It’s been a long time since my last post. I have been overwhelmingly busy starting a new business. I am aiming to get it out by this month. I have been working on it for about a year, trying to get the opening collection just right. I’m going to try and roll out the posts, but we will see if I have enough time.
Whenever I go to Los Angeles, it’s always for an all-day event or I’m meeting with people and I can never go see the cool places I’ve seen on the internet cause I’m just too busy. So for this trip, I actually mapped out a few places that I wanted to go, and narrowed it down to four. Next, I will post about an awesome dessert place that is popular on Instagram.
I wanted to check out the pro makeup stores, Naimies, Frends Beauty and Nigel Beauty Emporium. which all three were close to each other and the hotel I where staying. However, I really wanted to see Forever 21’s new beauty store, Riley Rose. It was more aestheically pleasing (it’s pretty much designed to be Instagrammable) and I wanted to look at stuff I haven’t seen before and can’t really get anywhere else.
Riley Rose located at the Glendale Galleria at 100 W Broadway, Glendale, CA 91210
Riley Rose carries some items that can be found in Forever 21 stores (like the home wares and stationery) but also carry higher end brands. So the price point isn’t going to be completely Forever 21 prices, it will be market price for whichever brand you are looking at. So no, you aren’t going to get a Laura Mercier highlighter for $5, it’s going to be the price it costs everywhere else.
They also carry Korean skin care which is something I am really into and there were so many brands I actually hadn’t heard of and of course I want to try out everything! The Wishtrend logo popped up on the TV as I entered the store, and here we can get brands the Korean website carries. I have always wanted to try out their skincare and the Klairs BB Cream so this was my chance to try them out. They have testers and I also purchased a couple of things. I like their videos a lot so it was a treat for me to actually try the products. (They have free worldwide shipping over a certain $, but sometimes I like to try things out in person first.)
Riley Rose isn’t just a cosmetics store, it’s a lifestyle store. So you will find bath and body care, hair care, skin care, home goods, stationery, candy and accessories (for you and for your electronics.)
Brands they carry (in no particular order):
Lime Crime, Stila, BH Cosmetics, Sigma, Winky Lux, Beauty Bakerie, Luxie, Lottie London, BKR bottles, Living Proof, Tony Moly, Klairs, Dr G, Dr Frog, Soo AE, Pacifica, Foreo, Leaders, Glitter Injections, Lily Lashes, House of Lashes, Lemonhead, Gerard Cosmetics, Clio Professional, Laura Gellar, Too Cool For School, Lip Land, Grown Alchemist, Lapcos, Jayjun Cosmetics, Conair, Static Nails, Baus, H2O+ Beauty, Peripera, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, NCLA, R + Co, Touch In Sol, PMD, Girl Acktik, Michael Todd, Ultru I’m Sorry For My Skin, and Forever 21’s own brand when it comes to accessories.
Not listed are the many brands of candy you can get here, including a wall of Dylan’s Candy Bar branded sweets. But they are pictured here in this post! There is even a fridge that offers asian drinks, and mud masks at the top.
The types of accessories and home goods they carry are pictured in my photos. But to list a some (just for the keywords): travel sized items, tote bags, drinking bottles, mugs, pens, stationery sets, note cards, desk accessories, gift wrap, party decorations, key chains, phone cases, purse charms, candles, makeup bags, headbands, hair ties, brushes, face towels, socks, pillows, detox teas, protein powder, succulent plants, clocks and pasties(!)
They also carry more expensive tools like Michael Todd cleansing brush, Foreo Luna and tooth brushes, curling and flat irons, hair dryers, and PMD microderm devices.
The founders wanted this to be a one-stop shop. I think they have achieved it! There are a lot of things we don’t actually need, but buy it anyway! And it’s the perfect place to shop if you are looking to buy gifts! Even if they don’t wear makeup, maybe they will like a pretty soap, or sheet masks, or a holographic hairbrush. Buy them some candy, there’s a lot of choices and they all have cute packaging! From out of town? Perfect! They have travel sized products that you may have forgotten to pack! I really want to go back and do my Christmas shopping here! (But it’s kinda far!)
Riley Rose is located at the Glendale Galleria, on the first floor. The whole shopping area is worth seeing plus they have many eateries outside the mall that may be interesting to you. If I didn’t have a day planned jam packed with stuff, I could spend the whole day there and be entertained. The store itself is very spacious. I didn’t have issues with the aisles being cramped. Though I went in mid-day on a weekday, weekends might be different.
They will be opening up more stores in the future, but none will be in the Bay Area so it’s not worth it to even list.
haha okay, fine I’ll list them. There may be one opening near you!
The stores slated to open are:
Towson, MD; Pembroke Pines, FL; Altamonte Springs, FL; Bridgewater, NJ; Chicago, IL; Wauwatosa, WI; San Antonio, TX; and Frisco, TX.
There’s Frisco but not San Francisco. *sigh*
Of course these are the planned ones for now, there of course will be expansions as time goes on. No, but really, open one in the Bay Area. A store like this would do very well here.
Warning: This post is pic heavy! I hope it doesn’t make your computer crash. Keep in mind the photos are not the best. I was walking around, taking photos, dodging other customers. So they’re not perfectly framed and may be even a tad blurry.
Cosmetics:
Bodycare:
Skincare:
Foreo- I actually brought my travel sized Foreo instead of my Clarisonic Mia on this trip. It worked out well. I guess I can leave my Clarisonic at home!
Homewares and Stationery:
Candy and Treats:
Hair:
My Riley Rose haul:
I have omitted the items I have purchased as gifts so the recipients have no clue what they are getting for Christmas, but yes, I bought more items than what is pictured here.
Squish Faves Gummy mix and Sour Punch Bites-
These were lifesavers during the drive in LA! It took an hour to get to the next destination. The Sour Bites are on a tissue cause I got salsa on the bag and I don’t want to get it on the hotel sheets.
The Strawberry Rhubarb from the Squish bag is the best!
Klairs Rich Moist Soothing Sheet Mask-
I’ve been watching Wishtrend’s videos for a few years and have been interested in the sheet masks they carry. I just got the one to try but really I want to get like a month’s worth. Most of the sheet masks were about $5 but this one was $2. And that was pretty much the deciding factor.
Lily Lashes Leyla and Delara faux mink lashes-
I already have these two but I’ve worn them enough to get glue in the lashes. I figure cleaning it with oil will make the entire thing fall apart. So when it does, I’ll have these as backup. They’re expensive, but whenever I wear these I get compliments from strangers. These lashes are intense and aren’t for beginners. But I’ve worn false lashes enough to feel like I look bare without them. Like, “Omg who is this boy?”
Lottie London #Holo DuoChrome Lip Lacquer in Goals-
A pretty duo-chromatic lip gloss that is fuchsia that flashes blue. (And obviously not #holo) I like this enough to want to get the other colors. It was at an affordable $6.50.
Iridescent coil hair ties-
I like these because I can take them in the shower and they won’t be all soggy like my regular ties. They’re supposed to be creaseless too. You can get some here in a different color scheme here.
Klairs Supple Preparation Toner-
Another item I have seen on Wishtrend’s You Tube. Toner is an item that people tend to skip, but I swear it’s necessary to keep your skin glowing.
Too Cool For School Pumpkin Sleeping Mask-
In honor of the season, I chose pumpkin over the others. I wanted to try Too Cool For School, which is a Korean skincare brand I haven’t used before. So far, so good.
Briteplex Unicorn Masque-
I saw this on Ulta.com the previous week. And once I was it in the store, it was the first thing I decided to get. I always run out of conditioner on vacation. And OKAY IT SAYS UNICORN AND I AM A SUCKER.
Cat Ears headband-
This came in handy the next day, which was Halloween. I didn’t plan on dressing up but I wore a tank with a cat face and then I put on the headband and said, “Oh I guess I’m a cat.”
Unicorn stationery set-
At $5.80 this price was right. And I always need note paper. Always!
I hope the photos helped you “shop” the store without actually being there. It may help you build your list of things you want to pick up. I went in only knowing of a few brands, this post should help you figure out what’s there and what you want.
I give Riley Rose an A+, 10/10. I was in there for a really long time and still want to visit again.
Riley Rose, please open one…. or three in the Bay Area. San Francisco, East Bay and San Jose. I am putting in my request!
