Most Amazing Makeup Counters in New York City

If you’re like most women, you consider the act of “having your makeup done” a luxury: something you might do for a wedding, special occasion, work event or date night. But for everyday play, not so much. That said, a good makeover can teach you proper application technique and how to be a better purchaser of production (translation: a talented makeup artist might suggest you use a lipgloss rather than a lipstick; peach cream blush in lieu of pink powder rouge; green eyeliner instead of basic black). The trick is to find the prime place to perfect your complexion using makeup. After all, not every cosmetic counter or makeup store is created equal. And in the Big Apple, a beauty bodega is just as commonplace as a corner fruit-stand man. Here, our favorite few, who have tips and trade secrets to boot:

Laura Geller Makeup Studio is located in the heart of New York City’s Upper East Side; a place where young moms stroll, cougars prowl and career-focused gals play. And at this upscale, no-nonsense, it’s-all-about-the-makeup studio, ladies in this grouping (and more) get TLC from top to bottom in a time-sensitive manner. Laura trains her artists to apply and enhance – using the Laura Geller line of makeup exclusively. Housing something for everyone (literally, the brand has more than 100 products in the lineup) and for any occasion, a visit to Laura Geller Makeup Studio is a no brainer.

Sephora is a swear-by store, whether you live in Minneapolis, Missouri or Manhattan. Makeup and Sephora go together like peanut butter and jelly, cream cheese and a bagel, French fries and ketchup. Quite simply: in today’s day and age, one can hardly exist without the other. And for New Yorkers, they needn’t look very far to find a Sephora; the store has 15 locations (in a less than 50 miles radius, no less). Bottom line: we don’t need to tell you about this makeup powerhouse, but we can share our reason to rave about it continuously – the store carries more brands than we can name, allowing you to experiment with as many as you like, all at the same time. That’s something you can’t say about many places, period. Plus, the customer service is impeccable and the return policy, fabulous.

Bloomingdales is known for more than just that little brown bag. Yup, boasting more than 30 makeup counters and stand-alone mini studios, Bloomingdales on 59th Street is a makeup maven’s haven (or heaven). Carrying many of the most trusted and respected cosmetic lines in the biz, from Lancome to Clinique, Trish McEvoy to Bobbi Brown, Bloomingdales is a go-to for anyone looking to spruce up their stuff (and supply of beauty loot) from time to time. Unintimidating, helpful and with talented team players, the counters at Bloomie’s are a safe place to ask questions, get answers and feel at home amidst beautiful products and people.

Kimara Ahnert should be on your speed dial if you’re the type who likes personalization, customization and privacy. This gorgeous, chic studio (which is owned and operated by the makeup artist herself) is on Madison Avenue, where lollygagging ladies can pop in to play or be pampered, or often schedule appointments weeks ahead to ensure their spot for getting stunning. The staff at Kimara Ahnert write beauty profiles for customers, offering play-by-play advice for achieving gorgeousness once outside Ahnert’s door. And, the artists will travel, too, whether to your home, a wedding location, hotel or office.