By Melissa Rogers

As shameful as it is, I have to admit that I have never really liked facials.  I’ve had about 3 or 4 different kinds of facials in my life, and I’ve never walked out thinking “Wow – I just HAVE to do that again!” As a member of the Spa Week staff, I know that may seem hard to believe, but I am much more of a scrub, massage, or VelaShape type of spa-goer.

With the approach of Spa Week, I started thinking to myself that maybe I don’t dislike all facials – maybe I just dislike the types of facial that I’ve tried in the past. Ever the optimist, I decided to give it one last shot – after all, it’s only $50 during Spa Week – what could be a better time to try something new at the spa?

Enter Saloni Threading Spa, located in the easily accessible Union Square neighborhood of NYC (just a few blocks from Spa Week HQ).  For Spa Week, they are offering a 60 Min Ayurveda Shaffali Facial.  I called the spa, and Smita (the owner) explained to me that an Ayurveda Facial is different than a regular facial – of course it would include all the same steps of a basic facial: cleansing, toning, exfoliation, steaming, extraction and massage – BUT she also explained that during an Ayurveda facial, there is a much bigger emphasis on massage. Smita told me that Ayurveda strives to connect your body’s outer layer to you inner and overall mind-body health, and so the technique uses pressure point massage on the face and ears to re-establish the body’s energy flow and stimulate the healthy body functioning.  Needless to say, I was sold at the words “bigger emphasis on massage.”

With my appointment all set, I made my way over to the Saloni Spa. As I walked in, I smelled the sweet scent of light incense and was met with a quaint, intimate setting – which, quite frankly, is priceless in the concrete jungle that is NYC.  Tree, my esthetician, greeted me and led me into the facial room. She told me that she would be using the all-natural Shaffali Skincare product line, which combines Ayurveda and Aromatherapy. Already I was getting excited – it was like two treatments for the price of one.

I lay on the table, ready to begin my service, and Tree began to gently cleanse my skin automatically making my face feel better. She proceeded to analyze, exfoliate, and steam my skin.  A few minor extractions were needed, but not many (thankfully!).  Then came the massage – oh, the massage! – I have to say that Tree’s hands are magical as they glided along the edge of my hairline to my temples.  She made sure the hit all the major pressure points (that I had no idea ever existed before) all around my face, neck and shoulders. Once the massage was over, she applied a Shaffali Ayurveda protein mask, and left me to relax for approximately 10 minutes.  Needless to say when she came back in the room, I had drifted off into the land of make believe, and was fast asleep on the table.  She removed the mask, and applied a light and sweet smelling moisturizer to my skin. When everything was done, she gave me tips on how to care for my skin at home – which is always helpful to get tips from a pro.

In the end, I have to admit, that I left the spa feeling both relaxed and refreshed (not to mention clean). My experience at Saloni helped me see that my predisposition to dislike facials was unfounded – I just needed to find the one that best suited my “spa needs.”  Saloni is also offering eyebrow threading for Spa Week – I would have done that too, but my lunch break was over ;)

Spa Week Sneak Peak: Saloni Threading Spa is extending their Spa Week until October 31^st, so make sure to book an appointment before they are all gone.  You can contact them here:

Saloni Threading Spa
853 Broadway, Suite 612
New York, NY 10003
866.340.7711 or 212.254.6386

Book for $50: 60 Min Ayurvedic Shaffali Facial, Eyebrow Threading and Brazilian Bikini Sugaring/Waxing, or 3 Eyebrow Threading Sessions and 1 Lip Threading Session

Image Courtesy of blindgossip.com