Talk Of The Team: 12 Products Our Beauty Team Adored All January Long

Found: the silkiest eye cream that smooths fine lines and actually looks effortless under makeup. ILIA’s long-awaited formula includes sea fennel extract (which is often touted as a natural retinol alternative), upcycled avocado extract, caffeine, and peptides to smooth and refresh tired, sallow under-eyes. Not to mention, it features light-reflecting pearl pigments to immediately mask the appearance of dark circles and make your eyes appear even brighter. 

I’ve tested this baby a few months before launch, and I couldn’t wait until it was time to share my bright-eyed results. I especially adore the cooling ceramic tip, which doubles as a de-puffing tool—simply glide the applicator around your eyes to instantly deflate any swollen areas. —Jamie Schneider, mbg beauty editor

My daily essentials were in desperate need of restock (ahem, refresh). The mindbodygreen postbiotic hand cream had become my holy grail hand cream: It deeply hydrates with a non greasy texture, feeds the skin loads of nutrients, supports the microbiome, and improves the appearance (instantly and with time!). I had been without it as we made some packaging updates: The new packaging is 46% PCR plastic, so it's easier to use and sustainable.

I have yet to meet a Kosas launch I didn’t love, but they truly knocked it out of the park with this skin enhancer. The newest addition to the brand’s tinted skin care line-up, this glow-inducing formula makes your complexion look instantly alive and, well, refreshed. In fact, it’s inspired by Kosas founder Sheena Zadeh-Daly’s love for vitamin IV drips—just like those elixirs, the formula is infused with antioxidants (like glutathione and algae extracts). 

It also delivers a soft, pearly sheen that shines through foundation and concealer; you can mix it with your base products for an all-over glow or tap it on your cheekbones for a luminous finish. Or, you can opt for both techniques at once (my preferred application). Dull skin? Don’t know her. —Schneider

There is nothing more refreshing than a strong skin barrier: It's the key to dewy, hydrated, healthy skin. This light-as-air facial oil contains several ingredients to restore and revitalize the barrier. First up: A triple peptide blend to bolster strength and elasticity. A Scandinavian berry oil complex for antioxidants and hydration. And finally, ceramides to keep skin moisturized for longer, and give skin a dewy bounce.

It's hard to make skin look refreshed in the dead of winter—and yet, that's exactly how I'd describe my complexion after a week of using this. —Engler

I’ve been dealing with a red and inflamed skin barrier recently (still clearly recovering from all the holiday travel and festivities), so I sought out products that truly nourish and soothe. Just a few days later, Youthforia founder Fiona Chan told me about the brand’s new Night Off Face Wash, a cleanser that gently exfoliates with actual green tea leaves, melts away stubborn makeup, and simultaneously hydrates and brightens the skin. 

After using this cleanser morning and night for a full week, I was sold; my skin looked noticeably more supple and even, and the inflammation finally started to ebb. The best part? It dissolves makeup and sunscreen so effortlessly that I can forgo my double cleanse. (Although, if I wear heavier makeup, I will use a proper cleansing balm first.) My skin feels refreshed and even, never stripped tight. —Schneider

Your everyday setting spray just got a fancy new upgrade. This ultra-fine mist not only sets your makeup expertly (it contains a 16-hour crease-free technology), but it also delivers an instant skin refresh throughout the day. With caffeine, ferulic acid, hyaluronic acid, and licorice root extract, this fragrance-free formula quenches your skin and helps protect it from free radicals throughout the day. Think of it like an invisible shield for your makeup and delicate facial skin. 

I can personally attest to its powerful long-wear: I recently donned a full aquamarine eye look (á la Half Magic Beauty), and dealt with no fallout whatsoever after a few spritzes. When I got home at the end of the night, my makeup appeared just as fresh as when I stepped out the door. —Schneider

I cannot say enough good things about Tower28’s new tinted lip balm. The color payoff! The moisture! The playful packaging! The juicy shades! I’ll try not to get too riled up here, but let’s just say I was absolutely swooning at first swipe. 

We can thank shea and cocoa butters for that creamy, delicious texture and mango seed oil for that refreshing splash of moisture. As for the tint, you can easily build up the intensity as you please: Sometimes I’ll tap it on my lips and blend with my finger for a blurred berry effect, or I’ll trace the entire perimeter for more drama. I highly suggest you snag a few shades and have fun with the bolder hues—DRINK and SQUEEZE are especially dreamy. —Schneider

I was debating whether I wanted to include another face wash on this list—but as soon as I tested the new Vintner’s Daughter Active Renewal Cleanser (their third product to their famously minimal line-up), I knew I had to gush. As simplicity is the ethos of the brand, their cleanser delivers the results of a double cleanse in one step—the formula combines both water- and oil-based versions of the brand’s signature “Phyto Radiance Infusions,” which deliver rich nutrients and botanicals into the skin. 

And the experience is just as divine: The texture is light and creamy, the scent subtle yet invigorating. For me, it’s the perfect morning face wash to leave my skin bright and dewy—I’ll typically flip-flop between this and Youthforia’s formula, and my skin can’t get enough. —Schneider

Natural deodorant sounds great on paper, but oftentimes they simply don’t work (read: They don’t mitigate odor, like, at all). I’ve tried countless formulas at this point, and the Glossier Deodorant is at the top of my list. The consistency is powdery enough to absorb oil (thanks to the potato starch), but smooth enough to glide on with ease. The signature Glossier You scent is a dream and Orange Blossom Neroli is the freshest scent out there. Plus, the fragrance-free option is great for those with sensitive skin—yep, the best of both worlds. —Hannah Frye, assistant beauty editor

This new fragrance line is breaking through decades of repeated scent profiles, offering truly novel blends—a breath of fresh air. Nostalgia is the perfect example of innovation at work: A light and dewy jasmine is met with hints of grapefruit and mint. Ylang ylang tops off the blend, leaving you with a lasting scent that’s uniquely fresh, yet surprisingly warm. Not to mention, the ingredients are clean as can be, free from parabens, phthalates, mineral oil—you name it. —Frye

Using aromatherapy in the shower will take your daily rinse from blah to ahhh in seconds. With Hai’s new infusion system, it’s now easier than ever. Simply screw the new infusion extension system onto any showerhead and pop in one of the Infusion tablets. There’s three different experiences to choose from: Relax, Energy Boost, and Repair.

Along with different functional scent profiles, these tablets contain skin and hair-loving nutrients as well—from B12 to D3 and even a multivitamin, you’ll be getting more than just a spa-like shower experience. —Frye

Finally, a tinted brow gel that enhances the look of your brows right now and helps them grow long term. This formula from Grande Cosmetics is a perfect fit into any brow routine, as the tint is pigmented enough to actually make a difference, but not too overpowering. Beetroot extract, vitamin E, and castor oil are whipped together for real growth results. In a 16-week consumer study, 100% of testers saw thicker brows over time, with 96% stating this brow gel was the best they had ever used. — Frye