Bodies & Faces Day Spa — Attraction in Elizabeth

I booked a spa package for my birthday and went to Bodies and Faces last week. It was great, but there are some reasons why I have to give a 3/5.

When I got to the salon, which was nice and clean, I was very excited. I was given a robe, flip flops, and a locker, and then I went into the wet sauna. At no point before going into the wet sauna was I told to take off my jewelry too, which consisted just of stud earrings and a simple thin gold cross necklace.

Inside the wet sauna was too hot to breathe, and I opened the door several times asking for help but no one was there. Finally, I just left the room and then a different employee directed me to the dry sauna, which was lovely. At each stage though I was left to figure out what came next.

After, it was time for my facial and massage, of which she instructed I get entirely undressed. During the facial I was constantly being asked to purchase an add on, such as a peel or a mask. After the fourth time, I relented and said yes to the collagen mask for an additional $20. After she mixed it, she proceeded to get the mask in my hair and eyes. Although she tried to pick it out there were large chunks remaining. This was my first facial so I’m not sure if it’s common not to explain what the products used would be, or what they did, but that would’ve been appreciated too.

Then, before my massage, she told me to take my cross off. I never take it off and I hesitated, but she insisted I had to take it off. There was also a considerable language barrier. I took it off but because I was undressed, I couldn’t place the cross in my locker, so I placed it in the robe pocket. After my massage which was lovely (I wish there was a place to put my arms when I was face down), I was provided lunch (a nice wrap) and then had my manicure and pedicure (I opted for just pedicure). I paid and tipped.

It was when I got home I realized I didn’t have my cross on. I called the spa, left voicemails, and kept calling until I reached someone on Tuesday. I explained the situation and took accountability—I should have double checked my robe pocket before I left—and explained its significance to me as a religious symbol. Before even offering to look for the necklace she dismissed me and said they didn’t see anything while cleaning up and therefore the odds were low but I begged and they offered to search the laundry. At the end of the day I was told they didn’t find anything and that was it. No apology, no thorough search, nothing. Is it possible that they put it in the wash, yes. I should have never taken it off because it wasn’t necessary for my massage either. I spent my birthday not relaxed from my spa day, but tense and upset over the loss of something important to me.

I would say take off all jewelry and leave it at home or in the car before coming, regardless of the lockers or not. If you are a woman of color, put your hair up as much as possible or wrap it up before going.

And ultimately, everyone is human and things happen. I take off stars not for that incident, but because I was constantly asked to purchase more during my facial, and I wasn’t told where to go between services unless I asked for someone’s help. Even at the end I was left to find how to get downstairs to the lobby alone. However it was very clean, had private parking, and my lunch, massage, and pedicure...

This place has been amazing! The staff is super attentive and very caring of their clients. I’ve been coming here to get my lymphatic massages done by Adriana and she is one of the most caring people I’ve ever met. She’s super sweet and very knowledgeable in her work. Her hands are magic. I highly recommend this place if you want to treat yourself to a nice care day and book Adriana for massages you guys, you won’t regret it!

UPDATE PLEASE READ: I’d give this place 0 stars if I could. The only reason why I even left a review in the first place was because Adriana kept on nagging me to leave her a review. It turns out that Adriana isn’t knowledgeable in what she’s doing at all. If you want a successful surgery recovery, do not come here for lymphatic massages or any kind of post-op care advice. I confided in Adriana thinking that she knew what she was doing but she didn’t at all. She gave me all the wrong advice from start to the end of my massages there. First, she told me that I didn’t need to put a shirt under my faja and told me not to wear it anymore. Ladies, you NEED to keep a shirt under your faja throughout your entire recovery journey to avoid damaging your skin or getting faja burns. She also told me not to wear my lipo foams, that I didn’t need to wear them anymore. I went to a new spa at 5 weeks post op because I felt like something was wrong and I wasn’t healing the way I should’ve. The new spa asked if RADIO FREQUENCY had been used on me and Adriana did use radio frequency on me when I was 2-3 weeks post op. They were horrified because radio frequency isn’t supposed to be used until you’re 6-8 weeks post op. Using radio frequency too early can cause more inflammation and even damage and this lady was using radio frequency on me every time. No wonder my swelling never went down. I’m so behind on my recovery, it’s not even funny and I’m about to be SEVEN weeks post op. Please go elsewhere. I wasted so much money here just to be set back on my recovery process.

Also, instead of having me wear lipo foams for my sides, she gave me these tube looking things from her house which caused me skin burn. She also told me that after 1 month post op, that I could sleep without my faja on, which I absolutely did not do because that was just insane to say. I also had very hard skin above my hip and I told her about it because it was concerning me, and she told me to just leave it alone and would push my hand aside and said that it was just fat subsiding in that area. The new spa that I’m going to thankfully addressed my concern and there is no more hardness in that area, thank goodness. This lady has no clue at what she’s doing. She told me all this to either sabotage my surgery or because she really doesn’t have a single clue. The owner should really look into who she hires. Hiring just anyone to care for women who come in such a vulnerable state after...

At first I had alot of hope that this place would be great based on the reviews. But it wasnt as expected at all. The environment is great and clean and aesthetic but not worth the cost. I had booked a couples massage and facials for my parents and the massages wasn't a full 60 mins. They took my parents in after 3:10 (3 o'clock appointment) and didn't start till later but I was told the total time would be 2 hrs w the facial. They were done by 5 regardless. If im paying close to 400$ i would expect to make every minute count. How is it that they can take u in lare but not make up for that time? Started after 3:10 but they were out by 5 on the dot doesn't make sense. The massage overall was okay I have taken them to better for lesser cost. The facials were absolutely not worth it. They just applied the different products and just let it sit to dry and didn't massage the products in. The facials we've gotten else where they would always spend time massaging the face to increase circulation and decrease inflammation and to help skin better absorb the products. But according to my parents they simply applied the products and continued to chit chat in the room. They also tried to pop every bump on my moms face even though the pimples were not ready to be popped and she said it hurt alot and left the spots super inflammed and red for the rest of the day. As someone whos a skin care freak and studying medicine this is too much truma for the skin which wont help it long term and possibly leave scars. They also offered a suction service for clogged pores for extra 10$ each but the time of the service doesnt increase which also didnt make sense to me. If ur adding extra services for the cost the time should increase because its an additional add on to the basic service. Overall, based on our experience w the couples swedish massage and the facials I don't think it's worth the 400$. There's other places for a massage and facials under 400$ with more time and add on services with just as nice cleanly...