Hi there, my darlings! Um, so...I've been a bad, bad blogger. I've been off visiting my sister in Bombay (ok fine, Mumbai, as the locals call it now) for the past few weeks and somewhere along the way I lost my mojo. I mean, every night, I told myself, "Self, must write a post. Just one post. Baby steps. ANY post will do." And as my rebellious self is often wont to do, it paid absolutely no attention. So me, myself and I spent 5 whole weeks just lounging around in my nightie, binge watching Supernatural on Amazon Prime Video (which is AWE-zum, by the way) and spending time with the lil one whenever she wasn't working. Oh, and I cooked. SO. MUCH. FOOD.
And so, while I was very diligently procrastinating, 5 weeks flew by and hardly a post went up. The shame, the horror. Now, I'm not going to begin this post by promising you the moon. Because, seriously, you, my beloved reader, probably don't want the moon. You just want a post or two! But I won't promise regular posting either because well, promises are meant to be broken. All I will say that lots and lots and LOTS of amazing products have made their way into my lightbox and my makeup stash so...there is hope.
In the meantime, I'm easing myself back in. Literally. Because this post is all about Spa Week and a little twist. As many of you know, I'm no longer in NYC. About this, I have mixed feelings. There was much about NYC that had worn me down (read; the exhausting commutes, the frenetic pace, the astounding price of rent and/or a cup of coffee) but there is also much I miss desperately about the Big City. As a blogger, almost all the best brands were there, everyday one came across the launch of a new brand and most importantly, there was always something fun happening. Take Spa Week, for example. While Spa Week is a national phenomena, with spas offering discounted prices across the US, it was always a special time for me, at least. Why? Simply because I always got to take advantage of a fabulous massage or facial at an even more fabulous price!
Needless to say then, when I was offered the opportunity to visit one of NYC's finest salons for a complimentary service in anticipation of Spa Week, I REALLY missed being in the city. But, I'm a glass half-full kinda girl and so I decided to see if I could arrange for a good friend to go in my stead. This way, I was able to gift her a lil treat and still be able to share the news, as well as her experience, with all of you. Win-win, if you ask me! Read on to learn all about my friend, Joanne's experience.
WHERE:
Bioxage Spa at Roosevelt Hotel
Introducing the science to beauty and wonder, and the art to mind and body leisure; Bioxage Spa offers extraordinary design and comfort amidst the busy and hustling city of New York. Bioxage Spa provides wide selection of services from classic manicure and pedicure, advanced facial treatments to specialized massage therapies. The spa’s signature treatments include Gold Mud and Bioxage Facials, Discovery and Deep Tissue Massages and it’s very own Bioxage Plus Manicure and Pedicure. Bioxage Spa also offers a variety of waxing services, exclusive Dead Sea Skincare products and complimentary refreshments.
You are invited to join us for an exceptional experience at Bioxage.
WHAT:
Oxygen Facial with LED Therapy
This facial treatment stimulates blood circulation and increases the delivery of essential nutrients to the skin. This facial is designed to make the skin look brighter, more hydrated & more radiant than before. Moreover, this facial provides an instant glowing skin after the treatment.
Joanne's Experience:
At this point in my life I would call my skin very well behaved. In the winter I get dry flaky spots on my face and I tend to oiliness all year round but there aren't any big surprises. My regular routine includes cleanser, toner, and moisturizer with weekly exfoliation. The occasional facial treatment is just a little extra oomph to clear out any of that deep down dirt or get rid of all of the winter dullness and dryness. I was excited for Bioxage's Deep Cleansing Facial to wake my skin up after winter. Bioxage spa is located in a convenient spot in Midtown, tucked under the Roosevelt Hotel. It's on a quieter street which makes inside a calming environment. I was greeted and asked to fill out a questionnaire about my skin and regular routine which is a standard for all spas. Then I was taken into the treatment room where I removed all clothes above my waist and got under the sheet on the bed (it's always weird to get under covers with your pants on but also weird to take them off when not asked). The room was warm and the lights dimmed for ambience. There was no music coming in to the room itself but I could hear a little of the music from the reception area, light tinkly piano instrumentals. There was no noise from street traffic so it was a calm and relaxing environment. The esthetician came back in to the room and started by tucking my hair away from my forehead with a terry cloth headband and examining my face under a bright light (keep your eyes closed for this part!). Then she applied a lotion cleanser and a foaming cleanser which smelled like cherry and vanilla. It was a stronger scent than I was used to for face products but not unpleasant. Next came an exfoliating cleanser with a nice little face massage. After that the steam was turned on and she left the room. I was left to marinate with the steam directed at my face for about 10 minutes. It's sort of like being in a sauna and it's pretty relaxing. When she came back she gave me an arm massage which reminded me that sitting at a computer all day really messes up your muscles. Next came extractions. They're not the most pleasant of experiences - there is some pain - but I don't feel like a facial is really worth the money unless they happen. The bright light was turned back on and directed at my face. She started out with a very light hand on my forehead but then really went to work on my nose. I guess those pore strips don't do enough to clear out dirt and oil. She did a few more on my chin and jawline and then applied what I suspect was an LED wand to kill bacteria or reduce wrinkles (not that I have any! haha). That made occasional zapping feelings like static shock which were startling but not outright painful. Then there was another lotion type of cleanser which was left on my face while she gave me a shoulder and neck massage. After the cleanser was removed she applied lotion and massaged it into my face. The total time was exactly an hour, they've really got the timing down. I left feeling very relaxed and clean, if not a tad bit greasy from the massage oil. Now the challenge is to not touch my face and ruin her hard work! Bioxage has a full menu of facials and massage treatments, as well as manicures, pedicures and waxing. I would definitely return to Bioxage for another facial or perhaps a massage.
She even took a selfie for us after her treatment! What a sport!
So there you have it, my darlings! Want a spa session at a price you can't beat? Treat yourself or a loved one to a Spa Week gift card! Here's a little bit about them and the offer!
About: In 2004, the Spa Week Event was launched in NYC with the goal to bring the spa & wellness experience to the masses by offering full service treatments, normally costing hundreds of dollars, for just $50 dollars each. It’s now a bi-annual event that takes place all over the US. We’ve expanded over the years with the launch of our Spa & Wellness Gift Cards which are accepted at over 9,000 spa & wellness locations across North America (including Yoga and Pilates studios). Besides being available online, you can purchase our gift cards in over 60,000 retail locations (including Target, Walmart, CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens and many more). A few of the popular locations that accept our cards include: Hilton, Hyatt, Four Seasons, Marriott and The Bar Method.
Celebrating thirteen years of spreading a health and wellness message around the globe, Spa Week is Back for it's biannual Spring Spa Week Event. From April 17th-23rd, indulge in Spa Week’s $50 full service treatments. Book your appointment now.
Just click on the image below to grab yours!
Are you looking forward to Spa Week? Tell me what service you're most looking forward to in the comments section below!
***Affiliate links present in this post.***