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Where to unwind: Le Cachet Holistic Day Spa
Rejuvenate with a thermal cocoon.
Le Cachet Holistic Body & Skin Care Day Spa for Men and Women
By Michelle L. Tompkins
As ideal spa day consists of helpful people, peaceful surroundings, a clean environment and treatments that relax and rejuvenate dull skin, sore feet and weary muscles. Le Cachet Salon at 39th East 30th Street has the facilities, the know-how and the spa packages available that are required at any high level spa/salon, but they have something unique in the spa business--a special treatment that presented results that are still tangible weeks after receiving it.
I digress for a moment? As relaxing as a facial can be, it can only be considered to be a success if the skin has a radiance about it that last for days afterwards. The facialist needs to be knowledgeable enough to use the right mix of cleansing, exfoliating and maintenance materials unique to the skin type of the person on the table. A mediocre facial may feel good at the time, but the results are gone within 24-hours of the procedure. A terrific facial usually includes extractions, which are not very comfortable to have done, but the skin is visibly better off when someone actually manipulates the skin to get rid of blackheads and other imperfections.
The momentary discomfort of the extractions is worth the pain because the results are visible for days afterwards. At Le Cachet Spa, they have a unique in NYC procedure that is moderately unpleasant, but texture and suppleness of my skin have not been better since I wore a onesie.
Before even setting eyes on the Rejuv Thermal Cocoon, senior manager Laszlo happily gave me a tour of the pristine facilities and proudly told me a bit about the specifics of this spa. His knowledge was impressive, and his enthusiasm for his staff and the equipment was delightful.
As a general rule, I take the salon's signature treatment and a small common maintenance procedure like an eye-brow waxing, in this case threading, so I can compare between other spas. While this spa had many signature treatments, the Thermal Cocoon is uncommon in NYC, this four-part experience is what I received.
The Thermal Cocoon looks like white, metal new-age spaceship that has a special hole for the head to peek out while traveling back to this galaxy. I was terrified at the thought of entering this vessel, but I felt better when I saw the spa workers lift up the tube and reveal a friendly-enough looking cedar bench hidden beneath the tube. After I stripped down and put on my robe and towel, the helpers quickly got me fully naked and put me in the opaque water-powered machine.
The first thing that happens once you enter the Thermal Cocoon is that the tube is filled with steam and the temperature rises at a steady rate.
Note: There are instruments on the tube that show the vital signs of the person inside the tube so it is impossible to go too hot. One caveat that is my own problem. My definition of hell is a hot-humid-New York-August-trapped-in-a-small-air-condition less-space.
Hello Dante's third ring? I have arrived. So, this may not have been the best pampering treatment for me to sign up for. Still, for about an hour the moist heat in the tiny tube continued to circulate around my body. I could feel the impurities exit my skin, but at the same time, I was starting to get a wee bit claustrophobic. Now, the hotter you can stand the steam, the more impurities escape your body, but I was grateful when the steam stopped and the tube was filled with pure oxygen instead.
The oxygen heals the skin and regenerates new skin cells, but the temperature in the tube was still very hot for my tastes and I was not at my most comfortable. Then, a light mist of microscopic, nutrient rich seaweed is sprayed over the body creating a special wrap. This set into the skin for awhile, and though the smell wasn't great, it felt good seeping into my toxin-free body. The final step was a hot aqua-massage that gradually gets cooler. It's a refreshing, tingling sensation having the jets of water wash off the seaweed and the make the skin feel incredibly fresh. When the water finally got cool, I was in heaven.
After the procedure ended, I still was a bit out-of-sorts because I had to endure a cramped, sticky, hot space for what felt like a long time, but my skin felt so soft and clean that I quickly got over my edginess. After dressing, which took a while since my limbs were so relaxed, I went out to get my eyebrows threaded.
I must say, the threader did the best job ever. She was quick, precise and my sensitive skin was left with very little redness. I was so pleased that I bragged about her to my friends just hours after leaving the spa.
Even though I personally loathe heat and humidity, I am left with a completely positive experience at Le Cachet partially because of the great people, but really because of the results. Even now, weeks later, I am still able to feel the difference when I got out of the shower. The entire texture of my skin is different and that is worth an hour or so of moderate discomfort in order to get so much out of it.
Le Cachet offers all sorts of packages for all spa-going palates, but the Thermal Cocoon makes a lasting difference that you can feel.
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