C.O. Bigelow Soda Fountain Mini Mentha Lip Shine Trio in Milkshake Flavors

One place I always stop when I'm in New York every month is the C.O. Bigelow Apothecary in Greenwich Village. It's full of wonderous products, yet is calm and quiet within - a world away from the cosmetics floors of the giant department stores. I feel a sense of Zen balance come over me just thinking about it...

I've only ever made one purchase there, a tube of tingly, tinted C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Balm. It's a product I would happily buy again, so you can imagine my delight when the PR for Bath & Body Works (which also carries Bigelow products) sent me this little trifecta of lippy goodness.

The miniature balms come in three flavors - vanilla malt shake, double chocolate shake, and strawberry shake - in tribute to the soda fountain which stood in the Greenwich Village pharmacy until 1984. They're small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, are untinted, and smell like a very sweet dream.

At $10 for all three lip shines, you don't have to debate the cost of treating yourself. (I also understand that it is a custom to buy gifts for other people at this time of year, some of which are inserted into a big sock. Well, if you must, you could buy these for someone else, too.)

Comments

[Lisa]

Jackie, I was at this apothecary for the first time this past May--wonderful place, I agree!

[sara]

The Bigelow product sold by Limited Brands don't have anything to do with the store on 6th Ave. except the name - here's an article about the licensing deal.

Bigelow's owners have done a very good job of promoting their company in the media and through deals like this, but the fact is that the actual pharmacy - charming as it is - is not that different from 5 or 6 old-fashioned chemists' shops within a 3- or 4-block radius, though Bigelow is probably the largest. All of them, of course, are miles better than the Duane Reade and Rite Aid drug stores, which generally have higher prices and abysmal service.

If you go to the Limited Brands site, it will tell you that "there are currently no C.O. Bigelow stores in New York." !

[Jackie Danicki]

Very interesting, Sara!

The Bigelow pharmacy is right around the corner from where I have appointments in New York, which is why I always go in there. A three or four block radius is not insignificant when one is hoofing it all over the city (not always in comfy shoes!).

[Alice Bachini-Smith]

I went there the other week and felt a bit overwhelmed, left without buying anything. Please recommend more C.O.Bigelow products! You just can't browse beauty the way you can clothes or shoes, can you.