C.O. Bigelow Chemists

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Long before every Manhattan neighborhood sprouted a Rite Aid or a Duane Reade, locals like the Roosevelts, Mark Twain, and John Belushi filled their prescriptions at C.O. Bigelow, the oldest apothecary-pharmacy in the U.S. Founded in 1838, this West Village institution has earned iconic status for its unparalleled selection of hard-to-find cosmetics and homeopathic remedies and its quirky, old-New York charm. Below gothic-style chandeliers, customers sort through coveted international skincare lines like Iceland's Skyn and Tocca Body, shelves bursting with hair baubles, and all manner of pampered paraphernalia, from makeup bags to expensive candles. Prominently featured is Bigelow's own brand of affordable, smartly-packaged soaps, toners, and essential oils—many made from historic recipes. The store also carries a comprehensive section for baby and new-mom skin care (like the European Mustela line as well as the Greek natural products brand Propoline) and more prosaic—but no less global—inventory like Italian toothpaste and throat lozenges. In keeping with today's pharmaceutical practices, prescriptions are filled in the back of the store—but Bigelow pharmacists still honor requests to add tasty flavorings to kids' and pets' liquid medicines. — Carolyn Murnick

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