Yahoo Lifestyle Out of the Dozens and Dozens of Facials I’ve Had in NYC, These 10 Are the Absolute Best
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One of the best perks of being a beauty editor is getting to experience facials—from Hydrafacials to laser facials to a good ol’ cleanse with extractions—all in the name of beauty research. If a facial exists, Cosmo’s beauty team has tried it (I mean we have a combined total of 30 years in the beauty industry). But a great facial isn’t just about the spa (although a beautiful space never hurts)—it’s about the hands behind the treatment. Lucky for us, New York City is home to some of the most elite aestheticians in the game.
These skincare experts bring top-tier skincare knowledge, a personalized approach, and cutting-edge beauty technology to every treatment. If you’re in the tri-state area and your skin needs a reset—or you just want to indulge in some self-care—keep scrolling for the best facialists to book an appointment ASAP. And if you’re an out-of-towner, be sure to add them to your NYC beauty bucket list for your next visit.
Madalaina Conti
The space: A high-rise apartment on Park Avenue South, with a pure zen atmosphere and tons of natural light
What to go for: A personalized acne-friendly facial with extractions, radiofrequency, and LED
Starting price: $300
Our review: “After two years of unsuccessfully battling hormonal acne with spironolactone, I was ready to give up—until I had my first facial with Madalaina. She took a deep dive into my lifestyle, skincare routine, and habits, taking a truly holistic approach to healing my skin. Specializing in acne-prone and problematic skin, she customizes every treatment, incorporating everything from peels and masks to buccal massages and microcurrent therapy. Her space is pure aesthetic perfection—curated playlists, a heated facial bed, and dreamy lighting set the scene for ultimate relaxation (and post-facial glow selfies). I can confidently say that Madalaina and all of her knowledgable product recs were the savior for my stubborn breakouts.” —Jasmine Hyman, assistant beauty editor
Miranda Sturce
The space: Miranda Sturce works out of an Upper East Side doctor’s office, so the vibes are bougie for sure
What to go for: A sculpting face massage coupled with a deep-cleaning HydraFacial
Starting price: $300
Our review: “I’ve had countless Hydrafacials, but my one with Miranda Sturce was by far the best I’ve ever had. She tailors and tweaks the treatment so it’s perfectly suited for your skin at any given moment and combines it with gua sha, LED, and a light peel for extra glow. Also, Miranda is quite literally the nicest person ever. I showed up to my appointment with the worst breakout of my life and there was no judgment on her end—just some TLC and quality skincare advice. And, ofc, she followed up via text to see how my skin was doing post-appointment too.” —Lauren Balsamo, beauty director
Samantha Susca
The space: Susca is the head aesthetician at Casa Cipriani, a celeb-favorite hotel and spa on the water in lower Manhattan.
What to go for: In-depth extractions and a customized approach to treating everything, including hormonal acne
Starting price: $270
Our review: “Not only is the experience at Casa Cipriani just fabulous—like, will I run into Taylor Swift on my walk in? Maybe!—but the facials are always soooo comprehensive. Samantha is a master at extractions. In a few days, my skin is significantly clearer. She’s also a wealth of knowledge about treating acne and skin issues, especially through a holistic lens. She’s given me so many recommendations to help my hormonal acne over the years.” —Beth Gillette, beauty editor
Edyta Jarosz
The space: Jarosz is based out of Shafer Clinic, one of the most prestigious plastic surgery and derm offices in the U.S.
What to go for: A hyper-customized treatment that focuses on calming inflammation
Starting price: Upon request
Our reviews: “Edyta and I go way back. She gave me my first real facial when I was just a baby beauty assistant at Cosmo 12 years ago. Every time I see Edyta, I leave with the glowiest skin of my life. My skin is visibly less red and blotchy and my breakouts are always soothed. Every facial with her is a little different to accommodate whatever’s going on with your skin then, but I always look forward to the LED panel with oxygen infusion that she does at the end of every facial.” —LB
My skin has never felt smoother than after my DiamondGlow facial with Edyta. She exfoliated, hydrated, and—not to mention—sculpted my face to absolute perfection with the device. For anyone whose skin needs a full cleanse with tons of moisture, visit Edyta ASAP. She also finishes off the appointment with an LED session and a light massage, which was the cherry on top of the most refreshing hour.” —JH
Danuta Mieloch
The space: Mieloch is the founder of Rescue Spa, a super chic spot in the Flatiron District
What to go for: One of the Biologique Recherche facials
Starting price: $325
Our review: “I saw Danuta for a series of facials while I was pregnant and dealing with some seriously bad acne along my chin and jawline. Her treatments (which include microdermabrasion and a lifting massage) and the products she sent me home truly helped turn my skin around. Upon her recommendation, I started pressing a cotton round saturated in her D22 Tonic (it’s like a clean version of P50) into my skin in a quick rolling motion every night, and within a few weeks, my clogged pores basically disappeared.” —LB
Sofie Pavitt
The space: Her studio in lower Manhattan gives minimalist with a cozy ’80s aesthetic
What to go for: The deep-clean facial and her acne program
Starting price: $175
Our review: “You might know Sofie Pavitt from her latest Sephora line packed with acne-friendly formulas—or as NYC’s acne-whisperer. Her hands (and legendary extractions) have worked their magic on celebs like Lorde and Zendaya, and her Chinatown studio is just as impressive. You can get custom facials, peels, and high-tech blemish-busting treatments designed to transform your skin. She also has a program where clients can undergo a personalized plan to tackle their acne, and the results in just a few months are nothing short of incredible.” —JH
Monica David
The space: A low-key and chill private studio in Queens
What to go for: A super-deep facial massage that gets out all the knots in your jaw (and an astrology reading)
Starting price: $350
Our review: “Monica, by and large, is the best facial massage you’ll get in New York. I said it! She has magic hands that seriously help relax even my extremely tense facial muscles. And she’s also an astrologer, so if you’re an astro girl, pls bring your birth time and talk over everything in your chart with her during your session. She gave me a tip about my love life based on my birth chart that actually blew my mind.” —BG
Raquel Medina-Cleghorn
The space: A minimalist and trendy spa studio in lower Manhattan
What to go for: Detailed information on skincare products and ingredients and how to use them in your routine
Price: Starting at $525
Our review: “Every time I go to Raquel’s studio—which is so beautiful, by the way—I take home so much information about skincare and what I should be using in my routine. She creates a tailored approach based on your skin needs and uses all the techy gadgets like LED light and high-frequency. And I always leave feeling prepared to go home and overhaul my skincare routine based on her recommendations.” —BG
Josie Bisetti
The space: Bisetti’s intimate studio brings all the wellness vibes, complete with crystals and healing sounds
What to go for: A lymphatic drainage facial
Starting price: $200
Our review: “Josie gave me the best lymphatic drainage facial of my life. I left my appointment considerably less puffy (and as a result, more sculpted looking) and my dark circles were even less noticeable too. She has magic, healing hands that leave you feeling refreshed and your skin more wide-awake.” —LB
Elizabeth Grace Hand
The space: Hand is the founder of Ställe Studios, which is the epitome of Scandinavian minimalism
What to go for: The glowiest, freshest skin of your life
Starting price: $300
Our review: “From the moment Elizabeth first touched my skin, I knew we would be entering a long-term committed relationship. She doesn’t blast your precious lil angel skin with a gazillion actives and hope for the best. Instead, her approach is super gentle and my skin always thanks me for it. I leave looking like a dewy baby every time, especially thanks to her breadth of skincare recs.” —BG
Why trust Cosmo?
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo where she covers all the best beauty treatments, products, and devices. For this story, she, along with Cosmo’s beauty director Lauren Balsamo and beauty editor Beth Gillette used their combined experience of more than 30 years in the industry to select the best facials in New York City. They narrowed them down by treatment options, estheticians, and the best overall spa experience for your money.
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