I got the chance to visit the Ritz Carleton spa in Downtown Los Angeles this week. It ended up proving to be the best little mid-week “pick me up” and just what I needed to get past hump day! If you get a chance, I totally recommend making a spa appointment on a Wednesday — there is no better way to jump feet first into the end of the week.
I was particularly interested in this spa as they have a great program using the same garden herbs they use at Wolfgang Puck’s restaurant in the hotel. The Spa’s Garden-to-Glamorous treatments embody the ‘farm to table’ philosophy of using freshly harvested, natural ingredients – many sourced from the hotel’s rooftop garden which cultivates herbs and botanicals, along with citrus trees.
It’s a program they implement with every new season. For their summer garden special they decided to take fresh peaches and infuse it with mint grown right on the roof.
Peaches are actually great for your skin, although often overlooked in favor of aloe, cucumber, and vitamin D. Many don’t realize it, but vitamin C is also a great nutrient for your skin and peaches have lots of that! The antioxidents found in the fruit also provide ample hydration and leave the skin feeling as smooth as a the “peach fuzz” on a baby’s bottom.
The Spa:
I have to say a little bit about this incredible spa. Although downtown Los Angeles is not particularly known for its serene location, the spa helps make you feel right glamorous in this notoriously glamorous city. Situated right in the middle of downtown action, including the Staples Center, Grammy Museum, and more restaurants owned by celebrity chefs than you can count on one hand, this spa provides a moment of serene tranquility in the midst of entertainment chaos.
The white walls, elegant see-through curtains, and soft lighting all make you feel like you are in Marilyn Monroe’s dressing room — her very LARGE dressing room. There is something called the Sanctuary that provides guests with a very mellow lounge area before or after your treatment. It has all the fixings, including snacks, cucumber water and tea. This is not a day spa, so you don’t want to come too early or you might run out of things to do, but there is a great steam room and cold plunge in case you want to detoxify before or after your indulgence.
The Treatment:
I opted to have the “Peaches and Cream Body Polish” which a full-body scrub using peaches, fresh mint, and sugar. If you ask, you can even take a trip to the roof and pick out the exact mint leaves (there are a few different varieties) they will be using in your scrub.
The sugar-based scrub exfoliates the skin, while also nourishing it. After the application (that did not tickle by the way) my body was left feeling tingly from the scratchy scrub. Once finished with the exfoliant, you are asked to get into the shower that is in the room, the therapists leaves and comes back when you are ready. That’s when you get the ginger-peach cream to help cool and hydrate your raw skin.
At the risk of sound completely cheesy, I felt “peachy clean” and refreshed after the amazing scrub. My body has never felt so smooth — and the smell of peaches was just perfect, not overwhelming — so even if you are not someone who typically likes peaches, you will probably be okay with this one.
If you are looking for a way to connect with nature and use herbs right out of the garden, check out this great program at the Ritz Carleton in Los Angeles. Although its a big city known for its smog and traffic, the people of Los Angeles are, for the most part, into eating healthy and organically. Now you can use that principle on your skin too!
Happy Spa Hopping!
Image Courtesy: Ritz Carleton Los Angeles Spa