Presenting: The Cosmo Beauty Team’s Guide to the Very Best Facials in New York City

One of the best perks of being a beauty editor is getting to experience facials. From acne peels and laser appointments to a good ol’ cleanse with extractions, if a facial exists, Cosmo’s beauty team has tried it (I mean, we have a combined total of 25+ years in the beauty industry). A great esthetician is of course important, but so is everything else that goes into the appointment, including the space, treatment options, technology, and cost.Lucky for us, New York City is home to some of the most elite estheticians and facial spas in the game. These experts and studios bring top-tier skincare knowledge, personalized treatments, cutting-edge beauty devices, and, in many cases, seriously zen experiences to make every appointment well worth the money. If you’re in the tri-state area and your skin needs a reset—or you just want to indulge in some self-care—keep scrolling for the best facials to book an appointment ASAP. And if you’re an out-of-towner, be sure to add them to your NYC beauty bucket list for your next visit.Madalaina Conti Synergistic Skincare​ The space: A high-rise apartment on Park Avenue South, with a calming atmosphere and tons of natural lightWhat to go for: A personalized acne-friendly facial with extractions, radiofrequency, and LEDStarting price: $300Our review: “After two years of unsuccessfully battling hormonal acne with spironolactone, I was ready to give up—until I had my first facial with Madalaina. She took a deep dive into my lifestyle, skincare routine, and habits, taking a truly holistic approach to healing my skin. Specializing in acne-prone and problematic skin, she customizes every treatment, incorporating everything from peels and masks to buccal massages and microcurrent therapy. Her space is pure aesthetic perfection—curated playlists, a heated bed, and dreamy lighting set the scene for ultimate relaxation (and post-facial glow selfies). I can confidently say that Madalaina and all of her knowledgable product recs were the savior for my stubborn breakouts.” —Jasmine Hyman, assistant beauty editorJasmine HymanBook HereSpencer’s Spa​The space: A perfect blend of retro and zen in SoHo and WilliamsburgWhat to go for: Go for the lifting collagen facial, stay for the incredible living room vibes post-treatment. Drink a cup of tea while you take a perfect Instagram story of the iconic striped couch.Starting price: $199Our review: “I get excited every single time I go to Spencer's. The massages are my go-to, but I've had some seriously fantastic facials here too. The studio is bright, both from the windows that line the walls but also the art and decor (it's a far cry from the all-white, sterile med spas I've been to). The design makes me feel like I stepped into a chic store rather than a spa. I love the wide array of treatments they offer too, so there's something for everyone. If someone was asking me where to go on their birthday or to give as a gift, my answer is always Spencer's.”—Beth Gillette, beauty editorJasmine HymanBook HereSage + Sound​The space: A wellness destination with a curated storefront, cafe, classes (like movement and meditation), massages, and, of course, facials What to go for: The TechSculpt FacialStarting price: $280Our review: “A facial at Sage & Sound is always worth the trek to the Upper East Side (even for me, a Brooklyn-dweller). They have a lot of offerings, from facials to massages to meditation classes, but my favorite facial is actually the TechSculpt Facial. It's 90 minutes of radiofrequency, massage, and toning skincare to lift your skin. I got it on my birthday last year, and everyone complimented my skin at my party. Win.”—BGBeth GilletteBook HereHeyday​The space: Easy on-the-go facials in a clean, curtained roomWhat to go for: An essential facial with the option of add-ons like LED and acne-centric treatmentsStarting price: $125Our review: “Whenever a friend asks me where to get a classic facial without breaking the bank, my number one answer is always Heyday. There’s a bunch of locations around the city, so you’re sure to have one nearby your office or apartment for easy drop-ins. Each facial is customizable with add-ons like gua sha, peels, and more, and the estheticians are all super knowledgable. They’ve got everything from a classic hydrating option to microneedling treatments.”—JHBook HereSkin By Gill​The space: The ultimate cool girl destination in Tribeca What to go for: The Acne Healer Facial (plus her holistic approach to treating acne)Starting price: $275Our review: “Gill's studio space feels like taking a deep breath the second you step inside. But it's what she does to your skin that makes it so good. Gill's well-versed in basically everything, but I have loved her advice for hormonal acne. Her approach is holistic, so she's not going to tell you to just spread a cream on your face and everything will heal. She's gonna ask questions about your hormones, what your lifestyle habits look like, what supplements you're taking. To her, it's not about attacking your face with actives, but rather soothing and healing to help prevent breakouts (as well as fine lines and wrinkles). I always leave super glowy.”—BG@skinbygillBook HereSamantha Susca at Refinery4The space: Susca is the founder of Refinery4, a studio in the WSA building in SeaportWhat to go for: In-depth extractions and a customized approach to treating everything, including hormonal acne Starting price: $150Our review: “Samantha is a master at extractions. In a few days, my skin is significantly clearer. She’s also a wealth of knowledge about treating acne and skin issues, especially through a holistic lens. She’s given me so many recommendations to help my hormonal acne over the years.” —Beth Gillette, beauty editor @samanthasuscaBook HereEdyta Jarosz at Shafer Clinic​The space: Jarosz is based out of Shafer Clinic, one of the most prestigious plastic surgery and derm offices in the U.S.What to go for: A hyper-customized treatment that focuses on calming inflammationStarting price: Upon requestOur reviews: “Edyta and I go way back. She gave me my first real facial when I was just a baby beauty assistant at Cosmo 12 years ago. Every time I see Edyta, I leave with the glowiest skin of my life. My skin is visibly less red and blotchy and my breakouts are always soothed. Every facial with her is a little different to accommodate whatever’s going on with your skin then, but I always look forward to the LED panel with oxygen infusion that she does at the end of every facial.” —LBShafer Clinic / Jasmine HymanThe post-DiamondGlow glow is real!Book HereSofie Pavitt Studio​The space: Her studio in lower Manhattan gives minimalist with a cozy ’80s aestheticWhat to go for: The deep-clean facial and her acne programStarting price: $175Our review: “You might know Sofie Pavitt from her Sephora line packed with acne-friendly formulas—or as NYC’s acne-whisperer. Her hands (and legendary extractions) have worked their magic on celebs like Lorde and Zendaya, and her Soho studio is just as impressive. You can get custom facials, peels, and high-tech blemish-busting treatments designed to transform your skin. She also has a program where clients can undergo a personalized plan to tackle their acne, and the results in just a few months are nothing short of incredible.” —JH Book HereMonica David​ The space: A low-key and chill private studio in QueensWhat to go for: A super-deep facial massage that gets out all the knots in your jaw (and an astrology reading)Starting price: $350Our review: “Monica, by and large, is the best facial massage you’ll get in New York. I said it! She has magic hands that seriously help relax even my extremely tense facial muscles. And she’s also an astrologer, so if you’re an astro girl, pls bring your birth time and talk over everything in your chart with her during your session. She gave me a tip about my love life based on my birth chart that actually blew my mind.” —BG Book HereMonica David / Beth GilletteBecause who wouldn’t want an astro reading mid-facial?!Elizabeth Grace Hand at Ställe Studios The space: Hand is the founder of Ställe Studios, which is the epitome of dreamy Scandinavian minimalismWhat to go for: The glowiest, freshest skin of your lifeStarting price: $300Our review: “From the moment Elizabeth first touched my skin, I knew we would be entering a long-term committed relationship. She doesn’t blast your precious lil angel skin with a gazillion actives and hope for the best. Instead, her approach is super gentle and my skin always thanks me for it. I leave looking like a dewy baby every time, especially thanks to her breadth of skincare recs.” —BG Book HereStalle Studios / Beth GilletteTalk about aesthetic!Why trust Cosmopolitan?Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmo where she covers all the best beauty treatments, products, and devices. For this story, she, along with Cosmo’s beauty director Lauren Balsamo and beauty editor Beth Gillette used their combined experience of more than 30 years in the industry to select the best facials in New York City. They narrowed them down by treatment options, estheticians, and the best overall spa experience for your money.Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.