The best skincare store in Manhattan

Including a list of their must-have products

In 2017, I was in my early twenties, severely crushing on an English guy that lived in the East Village (now known as my fiancé Dom), and determined to get a handle on the cystic, hormonal acne that had plagued my jawline for the last year or so.

Nothing, and I mean nothing, from my local CVS was working to help calm my inflamed, painful breakouts—all the drugstore spot treatments and astringent toners I relied on as a teen seemed to only be making my skin worse, and I knew it was time to try something new.

I’ve spent the last week trying to recall who first told me about this incredible hole-in-the-wall store in Chinatown—a place that would become my beauty haven for so many years to come—but I can’t for the life of me remember. All I know is finding this shop, learning about the brands and ingredients from the insanely smart and patient staff, and leaving with a bag full of brand new (and reasonably priced!) products would, and I’m not being dramatic, change my life forever.

You see, it was some of the products I purchased on that winter afternoon that ignited my passion for skincare. This led me to document my skincare routine in a Google Doc, which eventually found its way to an editor at New York Magazine's The Strategist, marking the beginning of my entire beauty career. And for that, I’m eternally grateful.

Just off Canal and Mott, up the flight of stairs sandwiched between a bakery and gift shop,  is where you’ll find oo35mm, a hidden gem jam-packed with innovative and budget-friendly skincare products for all skin types. If you’re someone passionate about beauty, you’ll have a field day stocking up on old tried-and-trues like Cosrx’s Snail Mucin and Isntree’s Watery Gel Sunscreen, while discovering formulas from the newest, indie and cult-favorite brands from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, and more.

However, if skincare is new to you or if you’re (understandably) intimidated while shopping for beauty products, fear not, because the notoriously kind and helpful staff will guide you towards the products and brands that make sense for your skin. I’m seriously always blown away by the extensive knowledge that each staff member possesses when it comes to ingredients, brands, and skin histology.

In my humble opinion, I believe oo35mm’s selection of products are some of the most refined, affordable, and effective skincare curations I’ve ever shopped. Not only do a majority of their products cater to sensitive skin types (even their acne-focused products), but as a small business themselves, they consistently engage in research and testing to unearth and showcase independent brands from all over the world, making some of the newest and most elegant formulas in skincare accessible to us.

Since the store brings me such tremendous joy, there’s frankly no world in which I’d visit New York and not stop by. So during my last visit,  I trekked across a windy Williamsburg bridge to check out what was in stock and chat with Winnie Zhong, the brilliant manager of oo35mm, who dished on what products have been flying off the shelves and predicted what she believes will be the must-have brands and ingredients for 2024. And for my wonderful, beautiful, iconic paid subscribers, I’ve linked all the products we talked about as well as my current favorites below.