Best Places to Shop for Beauty Products in NYC

Few cities are as beauty-and-fashion-focused as the Big Apple. Home to many of the world’s top designers and, of course, cosmetic consultants, Manhattan is a true Mecca for talent in the beauty arena, and thus, all things that follow suit. Enter, boutiques, shops and true apothecaries that cater to the cosmetic-inclined kiddo in all of us. Places where you can dabble and dust to your heart’s content; places where you can lather and slather ‘till the day is done; places where you can tweak and try, experiment and amaze (even yourself) with neat, nifty, not-your-everyday kind of makeup. Our favorite beauty-essential laden stores are necessary stops on your shopping adventure in NYC:

For tresses to toes (and everything in between), check out Zitomer, a Madison Avenue-staple that houses handfuls of hello-gorgeous goodies; accessories, check. Makeup, check. hair care, check; jewelry, check, and need we continue? Zitomer considers itself a pharmacy + department store, and we fully agree: it’s a hit for gals on the prowl for all things pretty and perfect, special and snazzy.

For trend-setting makeup, visit Henri Bendel on Fifth Avenue, where the entire downstairs is dedicated to cosmetics. And unlike most department stores, this NYC-novelty carries smaller, sweeter, sassier makeup artists’ lines and products. It’s the prime place to find makeup to suit a purpose --- whether you’re looking for the exact hue of blue eyeshadow or the shiniest, most shimmer-happy clear gloss, green mascara with a hint of teal, bronzer that looks realistic yet radiant. Henri Bendel has it all, and then some.

For sensational skin care essentials, stop by C.O. Bigelow in the West Village. This family-run, old-school apothecary has been around for more than 150 years; clearly, the employees know their way around the cosmetic counter. C.O. Bigelow carries many main-stream brands of skin- and hair-care, but what the store is really known for is the variety of not-so-typical lines of beauty basics, from toothpaste to blemish cream, scar remedies to exfoliating scrubs.

For a fragrance to fawn for, hop into Bond No. 9 New York; any of the four, fabulously-located boutiques, from uptown to downtown, host an array of seductive, alluring aromas – candles, body balms, perfumes and more. Distinct and sophisticated, luxe and lush, the Bond No. 9 brand is a Manhatttan must (smell and see).

For a quick, marvelous makeover, skip into Boyd’s on Fifth Avenue, where owner Carol Fader basically birthed the idea of an in-store makeover. Packing an array of gorgeous, high impact colors and cosmetic collections, plus talented, skilled artists to paint, dust and smudge, this New York boutique is the best in the business.