Beauty Blog

Auriga Spa and Julien Farel Salon at the Setai Fifth Avenue, N.Y.C.

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Clockwise from top left: a treatment room at the Auriga Spa, the spa's hot tub, spa food available for guests, and the front reception area.

The Setai Hotel and Residence tower on Fifth Avenue.Are you in need of a quick getaway, but can’t leave N.Y.C.? Well, this place might just be right for you.

Situated literally in the center of Manhattan is the new Auriga Spa (part of the Capella Pedregal Resort and Spa), in the newly erected Setai Hotel and Residence towers on Fifth Avenue and 36th Street.

The hotel is grand but rather unassuming and discreet. However, there's nothing discreet about featuring all the latest technologies in room offerings and service. But my favorite service of all is the Auriga Spa and Julien Farel Salon, located on the fourth floor of the hotel.

Farel, the famed hair-defining Frenchman who's always armed with a sexy pair of scissors, and his crew love to spoil their clientele with head massaging, hair coloring and cutting, and blowouts. And of course they have the most comfortable manicure/pedicure chairs to boot.

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Inside the Julien Farel salon.

But before you get all wrapped up in Farel's charm, visit the spa. Every treatment draws from the Organic Pharmacy line, from face to body. Not long ago I had the Green Coffee Body Sculpting Treatment, which focuses on firming, draining, and helping to break down fat cells (right underneath the surface to reduce the appearance of cellulite—love that!). I must say it was a real treat: I felt completely relaxed and found myself not wanting to leave this hideaway. The spa feels far away from hectic N.Y.C. life, even though you are smack in the middle of midtown. With nine treatment rooms, the "blanch pool," and sauna and shower, you can literally spend all day there and not be discovered at all … well, hopefully, that is. And I found the treatment prices to be very reasonable—I like that, and so will you.

The Organic Pharmacy Resculpting Body Gel, Carrot Butter, Cleanser, and Antioxidant Face Gel.

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