Essential Day Spa & Cosmetics

Good value for the money! I have been coming here since pre-covid for facials and this place give consistent good service especially for the price paid. Easy to make appointment and as painful as extraction part is as part of your facial, it is needed and good for you. I was most impressed by how knowledgeable the staffs are - just one touch and they know what I’ve been doing right/wrong with my skin without telling them. I also like how I was never pressure to buy a service I dont want to. Convenient location near the subway! Don’t let the appearance from outside street level trick you and compromise your impression of quality of this place.

As someone who drives, I appreciate that they are open on Sundays, as parking in that area can be difficult on weekdays! I initially purchased a Groupon for a 60-minute facial and light peel. Upon arrival, I was greeted promptly, shown to my room, and given time to change before starting my facial. I appreciated that they tested the peel on my forehead first to ensure there would be no allergic reactions. The aesthetician did an excellent job with the extractions and made sure to remove all blackheads. After my facial, I decided to add a peel for my neck at a reduced rate. I ended up purchasing another facial and peel, and I plan to visit every six weeks. It's a great place with good prices that you can't beat!

I don't really like to write reviews but the bad reviews are really weighing the place down unfairly v__v so I will try to write one... I got a deep cleaning facial with Milo and she is a blackhead killer. I've never had someone go in on my face the way she did and literally squeeze out every single blackhead. If you've ever looked in the mirror and wished you could empty all your pores, Milo is the person for you! Of course, you can ask her to stop or tell her you want her to go easy on you, but she's very serious about her work and goes above and beyond if you let her. She was also super attentive and was always working on something -- if the mask was sitting on my face then she would massage my shoulders, for example. The disclaimer to all of this is that the place is not #vibe-y, like it's very much no-frills and just me and blackhead-slaying queen Milo. Room was small, there was no music, no candles, I didn't have to change into a bathrobe, etc. Personally, I prefer to just get the job done and done well and actually don't like any of those things. I've been to spas before that cost well into triple digits where everything is decked out super nicely and fancy to set the mood and then the facialist just does a glorified skincare routine on me with some face massage. If I wanted to have someone rub oil into my face for 20 min next to a candle with some shalalala music, I'd do it myself for free?? But I understand the vibes are very important to some people and they come to do facials to ~relax and unwind~ instead of fighting the Unending Great Blackhead War, and I can't say that this is the best for the former purpose. If you are looking for a place that will Get The Job Done, this is it! Go and bask in the godly hands of Milo!!!!

3 stars is me being nice. Greeted nicely No frills. Uncomfortable bed. Got product all in my eyes due to the motion of the facial. Kept pushing down and with the product in their hands I felt it getting n to my eyes. Once I left eyes were stinging. The hydrafacial mask was dry when she put it on my face. The extractions were good.

LOCAL GUIDE REVIEW: I'm giving this place only 2 stars for a few reasons. I've been getting facials for almost 20 years, and as someone who loves trying out new spots and happens to be a local guide, here's what I experienced at this so-called spa. The lady at the front desk was friendly and welcoming. But the room's atmosphere wasn't relaxing at all, and they make you lie with your head facing the wall instead of the door - a bit odd, but I can live with that. Now, here's where it gets uncomfortable – the bed. It was like lying on a hard, thin mattress, and the blanket they gave me didn’t even cover half of my body. Not exactly the cozy spa experience I was hoping for. The facial itself felt rushed and too aggressive! I've never had anything quite like it. To top it off, the lamp kept bumping into my head, and the disposable plastic sheet they used on the bed made me sweat like crazy. Combine all these factors, and it felt like I couldn't breathe and was extremely uncomfortable. My face felt sore and painful after the facial, which has never happened to me before. They didn't do anything special to help with the swelling and soreness. Overall, it was a pretty terrible experience. If they don't make some necessary changes, I doubt they'll succeed in the long run. P.S. They told me at the beginning that they would massage my shoulders, but that never happened.