Chill Out

These alternative treatments to looking and feeling better are on the cutting-edge of cool.

- Joni Sweet

New York is an undeniably awesome place to spend the summer months. Who can argue with long, sunny days lounging in Central Park, breezy nights sipping cocktails at rooftop bars and weekends filled with outdoor concerts and events? Chilling out takes on a meaning of its own, though, when it comes to 21st-century beauty treatments. From frozen saunas and subzero body chambers to chilly massages and anti-aging facials that practically freeze time, here are the spa experiences that you won’t have to sweat over.

TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS GONE ICY

The soaring temperatures outside make cold versions of standard treatments the hottest thing on the spa scene right now. To get in on the trend, look no further than Haven Spa. The Greenwich Village spa (with a twinkle-light lounging area) uses cold packs in target areas of the body in its 90-minute Tourist Massage, along with a heavy emphasis on vigorous foot and shoulder rubs, to soothe travelers’ most common aches. And if you’ve found your skin looking less than radiant from the harsh heat and sun, the chic spa’s Fire and Ice facial will rejuvenate it with a warm and tingly resurfacing mask, followed by a facial massage using bulbs filled with icy water to stimulate circulation.