Brooklyn Beauty Bound

Visiting New York last week – hence the blogger silence, a friend told me to swing by Shen Beauty.  More a destination boutique, I took the subway, then enjoyed a cab ride across the Brooklyn Bridge on the way back to Manhattan. It’s well worth the short trip. When visiting the US, I like Sephora  for a beauty browse and buy, and there's plenty of them littered across Manhattan where you can pick up familiar brands, but it’s nice as a beauty sleuth to discover somewhere that offers something different.

CO-PARTNER, JULES

The something different comes in the bottles, tubs,  lotions,  potions and liquids  lovingly edited by Jessica Richard and Jules Stringer. Bringing their unique NY-LON eye into the one-off store they created three years ago.  Jessica is from New York and formerly worked at Vogue and Jules a former beauty journalist from London, came about when the two women had a chance meeting at a music concert and beauty bonded over where to buy a decent moisturiser in Jessica’s neighbourhood. And btw, the neighbourhood is very funky with cool shops and a village vibe. Think Primrose Hill.

SOME OF SHEN BEAUTY'S EDIT

OJ IN A JAM JAR BROOKLYN STYLE!

The shop itself is light and airy and prettily washed with shades of lilac and purple. You almost feel this shop can change your life! Brands range from the well known but wanted, Bobbi Brown and Tangle Teezer,  to the lesser known brands such as Kjaer Weis with its gorgeous packaging and dewy colours,  to Mrs White’s - a natural spray anti-mosquito eau de cologne that sells in its droves.  Both Jessica and Jules really know their stuff and will happily talk to customers about any product you wish to know more about in terms of heritage, ingredients and performance.  After your beauty picks, you can soak up the neighborhood where Solange Knowles hangs out and enjoy an OJ in a jam jar at the many cafes. Awesome!

Shen Beauty is at 315 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

www.shen-beauty.com