NYC Beauty Shopping Guide – Chinatown

When I want to go beauty shopping in NYC, I tag along on a spree with my favourite, pun-ny, cutie cats, Angela & Renee of @beautyandthecat. These ladies are so knowledgable, a pure joy to be around and freaking adorable. They helped navigate me through the labyrinth of Chinatown and schooled this professional shopper on how things are done. The vast selection of Asian and European products available in these places is mind-boggling. Since so many of you are always asking me for suggestions of where to shop in NYC, I am honoured to have A & R guest blog this Shopping Guide. This is their top 5 in Chinatown and stay tuned for more! I leave you in the most capable paws.

 

 

New York is one of our furvorite cities for beauty shopping. Purrsonally, we love Chinatown for not only Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Chinese products but also niche Western products if you know where to look.

 

So when Renée asked us (Angela and “No Accent Mark” Renee) to take her shopping, we knew exactly where to start.

These stores are admittedly more expensive than online stores. But hey, what’s a small premium in exchange for being able to swatch and smell cosmetics and review English ingredient lists.

 

(1) oo35mm

81 Mott Street, 2nd Floor

New York, NY 10013

Online store at www.oo35mm.com

 

 

The teeny space belies how many products are crammed in here! oo35mm stands out for carrying many brands that are hard to find (and swatch) in a brick and mortar. It has its pulse on the skincare and AB community—due in no small part to following Gothamista and stocking her picks. (Seriously, the sales associate said so. Bow down to the power of Renée.)

That’s why you’ll find not only big-name K-beauty and Japanese products (Etude House, Heroine Make, Dolly Wink, Papa Recipe, Skinfood, Hada Labo, etc.) but also niche brands such as Pyunkang Yul, Manyo Factory, Cosrx, and Naruko, and Western brands such as Timeless and The Ordinary.

 

BeautyandtheCat picks: Chacott Quick Eyeliner and cat-themed cushion puffs by Etude House.

 

(2) New Kam Man (2nd floor)

200 Canal Street
New York, NY 10013

 

 

The second floor of this Chinese supermarket is a goldmine of mostly Japanese beauty products spanning makeup and face, body, and hair care, including one of the biggest sheet mask sections around.

Hada Labo? DHC? PureSmile? Kiku-Masamune Sake Lotion? Camellia oil haircare? Face-firming Hannibal Lecter-esque contraptions? You need to come here. Heck, you can even buy Japanese maxi pads and toothpaste here.

There’s a small offering of Chinese brands (such as Herborist) and Korean brands, but the real focus is on J-beauty.

 

BeautyandtheCat pick: Hada Labo Gokujyun Foaming Face Wash (in the pump bottle).

 

(3) Everyday Beauty Lab

115 Bowery Street

New York, NY 10002

 

 

There’s some overlap with oo35mm and New Kam Man, but Everyday Beauty Lab is worth a separate visit because it features different J-beauty and K-beauty brands. There are department-store style counters for The History of Whoo and Shiseido, plus full displays for skincare brands NOV, HABA, and Sekkisei.

Examples of other brands that are hard to find in a brick-and-mortar: A by BOM and Lululun sheet masks; Luna and Canmake makeup.

 

BeautyandtheCat pick: Age 20’s Essence Cover Pact and NOV L&W Enrich Lotion.

 

(4) JKNLEE

2 E. Broadway

New York, NY 10038

 

 

JKNLEE mostly features K-beauty brands Goodal and Dr. G (skincare) and Clio and Peripera (makeup). The makeup is especially fun to play with because Clio puts out enough lippies and eyeshadows to rival MAC (slight exaggeration).

 

BeautyandtheCat picks: Goodal Waterest Lasting Water Oil and Clio Kill Black Waterproof Brush Liner.

 

(5) Nature Collection

57 Division Street

New York, NY 10002

 

 

LG brands such as su:m37, The History of Whoo (including a men’s line), O Hui, CNP, Cathy Cat and Code Glokolor (makeup), and Beyond (hair and body) are featured in this elegantly laid out store. Hnnngg, soon you’ll find yourself working these vanity statement pieces into every Instagram picture ever.

 

BeautyandtheCat picks: The History of Whoo In Yang Neck & Face Sleeping Repair and su:m37 Skin Saver Melting Cleansing Balm.

 

Honorable Mentions

Here are a few more Kbeauty shops in Chinatown.

 

Nature Republic

151 Centre Street

New York, NY 10013

Look for special edition products featuring boy band EXO.

 

TonyMoly

234 Canal Street

New York, NY 10013

Purveyor of all the cute stuphs.  Peach butt lip balm?  Panda hand cream?  Bunny lip gloss?  Check, check, and CHECK.

 

The Face Shop

6 Elizabeth Street

New York, NY 10013

Obsessed with its Kakao Friends collaboration.