(Photo: Courtesy of Bluemercury)

The Upper East Side already blooms with small, charming boutiques, while the Upper West Side is only slowly beginning to fill with specialty retail. Take beauty stores: The neighborhood is already loaded with chains like Ricky’s and Sephora, but apothecary newcomer Bluemercury (2305 Broadway, at 83rd St.; 212-799-0500) is upping the ante (and giving recent import Space NK some competition). The Washington, D.C.–based Bluemercury has about 30 stores scattered across the country, but this is its first foray into Manhattan. Expect all the best-known brands in skin care, fragrance, and makeup, including Laura Mercier, Skinceuticals, and Serge Lutens. If you can’t be tempted by REN’s Biomimetic Perfect Lip Honey ($19), aestheticians are on hand to offer everything from facials (from $85 for the Fast Blast) to wax jobs (from $25 for brow styling).

Related:

• Archive: “The Storefront: Openings & Closings”
• Articles by Aja Mangum
• Table of Contents: Apr 7, 2008 issue of New York | Subscribe!