While many facials claim to provide restorative, almost magical age-busting properties, the Timeless Facial at Oasis delivered the goods for me. Having lead esthetician Sandra Lakatos explain each step was a bonus and gave me a heightened respect for the know-how a good esthetician must possess.
An Intimate Spa
The Affinia Dumont is a cozy hotel whose lobby includes a bookshelf with spa accoutrements, letting you know you’re in the right place for a treatment. Take the elevator to the second floor and you’ll exit to the spa, where you’ll find a small front desk.
Oasis at Affinia Dumont's women’s locker is adequately sized, with 30 lockers (although the number 30 was missing from the door) and two sinks.
It does have a sauna and steam room, but barely enough room for two. Besides, you didn’t come here for the steam, did you? Oasis is more about high-quality services than lavish facilities. This location has two skin care rooms, four massage rooms and one wet room for body wraps and scrubs.
The relaxation lounge is co-ed and quite comfortable, with six chairs and plumped pillows. Soft lighting and spa music created a calming ambience. For snacks there were dried apricots, prunes, cranberries and almonds to go with orange-infused water and tea. Surprisingly, a slew of old People magazines were the only reading material. Not one spa-related publication could be found - an easy enough thing to fix.
A Great Anti-Aging Facial
But before I could read the dated celebrity news, Sandra collected me for my Timeless Facial, billed as a powerful firming treatment incorporating Vitamins A and C and antioxidants to treat fine lines and wrinkles. It uses a line I hadn't heard of, called Cosmedix.
Sandra initially cleansed my face to remove make-up, then followed with an exfoliating cleanser that contained lactic acid to exfoliate the skin. After a soothing facial massage, she applied a facial mask of collagen, vitamin C, and other anti-oxidants to treat hyper-pigmentation and fine lines. While that was on my face, she gave me a hydrating arm massage, placed my hands in herbal mitt warmers that felt delightful, and massaged my neck and shoulders.
Once the mask was removed, she applied a Radiance Serum, which she said combats free radicals and helps prevent aging, and moisturizer. The science lesson continued about the importance of reducing sun exposure and adhering to a good skin care regimen.
Leaving the sanctuary of this Oasis wasn’t easy, and I was advised to moisturize day and night and do a weekly mask and of course, drink lots and lots of water. At the conclusion, I was given a form indicating what products I should use at home (and could purchase there). Bottom line: Oasis takes its facials very seriously and this was one of the very finest I’ve ever experienced. And, frankly, I’ve had a few.
More Treatments at Oasis Day Spa
Oasis offers the same facials at both NYC locations, and you can choose from organic seaweed facial, collagen facial, and an assortment of others. Other popular treatments at Oasis include the aromatherapy massage, which combines the basic Swedish massage with specially blended oils, and hot stone massage. Prices are reasonable for Manhattan, and they can go even lower if you look for its web-only specials, which usually run Monday-Friday.
Oasis Day Spa At A Glance:
Type of Spa: dayspa Locations:
Oasis Day Spa at the Affinia Dumont Hotel, 150 East 34th Street between Lexington & 3rd Avenues, NY, NY. Tel. 212-545-5254.
Oasis On Park, 1 Park Avenue between 32nd and 33rd Streets, NY, NY. Tel. 212-254-7722.
Oasis Westchester, Saw Mill River Parkway to Exit 16, 50 Livingstone Ave, Dobbs Ferry, NY. Tel. 914-409-1900.
As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary treatments for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
