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On a recent trip to Los Angeles, I went to more beauty destinations than restaurants (mostly because of US portion sizes, but still). It’s a city obsessed with wellness and feeling good, so it makes perfect sense that it’s also a melting pot of retail concepts, off-beat treatments, luxurious day spas and smoothies spiked with well… everything. Below, find our edit of all the best bits – and our parting advice? Hire a car. There’s a lot to get through.
Glossier
The line up is worth it to step inside the millennial pink paradise on Melrose that is Glossier. Browse rows of Balm Dot Com, play with Cloud Paint, and fluff your brows with a little Boy Brow. Don’t forget to ask staff to take you to the Canyon for a selfie. Stuck on what to buy? Generation G, Lid Star, and Lash Slick are GRAZIA favourites. Remember, you look good.
Violet Grey
Arguably one of the chicest beauty retailers on Earth, Violet Grey is the perfect curation of the the industries finest. Inside its Melrose digs, you’ll find the creme de la creme of beauty: Chanel, Rouje, Sam McKnight, Christophe Robin, Tom Ford, Byredo, Sisley, and Augustinus Bader just to name a few. Everything in the store is worth having, thanks to the sharp eye and high taste level of its founder, Violet Grey. And it’s all housed within a sleek, glamorous apartment complete with a fireplace, and stacks of vintage fashion magazines. Heaven. Oh, and The Row is next door, should you feel like some extreme retail therapy.
Kate Somerville
Conveniently down the road from the above lies Kate Somerville; the spa component of the cult-loved skincare brand (you can shop it at Mecca in Aus, FYI). Recently refurbished, it’s interior heaven. Moss green velvet armchairs sit alongside marbled surfaces, with chic art placed thoughtfully on the walls. It’s dappled with natural light, and feels like a beautiful experience from the moment you ascend the spiral staircase. The treatments are tailored to what you need – I had a cocktail of hydration and gentle exfoliation to clean out my skin post air travel, and replenish depleted moisture. There were extractions too, so I was positively luminous the morning after. If post-facial hair is a concern, the space is even kitted out with dressing tables complete with Oribe and Byredo products. Good skin, and good hair. Put it on your list.
Anastasia Beverly Hills
If you need a brow shape, there’s no one more qualified than Anastasia Beverly Hills. Located in (you guessed it) Beverly Hills, the space is immaculate and fits it’s location to a tee. Expect a perfect shape – not a hair out of place. Be sure to stock up on cult favourites like Dip Brow while you’re there.
CVS
America wouldn’t be America without its drugstores. If you’re a devout retinol user, buy a tube of Differin. It’s similar to prescription grade vitamin A products here, so consult your derm if you’re unsure. Brands like Maybelline, L’Oréal, Neutrogena, and Elf often release exclusive launches in the US only, so make a beeline for those ones first.
Spa Montage
If you’re looking for true Beverly Hills luxury, book yourself in to the spa at the Montage Hotel. Leave plenty of time before and after your treatment to hop between mineral baths, saunas, steam rooms, and sipping cucumber mint water in the lounge whilst cocooned in a fluffy robe. All treatments are superb, but if you’re feeling a little dry and scaly from the California heat, opt for the Lola’s Apothecary Pure Bliss treatment. It’s 90 minutes of scrubbing, a milk bath, thermal wrap, and massage. You’ll leave lighter, softer, and in a blissed our state of chill.
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Fredric Malle
Fredric Malle takes fragrance to a whole new level in the form of a concept store on Melrose. Watch the light bounce of hundreds of glass bottles and you sniff your way around the foyer. Through a hallway housing every scent the brand has ever produced, you’ll find a courtyard, consultation space, and the pièce de résistance: a vacuum chamber you can step into in order to experience a scent with no external influences. A truly remarkable experience.
Nordstrom
For a true department store beauty experience, it’s got to be Nordstrom at The Grove. Take in the shiny surfaces and impeccable customer service, not to mention all the brands a girl can dream of (La Mer, Estée Lauder, Diptyque, Chanel… need we say more). Make a point of checking out Charlotte Tilbury, Le Labo, Sephora, and Erewhon while you’re there, too.
Moon juice
For the wellness-inclined (as is the entire state of Cali) a refuel at Moon Juice is a must do. There’s one on Melrose (the perfect pit stop amid your Glossier/Violet Grey/Fredrick Malle adventure) and it’s both a retail store and cafe. Order a smoothie or milk, and load it up with boosters and adaptogens like CBD, ashwaghanda, and Lions Mane. Stuck? The Chocolate Brain Shake is delicious.
