Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa in NYC

The Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon and Spa has a tony address on Fifth Avenue, a rich history, and a celebrity colorist Brad Johns (still working and famous for his buttery blondes). It was the first spa in New York City (founder Elizabeth Arden was a yoga devotee even in the 1920s) and for many decades going through "the red door" meant being transported to a glamourous world of health and beauty treatments.

But the luxury New York spa world is considerably more crowded now, so I wanted to find out how Red Door Spa is holding up against newer hotels spas that are both more lavish and more expensive. Other spas may offer a more luxurious atmosphere and contemporary amenities, but Red Door still has a commitment to solid professionalism and depth of services that no one else really matches.

Where else you can get a massage, facial, medical spa treatments like Botox Restylane and Juvéderm, and finish off with a cut, color and style at a top-notch salon?

Red Door Spa NYC also has a full menu of waxing (including Brazilians and threading services), and a master eyebrow shaper in Angela Ene, who worked for many years with eyebrow icon Eliza Petrescu.

Legendary esthetician Cornelia Zicu, formerly of Cornelia Day Resort, is now Worldwide Chief Creative Officer for Red Door Spas, ensuring a high-level of customer service at 31 locations nation-wide. She helps design treatments and educates Red Door Spa estheticians.

Red Door Spa, New York City is a multi-level building, but most of the spa services are on the 9th floor. In the women’s area the changing rooms are separate from 28 Red Door lockers, and in the lounge were two red plush velvet chairs, veggie chips (covered by a napkin), cranberry juice, water and a tea assortment. Other decorative touches include smooth red rocks in wooden bowls and scented oil sticks.

This involves gentle, mechanical exfoliation that is said to reduce fine lines, wrinkles, minor acne scarring and discoloration. But mine was anything but a typical facial. I was shocked when Cornelia Zicu herself -- who doesn't gives facials to customers anymore -- showed up to personally work her magic on my face. Cornelia has amazing hands. Alas, you can get a Cornelia-trained esthetician at Red Door, but not Cornelia.

After assessing my skin, Cornelia customized my facial -- something that is done for every guest, she explained. My skin is dry, so she chose a flower petal microdermabrasion and a session with a Smooth Sculpt machine, basically a hand-held suction device that is said to stimulates oxygen, blood flow, and collagen growth.

As Cornelia worked her beauty prowess, she explained the steps involved in caring for my skin. “The lymphatic system is the star system in our body,” Cornelia said. “It purifies, eliminates toxins and keeps you in good health when running properly.” She emphasized the importance of drinking plenty of water every day in order to maintain hydrated skin healthy organs.

“The experience and result should always benefit the guest,” she added. She even noticed my extra stress level and made sure my shoulders were massaged. Cornelia noticed my broken capillaries and brown spots on my forehead and planned the facial components with a goal of achieving and restoring healthy skin.

A zinc-based foaming lotion was placed on my face for about five minutes, covered by a warm cloth. The purpose of this was to have the serum absorbed into the pores and help reduce redness after extractions, she said.

Microdermabrasion, which occurs prior to extractions, involved an organic aromatherapy she created for Red Door. It was based with crushed flower petals (rose and lavender) and tea tree oil. Your skin’s condition will dictate the kind of potion is used. Because my skin is sensitive and had redness in places, she also did a lactic peel.

After the extractions came an application of a collagen mask to improve elasticity and skin plumping. The mask was removed with a wet, warm cloth after which magnolia spray was spritzed. She also used Prevage, an anti-aging product that can be used for the eyes, face and neck. Moist, warm towels were again used to gently remove the cream from my hands and feet which had been resting in warm gloves.

Next came the Smooth Sculpt machine, which can be used on the body as well as the face. The sensation was akin to being vacuumed and when the tool was pressed too close to my jaw line, it was not very comfortable. I didn’t care for the noise either.

When I have a facial, I don’t want to feel like I’m having a small operation. When I mentioned the discomfort on my jaw area, Cornelia changed the settings, for which I was truly grateful. “If it hurts a little that means it’s working,” she said jokingly. I think she was joking.

The goal for Cornelia and fellow estheticians? Three Wows! “I think every guest should at say the end of the treatment at least three ‘Wows', and if we don’t hear that then we didn’t deliver."

Another Red Door policy is to never ask how a service was. “If it was good, they should volunteer that information. If a guest just pays and says thank you, we should feel shame and immediately contact the guest and ask what can we do to have you want to come back."

So Red Door may be a little old-school, but its policies and customer service never feel stale or go out of style. Wow, wow, wow.

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon & Spa At A Glance:

Type of Spa: day spa and salon
691 Fifth Avenue at 54th Street
New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212)546-0200
Elizabeth Arden