Marilene’s Day Spa sits on the second floor of 52 Broadway in East Somerville, and it’s built around one idea: you shouldn’t have to choose between a spa that relaxes you and one that actually changes how your skin looks. Most places in the neighborhood do one or the other well. Marilene’s does both, with a treatment menu that runs from classic facials to HIFU non-surgical facelifts and ultrasonic body contouring, all under one roof.
If you’ve searched “day spa near me” in Somerville, you’ve probably found a dozen good options for a relaxing facial or a quick wax. Fewer of them offer HIFU, Emsculpt, or laser lipo. That combination, everyday skincare plus advanced non-surgical treatments, is what sets this spa apart from most of its neighbors in Davis Square and along Highland Ave.
What Makes This Spa Different
Walk into most day spas and you’ll find a solid facial menu and maybe waxing. Marilene’s covers that ground too, but it also handles things that usually require a separate medspa visit: semi-permanent makeup, non-surgical facelifts, and body contouring that doesn’t involve a scalpel.
That range matters for a specific reason. Skin concerns rarely show up in isolation. Someone dealing with acne might also want their brows filled in with microblading. Someone recovering their skin’s firmness after weight loss might want both a facial routine and a body contouring plan. Splitting that across three different businesses means three consultations, three sets of forms, and three people who don’t talk to each other about your skin. One spa that handles the full range means one person actually tracking your progress over time.
Facial Treatments
The facial menu here isn’t limited to a single “signature” option. It’s built around what different skin actually needs:
- Signature Facial: a customizable deep-cleanse and hydration treatment, the starting point for most first-time clients
- Microdermabrasion: mechanical exfoliation that helps with dullness and uneven texture
- Microneedling: controlled micro-injury that encourages the skin to rebuild collagen on its own
- Dermaplaning: a blade-based exfoliation that also removes peach fuzz, leaving a smoother base for makeup
- LED Facial: light therapy used alongside other treatments to support skin repair
- Deep Pore Cleansing: a more intensive option for congested or acne-prone skin
- HIFU Non-Surgical Facelift: high-intensity focused ultrasound that lifts and tightens without incisions
That last one deserves a closer look, because “non-surgical facelift” gets thrown around loosely in the beauty industry. HIFU is different from most of what carries that label. A 2025 systematic review in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal found that HIFU produced measurable improvements in skin laxity, in the range of 18 to 30 percent, concentrated in the lower face, neck, and periorbital area, with fewer than 5 percent of patients reporting anything beyond mild, short-lived swelling or redness. It’s not a substitute for surgery. It is a real, studied option for people who want visible tightening without one.
Marilene’s spa day also offers two treatments you won’t find on most spa menus: the Vagifacial and the Back Facial, both addressing skin that standard facials skip entirely.
Body Contouring, Without the Surgery
For clients working on their body rather than their face, the spa offers Ultrasonic Body Sculpting, Laser Lipo, Cavitation, and Emsculpt. These use targeted energy, ultrasound or electromagnetic stimulation, to reduce localized fat or improve muscle tone, without the recovery time that comes with liposuction.
Worth being direct about this: nobody should expect a body contouring session to replace diet and exercise, and results vary from person to person. What these treatments are genuinely good for is addressing the stubborn areas that don’t respond to either, and doing it with essentially no downtime. That’s a fair way to think about what a session can and can’t do for you.
Waxing, Brows, and Semi-Permanent Makeup
Rounding out the menu:
- Waxing: full body, face, and Brazilian services
- Microblading and Lip Blushing: semi-permanent makeup for brows and lips
- Laser Hair Removal: longer-term hair reduction across treatment areas
- Massage: therapeutic bodywork
- Manicure and Pedicure: standard nail care
If you’ve read Marilene’s spa day reviews, waxing comes up constantly, and not just as “it didn’t hurt too much.” Clients specifically mention feeling talked through the process, comfortable, and unrushed. For a treatment a lot of people dread, that’s not a small thing.
What to Expect at Your First Visit
New clients get a complimentary 30-minute consultation. It’s genuinely recommended, not just a formality, especially before microblading, lip blushing, laser hair removal, or your first body contouring session. During that time, you’ll walk through your goals, get an honest look at what a treatment can realistically do, and leave with a plan instead of a guess. Standard facials, waxing, and massage don’t require a pre-booked consultation; the esthetician handles that assessment right at your appointment.
That approach shows up in what clients say afterward, too. One recurring theme in the spa’s reviews: estheticians who explain each step as they go, rather than working in silence and leaving you to figure out what just happened to your face.
Somerville Location
Marilene’s Day Spa is on the second floor at 52 Broadway, in East Somerville. Worth knowing before you book: street parking near the building is limited, so plan a few extra minutes if you’re driving, or check whether transit gets you closer.