TIME FOR AWAKENING
Rejuvenate Body, Mind & Spirit
By Kristie Kellahan
For all its beauty and cozy opportunities to cuddle up with a good book, winter in New York City can take its toll on everything from our skin to the pep in our step. Now that the chill is coming to an end, embrace the moment to rehydrate, rebalance, and renew with these springtime solutions.
WORTH THE SPLURGE
Indulge in a bespoke treatment at one of the city’s best hotel spas, and you’ll be in good company: The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel New York Downtown is a favorite with the fashion and entertainment set.
Guests are invited to arrive early at the chic spa in Tribeca, so they can warm up and de-stress before their appointment with a visit to the sauna and steam room. The facilities are impressive, with a cozy waiting area set up with healthy snacks, herbal tea, and fruit. Ask, and a glass of Prosecco is all yours.
From the full-service menu of treatments, we love the Bespoke Aromatherapy massage by Soveral. Internationally recognized as a leading provider of organic, pure essential oils, Soveral harnesses the healing power of aromatherapy. In consultation with a therapist—Four Seasons boasts the best and most caring in the business—guests select three of the high-quality essential oils from the Soveral collection. Drawn to a nurturing, sensual, and calming treatment, I opted for lavender, ylang-ylang, and tangy citrus oils. Blended, they smell divine, like a warm hug on a chilly day. The deep tissue massage relaxed me to the point of drifting gently off to sleep. It’s worth noting the adjustable massage beds at the Spa at Four Seasons are fabulous, ergonomically designed to cradle the body in a supportive way that felt just right. I was delighted to receive a bottle of the bespoke oil blend to take home, a lovely reminder in the days to come of a few hours of bliss. Info: fourseasons.com/newyork/downtown.
TAKE THE PLUNGE
Follow the ancient wisdom of Greek, Roman, and Ottoman wellness traditions, and they’ll lead you to an oasis of tranquility on a side street in Tribeca. Those philosophers of old knew the life-affirming benefits of a good, long soak in therapeutic waters. Aire Ancient Baths is the perfect spot to soak away the winter blues and emerge renewed, like a butterfly from its cocoon. A former textile factory (built in 1883), the subterranean spa is lit by candles and is blissfully quiet. Visitors dip into pools of wildly varying temperatures—from ice cold to steamy hot—before floating in a highly salinized pool that mimics the Dead Sea experience. Men and women soak together, and bathing suits are required. Add a massage for the complete experience. Info: beaire.com.
Continue your routine at home with these luxurious products.
THE HOTTEST TREND
Jump on board the CBD train and enjoy the benefits of the hottest trend for 2020 in beauty and wellness. CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of over 80 compounds extracted from the Cannabis Sativa plant. While it definitely won’t get you high (nope, not even a little bit), CBD is the new darling of the wellness industry for its extraordinary anti-inflammatory properties. Touted as the answer to everything from anxiety to tennis elbow and psoriasis, CBD is now being infused into massage oil, wrinkle cream, mascara, and more. For a luxurious, rejuvenating treatment at home, try Dermaquest’s CBD Therapeutic Massage Cream. This intensely hydrating cream will soften up winter skin, while the CBD factor aids in the relief of muscle aches and pains. Info: cbddermaquest.com.
CROWNING GLORY
Harsh winter conditions can leave hair feeling dry and lackluster. Treat your scalp and hair to some nourishment with an at-home hydrating mask, then bounce into spring with rejuvenated locks. INOAR is a leading Brazilian hair care company with a brand-new Go Vegan Collection. Guaranteed cruelty-free, the vegan product range offers shampoo, conditioner, and intensive treatment masks that get results. We love the Go Vegan Hydration & Nutrition mask, a blend of coconut oil and shea butter that is supremely hydrating. Info: inoarus.com.
TAKE IT OFF
Slough away the dull, rough skin of winter and face the new season with a glowing complexion. Mangosteen fruit is the new superfood in the quest for skin resurfacing. Prized for generations by women in Asian countries, the fruit encourages skin cell turnover and minimizes pores for a radiant glow. Eminence Organic Skin Care has embraced the wonder fruit in its new collection, featuring the Mangosteen Daily Resurfacing Cleanser and Concentrate. For even better results, consider the Mangosteen Lactic Pro Peel, a professional peel that’s available exclusively at spas. Info: eminenceorganics.com.