Review by Joeybunny - Ling Spa Quadra Peel Treatment

This past Wednesday, I had the distinct pleasure of being the first person to try Ling Spa’s newest treatment, the Quadra Peel. Now, before I tell you about this treatment, let me tell you about Ling Chan, her spas, and her skincare line.

Ling Chan is a big effin’ deal in the world of skincare. BIG. She’s one of the estheticians that high-profile celebrities and models flock to. Ling came to New York in 1974 from Hong Kong and, through hard work and determination, launched her eponymous skincare in 1976 and opened her first salon in 1984. Impressive, no? She has two locations in Manhattan: one in Union Square (which I visited) and the other on the Upper West Side. Her fabulous skincare line (which blends centuries-old Asian traditions and ingredients with the latest, cutting-edge skincare innovations) was recently revamped in 2009, and features cult items such as the Oxygen Plasma Potion.

The basis of all of Ling’s spa services and skincare products is moisture; Ling believes that properly moisturized skin is the best skin, the glowiest skin, and the healthiest skin. None of her treatments will dry out the skin, but rather will bathe the skin in nutrients and make it luminous. Not only is Ling obsessed with moisture, but she’s also obsessed with education. When I spoke to her (yes, I had the honor of meeting her - more on this later!), she stressed to me that the point of her services and her products was to educate those who used them. She said that the skincare industry floods people with products, but that most people do not know how to properly use these products. It’s one thing to buy the latest magic potion, but if you don’t know what it does or how to use it, it won’t make the slightest bit of difference in how you look. This is so true; I have a ton of products that I misuse and then kvetch about when they don’t work.

Anyway, I was just thrilled to be offered a complimentary Quadra Peel from Ling herself at the Union Square location! First off, the spa is gorgeous and reminded me of my acupuncturist’s office; the decor is peaceful and relaxing, and reflects Ling’s Chinese roots.

Her staff is gracious, friendly, and knowledgeable; Ling herself is incredibly warm, and she has the most gorgeous complexion! After offering me a glass of water, she led me into a lovely treatment room. I laid down and felt instantly relaxed, comfortable, and ready to begin my treatment.

The Quadra Peel takes Ling’s signature Triple Phase Peel and adds the Ultra Peel Glider, which uses ultra-sonic vibrations to lift dead cells from the skin and pulverized water molecules to help gently and effectively exfoliate the skin without harsh abrasion. Let’s break down each phase of the peel:

1. The first phase, which comes after the skin is gently cleansed and massaged, is a glycolic peel derived from sugar cane. This is meant to dissolve the uppermost layer of skin. This peel tingles a bit, but I did not find it uncomfortable in the least. Ling was very sweet and kept asking if I was comfortable.
2. The second phase is the papaya enzyme peel, which is layered directly on top of the glycolic peel. The enzymes digest all of the impurities, blackheads, and oil drawn from the skin with the first peel, while brightening and toning it at the same time. Anyone who remembers basic chemistry knows that enzymes need a specific temperature to work (usually a hot temperature), so after the papaya enzyme peel is worked onto the skin, warm steam is directed onto the skin for around 10-15 minutes. Again, I didn’t mind this in the least!
3. The third phase of the peel is the Ultra Peel Glider. This part was so cool. The glider uses water to lift all of the dead skin that the first and second peels freed up. Ling massaged water over my face and then worked the tool over my skin, one small section at a time. I actually FELT the dead skin coming off my face! Is that not awesome? I thought water droplets were flying around on my face, but nope, it was the dead skin! The Ultra Peel Glider is 100% painless, and Ling is proud of this. After my peel, we discussed how this peel would be perfect for those women who find microdermabrasion to be too painful or irritating for the skin. The glider just tickled!
4. The fourth and final phase of the peel is the Rescue Peel. This is a non-acidic gel that uses the body’s natural electrical currents to loosen and remove any remaining dead skin cells. Ling massaged this into my skin, and I could feel more of my skin balling up underneath her fingers. It was so impressive.

The Quadra Peel took approximately 30 minutes to complete. After the Rescue Peel was removed, Ling mixed up a masque for me. This masque included ingredients she said would help my dehydrated and flaky skin; the peel, she said, would make my skin more receptive to the masque. It felt so soothing and cushiony on my face, and this was left on for about 15 minutes.

The results: A near hysterical, babbling Joey. I could not get over the condition of my skin! It was glowing, soft, smooth, moisturized, supple - I could keep going on with my list of superlatives. Ling just smiled and thanked me. Honestly, this was pretty amazing. There’s zero downtime - you go in, and thirty minutes later you look and feel like a completely new person! It’s the perfect summertime fix - the heat makes us sweat, and then the air conditioning dries out our skin. The Quadra Peel just completely refreshes and rehydrates the skin. Ling recommends coming in once a week for six weeks for the best results, but you’ll be shocked at the difference just one treatment leaves.

After I finally peeled myself away from the mirror, I sat to talk to Ling. She was gracious enough to offer me her At-Home Facial Kit for Dry Skin, and told me to report to her after one month!

I’ll both blog about my results and tell her, so stay tuned! Ling was just a real joy to spend time with. I must say, after my visit with Ling to her beautiful spa, I do feel as if I learned something new about skincare. If anything, Ling has a new devoted fan!

If you’re interested in trying the Quadra Peel, it is available at the Union Square location (212.989.8833) or the Central Park West location (212.877.2883). Until December 31st, the price of the Quadra Peel will be $95 (regularly $175) - a small price to pay for a total face makeover! If you go, let me know what you think!