Shopping and sightseeing is all well and fun, but what do you do when you’re absolutely exhausted, jet-lagged to the max and just need some alone time? For me, the choice was easy… a visit to Elizabeth Arden’s famous Red Door Spa would be the fix-all I needed after a few crazy days in New York.
The newest Red Door Spa in Manhattan is located at Union Square, and you can’t miss it amongst the bustling foot traffic; floor-to-ceiling glass French double-doors mark its entrance, complete with Red Door logos and heavy gold handles. Majestic is one way to describe it.
Walking inside, the interiors are absolutely delightful. From freshly-lit makeup counters (no, you won’t find manky samples or harsh lighting here), to minimalistic hair stations, to the neat manicure tables lined parallel to each other; every single detail has been thought through in depth. The result is modern, on-brand, and totally luxurious without any sort of unapproachability.
And don’t even get me started on the staff… each one of them were an absolute joy. One thing that blew me away about New York was that everyone is just so nice – I’m honestly not sure where they get their unwarranted reputation of being rude from. Inside the Red Door Spa it’s no different; you’re greeted with a glowing smile and a warm, friendly manner no matter if you’re here for a treatment or simply just browsing.
Places like this usually recommend you to arrive 15 minutes in advance so you can get changed out of your everyday clothes and into a plush robe, but I always like to arrive even earlier (say, 30-45 minutes) to allow enough time to take my makeup off and truly unwind in the waiting lounge. After I checked in with the front desk, I was escorted down the steps and into a locker and bathroom area where I could start my experience.
Is it just me, or do you order one thing in particular on a menu to truly test an institution’s skills? You can apply this rule to margherita pizza, slow-roasted coffee… and of course spa treatments. Here, I opted for the signature facial – a one-hour treatment utilising Elizabeth Arden’s best-selling products and classic facial massage techniques.
To start, I was led to my beautiful treatment room, where I had a short consultation with my facialist to see what sort of products I liked, and what skin concerns I had. Little breakouts, pigmentation and overall texture were my main concerns.
My facialist quickly made me comfortable in the reclining bed, and worked up a lather on my face to cleanse away makeup and impurities, followed by an exfoliation with an AHA solution to break down dead skin. I felt a slight tingly feeling all over my face – sort of like a light tickle for a few minutes, before it was wiped away.
Next came my favourite part – extractions. This part was optional, but I always welcome this degunking ritual with both arms when it’s offered to me because it’s the ultimate solution to really clean skin. I know it’s a bit gross, and I’ll spare you the details… but let’s just say it was beyond satisfying.
A nourishing face mask was applied straight after to calm my angry skin, and not long after, it was washed away with some warm water. The whole process was never rushed but everything seemed to take no time at all – but that’s when you know each product is really working hard, huh?
The stand-out of my facial though, was an application of the new Superstart Skin Renewal Booster. It’s a high-octane liquid that works to boost the effect of any skincare used afterwards, and the trick is to apply it even before your serum and moisturiser. Perfect for all skin types, tones and ages, this magical elixir seriously hydrates, smoothes and ramps up the radiance in one hit. You’ll have to try it for yourself.
All good things had to come to an end, and before I knew it, my facialist applied a serum and hydrating moisturiser to finish.
I had one look in the mirror and I couldn’t believe my eyes. The result was a glowy complexion that needed absolutely no coverage afterwards. No, you can’t even buy the results in a bottle.
The worst thing about this treatment? How short it felt… so learn from my mistakes and book yourself a few back to back appointments at this hot spot. Make a day out of it with your sister, Mum, or friend.
Try Elizabeth Arden Red Door Signature Facial, US$140, and Superstart Skin Renewal Booster, $85
