A spa grows in Brooklyn

Sometimes, it’s pretty groovy to be me.

Yesterday, my awesome friend Ysolt traveled in from NJ to join me for a spa day at Body by Brooklyn, a chic spa oasis about 10 minutes from where I live.

I was a little unnerved when we first arrived - they made us shut off our phones and put them in our locker! (Telling two beauty editors to do this is pretty much the same as telling a doctor to turn off his beeper.) However, it was the most awesome tool to relax ever - after being ushered into the locker room, we slipped out of our worldly clothes, and put on posh bath robes and pretty slippers (mine, of course, hot pink with a giant flower at the tip - Ysolt opted for the same, in green). We were adorable, and ready to spa.

Sadly, as our cameras were locked in our locker with the rest of our worldy possessions, we have no pictures of our day. But I shall give the run-down.

As Body by Brooklyn is not only a lavish spa, but also a lounge, cafe, and bar, visitors are encouraged to get comfortable and spend the day. And thus, before our therapists even picked us up for our first treatment, we explored the10,000 square feet of exotic space - which included a steamy mix of health and hedonism. Basically, it’s a “massage and martini” sort of joint - with everything from Russian Bath, Turkish Aroma Steam Room, Cedar Sauna, Thermal Hot Tub, to Cold Plunge Pool - and that’s just in the wet lounge area!

I received the signature Chocolate Massage, and the Rose Quartz healing facial. Rose Quartz is known to originate in the mountains of Namibia, and is a stone of love and heart that has the ability to create a positive effect on the body mind and soul. As my body, mind, and soul has received a bit of an upheaval of late (more on that soon!), this was a salve to my senses. The facial combines cleansing and massage performed using the Rose Quartz and a moisturizing mask. 24 hours later, my skin is glowing and smooth!

As for the chocolate massage…it was a chocoholic’s dream come true. Interesting fact: While eating chocolate will make you fat, WEARING it actually has body-contouring results!!!

When absorbed through the skin, the natural antioxidants of pure cocoa help to flush out impurities, reduce cellulite, improve circulation and help stimulate cell regeneration! While it was a little surreal to get naked and have a stranger brush hot fudge across my body (and then wrap plastic around me as if it were phyllo dough), it was unbelievably sublime. They start by doing an all-over (and I mean ALL OVER) body scrub, and then rinse you with hot towels, then apply the hot fudge, and then rinse that, and then massage you head to toe with chocolate body creme. I smelled so awesome, I found myself sniffing myself at the delectable spa champagne lunch they provided after.

(Funny story: During Ysolt’s massage, the technician told her to relax. My poor friend needed to pause for a second and recall how to do that. I feel her pain.)

Sure, my life and my wallet may have some drama…but seriously, why would anyone ever want ANY other career than this???