Back in May I won tickets to a really amazing event called Unique LA and had the best time ever! I highly HIGHLY recommend checking this out and definitely bring your wallet because you are going to want to buy ALL THE THINGS! Like I was shook at how much amazing local stuff there was. I also went by myself and stayed all day and had an absolute blast!
“Your dollars make a direct impact in your neighborhood! The entrepreneurs you shop from at Unique LA are registered business owners in their cities, and therefore local taxpayers, so buying from them directly helps your neighborhood public schools, libraries, fire departments, parks, and more. How great is that?!”
— Sonja Rasula, Founder of Unique LA
What is Unique LA?
Unique LA is the largest ‘buy local’ shopping event in the country. From the website: “Our mission is to provide opportunities that help entrepreneurs, designers and artists grow, increase success and become sustainable (happy, fulfilled and profitable), while helping the public discover and support local small business/art/design.”
When is Unique LA?
The next Unique LA will be this weekend August 19 & 20, 2017 from 11am to 6pm in Santa Monica at Barker Hangar, 3021 Airport Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405.
There will be another Unique LA in DTLA (like the one I went to on 5/13/17) on December 2 & 3, 2017 which will be an amazing place to do some holiday shopping!
They are working on a Unique San Diego which should be coming soon. Read more about the Unique LA Markets on the Unique Markets website.
My Unique LA Picks
I have to start by thanking the company who I won the Unique LA ticket from- Perfectly Baked. Perfectly Baked is a super cuts baby and kids apparel company and I picked up a pink onesie for my friend’s baby that was covered in sweet little cupcakes and croissants.
My #1 favorite thing I bought at Unique LA was my “Don’t Tell Me to Smile” hat from Creature of Habit LA. Seeing a picture of this hat on Instagram actually made me want to go to the market in the first place!
The even put it in the cutest shopping bag ever:
My #2 best find was the Honey Belle Eye Cream ($18). This stuff is absolutely amazing! Not only is it local, natural, and handcrafted, it works as well if not better than a high end eye cream from Sephora! This contains evening primrose oil to help relieve darkness, puffiness and inflammation, organic white willow extract and organic neem seed oil which are antioxidants that fight aging, and organic jojoba and grapeseed oil help maintain moisture. It’s super creamy and hydrating and I just repurchased! I also got a really nice nourishing organic lip scrub that I love from Honey Belle.
My third most favorite thing about Unique LA was my Auragami LA Aura photo!
I got 2 awesome candles at Unique LA – one from Evil Queen called “Exhale the Bullshit” ($18) and a blood orange travel candle from No Tox Life ($13).
The No Tox Life products are pure, natural, vegan, and handmade in Los Angeles!
I love a good masculine scent so when I got a whiff of Pretty and Perky’s Shave and a Cut Whipped Sugar Scrub I was sold! I loved that they gave free samples with purchase too!
Another product that I’m still using after every yoga class is my Belle & Beast Organics Yoga Mat Spray in Uplift. This cleans and sanitizes while providing essential oil blends that help get you in the right mood for yoga! This scent is very subtle so don’t worry about it being too overpowering to your fellow yogis. The Uplift scent has peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils so it gives my yoga mat a spa-like scent. I use it before and/or after class!
Food at Unique LA
I treated myself to some Drunken Cake Pops. Yup, there’s booze in these lil bad boys. I had Birthday Cake Shot and Southern Gentleman and they were so yummy!
For lunch I had some yummy Bling Bling dumplings. There were lots of great food options at Unique LA so come hungry! I loved that they weren’t insanely expensive too!
More Unique LA Vendors That Caught My Eye
Lavender Crush had incredible delicate jewelry including some with crystals. I came back to check on these clear quartz crystal studs like 5 times the owner was just like “Hello again.”
These Alicante Crystal Stud Earrings are $44 and I still really want them.
I sadly cut myself off from buying more candles before I could get some from The Wicked Boheme. They have beautiful rose copper candles that are inspired by travels.
The Wicked Boheme also sells super beautiful Carrara Marble Coasters that are hand made in Los Angeles:
Dirty Lola/Darling Lola Designs’ Christine De Carvalho is so dang talented! I love her Dolly Parton pieces.
This Stay Sexy Don’t Get Murdered plate kills me:
Whose home doesn’t need this “Smash the Patriarchy” print?
Free Stuff at Unique LA
Another part I loved about Unique LA? The free stuff! They had a water color station where I painted my little heart out on their pre-made super cute post cards!
I even got my nails painted for free by Color Camp. They opened a salon in WeHo after Unique LA the best possible products and methods for your health. That means they use hospital grade sterilization, better-for-you products, LED-cured gels, and no damaging acrylics. They used NCLA nail lacquers which are 7-Free and made in California. This color is called Endless Summer.
They had great sponsors like Synergy Kombucha which is family owned and based in LA. I drank alllll the Kombucha. They also had free Califa Farms Almond Milk Coffee and lemonades!
How Much Are Tickets For Unique LA?
Good news if you don’t win tickets to Unique LA – they only cost $15 for unlimited re-entry all weekend long. For $10 more you can get a Bosslady VIP Tote Bag with 2 issues of Bossladies Magazine, notebooks from Scout Books, and treats from Unique Sponsors. You can buy tickets from the Unique Markets website or at the venue.
Female-Owned Businesses in Los Angeles
Another reason I loved Unique LA? All of the female-owned business boss babes! Check out their stats:
I’m so excited that my friend Sarah McDaniel’s brand Hush Beauty Labs will be at Unique LA in Santa Monica next weekend August 19-20, 2017! Be sure to check out her amazing products like The Elixir Multi-oil Body Treatment which features Rosehip Seed oil, Marula oil, Vitamin E, Sweet Almond oil, and Coconut oil!
Check out the rest of the Unique LA Summer Market vendors here.
Watch My UniqueLA Insta Story Video
So who is going with me!?
One thought on “Unique LA”