Beauty Secrets with Sophie Carbonari
This autumn, Sophie Carbonari brings her sought-after facials to The Fifth Avenue Hotel, marking the start of her exclusive New York City residency. After an invitation-only debut during the Met Gala in May, she’ll return to the corner of W 28th Street and Fifth Avenue for a series of sessions beginning September 13, just as New York Fashion Week takes hold of Manhattan. Additional residencies are planned for November and January, perfectly timed for the pre- and post-holiday treatment calendar.
Known for her intuitive, anatomy-informed approach to skin health, Carbonari works with a global clientele that includes models, creatives, and those who rely on their skin to perform at the highest level. Her method blends sculptural technique with a deep knowledge of fascia and the nervous system. The result is glowing skin achieved through precision rather than intensity.
“This partnership marks the beginning of a new rhythm for my global clientele,” says Carbonari. “It’s something I’ve long envisioned, offering the same level of care and continuity to clients when they’re stateside as they’ve come to expect when they visit me in Paris.”
A NATURAL FIT AT THE FIFTH
For Carbonari, the setting of her work is inseparable from the treatment. The Fifth struck her immediately as a place that mirrored her own philosophy.
“There is a timeless elegance and intimacy to The Fifth Avenue Hotel that immediately resonated with me,” she says. “From the interiors to the service model, where every guest has a dedicated butler, the environment reflects my own ethos: deeply personal, meticulously executed, and rooted in intelligent care. It’s not just luxury, it’s emotional precision.”
Designed by Martin Brudnizki, the interiors of The Fifth draw on the building’s Gilded Age architecture and the global travels of owner Alex Ohebshalom. The result is a layered, design-forward aesthetic that prioritizes mood and sensibility, qualities that reflect Carbonari’s own approach.
“Finding a spot that was harmonious with the way I approach all elements of my treatments, from the moment clients walk through the door, was essential for me,” Carbonari explains. “I am fully attuned to the holistic energy of how a space will work in tandem with my treatments to revive and care for the whole person. Beauty is a feeling.”
CARBONARI’S BEAUTY TIPS FOR FASHION WEEK
Fashion Week is one of the most challenging stretches of the year for skin. It’s also one of the best times to see how it responds under pressure.
“Fashion Week is a beautiful storm for the skin,” she says. “Between layered makeup, sleepless nights, and that electric energy in the air, your skin’s nervous system is running a marathon. When everything around you is accelerated, your skin needs gentleness, not stimulation.”
Instead of pushing the skin harder, Carbonari’s focus is on restoring equilibrium. For pre-event prep, she recommends breath-focused fascia work, cool compresses to reduce puffing, and gentle lymphatic activation. Post-event, the emphasis shifts to calming micro-inflammation and restoring the skin’s barrier.
Even her own regimen is spare: weekly low-acid resurfacing, daily sun protection, and one nourishing oil applied at night. She tells us, “Consistency and restraint will always outperform any emergency solution.”
THE PHILOSOPHY OF RESTRAINT
The idea of restraint is at the core of Carbonari’s work. “Restraint isn’t about doing less, it’s about doing precisely what’s needed,” she says. “Each movement serves a specific purpose for fascia release, lymphatic balance, or muscle tone. When technique is rooted in anatomy, profound change can happen subtly.”
She encourages guests, especially frequent travelers, to slow down their routines as well. All of her treatments at The Fifth weave in temperature therapy, guided breathing, and fascia stretches to counterbalance the overstimulation that comes with travel.
Her simplest advice for everyone is to spend a few minutes each morning and evening with intentional touch. “It’s a reminder that beauty isn’t just what you see—it’s how you feel inhabiting your own skin,” says Carbonari.
INSPIRED BY THE SENSES IN NEW YORK
When in New York, Carbonari finds herself returning to places that reflect her love of sensory experiences.
The Noguchi Museum in Queens remains a favorite, which she calls “a masterclass in the dialogue between form and space, sculpture and emptiness.” Whether it’s an exhibition at Hauser & Wirth, the Flower Market on 28th Street, or a hidden perfume atelier in the West Village, each experience feeds back into her practice. “These sensory experiences always find their way back into how I approach my treatments: beauty emerges from the intersection of touch, space, and awareness,” she says.
WHERE BEAUTY RESIDES
Beyond her facials, Carbonari’s residency at The Fifth Avenue Hotel introduces a philosophy of care rooted in restraint and balance. For New Yorkers and international travelers alike, it is a rare opportunity to experience a practice that views beauty not as surface alone, but as the alignment of body, space, and self.
To learn more about Sophie Carbonari’s residency and her exclusive treatments, we invite you to reach out to our Concierge at concierge@thefifthavenuehotel.com
