What’s New From Santa Ynez & Montecito to OC
By Elycia Rubin
Even if your late summer travel plans don’t involve sunbathing along the Cote d’Azur or dining at Lo Scoglio on the Amalfi Coast, no need to fret. Heaps of shiny new hotels and immersive experiences in European-style destinations right here in California are beckoning.
New Around Santa Barbara County
El Encanto, a Belmond hotel, has created several new immersive experiences including an architectural tour of the historic property along with a stargazing evening. Not to be missed is the age-defying facial by Linda Ross of Beverly Hills at the spa.
Six DIY Face Masks To Keep That Wedding Day Glow Through the Honeymoon
By Becca Hensley
There’s nothing like a pre-wedding spa facial to pamper you before the ceremony. Not only will a professional treatment relax you, but also the techniques and products that spa estheticians use ensure radiant results that often last for days. To keep that “just left the spa” countenance aglow throughout the honeymoon, pack a DIY mask or two to use during your well-deserved, post-nuptial rest and relaxation. Whether sheet masks or something you spoon from a jar, quality, effective products can be applied anywhere without the need for trained expert supervision. Their solution specific ingredients combat a range of issues and can help achieve a bevy of goals from hydration to line minimizing to brightening.
Linda Ross Colostrum Mask
A celebrity esthetician whose appointments are by client referral only, Ross shares her expert techniques and deeply researched, house-made products with only a few beauty venues beyond her own Beverly Hills based office. Enjoy her facials at El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel in Santa Barbara. Or, try the masks at home. Refresh with her uncannily effective Colostrum Mask, a toning and brightening ritual safe for every day use. Made from the highest quality food grade colostrum from grass fed cows, free of hormones and antibiotics, the creamy concoction benefits sensitive skin, heals pimples and sunburn, evens out skin tone and makes the epidermis glow.
El Encanto, a Belmond Hotel, California
Cary Grant. Heddy Lamar. Clark Gable, Carole Lombard. Those silver-screen stars knew a thing or two about beauty — and repose. So, in their footsteps I check into one of heyday-Hollywood’s favorite hideaways, El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, known for, among other delights, its facials by Linda Ross, esthetician to the stars. This retreat, perched atop a hill in a residential enclave in Santa Barbara, captivating with Pacific Ocean vistas, has also welcomed more modern glitterati — Sharon Stone, Barbara Streisand, Gwen Stefani, to name a few— not to mention all the beauties secretly ushered into the property in a whisper, nestled away in solitude and privacy with no inclination to Instagram the details of their stay.
I’m enjoying the stand-alone bungalows, the romantic history, the gastronomy and the hotel’s new Botanica Afternoon Tea Experience, an event that ups the woo-woo ante with “astro botanical infusions”—bespoke blended tea with aromatic herbs and adaptogens customized to your star sign and paired with chef-made bites. But, I came for the facial.
Courtesy of El Encanto, a Belmond Hotel Santa Barbara
Apropos to the location, I want to awaken my inner old-school movie star with a results-driven treatment by Linda Ross, Hollywood’s most coveted esthetician for pre-gala, “red carpet worthy skin,” uniquely available here in Santa Barbara. Though facials by Ross at her peerless Los Angeles clinic can be procured by referral only, a number of upscale resort spas around the world carry her house-made products and have staff trained by Ross herself.
At El Encanto, I test out Ross’ new Colostrum Facial performed with MicroCurrent Gloves, exclusive to the hideaway’s swanky spa. A tweak on Ross’ already-famous, glow-giving (and effective) Colostrum Mask facial, which also uses healing, food-grade colostrum (from grass-fed, hormone and antibiotic-free cows), this facial multiplies the results thanks to the massage and micro current additions. For true face-changing delight, the spa team will coordinate Ross’ schedule with your’s to ensure that she’s in residence at El Encanto during your stay to perform her extraordinary face treatment at your convenience.
This garden-ensconced, bungalow-peppered retreat on a promontory overlooking the Pacific Ocean and charming Santa Barbara’s downtown was the “it” romantic bolthole for the silver screen heyday crowd — and their favorite escape. It remains just as seductive today. Restore yourself around its pool and within its sanctuary-like spa, where the Signature Linda Ross Facial stands out as its best-selling treatment. Ross, an esthetician to the stars, never extracts and tells, but her clients include well-known film stars, music-industry icons and more. With a referral-only studio in Beverly Hills, Ross shares her house-made products and treatment techniques with only a handful of world-class spas, including El Encanto, where she has personally trained each esthetician.
Skin Synergy
Linda Ross has the perfect recipe for radiant skin...and a residency at the spa at El Encanto.
By Laura Hupp
Photography by Meadow Rose
Every product created by renowned facialist Linda Ross is edible, but taste is not the focus. Linda finds a great deal of similarities between cooking and creating her skincare line. "I always like to start with the ingredients. Like if you're cooking, I like to know the who, where, why, and how of each ingredient. What kind of anti-aging properties do these have? What are the negative side effects and long term benefits?" The Beverly Hills-based facialist has perfected the recipe and now shares it with El Encanto spa-goers.
A wall of purple butterflies leads me to the enchanting escape that is The Spa at El Encanto. After a proper eucalyptus steam and rinse, I find myself in the relaxation lounge sipping Magic Hour Pink Tourmaline tea and awaiting my Linda Ross product infused treatments—the Body Regeneration Treatment and Signature El Encanto Facial. I am soon met by Marina,my massage therapist for the afternoon.
She starts the Body Regeneration Treatment by performing a full body dry brushing to exfoliate the skin and allow for proper absorption of the mask. If you enjoy the exfoliating scrub during a pedicure, just imagine that on your entire body.
Painted on, the skin elixir mask has a cooling sensation. This Linda Ross product contains colostrum, hydrolyzed collagen, and essential oils to promote pH balance of the skin as well as help boost natural immunity and increase layers of the skin barrier.
For lack of a better description, I am mylar blanket wrapped like a burrito, marinating in the skin elixir mask for 20 minutes. While I bask, Marina massages oil into my scalp to promote hair growth and treats my feet with Kerstin Florian Fub Balm.
At the end of my steep, I am directed to the in-room shower to fully remove the coating from my body. While showers normally signify the end of the day for me, this is just the start of my treatment today. A 60 minute full-body massage using Linda Ross's Epidermal Growth Factor Lotion follows. A Knesko Rose Quartz Antioxidant Collagen Mask graces my face as Marina guides me to my ultimate zen. When something feels so wonderful, you try your hardest to not fall asleep. I am not positive I succeeded at that, but I tried my best.
Wishing Marina farewell, I return to the relaxation lounge when the woman of the hour, or rather 90 minutes, pokes her head in, "Laura?" That's me. Linda Ross's kindness and comforting persona immediately radiate. Not to mention, whatever is going on her skin—is clearly working. She guides me to her studio where she works her magic—the Signature El Encanto Facial starring her MicroCurrent Gloves and Colostrum Mask.
Looking to work with a blank canvas, Ross washes my face with her natural cleanser, specially created to protect the pH level of the skin without stripping it. "The whole philosophy of the line is to give results by working synergistically with the skin by feeding it nutrients versus stripping it and exposing new layers," she explains.
Photography by Meadow Rose
Following the cleansing, she goes in with her MicroDerm Scrub that polishes away top layers of the epidermis. These are known for dulling the skin and clogging pores, so following the proper scrub my skin looks brighter and feels softer.
Here is where the gloves come in. With microcurrent probes commonly seen at the dermatologist and esthetician office, there is usually one probe for each hand. This limits the depth and range that can be achieved. "I love the fact that you can use your hands. I can really get under the muscle and move it to the place you want it to go," Ross raves about the microcurrent gloves she's using today.
With all machine manufacturers of microcurrent devices, they curate their own conducting solutions to be used with their product. Ross never found one she loved, so she made her own. "Another thing that microcurrent does is it penetrates that conducting solution deeper into the skin. So, I'm like, why not make it really incredible?"
The current it-ingredient is colostrum. "If you look on Instagram and TikTok, everybody's finally caught on to taking it internally, but few people have caught on to the benefit of applying it topically." Packed with probiotics and vitamins, colostrum has a variety of anti-aging and natural growth properties.
In Ross's trend forecast, hydrolyzed collagen is on the way to being an even bigger star than colostrum. "Our bones, our skin, everything has collagen in it, and we stop producing it at a certain age, which causes crepey skin and wrinkles. These two anti-aging components combined with Colloidal Silver (you guessed it, also anti-aging) make up the conducting solution.
After spreading a thin layer of the mixture onto a section of my face, she contorts and lifts my muscles with the electromagnetic gloves. The sensation is entirely unique. It is both tingly and smooth with bursts of energy. You can physically see and taste the electricity when working around the eyes and mouth. I would normally find the metal flavor in my mouth alarming, but in this case it's exciting. "That's how you know it's working."
While Ross's four-step home care program may take a month or two to prove it's worth, the microcurrent glove results are immediate. After completing one side of my face, she has me look in the mirror to see that one eyebrow is noticeably higher than the other and my skin is glowing. 30 minutes or so pass by as Linda Ross molds and shapes the facial muscles and infuses the abundance of anti-aging properties deep into my skin.
Then, she coats my face with the Colostrum Mask. While that absorbs, my feet and scalp are shown a little more love. She completes the final two steps-the Anti-Aging Cream (which is a beautiful blue, I might add) and the Propolis and Royal Jelly Cream. Her Anti-Aging Cream uses organic, therapeutic grade essential oils that enhance elasticity and help reduce wrinkles. Propolis and royal jelly are tried and true, with ancient Egyptians having used them for their curative properties. Propolis is a natural antibiotic while the royal jelly provides essential vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that nourish skin cells.
After my treatment, she sends me home with the four-step routine. In fact, every product that Ross uses in her facials can be bought which is rare for many spas. "You can have the same experience you had here at home. A lot of places wont do that, because they want you to have to keep coming back."
Every morning and night I look forward to nourishing my skin because I have a routine that works with my skin and not against it. In a world where you can never have enough skincare or steps in your routine, Linda Ross keeps it simple and accessible.
The only downside that can come from having these products is the potential for theft after your loved-ones see the incredible results. "Watch your roommates, because they're going to stick their little fingers in there too," Linda jokes. I would tell you where I hide mine, but I fear my friends may read this.*
Art of Healing
By Nicole Johnson
Photography by Jared Fix
Time to glow & grow—El Encanto hotel Wellness Week returns this summer. Special guest coveted Beverly Hills facialist Linda Ross will be offering colostrum treatments paired with a microcurrent glove facial massage that yield celebrity-grade results. The Wellness Week truly amplifies the gratitude and grounding that come naturally when perched atop El Encanto's mountain-side window to the Pacific.
belmond.com
Explore Wellness Retreats
Nestled in the hills of Santa Barbara, Belmond El Encanto offers a serene escape with stunning ocean views, luxurious spa treatments and gourmet cuisine. Unwind amid lush gardens and historic charm during the resort’s wellness weeks throughout the year that offer various workshops, healthy meals and transformative facials by Linda Ross Beverly Hills.
Perfect Getaway
For a fulfilling retreat to nurture the mind, body, and soul, journey to El Encanto in Santa Barbara for Harmony of the Senses.
By Brittany Brombach
If a midweek retreat is calling your name, a drive up the coast to Santa Barbara’s El Encanto resort might be just the solution. Through April 5, the resort (a Belmond Hotel property) is offering an exclusive wellness retreat, Harmony of the Senses.
El Encanto’s signature facial using the sought-after Beverly Hills skin care line of Linda Ross. The results-oriented products utilized in this treatment are designed to work with the skin without harsh chemicals. A customized mask, hand massage and a Nobel Prize anti-aging ingredient is applied with other vital nutrients, leaving your skin glowing.
The Best Beauty Treatments in Los Angeles
By Laura Eckstein Jones
Best Glowy Facial: Linda Ross Microcurrent & Colostrum Facial Treatment
With 30 years of experience, Linda Ross knows skin. One of her latest treatments combines microcurrent and colostrum for excellent anti-aging results. Ross—who works out of Beverly Hills, partners with elite locations such as El Encanto's hotel spa in Santa Barbara and donates a portion of proceeds from her skincare line to animal welfare organizations—uses microcurrent gloves to work the facial muscles, resulting in a lifted effect. Instead of using the manufacturer’s provided conducting solution, Ross applies her own nutrient-rich formula consisting of hydrolyzed collagen, colostrum and more. The result? A luminous, glowing and lifted complexion.
Beauty Director Erin Jahns (Who What Wear) sharing how to find a skincare specialist & treatments sure to dominate this year.
Here Are the Top Skincare and Makeup Products to Invest In This Year
By Madeline Hill
Kick off 2024 with a reset to your skincare and beauty regimen, courtesy of Who What Wear Beauty Director Erin Jahns. When it comes to skincare, Jahns recommends focusing on simplicity in the colder weather. "Your skin can all of a sudden act like a completely different skin type than you've been used to," Jahns said. "I think it's also a good opportunity to just go back to basics."
Jahns sits down with Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings to discuss 2024 skincare and makeup trends, the products worth investing in, and more.
I think if you've been on Instagram or TikTok, you've probably been seeing colostrum as an ingestible has been really, really huge.
I got a really amazing facial by Linda Ross in Beverly Hills, and she has this celebrity-loved facial and this colostrum mask that she mixes up. It will transform your skin, even with one use. She sells it on her website. I feel like she was [originally] doing that, and now, I think it's going to be more and more in topicals, too, as we see it just explode in the ingestible as well.
If you've never had a facial, I would consider definitely getting a facial and trying to get a regular facialist. You don't have to be going super regularly. Just getting a consult with someone who really understands skin and can look at your skin and assess.
Sometimes, you can just feel like you're in a big black hole between all the marketing and going on TikTok and just seeing all these different products and people advising and giving tips even if they're not necessarily qualified.
Society Invites
Linda Ross Beverly Hills at The El Encanto
By Joanne A Calitri
After 30 years in the skin-care industry, Linda Ross Beverly Hills continues to hold court for her in-person treatments and skin care line, available by referral only. Her client list matches the red carpet, and she has appeared in Glamour, Who What Wear, New Beauty, Women's Health, InStyle, and Lucky Magazine and on the Style Network.
Of interest for local residents is her partnership with the Spa at the El Encanto a Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara, which holds an exclusive license (for Santa Barbara only) to sell her skin-care products and perform facials by spa aestheticians trained by her. During November, Ross is donating 5 percent of the product and treatment sales by El Encanto to the Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network.
I met with Ross at the El Encanto Spa on Nov. 5, while she was preparing her treatment schedule for their wellness week event. She explained that she cares about people and nature, and choosing the SB Wildlife Care Network was an important decision. Ross said, "They [SB Wildlife Care Network] rescued a baby hawk that fell from the nest in the eucalyptus tree on the hotel property, took care of it, and put it back in the nest with a crane!"
I had asked, if one missed the wellness week, would Ross be back? She replied, "When an El Encanto guest or local resident books the Illustrious Escape Beauty Journey in advance, I will come and do the service. I also have my signature microcurrent facial using products that have food-grade nutrients, that I do with microcurrent gloves, which no other spa is doing. I work very closely with the El Encanto's spa staff, making sure they are educated with my products and comfortable with the protocols for their custom-designed treatments."
Ross shared her enthusiasm for her dedication to creating the skin-care products in 2006, a basic four-part routine, her celebrity clients bet their career on. The products are made in small batches and from ingredients she has researched and tested for more than 14 years. The products are a Cleanser, a MicroDerm Scrub, an Anti-Aging Cream, and the Propolis & Royal Jelly, which come with instructions and the ingredients list.
Q. How did you get into aesthetics?
A. I wanted to be my own boss, and I looked at the trends, which was that baby boomers were uncomfortable with aging. I noticed the woman I used to go to for facials who worked in the back of a hair salon was booked solid, and I thought, I can do this. It's more about whether the customer is happy with what you do or not. It's very simple from corporate work.
When I started, I decided to move and set up in Beverly Hill's, where facials are purchased by clients based upon who they want to perform the treatment. The flip side of that is the clients are spa-savvy, and if you want to make it, you have to provide better and consistent results from wherever else they were previously going.
Success in the business is [due to] two things: one is the technique used — and I studied a lot of different techniques, massage, and extractions — and the other is the products. You have to be strong in both areas. When I started my business, I was trying to find a skin-care line, and tried anything and everything. I found a line I liked and rep'ed it for 14 years. I started to study the ingredients and how they work, and created my own line. My philosophy is about the long-term effects, aging the best you can long term, not fast-tracking it, which may have negative side effects that are harder to fix.
Q. Talk about your products...
A. What's unique is that we are opposite from most skin-care products sold in spas. What they do is use treatment products sold only to spas and sell different product lines for customers to use at home. My philosophy is that whatever we use in the treatment room is available for you to buy to use at home, and it's just four steps. My products are designed for both genders, including the scent. These four steps are designed to give you skin everything it needs, to get the results, whereas other lines may take 10 to 12 steps. The products work synergistically with the skin, so it takes a little bit longer to see the results. We are not doing anything to make the skin photo-sensitive, which works faster for results but there are a lot of side effects from that. My products can work with acids if that is what you want; they make the acids work better.
Q. What is the age range for your product line?
A. Good question. My clients always ask me what age their kids should start doing skin care. The answer is when the oil glands get active, puberty, and they can use three products — cleanse, scrub and the propolis jelly. For anti-aging cream, the age to start is based on when the person feels aging is important to them.
Enchanting El Encanto
Photography by Ellie Koleen
The Spa uses skincare products from A-list facialist Linda Ross, whose residency at El Encanto ensures celluloid-worth skin even after leaving this serene sanctuary. Having built her Beverly Hills-based clientele for almost 30 years by referral only, her skincare products are exclusively available for the public to experience and purchase through the elite spas she partners with. “This provides the spas using my products a unique experience to their guests and separates them from other hotels in the area,” says Linda Ross.
The most recent addition of Linda Ross Beverly Hills offerings at El Encanto is the newly launched Illustrious Escape Beauty Journey (IEBJ). Linda noticed a trend in luxury hotel spas shifting to longer treatments performed in a variety of steps; however, she wanted to create something that wouldn’t limit clients immediately thereafter. “My skincare philosophy is based on working synergistically with the skin, eliminating recovery down time while providing immediate, stellar results. This allows hotel guests the ability to enjoy all of the experiences offered [at El Encanto] without any photo sensitivity issues,” she reveals of the 2-hour treatment, which is the only one she will come to perform personally for clients through her residency.
The IEBJ begins by the client lying atop an he infrared-heated gemstone Chakra Mat on the reclining bed where the treatment is performed. This treatment aids mental clarity, relieves tension, and stimulates relaxation. The Linda Ross microderm scrub reveals fresh new epidermis layers in preparation for better product absorption. Custom-blended therapeutic-grade certified-organic essential oils are then applied with steam. In addition, an LED Red Light Therapy and MicroCurrent Glove treatment really sets this experience apart, as Linda’s specialized anti-aging privy solutions combined with colloidal silver stimulate facial muscles, deliver lift, increase collagen production, minimize fine lines, and magnify the depth of eminent glowing skin.
An application of microderm scrub on the feet removes dull skin before a tranquil foot massage. “Many facial treatments today forget about the hands and feet. I wanted to give them nurturing attention using collagen mitts/gloves, followed with the application of my Epidermal Growth Factor Body Lotion containing many certified-organic therapeutic-grade essential oils.” The Illustrious Escape Beauty Journey concludes with an extensive face, neck, and shoulder massage, imbedding more age-defying properties into the epidermis, leaving the skin beaming and spirits awakened. “The results from IEBJ should last many days. Using my 4-Steps homecare program also helps maintain the results achieved,” all of which are used in this treatment.
The IEBJ is Linda’s second body-focused treatment. “Of the signature indulgences offered on the El Encanto hotel spa menu, the body regeneration treatment is the first treatment I designed for the body,” Linda explains. “It was important this treatment stand out by the results achieved, have an effect on all of our senses, and make you feel great! … I’m proud to share this treatment is a top-selling service at the El Encanto hotel and am thankful to have the support from the General Manager Janis Clapoff, Spa Director Rebecca Ruiz, and the therapists. Creating a new treatment takes a lot of people to execute and make it successful. El Encanto has a wonderful team supporting me and it’s a blessing.”
Lessons in Wellness from Santa Barbara’s El Encanto, a Belmond Hotel
By Rebecca Horrigan
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly where the unwinding began — was it the moment when the facialist kneaded her fingers tenderly between my furrowed brows? Was it snuggling under a blanket beside the lily pond during a guided meditation, rose petals scattered down my body? Or maybe it was simply arriving to the wisteria-lined white, bright, and charming bungalow, a warm fire already aglow as I let down my luggage and began a steady dropping of my shoulders as well, a feeling that pervaded my stay at the El Encanto, a Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara.
The next experience on my itinerary was an “Illustrious Beauty Journey” by celebrity facialist Linda Ross (Beverly Hills) at the hotel’s lovely spa. I had never had a facial before, and I’m afraid this first one will top them all. Lying on the infrared-heated gemstone chakra mat was just the beginning of the tension release. Ross applied a microderm scrub as well as essential oils and used LED red-light therapy and microcurrent gloves to stimulate facial lift. My skin gratefully soaked up the food-grade colostrum while Ross massaged and moisturized my feet, hands, and shoulders. As she encouraged me to breathe in and let go, I found myself a bit emotional. The feeling of truly being taken care of by wise and loving hands is one I’ll remember.
Post-Deluge Santa Barbara 'is Bustling' Once Again
The area, which suffered $150 million in flood damages in January, is poised to welcome visitors during the 38th Santa Barbara International Film Festival.
By Elycia Rubin
With the Santa Barbara International Film Festival opening, these top hotels and new restaurants are poised to welcome visitors: "It's the best place to live in the world," says Rob Lowe.
Now, with the Santa Barbara International Film Festival running through Feb. 18, the town is bustling.
Industry-frequented hotels are rolling out new offerings. The El Encanto Hotel who’s al fresco Terrance restaurant offers soothing views of the Pacific and also recently introduced their soul-enriching “Indulge With Intention” programming featuring challah making class, tea ceremony’s, floating meditation, chakra reflexology and with celebrity skin care guru Linda Ross additional dates are currently being scheduled with Ross’s decadent CooWata (meaning “Walk In Beauty”) Body Regeneration Treatment available now.
The Best Spas For A Weekend Getaway
By Andrew Sessa
The creamily hued suites, rooms, and tile-roof bungalows of this century-old, ultra-luxe Mediterranean-style hideaway all but glow in the California sun that bathes their setting in the Santa Barbara Hills. The sense of warmth and luxury continues at this storied resort’s intimate, private-feeling spa: Hollywood celebrity esthetician Linda Ross of Beverly Hills recently created an exclusive full-body regeneration treatment for the resort that promises the same stellar regenerative results of her signature facials—but for all of your skin.
This West Coast Train Route Has Been Enchanting Riders Since the '70s
By Nicole Kliest
It's easy to see why Santa Barbara is nicknamed the ‘American Riviera’— this coastal enclave is replete with natural splendor, yes, but with the added bonus of world-class accommodations, cuisine, and wellness amenities. Thankfully, everything is a 10-minute drive away, so jump right in with a spa booking at El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara. The Body Regeneration Treatment is handcrafted by celebrity facialist Linda Ross Beverly Hills and ideal for a head-to-toe glow. Afterwards, stroll the grounds of the nearby Old Mission, which was founded in 1786. It’s often referred to as the 'Queen of the Missions' due to its distinct beauty, and highlights include double bell towers, original adobe wall, Chumash-made altar, and grand Moreton Bay Fig Tree.
Photo: Getty Images
5 Unique Wellness Experiences in Santa Barbara to Kick Off the New Year
Whether it’s unique and impactful spa treatments or just having a zen moment of relaxation on the beach, the American Riviera is the perfect spot to focus on wellbeing.
El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel
Drawing inspiration from the coast, The Spa at El Encanto offers expert treatments, luxurious skincare products, and unbeatable ocean views. One of the spa’s signature treatments is the “Body Regeneration Treatment,” uniquely crafted by top Beverly Hills facialist Linda Ross, exclusive to the spa at El Encanto. The treatment starts with dry brushing, followed by a skin elixir mask wrapped in a warm cocoon around the body, concluding with a 50-minute body massage using an epidermal growth factor body cream. Outside of the spa, guests can embark in fitness classes, sound baths and even life coaching sessions. Guests can book a private or virtual Mandala session with Renate Hume for a unique opportunity for guided reflection and self-discovery.
El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is known as the American Riviera, but El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel, Santa Barbara (El Encanto is Spanish for “charmed”) is actually located on the Riviera, a low mountain rising above the sparkling Pacific Ocean and overlooking the red-tile roofs of downtown.
This historic property has a long lineage. One can argue that if FDR stayed here, it’s probably good enough for everyone else.
Serene and quiet, this gem of a boutique hotel offers a generous fitness room and spa, and it’s pet-friendly.
The secluded Five-Star spa is a destination unto itself. Try the signature facial that uses products from Beverly Hills skin-care specialist Linda Ross.
Relax & Reset
By Maddy Sims
Step down the stairs at infamous El Encanto, A Belmond Hotel and you'll find yourself in a hidden oasis.
I went to the Spa at El Encanto to try out a brand-new service, the 90 minutes Body Regeneration Treatment. It's like a full-blown facial but for your entire body—and it's one of the most relaxing, luxurious spa experiences I've had to date. It uses the products from Linda Ross Beverly Hills (every other treatment at the spa does too). Linda Ross is a storied celebutante facialist, and she only takes clients by referral. Luckily for all of us, Linda does collaborate with a number of high-end spas worldwide, including the Spa at El Encanto.
It starts by dry brushing to help exfoliate dead skin cells away and prime your body for the treatment. While dry brushing can be a little abrasive, my practitioner gently glided her hand across each spot she dry brushed. It was a thoughtful touch that made the dry brushing soothing and enjoyable.
Next my practitioner painted the Linda Ross Colostrum Mask onto my skin. The mask contains a blend of natural growth factors, pre- and probiotics, and gentle exfoliants to eliminate dryness, balance your skin's pH, and soothe the skin. It's made with collagen sources from grass-fed, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free cows. It's the strongest colostrum available because it comes from the first milking. The small, strong molecules are easily absorbed by the skin, promoting elasticity and smoothness of the skin.
Upon application, you can feel a slight tingling sensation—the mask working to reveal brighter, tighter skin. The mask is painted onto your legs, arms, and stomach—and then the practitioner wraps you up into a warm cocoon to let the mask really sink in. While the mask works its magic, your head, scalp, and feet are massaged with soothing heated essential oils.
You head into a private rain shower to rinse off the mask to prep for the massage. I returned to the table (which was covered in fresh, new sheets) for the 50-minute full-body massage, which included Ross's epidermal growth factor Body Treatment Cream. This powerful body treatment lotion works synergistically with your skin to slow down the aging process while hydrating the skin. It contains a Nobel Prize-winning protein, RH-Oligopeptide-1, which stimulates the skin's ability to rejuvenate, repair and heal. It also contains certified organic, therapeutic-grade essential oils and extra nutrients to soothe your skin (and your soul).
I left feeling lighter, refreshed, and more relaxed than I can remember feeling in quite some time. This treatment makes your skin glow, but it also makes you glow.
Linda Ross is one of the most sought after skincare experts in Hollywood with a client roster that is referral only, not to mention her own skincare line… Naturally, when given the opportunity to speak with her we jumped at the chance! With a 30 year career under her belt she has firmly established herself as one of the best in the business, with testimony from some of Tinseltown’s most elite. We spoke with Linda about her tips and tricks for achieving a red carpet worthy glow, and why her techniques have given her clients the confidence to go makeup-free...
You’re one of the most sought after facialists in Beverly Hills! How did your journey in skincare begin?
Wow, THANK YOU! My journey to building my clientele started by renting a room in the back of the first Korean nail salon in Beverly Hills. There was literally 2 nail technicians and myself. After 4 1/2 years of working six days a week I felt comfortable to open my own unique place.
You also have your own product line available to your clients and used in top spas around the world. What would you say are your favorite products and how do they differ from other skincare products on the market?
Our products are not massed produced ensuring the highest quality of ingredients and are not sold online keeping them exclusive. What separates our products from other brands is the simplicity of our 4-step home care program providing glowing results and being unisex skin care line. Another key factor is that the products used in the treatment room creating our infamous glow are available to purchase and take home. Other skincare lines use professional back bar products in the treatment room and sell different products to use at home. The Anti-Aging cream is our top selling product loved by both sexes designed to be a day, night and eye cream all in one step with added anti-aging properties like Epidermal Growth Factor (to slow the aging process) and therapeutic grade organic essential oils (nourishing and healing).
Can you breakdown your own personal skincare routine? What does your morning and evening ritual look like, and do they differ at all?
My personal skin care routine is the 4-step home care program
A). Wash with the Cleanser
B). Exfoliate with the MicroDerm Scrub (only use one time per day. I prefer morning).
C). Dampen the skin with water before applying a thin layer of the Anti-Aging Cream. Wait to apply the next step before you massage into the skin.
D). Apply a thin layer of the Propolis & Royal Jelly on top of the Anti-Aging and then massage both creams into the face, neck and around the eye area until absorbed. I lie on top of a towel in the bathroom every morning massaging these creams into my face a minimum of 5 minutes every day. At night I wash my face and apply these two creams.
How often should someone get a facial?
That is a tricky question to answer because it depends upon how oily a person’s skin is and what their daily skin routine is. Understanding how certain ingredients clog the pores trapping the oil causes many skin issues. My job is to educate people what ingredients to avoid preventing these skin problems and lengthening the amount of time between facials. What you do daily will have the most effect on the skin.
What advice do you have for someone who may be prone to breakouts? Do diet and/or type of makeup factor in to that?
Don’t pick or use products which tend to dry up the breakouts. Start applying ingredients to heal inflammation and strengthen the skins immune system fighting off the bacteria causing these issues and begin working synergistically with the skin/body. Our skin is a reflection of what is going on inside our bodies. There are many other factors like amount of stress, diet, hormones (especially in teenagers) and sleep along with what is applied topically will either enhance this work you’re doing inside or can cause a cycle of skin problems.
You have quite an elite client roster, and you take new clients on a referral basis only. How can others seek out an appointment with you and where can they purchase your skincare line?
I’m truly blessed to have the loyal clientele I do. My goal is keeping them happy while focusing on the skincare line. I started partnering with elite spas offering them something exclusive because we don’t sell our products online and work very closely with their technicians ensuring they are knowledgeable and comfortable performing our facial treatments. The public can go to these elite spas experiencing our facial treatments by technicians I have trained and purchase the products through our spa partners.
With social media and filters creating warped senses of beauty for many, how would you describe what you perceive to be beautiful?
True beauty comes from within. I feel it’s becoming comfortable with oneself. Social media seems to make people feel they are missing something– focusing our attention on others vs. loving and focusing on oneself. It’s good to be unique and we don’t need to all look the same. It’s important to be in touch with the best version of ourselves. You’ll feel good and it will show on the outside.
What would you say is your greatest piece of advice for those looking to have flawless skin?
Start young by developing healthy lifestyle habits because it will show up later.
When not working on clients, how would you describe your perfect day? What do you do to treat yourself?
My perfect day is to not be watching a clock and do whatever I feel like doing that day. I love connecting with people I care about and if combined with a yummy meal even better! This can be anywhere creating a fun moment.
How can our readers keep up with Linda Ross?
Good question. Visit www.lindarossbeverlyhills.com for more!
Spas
Ones to Watch
Storied celebutante spa therapist Linda Ross of Beverly Hills only takes clients by referral. Lucky for all of us, she does collaborate with a high number of high-end spas worldwide, including The Spa at Belmond El Encanto. Be renewed amid layers of restorative goodness during her new Body Regeneration treatment, exclusive to El Encanto. The ritual starts with dry brushing, followed by a slathering of Ross' uber-nourishing handmade creams, awash in aromatherapy oils. A massage and final application of Ross' epidermal growth factor body cream leaves skin renewed and glowing.
belmond.com
This garden-ensconced, bungalow-peppered retreat on a promontory overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Santa Barbara’s charming downtown was the “it” romantic bolthole for the Silver Screen heyday crowd. Restore yourself around its pool and within its sanctuary-like spa, where the Signature Linda Ross Facial stands out as its top requested treatment. Ross, an esthetician to the stars, never extracts and tells, but her clients include well-known film and music stars. With a referral-only studio in Beverly Hills, Ross shares her house-made products and treatment techniques with only a handful of world-class spas, including El Encanto, where she has personally trained each esthetician.
Pregnant entails giving up a lot of things that would traditionally fall under the self-care umbrella, yet Toni Truck's wellness routine hasn't changed much, as she has followed an ingredient-conscious beauty regime for some time.
"I was already using a very clean brand by a woman named Linda Ross (in Beverly Hills), for my normal everyday skincare. Linda Ross really heavily, heavily, vets everything for just extra junk in products," explained Toni.
She holds her own as Lisa Davis on CBS' hit series SEAL Team opposite David Boreanaz, but Toni Trucks—who just announced she is pregnant!—is all about scheduling some much needed spa-time, daily self-care and her (recently switched-up) skin-care routine.
Have you changed your self-care, skin-care and overall beauty routine during pregnancy?
"I have! There are a fair amount of restrictions on what you can use on your skin while pregnant, so my routine has gotten A LOT simpler. I had already established a wonderful chemical and cruelty-free routine by using Linda Ross Skin Care Products. So I kept that base, and cut out all the extra peels and creams. In hindsight, I was probably overworking my skin in a lot of ways. When I really want to give my skin a treat, I use the Colostrum Mask by Linda Ross. It brightens and tightens your skin for the red carpet or the grocery store. It also gives you a guilt-free glow. It's a very liberating feeling to leave your skin alone and keep it away from harsh products. It's cut down on my time in front of the mirror and really tidied up my medicine cabinet."
Jonny Marlow
Uzo Aduba Talks "In Treatment" on HBO and how she Practices Self-Care
By Jessica Radloff
"Now I use Linda Ross, a facialist in L.A. I love her entire line, but she has this Colostrum Mask that you put on and there is also another Mask thats like a clay one that you let dry. She also has a microdermabrasion scrub to take a layer off. I love her moisturizer too. It's just so good."
If I have a photoshoot I like this Mask. It's made with growth factors from grass-fed-cows. It's called the Colostrum Mask by Linda Ross. She's my facialist here in L.A.
The Spa at El Encanto
On a hill overlooking Santa Barbara, Belmond El Encanto has an away-from-it-all feel even though it’s just minutes from downtown. Tucked among seven acres of gardens, the spa’s design is inspired by coastal elements and features treatments with fresh botanical and tropical ingredients. Indulge in massage therapies, facial treatments, and skin-care products from A-list facialist Linda Ross Beverly Hills.
The Spa at El Encanto, a Belmond Hotel.
The spa at El Encanto recently reopened with a simplified menu: Facial treatments feature luxurious hand-crafted, small batch products by Linda Ross of Beverly Hills
Facials Are A Must For Her.
Taking care of her skin with a facial, especially when she's traveling and has exhausted skin, is key. "A really amazing facial is my beauty indulgence. I go to Linda Ross in Beverly Hills. Her facials save me."
For three decades, Linda Ross has been caring for the skin of some of Beverly Hill's most evocative celebrities—though she doesn't extract and tell. Known by her clients (a coterie that ranges from film stars to Olympic Gold Medalists to socialites) for her effective facials that produce startling results, Ross claims that her motivation comes from knowing that she makes a difference.
"I see both a physical glow and inner confidence shining through as their skin improves," she tells me. Ross attributes her deep connection to animals with her intuitive abilities as an esthetician. "It's important to know whether or not someone is enjoying a treatment," she says. "I can feel that." When clients mentioned product fatigue, after so many brands were launching mega-step product rituals, Ross decided to develop a regimen that eschewed the recent industry standard, which calls for multiple merchandise, repeated layerings, and complicated instructions.
"Why not make something that works as well for men as women? Why do we need a different cream for the cheeks than the eyes?" she asks. Accordingly, she developed a uni-sex, four-step process, a simple, accessible daily skincare ritual for all ages and all types of skin. "Beautiful skin can be easy," she says. Her goal-achieving products, made in small batches, are eco-conscious and incorporate lesser known beauty secrets, such as royal jelly and propolis, used by the ancient Egyptians, an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent.
We caught up with Linda (masks on) to find out more.
When did you become entranced with skin and helping others find their best face?
I have always been drawn to beauty and fashion, but I never thought I would work in either of these fields.The idea for starting my own skincare business came about when I discovered how difficult it was to find a deep pore cleansing facial, one where the technician really knew how to remove debris from the pores during extractions. My thoughts were: If I was having a hard time finding this sort of facial treatment, then others were, too. I knew If I were going to pursue this, I needed to lean how to provide great results.
You've said, "Give me 90 days, and I can change your skin." Tell us more.
Our products have no acids, so it takes a bit longer to see results. But, the ingredients work synergistically with the skin over time. When someone new starts using solely our products, they tell me they get inquiries and compliments from friends within three months.
What are the Linda Ross four steps for home care?
Based upon my years of experience, I determined that it isn't about multiple steps. Instead, what matters is the type of ingredients and how they affect the skin. So, I created my core products with this in mind: Cleanse to gently remove all dirt, and balance the skin's ph. My Cleanser is full of restorative ingredients, such as kelp. Exfoliate to polish away the top layer of dead skin cells, preparing it for better product absorption. My Microderm Scrub uses magnesium oxide crystals as the key ingredient. The polisher also contains grape-seed oil (which hydrates, boosts collagen repair, and alleviates sun damage), and avocado oil, a bastion of renewing vitamin E. Protect and Seal with my Propolis and Royal Jelly Cream. Thank the bees for this unique concoction of natural intelligence. Harnessing the curative knowledge of the past, the velvety cream includes both propolis (the resin-like substance bees use to sanitize the hive) and royal jelly, the product young bees create to feed the queen. Used for centuries as a beauty and health remedy, these ingredients are anti-fungal and have antibiotic properties, not to mention amino acids to restore the skin. The cream aids in skin conditions such as acne, eczema, and rosacea.
I love your Skin Tightening mask. Can you tell us a little bit about it?
This mask is designed to draw the blood flow to the surface of the skin, delivering the nutrients contained in the blood flow and giving circulation to the face. This circulation helps to eliminate fine lines for a few days, and assists with lightening dark circles under the eyes. It's our best anti-aging mask, providing immediate results.
Where to Find the Products
I accept clients for facials in Beverly Hills on a referral-only basis these days. But, I partner with a number of spas, which offer facials with my products. I've trained the teams at such hotels as Belmond El Encanto in Santa Barbara and The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. My four-step skin program's products can be purchased directly from the spas. For Belmond El Encanto, call (805) 770 3545 or email: spa.ele@belmond.com. For The Ritz Carlton, Half Moon Bay, call (650) 712-7000 or email: RCHalfMoonBayleads@ritzcarlton.com.
"It just takes four steps to have great skin," says Linda Ross, the mastermind behind a line of unisex skin products sold only in some of the world's best spas. Created in Beverly Hills, a city famous for its pursuit of beauty, the Linda Ross collection evolved during Ross' nearly 3-decade career caring for the skin of well-known celebrities, sports newsmakers (including two Olympic gold medalists), fashion icons, socialites, and music industry legends. Renowned for the lasting glow she achieves for her clients, Ross' obsession with thorough extractions led loyal patrons to refer to her stellar results as "boot camp beauty." However, there's nothing unloving about her motivation. "Making people feel good and confident about their skin brings me great joy," she says.
Eschewing the industry standard that expects each brand to offer myriad options (which can create an abundance of confusion for consumers who feel they must pack their shelves with potions and bottles), Ross developed an easy regime, rich with result-driven ingredients. When clients mentioned they lost motivation when bombarded with too many products and steps to follow, Ross began to envision her goal-achieving, simple-to-do, skin care ritual.
"I wanted to make beautiful skin easy," says Ross. She adds, "Give me 90 days and I will change your skin."
Her products work for all skin types, all ages, and both sexes. Her line, exclusively made in micro-batches, utilizes eco-conscious, clean ingredients—not to mention highly prized traditional elements—such as royal jelly and propolis—used by the ancient Egyptians.
What Are the Steps?
Daytime Routine:
Cleanse with Linda Ross Cleanser, a pretty, pink, gentle, foaming concoction, loaded with restorative ingredients, such as kelp.
Exfoliate with Linda Ross Microderm Scrub. This eradicates the skin's top layers, unclogging pores that instantly imparts an overall, smoothing effect. Expect brighter, softer-looking skin, which can absorb products with more ease. "We use magnesium oxide crystals as our key ingredient. That's the same thing used in MicroDermabrasion machines," says Ross. The polisher also contains grapeseed oil (which hydrates, boosts collagen repair, and alleviates sun damage) and avocado oil, a storehouse of renewing vitamin E.
Moisturize with either Linda Ross Anti-Aging Cream or Linda Ross Anti-Aging Serum. With beneficial pumpkin seed oil (a trove of vitamin E, zinc, antioxidants, and omegas 3 and 6 fatty acids), plus aloe leaf's curative gel, this balm acts as a humectant and promotes a youthful skin. The easily absorbed serum, also with pumpkin seed oil, boasts a slew of herbs and other anti-bacterial ingredients, such as castor oil. Which to use? "The serum is more hydrating, as it contains a little more oligopeptide-24 which helps to slow down signs of aging and tighten the skin," says Ross.
Pro tip: these amazing moisturizers serve as eye cream, neck cream, day cream, and nighttime repair.
Protect and seal with Linda Ross Propolis and Royal Jelly Cream. This innovative blend brings the natural intelligence of bees into play. Used for centuries and chock full of nutrients the epidermis craves, both propolis (the resin-like substance bees use to disinfect the hive) and royal jelly (the product young bees make to feed the queen) have a super-fuel effect on the skin. Healing, anti-fungal, and naturally antibiotic, royal jelly and propolis also have amino acids which repair and replenish. Spread the velvety textured substance on your face, top with the sunscreen of your choice—and hit the town.
Nighttime ritual is the same, minus the polisher. How easy is that?
BONUS: The Masks:
Choose from three optional masks to upgrade your Linda Ross epidermal adventure. The Colostrum Mask, sourced from cows raised without hormones or antibiotics, improves elasticity and collagen; the Skin Tightening Mask delivers oxygen to cells and removes toxins; and, the Propolis Mask, with Bentonite Clay, employs a negative, electro-magnetic charge which opens the pores and draws out impurities.
How to Procure:
While Linda Ross continues to accept clients for facials in Beverly Hills on a referral only basis, she has partnered with a select collection of hotels and spas to offer her groundbreaking facial treatment and results-driven, spa-strength products (ideal for home use) for beauty aficionados the world over. Training estheticians on-site at top notch hotels, such as Belmond El Encanto in Santa Barbara and Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, Ross delivers her glow-giving, signature facial via the expertise of talented therapists at these locations. Those wishing to continue the treatment or try the products at home can buy them directly from the spas.
For Belmond El Encanto, call (806) 770 3545 or
email: spa.ele@belmond.com.
For Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, call (650) 712-7000 or
email: RCHalfMoonBayleads@ritzcarlton.com
More Info on Two Hotels Carrying Linda Ross in California
Belmond El Encanto
Gable and Lombard weren't wrong. This garden-ensconced, bungalow-peppered retreat on a promontory overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the Channel Islands, and charming Santa Barbara's downtown was the "it" romantic bolt hole for the silver screen's heyday crowd—and their favorite escape. It remains just as seductive today. Restore yourself around its pool and within its sanctuary-like spa, where the Linda Ross facial stands out as a signature, best-selling treatment.
Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay
Poised high above the Pacific Ocean, Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay, with its wood-clad, 19th-century, shingle-style architecture, references the Eastern seaboard. A veritable hideaway from urbanity, the coastal retreat has 261 rooms and a coddling spa, among other virtues. Prepare to picnic on the lawn above the unbridled sea—after your facial, of course.
Loretta Victoria Rothschild touched on beauty and she let us into one of her secrets to her flawless skin; Linda Ross. We caught up the Loretta to discuss the Linda Ross Beverly Hills Brand in more detail.
STIL: Can you talk us through your daily skincare routine, both morning and night?
LVR: So I cleanse in the bath with my LR cleanser followed by the Microderm Scrub for about a minute. I didn't realise you need to scrub for a good minute before, so I do that now every other day.
STIL: You are a mine of information when it comes to beauty, can you share with us what makes Linda Ross and her products products so special?
LVR: The first facial I had I knew I had found gold. She did the Colostrum Mask on me and she dries it REALLY tight with a hair dryer. It made my skin pulsate and when I walked out I looked like I had been on a 4 week holiday. I TRY and get to her twice a month if I can. I don't let anybody else touch my skin even if I'm travelling. Linda also isn't shy about her love of extractions. She's like one of those magnifying mirrors. She can find bumps/white heads on your skin like a ninja.
I took the products home after my first facial and the moment I woke up I knew. For the first time in my adult life my skin didn't feel dry. I couldn't wait to put it on again. It has the most wonderful smell and the texture is a dream. I hate creamy sort of gooey textures, I never feel like they are doing anything. This cream is like drinking water. It's so satisfying. I never realised until I met Linda the huge impact of having someone so wonderful do those really personal and intimate treatments. I am very lucky to be able to have her down the road.
STIL: Few of us will ever get to experience a facial from Linda herself, can you give us a small insight into the experience of having a treatment at Linda Ross?
LVR: It's proper! To me it's all the best things that have been learnt about skincare over the decades rolled into one, done by one of the sweetest and most generous ladies I've had the pleasure of meeting.
There's a secret spa menu at the resort's spa because...of course there is. Today, after a morning on the links, you decide to go for it—and are exalted to find the current surprise treatment is a Rodeo Facial with products by none other than Linda Ross, the skincare queen of Beverly Hills. As your skin is plied with a brightening mask and royal jelly cream, beloved by ancient Egyptians, you call it: this pick was a hole in one.
I booked the El Encanto Signature Facial...I don't know if it was the skin-quenching Linda Ross products (they're made in micro batches in Beverly Hills) or the exfoliation, but I strolled out with a radiant glow.
Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay
As if its stunning Pacific vistas weren't enough, the Ritz offers...the secret spa menu, which for summer includes the Linda Ross Beverly Hills 80-minute Rodeo facial.
You spend a lot of time travelling. What are the key products that you have in your handbag for long haul flights?
I learned a trick from Linda Ross who does my facials in LA. She told me to put the moisturizer on with water...I've never looked back.
Lisa Bonbright is the beautiful soul who brought the Gratitude Glow to SoCal as CEO of Love Serve Remember / Cafe Gratitude, [and the] force behind 5 Cafe Gratitude Locations, along with Gracias Madre in West Hollywood and Newport Beach.
What is your skincare routine?
"I get a facial every two weeks from Linda Ross at Epicore. I am religious about keeping my [skin clean]."
- Lisa Bonbright
Celebrities stay glamorous, even when they're out of town, thanks to celebrity-caliber hotel spas. Located far from sunny SoCal and the celebrity facialists of Beverly Hills, but not far from the splendor of San Francisco and the Silicon Valley, The Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay offers a secret spa menu: the "Rodeo Facial."
Named after the famous shopping center in Beverly Hills, the Rodeo Facial features products by celebrity skincare professional, Linda Ross.
The ultra-luxe treatment was created exclusively for the [Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay] by Linda Ross, one of the most sought-after skincare specialists in Beverly Hills. Ms. Ross' beauty products are handcrafted in micro-batches, using premium ingredients designed to transform skin back to a youthful glow.
Guests of The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay — the San Francisco Bay Area's premier luxury resort — can now experience a touch of Beverly Hills glamour with the Rodeo Facial, the latest addition to the resort's...ultra-luxe treatment was created using Linda Ross skin care products.
Santa Barbara's only Forbes Five Star resort, Belmond El Encanto features 92 suites and rooms in California Craftsman and Spanish Revival bungalows...
...The Spa at El Encanto, which truly is one of the very best spas in all of California. One of the largest and perfectly designed resort spas, the services are also top notch... Facials using awesome products from Linda Ross, this is a blissful retreat from the stress of life.
After breakfast we recommend making some time to enjoy the hotel's spa, which features [ world-class products from Beverly Hills' Linda Ross.]
I wish I could relive getting lathered in propolis and royal jelly - all products courtesy of Beverly Hills facialist Linda Ross. I floated back to my room, my complexion feeling as fresh as a California Garden.
What better way to relax than with an indulgent spa treatment at the [El Encanto.] A facial using gorgeous products from Linda Ross, you'll be in heaven.
Carola Gonzales - Makeup Artist.
"The best Skin Tightening mask ever is Linda Ross. I do it once a week and you truly can see a difference."
Inn at Perry Cabin by Belmond welcomes Linda Ross Beverly Hills as the newest spa line added to the spa menu and treatments; the line is also available for purchase at the spa's apothecary. Skin care professional Linda Ross has worked her magic on the faces of LA's finest celebrities and socialites for more than 20 years. Using the finest ingredients, Linda handcrafts her products in micro-batches, ensuring them to be cruelty-free and without harsh chemicals. [The Linda Ross] Bevely Hills products will leave guests glowing and rejuvenated, long after vacation has concluded.
According to Los Angeles Magazine, the surreptitious is skincare expert Linda Ross and her product line that brings on their perfection. And she may actually have something. The mystery to looking like a major motion picture star is not just for the rich and famous now that Ross has been revealed in the Hollywood report.
Touting 20 years of experience, numerous appearances in Lucky Magazine and The Style Network, "Linda is one of the most sought out facialists in town is an expert eyebrow archer and body waxer," according to her personal website. Though she is credited for helping create perfect skin, it is actually the colostrum from a cow's foremilk that provides enzymes, amino acids, vitamins and other ingredients that restores balance for a healthy epidermis.
Noted in Forbes Travel Guide for lining the shelves at the exclusive Spa at El Encanto, Ross products also mask the faces of [her clients]. However, what may be even more impressing is that her colostrum filled product can be found in the cosmetic bag of celebrity makeup artist Carola Gonzalez. Speaking of the product line, the makeup guru to the stars makes it clear Ross' skincare line is great for all skin types.
"It's full of nutrients, vitamins, amino acids, natural probiotics and is extremely healing," said Gonzalez to the Hollywood Reporter in 2014. As for the Linda Ross Skin Tightening Mask, it is wondrous, according to Gonzalez, who added "This one is strictly anti-aging. It's designed to bring blood circulation to the surface of the skin, camouflaging fine lines and the signs of aging. This pushes out stagnation and reduces under eye circles."
Telling her story to Los Angeles Magazine, author Navdeep Mundi explains how the moisturizing cow milk worked for her after receiving a spa day, helping her to experience "the equivalent of an ultra-relaxing bath with a decadent moisturizer but for my face."
As an author, the naturally inquisitive Mundi contacted Ross herself to find out more about the secret to the stars. After explaining to Mundi that colostrum is made up of 97 immune factors, 87 natural growth factors, and a variety of probiotics and prebiotics, the skin care professional said "many celebrities use it before work or an event and prior to the application of makeup."
Calling herself a "true lover of the Linda Ross products," reader Teri Montoya commented on Mundi's report, even revealing her age to prove her point. "I am 50-years-old and get stopped in the supermarket by strangers asking me what product I use, no lie," she wrote, adding the product is her new addiction. "I believe her products are beneficial to any skin age and will keep you looking refreshed and healthy for many years to come!"
So if you want to have something in common with starlets like Lawrence, Washington and Wilde, simply seek out Linda Ross' perfected, celebrity-endorsed skincare line.
The creamy product is part of an ultra-exclusive line of skincare that you can't buy online.
Last month I made a wonderful skincare discovery: colostrum.
In the mood to enjoy a beautiful place with an away-from-it-all vibe, I had driven up PCH to visit the spa at the newly revamped Belmond El Encanto resort. I settled in for a Belmond Signature Facial (ask for Jennifer Espinosa, her hands are masterful), and experienced the equivalent of an ultra-relaxing bath with a decadent moisturizer but for my face.
After, I found out that Jennifer had applied Linda Ross Colostrum Mask ($92) to my skin after a deft massage and light peel. The creamy product is part of an ultra-exclusive line of skincare that you can't even buy online. Linda Ross has been a skincare secret in Beverly Hills for so long and counts so many celebrities as fans that you could mistake a list of its devotees for a guest list for the Soho House—not that the skincare guru would ever name them. I reached out to her to ask about colostrum, which is derived from cow's foremilk, which itself contains skin-loving vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, and other special substances that regenerates the epidermis. She told me that colostrum containing 97 immune factors, 87 natural growth factors, and a variety of probiotics and prebiotics. "Colostrum is very healing on any skin condition, she said, "including acne. On healthy skin, it gives it a beautiful immediate glow! Many celebrities use it before work or an event and prior to the application of make-up."
While sheet masks are getting their 15-minutes of fame, I'm now hooked onto this mask—which comes in powder form. Mix a tablespoon of the bovine powder with water and then apply it to skin after a good deep scrub. The formula doesn't feel suffocating to the pores and dries quickly but it's powerful enough to be my new miracle cure for late nights.
The El Encanto Hotel spa stocks the Beverly Hills - based Linda Ross skin care line.
Kerry Washington grew up with her makeup artist Carola Gonzalez. Carola has worked with many other celebrities including Olivia Wilde, Jennifer Lawrence, and George Clooney. In her blog www.el-beauty.com Carola writes:
As a makeup artist, I'm always searching for the best facial masks to use on my clients, to revive, plump, hydrate, replenish, tighten, and invigorate their skin before an important event. I've found two amazing facial masks that truly give immediate, radiant, results on the skin. They are so good, that every time I apply either mask, my boyfriend compliments my skin without knowing I used it. Coming from a man, it definitely tells you it works!
I highly recommend either one, depending on your individual needs:
Linda Ross Colostrum Mask: Can be used on all skin types. It's full of nutrients, vitamins, amino acids, natural probiotics, and is extremely healing. It strengthens the skin's immune system, prevents bacteria from penetrating the skin, and has anti-aging properties that help the skin stay thick (skin usually thins out as you get older). It can be used as often as you want. This face mask makes skin radiant, heals acne, calms swelling or redness, as well as any irritation on the skin. It can be also used to treat spider or mosquito bites and soothes burns.
Linda Ross Skin Tightening Mask: This one is strictly anti-aging, and WOW, does it work wonders!! It's designed to bring blood circulation to the surface of the skin, camouflaging fine lines, and signs of aging. This pushes out stagnation and reduces under eye circles. Makes skin tight and carries nutrients which work from the inside out – if you're healthy on the inside, it'll reflect on the outside. You can use it on your hands, chest, face, wherever needed. Recommended use, once a week, no more than that. Think of it as a weekly skin therapy.
Just remember, masks only give temporary results that can last up to 5 days. To achieve permanent results they must be used on a regular basis. It's a great and inexpensive way to wipe away the years and radiate that youthful glow we all strive to achieve without breaking the bank!
Is there one product or treatment that made you feel instantly refreshed when you got home?
America: "A really amazing facial is my beauty indulgence. I go to Linda Ross in Beverly Hills."
America Ferrera Tells Allure: "I go to Linda Ross in Beverly Hills. She is my savior with all the traveling and flying and lack of sleep, her facials save me."
"I wake up in the morning and wash my face with the Linda Ross MicroDerm Scrub... At night, I use the Anti Aging Face Cream from my facialist Linda Ross."
- America Martin, LA-based painter
One of my personal favorites is Linda Ross at Epicore. Tucked away behind the Peninsula Beverly Hills Hotel, Linda leaves no pore untouched with her fastidious cleaning. She has a superb line of her own products including a Miracle Serum which has been a face-saver during New York's harsh winter.
As she was walking the red carpet for her movie, The Expendables 2, a fan tweeted: "What is your secret in never looking your age? (remarkable)"
Charisma Carpenter responded: "Ah! Linda Ross at Epicore Beverly Hills."
Best of the Best
Our absolute favorites this year
*Facial
We swear by the thoroughly cleansing, massage-heavy, all-natural facials given by Linda Ross at Epicore by Linda Ross (132-a S. Lasky Dr., 310-278-8847). She's also a whiz at waxing, lash thinning, and brow shaping.
The Best Places
Facials
... Epicore 132-a Lasky Dr. 310-278-8847 For a superdeep cleanse, turn to Linda Ross, who specializes in extraction-heavy facials. ... Bonus: the lengthy hand and foot massage.
The Lowdown
Darryl Patterson
...Camera-friendly types are raving about Linda Ross' 90-minute facial at Epicore (132-a Lasky Dr., 310-278-8847), which is topped off with a 10-minute face massage...
Local Breaks
Epicore by Linda Ross, While famous for her massage-laced facials, Linda Ross is also a waxing wizard with a meticulous but delicate touch.
Q&A
Before bed every night, Rosanna Arquette and Mary Louise Parker use [Linda Ross] Hand and Foot Treatment...
Beauty Talk
Charisma Carpenter
You have beautiful skin. How do you care for it? I swear by getting regular facials from Linda Ross at Epicore in Beverly Hills. I get tons of makeup put on me for television, and I think it's important that my face is clean when I'm not working.
Reunion-ready skin
Each of our candidates met with Linda Ross, the Peninsula Beverly Hills spa consultant aesthetician, who found their most common skin complaints were dry skin, uneven skin tone and fear of wrinkles. Ross gave this advice on simple changes each one could make to her routine to achieve more radiant skin.
- Drink plenty of water. Consume the equivalent of at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day (from food and fluids). "Water for the body is like oil for a car," Ross says. "It makes all the organs work better, including the skin."
The Lucky September listings
The Best Places
Facials
Epicore
132A S. Lasky Dr., 310-278-8847. For a superdeep cleansing, turn to Linda Ross, who speializes in extraction-heavy facials.
Actress Robin Tunney on How to Speak Your Mind
Your shooting schedule must be demanding. How do you relax? I love punishing massages. And I get facials. I alternate between old-fashioned facials from [skin expert] Linda Ross...
Finding a Brow Person
Here, the cross-country superstars:
Los Angeles
Brow Experts at Salons
Who: Linda Ross
Where: Epicore, 132A S. Lasky Dr.
Phone: 310-278-8847
Beautiful Skin Unveiled, EPICORE by Linda Ross
Beautiful women are taking beauty and the business of it beyond traditional and into exceptional. This article is part of a series featuring these women.
Women, clear off your countertops and clean out your drawers full of products! Linda Ross has changed the way we need to take care of our skin. She not only simplified the amount of products needed, but amped up the products to deliver desired results without harmful effects. View slideshow: EPICORE BY LINDA ROSS
Linda Ross is a beauty esthetician and skin-care expert. She owns the renowned Epicore by Linda Ross in Beverly Hills, CA. Linda Ross and Epicore have been featured in many magazines several times, including Lucky, In Style, and Shape as well as being mentioned in Harper's Bazaar. She and her products are a must have for many top celebrities.
With a sales and marketing background, Linda Ross was a very successful Independent Contractor for Epicuren Discovery as one of their top-selling representatives for fourteen years. Linda started working with Epicuren when they were running the company out of a home, and grew her accounts to include Epicuren's first five star, five-diamond hotels: The Peninsula Hotel of Beverly Hills.
Followed by The Peninsula of New York. Linda began educating the staff on the products and designed the spa menu at both Peninsula locations. In the first year, the Peninsula Beverly Hills retail sales doubled in size and the Peninsula New York's revenue grew 40% more than they had anticipated.
After many years of working with her own personal clientele and Epicuren Discovery accounts, she used her expertise, education and passion to create her own one-of-a-kind line of products. Linda created a skincare program that is simplified, using a handful of results-oriented products that are affordable. Epicore by Linda Ross is where I enjoyed a remarkable facial.
The Epicore Boutique is blissful; the space is peaceful, intimate and inviting. As I lay down to begin my facial, candles were lit, creating a warm environment that went with the soft music.
As Linda began, she shared that she uses her hands instead of machines. "Machines cannot mimic the hands, working on the pressure points, and they don't feel as good." Linda works inside out; she wants to know about her clients, including their habits. Her hands are a powerful resource and benefit the skin with her knowledgeable touch and productive products.
Linda began cleansing my face manually and the cleanser naturally foamed and cleaned away the dirt. This product is fantastic for removing make-up. With the exception of waterproof mascara, it gently removes dirt and cosmetics. It is a no-tear formula, so there was no need to worry about getting it in my eyes.
Linda proceeded to apply the Micro-derma Scrub. The tiny morsels are distinctive, but are not rough on the skin like some scrubs can be. This original scrub can be used everyday! Linda then applied a light peel that she said would not burn my skin, and it did not.
Essential oils were used while steaming my skin to prep for extractions. Linda saw things I had no idea existed. I doubt my skin has ever been that clean! Linda uses her hands for extractions, not instruments that she said can leave marks on the face. "You can get the deeper stuff out with your finger." Of course no marks were left on my face. In fact the results, which we will get to soon, were amazing.
Linda then applied a pulsating mask that feeds the skin from the inside out while bringing the blood to the surface. It was powerful. Linda then she removed the mask and began to massage my skin, face and neck area; touching the pressure points, draining the lymphatic system and circling the jaw for headaches and sinus pressure points. It worked. My nose dripped a little after the facial, clearing everything out.
She then massaged two of her unique creams into my face. The first light blue contains essentials oils and a bio-engineered molecule. "It's about results," Linda shared. "It's the best anti aging ingredients that work synergistically with your skin and is sustainable." The second cream is her Propolis & Royal Jelly Cream. This healing agent of vitamins and nutrients also feeds the skin. Both creams fell light on your skin.
I got up from the table, not wanting to leave. I felt comfortable through each phase of the facial, and now it was time to examine the results.
I was literally blown away when I saw my eyes. No bags, and no dark circles! Never have I received a facial where the area under my eyes was as white as a teenager! My skin looked smoothed and taut and it felt fresh. Last night I was at the tailor. The topic of age came up, and a 24 year-old man was asked to guess my age. He threw out his number and I thanked him because he removed eleven years!
Without negative side effects, Linda's products transform the aging process. I continue to use Linda Ross's products today because I genuinely feel and see the difference with my skin. [A little] bit of cream is mixed with water in my hands and I apply it to my face and neck area. It feels light and is not greasy. Next I do the same technique with the Propolis Royal Jelly Cream. This cream provides protein and vitamins that are instantly absorbed into the skin. That's all there is to it. It takes only few minutes and the result is beautiful skin. Linda's Colostrum mask is an original that I use once a week. I have never tried anything like it before and this mask is hormone free and great for any type of skin.
Make the opportunity to visit the Epicore by Linda Ross in Beverly Hills. Linda shared that she puts her heart and soul in her products and with her clients. From my experience she does that and more. Linda will make your skin look the best it ever has. If visiting is not possible, you can still get great benefits by using her products. They work and each product lasts for three months!
Linda Ross – 310.278.8847
For the client who seriously wants to save face, Linda Ross is one of LA's most sought after facialists. However, these facials are not for the faint of heart, as her treatments have been dubbed Facial Boot Camp by many.
Ross' oasis is tucked in a little Beverly Hills hideaway. She has a strict regime that will leave clients with flawless dewy California skin. She uses a cocktail of products she has custom blended which include ingredients like natural growth factors, essential oils, and the latest miracle product - royal jelly
Ross individualizes each treatment. Her philosophy is straightforward. She is not into gimmicks or fads and believes in tried-and-true methods. Clients speak volumes about her professionalism.
Ross begins with an extreme cleansing and exfoliation, followed by some serious pore cleansing that gives new meaning to word "extraction." A custom blended mask is then applied. Ross ends the facial by applying her specially blended products to the skin. The nurturing products, combined with a 10 minute facial massage, penetrate and stimulate blood flow to the skin. We left looking unblemished and radiant.
If leaving with a fresh and youthful glow is not enough for you, she is also an expert waxer and eyebrow technician who can give new life to your reckless brows in minutes.
Epicore by Linda Ross
132-A South Lasky Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90211
(310) 278-8847