Christine Valmy International School For Esthetics Skin

A discount emporium of beauty services by aestheticians-in-training.

by Karen Hudes at Citysearch

The Scene
Women on a budget flock here for seriously discounted facials as well as reduced-price waxing and mani-pedis. The subtly-lit main room holds eight stations in which clients get steamed and extracted by the polite staff of beauty school students. Most of the facialists have already logged in a good amount of experience; if not, a supervisor checks in periodically.

The Goods
Students tailor facials to your skin type, enhancing the treatment with hand massages and soothing masks they prepare themselves; since they're still learning, they'll often provide a more thorough service than you might find in a time-conscious salon. Just be careful if you have problem skin--the facialists are sometimes rough and premature in their extractions.