“You are so young!” Mzia, my esthetician at The Spa at Equinox in Scarsdale, exclaimed. I’d just confessed the source of my age-appropriate dermis, which, admittedly, is blessed by all the benefits of youth. Wrinkle-free or no, however, even quarter-century-old complexions like mine suffer from sun-induced and everyday surface damage. The spa’s Blueberry Regenerating Facial treats these and other woes, for a sweet, end-of-season restart.
The service typically starts with steam, but Mzia was careful to consider my sensitive, day-after-beach face, personalizing each step throughout to my combination-skin needs (especially comforting after recently conquering my fear of facials). An 8-year Equinox vet, the former surgery-room nurse is also an artist—she might even touch up unruly brows.
After cleansing, conditioning, and exfoliating ministrations—a SkinCeuticals cranberry oil, when applied, felt silky and soothing, while the standard black- and whitehead removal was satisfyingly thorough—it was time for the blueberry part, a deliciously juicy-smelling mask with “magic” properties, according to Mzia. Specifically, the wet stuff contains antioxidants and collagen to tone, intensely hydrate, reduce inflammation/redness, and renew suppleness.
And while my skin truly looked and felt amazing afterwards, the reason I really can’t wait to go back in a few months is the muscle-melting, neck-shoulder-chest hot stone massage given graciously while that magical mask is absorbed.
Info: 50 minutes, $200; equinox.com
