Arken Esthetics

Arken Esthetics is an esthetics business in Westford, run by owner esthetician Karen Rich. The studio is on the second floor of a building on Littleton Road. It is open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with shorter hours on Friday, and it is closed on Sundays, with a late evening on Wednesday.

Facials are the core of the menu. A 45-minute custom facial, priced at $95, covers a double cleanse, enzyme exfoliation, extractions and a nourishing mask. The 75-minute version, at $140, adds ultrasonic treatment and a choice of gua sha or manual massage, and facial cupping or sound healing can be added on. The 120-minute session is the most involved, combining ultrasonic work, gua sha, cupping, massage, LED light therapy, a jelly or oxygen mask, sound bowls and scalp massage. The New Client Facial, priced at $140 and listed at 105 minutes, includes a complimentary 30-minute LED light session. A Custom Back Facial, priced at $130 for 60 minutes, covers a cleanse, steam, enzyme exfoliation, extractions and a finishing mask.

The Oxygen Rx Facial is priced at $150 for 80 minutes. According to the salon, it is aimed at redness linked to acne, rosacea and broken capillaries, and it suits all skin types. Chemical peels are priced at $130 for 40 minutes. The salon says they exfoliate skin, reduce the look of fine lines and wrinkles, and target discoloration. Peels are not performed on first-time clients and depend on the condition of the client's skin.

Facials and peels take a $20 deposit to book, and waxing takes a $10 deposit. Cancellations or reschedules need at least 24 hours' notice; later changes incur a charge of 20 percent of the scheduled service. The Arken Ritual membership is $125 a month and includes one 75-minute custom facial each month, 10% off retail products, and rollover of unused credits. Gift cards come in $50, $75, $100, $200 or a custom amount, and sales are final.

Each visit is shaped around the individual client rather than a standard routine, and the studio combines traditional healing methods with modern skin science.