The Vault Of Affordable NYC Beauty Treatments

Facials, lash lifts, natural botox (and real, discounted botox with top NYC doctors)—my go-to places for luxury-adjacent results <$200

The foundation of this newsletter is rooted in finding the most cost-effective way to luxury (new Substack description alert 🚨)—and that philosophy extends beyond my closet.

I’m fully committed to giving myself the best experiences (and beauty treatments) life has to offer, but this is achieved with a little flex, as my lifestyle is not that of an Aman spa-goer. I would love to have

sofie pavitt

on a monthly retainer for facials, but I simply am not yet that wealthy a woman!!!

In the meantime, I’ve built a shortlist of NYC-local spots I’ve found that deliver results without demanding a rent-sized budget. These are the affordable, effective places I keep in rotation to make regular beauty maintenance feel more like a treat than a financial burden.

Driving Shoes Favorites: NYC Beauty Treatments

Feel free to tell them you were referred by Taylor Barnett to get even more of my love <3

• Mario Badescu Spa European Facial (60 min), $65: 320 E 52nd St # 2A, New York, NY 10022

  SIXTY-FIVE DOLLAR HOUR-LONG FACIAL!!!! Yay!!!! While this won’t completely transform your skin, it’s perfect if you need a monthly, thorough pore cleanse, extractions, and some quiet time with a podcast while sucking back two face masks. They will ask if you want “X-specific face mask”, but know this comes with an added cost. Stand true in your affordable luxury mission statement and affirm to your facialist that the regular option is just fine. They always offer samples at the end.

  If you’re like me and like a little treatment stacking/extra pampering/saving time, you can tack on a pedicure for $25 (?!) and/or a manicure for $15 to happen during your facial.

  Pro tip: ask for a treatment room on the left, behind the front desk. The best one is tucked in the back left, with a big window overlooking the garden—trust me.

• Jinhee Yoo Acupuncture, Facial Cosmetic Acupuncture: 303 5th Ave #1508, New York, NY 10016

  I regularly saw Jinhee for a few months, who specializes on Dermatology and Facial Cosmetic Acupuncture. I wish I understood more about how this worked, but Jinhee’s acupuncture technique can help alleviate skin concerns like acne and rosacea… and serve as a botox alternative. More on that here. Plus, it’s a genuinely relaxing experience—and a nice way to carve out time for a little meditation.

  

• Spencer’s Spa, $329/2 pack of signature treatments: 550 Broadway 4th Fl, New York, NY 10012

  This is definitely a pricer option on this list, but for the value, it’s veryyyyy well worth it. Spencer’s is one of the most well-designed spas I’ve seen, located centrally in SoHo, and they are always running deals on treatments. Keep up with them through their IG to stay up to date on more of the promotions.

• Beau Eyelash Studio Lash Lift & Tint, $109: Upper East Side (1258 3rd Avenue) and Upper West Side (531 Amsterdam Ave)

  After getting a lash lift and tint with Jasmine at the UES location a few weeks ago, I have vowed to make this part of my permanent beauty routine. I have never had such insane results (and yes, ask for the “dramatic” finish) with a lash treatment. It is WELL WORTH the cost. I could throw away mascara entirely (…but I won’t).

• Upper East Side Tan, $59/m (unlimited spray tans): Midtown East (231 East 58th Street) and Upper East Side (149 East 72nd Street)

  Seeing as a single spray tan in New York can run you $40+, this is an insane deal. It’s $59 a month for unlimited spray tanning at any darkness level, just be sure you have a good friend to tell you if you’re overdoing it (I’ve been a victim…).

  

• Salon Apprentice

  This is the realest beauty-on-a-budget trick I know. Salon Apprentice connects you with top salons offering significantly discounted (or sometimes free) haircuts, color, and treatments either from assistants building their client books or stylists in training (under supervision). You’ll need to do your research since the listings are hit or miss, but I managed to book a serious color correction with (NYC legend!) Rita Hazan’s right-hand assistant, Ariel, for around $200 (here’s her listing!). I’ll definitely be back.

• MEETH Plastic Surgery Fellowship, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY 10075

  This is new to me, and I genuinely can’t believe I didn’t find out about it sooner. Lenox Hill Hospital (nationally ranked legend) has a fellowship program that makes high-ticket aesthetic procedures surprisingly affordable.

  Fully trained plastic surgeons (fellows from prestigious schools like Johns Hopkins and Albany Medical Center) perform procedures under the close supervision of Lenox Hill’s top-tier attending plastic surgeons at significantly more affordable rates. This includes everything from breast augmentations and tummy tucks to (more relevantly, for me at least) Botox and fillers. Booking a Botox consult for my TMJ issues and will report back.

• Skin Spa SkinCare membership (60 min), $70/m: Multiple locations (Flatiron, Midtown East, Midtown, SoHo, UWS)

  This is a facial membership that includes:

  • Each month, choose between a Custom Facial, a Microdermabrasion Treatment, a Power Peel, a PCA Peel or an OxyTrio

  • A free Membership Treatment on your birthday

  • 20% off any additional services

  • 10% off all product purchases

  • 10% off Cosmetic Injectables

  Getting the monthly treatment for $70 alone makes the membership worth it (a Custom Facial is normally $110!), not to mention all the extra perks. They’re also a bit more generous with their standard facials than Mario Badescu... I’ve had a high-frequency wand brought out at no extra charge.