Larchmont Sanctuary Day Spa (331 N Larchmont Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90004; 323.466.1628) is in the heart of Larchmont Village and lives in a house that is over 100 years old (that was blessed by nine Tibetan monks from the Garden Shartse Monastery). It’s a comfortable and inviting place that will welcome you with warmth and serenity. The unique indoor-outdoor boutique spa is quaint and calming.
After I changed into the robe that felt like a cloud, I took a seat by the fire in the quiet waiting room. They had strawberry infused water (incredible), nuts, tea, and dried fruit. I could have just sat by the fire and enjoyed my water that all day. It amazed me that busy Los Angeles was right outside the door, but yet, it was to relaxing, intimate, nurturing, and spiritual inside. It was the perfect setting to disconnect and find balance away from your daily life (and I hadn’t even had my treatment yet).
I was so lucky to have been able to try the Environ Ultimate Vitamin Facial, which is known for tightening and brightening the skin with powerful tools like vitamin infusions, serums, sound waves and LED lights. This clinical facial can be used if you are seeking medical strength corrective treatments for aging, cell damaged, pigmented, scarred, and/or skin with uneven tones, sun damage, acne, stress and more.
The treatment can be 90 or 120 minutes (I had 120 minutes) and starts with cleansing, exfoliating and any needed extractions, which are my favorite part. I feel like every facial should really get in there and get the dirt out (and Yumie was thorough, I loved it). Next, a custom formulation of serums is pulsed into skin with sound waves and galvanic currents. Then, an Alginate mask is applied which is a seaweed-based cooling mask that works to infuse vitamins and restore the skin’s PH balance. This is not for those who are claustrophobic because it’s recommended to have the mask put over your eyes. The mask helps maintain the right balance between acidity and alkalinity which dermatologists say should be about a 5.5 ‘potential hydrogen’ balance and it seals the nutrients into the deeper layers of the skin. Finally, the LED light and gels are used to emit red, blue or yellow light to stimulate collagen growth production in the skin. While you have the mask on, you can have either a hand or foot massage. It is truly a relaxing experience and I was dosing here and there.
Larchmont Sanctuary Spa’s top skin care aesthetician Yumie Sasaki – who first studied in New York – has been working with Environ since 2003 and offers individualized recommendations on skin care regimen to each client throughout the treatment. She is fun, knowledgeable and most of all, caring. I enjoyed her as much as my treatment. I left there feeling relaxed, rejuvenated, and with smooth, bright skin. Larchmont Sanctuary Spa is the perfect spot to get out of your busy life and back to yourself.
