The Korean beauty boom shows no signs of slowing down. Especially in the Koreatown area of Los Angeles, where every type of sheet mask promoting the highly sought-after ‘glass skin’ effect can be found in massive beauty emporiums, as well as immersive spas – many with women-only spaces and treatments. So, if you’re seeking some more specific recommendations beyond LA’s best wellness retreats, here’s a look at a handful of LA’s best female-focussed spas and treatments around Koreatown and beyond.
In this article:
Olympic Spa, Koreatown
Best for: healing waters.
As one of the most popular female-only spas in Koreatown, the philosophy here is that your body will not heal if it can’t relax. Enter this homey facility with cosy brick walls that lead to saltwater, mineral, and cold-water pools. The healing waters will help to alleviate pain, soothe your skin, boost your mood, and even lower blood pressure.
Move from Halotherapy to a Japanese Bichotan oxygen room to a jade healing lounge that all blend traditional Korean wellness and modern meditation practices. Try the Milk & Honey Smoothie, where your skin is drenched in fresh warm milk to unveil a smooth new texture – and hopefully – the Korean glass skin effect. And you can stay here all day if you like.
olympicspala.com
3915 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90019
Spa LA, Koreatown
Best for: a variety of saunas and baths.
Hye Kim, founder of wildly popular Korean skincare brand Olivia Umma Skincare, frequents this hidden gem in Downtown LA with six sauna rooms. The best part: there’s no time limit on soaking up the ambience that feels like a movie set. Expect a dramatic rock waterfall bath and a Hinoki wood infrared sauna, healing jade stone room, and a negative ion balancing room.
There is a wet room, but the dedicated detox area holds the more interesting Himalayan salt room, infrared sauna, and mud clay ball area. The ‘flower wall’ has become a popular selfie spot for guests. It does have a new co-ed spa area, so bring a bathing suit, but men aren’t allowed in the women’s spa Jacuzzi or detox V-steam room.
spla.us
3442 Wilshire Blvd #100, Los Angeles, CA 90010
Pellequr, Beverly Hills
Best for: a Korean scrub and Japanese head spa.
This is the only Westside upscale spa for a Korean scrub in a private, intimate setting for women only. You’ve probably driven by the secretive smoky glass façade on South Beverly Drive before but never knew what was happening inside. Here, owner Anna Margaryan feels the Korean culture takes skin care seriously from head to toe and follows suit for her pampered clientele.
The three-step combination treatment starts with a French Vichy shower, followed by a Korean full-body scrub and wash, and a blissful CBD oil massage. Your hair will also be washed, but if you want to take it a step further, a Japanese head spa has recently been added to the menu with a trichologist. Facial cupping is also available for an extra glow.
pellequr.com
136 S Beverly Dr, Beverly Hills, CA 90212
Surya Spa, Santa Monica
Best for: a yoni steam treatment.
Designed by world-renown Kelly Wearstler, the Proper hotel in Santa Monica is not just a gathering spot for ocean view cocktails on the roof or meetings in the chic mid-century modern lobby lounge. It also holds a plethora of wellness options, including one catering to the female body and hormonal health. If apothecary is your love language, you’ll be like a kid in a candy store.
(y)oni (the Sanskrit word for vagina and womb) steams are an ancient ritual used across many cultures to nurture the reproductive system, soothe discomfort, and foster a deeper connection with self. At this location, traditional Ayurvedic herbs are used, followed by a hormone-balancing facial massage, along with a Kansa Wand to gently stimulate your body’s energetic Marma points.
properhotel.com
700 Wilshire Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Heal LA, Manhattan Beach
Best for: hormonal health.
If you want to take a deeper dive into fertility support and reproductive health, the serene and modern Longevity Studio is designed with a female-centred approach. Focusing on sustainable recovery that supports the nervous system and hormonal balance to recovery strategies that work in harmony with female physiology. The co-founder, Dr. Jessica Sharratt, DAOM, LAc, is a fertility expert.
To that end, the CryoFloat is maintained at 52°F, a temperature to reduce inflammation and calm the nervous system in a water bed-style chamber to support hormonal balance. The HaloRed Sauna complements this approach by combining infrared heat, red light therapy, and Himalayan salt halotherapy at a controlled 130°F to support circulation, detoxification, immunity, and deep relaxation.
heal-losangeles.com
3201 N Sepulveda Blvd Suite B, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Biologique Recherche, West Hollywood
Best for: a spa day with your girlfriends.
This highly regarded, family-owned, four-decade-deep skincare company from France adds a bit of European-flair to the self-care scene in West Hollywood. The serene two-story Maison space has a coveted Blue Room, made for two, tucked away in the back on the second floor, with a private side entrance for VIPs.
Here you can indulge with your bestie in bespoke facials, including some specialised products that will take care of hormonal skin (pre-and-post menopausal) concerns. Start with a computerised consultation with the Skin Instant© Labto and reveal your beauty DNA. It also specialises in scalp treatments and hand, foot, and full-body massages.
biologique-recherche.com
