When it comes to the L.A. mindset on getting trim, there are two types of girls. There's that bright-eyed and bushy-tailed babe hitting the gym in the wee hours every morn, eating endless amounts of kale, and getting her B12 shots bi-weekly. Then, there are the chicas (and we happen to fall into this category) who get their health kick where they can, and mostly prefer to nosh on pizza and candy. For the lasses in the latter group — we hate to break it to ya — but those bikini-required heat waves are nigh, and it's high time to hustle your bustle to get that tush in gear. (We'd hate to see you get out-flaunted by those Stepford-style Precor bunnies!).

In all seriousness though — and for obvious reasons regardless of the season — we all could use a little health-nut action in our lives. That's why we've rounded up a slew of our fave butt-kicking workouts, sweat palaces, and healthy eateries to help you get serious about your physique and long-term wellness plan. Don't worry, we threw in a few spas to reward your hard work, too. Think of 'em as dessert!


Photo: Via Los Angeles Athletic Club

Break A Sweat

L.A. Athletic Club
This downtown space boasts squash courts and the most beautiful 25-yard lap pool in all of L.A. (they keep it at 82 degrees!). If you're looking to shake things up, those are certainly two workouts you don't find everywhere!
Los Angeles Athletic Club, 431 West 7th Street (Near South Hill Street); 213-625-2211.

Crunch
Perched atop Sunset, Crunch really offers one of the best bangs for your buck. They've recently had their own makeover, and it's looking squeaky clean! The best part? Here's just a small sampling of their eclectic classes: What You Knead, Pound, Cardio Tai Box, Lower Body Glide, Beach Body, Hip Hop, Funk, Afro-Brazilian Dance.
Crunch, 8000 Sunset Boulevard (Near North Crescent Heights); 323-654-4550.

Easton
This incognito mini-gym on Beverly is the workout haven for scenesters who prefer not to be seen in their sweats. And you know it's gotta be legit if founder Harvey Easton was the original celebrity trainer for Old Hollywood giants like Cary Grant, Gregory Peck, and Kirk Douglas.
Easton Gym, Easton Gym, 8053 Beverly Boulevard (Near North Crescent Heights Boulevard); 323-651-3636.

Equinox
Quite the opposite of the last gym, Equinox is where you'll find the city's movers and shakers looking to meet and greet while they tread that mill. Better pack your perfect little lululemon ensemble for this Weho hotspot; you may just score a buff date! (Sidenote: Grace Lazenby's Rockin' Model Workout is the best thing to hit the studio since Jazzercise!).
Equinox, 8590 West Sunset Boulevard (Near Sunset Plaza Drive); 310-659-3620.

Spectrum
Not many people know about this Palisades gym, but almost every machine overlooks the sparkling Pacific, taking the edge off of that faux-mountain you're climbing on the elliptical! It's a hop, skip, and a jump off PCH for any of you SM, Brentwood, and Venice dwellers. Another beautiful aspect: You won't have to wait a year for equipment like you would at so many other spots. Oh, and their smoothies are delicious, too!
Spectrum Club Palisades, 17383 Sunset Boulevard (Near Castellammare Drive); 310-459-2582.

Man, it's hard to give great face while you're hustling and bustling in the concrete jungles of L.A.! And the overwhelmingly endless options, when it comes to beauty goodies, certainly don't make things easier. Well, we're here to sift through all the hoopla and settle the score with a whittled-down list of exceptional essentials that will leave you sitting pretty in no time flat.

You can trust that your L.A. editor, Brenna Egan, is an authority on the subject with no ulterior motives, other than to bring you the créme de la créme of her bathroom counter. With freebies on her doorstep daily (lucky duck!), she's tried and tested so many batches and brews it would make your head spin. From her swear-by-it "fountain of youth" liquid-filled pods to the best foot powder for avoiding summer's sans-socks stink, this get-gorgeous roundup is packed with SoCal know-how.

Photographed by Hailley Howard

Whether it's spilled nail polish, a shampoo shortage, or makeup stains on your fave shirt, beauty mishaps are bound to happen. Sometimes, there's just no avoiding these klutzy slip-ups (they happen to the most plan-ahead types, trust!). And just because you've made a mini-misstep, that doesn't mean there's any reason to go all postal.

Nope, that's where we come in. To help save you from losing your cool, we've rounded up five basic beauty fixes you need to jot down now (just so you're prepared when panic strikes). The best part? These solutions are regular household items you probably already have on deck, so you don't even have to drop any dough. Now, the next time you're fumbling with that full bottle of red polish and it lands smack-dab on your new area rug, you won't have cause for panic.

While the rest of us are still catching up with things like the BB Cream craze, some in-the-know beauty peeps are already tackling the next big thing — and believe us when we say that they’re snail-ing it. Top-selling Korean skin care brands claim that the gooey trail left behind by these mollusks is the next big breakthrough in skin care. And all this time we just thought they were gross dilly-dalliers. Who knew?

But, apparently snail slime is rich in protein, glycolic acid, and elastin — aiding in skin regeneration, healing cuts, fighting off infections, and even combating pesky UV rays. Wowza, that’s some magical stuff! Snail creams (like this one from Missha) are definitely a new and unique option for people looking to reduce acne scars, soothe sunburns, moisturize, and strengthen their skin, but we can't get over the fact it comes from the slowpoke slugs that patrol the ground. Oh, and in case you’re wondering — yes, Korean BB Cream manufacturers have jumped on the bandwagon, and started peddling new-and-improved versions of the miracle cream, which include this residue in the mix.

What do you think of this sticky new trend? Are you ready to get slimey in the name of beauty, or is this just craze-y gross?

Photo: Via Missha

Whether or not you’re heading to Coachella this weekend (or next), there’s no reason you can’t score the signature boho style the festival is famous for. If flowered headbands and face paint aren’t your bag, why not let your inner hippie run wild in a slightly more low-key way? Of course, we mean free-spirited fingernails.

Here, NYC-based nail artist Julie Kandalec shows you how to create three fierce, festival-approved nail art designs: A Feathered Flock, Sunset Palms, and Neon Tribal. Trust, you'll have a much easier time with these DIYs than you will with, say, keeping cool in the desert heat.

Photographed by Laura Miller

Everyone in L.A. knows and loves The Grove, but did you know you can go there to pick oranges? Starting next Monday, Sephora and Pantone’s custom pop-up shop will be parked there, serving up (and letting you test out!) the colorful concoctions from their collaboration collection for the entire week. The cosmetics company partnered with Pantone Universe on a collection of stunning beauty goodies featuring 2012's color of the year, Tangerine Tango — from blush to brushes and eyeliner to nail polish, these citrus-kissed finds are sure to have you hooked.

We all waited with bated breath for Pantone to reveal this year's color all-star, and the anointed shade’s been popping up everywhere ever since then. So even if you’ve already infused your wardrobe with orange accents, be prepared to rock the striking shade even more. The year may be almost a third of the way over, but don’t let that stop you from dancing the Tangerine Tango!

When: Wednesday, April 18, to Sunday, April 22, from 12 to 9 p.m. daily
Where: The Grove, 189 The Grove Drive (at West 3rd Street), 323-900-8080

Photo: Via Sephora

What do you get when a globetrotting trend-forecaster-turned-retailer teams up with a Mexico City-native jewelry maven? An uncommon treasure trove of gems that you'll yearn for, of course.

Desiree Kohan of cult-coveted DES KOHAN boutique has consulted for the likes of Prada, Gucci, and Miu Miu, and her Miracle Mile shop is in such mad demand that it's never gone on sale (apologies to all of you bargain babes). In fact, she's already sold out of Spring '12 Alaia bags that never even hit the floor. Yeah, this is serious business.

The perk of this allure is the cultivation of solid relationships with her artsy array of designers, leading to an uncanny knack for getting pieces designed exclusively for the destination outpost (you've really gotta know where you're going to find it). And this latest slew of beauts by Gabriela Artigas has us chomping at the (shark-toothed) bit! Chock-full of versatile earthy and vintage accessories you really won't find elsewhere, this collection (click through to take a peek!) may just make you a DES devotee.

DES KOHAN, 671 Cloverdale Avenue (At Wilshire Boulevard); 323-857-0020.

When April finally rolls around, we start to feel a severe shift in the SoCal air, and we're not talking temperature here — the Coachella winds are blowing. Cars are being decorated, playlists are being made, and the search for the perfect free-spirited frocks is on. Of course, we'll be your one-stop packing, planning, partying, and shopping spot over the coming weeks (we can't wait to spill all that we have in store, yee!).

But for now, we've found some pretty sweet inspiration for you, in the form of this artsy Free People hippie-how-to guide to their new Festival Paint, which is the perfect finishing touch for any desert-bound look. And no need to worry about having art credentials, the sets are easy to apply and come in perfect color-combo palettes. Peep the vid below, and check out how those years of endless note-taking doodle sessions can translate into giving great festival face (and body)!

Festival paint by Free People from FreePeople on Vimeo.

With all of the best new spring fashions hitting the shelves right now, we're being constantly reminded that it will soon be time to unwrap our bodies from all of those heavy winter layers. We're all for eating healthier, getting fit, and being proud of our bodies, but we're sick and tired of reading about the BS weight loss tips of celebrities.

When a star says that they came across their super-toned, taut physique by just "cutting out sweets, drinking lots of water, and running after my kids," it's enough to throw us into a rage blackout. We all know that getting a Hollywood bod means tons of time with a trainer and spartan diets that can be almost insane in their levels of deprivation. Why can't everyone just 'fess up and quit lying?

That's why we became so engrossed in this recent HuffPo piece on actresses that are refreshingly candid about their bodies. We love hearing that stars like Emma Stone feel a "deep-seated rage when [she's] holding heavy weights over [her] head." Or that Jennifer Lawrence wants to "punch people in the face" who say they like exercising. Good to know it's not just us. (Huffington Post)

Photo: Via Huffington Post

Kristen Lee and Brady Cunningham never cease pulling rabbits out of their fashionable hats (you know their boutique's name, TenOverSix, is a cheeky nod to Alice In Wonderland's white bunny, right?). Every well-curated item is visual treat enough to cause any artsy stylephile to feel like she guzzled the white rabbit's elixir and ate his cake in one giant swallow.

Euphoric edibles aside, by now you know that this is one not-to-be-missed retail (and e-tail) trip, and their onslaught of recent news has us dizzy! With a shiny, new site, three fresh collabs, and killer designer vintage additions to its stock, we want a dose of whatever these gals are on (totally kidding, of course)!

Click through for a quick look at what's shakin' at this wildly creative station.

Here in L.A., Sonya Dakar is already a superstar among people who take their beauty seriously. No joke, the brand packs omega-3s and other skin-saving compounds into every possible product, pops up at only the best spas, and tailors their packages to meet every beauty obsessive's last demand.

And, so, catering to the growing number of Angelenos living a gluten-free lifestyle, it's now whipped up a new line, BODY by Sonya Dakar Skincare. Filled to the brim with antioxidents and botanicals, this is unquestionably the best regimen on the market targeting the gluten-free consumer looking for a perfect complexion.

That's all well and good, but it begs an obvious question: Does anyone actually need gluten-free skincare products? Click through to find out.

Photo: Sonya Dakar

When Zooey Deschanel stepped out at this year’s Golden Globes, sure, her questionable gown choice got a lot of attention, but so did a much smaller detail — her adorable tuxedo manicure, which really stole the show. It's no secret that nail art is, well, everywhere, these days. But now, one of the world’s leading nail salon chains has set up shop in L.A.

The folks behind Japan’s wildly successful es NAIL salons have brought their bubbly handiwork to Melrose, and their one-of-a-kind gel application gems are a serious can’t-miss.

Get a little crazy with your digits, with a slew of serious stick-ons and décor options. And hey, you’re in good company! es NAIL has designed for the likes of Katy Perry and Lady Gaga, so join the ranks of these A-list artists and get some super-fierce nail art of your own (without having to bust out a nail-art brush). Um, Sally Hansen who?

When: Open now
Where: es NAIL, 8384 Melrose Avenue (at North Orlando Avenue); 323-655-5800.

Photo: Via es NAIL