In as little as 14 weeks (not that I am counting or anything) I jet off to spend the Summer in NYC - I promise it sounds far more extravagant than it actually is (I'm staying with family and not in Manhattan), none the less I do intend on enjoying every moment. Believe it or not, I have never been to NYC in the Summer (nor as a grown adult) and don't know what to pack and what to leave at home but more on that later...

Yes I know my way around Sephora, Ulta, Bath and Body Works and all the usual beauty haunts, that can be found in just about every American mall. Now don't get me wrong, I love such stores as much as the next person, but I really want to hit up the beauty stores that are a little more niche, and perhaps off the beaten track. As my trip is fairly lengthy, I have time to venture into various boroughs and maybe even New Jersey too, so nowhere is really out of bounds.
So far I have a trip to Ricky's NYC, Birchbox SoHo (an actual stand-alone Birchbox store) and Le Labo (most likely the store on Broadway) in the books - otherwise, I am at a somewhat loss and I am sure others are too" Yes once in New York I'll find my feet but it doesn't hurt to have a little list of stores and locations to visit as a starting point, and that is where you come in.

If you are a New York City local, have spent a substantial amount of time in the state, or maybe visited recently and have a hidden gem worth sharing, I'd love to hear from you. I want to know where the best dr...