a little brit different.

cozy queen bee waxing salon and spa debuts a new, private mani-pedi room this month. get a quickie lunchtime soak, scrub and polish featuring real rose oils while watching an episode of the flamboyant brit comedy ab fab. when you have more time, let your holiday hued manicure dry over a glass of celebratory champagne or a pimms cup in the queen bee secret garden. 10182 ˝ culver boulevard. at jasmin. culver city. 310.204.2236.

walk this way.

run don't walk over to elyse walker, the iconic palisadian boutique that just celebrated its tenth anniversary. they're offering insane deals just in time for holiday shopping. the 50-60-70 sale extends a discount of 50 percent off the first item purchased, 60 percent off the second, and 70 percent off everything after that. score amazing clothes, shoes and accessories from elizabeth and james, M missoni, isabel marant, alexander mcqueen and more. 15300 antioch street. at swarthmore. pacific palisades. 310.230.8882.

up close and personal.

in an age of mass marketing, mass production and mass e-mail, you could use a little more personalization. that's exactly why you'll love skin santa monica. like a couturier, owner sara turbeville tailors her excellent facials to each client. whether you could use ultra-thorough extractions and aggressive exfoliation or have sensitive skin that requires a softer touch, turbeville takes the time to analyze your needs and create a treatment especially for you. 753 22nd street. at montana avenue. santa monica. 310.339. 6783.

choco-holics anonymous.

if you know a chocaholic (and you prob do) add local pastry chef susie norris' new book chocolate bliss: sensuous recipes, spa treatments and other divine indulgences ($16.99) to their gift list. it includes recipes for crazy delish, edible, chocolate-based spa products, like a salty chocolate body scrub. hopefully the recipient will take a hint and make you one of the tasty holiday treats that won't tip the scale. available at skylight books. 1818 north vermont avenue. near russell. 323.660.1175.

locally grown.

for those who stress over the overwhelming options at the mall, there's a new retail concept that's turning the common mall configuration on its head. it's called local collection, and it just opened at the glendale galleria. the shop features a boutique-y mix of apparel, accessories, jewelry, home décor and furniture from emerging L.A. designers, including little-known gems like sweet evie, beata dirycz, graf and lantz, and celeb favorite ele keats. 100 west broadway. at south columbus. glendale. 818.240.9481.

starlight eyebright.

don't let all that holiday partying get you (and your under eye area) down. try the liz earle eyebright soothing eye lotion ($18.50) to perk up your peepers and hide any evidence of one too many egg nogs. with witch hazel and organic aloe vera, this silky liquid smoothes on and wipes away all of those night-before ills. (well, you're on your own if there's photo evidence of your out-of-control office party). available at us.lizearle.com