What makes a good facial? For some, a luxurious, spa-grade experience ranks second to none; others prefer an array of high-tech devices over ambiance. For a majority of New Yorkers, however, the facialists themselves—elegant, impeccably dressed, and impossibly chic—have become the draw.
Spending 50-ish minutes with an “It” facialist has become NYC’s newest status symbol (as declared by Fashionista back in May). Cool city dwellers know exactly where the secret studios lie—tucked into West Village townhouses or hidden in plain sight on bustling SoHo streets—and visitors flock to NYC just for the chance to experience their complexion-enhancing magic. Despite some of these speakeasy-like locations, there’s no gatekeeping among the skincare-obsessed. My friends and colleagues wear their aestheticians’ names like a haute couture label (and some standing appointments are just as expensive), which begs the question: Which skin whisperer should you invest in?
Apologies for answering a question with another question, but I repeat: What makes a good facial? The answer is that it differs for everyone, and even consulting more than one pro isn’t so taboo. There are strengths in every studio; one expert may excel in micro-needling, while another provides massage work so relaxing you could classify it as an out-of-body experience. So, here, I present a field guide to NYC’s most coveted facialists (well, at least in my opinion). Rest assured your skin is in very good hands.
Elizabeth Grace Hand
Best for: “Angel skin” and a facialist that feels like a friend
Price range: $500 for a 60-minute facial ($300 with Hand’s other aestheticians)
Ask an in-the-know skincare aficionado where to get a facial, and there’s a 99.99% chance they’ll direct you to Elizabeth Grace Hand’s downtown oasis. Ställe Studios is basically a beauty lover’s Shangri-la, complete with chic Swedish interiors, vintage art, and Hermès china. But the main reason insiders, celebs (Jennifer Lawrence, Nell Diamond, and Alix Earle, to name a few), and editors flock to her facial beds—aside from the “angel” glow her treatments procure—is the genuine kinship she builds with each and every client. She might be performing extractions and slathering a manuka honey mask over my skin, but the whole time we’re swapping product recs and chatting about upcoming events, just like two beauty-minded BFFs. I even get up the gumption to ask her where she bought her cozy set (a mohair-and-wool sweater with matching maxi skirt) as we’re wrapping up my first appointment. Arakii, she tells me, which I added to my cart as soon as I hopped on the subway home. What can I say? I was quickly influenced by the It-girl facialist.
Of course, her bespoke treatments are top of the line. In fact, multiple WWW editors who have been graced by her hands consider Ställe Studios their number one facial spot in the city. Associate features editor Ana Escalante once told me she’s “never looked better” after leaving a session, and I’m inclined to agree. If you’re looking for an immediate glow-up, Hand is your girl. Days after my own facial, she sends me a DM: “How’s your skin today?” And I can’t help but feel like I’ve just made friends with the coolest skin specialist around.
Book a facial with Hand at stallestudios.com.
Brittany Blancato
Best for: Pre-event skin bootcamp
Price range: $500 to $2000
I’m getting married in eight months, and in order to whip my skin into tip-top shape, I’m giving Brittany Blancato a call. The master aesthetician is on the cutting-edge of innovative skin treatments and high-tech devices; she was one of the first pros in NYC to offer liquid micro-needling, a needle-free skin-rejuvenating treatment that originated from Korea. (That’s what I’m getting in the video above!) As she massaged the tiny microspears into my skin (which was a bit spicy, to be honest, but not totally painful), she was quick to rattle off the treatments I must consider next: Exion, a treatment that combines micro-needling technology with radiofrequency, and Triple MCH, which uses mesoporation (another micro-needling alternative), cryo, and heating technology to firm and smooth the skin. She has just about every machine, device, and tool you can dream of—and even ones you’ve yet to discover.
Yes, a visit with Blancato is pricey. However, each treatment is multilayered with a blend of advanced technologies. (Think dermaplaning, lasers, and custom serums infused with electric current, heat, and cryo for deeper absorption.) If a facial is the skincare equivalent of a five-star meal, Blancato’s facials are a full-on feast. That said, she’s a fantastic choice if you’re looking for a pro to shepherd you on your bridal skin journey (or any other event you have on the roster).
Book a facial with Blancato at Jason Emer, MD.
