If winter’s dry-skin inducing weather isn’t enough to inspire your next facial, L.Raphael Beauty Spa, a chic oasis in the Four Seasons New York, should do the trick. The luxury beauty company’s HQ in Geneva, Switzerland—a.k.a. the Temple of Beauty—opened doors in 2008, and since then, founder Ronit Raphael has expanded the high-tech luxury spa concept stateside, moving into several hotels and opening a standalone maison in New York.
Raphael started her quest for the most cutting-edge cosmetic technology available and formulas for her own skin after experiencing a damaging reaction to a chemical peel as a teenager. “All of our spas have slimming, acne, and anti-aging treatments, but we’re not really a medispa,” Raphael says. “I wanted to create a luxury spa but at the same time offer something that stays for life.” Signature treatments combine the brand’s line of potent products with non-invasive technology, like the anti-aging 4D Soft Facelift, which sends a blast of oxygen-enhanced air and product deep into the skin. The effect is instantaneous, leaving skin more supple and hydrated.
But L.Raphael goes beyond treatments, promoting the Seven Foundations, which support a well-rounded lifestyle: medical, nutrition, physical activity, aesthetics, age management, stress management, and leisure. “We don’t offer it all here—people like to feel free to make their own choices. So, we teach clients to do these things in their life and we recommend places that they can go. If you need a nutritionist in New York, I’ll give you the best one. If you need a gym, I’ll give you the best trainers. It’s like a small concierge,” Raphael says.
Magic happens when founders practice what they preach with the level of passion of Raphael. While she oversees an international beauty empire, Raphael treats her own well-being with the same priority as her business responsibilities, making sure to find time for regular massages and treatments as well as sessions with a personal trainer. “We are all busy, but you have to make the time. At the Four Seasons, we offer combined treatments to curb that. I always say that you must enjoy at least 1 percent of your time, and do something physical for yourself. Go to the gym. Get a massage. The common excuse is that it costs money. But you’re eating! That costs money, doesn’t it? It’s how you think about it.”
And, there is not a treatment on the menu she can’t vouch for. “Ronit really tries everything,” says Raphael’s chief of medical Dr. Raphael Gumener. “If a new technology comes out and she or I think it’s interesting, she tries it first.”
Facials at the Four Seasons L.Raphael Beauty Spa range from $255 to $680, with treatments teetering on $1,000 and massages averaging at $400, the perfect holiday indulgence to gift your loved one—or yourself.
L.Raphael Beauty Spa at Four Seasons Hotel New York (212) 350-6420
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- Ronit Raphael
