Content is King: But we also love the packaging at Malin + Goetz.

Matthew Malin and Andrew Goetz couldn’t have chosen a better neighborhood for their new skin-care boutique, Malin + Goetz (177 Seventh Avenue, near 21st Street; 212-727-3777 or malinandgoetz.com). Chelsea, after all, is centered around the Eighth Avenue “runway,” where beauty is often only skin-deep. The pair’s products, however, aren’t just for men: The unisex skin- and hair-care formulas were a year and a half in the making (Malin is a Kiehl’s alumnus) and are lightly scented with extracts of peppermint, eucalyptus, and lavender. Cleansers use amino-acid-based agents (rather than moisture-sapping detergents), moisturizers are light and residue-free, and shampoos are gentle enough to use every day on all hair types (prices range from $12 to $45). But it’s the stylish, simple bottle designs that should seduce even skeptics. They’re color-coordinated to look extremely chic as a shower-caddy grouping—lined up in a row, the bottles start out big and bold, then gradually get clearer. Which is exactly what Malin and Goetz say your skin will do under their loving care.

Related:

• Archive: “Shop Talk”
• Articles by Rima Suqi
• Table of Contents: March 1, 2004 issue of New York | Subscribe!