It’s always a good idea to schedule time to pamper yourself, unwind, and indulge in some serenity. Haven Spa in Rhinebeck, NY, is the ideal destination for the art of self-care.
Annika Barriteau, PA-C is the visionary behind the recently revamped spa, which has been serving the Rhinebeck community for 21 years. She now serves as owner of Haven Spa and La Lume Concierge Aesthetics – where day spa and med spa services mingle to create a one-of-a-kind experience under one roof.
Barriteau knows a lot about care. Born and raised in New York, she received her undergraduate training at St. John’s University before she graduated from Touro College with a bachelor of science in physician assistant studies. She then went on to complete a post-graduate surgical residency program at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.
For nearly two decades, Barriteau has worked extensively in vascular, cardiothoracic, and plastic surgery. Highly skilled in surgical technique, she has always had a passion for aesthetics. A working mother and busy professional, she understands the stresses of life and the importance of self-care.
Haven Spa’s philosophy is to treat the mind and body as a whole – to achieve an overall sense of well-being. While at the helm, Barriteau continually stays abreast of spa treatments, natural healing techniques, and technologies related to her areas of work.
This haven serves as a tranquil retreat – to whisk guests away from the stresses of life. Described as a sanctuary, the spa and its staff share a mission to relax, recharge, and refocus clients, so that they can take better care of themselves.
Tough times
Of course, there have always been stresses in life, but the pandemic certainly ushered in a lot more chaos. Beyond the fear and political divide, the last few years have seen an uptick of mental health issues. It has also prompted people to struggle even more to balance family life and work with remote and hybrid situations and children learning from their homes rather than the classroom. In the wake of the pandemic, people have been seeking ways to relax and rejuvenate.
“What we have realized post-pandemic is the overwhelming appreciation for life. The understanding that time is fleeting and we must value our time here on earth. At Haven, our services focus on health and wellness. Our massages, facials, and med spa services are not only for relaxation, but all have a therapeutic element that feeds an overall sense of wellness,” said Barriteau.
Barriteau believes that achieving optimal wellness and relaxation should be something more people should prioritize. “Mental wellness is the cornerstone to overall physical wellness. Prioritizing relaxation gives your body moments to rejuvenate and repair,” added Barriteau.
Anniversary milestone
Haven Spa and its team recently celebrated one year of success while under new ownership, which began in June 2022. In that time, Barriteau, has adeptly expanded the business with the addition of a med spa, La Lume at Haven Spa. She believes that this business model has created a one-of-kind experience in the Rhinebeck area. While there, clients can receive spa and medspa services all under one roof.
“When I purchased Haven Spa and added La Lume, my mission was to bring together the peaceful, luxurious, and relaxing feeling of a day spa and the transformative treatments of a med spa. This first year has been amazing and we are looking forward to continuing our excellent services for many years to come,” said Barriteau.
Services list
On the menu for relaxation and rejuvenation is skincare, massage therapy, body treatments, hand and foot, laser therapy, waxing, eyebrows and lashes.
The menu at La Lume’s med spa includes Botox and Xeomin, fillers that help address deeper lines not treated with neurotoxin, reduce facial hollows and provide mild facial augmentation for a desired improved aesthetic appearance. Haven uses hyaluronic fillers solely as they mimic the natural hyaluronic acid produced in the body and decreases the chance of allergic reaction.
It also offers microneedling, which causes micro abrasions of the skin that stimulate cell turnover and new skin cell growth. It addresses fine lines, stretch marks, hyperpigmentation, uneven skin tone, and it is also a great maintenance procedure for overall good skin health. Another service is a protein-rich plasma that boosts the healing cascades due to its high concentration of growth factors. This stimulates new healthy skin cells and produces a more youthful glow while decreasing fine lines. Men’s services include Neurotoxin, which is the same as Botox and Xeomin, fillers, and microneedling.
“Our signature massage and Environ facials are the most popular,” revealed Barriteau. Weekly, she and her team analyze the top five services and consistently, the signature massage and skin-specific facial are the most popular.
“This tells a story that our guests are seeking us for an hour of respite in wellness and relaxation as both services are executed in a way to target your skin/body areas of concern, but in a manner that allows you to completely decompress,” she added. Each of these one-hour services is priced at $125.
The med spa services also fit well into this wellness/relaxation category. “The need to look and feel better about yourself is so important to wellness. Self-confidence feeds our inner fire to pursue the ultimate goal of good health,” said Barriteau.
Botox and microneedling are the med spa treatments that are currently in demand. These services are popular, however very unique in their utilization by La Lume. “Botox is used as a tool for skin elasticity presentation mostly. The skin is like a rubber band. As we stretch it daily with facial expressions, it loses its tightness. When we use Botox, it’s to help preserve that tightness and reduce early signs of wrinkles so the skin remains more youthful longer,” explained Barriteau.
Although the demographic for the med spa services has historically been between the ages of 40-65, Barriteau witnesses a trend among younger clients who are well-versed in the benefits of preserving skin integrity earlier in life. They realize that with the help of these services, they can reap the benefits in their later years.
“The rise in information technology in platforms that connect to a younger audience has propelled this demographic to our spa. These younger, more educated guests come to the spa with the goals of improved skin through benefit-rich services, results-driven products, and education through service experience and that is what we provide,” concluded Barriteau.
The response from clients through La Lume has been overwhelming. Every woman has a story. They all want to feel better about themselves. They want the confidence to tackle life’s challenges, and that starts with how they present themselves. La Lume helps them on that journey. •
Haven Spa is located at 6464 Montgomery St., Rhinebeck, NY, or you can visit it online at havenrhinebeck.com.
