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(Photo: Peter Berson) |
From Madonna to Valentino, nearly every celebrity in town seems to be turning to electric means to keep the years at bay—they’re all running to Tracie Martyn or Yasmine Djerradine to have their facial muscles zapped. Martyn uses wands to conduct the impulses, and Djerradine wields a pair of charged sponges. But other methods are gaining wattage, too. The therapists at Dorit Baxter wear an electricity-conducting glove that allows them to apply their magic jolts extremely dextrously—even around the eyes, which helps reduce puffiness brought on by humidity ($125; 47 West 57th Street; 212-371-4542). Aida Bicaj does a manual lift during which she applies microscopic algae to the skin, then stimulates the muscles and increases circulation with a series of pinching motions from the neck to the forehead (for those who want a double whammy, she’ll finish with her electronic machine). Her treatment has the added benefit of exfoliating weather-worn skin ($210; 629 Park Avenue, between 65th and 66th Streets; 212-772-6968). Shizuka New York’s lifting-facial begins with half an hour of deep pore cleansing before moving on to an hour of electric stimulation accompanied by a luxurious neck, shoulder, hand, and foot massage—great for pores clogged by suntan lotion ($180; 133 East 58th Street; 212-644-7400).
Dream Escape
Deepak Chopra, the spiritualist and author who has run wellness centers in California since 1996, will soon be bringing his good vibes to this coast. In October, he’s opening a Chopra spa in Vikram Chatwal’s new Dream hotel, at 210 West 55th Street. It may be a
spa, but don’t expect nail services or makeup applications: The facility will offer daily
yoga; classes in stress management, sleep improvement, and nutrition; and a full
range of ancient Indian Ayurvedic therapies. Some are performed by two therapists simultaneously, like the Abhayanga, a friction massage done with herbalized oils
and followed by a hot-towel rubdown, and the Udvartna, a full-body massage with
herbal paste to smooth the skin. The Gandharva requires only one therapist but a multitalented one—in addition to massaging you and stimulating your energy points, he plays Tibetan bowls, whose resonant music is meant to lull you into a meditative state. According to Dr. David Simon, the spa’s co-founder and medical director, these therapies have benefits beyond the obvious relaxation and exfoliation: “The intention is to help a person quiet down his mind so that the body’s inner pharmacy can generate the natural chemicals that reduce anxiety, eliminate depression, and awaken a sense of inner comfort and vitality.’’ And at $120 to $250 per session, it’s cheaper than psychoanalysis.
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(Photo: Peter Berson) |
beauty spots
Light Line
Lugging around a sack of makeup may become a thing of the past
if Stila has its way. The cosmetics line has condensed several basics into a perfect fall accessory—
a slick little faux-leather palette
in sage, plum, taupe, and auburn. Each Fearless Feminine kit ($30), the size of a coin purse, contains three shadows and a blush.
Due at Barneys, Bloomingdale’s, and Sephora in late August.
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(Photo: Peter Berson) |
Panting for Pink
The way shoppers (male and female) have been snatching up all things pink, you’d think they’d never seen the color before.
And there looks to be no letup come fall, when pink will supplant the traditional browns, reds, and burgundies on lips and cheeks around town. “This summer, pinks are light, sheer, and shimmery,’’ says Tasha Reiko Brown, a makeup artist currently working with Cargo. “In the fall, pink lips will have more pop—darker, deeper, and more pigmented.’’ Among the bounty: Chanel’s Hydrabase in Vanity ($23.50 at Saks); Estée Lauder’s Pure Color Lip Tint in Berry Kiss ($20 at Bloomingdale’s); Trish McEvoy’s Lip Gloss in X-Treme Pink ($19
at Henri Bendel); and Shiseido’s Makeup Perfecting Lipstick in Tahiti Pink ($20 at Macy’s).