Independent L.A.: Larchmont Beauty Center

I have a small obsession with beauty products. Well, maybe a medium, somewhat-higher-than-average obsession with beauty products. Okay, okay, I love them!!! I routinely slather myself with every body and face product there is, and I cleanse, scrub, exfoliate, moisturize, and do anything else there is to do.

Thus, when I entered Larchmont Beauty Center in Larchmont Village, I was in heaven. In one sense, it’s a good thing that I don’t have a job or I would be tempted to spend a paycheck (or two) at this small beauty emporium. Since I put so many products on my skin, I’ve been trying to buy natural/organic stuff. This store has a great selection, including Fresh, Jurlique, California Baby, Burt’s Bees, Ole Henriksen (I’m in marry-me-forever love with Ole’s truth serum), mop, and Tom’s of Maine. If natural/organic isn’t your thing, Larchmont Beauty Center carries many of the salon brands as well. Besides hair and skin care products, you can also find perfumes, nail polish, all kinds of beauty tools, and a small selection of makeup.

The store itself isn’t very big, but the shelves are jam-packed with beauty goodies. The shelf housing what seemed like the entire Kiehl’s product line was even bowing a little. I carefully backed away from that shelf, visualizing a repeat of an unfortunate incident in Hawaii that ended with me showered in small tiki idols (it wasn’t my fault!).

Several products even have testers à la Sephora so you can try them out before buying. I tried some of Jurlique’s Sun Lotion SPF 30+ on my hands. Since I’m deathly pale, I appreciate any product that contains sunscreen. The staff was friendly, and there is a small salon in the back of the store that offers full-salon services such as body treatments, waxing, hair and nails, makeup, and even massage.

If you’re a beauty product junkie, it is quite easy to spend all day in Larchmont Beauty Center, but at least try and drag yourself out after an hour or two. The surrounding shops and restaurants of Larchmont Village are well worth checking out.

Larchmont Beauty Center, 208 North Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles; Mon-Sat: 8:30 am to 8 pm, Sun: 11 am to 6 pm.