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It's that time of year again—the annual Updating of the Beauty 38, Racked New York's highly subjective rundown of the city's best beauty stores, salons, and more. We cast a wide net, and only chose spots at the top of their game, so don't be surprised to find an organic apothecary alongside a hair extension bar or a niche fragrance boutique.
To keep the list manageable, we've come up with a few exclusions. Since NYC is home to so many hair salons, we've left them out (check out our favorites here, instead), although blowout bars are fair game.
Single-brand retailers only made the cut if they're New York-centric (like Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics) or have a huge following (Nars, M.A.C., etc.). And, in keeping with our blowout-manicure-makeup theme (a.k.a. the basic beauty triumvirate), you won't find extras like tanning, waxing, or eyebrow threading.
Without further ado, let's get to it. And oh, if you disagree, let us know in the comments or via email to ny@racked.com.
Urban Outfitters is in the midst of a major cosmetics push, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the retailer’s new Herald Square mega-store. The back half of the first floor is devoted to all things makeup, skincare, and hair, with displays highlighting everything from big-name beauty brands (Stila, Bliss, Essie) to cult-y products like EmbryoLisse 24 Hour Miracle Cream and Mountain Ocean Skin Trip moisturizer. This UO also boasts the city’s largest assortment of Korean beauty products outside of K-town or Flushing, as well as an outpost of experimental L.A. hair salon Hairroin. [Photo: Driely S.]
Korean beauty brand TonyMoly is known for its affordable skincare products and cutesy packaging (Lip glosses with bunny ears! Panda-shaped pots of moisturizer!), but the sheet masks are the real stars of this K-town shop. At about $3 apiece, they’re perfect for moisturizing while you Netflix. [Photo: Driely S.]
A no-brainer for this list and a favorite among professionals, beauty vloggers, and shoppers all over the country is M.A.C, which currently has Flatiron, Soho, Harlem, Grand Central, and Times Square locations, plus stores in Brooklyn and Queens. Current special collections include shimmery neutral shades for the Cinderella line and the Miley Cyrus Viva Glam collab. [Photo]
Jin Soon is kind of a celebrity in the nail world—she collaborates with designers on their runway manicure looks, regularly paints the nails of top models for glossy magazines, and has her own cult-y polish line. At her three NYC salons, traditional manis and pedis are combined with treatments like sugar scrubs and rose petal soaks, giving appointments a spa feel. [Photo: Driely S.]
Rachel Zoe's DreamDry salon has two locations in Manhattan, including one on West 21st Street. Both outposts offer Hollywood-inspired blowouts (Brigette, Farah, and Veronica are all options), as well as updos and braids. Bonus amenities include VIP memberships and a loyalty reward programs, plus the option to host private events. [Photo]
Back in 2013, the department store unveiled a sleeker, larger beauty floor that totals 9,000 square feet. That leaves plenty of room for makeup stations from brands like Troy Surratt, Lipstick Queen, and Koh Gen Do, an expanded fragrance section, Valery Joseph's Barneys Blow Bar, and more high-end beauty products you can't help but covet. [Photo]
The beauty floor at 5th and 58th is just as swanky as the rest of the department store—although a bit more chaotic. Located on the lower level, you'll find a mix of products ranging from affordable (Clinique, Bobbi Brown) to splurgey (La Mer, Sisley Paris). [Photo: Brian Harkin]
Drybar has taken New York City by storm in the past few years, with eight locations and counting. All blowouts are priced at $40, and up-dos (know here as UpTinis) are $80. Love the products? You can purchase favorites like the Happy Hour shampoo and conditioner, as well as the actual blow dryers. [Photo]
Saks has been rolling out its beauty department makeover for the past few years, the most recent upgrades being a fifth-floor "fragrance library" and The Paint Shop, a nail salon complete with charging stations, tea service, finger foods, and more than 150 colors to choose from. Beyond that, there are dozens of designers in all the other crucial categories. [Photo: Brian Harkin]
Lush’s new Herald Square outpost is the beauty brand’s most experimental yet. Along with reclaimed wood walls and repurposed electrical component boxes, the store includes a section that's meant to replicate the feeling of a farmer's market or gourmet grocer. Another unique feature: a station where customers can receive complimentary skin consultations and try out Lush's facial treatments, which are made from fresh fruits and vegetables. [Photo]
Inglot's only been in New York for a handful of years, but it was first launched more than thirty years prior in the Polish town of Przemyśl. With 1,500+ products to choose from, it's a staple in the kits of makeup artists around the world. The store inside Chelsea Market also features a 6,000-square-foot Artist Loft with a photo studio. [Photo: Brian Harkin]
The first Nars boutique to open in the city was the Bleecker Street flagship, followed by outposts on Prince Street and Madison Avenue. Products that have achieved cult-like appeal include the brand's beloved Orgasm blush, the satin lip pencils, and the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer. [Photo: Brian Harkin]
Subscription site Birchbox has brought its "try, learn, buy" philosophy to its first brick and mortar beauty store. Meaning, while the West Broadway space is designed for independent browsing ("try bars" where you can test-drive trends from coral lipsticks to brow fillers are set up throughout), experts are on-hand to assist if you decide that now is the time to learn the difference between BB and CC cream. Make sure to check out the basement floor— it's home to a mini nail salon (where prices start at $10 for a polish change) and heat-styling bar (where beachy waves or a perfect topknot will run you $30). [Photo: Driely S.]
This Soho salon is known for making converts out of nail art skeptics, thanks to its ultra-minimalist designs (like pearl-topped gel manis, metallic half-moons, and marbled foil looks). There’s no polish wall—instead customers are handed a nail lookbook (and a glass of champagne) upon entering. [Photo]
For the animal lover in all of us, there's the Lower East Side's all-vegan Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. And for the beauty lover in all of us, there's their famed Lip Tar, which slicks on like a gloss and dries to a stain. Can't find your perfect color? Check out their custom mixing bar to create your own. [Photo]
Long story short: RPZL isn't just about blowouts. While you can make an appointment for sophisticated curls or a flouncy ponytail, the Flatiron salon specializes in extensions—whether you just want some clip-ins for the night or if you're going for the long haul by placing dozens of little pieces via keratin attachment that'll last for months. [Photo]
Korea's answer to MAC opened the doors to its first-ever Manhattan store, at 11 West 14th Street, earlier this year. The Union Square outpost houses Club Clio's full cosmetics lineup, including its signature "Lipnicure" lip stains, "Salon" mascaras, and easy-draw "Kill Black" eyeliner—Korea's best-selling eyeliner of all time (and a great substitute for YSL). [Photo: Driely S.]
Though the masses may flock to the French favorite for candles, don't forget that you can take those same scents with you in the form of perfumes. There's also bath products, body butter, hand lotion, and more that smell good enough to splurge on. [Photo]
Though the London-based beauty brand has been available in the beauty department of Barneys and specialty stores like the New London Pharmacy for some time now, those who take their love of the toxin-free and organic products seriously will want to head to the Organic Pharmacy's Bleecker Street shop that opened last summer. Makeup and skincare consultations are available on site to help you find the best makeup, skin, and body products for your needs, both inside and out (they've got herbal supplements, too). [Photo]
Following its US standalone boutique debut in Vegas last spring, French beauty brand Sisley opened its first-ever East Coast outpost at 343 Bleecker Street. While New Yorkers can score Sisley products at department store beauty counters, the West Village shop offers full, complimentary makeup application with any skincare treatment. [Photo]
CAP Beauty was formerly Castor and Pollux, a popular West Village spot for women's apparel and accessories, but the owners reopened the space as a natural beauty haven this past winter. Alongside popular names like Tata Harper and Kjaer Weiss are more than 50 brands of all-natural, organic products for your face, body, and home, including their own ever-growing line—and don't hesitate to ask any of their very knowledgable staff for recommendations. [Photo: Bryan Sansivero]
If you can last 170-plus years in what's now a prime New York neighborhood, you must be doing something right. For C.O. Bigelow, that includes stocking hard-to-find European brands alongside their house label in every category from makeup to apothecary goods and beyond. [Photo: Brian Harkin]
This West Village fragrance destination isn't only about perfume—their skincare and bath and body products from their own label as well as high-end European lines will leave you enveloped in rich scents all day long. [Photo: Driely S.]
In addition to its house polish line, Tenoverten carries a fashion-girl-approved lineup of nail lacquers by brands like Chanel, Nars, and RGB. The best perk: you can put the tip on your credit card. Bless. [Photo]
Founded by two Law & Order alums (actress Stephanie March and makeup artist Rebecca Perkins), this studio specializes in no-pressure makeup applications, ranging from everyday "You...Only Better" looks to "Total Polish." [Photo: Driely S.]
Bite's first NYC test-run was in the form of a pop-up shop that was such a success it turned into a full-fledged store. Pick your own lip shade straight off the shelf, or make one from scratch on-site in just ten minutes flat. [Photo: Driely S.]
Cheeky beauty brand Benefit is known for its clever packaging and products that work, from their a-ma-zing Gimme Brow gel to the They're Real mascara. Hit up the second-floor brow bar in the Soho outpost for a super-precise reshaping. [Photo]
Perhaps the best thing to cross the pond since David Beckham, London's Space NK stocks tons of high-quality brands like Oribe and Serge Normant, alongside founder Nicky Kinnaird's favorites from the UK, France, and more. [Photo: Driely S.]
Skincare guru Yael Alkalay's natural line of cleansers, oils, lotions, and candles fill this cozy Nolita boutique. The brand is perfect for anyone with sensitive skin or an aversion to products packed with unwanted chemicals. Bestsellers include the Cardamom Amber Oil Icelandic Moonflower body lotion, as well as the line of Italian Blood Orange shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. [Photo]
Every manicure at Valley comes with a complimentary design on one or two accent nails, and if you can dream it up, this salon’s nail artists can paint it with their teeny tiny brushes. While geometric looks are Valley’s specialty, they’ll gladly adorn your fingertips with emojis or planets, should you ask. There's also a newly-opened second location at 237 West 15th Street in Chelsea. [Photo]
Rare, exclusive, niche, and hard-to-find fragrances are the name of the game at this Crosby Street store, which also carries skincare, haircare, and bath products. Shop scents off the shelf, or book a one-on-one consultation with Vice President and Curator Mindy Yang. [Photo by Brian Harkin]
Le Labo's perfumes are all made-to-order, and it gets as personal as having them put your name right on the bottle. Choose from 14 different scents, and then choose whether you want it as a standard perfume, a fragrance oil, or even a body lotion and candle. [Photo]
This Soho makeup studio sits right next to Laicale hair salon, making it a remarkably simple one-stop shop for beauty. Makeup applications are $50, and founders Hiyam McKelvey and Julio Sandino have created a whopping 77 shades of lipstick to choose from. The real game-changer here though is the locker storage facility downstairs—feel free to stash your belongings there for the night after your appointment. [Photo]
To counter all the blow-dry bars out there that promise to straighten the life out of your strands, there's Miss Jessie's CurlBar that specializes in curly finishes that embraces hair's natural texture. They also offer your standard cuts, colors, styles, and more for curly girlies. [Photo]
Despite its ongoing retail boom, beauty options in Williamsburg are still scarce—which is where Miomia comes in. The Bedford Avenue shop carries an impressive lineup of skincare, cosmetics, fragrances, and men’s grooming products from cult lines like Ursa Major, Julie Hewett, and Rahua. [Photo]
After 150 years in business, Kiehl's finally opened its first Brooklyn outpost last year on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights. The new store includes a permanent photo booth and consultations with the new Kiehl's SkinProfile Diagnostic device, plus a recycling program that rewards you with free products when you bring in empty Kiehl's jars, bottles, and tubes. [Photo: Driely S.]
The once online-only fragrance distributor opened their first shop in Boerum Hill two years ago, apparently jumping on the perfume train that's taken over the neighborhood. They stock scents that you've never heard of before in a wide price range, allowing everyone who stops by to pick up a new favorite. [Photo]
Consider Shen a hidden treasure chest: Owner Jessica Richards is all about stocking hard-to-find products, with an emphasis on natural and British brands. She tests everything herself to make sure results are guaranteed, so trust every recommendation you receive here. [Photo]
Urban Outfitters is in the midst of a major cosmetics push, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the retailer’s new Herald Square mega-store. The back half of the first floor is devoted to all things makeup, skincare, and hair, with displays highlighting everything from big-name beauty brands (Stila, Bliss, Essie) to cult-y products like EmbryoLisse 24 Hour Miracle Cream and Mountain Ocean Skin Trip moisturizer. This UO also boasts the city’s largest assortment of Korean beauty products outside of K-town or Flushing, as well as an outpost of experimental L.A. hair salon Hairroin. [Photo: Driely S.]
Korean beauty brand TonyMoly is known for its affordable skincare products and cutesy packaging (Lip glosses with bunny ears! Panda-shaped pots of moisturizer!), but the sheet masks are the real stars of this K-town shop. At about $3 apiece, they’re perfect for moisturizing while you Netflix. [Photo: Driely S.]
A no-brainer for this list and a favorite among professionals, beauty vloggers, and shoppers all over the country is M.A.C, which currently has Flatiron, Soho, Harlem, Grand Central, and Times Square locations, plus stores in Brooklyn and Queens. Current special collections include shimmery neutral shades for the Cinderella line and the Miley Cyrus Viva Glam collab. [Photo]
Jin Soon is kind of a celebrity in the nail world—she collaborates with designers on their runway manicure looks, regularly paints the nails of top models for glossy magazines, and has her own cult-y polish line. At her three NYC salons, traditional manis and pedis are combined with treatments like sugar scrubs and rose petal soaks, giving appointments a spa feel. [Photo: Driely S.]
Rachel Zoe's DreamDry salon has two locations in Manhattan, including one on West 21st Street. Both outposts offer Hollywood-inspired blowouts (Brigette, Farah, and Veronica are all options), as well as updos and braids. Bonus amenities include VIP memberships and a loyalty reward programs, plus the option to host private events. [Photo]
Back in 2013, the department store unveiled a sleeker, larger beauty floor that totals 9,000 square feet. That leaves plenty of room for makeup stations from brands like Troy Surratt, Lipstick Queen, and Koh Gen Do, an expanded fragrance section, Valery Joseph's Barneys Blow Bar, and more high-end beauty products you can't help but covet. [Photo]
The beauty floor at 5th and 58th is just as swanky as the rest of the department store—although a bit more chaotic. Located on the lower level, you'll find a mix of products ranging from affordable (Clinique, Bobbi Brown) to splurgey (La Mer, Sisley Paris). [Photo: Brian Harkin]
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