Oh, Marina del Rey.
To kill time before checking in at the airport, I ventured to the seaside city of Marina del Rey, where the rays hit hotly and the yachts shine like brilliant three-carat diamonds in the harbor.
I was giddy like a schoolgirl after spotting a beauty hot spot called Waterside Apothecary, tucked in a very California-esque luxe strip mall off Mindanao. Stepping into the shop was equivalent to stepping through the gates of product heaven. Voluspa room scents, Votiva candles, Ole Henriksen, Talika, Bond No. 9 fragrances, Sud Pacifique spritzers, Lucy Lu matchboxes, Pureology hair care, Dermalogica, BareEscentuals and Roger & Gallet soaps lined glass shelf after glass shelf, while headbands and jewelry lined beckoning glass cases. Toward the back, rows upon rows of candy-colored Essie nail polish bottles lined up like little soliders, calling out for me to paint my bare nails a pretty shade of purple mauve.
Feeling my beauty junkie instincts kick in, I quickly fled the store instead of drawing out the plastic.
But not before spritzing my wrists with Sud Pacifique, fleeing the scene wrapped in an invisible haze of Vanille Abricot.
Waterside Apothecary, 4722 Admiralty Way, Marina Del Rey, CA 90292 (310.827.3345)
