L.A.’s freshest beauty and wellness offerings are keeping the City of Angels shining bright.
Liis scents Rose Struck and Studied PHOTO BY LAURA OCHOA
HEAVEN SCENT Upon meeting at a friend’s wedding, L.A.-based Alissa Sullivan and SF-based Leslie Hendin discovered two things in common: They were both from Marin County, and both had an obsession with fragrance from a young age. Soon after, the idea for Liis—the niche fragrance brand they launched this summer—was born. Consisting of three scents including Studied, a for-the-wearer fragrance with notes of ambrette and musk; Rose Struck, a juicy mix of tangerine, cassis, matcha tea and damask Turkish rose; and Bo, a scent inspired by the Point Reyes National Seashore, close to where the founders grew up, each of the detailoriented formulas exudes a dreamy confidence. Even better, they’re packaged in a jewel-like bottle topped with a porcelain cap color-matched to Hendin’s—a third-generation potter— work. “We created a brand that we would love, to share with others,” says Hendin. “[It’s] incredibly beautiful, niche and inviting.” liisfragrances.com
Pure Bliss After running a clinic from her Pacific Palisades home for years, ayurvedic expert Martha Soffer has branched out with Surya Spa, the new wellness destination at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel. Designed by Kelly Wearstler, the 3,000-square-foot space is an oasis of calm, with each treatment room bathed in its own color story and natural, earthy textures. Besides offering luxurious treatments like Abhyanga + Shirodhara (a deeply calming four-handed massage using a bespoke herbal oil, plus oil continuously streamed over your forehead) and Nasya (an invigorating cleansing therapy using herbalized oils and vigorous massage focused on the face, neck and shoulders), ayurvedic consultations with Soffer, daylong wellness programs and more are available. suryaspa.com
A monochromatic bathroom at Surya Spa PHOTO BY THE INGALLS
located at the Santa Monica Proper, Surya Spa is stocked with a library of powerful herbs. ; SURYA PHOTO BY THE INGALLS
Clean Conscience After struggling with unexplained infertility for 14 years, L.A.-based Sara and Ben Jensen dove deep researching what the cause could be. “We... learned that chemicals found in most personal care products—including most clean, nontoxic products—can impact our hormones,” says Sara, who notes that this can cause serious health issues, including infertility. In response, the duo launched Hugh & Grace, a premium holistic and hormone-safe skin and personal care line. Named after the couple’s two children—conceived via surrogates—the brand’s lineup of face serums, a body oil and a purifying cleansing bar is extremely effective, gender-neutral and, most importantly, safe to use. “What separates us from other premium skincare products is that our products provide amazing performance without compromise,” says Sara. “And we do it naturally.” hughandgrace.com
Hugh & Grace products are free of hormone-disrupting chemicals PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
A Cut Above Known for creating impeccable, better-thannatural- looking hair color for A-listers like Charlize Theron and Victoria Beckham, ROIL Salon co-founder Amanda George is one of L.A.’s most sought-after artists. Now, after moving ROIL to a bright and airy new location on Civic Center Drive—down the road from the salon’s original location and steps from other powerhouse entrepreneurs like Striike and Shani Darden—George is primed for continued success. “We not only offer a beautiful space for clients to relax and unwind to get their services, but also opened an adjoining photo studio that comes in handy for many of our celebrity and entertainment clientele,” she says. “[It’s] quite an oasis in the middle of a bustling city.” roilsalon.com
The airy new ROIL Salon in Beverly Hills. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
Blow ’Em Away When the Dyson Demo Store opened at Westfield Century City, Angelenos finally had an in-person place to try out the brand’s techy vacuums, air purifiers, fans and more. Now, the shop serves as a convenient spot to test out Dyson’s cult hair tools—the Supersonic hair dryer, the Airwrap styler and the Corrale hair straightener—in between shopping and dinner with friends. Featuring eight available styles for all hair types (think natural, voluminous curls; beachy waves; bouncy volume; and more), the full-service blow-dry bar uses L.A.-based Jen Atkin’s OUAI products and allows guests to test out the tools with the guidance of professional stylists. Even better, each $50 service can be applied as store credit to absolutely anything in the store. Genius! dyson.com
The Dyson Demo Store is now offering a range of styled blowouts PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
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