I Tried the Hydrate + Radiate Facial from Exhale Spa at Thompson Central Park New York and Left With Refreshed, Glowing Skin
Exhale Spa at Thompson Central Park is located in the heart of New York City between 6th and 7th Avenues. [Photo by Jamie Sanders]
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I lived in New York City for 12 years. During that time, one thing remained the same: I always, always adored Exhale Spa. I took Core Fusion classes multiple times a week, got frequent facials and massages, and even went on one of their Core Fusion retreats in the Berkshires. As much as I love living in Los Angeles these days, I truly miss having an Exhale Spa nearby.
Consider me thrilled, then, when I was invited to experience the newly redesigned treatment menu at Exhale Spa at Thompson Central Park New York during a recent visit to New York. Knowing I’d be flying for six hours from Los Angeles, I eagerly booked a facial to give my dull, travel-weary skin a much-needed refresh.
Exhale Spa at Thompson Central Park is located right in the center of the city, on 56th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues. The spa is a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of the city surrounding it.
The spa’s reception desk has an airy, breezy feel accompanied by a tranquil design. [Photo courtesy of Exhale Spa]
The spa entrance is actually set apart from the hotel; you go in through a side entrance and take the elevator down to the basement level. As soon as I stepped off the elevator, my happiness level rose exponentially.
The reception area has an airy, breezy feel. The front desk and product cabinets are crafted in light gray wood while the wall behind the desk is painted with a swirling, blue-and-white cloudy sky design.
The spacious locker room features showers, bathrooms, and a variety of products for guests to use. [Photo courtesy of Exhale Spa]
I was led back to the locker room to change into my robe and slippers. I appreciated the secure codes for the lockers, although I’ll admit I had some trouble reopening mine and needed assistance from the front desk. (They were happy to oblige.)
The locker room is equipped with showers, bathrooms, and a sauna, which you can use pre- or post-treatment. They also have a variety of products and hair tools that you can use after your service.
After changing into my robe and securing my items in my locker, I made my way to the relaxation room to await my esthetician.
Spa amenities also include a sauna, which guests can use before and after their treatments. [Photo courtesy of Exhale Spa]
I truly loved the lounge. The space is so tranquil and inviting with multiple light gray chairs and couches, fluffy fur throws, and comfy pillows scattered throughout the space. In a corner of the room was the refreshment table, which had a choice of water or tea.
At one end of the relaxation lounge, there’s a door that takes you back to the treatment rooms. Once you step through that door, you’ll see a dim, red-light hallway with doors to the right and left. At the end of the hallway was a beautiful art piece flanked by tall, glowing hurricane candles.
Once my esthetician came to greet me and take me back for my facial, the real fun began.
The relaxation lounge features a calming aesthetic along with fur throws and comfy pillows. [Photo courtesy of Exhale Spa]
The newly redesigned treatment menu includes a variety of massages, facials, and body treatments. I had originally chosen the Fire + Ice Facial (a 60-minute facial priced at $250), a resurfacing treatment using iS Clinical products that includes both warming and cooling sensations.
However, after analyzing my skin, my esthetician recommended a different facial that would work better for my sensitive skin type. I appreciated her candor and honesty in helping me choose the treatment that would be best for my skin, instead of proceeding with what I had originally booked — this made me feel at ease and I knew that she had my skin’s best interests at heart.
Instead, we decided upon the Hydrate + Radiate Facial (a 60-minute facial priced at $230), which works to refresh dry, dull skin and infuse it with a burst of moisture. The facial is done with a variety of products by one of my favorite brands, Éminence Organic Skin Care.
The treatment included everything you would hope for in a facial. My esthetician began by cleansing my skin, then set up a steamer to open my pores for light exfoliation.
I experienced the 60-minute Hydrate + Radiate Facial, which refreshes dull, dry skin and infuses it with moisture. [Photo by Jamie Sanders]
I was a bit surprised that this facial didn’t include any extractions, especially since I tend to have some blackheads on my nose. I’m not sure if my facialist didn’t think they were necessary or if this treatment generally doesn’t include them. It didn’t ruin the facial for me by any means, but it is something to note if you’re interested in receiving this treatment.
Then came my favorite part of the facial: an application of the Strawberry Rhubarb Masque. This face mask smelled divine as soon as she opened the tub. Aside from its delicious scent, it’s packed with the brand’s Botanical Hyaluronic Acid Complex along with shea butter, grapeseed oil, and vitamin-rich strawberry and rhubarb to purify skin and give it a refreshed, nourished glow.
While the mask sat on my skin for about 15 minutes, I was treated to an upper body massage. My esthetician worked out kinks in my neck, shoulders, arms, and hands as the rich face mask went to work.
My esthetician finished by massaging moisturizer, eye cream, and sunscreen into my face with sure, deft strokes.
A a dim red-light hallway leads to all of the spa’s treatment rooms and features a beautiful artwork at the end. [Photo by Jamie Sanders]
At the end of 60 minutes, I was left feeling incredibly relaxed and rejuvenated after my long flight the day before. But, even better, my previously dull, dehydrated skin was plumped, dewy, and glowing. In fact, my friends at dinner that night complimented me on how great my skin looked. The results lasted throughout the remainder of my trip and even during my long flight back to Los Angeles the next week.
I couldn’t have asked for a better way to kick off my first trip back to New York in four years, or my first trip to Exhale Spa in over a decade. I’m so grateful to Exhale Spa for the opportunity to revisit one of my favorites, and for glowing skin to boot. I couldn’t have asked for anything more!
My skin was plumped, dewy, and glowing after my facial! [Photo by Jamie Sanders]
The Hydrate + Radiate Facial costs $230 for a 60-minute treatment.
For more information about Exhale Spa at Thompson Central Park, visit their website. Follow the spa on Instagram: @exhale.fitspalife
Exhale Spa at Thompson Central Park is located at 119 West 56th Street, New York, NY 10019.
[Photos by Jamie Sanders and courtesy of Exhale Spa]
Jamie Allison Sanders is an LA-based writer with 20+ years of experience in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. After 12 years in New York City and a brief stint in Pittsburgh, she (finally) relocated to Los Angeles in 2015.
Her work has appeared in InStyle, People, BuzzFeed, Insider, Today, Harper’s Bazaar, and Well+Good, among others. She also started her own blog, The Beauty of Life, in January 2007.
Over the years, she’s cultivated her obsessions of bold nail polish, candles, Bonne Bell Lip Smackers, and strappy heeled sandals. When Jamie isn’t working, you can most likely find her exploring the Los Angeles bar and restaurant scene, traveling, or enjoying time at a spa.