The Five Beauty Stores You Have To Check Out In New York City

I adore New York. There's something about the edgy coolness and effortlessly chic atmosphere that leaves me feeling like it's my second home, wanting to go back as soon as I touch down in an inevitably rainy London. Although it's known as a hub of eateries, shops and art, one of the lesser known sides of the iconic Manhattan skyline is the vast number of beauty stores hiding on practically every corner. Us Brits may get excited at the mere thought of a Sephora store, but in NYC there's so much more than that to tickle your fancy; if you want to discover alternative brands, secret boutiques and experiences to leave your inner beauty goddess satisfied, then it's worth venturing further afield than Times Square. Here are the five beauty stores you simply *have* to check out the next time you're in New York - and the reasons why they're so special.


BIRCHBOX (433 West Broadway, NY 10012)
If you love beauty, adore beauty boxes and must know about all the latest beauty trends, then you need to swing by Birchbox’s first stand-alone beauty store in New York’s Soho. Not only is this a pretty fab store regardless, you can build your own Birchbox for only $25.00, allowing you to discover all the fab brands you may not have had a chance to previously. The brand’s London pop up in Selfridges was a storming success, but unfortunately there are no plans right now to create a replica of this NYC hotspot in the UK - so make the most of this unique location.

CAP BEAUTY (238 West 10th St, NY 10014)
This delightful store in the West Village is a haven of all things natural. Born out of the success of the Cap Beauty digital platform, this store holds a huge array of all natural products and brands you may never have heard of. If you want to discover something new, or just get a touch of advice, then this is definitely a destination you won’t regret swinging by - and as celebrities including Helena Christensen and Brooke Shields are known to be fans, you may even spot some famous faces while you’re there.

SHEN BEAUTY (315 Court St, Brooklyn, NY 11231)
What began as a Brooklyn neighbourhood haven for undiscovered, organic lines and exclusive British imports, soon started attracting consumers from Manhattan and beyond. Shen Beauty has an insanely cool reputation for stocking beauty’s latest obsessions before everyone else does, making it worth the trek over the bridge. Founded by Jessica Richards, a California native who looks like a surfer girl, and Jules Stringer, a British beauty journalist with an impressive black book of industry contacts, Shen is a refreshing alternative to the Sephoras on every other NYC corner.

RICKY’S NYC (1412 Broadway, NY 10018)
Although Ricky’s may have started off as somewhere to stock up on Halloween wigs and fake blood, it’s evolved into being a beauty destination in its own right. With locations across Manhattan, including a professional beauty store which holds some of the best products money can buy, it’s worth hunting one down and spending some time browsing the shelves. If you enter without expectation, you can only be delighted; just don’t let the bold decor and slightly dodgy merchandising put you off.

BITE BEAUTY LIP LAB (174 Prince St, NY 10012)
If lipsticks are your thing, then a trip to the Lip Lab should definitely be top of your ‘to do’ list then next time you’re in New York. The technicians can create any tone or texture of lipstick you can dream up, even matching that discontinued many bullet that’s lurking in the bottom of your bag. Even the scent and packaging can be personalised to your tastes, giving you a truly bespoke lipstick for the price of a regular MAC one.

Have you visited any of these before? Or do you have any other must-visits that you'd like to share? 

*image above of Shen Beauty
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