Space NK Apothecary is absolute retail heaven for a product junkie. From the gorgeous layout of the actual stores to the expertly curated selection of goodies, it really is like Willy Wonka’s factory for the beauty obsessed! As a fledgling beauty guru, I was thrilled to pick the brain of bona fide expert, Nicky Kinnaird, founder of Space NK! Nicky really knows her stuff, and after hearing her personal faves, I’m dying to try some new things!
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How did you develop the idea for Space NK? What inspired you and what did you have in mind for your shop?
From the age of 6, my family used to spend 3 months of the year in a very Spanish part of Spain where I fell in love with a European pharmacy and perfumery culture and service that was way more personalized, passionate, and expert than anything I had experienced in department stores or drugstores in the UK. A Over the years, I believed there was a much more exciting way to retail beauty–imagine a store that offered a hand-picked selection of the best skincare, makeup, fine fragrance, hair care, accessories and home fragrance sourced from innovators all over the world, and was staffed by experts to offer up personal beauty solutions for each and every customer! A That’s what I set out to do with Space NK!
Did you always know you wanted to work in beauty?
Beauty has always been a private passion of mine. For as long as I can remember I have always collected interesting fragrances, sought out innovative skincare, beauty tools and accessories, and been obsessed with other cultures bathing and grooming habits. A For me, hair and makeup has always been a natural extension of fashion and it was only over time that I realized I could base a career on it.
How has the original idea of what Space NK would be changed?
Space NK began as a 4,500sq ft lifestyle store in a former banana warehouse in Covent Garden, London! I sold everything from designer fashion, to objets d’art and even had a juice bar. A The beauty area was the run away success story though within the space. After 3 years I decided to focus on that and started to open freestanding Space NK “apothecary” stores.
What were some of the biggest challenges you faced setting up your shop?
Finance at the beginning, finding affordable real estate, getting the Space NK brand out there without any advertising or marketing budget. At some point in my career, I have done every single job within the business to differing degrees of success!
Could you ever see yourself doing something different?
Difficult to believe that I would not be involved in beauty in some way…but I would love to design a new home. I love architecture and interior design– especially bathrooms!!
What are some of your personal favorite products?
So many! I love Eve Lom cleanser, Kate Somerville’s Quench nighttime moisturizing treatment, By Terry’s Baume de Rose lip balm, Chantecaille’s Just Skin tinted moisturizer in Glow, Nars’ Multiple in Maui, Diptyque’s Feu de Bois candle in Winter, and NK Life’s Tomato Rhubarb in Summer!
What five things do you think every girl should own?
Definitely SPF 30 sunscreen - Nia 24 and Dr Brandt both make oil free ones that don’t leave any hint of a white film and provide a perfect base for make up. Also, Alpha/Beta pads - MD Skincare’s keep complexions clear. A great tinted moisturizer is key - Chantecaille’s mineral based Just Skin is my favorite, which affords just a little more coverage - you want to look like you have good skin not good make up! An easy blending lip and cheek tint - Nars’ multiples are good for this! Malibu is a perfect believable neutral and South Beach affords a more sun-kissed look. Also, a great matte lip color - Lipstick Queen’s Oxymoron in Honest Politician is also perfect for slipping into your jeans pocket. Finally, your own signature fragrance!
-Laurel Pantin
As all your curly-haired gals know, curly hair is like a coil–even if your hair can be rather long, it looks a lot shorter dry because it’s, well, coiled (known in the industry as “spring factor”). And according to DevaCurl founder Lorraine Massey: some curly-haired gals have spring factors of 10 inches or more–which means that when your hair is dry, it looks shorter than it actually is! Here’s a little tip from her to combat your springiness: “As the curl coils start to dry & shrink back, place a clip at the ends of the curl to weigh them down. A Since the curls are so tight it will not distort the formation of the curl - it actually just lengthens them.”
