New York Spas: Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon and Spa

A Spa Site Guest Article by Naomi Serviss, a freelance travel/entertainment writer.

Trickling waterfalls promote a sense of calm on every floor. The circular red confidante is the hub of the Red Door's second floor "Grand Salon."  Luxurious pedicure experience includes a foot soak in a fragrant bath of of warm water sprinkled with fresh rose petals. Contact Information • Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon & Spa 691 Fifth Avenue at 54th Street New York, NY 10022 Phone: (212)546-0200  Fax: (212) 546-0304, 0253 website More NY Spas • Day Spas in Manhattan - Downtown (Below 34th Street) • Day Spas in Manhattan - Midtown (between 34th and 59th streets) • Day Spas in Manhattan - Uptown (above 59th street) • More Day Spas in New York • Resort, Destination and Hotel Spas in New York Other Articles by Naomi Serviss • Boston’s Giuliano Spa • New York Spas: The Greenhouse Day Spa • The Spa at the Disney Institute • Greenhouse Spa at Portofino Bay Hotel Universal Studios • Spa Treatment: reprinted with permission from WE Magazine, the lifestyle magazine for people with disabilities, their families and friends • Montreal Spa Dreams

Finding a New York spa is a pretty simple task. Yellow pages, magazines, advertising. All list a variety of spa facilities from the East Village to the Upper West Side. The trick is finding a good one. Fortunately, I’m prepared to do your research for you. After all, it’s a noble calling and it’s my pleasure to do so. No, it really is  my pleasure.

First stop is the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon and Spa, a narrow building squeezed in the tony Fifth Ave. address at 54th St. The first floor appears to be a simple cosmetics outlet. But don’t be fooled. This is a spa, just laid out vertically rather than horizontally. Head straight back to the elevator for the 9th floor and prepare to be pampered.

The space might be a tad tiny, but the treatments more than make up for the lack of elbow room. An attendant will give you two wooden hangers, a neatly bundled robe and a red plastic bag for your shoes. You disrobe in a space so small, even Clark Kent would be challenged. Instead of being able to store your stuff, you check your clothes and lug your personal things with you. A minor inconvenience.

The newly renovated space is decorated in warm earth tones of green and cream, with the occasional burst of red (the signature color). Lighting is subdued and gentle new age-y music helps transport you away from the bustle of 5th Avenue.

I opted for the hour-long Paraffin Body Wrap ($125), new to me. It sounded great in the brochure: beginning with a dry brush exfoliation, followed by an herbal sloughing cream (gommage), and a quick in-room shower. “Kat,” my sweet-natured therapist, massaged essential oils it into my skin. That part was great. Then Kat hand-applied a hot paraffin mixture, and wrapped me  in a gauze cocoon with a layer of mylar foil underneath to keep in the warmth.

She left for about 15 minutes, 10 of which were exquisitely relaxing. The last five were not. In fact, I got a little claustrophobic and the heat became uncomfortable. I sat up and loosened the waxy wrap, which came off easily with the gauze. Soon after Kat returned bringing a much-appreciated glass of cold water. Maybe it was the over-heated room, or the cloying sensation of the wax. Whatever it was, this treatment was not for me and I can’t recommend it to anymore who might have problems with heat or wraps.

The next treatment, a Desert Stone Massage ( 60 minutes, $100) was a delight. This Native American-based treatment uses warm flat river stones and the benefits are supposed to increase muscle flexibility and relaxation.  Kat applied the stones as tools, kneading and stroking, sometimes using two at once along my back.

If you have to choose one treatment at to this spa, go for the brand new Olive Oil Pedicure (50 minutes $70). According to the buzz in the salon, the likes of magazine beauty editors, celebs (think “Sex in the City” folk) and others have flocked for appointments since its introduction 3 months ago. If you’re lucky enough to have Rodica Constantin, take care of you, count your blessings. This extraordinary artist (only an artist could transform my beauty-challenged feet into something I would show on the beach), expertly applied this multi-step procedure while explaining every step.

First she brought out a large stainless steel bowl, filled with warm water and topped by red rose petals. The site is not equipped with the standard pedicure chairs so she placed it right on the floor of the nail salon and began her work. She dropped a specially created olive oil-based tablet into the water and a delicious lime-infused olive oil scent gently wafted in the air.

After the initial soaking, she applied a lipo-pomade exfoliation cream, which dancers love, said Rodica. Using a disposable scrubbing pad, she expertly removed dry skin with this concoction made of olive, sunflower seed, macadamia, grape seed and sweet almond oils. Not surprisingly, I started to crave lunch. Then an olive oil foot mask was applied and two plastic bags were placed over my feet. If that wasn’t enough pampering, she massaged my feet and calves with another delicious cream. She wrapped up the service with an olive oil satin body spray, tinged with carrot, ivy and horse chestnut oils.

Then it was polish time and we both agreed on a deep red. This was the only product she applied that was sans olive oil. Buffed, exfoliated, massaged and calm, I took my leave in typical New York fashion: rushing for a train home. Which I missed.

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