By Sheila
Mandy and I used to work together, and one day, surprisingly, she announced she was leaving her secure job; she was a lash extension and spray tan specialist and ready to pursue her dreams.
Fast forward a few years, and I hear about this makeup shop through the beauty junkie grapevine — Makeup Mandy, a boutique store and salon on Melrose in Los Angeles. Makeup Mandy, hmmm… is that…? No way! Yes, it was my former coworker and what an amazing 
shop she’s created.
Last week I called up Mandy and she agreed to let me come over and take a peek at Makeup Mandy and all its glory. Let me tell you, readers, it is nothing less than completely adorable.
Open seven days a week, the store is staffed by five gals with different beauty specialties, from makeup application, lash extensions, hair, threading, facials, spray tanning and more. Makeup Mandy has developed a stellar reputation in the Los Angeles area and counts princesses, Avril Lavigne, Ashley Jones from True Blood, and actresses Paige and Bryce Dallas Howard amongst their regular clientele.
Decorated in a gorgeous style reminiscent of “Old Hollywood”, the store is stocked with hard-to-find treats and feels like you’re stepping into the glamour beauty room of your dreams. You come in, have a seat and a refreshment, gab with the gals, and become beautified either on the main floor or in one of the two rooms hidden away for spray tans and facials.
So, advice from the lash specialist to the stars? Lash enhancements, she says, are such an easy way to brighten up the face, from lash extensions that need to be touched up once a month, to more temporary party lashes, which last about a week. Mandy loves self-tanner, too, and recommends the Rodial line they carry in the store, and for a drugstore option, she loves the color of Jergens.
And their best sellers? The Dea Bella Heated Lash Curler and Hollywood Secrets, a needle-free botox alternative 
powered by peptides that works ridiculously well (Dear Santa, I’ve been good.) Some of their other brands include Lucy B, Rodial, The Balm, Paula Dorf, Julie Hewett, Japonesque, Murad, and Model in a Bottle, all of which are available for sale on the Makeup Mandy website.
There’s much more to come from Mandy, including an expansion to second store and LAshX, an innovative lash cleanser she’s been working on for over a year. LAshX will be available in the store and online in February 2010 and its oil-, fragrance- and glycol-free, anti-aging, completely gentle, and can be either tissue or rinsed off.
She treated me to party lashes and they were FAB! I went for the more dramatic look and it was such a fun way to boost my look and they lasted for five days. NOT BAD!
While I was visiting, a few customers came in and the looks on their faces and visible excitement to be there told me all I needed to know — their enthusiasm and love for Mandy and her store are the best endorsement anyone could ask for.
If you’re in the Los Angeles area, pop into Makeup Mandy. It’s an adorable store with super friendly staff, and with some fabulous makeup, clothing, and jewelry treats to be found.
Being as super cool as she is, we’re partnering up with Makeup Mandy and bringing you a SWEET contest around New Year’s time!
For more information, visit Makeup Mandy’s website at http://www.makeupmandy.com/.
Wow, the lashes look fab! And both of you look gorgeous with those fluttery black lashes
Thank you, Jasmine! Those lashes were fab and fun!
Fantastic page! Really good read.