Okay I posted this on google, but I had to write on Yelp too, that's how good this place and Lena is... I was recommended Maksim Spa from a friend, and was skeptical at first as I don't normally try new places outside of my regular spa. My friend told me I HAD to go, so I trusted her recommendation. Lena gave me the best facial I have ever had in my life, and I can say with the utmost confidence, this was the best facial I have ever received, and has now made me a regular customer. She made sure I felt welcome, safe, and relaxed. My skin was GLOWING. So much, I had people comment on how healthy and good it looked. I've never had that from a facial before.... 5 stars....a MUST! read more

Maksim Spa was recommended to me by a friend about four years ago and now there is nowhere else I would ever go for a facial. I went because word of mouth recommendations from friends are always the most reliable and I was not disappointed. The quality of care and experience at Maksim is unlike any facial I have ever gotten and the difference in my skin as well as the feeling I have when I leave Maksim is remarkable. Lena has the unique ability to read deeply into each of her client's needs and then takes the time to carefully and specifically treat each person accordingly. In my experience, no facialist has ever put so much care into the attention they give and the service they provide as Lena. She is a true master and possesses the full package - kind and nurturing as well as knowledgeable and technically skilled. Her spa is intimate and relaxed and often transports me to another place. When I am there I am able to relax fully and it is such a gift. I can't recommend Maksim more highly. Take a chance if you have yet to go and you won't regret it. read more

I was excited and terrified to have my 1st full Brazilian experience in almost 10 years! My 1st experience in Chicago was SO bad it took me this long to get the nerve to do it again. Well...it was worth the wait! Lena and her staff were amazing! I was given tips and a bit of wine to relax but honestly I did not need it! My next visits will be a breeze! It was not completely painless as the most sensitive areas (you know where i am talking about ladies...close to our "love button" haha) had a bit of a "Yikes that sings a bit" moment but only for a few seconds. It was NOT terrifying or painful that i would not go back. The rest of areas were shockingly painless! Lena was a magicial. I have never heard friends say they LOVE getting a brazilian but I am happy to report and be the 1st one. I am definitely going to spread the word and share this spa with my friends as it's a MUST GO TO if you want a brazilian/bikini wax. Thank you Lena! See you in 5-6 weeks! read more

I would give Maksim Spa 10 stars if I could. Lena has saved my skin, and I'm committed to seeing her every 6-8 weeks to keep me clear. My skin saga goes back to childhood, and I won't go in to the long, sad story. Bottom line is that I've done it all: Accutane, Retin-A, Tazorac, antibiotics, different birth control pills....and at 33, my skin still breaks out. I was a traditionalist for a long time and believed I needed to see a doctor for my acne. I'd had facials before, but they were more like a massage for my face. Then a coworker told me about Lena. Her facial is intense: I get extractions and microdermabrasion, both of which are followed by a standard facial where she calms the enflamed skin. Afterwards, she gives me detailed recommendations on how to care for my skin with the right products (moisturizers, masks, etc) and how often to use my Clarisonic (which I bought from her). Within 2 days of my facials, all my breakouts are gone and my skin is cleared up. This lasts for at least 6-8 weeks until I get my next facial. Seeing Lena and taking her counsel has been 150% more effective than anything my dermatologist has prescribed. I am now enjoying beautiful, clear skin and it's all thanks to Lena. I cannot say enough wonderful things about Lena and her salon. Big, huge recommendation!!! read more

How can Yelp only give us a five star limit. This place deserves beyond 5 stars. I want to take all the stars in the sky and just put them all here. But seriously Lena herself is a star that shines brighter than any of the stars in the sky! If you've been struggling with clear skin or any skin problems, this is where you need to go. Like NOW. I don't write reviews but I will make an effort to shine a light on places like this. Or rather I would show you the light. I came here with scars and acne on my face. I was seriously at this point where I was just done trying. I didn't know what to do with my skin anymore. I was really sick of investing money in products over the counter, at other spas and at dermatologists. I'm also not a big fan of taking medicine to get rid of acne or putting on a lot of chemicals on my face... My sister and best friend recommended and highly suggested that I come and get a facial from Lena at Maksim Spa. I went with my sister and met Lena, who was not only incredibly nice and loving, but its even hard for me to find words to describe her. She is just great. After getting my facial and seriously through her generous heart probably more, I left feeling really great!! Although my face was a little red from extractions and etc its normal, but I knew that my face was going to really get better the minute I came out. And I never felt like this when I went to other spas. And its been almost a week and you HAVE to see my face as evidence or sth!! It is really crazy. My scars are technically gone and continuing to disappear and my acne is no where to be seen. Lena really knows what she's doing. She cleaned my face and cleaned out my clogged pores and she really solved my prolonged problem I had with my skin. My face felt so much lighter Haha!! She will give her professional recommendation and advice on products and what to do and what not to do that will help continue the healing and clearing of your skin, and do NOT HESITATE TO INVEST IN THEM!! And REALLY LISTEN TO HER!! They carry organic skin care called Eminence and more. Look them up for yourself but these products are AMAZING and it's the real deal. I only want the best for my skin and Lena really does too and it really shows. & I know a lot of people struggle with clear skin which is why I'm writing this review! It's a blessing I found this place! And I know it will be for you too. This is a place to commit too if anyone was to commit!! And I'm so happy!! MY SKIN CAN BREATHE. FINALLY!! HERES THIS FOR A REVIEW! Haha! read more

I love Maksim spa! I've constantly had to deal with problem skin all my life and the one thing that keeps it in tip top shape is facials once a month. I also have my Brazilian and eyebrows done here as well, so the review below is for all services. Trust Russian Estheticians - they know what they are doing I've seen both Olya and Lena for facial/brows - you can't go wrong with either one! Both women are very well educated in all things beauty. I've see Lena more regularly, and she has helped my skin immensely. Since moving from California to NYC, my skin has been having constant breakouts with the weather changes/added stress. Lena's work has brought it back to it's natural, California glow. Facials My facials are on the "medical side" and I usually opt for the signature facial here because I need extractions more than anything - and they don't skimp on this! They also have a number of other add ons that are reasonably priced if you want a more customized facial. Recovery time is about 4 days, however, this varies based on your skin type. ADDED BONUS: Great upper body massage during your facial. Who says you can't have a little relaxation during a medical facial? Brows Cara Delevingne eat your heart out! Lena has shaped my brows to compete with yours (does anyone reading this post need anymore proof that this woman is a miracle worker when it comes to brows???) Brazilian I've been getting Brazilians for the past 5 years, and Lena is the BEST. Her Brazilians do not hurt at all! I don't know how she does it but I can honestly take a nap during this process and that's never happened before. She also gives great advice for how to treat in-growns. Highly recommend. read more

I love Maksim Spa. I found out about Maksim Spa through the internet. I go for the brazilian bikini waxes. By far the BEST brazilian bikini waxes EVER ! They use hard purple wax that does not stick to the skin. It is not painful. The women working there are extremely nice and professional .The spa is clean and smells like mango (so serious) They are pricey but it is totally worth it read more

This place is fantastic! They are so open minded, and helpful. Olga is a miracle worker! Of all the waxing specialists she is a true one! She makes you feel very comfortable, explains everything thoroughly and has a holistic approach to any treatment. The receptionist is a fantastic lady, I don't remember her name but she is a beautiful person and it feels great when you walk in to be greeted by someone like her. Their approach to facials and other procedures is more European, so many reviews here may not have taken that into account. The differences are quite vast, and therefore if one is unfamiliar with the quality of the products and the appropriate techniques it is easy to mistake high quality simplicity for low quality service. If I had daughters I would treat them to special getaways at this place for sure! read more

I have been going to this place for at least 6 years since I was in High School and honestly they have fixed my skin! Olya and Lena really just took some gentle and professional care of my bruised and problem skin and I cannot thank them enough! I have tried plenty of spas, facials, dermatologists, proactiv, but nothing helped until I found these two wonderful gems! And now my whole family knows them and goes to them! And I just don't think any other facial I have got in New York or even in Europe compares! Thank you thank you thank you for this little cozy place! read more

I was sad to see that my review was not being displayed publicly, so I am therefore reposting it... I am also happy to report that my skin continues to be acne free without maksim facials or any "treatments" (4 years & counting!). Unfortunately, I still have an uneven surface and texture to due the evasive acne facials, but the dark scars are slowly lightening. ********* Okay, I have been deliberating over writing a review for some time, but have decided I needed to speak out. This is hard for me as the ladies at Maksim came across as very genuine, knowledgeable, and experienced. And I truly believe they think they're helping :-(. I was so convinced, that I had seen them regularly for acne facials over a period of 6 months and was told it would get worse before it got better, explaining why I continued to go regardless of my worsening complexion and the painful facials where they used a lancet at times. My complexion got BAD...Worse than when I started getting the facials!!! Bottom line is my face is severely scarred now :-(. What got me to stop abusing my face? Well, I missed an appointment and saw my face improve as a result and never looked back. One month after leaving Maksim, my mom encouraged me to see a dermatologist. He strongly advised against facials and gave me some Retin A cream (Amazing!)...I'm in my 30's btw....and no more probing my face, hip hip hooray!!! Since leaving Maksim, my skin has been clear (with an occasional bump) for 3 months now. During my time with Maksim, I was given the impression that I was lucky to be there...stating that if I wasn't disciplined about getting facials, she would drop me as a client as my face needed consistent attention in order to clear it up and that she would "take care of" the scarring once we got rid of the acne :-/. BTW, I was advised to have regular monthly facials with extractions and encouraged (no pressure) to buy skin care products, which I did...I don't know about you, but when you are suffering from acne, you'll do almost and put your hope in almost anything. I was also advised to stop consuming any dairy products and avoid sugars (which I did). As well as stop using harsh acne products on my face...this one WAS good advice, as my skin had less redness and dryness once I chucked the harsh acne products, but I still had acne...at the time I contributed this positive result to their facials. In regards to the dairy and sugar, let's just say I eat and drink dairy again, have sugars on occasion, and my skin is continuing to improve daily WITHOUT the regular facials. I'm sure Maksim would like to think that my face is clear now because of all their "work", but sadly it is false. So, the one star is for they're good nature and intentions, but the minus 4 stars is for the lack of results as well as their dangerous practice and severe scarring. Like my husband told me..."If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail". Unfortunately, when I comes to acne, all they have is a hammer :-/. What hurts the most, besides the scaring and literally thousands of dollars I spent while I was seeing them, is that I truly felt it was my fault I had acne :-/...but, it just wasn't true, not at all. Please, if you are suffering from acne, be kind to your complexion and see a doctor, not some one who likes to play doctor. Probing, squeezing, picking, will only result in scarring, and skin lightening creams aren't going to fix the dents and non-smooth surface of my skin :-/. I apologize if this review is harsh, but it's true and I just don't want to see any one go through what I did. I will also post this on city search as city search's shining reviews were the reason I went there in the first place :-/. ***I am happy to update this review with the fact that my skin has been completely clear now for a few years now sans the facials. Unfortunately i am having to spend thousands of dollars in fractal laser treatment to help smooth out the uneven surface and ice pick scars caused by such evasive skin treatment done at Maksim. read more

TERRIBLE!! DO NOT GO HERE IF YOU WANT TO SAVE YOUR FACE!!! They keep deleting my post on yelp. Lena screwed up my face so bad that after my facial my skin became inflamed then became cystic! I had to go on accutane for 4months because she poked my face too deep with needles. DO YOUR RESEARCH please before you go here. I wish someone warned me. Now my face is scarred for life from Maksim!!! read more

Disappointing experience. Although the staff was very friendly, I thought the facial itself was very mediocre. The room was a bit dirty-and the esthetician had her cellphone on the table which bothered me. Also anytime I have received a facial in the past, steaming your face is part of the facial experience yet Maksim spa does not believe in this which I wish I knew in advance and would not have gone. I will not be returning again read more

This place is awesome. The best (and most painless) Brazilian I've ever had. And their organic lotion is $35, compared to the pricey products I've seen around town. This place has become a staple beauty stop for me. read more

Look no further! You have found the spa, for you. I came to Maksim with extremely dry, harsh skin and have been transformed, inside and out. Lena has taught me so much about my skin, nutrition and well being. It's impressive to me that someone can know you so well by looking at your skin. read more

I was treated to a lovely facial here by my Uncle recently. I had been here a couple times before in the past decade or so, and have always had a great experience. I found the front desk staff to be welcoming and very friendly. The treatment was fantastic. I had an Extraction Facial (since it had been a while since I had had a good pore cleaning) and my skin was glowing afterward. There were a series of treatments, fruit peel, deep pore extraction (ouch), and she warned me that I may have some initial redness... but I didn't. My skin looked amazing. Lena helped me come up with some solutions to make my skin brighter and keep my blackheads from rearing their ugly heads. It's been about 4 days now, and my skin has never looked or felt so good. I bought a couple of products there that I'm wild about, and they gave me some samples of various things to try and I'll be stopping over there soon to pick up full bottles. I can't wait for my next facial! read more

I recently had an Enzyme Facial with a Cold Seaweed Mask. It was simply great. The products used and the services provided by "Olya" were excellent. They really know what they're doing there. I am recommending this place to everyone. read more

I'm not usually one to review, but when I happened across the Maksim page and saw the mixed reviews, I had to contribute...Lena and Olya are the BEST! I have been going to Maksim for about 6 or 7 years now. When I started, it was just for maintaining facials and waxing. Every other place I went to for both face and bikini waxes left me with bad reactions to the wax and ingrown hairs. At Maksim, they have a gentle wax that requires no strips, and not only is it less painful, my skin doesn't freak out after! I also get a lot of compliments on the shape of my brows thanks to Maksim, they were butchered by another waxing salon before Maksim and refused to grow back properly until Lena and Olya. Ok, now onto the facials. I love that they use Eminence Organic products and the facial massage part of the facial is AMAZING! Lena had my face, chest and back sparkling for my wedding two and a half years ago. After that, I got cocky, finances were tight, and I decided to stop getting facials to save some money. BIG MISTAKE! I had a bad reaction to a prescription medication that caused the onset of adult acne and my face became an embarrassing mess at 30. Instead of going back to Maksim, I went to the dermatologist and several creams and antibiotics later, the acne was slightly better, but I was still breaking out and wasn't happy with how I looked. Plus, being on antibiotics for months at a time is not great for the system. One day, I burst into tears during waxing when Olya asked me how things were going at the dermatologist. I decided to stop the harsh medications that were drying me out and not doing the job, and to return to Lena and Olya. At Olya's request, I stopped eating dairy and wheat, which helped tremendously. I started going for regular monthly facials and while it wasn't overnight, 6-8 months later, my skin is RADIANT. Lena, Olya, and I worked together, at times thru trial and error with different peels, products, and even foods in my diet, but we found what worked for my skin in addition to the regular facial regime with extractions (which are NOT fun, but they weren't fun at my dermatologist either and the nurse didn't give me a face massage after!). Lena incorporated an amazing herbal peel into our routine, and my skin is better than it was when I was in my 20's. I can't say enough about the dedication and level of commitment that Lena and Olya have with their clients. And yes, they do expect you to pull your own weight in your skincare...nothing like being under that huge magnifying glass and having Lena ask if I have been exfoliating this past month...she knows, always! :) I'm sorry that a couple of people had bad experiences, I was truly surprised. But, we are all different, our bodies all react differently, and maybe that is what happened in those cases... I always look forward to my two hours a month at Maksim. I leave feeling like a woman again, even those times I have a few red spots from the extractions. Do yourself and your skin a favor by going to Maksim and spending an hour or so being pampered. read more