Pretty. Cheap.

Some people collect stamps or superhero figurines. Others keep unwrapped comic books tucked away in their closets. Me? I'm addicted to beauty products.

Moisturizers, body scrubs, lipsticks, soaps, mud from foreign seas -- You name it, I've bought it. I line the bottles up in my bathroom and lovingly dust them off every month or so.
There could be worse addictions, but this one's pricey, which is why I'm a fan of Cosmetic Market on 39th Street.

The store sits on a quiet street in Midtown and is marked by a giant bottle of nail polish, a makeup brush, and a tube of lipstick hanging above its doors. The exterior (and that giant makeup brush) may have seen better days, but swing open the lipstick-handled door, and I promise -- You're in for some amazing deals.

Merchandise changes often at this secret spot, but on a recent trip, I picked up a Stila lipstick for $6.99, some Pond's exfoliating cloths for $3.99, and a cool and colorful array of glycerine soaps for $1. Cosmetic Mart houses brands ranging from Almay and Cover Girl ($1 for lip gloss) to Christian Dior and Prada ($24.99 for face wash). The shelves are lined with hair products, makeup, perfume, and various name-brand lotions and creams, all priced low, low, low.

Other items for sale include wrapping paper, candles, picture frames, toys, makeup bags, cheap-looking jewelry, and a random (and slightly scary) selection of imported chocolates and cookies, though I'm usually too overwhelmed by the beauty products themselves to take much note of the store's other offerings.

My advice? Go on a weekend, when the store's not teeming with Midtown workers on their lunch breaks. Be patient, and be careful -- Some of the items on those shelves are there for a reason (put the sparkling chartreuse eyeshadow down!).

Finally, why not say goodbye to Sephora and the Bloomingdale's beauty section? Your days of spending big bucks on looking good are over.

Bottom Line: Get pretty. It's cheap.

Cosmetic Market
9 East 39th Street (between 5th and Park)
212.725.3625