Everyone knows the feeling of walking into a Sephora or a Target for just one thing — and rolling out three bags deep. But you don't expect the same thing to happen when you stop into a coffee shop for a flat white, or roll up to an Old Navy for some $1 flip flops. There's only so much damage you can do.
Well, friends, we've got some good and bad news. Because not only do some of the most unexpected retailers now carry beauty products — but they're products that you might not be able to resist adding to your cart in the check-out line. We're talking Swedish skin care, minimalist grooming products, and affordable fragrances that smell so damn good.
Ahead, check out five stores that — for better or worse — also have excellent beauty sections. Good luck out there.
Saturdays NYC
Saturdays NYC, the minimalist-meets-surfer-chic apparel store in NYC has everything a well-groomed hipster would need: coffee, indie magazines, flannel, and yes, grooming products. And you don't have to surf there to get it; the whole stock is also available online.
Warm up a pea-sized dollop of this matte-finish pomade in your palms and run it through your mid-lengths and ends for piecey texture.
Saturdays NYC Clay Pomade, $24, available at Saturdays NYC.
Sockerbit
If you're a fan of gourmet sweets, you'll love Sockerbit, a chic Swedish candy store with locations in New York and LA. And amongst the aisles of rainbow belts and marshmallow mushrooms lies a treasure trove of hard-to-find Swedish body products. We know.
This lightweight body lotion is loaded with Shea butter, honey, and cloudberry to soothe and moisturize dry skin.
Victoria Soap Swedish Body Care Lotion, $20.50, available at Sockerbit.
Old Navy
Just when we thought Old Navy couldn't get any more affordable, it went and added a huge selection of beauty products, most of which are just under $3.
Photo: Christopher Dilts/Getty Images.
Don't be fooled by this lipstick's $3 price tag. It's pigmented, matte, and comfortable to wear all day.
E.L.F. Velvet Matte Lipstick, $3, available at Old Navy locations.
The Elk
The Elk is one of our favorite New York coffee shops. Nestled in the heart of the West Village, the small but bright space is the perfect spot to meet friends or study or just Instagram the shit out of your avocado toast. And now they've stolen our hearts again with its chic beauty selection.
The Elk boasts a well-curated selection of indie beauty finds including Lauren's All Purpose Salves and Woodlot Candles. Our favorite? The collection of products from Herbivore Botanicals, like this coconut-scented salt spray. You have to actually drop by the shop to get them (they're not available online, yet), but that's sort of the best part.
Herbivore Botanicals Sea Mist, available at The Elk NYC.
Lane Bryant
You thought Lane Bryant only sold bras and underwear? How quaint. Not only does the brand stock lip glosses and nail polishes, but it's also the exclusive home to a impressive array of sexy Isabel Toledo fragrances, too.
Photo: Araya Diaz/Getty Images.
Fans of sweet, fruity perfumes will dig this blend. It doesn't smell like honey in the literal sense, but more like candied fruit and fresh flowers that are grounded with creamy sandalwood. We advise wearing it with something sheer and lacy, and only that.
Isabel Toledo Crystal Honey, $52, available at Lane Bryant.
Bed Bath & Beyond
Twin XL sheets, air conditioners, head massagers — you can find pretty much anything you could possibly need in the aisles of your local B.B. & B, including (but certainly not limited to) a stellar array of beauty finds.
The superstore has the usual suspects — L'Oréal palettes, Burt's Bees lip balms — but what's most surprising is the store's stock of Dyson hairdryers. Unlike most hairdryers, which can be heavy and cumbersome to use, this futuristic option is lightweight and super quiet. If we were getting married, we'd definitely scan this into our registry.
Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, $399.99, available at Bed Bath & Beyond.
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