The first lady of facials, Elizabeth Arden recently launched Red Door Spa Professional, a premiere spa-based skin and body care line. The new collection captures the essence of Red Door’s signature services, with luxurious, results-driven skincare formulated directly from the spa’s professional treatments. Designed to enhance and extend the benefits of any Red Door skin or body therapy, the Professional line creates a true at-home spa experience.
I got a sneak preview of the new line on a cold, gray evening, which definitely put me in the mood for some pampering. Situated in the glamorous Chatwal Hotel, the newest Red Door is a welcome escape for the mind and body. Expert aesthetician Cornelia Zicu, who is also Elizabeth Arden’s global chief creative officer, welcomed me with a warm, ear-to-ear smile and an enthusiastic hug. As I started to browse the various bottles of potions, lotions, and serums, trying to hide my chapped, winter-roughened hands, Zicu shared the philosophy behind the Red Door Spa Professional line. “This is 100 years of experience in a little bottle,” she beamed, passing me a little pot of Milk & Honey Nourishing Body Cream to try. “We want you to feel beautiful—not just when you’re in the spa, but afterwards, at home…all the time.”
Red Door Spa Professional is divided into three categories. The super-charged Intensive Skincare Solutions line is a collection of treatments developed to address and target specific concerns and issues, from sensitive skin and redness to acne and premature aging. I was especially impressed with the Redness Reducing Moisturizing Treatment; my sensitive skin often gets inflamed, so I’m always looking for the perfect soothing aid. The calming formula felt light and creamy, not greasy or heavy.
Customized Daily Essentials are—you guessed it—intended for everyday use. With a separate line for sensitive, oily, normal, and dry skin types, the Essentials collection is intended to replace and improve your daily routine. Building on the familiar regimen of cleanser, toner, moisturizer, plus facial masks, each line can be customized to your unique needs and concerns. I was most interested in the sensitive skin system, which uses active botanicals such as chamomile and aloe vera to soothe and hydrate. I heard a rumor that Red Door might release travel-friendly versions of the Daily Essentials, which would be a great way to try the whole line without committing to a full-size product.
Body Renewal includes scrubs, washes, and creams, created for all skin types, ages, and lifestyles. These nourishing products are designed to revitalize and restore skin. I have been using the Signature Luxurious Body Cream on my parched, sensitive skin; the rich, silky shea butter and olive oil formula absorbs quickly, leaving my skin feeling fresh and smooth.
One of my favorite things about all the products I tried is the scent. I have trouble wearing heavily fragranced products, so I was happy to discover that all the Red Door Spa Professional products were just barely scented—a tantalizing whiff, rather than a heavy bouquet. Many of the treatments, such as the Pumpkin Enzyme Exfoliator, take their scent from the active ingredients, not from additional fragrance.
So in conclusion: hurry up, warm weather! I can’t wait to finally show off my summer-ready skin!
–Ali Butterfass
Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa Professional skincare is available exclusively at Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa locations nationwide.
Disclaimer: I received a sample of Signature Luxurious Body Cream to review. My opinions are my own.