8. oo35mm, Chinatown
You could blink and miss this small but well-stocked store on Mott Street, one of the busiest streets in Chinatown. From the outside it looks quite ordinary, situated above the Hoy Wong restaurant. But this hidden beauty emporium is home to an incredible edit of Japanese and Korean beauty brands, and more importantly, a friendly and knowledgeable team. Sure, they sell the biggest hits like K-Beauty favorites Etude House and Innisfree, but they’re also known for stocking up on the next big thing, so it’s always worth asking yourself what just landed on shelves and what’s the next big thing? staff qualification. personally. It’s not the biggest K-beauty selection in town, but it’s very well curated.
Must buy: Beauty Of Joseon Rice + Probiotics Sunscreen, about £15.50, Soothing Skincare and SPF50+, about £15.50, goes on beautifully as a base for make-up and is ideal for drier skin. Buy now
Address: oo35mm 81, Mott St FRNT 2, New York, 10013
Website: o35mm.com
9. Zeno Nail Bar, Lower East Side
There are high-tech nail salons on every corner of New York touting their intricate nail art or selfie-worthy locales. But sometimes you just want something classic and easy. I ran into Zeno accidentally and was treated to one of the best gel manicures I have ever experienced. This unassuming nail salon is located on the streets of the Lower East Side and offers all the classic manicure and pedicure options you’d expect, in a calm and bright environment. The attention to detail and perfectionism was next level, and while my nails were drying I was treated to a much needed manual back rub. If you are a fan of simple, straightforward yet brilliant nail services then this is it.
Must buy: The Zeno Signature Gel Manicure, around £47, comes with a sugar scrub, hot towel and 5-minute back massage. Reserve now
Address: 119 Ludlow St, New York, NY 10002
Website: zenonailbar.com
10. Creed, Williamsburg
Credo specializes in independent and luxury brands and is proud to be a part of the clean beauty movement. Many stores in New York cater to the market, but the difference with Credo is its edition: it’s very well chosen and any clean beauty label from the handpicked selection is excellent. There’s so much to love here: Choose from artist Gucci Westman’s effortlessly minimalist makeup (his Squeaky Clean Liquid Lip Balm has incredible staying power) to Josh Rosebrook’s must-have skincare picks and fragrance-based perfumes. Heretic plants. Of course, NY is full of big beauty stores like Ulta and Sephora, which are a big draw, but Credo offers a tighter, time-saving edit and a slightly more discreet shopping experience.
Must buy: Choose Ranavat’s Brightening Saffron Facial Serum, around £115, which draws on Indian Ayurvedic inspiration and antioxidants like saffron to create a facial oil that creates the most beautiful glow imaginable. Buy now
Address: 99 N 6th St, Brooklyn, New York 11249,
Website: credobeauty.com
Source: www.cntraveller.com