It’s no secret that Los Angeles is a city that’s obsessed with appearance. So it comes as no surprise that it’s also a city where you can find some of the best beauty-related spots around. From eyelashes to skin treatments to stores that sell all the latest and greatest products, LA is always on the cutting edge when it comes to the beauty business. Here are the seven latest reasons this place is called City of Angels.
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The Face Bar
Oftentimes, peels feel like ultra-expensive treatments for people with large paychecks and lots of free time, but not at The Face Bar, where the treatments are attainable and—even better—effective and unintimidating. The incredibly affordable Signature Peel involves a steam, extractions, exfoliation, a customized acid glow pad, a cold collagen roller, a pure oxygen treatment and then a peel—all of that for $79 and 30 minutes. And the downtime is pretty much nil. No hiding out in your house for a week waiting for your face to slowly fall off. After a Face Bar appointment you peel, of course, but not so badly that you can't go to work and not so little that you don't see results.
Want to be a little more aggressive in your battle against lines and pigmentation? Opt for the $99 Supercharged Peel, which is like the Signature Peel on steroids. All of this takes place in a friendly, warm and clean environment in Beverly Hills. If the concept of a peel has long scared you, The Face Bar will be a truly revelatory experience for you.
Bluemercury
Celebrating its 18th anniversary, Bluemercury just added to its ever-growing list of LA destinations with a new flagship on Sunset Boulevard. The bright and airy space is a beauty junkie's dream, stocked with top makeup and skincare brands: La Mer, Jo Malone, M-61, Nest, Chantecaille, La Prairie, SK-II, Flagship, Trish McEvoy and many, many others. The staff is friendly and, more importantly, knowledgeable.
As if having an incredible assortment of beauty products wasn't enough, Bluemercury also offers treatments in their locations. Depending on which boutique you go to, the spa-slash-store offers all kinds of facials (from crystal to brightening to purifying), waxing and even massages. And while it has a lot to offer, Bluemercury stands out from the crowd of makeup-store conglomerates by still feeling intimate. It's a superbly well-edited beauty experience, not a grocery store of products. Talk about a one-stop shop.
MèCHE
MèCHE salon may be best known as the home of colorist-to-the-stars Tracey Cunningham (she is also a co-owner, alongside Neil Weisberg), but there is a long list of talented people here, all of which promise to make you—and, likely, the A-list move star sitting next to you—look like a million bucks. Unsurprisingly, the environment is sleek and gorgeous, but it's not the scary salon one might expect from such a high-profile destination. The staff is friendly and familial, offering every cut and color option you could imagine. There are also nail technicians and makeup artists available. If you have been looking for someone who can do your makeup without making you feel overdone, you must try Gina Veltri, a true magician who can pull off whatever look you’re after, from the most natural to the most dramatic. And now she also does eyebrow microblading, a semi-permanent procedure that literally changes your beauty routine, taking you from thin brows to the full arches you've always dreamed of.
The Now
Why didn’t we think of The Now? It’s like the Drybar of massages, bringing the once-indulgent experience to the masses without losing any of the enjoyment (or emptying your wallet in the process). No need to go to a fancy spa. With The Now, you can stop into one of their bohemian-chic locations (just walking in is bound to make you feel more relaxed) and get a truly decadent massage at a reasonable price. Pricing starts at $35 for a 25-minute massage, and you can choose from the communal Journey Room, where it's all about the head and feet, or The Moment Room, where you can have a slightly more private full-body table massage. And if you want to really indulge, the four LA locations offer plenty of options for add-ons, including aromatherapy, a crystal soak for your feet, a muscle-recovery gel or a soothing eye mask. Serious relaxation has never been so attainable.
Elite Body Sculpture
Responsible for countless famous bodies who won't be named, Elite Body Sculpture offers AirSculpting, which is like a modernized, less invasive, more precise version of liposuction. Yes, you read that correctly. There is no anesthetic (patients are awake during the procedure) and very little scarring or downtime. One Elite Body Sculpture testimonial features a woman saying she went out to sushi with friends after the procedure. You can even have fat removed and then put back somewhere else where you might want it, like your breasts or bum.
Iris + West Lash Co.
Not all eyelash places are created equal (just ask anyone who has gotten a bad set). Iris + West Lash Co. focuses solely on eyelashes, which means they leave you ready to bat those baby blues (or browns or greens) at whomever you so desire. Offering synthetic, silk and mink eyelash extensions, Iris + West gives you plenty of options to up your eye game. Choose a full set or go for a more subdued look with a half set. They'll even bring lashes to you if you go for their mobile option. A full set of synthetic lashes starts at $125, but how much better you'll look when you wake up in the morning is priceless.
Olive & June
Arguably the most photographed nail spots in all of LA, Olive & June's three LA locations are a breath of fresh air. The impeccably designed, super-bright nail salon is literally an Instagram waiting to happen thanks to a gorgeous nail wall and bohemian-cool pedi chairs. The salon menu has something for everyone, from those who love nail art or organic treatments to those who prefer to keep things classic to gentlemen and moms-to-be looking for a little mani/pedi love. O&J also keeps your preferences on file so they know what you like as soon as you walk in the door. The prices are super reasonable, and the experience is top notch. Once you leave Olive & June, your nails won't only look better, you're bound to just feel better and more relaxed all the way around.
