The minute I stepped into Maksim Spa, I felt I was in good hands – which is an important thing when those hands are about to spend an hour and a half working every pore in my face. Conveniently located around Union Square, the elevated space transports you into a little haven of tangerine-colored walls and sienna wood, accented by bulbous drop lighting and the aroma of orange creamsicles. Immediately, a New York winter melted away as I settled into the waiting room of this sunny, clean and vibrant little spa.

The receptionist was friendly and accommodating, taking my coat and scarf right away and bringing me a glass of water for while I waited. Feeling well attended-to, I was able to unwind in preparation for my facial. Mounds of beauty & fashion magazines beckoned me from the coffee table, but I opted to rummage through a basket of reduced-price soaps and other goodies. After a few minutes the spa owner, Lena Makushina, greeted me and brought me back to my service room, where I found the summery-orange theme to continue. A polished and brisk, blonde, Russian woman, Lena has worked with the likes of Bliss, Bergdorf Goodman, and the Four Seasons Hotel after completing a medical and esthetic degree in her home country. After placing my clothes on a shelf along neatly folded towels and getting into my gown, I was ready for my treatment – their ‘Eminence organic facial with paprika.

After examining my skin and assessing its needs, Lena recommended the Eminence facial, which answers the current organics craze by using all-natural, preservative- & dye-free ingredients suitable for all skin types. In fact, the organic ingredients in my facial were so natural and safe that Eminence says you can eat them – and I was tempted to as luscious scents of sweet fruits and fresh vegetables, herbs and spices rushed to my olfactory nerves. Lena prepped my skin with a crisp and cool parsley cucumber gel to oxygenize the skin and lighten and even the complexion. On top she applied the paprika herbal treatment, a zesty cocktail of the mild red pepper (used often in eastern European dishes) along with ingredients like sage, lavender, cinnamon, walnut, honey, and St. John’s Wort. While some would assume that organic ingredients would offer a safe and mild experience, this facial surprises with a kick of hot tingling from the paprika, which is meant to stimulate cell repair and detoxify.

While my skin simmered, Lena treated me to massages on my face, neck, shoulders and arms. Her sensitive and stimulating touch did a good job of distracting from the increasingly hot sensation of the paprika, as did warm, wet towel compresses (Maksim uses wet towels instead of steam.) Once I was all hot and peeled, I have to admit a little relief when that treatment was topped off with a cranberry-pomegranate masque, which was much like soaking in fresh preserves, to revitalize and nourish. Finally, I also received a lip exfoliation, plumping masque, and moisturizing balm for my dry smacks. Overall I was very pleased with Lena’s personalized service. She gave helpful warnings before procedures that might be sensitive, but she always exercised a careful hand, likely a result of her specialty in treating unique, problem skin. Likewise, the extractions she performed were actually moderately comfortable. She was also mindful about balancing what she thought would be best with my own preferences. I was hesitant when she suggested plucking my brows, but she proved to have a keen eye – my brows were nicely symmetrical and clean, with a pleasant and sophisticated arch when she finished.

I left the spa a supremely happy customer, but the best of the results were yet to come. Immediately following the treatment my skin was a bit puffy from the paprika’s stimulation, but for the next few days the skin on my face was exceptionally dewy and smooth to the touch – I actually had to stop myself from copping feels throughout the day and transferring dirt and oil from my hands to my face. The paprika facial was definitely a ‘results’ facial – you can feel the workings both during and after the procedure. So if you want to turn up the heat and leave glowing for days, I would confidently recommend the personable and skilled service in Maksim’s intimate and sunny space.