I was recently in LA on a part beauty/part best friend reunion. Not only did we toast each other with daily green juice and champagne, we hit the streets for the best in LA beauty. It’s vital that when you embark on such a beauty shopping adventure, you follow the lead of a true local, someone who loves beauty just as much as you do. For me, this person is Taylor Gardner. She is my LA touchstone who always acts as a sounding board for my beauty-centric mind. Taylor took me everywhere, but the highlights included the newly renovated beauty level at Barneys in Beverly Hills, The Organic Pharmacy on Rodeo (thanks Jenny for the tip!), Detox Market over in West Hollywood, and one of my personal new favorite beauty boutiques Woodley & Bunny.

Woodley & Bunny is the West Coast flagship of the Brooklyn-based style collective co-founded by Misha and Erin Anderson. This progressive apothecary has the coolest selection of under-the-radar beauty essentials, including many internationally sourced products in hair and skincare, color cosmetics, men’s grooming and fragrance. I could’ve spent all day in the magical haven. They had it all, from my own person cult favs like RMS, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics and Earth Tu Face, to new and unheard of lines like Cosmetics 27 (the Baume 27 felt like nothing I have touché before) and Black Chicken Cosmetics (Taylor bought their Purifying Oil Facial Cleanser). In the mood for some color, I stumbled across Belmacz.

Belmacz launched as a jewelry line in 2000, but today encompasses an alchemy-inspired beauty collection and an art gallery in London. Belmacz beauty is “an utterly modern beauty collection and the luxuriant ingredients featured in its formulas are blended with holistic, organic oils to soothe the skin and lend it a healthy, sensual glow. The finely crafted tools and packaging are opulent yet functional and, true to the absolutes of modern beauty, no animal testing is involved.” Also, actual gold is embedded in each of their beautiful products. I bought three. I just couldn’t resist.

Aura Beauty Balm – a 4ct Gold Leaf and Crushed Pearl Powder Balm to illuminate and enhance the complexion that I will (frequently) apply above my eyes, duh.

Meteor Cream Eye Shadow – a shadow which contains real 24 carat gold to achieve the most glamorous skin adornment imaginable. This precious pot of gold-infused cream is the ultimate finishing touch for an attention-grabbing party look.

Glow Punk Pink Lip Gloss – a perfect and complex pink made with real gold leaf. Glow’s intense luminosity is achieved by the use of 24-carat gold leaf, evoking the way in which Renaissance painters mixed crushed minerals with oils to create their sumptuous color palettes.

You simply need all three. The best of the best.