On a hot summer day in downtown Los Angeles, there’s no better place to cool off than at a rooftop swimming pool—especially when that pool is located at The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles or JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live.

Both hotels are connected to one another and located just steps away from the excitement of L.A. Live including Crypto.com Arena, The Grammy Museum, as well as many restaurants and bars. They have separate swimming pools but share a spa, The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles.

Spa Profile: The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles

DTLA doesnt’t have many luxury spas, so The Ritz-Carlton Spa stands out as a true urban wellness oasis that offers 8,000 square feet of elegant space with private relaxation areas including a co-ed Sanctuary, spa boutique, steam rooms and showers, and a stunning design that is inspired by Hollywood’s Golden Age.

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Earlier this summer, The Ritz-Carlton Spa launched a special new offering: a “Cool for the Summer” poolside wellness cart. The cooler on wheels features refreshing skincare products and mini-spa treatments at your lounge chair from renowned brands such as Epicutis and KNESKO, including chilled face masks and eye masks, cryotherapy globes, CBD wellness shots, and more.

Indulge in Refreshing Spa Treatments by the Pool at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles

The wellness cart is offered exclusively on the pool rooftops at The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live, making it the perfect treat for a hot day when you want to relax by the pool but also indulge in some self-care with an express spa experience.

Upon my arrival at the hotel, I checked in at the spa’s reception area prior to heading up to the rooftop on the 26th floor, where a treatment cabana awaited me.

The rooftop at The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles features stunning 360-degree views of the city, in addition to having a bar that serves food and drink, a heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, and poolside loungers.

Because the pool is only available to Ritz-Carlton residents, spa guests, and those who purchase a ResortPass for the day, the pool never feels crowded and is a great place for relaxing while taking in the views.

My cabana was located off to one side of the pool and it had a comfortable sitting area as well as glass windows that showcased the city views.

A treatment bed was set up in the center of the cabana and next to it was the poolside wellness cart, which had a variety of products including skincare masks, wellness shots, and cryotherapy globes on fresh ice.

Today I was going to experience the Sun Healer Mini-Facial, a 30-minute treatment designed to hydrate and refresh skin with various products from Epicutis. Having recently spent a day playing golf under the hot sun, I could tell that my skin was in dire need of moisture, so I was really looking forward to my treatment.

The Cool for the Summer Wellness Cart Menu includes a variety of other treatments as well (all face and eye masks are applied with your choice of chilled gua sha or a crystal facial roller):

• Go Green and Be Seen (10 min/$72 face mask; $48 eye mask): Chilled application of KNESKO Green Jade Collagen Mask with soothing ingredients to hydrate and calm the complexion while bolstering skin’s defenses.

• Golden Glow (10 min/$72 face mask; $48 eye mask): Chilled application of KNESKO Nano Gold Collagen Mask using precious metal to repair sun damage, minimize appearance of wrinkles, and lift the skin.

• Sun Kissed (10 min/$60 face mask): Chilled application of Epicutis Lipid Recovery Mask to calm and soothe skin in as little as 10 minutes.

• Just Chilling (10 min/$42): Chilled Cryo-Therapy ice globe facial to depuff, boost circulation, and enhance natural skin collagens.

• LA Detox (15 min/$78): Chilled CBD ginger shot followed by CBD massage oil application to shoulders and arms to relieve upper body muscle tension.

• California Shimmer (15 min/$180): Chilled application of Gold or Diamond collagen masks to face, neck, and décolleté to firm and brighten skin. Enjoy with a refreshing collagen spritzer.

• Sun Healer Mini Facial (30 min/$192): Start with an oil cleanse followed by a chilled lipid recovery mask, ice globe facial massage, Epicutis Hyvia Moisturizer, and final SPF application.

I slipped under the covers of the treatment bed and my esthetician began the facial by cleansing my skin with Epicutis Oil Cleanser, which gently removes dirt, makeup, and oils from skin without stripping it. It contains nourishing meadowfoam seed oil and sunflower seed oil, two special botanical-based fatty acids that create a mild cleansing action when combined with water. It felt absolutely luxurious and my skin was so soft afterwards.

She then performed a gentle exfoliation by combining the oil cleanser with Epicutis Enzyme Exfoliating Powder, which she mixed together and applied to my face with a fan-shaped mask brush. Using soft circular motions, she rubbed the mixture all over my skin, which helped to gently break down dead skin cells and boost turnover with natural enzymes (which are gentler on skin than microbeads or acids).

Next was the chilled Epicutis Lipid Recovery Mask, which was my favorite part of the facial. This deeply healing treatment is an ultra-concentrated version of the brand’s Lipid Serum delivered through a bio-cellulose mask, and it works to instantly calm and soothe skin within minutes.

The Lipid Recovery Mask is excellent prior to and after any types of invasive aesthetic treatments such as lasers or microneedling, and it’s recommended to use it one to two days before a procedure, as well as immediately after treatment to speed up recovery time. The mask had been sitting on ice so it felt extra cooling and refreshing against my skin.

Afterwards, she used chilled ice globes to massage my face which also helped the products to penetrate further into my skin—heavenly on such a hot day.

Then she applied Epicutis Lipid Serum, which is the brand’s signature product they’re known for. It only has eight ingredients including therapeutic concentrations of TSC, Epicutis’ patented anti-inflammatory novel molecule, which locks in hydration and calms inflammation. Hyaluronic acid boosts skin’s moisture while propanediol provides anti-microbial benefits and plumps skin.

She even applied some of the Lipid Serum on my shoulders, which had endured a lot of sun over the past week. It instantly helped to soothe my dry and slightly red shoulders, giving them much-needed relief.

The great part about the Lipid Serum is that it can be used all over the body, including on any skin irritations, but Epicutis recently launched a new Lipid Body Treatment that hydrates the body and provides firming and tightening benefits thanks to lychee seed extract and Spilanthes Acmella flower, so now you can save your precious Lipid Serum for your face.

The facial concluded with an application of Epicutis Hyvia Creme, which hydrates skin with shea butter, evening primrose extract, and the brand’s patented moisturizing agent Hyvia derived from organic non-GMO chia seed oil; followed by an SPF application to protect my skin for the remainder of the day. My skin was glowing, hydrated, and soft—a big difference from how it looked and felt before my facial!

For those not familiar with Epicutis, the science-based-skincare line was founded by Maxwell Stock, who has more than 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

A popular brand in med spas and clinicians’ offices, Epicutis features clean, minimalist formulations with highly effective, patented ingredients. It’s also great for those with sensitive or compromised skin, and people with various skin issues including rosacea and eczema have noticed major improvements in their skin with regular use.

Beauty Boss: Maxwell Stock, Founder and CEO of Epicutis

Their products can be paired with esthetic procedures such as lasers and micro-needling, and I’ve heard many dermatologists and estheticians rave about the transformative results their clients have seen by using Epicutis. They’re definitely a brand to keep an eye on and to try out if you haven’t already.

After my facial, I was offered a CBD Wellness Shot from Cause Medic, a line of all-natural, hemp-derived CBD products designed for the spa industry. The chilled shot was refreshing and tasty with a blend of cold-pressed ginger, cayenne, ashwagandha, cordyceps, lion’s mane, and 30mg of full-spectrum CBD. It was the perfect finishing touch to a great facial experience.

Afterwards I went for a dip in the pool and the bartender at the rooftop bar offered to make me a “Kitchen Sink Smoothie” featuring a blend of different fruits that he had on hand. It was a delicious and healthy treat to enjoy while cooling off in the pool!

The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles also retails Epicutis in its boutique and I took home a few of their products to continue to improve my results at home. Getting a great facial is the first step towards having good skin, but you have to put in the daily effort and maintenance at home if you want to see continued improvement.

The Sun Healer Facial was a wonderful treatment and especially ideal if you’ve been getting a lot of sun and need to give your skin a refresh. Not to mention that experiencing a spa service on the rooftop made the experience even more enjoyable—a great way to beat the heat in the summer!

The wellness cart is available Thursday to Sunday on the pool rooftops at The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. Live.

Non-overnight guests can purchase Day Passes for $100 per person, Spa Passes via Resort Pass for $85 per person, or a Cabana ($450 for up to six guests).

For more information about The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Los Angeles and to book a treatment at the spa, visit the website or call 213-763-4400.

[Photos by Kamala Kirk]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk