A guide to local independent beauty stores
Don’t get us wrong: we love browsing the seemingly infinite array of products at our local Sephora emporium (and, during tedious afternoons at the office, its virtual counterpart. It counts as research, no?). But as we filled our bathroom shelves with this essential beauty thingy and that must-have cosmetic doodad, we began to wonder if the love affair wasn’t blossoming at the expense of the little guy: the locally-owned, anti-big-business beauty shop. So we set off on a field trip of sorts, an exploration of the city’s retailers of pretty, from Hanover Street to Harvard Square.
A Matter of Face (425 Hanover Street, Boston, 617.74.BLUSH). Nestled among the enotecas and pizzerias of Boston’s Little Italy, A Matter of Face, one of the neighborhood’s growing number of stylish boutiques, serves as a quiet enclave that makes up for in heart what it lacks in size.
Established: 2007.
Neighborhood: North End.
In charge: owner Paula Tierney.
Inspiration: Tierney’s dream was to own her own business — it just took her a while to figure out what that business would be. Alison Barnard, owner of neighboring Injeanius, was the one who tipped her off about the location.
Claim to fame: the shop’s comfortable, approachable atmosphere, ideal for anyone looking to graduate from drugstore brands but not sure where to begin.
Key brands carried: Paula Dorf, Caudalie, Darphin, Freeze 24/7, theBalm, Bliss.
Atmosphere: informal yet energetic. Tierney and her team truly make every customer feel like a welcome guest.
Demographic: a snapshot of Hanover Street at any given moment: young professionals, neighborhood lifers, tourists, and everyone in between.
Employee obsessions: French skincare line Darphin’s Vital Protection Age-Defying Lotion with Edelweiss.
Hidden gems: Tierney has the Boston exclusive on Coola’s eco-conscious, moisturizing suncare products.
Boyfriend-friendly: the Art of Shaving men’s skincare line.
Hands-on: monthly events (Paula Dorf, Julie Hewett, and Sara Happ have all appeared in-store), plus private Makeup Madness shopping parties perfect for girls’ night out.
Makeup must-have: Blinc’s Kiss Me Mascara, which forms tiny waterproof tubes around each individual lash.
Skincare essential: Mild Aroma Peeling Mask by Darphin.
Key tool: Darphin’s Instantly Radiant touch-up stick.
Coming up: Tierney would love to add additional higher-end organic lines to her repertoire.
Overall: Genuine warmth and attention without attitude.
The Beauty Mark (33 Charles Street, Boston, 617.720.1555). Just preppy enough for its Beacon Hill address, the Beauty Mark reminds us of that buttoned-up friend who’s always ready to let loose, drink cheap beer, and kiss cute boys after-hours. Thoughtful, consistent, and spirited, the boutique caters to serious beauty aficionados with a willingness to experiment.
Established: 2002; under current ownership since ’07.
Neighborhood: Beacon Hill.
In charge: owner Amy Chien Bailey, beauty-biz veteran and sometimes-model.
Claim to fame: the shop’s positioning as a “neighborhood beauty retreat” where locals can get honest opinions on what products will best serve their needs. Says Bailey: “I want [my clients] to leave the store feeling prettier.”
Key brands carried: SkinCeuticals, ModelCo, DuWop, Lipstick Queen, Kai Fragrance, Jimmy Jane Candles, Badass Hair.
Atmosphere: a sweet-smelling space that lures us in with new finds every time we pop by for a browse.
Key demographic: both ends of the spectrum, from those craving an updated new look but in need of some professional guidance to beauty-holics searching out cutting-edge, tough-to-acquire products that their friends won’t show up wearing, too.
Employee obsessions: Antioxidant Serum by SkinCeuticals, Julie Hewett’s Mineral Powder, DuWop’s
Revolution Face tinted moisturizer.
Hidden gems: L’annine hand lotions, whose devotees include a group of male construction workers who’ve been known to stock up here; locally-based stylist Scott Fontana’s Badass Hair line.
Boyfriend-friendly: True Gentleman shaving products, all-over Ultimate Cleansing Cream by Badass Hair, Bumble + bumble’s Grooming Crème.
Hands-on: manis and pedis, spray tanning, lash extensions, makeup application, and eyebrow-shaping, plus Wednesday-night “Tips and Sips” makeup bag consultations and private “Powder Hour” parties.
Makeup must-have: ModelCo’s Lip Lights glosses with built-in mirror and light for easy application anywhere.
Hair necessity: Up all Night by Badass Hair for serious volume.
Skincare essential: SkinCeuticals’ Phloretin CF serum, which re-texturizes and renews skin while zapping age spots and hyper-pigmentation.
Key tool: any of Bailey’s selection of kabuki and bronzer brushes.
Coming up: Bailey has her eye on an organic bath-and-body line, and she’s considering adding facials to her repertoire.
Overall: personalized attention and a well-edited selection of product that’s not overwhelming.
The Apothecary at Louis Boston (234 Berkeley Street, Boston, 617.262.6100). Louis Boston always has and always will have better taste than any of us — and we’re fine with that. The Apothecary refuses to linger on the mundane and consistently exceeds our expectations.
Established: the Apothecary launched approximately 10 years ago, but Louis Boston itself has been in business since 1925.
Neighborhood: Back Bay.
In charge: Maria Fei, VP of Louis Boston and buyer for the iconic retailer’s entire first floor.
Claim to fame: the shop’s unparalleled selection of luxury goods sourced from all over the world
Key brands carried: Santa Maria Novella, Claus Porto, Davines, Paul Labrecque, Carthusia, Abahna, Själ Skincare, pur~lisse, Bond No. 9, Fragonard, Parfums Molinard, E. Coudray, L’Artisan Parfumeur.
Atmosphere: the anti-department store, with an unhurried, thoughtful shopping vibe.
Demographic: tastemakers and those looking to follow in their footsteps.
Employee obsessions: Olio Lusso by Rodin, composed of 11 essential oils that cause skin to positively glow.
Hidden gems: perfume line Profumi Del Forti for its exquisite scents and elegantly etched bottles; Smiley mood-enhancing eau de parfum.
Boyfriend-friendly: Musgo Real, Proraso, and Hommage shaving products.
Makeup must-have: Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish and Kissable Couture lip gloss.
Hair necessity: the entire Davines line is worth gushing over.
Skincare essential: new (and affordable) addition pur~lisse, based on a combination of ancient Chinese wisdom and of-the-moment French technology.
Key tool: Paul Labrecque brushes and tweezers by Rubis.
Coming up: inventory changes so often that regular visits are essential.
Overall: the Apothecary is easy to navigate, never overwhelming, and wholly worth your trust. We dare you to bring home something for which you don’t fall head-over-heels.
Beauty and Main (30 Brattle Street, Cambridge, 617.868.7171). If we didn’t know Beauty and Main so well, we might worry about it slipping into that crunchy Cambridge mentality. But the shop’s aesthetic is all coiffed hair, manicured nails, and impeccably applied makeup — exactly what a beauty retailer should be.
Established: 2003.
Neighborhood: Harvard Square.
In charge: Peter and Leah Taylor Roy of Cohasset, who also own Beauty and Main shops in Hingham, Wellesley, and Andover. Ashley Brummett runs the Harvard Square shop.
Goal: to make luxurious, high-end product readily available on a local level, paired with top-notch customer service to boot.
Claim to fame: infectious enthusiasm, and every employee’s passion for making others look lovely.
Key brands carried: Laura Mercier, Fresh, Cargo, Murad, and Mario Badescu.
Atmosphere: sophisticated yet relaxed, elegant but comfortable; like you’re trading lip gloss tips with your girlfriends.
Demographic: business execs in power skirt-suits looking for the makeup to match; Harvard brainiacs who can still rock a smoky eye; anti-makeup purists who require only the finest in skincare.
Employee obsessions: Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20 in “Warm Bronze” for a touch of sheer glow.
Hidden gems: cosmetics line Cargo for its lush shadows, blushes, and cult-favorite Big Bronzer.
Boyfriend-friendly: the ever-so-masculine Art of Shaving line.
Hands-on: celebrity makeup artist appearances, facial or makeup events, private parties.
Makeup must-have: Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer — not to be confused with the Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer referenced above.
Hair necessity: French haircare line Phyto’s shampoos for every hair type imaginable (and they smell amazing).
Skincare essential: a toss-up between Darphin’s super-soothing Intral line, Phytomer’s Hydracontinue moisturizing cream, and Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion.
Key tool: the egg-shaped Beautyblender sponge, which ensures flawless makeup application.
Overall: every employee is a makeup artist trained in runway, TV, and/or weddings, so they know better than you do whether that shadow makes you look like Britney Spears on a bad day — and they’re willing to tell you so (in nicer terms, of course) if it does.
Emerge (275 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.437.0006). The sigh of relief comes every time we cross the threshold from the frenzied buzz of Newbury Street into the Zen-like calm of Emerge. Spa serenity is imparted even on visitors just there to browse the shop’s well-chosen wares.
Established: 2006.
Neighborhood: Back Bay.
In charge: Joyce Hampers, who also owns G2O Spa and Salon a few blocks down.
Claim to fame: the rooftop garden and the men’s lounge — which solves the problem of where to stow one’s boyfriend while one racks up charges on his credit card.
Key brands carried: Kerstin Florian, Mei Medical, Obagi Skincare, Trish McEvoy, Lippman Collection, Shu Uemura.
Atmosphere: chic and luxurious.
Demographic: seasoned spa-goers who don’t mess around with mediocre.
Employee obsessions: RevitaLash Eyelash Conditioner, which thickens and lengthens sparse lashes.
Hidden gems: miracle-working serums and systems by Obagi, a serious skincare line that’s rarely found outside a dermatologist’s office.
Boyfriend-friendly: luxe men’s grooming line Truefitt & Hill.
Hands-on: peruse a spa menu for complete details.
Makeup must-have: customizable Trish McEvoy makeup planners, available in a multitude of shades and sizes that can be organized according to a client’s specific needs.
Hair necessity: Kérastase Noctogenist overnight hair treatment.
Skincare essential: Obagie Professional C Serum, an antioxidant-rich formula worn under moisturizer that helps smooth fine lines and other telltale signs of aging.
Key tool: GHD’s cult-favorite flat iron.
Coming up: post-holiday, some new detoxifying treatments to help cope with economic/political/weather-related stressors; an increase in at-home kits that allow clients to enjoy the spa experience on their own.
Overall: consistency — all product lines except one have been carried at the spa since it opened, which means every employee knows each of them well and can recommend them with confidence.
GSpa (35 Newbury Street, Boston, 617.267.4772). One of those places that always feels like it’s about to erupt into the greatest party ever, GSpa is all easy conversation and cheerful atmosphere. Stocked with carefully chosen, cutting-edge lines, the retail business is refreshingly unpretentious. And we dare you to leave without indulging in a signature quickie manicure or facial.
Established: 2003.
Neighborhood: Back Bay.
In charge: local girl Gretchen Monahan, who also owns three Grettacole spas and two très chic Gretta Luxe boutiques.
Claim to fame: an attitude-free environment — i.e., no need to apply a face full of makeup in order to step through the doors.
Key brands carried: ModelCo, Sonya Dakar, Peter Thomas Roth, Kérastase, Bumble + bumble.
Atmosphere: bright, fizzy, and fun. Don’t expect a demure, spa-like oasis; instead, it’s the type of place you’d go to gossip, paw through the newest products, and obsess over an amazing new lip gloss with someone who shares your enthusiasm.
Demographic: young professionals in need of a quick fix (say, an Acne Zap service coupled with a Sonya Dakar Drying Potion for home use).
Employee obsessions: the new Body by Sonya Dakar line, based on Dakar’s philosophy of “total skin fitness.”
Hidden gems: GSpa has the Boston exclusive on Sonya Dakar skincare and services, plus an expertly-trained staff to match.
Boyfriend-friendly: the Un-Wrinkle line of anti-aging skincare from Peter Thomas Roth.
Hands-on: in addition to its extensive menu of treatments, GSpa offers Blow Dry Boot Camp in the summer, private parties, and Sunday brunch.
Makeup must-have: ModelCo’s Tan Airbrush in a Can and Tan Self-Tanning Glove, for those looking to put off that mid-winter pastiness for as long as possible.
Hair necessity: Kérastase Noctogenist overnight hair treatment.
Skincare essential: Sonya Dakar’s UltraLuxe — practically Botox-in-a-bottle, according to the GSpa staff.
Key tool: GHD flat iron.
Coming up: for spring, product-launch parties for new offerings from Kérastase and Sonya Dakar, plus more DIY instruction like Blow Dry Boot Camp.
Overall: personalized, unhurried, professional service from staff who not only know each product inside and out, but who want to ensure that you do, too.
