Every spa should have some truly memorable feature. LATHER's is a 200 square-foot wall of live tropical plants in its lounge - a vertical garden designed to purify the indoor air by improving air circulation and increasing oxygen levels. It also is very aesthetically pleasing. I enjoyed tea and a snack in a funky chair while waiting for my spa appointment. My eyes scanned the plants trying to identify them. I listened to the quiet sound of water dripping down the wall. It was very relaxing. The only improvement would have been to have a door between this room and the nail area a few steps downstairs to prevent the lively conversations from floating up the stairs.

Manicure / Pedicure Area at LATHER Spa in New York City

Treatment room at LATHER Spa in NYC

Daniela introduced herself and led me up a flight of stairs to the treatment rooms. We walked silently to the end of the hallway. And I literally mean silently. The floors of the hall are made of cork. You don't hear a footfall on them. I was having a one-hour LATHER Signature Facial. I immediately liked Daniela. In a short conversation, we discovered that we had both been engineers in our former lives. Daniela examined my skin and decided on a hydrating regimen. She started by cleansing my face with a Cucumber Milk Facial Cleanser and toned it with Bulgarian Rose Phyto-Nutrient Facial Elixir. This was following by a Sweet Almond Face Exfoliating Crème and then a Sweet Almond Face Moisturizer. While the Honey Moisture Mask did its thing, Daniela massaged my arms and hands. The final steps were a Vitamin C Peptide Renewal and Licorice Root Eye Treatment. My skin felt great afterwards.

All products used at LATHER are its own brand. LATHER's motto is that it’s “what’s inside” that counts. Inside their skin care and body products are gentle, effective natural ingredients. The products are available for purchase in the 1,500 square-foot retail area. You'll find soaps, scrubs, lotions, and treatments, as well as a Custom Blending Bar featuring over 20 pure essential oils from which guests may custom blend their own bath and shower products. Of special note are the "Value" kits which contain just about all you need to continue the regimen at home for a very reasonable price.