The 10 Best NYC Facials: Beauty Editor-Approved Spots and Treatments

Discover New York City’s top facial experts, holistic approaches, and signature treatments for every skin concern, handpicked by beauty editors.

By Medha deb
Created on

The 10 Best Facials in New York City, According to Beauty Editors

Searching for the perfect facial in NYC can feel overwhelming, given the abundance of clinics, spas, and renowned aestheticians. To help you navigate the city’s ever-expanding world of custom skincare, we’ve tapped the latest beauty editor picks, holistic experts, and luxury spa insiders. Whether you’re seeking solutions for hormonal acne, a sculpted glow, or simply some deeply relaxing pampering, these 10 facialists deliver New York’s best skin transformations for every need, budget, and skin type.

Table of Contents

Madalaina Conti

Location: High-rise apartment on Park Avenue South

Atmosphere: Pure zen, awash in natural light, curated playlists, and a heated facial bed for next-level comfort. The design is minimal and airy, maximizing relaxation and post-treatment selfie lighting.

Specialty: Personalized, acne-friendly facials with a holistic approach that factors in your lifestyle, daily habits, and long-term wellness.

Treatments:

  • Custom extractions
  • Radiofrequency skin tightening
  • LED light therapy
  • Peels and masks tailored to skin needs
  • Specialty: Buccal massage and microcurrent therapy for sculpting

Starting Price: $300

Beauty Editor Review:

“After two years battling hormonal acne, Madalaina examined my lifestyle and skincare routine for a truly holistic healing plan. Her detailed customizations—using everything from buccal massage to microcurrent—yielded visible skin improvement after just one session. The entire experience was relaxing and tailored, making it a savior for persistent breakouts.”

Samantha Susca at Casa Cipriani

Location: Casa Cipriani Spa, a Lower Manhattan celebrity-favorite overlooking the water

Atmosphere: Glamorous, hotel-style luxury with a private, exclusive feel—the kind of place you just might bump into an A-list celeb during your visit.

Specialty: Masterful extractions and holistic skincare for difficult, recurring breakouts, including hormonal acne.

Treatments:

  • Intensive extractions
  • Comprehensive, tailored facials addressing individual skin concerns
  • Custom recommendations for product and daily routine adjustments

Starting Price: $270

Beauty Editor Review:

“Every facial with Samantha addresses my needs perfectly. She has an impressive talent for extractions and provides holistic, sustainable advice to manage and prevent breakouts. After each treatment, my skin is significantly clearer within days—and I always leave with actionable tips for keeping hormonal acne at bay. The spa’s exclusive vibe makes it feel like a genuine treat.”

Edyta Jarosz at Shafer Clinic

Location: Shafer Clinic, a prestigious dermatology and plastic surgery office in Midtown

Atmosphere: High-end clinical luxury with a reputation for professionalism, comfort, and cutting-edge technology.

Specialty: Hyper-customized facials designed to calm inflammation, balance sensitive skin, and deliver high-impact hydration and texture improvements.

Treatments Offered:

  • Custom peels and soothing masks
  • LED light therapy with oxygen infusion
  • DiamondGlow exfoliation and advanced hydration
  • Signature finishing: LED session with gentle facial massage

Starting Price: Upon request

Beauty Editor Reviews:

“I’ve relied on Edyta for over a decade; after every session my skin is less red, breakouts are soothed, and the LED oxygen finish leaves me glowing. Each visit is different, carefully tailored to my skin’s current needs, and the whole experience is deeply calming.”

“Her DiamondGlow facial is unparalleled: thorough exfoliation, deep hydration, and expert sculpting with the device left my skin smoother and more luminous than ever. The session closes with a soothing LED treatment and relaxing massage for a truly refreshing experience.”

Miranda Sturce

Location: Upper East Side doctor’s office, known for its polished, upscale ambiance

Atmosphere: Bright, luxe, and private—the definition of bougie pampering.

Specialty: HydraFacials tailored to current skin needs, paired with facial massage and post-care check-ins.

Treatments:

  • Deep-cleaning HydraFacial
  • Sculpting gua sha facial massage
  • LED therapy and exfoliating peels
  • Customized masking for glow

Starting Price: $300

Beauty Editor Review:

“Miranda delivers the best HydraFacial experience I’ve had—highly customized, incorporating every needed technique, and always judgement-free care. Her follow-up after my visit, checking in on post-facial results, sets her apart among NYC aestheticians.”

In a city filled with next-level facialists, several more names continue to earn editor acclaim for their innovative approaches, high-profile clientele, and transformative results. Here are further top picks that round out the list of must-visit facial providers in NYC:

Custom Facials by Medina-Cleghorn

Location: Tribeca Studio

Specialty: Sculpting facials known for instant contouring and lasting glow. A blend of manual lymphatic drainage massage, microcurrent, and customizable technology (including LED and CO2) delivers both relaxation and visible firming.

  • Manual facial massage for lymphatic drainage
  • High-tech options: microcurrent, LED, CO2 therapy
  • Ultra-custom product blend for each client

Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes
Price: $525

Vanessa Marc

Location: Flatiron studio

Specialty: The “Glow Up” facial for deep cleaning, hydration, and healing troubled skin, especially for darker complexions.

  • Gentle, exfoliating extractions
  • Customized masking and LED therapy
  • Vegan, cruelty-free products

Duration: 1 hour
Price: $285

Rhea Souhleris Grous: La Suite Skincare

Location: La Suite on the Upper East Side

Specialty: Classic European facials, advanced peels, and signature lymphatic drainage to de-puff, sculpt, and smooth.

  • Multi-step cleansing
  • Manual massage for contouring
  • Custom enzyme peels

Duration: 1 hour
Price: $350

Sofie Pavitt

Location: SoHo

Nickname: The Acne Whisperer

Specialty: Targeted facials for barrier protection and acne solutions, using the now cult-favorite Mandelic Clearing Serum.

  • Deep pore cleansing
  • Brightening, irritation-reducing peels
  • Signature Deep Clean Facial

Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $175

Rachel Worden: Taylor Made Facials

Location: SoHo

Specialty: 80-minute custom facials combining microcurrent, buccal massage, microdermabrasion, and oxygen therapy for long-lasting radiance.

  • Microcurrent and buccal massage
  • Microdermabrasion exfoliation
  • Oxygen blast finish

Duration: 80 minutes
Price: $400

Kristyn Smith at Equinox Spa

Location: The Spa by Equinox Hudson Yards

Specialty: Vitality facial, featuring a proprietary antioxidant infusion, gentle exfoliation, cryotherapy, and lymphatic massage, finished with a LYMA laser session for real-time skin tightening and elasticity support.

  • Antioxidant infusion
  • Cryotherapy
  • LYMA cold-laser treatment

Duration: 1 hour
Price: $360

Cynthia Rivas

Location: Palm Heights Hotel Residency (with NYC pop-ups)

Specialty: Comprehensive facials with the latest European and holistic techniques for red-carpet-ready results.

  • Lymphatic drainage
  • Brightening peels
  • Collagen-boosting therapies

Duration: 1 hour
Price: Upon request

Signature Techniques and Trends in NYC Facials

What sets New York’s leading facialists apart? It’s the creative blend of world-class techniques, medical-grade devices, and deeply personal touch. Here are some of the most-requested treatments and protocols NYC clients are loving:

  • Microcurrent facials: Low-level electricity tightens and tones facial muscles for immediate lift and long-term firming.
  • LED therapy: Blue and red lights calm inflammation, target acne-causing bacteria, and stimulate healing/collagen.
  • Buccal massage: Intraoral sculpting to depuff, relax jaw tension, and boost contour—especially popular with high-profile clientele.
  • DiamondGlow and Hydrodermabrasion: Next-gen exfoliation paired with deep hydration for instantly smoother skin.
  • Personalized peels: Customized acids—like mandelic, lactic, and glycolic—address pigmentation, texture, and sensitivity concerns.
  • Holistic wellness focus: More studios are evaluating lifestyle, nutrition, and mental health factors for truly comprehensive care.

Frequently Asked Questions About NYC Facials

How do I choose the right facialist for my skin needs?

Look for practitioners who specialize in your unique skin concerns and offer thorough consultations to customize treatments. Word-of-mouth reviews, editor endorsements, and before-and-after photos can be especially helpful.

What’s the average price range for a high-end NYC facial?

Mid-range facials by leading aestheticians typically start around $175 and can go up to $525+ for extended, tech-enhanced experiences. Many experts recommend budgeting $250–$400 for a personalized session with advanced modalities in NYC.

How often should I get a professional facial?

Most dermatologists and aestheticians suggest every 4–6 weeks for ongoing maintenance, though specific concerns (like active breakouts or preparing for an event) may warrant an adjusted frequency.

What’s the best facial for acne-prone skin?

Seek out practitioners who specialize in acne: they often combine deep pore cleansing, calming peels, extractions, LED light therapy, and barrier-repair serums. Custom plans and follow-ups are crucial for maintaining clear skin in the long run.

Can facials really transform my skin?

While a single treatment can boost glow and calm breakouts, significant transformation requires a series of tailored facials, a consistent home routine, and open communication with your aesthetician.

Quick Comparison of NYC’s Top Facialists

FacialistLocationSpecialtyStarting Price
Madalaina ContiPark Ave SouthHolistic, acne-friendly custom facials$300
Samantha SuscaCasa CiprianiExtractions, tailored holistic skincare$270
Edyta JaroszShafer ClinicInflammation, DiamondGlow, hydrationUpon request
Miranda SturceUpper East SideHydraFacial, gua sha, post-care follow up$300
Medina-CleghornTribecaSculpting, lymphatic massage, microcurrent$525
Rhea Souhleris GrousUpper East SideClassic European, lymphatic sculpting$350
Sofie PavittSoHoAcne clearing, mandelic serum treatments$175
Rachel WordenSoHoCustom, microcurrent, oxygen facials$400
Kristyn SmithEquinox, Hudson YardsAntioxidant, cryo, LYMA laser$360
Cynthia RivasPalm Heights/NYCModern holistic, event-ready glowUpon request

Ready to Book? Editor Tips for Getting the Most from Your NYC Facial

  • Be honest during your consultation about habits, stress, and home products so your aesthetician can personalize your session for lasting results.
  • Request add-ons like microcurrent or LED for deeper, more visible improvements if your budget allows.
  • Follow up on post-care recommendations, including gentle cleansers and sunscreen, for enhanced and prolonged benefits.
  • Check for follow-up support: Many top aestheticians offer complimentary advice or skin check-ins between appointments.

Conclusion

From high-tech sculpting sessions to tailored holistic healing, NYC offers some of the world’s best facial experiences. Trust beauty editor endorsements, review each facialist’s specialties, and invest in regular, customized care to achieve and maintain your best-ever skin.

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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