to relax after Li applied a thick and gloppy, refreshingly cold mask, which she later gently peeled off. After a toner and moisturizer and a final massage to my scalp and arms, I was left feeling rejuvenated with a fresher-looking face. $135. Mention TONY at booking or time of appointment to receive 20 percent off this service through May 30. 212-343-7911, skinstation.com

Inside a quiet room filled with Middle Eastern tapestries, massage therapist Anne Amendolagine spent an hour methodically working over my entire body, applying a blend of Swedish, acupressure and deep-tissue techniques. Amendolaigne somehow sense the exact spots along my spine and joints that needed prodding, and it felt like she elongated my tight thigh and calf muscles with a few backwards bends of my legs. $80. 212-260-6992, kroppsandbobbers.com