This Aritaum location has been opened since 2017 [and now reportedly closed since the beginning of 2019] and it’s brighter, shinier and more English-friendly than then old Amore location on Catherine Street. I had wondered if the Amore store was going to close in favor of this one, but it’s still in operation as of a few weeks ago. Ever since Racked wrote an article that Amore Pacific planned to open a total of 70 Aritaum stores, I was all for it! It’s a simple store set-up with just six Amore Pacific brands: Laneige, IOPE, Sulwhasoo, Mamonde, Hanyul and Aritaum. All of these brands range in target demo, price range and main ingredient. The Aritaum stores in New York City are very small compared to what you can find in Korea (or suburban neighborhood that simply has more space) but it does the job in providing access to some of K-beauty’s most coveted brands. Edit: This location is now closed thanks to a reader who informed me!
Getting There/Location
Aritaum, 173 Hester St, New York, NY 10013
Aritaum is located in Chinatown, NYC. You can get here by taking the B, D trains to Grand Street or N, Q, R, W or J, Z to Canal Street. Follow the rest of my K-beauty shopping map in Chinatown because you’ll actually be around a LOT of other choices like oo35mm, Everyday Beauty Lab and New Kam Man. To find Laneige, IOPE, Sulwhasoo, Mamonde and Hanyul however, you’re best bet to is to come to Aritarum! These other locations won’t have complete products for these brands so come here if these are your priority.
Prices and Selection
You can find prices all online on us.aritaum.com so you’ll know what to pay before coming in if you’re looking for a specific product. Since Aritaum is an official retailer for these premium brands, what you see on the website is the same in stores. They carry the full lines under each brand and it’s better stocked and has more testers than the Amore on Catherine Street. Even Mamonde was fully stocked in Aritaum stores before it became available in Ulta store this year. The end-aisle selection at my Ulta was kind of sad and underwhelming; the full Mamonde selection is at Aritaum. Testers are out for every item so test away! I would have never fallen in love with the Sulwhasoo Overnight Revitalizing Mask if I didn’t feel it’s whipped, cloud-like texture. No other sleeping mask is able to beat my all-time favorite sleeping mask. In summary, prices are not marked up and selection is vast!
To be clear, Aritaum carries these six main brands: IOPE, Sulwhasoo, Laneige, Mamonde, Hanyul and its house brand, Aritaum. Other brands in the haircare and body care category include Happy Bath and Ryo Ryo which are surprise, under the Amore Pacific house.
IOPE
IOPE is a luxury Korean skincare brand most made famous from its first essence, the Bio Essence Intensive Conditioning and its Air Cushion (BB Cushion). IOPE is lesser known in the United States as it’s not sold in major department stores like Amore Pacific or Sulwhasoo. Having finished the first essence myself, I can say it was pretty good at keeping my skin look clear and keeping my freckles lighter. I haven’t bought a new bottle because there are so many other first essences to try that aren’t priced at $60 a pop
Sulwhasoo
Also in the super-luxury skincare category, Sulwhasoo has been in the American for quite a few years even before the K-Beauty craze hit in 2015. It’s currently available in Neiman Marcus,
(Korean medicinal) ingredients. Some might not like the
Laneige
Laneige was THE brand I obsessed over when I was in my mid-twenties. Their target demographic is women in their 20’s something who have a bit more pocket change than the average person. Packaging is modern enough to have an elevated style but not so mature as to suggest that your grandma is using it. Prices are a bit out of reach for a twenty-something which makes it a mid-high tier brand. Best-sellers are the Water Sleeping Pack (overnight mask), Sleeping Lip Mask, Water Bank Serum, BB Cushion and their Water Drop Lip Tint. Their latest innovation that caught my eye is their new Eye Sleeping Mask (looks like an eye serum).
Mamonde
If Laneige is a mid-high end brand for a twenties-something then Mamonde is the mid-range brand for those cannot afford to pay $22 for a lip tint. Mamonde’s line is based on using flowers as its main ingredients. Select items are available at Ulta and they have some great gift sets that can save you even more money. Their best seller is the Rose Toner which uses 90% damask rose extract.
Hanyul
According to BeautyTap.com,
Aritaum
It’s house brand, Aritaum, aims to please the teen demographic. Price ranges are considerably lower and they only have makeup in their namesake brand in USA locations but the Korean chains should have skincare items as well. The only item I own is the Aritaum Ginger Sugar Lip Scrub (which I would skip because it feels too waxy).
Makeup
My favorite part of brick and mortar stores is the ability to color test products! The huge makeup hutches had plenty of testers for BB cushions, lip products, eyeliners and miscellaneous (Mamonde hair powder BeautyandtheCat)? My favorite is being able to test foundation shades since feeling the texture and seeing the color is an experience the Internet can’t replace. Fan favorites are the Laneige Water Drop Tints and IOPE and Laneige BB Cushions.
Plenty of testers 
