Waterside Apothecary

I loved this place and would pick up something new every time I was in the Marina del Rey — they had great, unusual lines of products (many advertised as organic which were more expensive but truly did not irritate my skin and eyes). I am so bummed that they are closed! Does anyone know where they went?

Came in here looking for one of my favorite fragrance/​body/​home scent lines: Thymes. They have a fairly good selection, but didn’t have some of the better scents like Mandarin Coriander.
They have a huge selection of hair, body and specialty beauty products. Small shop, but it’s packed with goodies! Service is friendly and prices are reasonable (especially given their location at the Marina).

The hidden JEWEL here is the Facialist, Shirley who as a dedicated room in the back where they also have hair and nail service available. Shirley is amazing. I have been using her for facials which help me look decades younger and I am now in my sixties. Her services are reasonably priced and she is a true professional. I purchased gift certificates for friends and family, and everyone just raves after having a facial with Shirley.
The store itself is well stocked for all beauty products, and I have found the best hair, skin, and nail brands.

Christopher does a great job on my hair! I can also purchase products with a discount since I am his customer! Products are reasonable prices.

I wouldn’t purchase anything your not sure about from here. You can’t return anything, even if there is something wrong with it! I bought a defunct bottle of nail polish, it was matte and wouldn’t dry kind of like when polishes get old or are kept in a hot place. If you sell high end products at least know how to store them! When I tried to return it they said it was supposed to matte, even though it’s not, and that I would just need a shiny topcoat. I was like uh no, it wouldn’t dry as it is, I’m not going to add another layer of polish. It was matte and mushy on my nails, gross! I walked out of the store with no return, or exchange and left my bad polish with the know it all latina woman at the counter. Granted it was only $ 8 down the drain, I’m still thoroughly annoyed. You just lost a customer!

Great store for your high end hair care needs. Great nail polish and skin care selection. Some priced well, some seriously high! Customer service has always been very nice. Purchased some nice rings and bracelets there as well. I don’t see the ring selection anymore, I think it was a temporary thing from another company but they were really nice.

Can you say GREED? I mean, since when is it better to turn down a client’s request in the name of saving a few dollars? I would go (and say would bc I’m never coming back again) to this place on a regular basis, and I always hated how overpriced they are, but being that I do not know of any other beauty supply places in the Marina, I stuck with it since it is close to my place. On several occasions, I felt like I was being sold by having someone on my back trying to «help» me, but when I asked a legitimate question about a product, all I’d get would be dumb answers that left me more confused about a product, making me irate since I felt they would say anything just so I bought the product. I always ended up spending quite a bit there, but never left happy about it and felt ripped off. But again, since I don’t know any other places, I kept coming back.
HOWEVER, this last time, I just lost it. I bought a powder make up that with the tester seemed to be my skin tone, then I went home and used it that night and realized it was too light. I had the receipt and you would think that since I’ve been there a number of times they would recognize my face, especially since I had just been there the day before and it was the same man at the register. All I wanted was to exchange the make up for one that would work, but the man (who seems not to speak good English when it is convenient for him) stuttered and looked at me and shaking his head when he opened the make up I brought and said I could not return it bc it had been opened. Yeah, but have you ever heard of «customer’s always right?’ let alone that I was actually a client who spent quite a bit of money there and had never once tried to return anything? I was so pissed. I am never coming back there and I wish I could stand outside that place and warn everyone of what a rip off they are. Planet Beauty often has great deals and the people there seem to really know their stuff, it is too bad that there isn’t one close enough to me, but I guess I will have to make the drive just to avoid the pain to ever dealing with these people again.

4 stars, Yay I’m a fan. Definitely fits. I go there all the time for OPI nail polish & all my hair products. They have make up too and an actual salon (small). Super nice people. I like to be left alone while I shop (obviously asked once or twice if i need help but then left to be)…they definitely let me roam around to figure out myself which color polish I want or which product I want. Kind of pricey, but all beauty stores are. Contemplated going to another shop today by work and realized, who am I kidding, I’ll just go to Waterside after work — just because I feel that comfortable there.

if you’re on the westside and looking for essie polish, this is a great place to see many of their colors in person. complete opposite experience from going into the drugstores or big box discounters (target) that have few colors left in stock. i was surprised that essie is actually cheaper here than at the target two blocks from my house.
in general this is a small but nicely stocked beauty shop. there is a latina woman who works here that is really pleasant and helpful. my only complaint is that they should be clearer about their exchange policy.

I bought an OPI nail polish the sales clerk recommended. She showed me the nail display showing that it was a light pink color– it was not! When I put it on my nail at home, it was nearly clear. I went in to exchange it and was told I couldn’t because it’s a health problem. (Nail polishes can be returned without a health risk. All major stores allow exchanges/​returns. And, have you ever been to a nail salon that throws out nail polishes after one use??) If this is the policy, don’t put on the receipt «exchanges within 7 days.» I will not be returning here.

Amazing Opi and Essie color selection and always carries the latest color collections. Very helpful with finding products that work for you. I’ve discovered many of my beauty «must-​haves» here. #MustVisit

The selection was great and the prices were not the ridiculous rip-​off that you would expect from such a boutique in such a location. I also really liked that the owner (I think it was the owner — or a very responsible employee) came and helped me and suggested I buy the smaller size of what I was looking for because «it last a long time and you won’t need the big one.» Now, the optimist in me said he was trying to save me money (I’ll go with her) and the pessmimist questioned his motives (did he get the small one at a better deal? is it defective?) Regardless, I opted to listen to Ms. Positive and go on my merry way. Either way, the fact that he came up to me made him out to be a great salesman.

They don’t have as many products as an ULTA or other big beauty stores, but this place is great! There aren’t many beauty stores in the area so this is a good find. The people that work there are very nice and helpful, and they give a student discount. Also, they I’ve discounts for bringing friends to the store as well.

I love this place. Face to face or in person, the customer service is great. Thanks for going above and beyond. Monica rocks!!!

There aren’t many beauty supply shops in Marina del Rey, so this one has the upper hand in the fact that it has little competition. If you live here and need a flat iron ASAP b/​c yours just shorted out, or you just ran out of dry shampoo… this is your quick stop!

Small, clean beauty supply store — nothing like chain store Sally’s. It’s located in the Marina Shopping Center. I always wonder in here if I need to kill some time waiting for my order at Fresh Brothers or Mendocino Farms. I never leave without picking something up here.
My go-​to place for OPI & Essie nail polish whenever I feel the need to change up my nail colors but don’t have the time to make an appointment at the nail spa. They have a great selection so I always find the right shade (s) that I’m looking for.

Cool store in the midst of the Marina Shopping Center. I go here to buy my OPI polish and any other nail products that I need to pamper my toes. It’s a small shop that carries everything from shampoo, hair gel, nail polish to anything health & beauty related. There’s also a few candles here and there.
There’s a nail salon in the back thats generally busy and looks promising, I’ll have to remember to try it out next time. The OPI nail polish here is pretty pricey but that’s what I’ll have to pay for the convenient location and huge selection.

Hours
M-​Fri 10am-​8pm
Sat 9am — 8pm
Sun 10am — 6pm

Now, everybody in L.A. must throw out all the contents of their vanity cabinets, and run to this store– it’s fabulous.
Their notably rather big collection of nail polish (O.P.I. and Essie to be specific) guarantees you to find the right shade for the next big event, or just to feel like a princess for the day.
I walked in asking for cuticle remover and some wooden sticks (gents, if you have no idea what we do with wooden sticks, keep guessing), two lovely ladies at the counter stopped talking to each other immediately and they both walked me to the section. One found me the remover and the other found me some sticks. May I say how hard it is to find such good service in this city? They’re very friendly and knowledgeable, but not pushy at all–
Ladies (and gents), you’ll forget how time passes by so quickly in this heaven called apothecary… good thing that parking is free!
Fantastique!
Magnifique!

Great beauty supply store in the new Waterside center.
They have more brands of nail polish than I have ever seen in one place in my life. Tons of hair accessories. Every brand of hair product you could ever desire.
They are also very, very nice.