The classic barber shop...

In London, there are a select few proper barber shops. Trumpers and Truefitt & Hill come to mind. But in New York City, especially on the upper east side, there are a plethora of classic barbers that seem to be packed with old and young alike throughout the early hours of the day. The interiors seem to look the same as they might have in the early years of the twentieth century with the smooth contours of the barber shop chairs, tiled floors and ever-present old men who meticulously cut hair and shaved faces with straight razors and an un-wavering hand, steadied from decades of practice. Even the candy-striped beacon beckons customers from the street, as fresh as the day it was erected. A bit Gatsby, a bit Mr. Big, we can't help but admire the classic barbers of Manhattan.

Dr. Jessica Wu

She's a name Europeans aren't yet familiar with, but we'll make sure you hear more of her on Cult Beauty. Dr. Jessica Wu is fast becoming a name to watch in the Hollywood circuit of skin experts.

The Dew Cream is said to be a favourit among young starlets for creating that super natural, well, dewy effect they get on the red carpet. We tried a bit and have to say it looks like it works a bit like Dr. Feel Good or Smashbox's Photo Finish but... maybe a bit better than both!

The ingredients list is refreshingly short and free of the usual parabens and other extreme badies that we see in similar products.

I've been a bad monkey... but check out Clyde's

A very bad monkey, and not posted in days. However, a funeral was attened and due respect was required. He was a good man... a great man, really, and for more decades than I can comprehend took care of countless people, doing everything from setting up medical units for local Vietnamese communties during the Vietnam war to delivering thousands of babies in America for decades after.

Today you should know more about New York beauty, including (and, of course, all you Manhattanites already know this) Clyde's beauty. It's the most amazing pharmacy on the island... it stocks entire ranges, bu we forgive them because they have such an inspired mix. We hope that maybe CB could potentially work with them on future projects. We can't find the website that's listed on their card, but, hands down, it's better than Sephora, Ricky's, Space NK, Douglas (which has been in Grand Central for years) or any other pharmacy/chemist/beauty boutique we can think of. If we had a CB award, it would go to them!

Clyde's
926 Madison Ave (near 74th)
New York, NY 10021