New York Department Stores Revamp Cosmetics and Fragrance Sections

With increasing competition from specialized retailers like Sephora and Ulta, as well as the Internet, several New York City department stores have, perhaps necessarily, decided to give their areas dedicated to cosmetics, skin care and fragrances a makeover.

Barneys New York

After a drastic renovation by Steven Harris Architects, which typically works on residential projects, Barneys New York’s basement beauty floor is now an airy, expansive white space that seems a touch futuristic. Called the New Foundation, the sprawling department has added a few new exclusives, like a sleekly packaged cosmetics collection by the celebrity makeup artist Troy Surratt; the European bath, body and home line Rituals; fragrances from the By Terry creator Terry de Gunzburg; and a fragrance by the clothing designer Greg Lauren. Tucked away off the shopping floor are treatment rooms for facials, as well as a hair salon for blowouts, cuts and extensions that opens before the store itself, at 8 a.m.

Saks Fifth Avenue

At its Fifth Avenue flagship, it has redecorated the fragrance section of the ground floor, installing open-plan counters that encourage customers to spritz themselves. Some areas are quite unusual, like the Hermès section, which features ceramic tester bell jars impregnated with its scents in lieu of traditional spray bottles, and Diptyque’s boutique-like nook near the elevators. There’s also a fragrance bar of bottles to try from 25 brands, as well as a white-tiled section dedicated to Le Labo, a line that is new to Saks and offers scents blended on site.

Macy’s Herald Square

Since March, it has overhauled the beauty and fragrance area of its bustling Manhattan property, brightening it with LEDs and installing marble flooring imported from Italy and Greece. Although work will not be completed until November, many of the changes are already in place, including the addition of several luxury brands the store had not carried before, like La Mer, Dolce & Gabbana and (in a large salonlike space) Jo Malone London.

Bergdorf Goodman

Bergdorf Goodman has tweaked sections of its beauty departments on both sides of Fifth Avenue. In its men’s store, an area that formerly stocked belts and other fashion accessories now offers more room for brands like Tom Ford, whose men’s skin care products will be sold exclusively there next month. On the lower level of the main store across the street, an area dedicated to hair is expanding, spotlighting treatment products like serums, as well as powered beautifying tools like hot rollers and blow dryers.

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