We’re back with a second installment of the best beauty- and wellness-centric spots in New York City. (Previously, we tackled haircuts, colorists, lashes, and brows.) We asked the most beauty-obsessed women we know to reveal their secret sources, because nothing’s better than well-informed word of mouth. Our experts: Nicole Berrie, founder and recipe developer for Bonberi, and author of Body Harmony: Nourishing, Plant-Based Recipes for Intuitive Eating; Amy Griffin, founder and managing partner of G9 Ventures, an early-stage investment firm that has backed brands including Goop, Hello Sunshine, Bumble, and Bobbie; Catherine Piercy, head of creative content for Westman Atelier, and former beauty director at vogue.com; Tiffany Reid, a stylist, fashion director, and senior vice president of fashion at BDG; Linda Wells, Editor of AIR MAIL LOOK; Susan Fales-Hill, author and television producer; Christina Grasso, Social Media Director for AIR MAIL LOOK; and Sable Yong, host of the podcast Smell Ya Later, writer of the “Hard Feelings” newsletter, author of Die Hot with a Vengeance (to be published in 2024 by HarperCollins), and a Writer at Large for AIR MAIL LOOK.
OUR FAVORITE FACIALISTS
Christine Chin
Christine Chin Spa
82 Orchard Street
I’ve been seeing Christine Chin for a classic cleaning facial and microdermabrasion for almost two decades. There is no one better. I call her facial a “skin colonic.” —Nicole Berrie
Sarah Clark
Stillpoint Beauty
15 West 28th Street, Suite 5R
For microcurrent facials, Sarah gives a natural lift. She also does an insane internal jaw massage to relieve TMJ tension, and might even change the shape of your face, at least for a few hours. —Nicole Berrie
Georgia Louise
Georgia Louise Atelier
114 East 71st Street, Suite 1E
There are facialists and then there are facialists. Georgia is one of my favorites—and also one of my friends—and she really makes a difference in my skin. I also follow her routines. Trust me. —Amy Griffin
Joanna Czech
Joanna Czech
34 Howard Street, Second Floor
Joanna (and her well-trained team) deliver the city’s most transformative facials, which plump and re-surface my entire face with an arsenal of high-tech gadgets and heavenly massage. It’s almost a mini-face-lift. I was incredibly excited for the official opening of her downtown New York City studio. —Catherine Piercy
Ally Konci
Dr. Ellen Marmur
1050 Park Avenue, Suite 1A
Between visits with Joanna, I love to visit Ally Konci, who works in N.Y.C. dermatologist Ellen Marmur’s office and does excellent and efficient medical facials that still feel luxurious and pampering. —Catherine Piercy
Ludmila Daletskaya
Knockout Beauty
1316 Madison Avenue
I see Ludmila when my skin is in need of serious T.L.C. She consistently provides the most thorough facial, complete with a full-face algae mask that is sure to scare off any nearby children (or spouses).
—Christina Grasso
Rescue Spa
29 East 19th Street
The first time I had a facial at Rescue Spa, I was honestly flabbergasted, as I left with what can only be described as dolphin skin: glowy and seemingly poreless. I get the Bio-Lift Facial with microdermabrasion. —Christina Grasso
FaceGym
1427 Second Avenue
While less facial and more face workout, a session with FaceGym always leaves me feeling bright, lifted, and snatched, not to mention much less tense. —Christina Grasso
Stefanie DiLibero
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Gotham Wellness
580 Broadway
Stefanie DiLibero, the owner of Gotham Wellness, is trained in acupuncture, aesthetics, yoga, and Chinese medicine. Her facial combines acupuncture with microcurrent, lymphatic drainage, L.E.D.-light treatment, and a trick to release tension in the jaw. It is—and I really mean this—transformative. After a single session, my face looked more contoured, brighter, softer, better. —Linda Wells
NEXT UP: MASSAGE AND BODYWORK
Chillhouse
75 Varick Street
When it comes to massage, I prefer deep and thorough, not light and relaxing. I don’t go often enough, but the deep-tissue massage at Chillhouse has been a nice blend of gentle yet effective. —Christina Grasso
Eileen Thomas
Eileen Thomas Integrated Bodywork
441 Fifth Street, Brooklyn
A yoga instructor referred me to the incredible Eileen Thomas, who works out of her Park Slope studio. It’s a very simple, no-fuss space, so you have to be O.K. with that. But if you’re looking for a deep-tissue massage that leaves you feeling like a new person, this is it. She also does out-of-this-world pre-natal massage. —Catherine Piercy
Knósis Physiotherapy & Wellness
7 West 22nd Street, Eighth Floor
I’ve done the best and most effective physical therapy of my life with the team at Knósis. Its incredibly well-rounded, integrative staff includes acupuncturists, bodyworkers, mindfulness practitioners, and nutrition coaches who are always on point. —Catherine Piercy
Michelle Rodriguez
MPG One
130 West 56th Street, Third Floor
Michelle works with some of the city’s most elite dancers and athletes (and actresses). Her full team and facility are nothing short of incredible. —Catherine Piercy
Irani Makimoto-Domino
IMD Spa
6 East 39th Street, Suite 700
This is by far the best lymphatic-drainage massage in New York. Irani combines infrared sauna, magnesium wraps, and lymphatic-drainage massage to leave you feeling light and energized. —Nicole Berrie
Josh Park
Mocean
315 Madison Avenue
Josh is one of the most innovative bodywork specialists I have ever met. He tailors holistic programs to help heal imbalances in the body using innovative technology from Korea and Germany. I go to him for dry needling, cupping, and targeted Pulsed Electro-Magnetic Field massage, which helps reduce inflammation, release tension, and, presumably, infuse electromagnetic energy into the body to increase Chi flow. —Nicole Berrie
MANICURES AND PEDICURES
Ruchki da Noizhki
381 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn
When I need an indulgent and impeccable manicure-pedicure that’s near my Brooklyn home, I head to Ruchki da Nozhki, in central Boerum Hill. They also do the best and least painful sugaring on the planet, so I can take care of everything in one shot. —Catherine Piercy
Vanity Projects
99 Chrystie Street
This place has the best nail artistry in the game. Not to mention they take amazing care of your natural nails, and are great at extensions, if that’s your thing. The overall vibe makes it worth giving it a try at least once. —Tiffany Reid
Jin Soon
JinSoon Hand and Foot Spa
37 Walker Street
Jin Soon Choi has been doing nails for fashion shows and shoots for decades. Her salon is stunning, high-ceilinged, and serenely comfortable, and her team is beautifully trained. She has a trend-lover’s line of nail lacquers that also includes the classics, and the polish formulations are free of 10 commonly used chemicals. —Linda Wells
Josephine Allen
Samuel Shriqui Salon
35 East 65th Street
Josephine zips through a manicure so quickly that you barely have time to settle in. Her taste in nail shape and color is impeccable, and if you want proof, look at her work with the late photographer Hiro, including a close-up of a shiny red toenail with an ant crawling on top. She’s not a nail-art person but she does do artful nails, plus acrylics and wraps. —Linda Wells
Medi Pedi NYC
20 Park Avenue
This is the home of the best least-sexy pedicure in N.Y.C. Marcela Correa addresses messed-up, abused feet and their attendant disgustingness (fungus, ingrowns, sandpapery heels, hoary toenails) with a soft drill, a wide file, a variety of creams and oils, and no polish. Your feet will look like a toddler’s. —Linda Wells
Tenoverten
121 Fulton Street
The manicures at Tenoverten skew toward classic, which is exactly why I like them. They also use their own high-quality polishes and skin- and nailcare products. —Nicole Berrie
Mellow Bar
172 Waverly Place and 120 Sullivan Street
My favorite place to get Japanese-gel manicures. They are so efficient and meticulous, and they do fun designs like a reverse-neon French manicure or Euphoria-themed rhinestones. —Nicole Berrie
Marianella Aguirre
Green Spa on the Go
Greenspaonthego.com
A hidden treasure for the ultimate manicure and pedicure at home. The results last much longer than any other. I should apologize to her for having to deal with my feet. —Amy Griffin
DAY SPAS TO BOOK IMMEDIATELY
Juvenex Spa
25 West 32nd Street
This Koreatown spa is a great place to spend the afternoon or evening. Get a Korean body scrub and massage, followed by time in the sauna and steam room. I leave there feeling like a newborn baby. —Nicole Berrie
Sage + Sound
1481 Third Avenue
The newly opened Upper East Side wellness center is a one-stop shop for all things beauty and wellness, including nails, acupuncture, facials, brows, and massage. —Christina Grasso
Mandarin Oriental
80 Columbus Circle
The services are excellent, and it’s a sanctuary with breathtaking views. The perfect place to pamper and reward oneself. —Susan Fales-Hill
REFUELING STATIONS
Bonberi Mart
321 West 11th Street
My plant-based grab-and-go shop specializes in healthy food and housemade organic-nut-milk lattes. We also carry cult healthy brands from female-founded businesses, like Grass Roots Juicery organic raw juices and Knead Love Bakery gluten-free sourdough. Everything we make is vegan and organic and ties in with my Korean American heritage. My favorite is quinoa bibimbap and vegan ranch—an odd but perfect combo. —Nicole Berrie
Matchaful
359 Canal Street
A female-founded café with four locations in the city serving up the best iced matcha latte in town—I’ve tried them all—and other plant-based snacks. —Christina Grasso
Kroma
Order online at kromawellness.com
I love to start my day by making a latte from Kroma Beauty Matcha powder in the morning. It’s not a bad pick-me-up in the afternoon either. —Catherine Piercy
Dimes Deli
143 Division Street
After morning or afternoon yoga at Sky Ting in Chinatown, I always, always stop here for the freshest and most flavorful salads and bowls. Everything feels prepared with the most care and good vibes but without anything excess that’s not needed. —Catherine Piercy
The Well
2 East 15th Street
Let’s say you want a footrub followed by a mango-ginger-and-turmeric shot. Or a Biologique Recherche facial and grilled salmon with wild rice for lunch. Or a private sound-healing session and an Ayurvedic tea. The Well is a wellness paradise. It offers yoga and meditation classes, bodywork, and health coaching, plus a lovely all-day café that’s generally calm except at peak lunchtime. —Linda Wells
NOW START SWEATING!
Lola Fishbein
Garuda Pilates
Book online at lolafishbein.com
Lola is a magical movement specialist who will lead you in a one-hour class of yoga, Pilates, and Gyrotonics. Although based in London, she takes virtual workouts to a whole new level. Lola kept me and many others moving during the coronavirus. Join one of her group classes. —Catherine Piercy
The Ness
Thenessdigital.com
Remember mini-trampolines? They’re back, maybe because they combine low impact with high intensity. The Ness offers classes at its Tribeca studio, but I like the digital version, where I can kick and leap and mess up in the privacy of my apartment. The choreographed routines are broken down into easy bites, and there are classes for every fitness level. The moves are intricate enough to be interesting, enormously exhilarating, and joyful. And I haven’t fallen off once. —Linda Wells
Torch’d by Isaac
@isaacboots
A former dancer (West Side Story, and for Madonna) and choreographer, Isaac Calpito leads Torch’d, a zippy, tough, hilarious class, in person in a variety of locations (including Palm Beach and Bridgehampton) and virtually on Instagram Live @isaacboots. The virtual class is free, but Isaac encourages donations to No Kid Hungry (he raised more than $1 million dollars in less than a year). Kelly Ripa, Lisa Rinna, Vanessa Hudgens, and Jessica Chastain are enthusiastic regulars. —Linda Wells
Chad Levy
Chad Health and Development
Book via text at 917-647-9477
I work out five to six times a week, always in the morning, first thing, three days privately with Chad Levy, with an emphasis on weight training, flexibility, balance, and strength. Chad is a former dancer with a thorough understanding of anatomy and physiology. He tailors the workouts to your body and goals. —Susan Fales-Hill
Physique 57’s Virtual Studio
Physique57.com
I also take Physique 57’s Instagram classes. They’re varied and efficient, and you can take them at the appointed time or any time of your choosing. —Susan Fales-Hill
