Rescue Spa — Local services in Philadelphia

Disappointed After 20 Years of Loyalty

I’ve been a loyal client at this Philadelphia spa for nearly 20 years, and I chose to treat myself to a facial here for my 50th birthday. Unfortunately, what should have been a special and relaxing experience left me feeling incredibly disappointed. To start, I wasn’t offered any water or beverage upon arrival — something they used to do consistently in the past. The experience itself felt rushed and impersonal. The aesthetician repeatedly pushed products on me, even after I made it clear I wasn’t interested. This made parts of the facial feel more like a sales pitch than a moment of self-care and relaxation. What struck me most was the lack of gratitude or acknowledgment for longtime clients. After two decades of loyalty and countless Bio-lift facials, there’s no loyalty program, no birthday perk, not even a simple gesture of thanks. At the end of the facial, again, no water was offered — a small but thoughtful touch that used to be standard. I also noticed that no product samples were given, which used to be another appreciated detail after each session. While I still believe the products and treatments are effective, the overall experience felt transactional and devoid of the care and thoughtfulness that once made this place special. For the price — and after so many years of patronage — I expected better. Sadly, I left feeling more disappointed than refreshed.

UPDATE: I received a call from Gio and he was amazing. He really took the time to listen to my story from the moment that I walked into Rescue for my facial to when I left. We discussed the positive elements of Rescue and some areas of improvement. He was very sensitive to my concerns and I felt understood. This is the kind of service I would expect from a luxury spa. ...

I cannot recommend this place. As others have said, there is absolutely zero customer service and an extremely pretentious vibe. I have no problem spending $200 on a massage if the establishment offers a great experience, but this was easily one of the worst I’ve ever had.

I was taken upstairs with about 10 minutes to spare (as they recommend arriving early), used the restroom, and figured I’d have a moment to decompress and send a quick email. As soon as I stepped out, the woman doing my massage was waiting for me and said we’d be starting early. I was hoping to sit for even a second, but instead, I was rushed in. I didn’t even have my shoes off before she knocked on the door asking if I was ready.

The massage table was awful. I felt like I had whiplash from being rocked back and forth — I’ve had massages all over and I’ve never experienced anything like this. I asked if there was a way to adjust the setup, and her solution was lighter pressure. The whole experience felt rushed and careless. I usually wouldn’t be so tit for tat, but already feeling rushed, I looked at the clock and it ended two minutes early. To top it off, she just darted out; no offer of water or asking how it was, nothing. I begrudgingly still tipped 20%.

For $200, I expect FAR better. There isn’t even basic customer service, let alone a proper area to relax, shower, or have tea or water afterward. Save yourself the frustration and go to Rittenhouse Spa, Four Seasons, or honestly even Joseph Anthony, all of which offer a far better experience and customer service. I work in prestige beauty/wellness and I know firsthand: you can emphasize luxury without being pretentious. Rescue Spa doesn’t know...

I’ve been a loyal customer at Rescue Spa Philadelphia for about 8 years. It is one of the best spas in the city and the new location is gorgeous. It truly feels like an upscale spa and their facials are so relaxing and effective for various skin concerns. My favorite is Le Lift with a Seaweed mask add-on as I am i big fan of Biologique Recherche products. I’ve tried other spas in Center City and suburbs but for facials, I keep coming back to Rescue. Sylvia is great esthetician and so professional. However, I had to take one star off because of the front desk/checkout experience. People working there are rude and wouldn’t smile (with a rare exception). I always feel like they are doing me a favor. When you are spending $350 on a facial and close to $400 on skincare products, I would expect at least a smile and a warm demeanor. And not the condescending attitude to customers who have been going there for years. Example: today a front desk person told me to swipe my card without even announcing the total cost of the services and products. Apparently, I am supposed to just pay whatever and buy products without knowing what each product costs (there are no price tags on BR products). Sadly, i won’t be buying BR products at Rescue spa anymore as I can order them online and not get a “side-eye” but also get samples (they used to give you BR samples when shopping in-person but not anymore). Plus other spas in Philly sell BR products in-store as well. When buying luxury skincare like BR, you hope for a more personable experience than what...