You can get almost anything in New York — except a Tammy Fender facial.
I try to explain it to friends, but it’s hard to capture the full essence of what makes it so special. Sure, there are plenty of places offering holistic facials and plant-based products. But Tammy was one of the originals. Since launching her practice in 2003, she’s built a cult following around her ultra-pure formulations and spiritual, skin-reviving treatments that are as healing for the soul as they are for the skin.
I’ve had a handful of Tammy Fender facials in my life. Each one feels like a reset. If I’m headed to South Florida, a visit is always at the top of my itinerary.
I first discovered Tammy’s facials over a decade ago during a high-stress work trip. Back then, Helia — a deeply spiritual esthetician in her 80s — would work on me. I’d walk into the Palm Beach spa tense and drained, and walk out feeling like a new person, skin slathered in Tammy’s handmade products, body fed with a vegan lunch they prepared in-house. The brand has since evolved to add a second location, inside the serene Opal Grand Resort in Delray Beach.
Somewhere between rosé and SPF in Florida, I finally booked a treatment at her newer spa in Delray. It has a more resort-like feel than the original Palm Beach townhouse location, a cozy, tucked-away space with a secret speakeasy vibe. In Delray, the star is the relaxation lounge — an airy, quiet space with ocean views with pristine infrared saunas in the locker rooms. It’s the type of space where you want to linger. I ended up spending hours there, no phone, no book, just relaxing.
My treatment began with an aromatic moment: I was presented with 13 essential oils. These are the most medicinal, according to Tammy’s research, which draws on ancient herbalism and modern wellness science. You’re not meant to overthink it. You simply close your eyes and inhale, choosing the three oils that speak to your senses. It’s your body’s way of telling you what you need most. I chose lavender (feminine and soothing), lemongrass (energizing, masculine), and spikenard (a rare oil considered both masculine and feminine with deeply spiritual properties). These were incorporated throughout the facial, making the experience uniquely mine.
One of my favorite memories is getting a facial from Tammy herself (she was in NYC doing editor appointments), the day I found out I was pregnant with my first daughter back in 2019. I hadn’t even told my husband yet. It was when I chose a particular oil blend, she shared that two were feminine and one was masculine. Based on my intuition, I knew I was having a girl.
Down in Delray, my esthetician, Julie — who has been with Tammy Fender for 15 years — welcomed me like an old friend. We bonded over motherhood (she has four kids, I have two) and a mutual love for clean, effective skincare. She described the spa as “Shangri-La,” and it truly felt that way: serene, sacred, and completely disconnected from the outside world.
The facial began with a warm lavender-scented towel (Tammy sources the lavender from Bulgaria), followed by a facial massage so calming I felt my pulse slow. Then, a second therapist entered the room to massage my legs and feet, making it a head-to-toe experience. My pores were cleansed with the cult-loved Epi-Peel (nicknamed “a facial in a bottle”), followed by gentle extractions, lymphatic drainage, and Tammy’s signature rice mask, which was applied over my entire face — even the eyelids. (If you’re not claustrophobic, I highly recommend it for serious de-puffing.)
As the mask hardened, Julie massaged my arms, neck, and scalp. My mind, usually racing, went blissfully blank. After the mask was peeled off, my face was treated to an oxygen blast, then a custom layering of Tammy’s hero products. For me, that meant the Quintessential Serum followed by the Celestial Rose Crème.
This is a deliberately dewy facial. You’ll leave glistening and hydrated — like a glazed donut. And that’s the point. Julie instructed me not to wash my face or shower for the rest of the day so that the oils and botanicals fully absorb. I left with slick hair and a luminous face, hiding under a wide-brimmed hat to protect my newly nourished skin.
It had been four months since my last Botox appointment, and I was due to go the following week. But after this facial, my forehead looked glassy and smooth. My cheekbones were lifted, and my jawline looked newly sculpted, despite the fact that I’d flown the day before and indulged in two glasses of wine. I looked like I had just been injected, but this was all from touch, oxygen, and plants.
Tammy’s commitment to integrity has never faltered. She never sold her formulas or licensed her name to mass retailers. Her products — glass jars filled with lovingly crafted creams, oils, and elixirs — remain pure and potent. Some of my at-home favorites include Plant Milk Serum, the Purifying Luculent Masque, Awakening Eye Gel, and the new Serene Lavender Body Lotion, which is subtly scented and divine. And don’t get on a flight without the Roman Chamomile Tonic mist to instantly refresh your face (I also love it to soothe skin after sun exposure).
The bottom line, you don’t go to Tammy Fender for just a facial. You go for that full-body, soul-southing experience. It was one of those afternoons I felt completely taken care of. I left with a more relaxed jaw, lingering memories of those ocean views, and more hydrated, detoxed skin. It’s a facial that’s absolutely worth traveling for, and I’d eagerly fly to South Florida just to do it again.
Feature image, courtesy of Tammy Fender Holistic Skin Care. Travel Curator may earn a commission from product or booking links on this page.
