BWN: How did you come up with the idea to start up a spa in the middle of the Chelsea/Flatiron Distract borderline?

MH: I went to school for architecture really but I felt I needed to do something more rewarding and beauty is so rewarding. I also wanted to start a family and have a business. I didn't think architecture was going to let me do that so I started a business. Back in Peru my mother used to own a spa for many years so I sort of knew how the beauty industry works.

Once Hardy made the move to New York City she faced the difficult challenging of finding the perfect products to use for her spa. She explained that the extensive process was not an easy one.

MH: It was a matter of figuring out which skincare line we were going to use. There are so many in New York City and everywhere pretty much so the best thing to do was to try it on myself. I have tried everything you could possibly imagine.

BWN: So what was the skincare line that Serenity Spa decided to go with?

MH: We chose Dermalogica. It was one of the first skincare lines that I would actually recommend to clients. We tried a lot of skincare lines but the clients always had different issues with them. Finally we said "ok, we're going to use Dermalogica." We did use other skin care lines however, two years ago I pretty much became very conscious about wellness and I became passionate about it. The way we eat, all the products we use and decided to do organic skin care. It took us another year to figure it out. We contacted many of the organic skin care lines to try them out and finally we found Phyt's. We chose Phyt's, we trained the girls and we loved it. The same way we are trying to do the transition with the manicures and pedicures. We want to offer clients the opportunity to do organic manicures and pedicures. Not everyone is into that however, we want to give them that little impulse to try it. And why? Because all these products have so many chemicals that we really don't know what eventually it's going to do to you. I think it's important that we all try to eat healthy and exercise. Manicures and pedicures have become a routine service, its part of their lives and everybody's lives so it's important that they use organic products, organic creams, organic oils, everything that can make people better. So I want to inspire our clients.

BWN: What are your most popular products?

MH: Dermalogica! They love the daily microfoliant just because I always give samples and I think that is very important. Always give samples to clients so they try it at home. They get bombarded by some many products everywhere that they don't know which is the best one to use. So the best thing for them to do is try a little bit and then they say "Oh my God I love it" and that's it, they stick to it. So we always give samples with everything.

 BWN: What other organic products does Serenity Spa use?

 MH: SpaRituals is pretty much the main line that we're using for our spa manicures and spa pedicures. The skincare line from Phyt's as well is one of the things that really impressed me. The fact that they are 100 percent organic products, natural products, it is very difficult to find.

Free samples and organic products aside, we asked Maria what is it about her spa that keeps clients coming back year after year.

MH: It's the friendliness I think, the friendliness and the personalization. I have clients that when they started coming to Serenity Spa they were going to NYU for Law School, they were students. They finished NYU, they became lawyers, they got engaged, they had a wedding, they moved in with their husband, now they have a baby. Some of my clients had issues conceiving babies and there were years before actually having a baby and when I see them come back with their babies we know what they went through and it's a very long time and its part of their lives, an experience had with us. We're always here, we're apart of their escape from their lives. So they always come to us and tell us what is going on. They are trying to have kids or looking for a husband, looking for a job, they come from another country to go to school here, so many experiences through the years. It's a nice feeling to come back and say "You Guys are still here? Remember me?"

If you are in the New York City area and looking for a relaxing retreat check out Serenity Spa where the staff is friendly, the treatments are phenomenal and the cucumber water is to die for! Not to mention you can catch a celebrity there every now and then.

For further information about the luxurious spa or to make an appointment head over to Serenityspany.com.