New York City’s Eve Salon Offers Peppermint Pedicure to Beat Winter Woes

This sensational seasonal treat soothes and hydrates.

El Niño brought an unusual heat wave earlier this winter to New York City, but the typical brisk winds and frigid temps that inevitably wreak havoc on feet and toes have now crept back in and are here to stay. During this time, with moisture in the air plummeting and indoor heat blasted to the max, a little extra TLC goes a long way as the skin on feet and toes dries up, shrivels and even cracks.

Enter Eve Salon, whose limited-edition Peppermint Pedicure ($35 through March) infuses winter-worn tootsies with some much-needed hydration. Set in Manhattan’s hip West Village, the salon is a hop, skip and a jump from numerous subway lines, making travel seamless for Manhattanites who want to retreat from the chill and cozy up in a neighborhood haven frequented by celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker. With temps in the low 30s, it was the perfect day to seek respite from the cold and test out the refreshing treatment. After perusing the eclectic selection of products (think: socks, children’s gifts, greeting cards, skin care) in the retail boutique and placing my still-frozen fingers around a hot cup of tea, I was whisked to the serene and intimate mani/pedi area, which features four stations for each type of service, surrounded by hunter green walls, exposed brick and bamboo-encased screens.

The salon stocks over 500 polishes from brands such as Essie, Zoya, OPI and CND, so picking a lacquer color was no easy task. After a bit of debating I settled on Zoya’s Lidia, a beautiful eggplant cream, and made my way to the über-comfy banquet lined with plush maroon pillows, where my tech Ena awaited with a warm foot bath. After normal pedi maintenance: clipping toenails, filing and buffing calluses, a gentle yet invigorating peppermint exfoliating scrub infused with peppermint essential oil, shea butter, safflower oil and vitamin E was worked into my legs and feet to slough off dead skin.

As soon as the scrub was washed off, my skin felt soft and supple, but to boost hydration further, a luscious, creamy and delectable-smelling peppermint lotion was then massaged into my legs, feet and toes and left on for added penetration. Star ingredients like shea and cocoa butters, peppermint essential oil, safflower oil, aloe vera leaf juice, and chamomile and cucumber extracts left my feet and legs feeling deeply moisturized and velvet to the touch, with a cool, tingling sensation to boot. Lastly, my toes were polished and sealed with a quick-dry top coat and oil, and I was given the tool set used during the service (I’ll receive a $2 discount if I bring it back for my next visit!). As my toes air-dried, I was left to snuggle on the couch, admire my newfound glow and de-stress while daydreaming of warmer climates and escaping the chilly outdoors for a few moments more.—Molly Church