Things We Tried and Would Use Again

Mrs. Bieber has done it again. I used a lab sample of this cleanser for over two weeks and can say this is great. What makes is great and not just good is the consistency. It is like a salve but foams up when you mix it with a little water. To promote the product, she went on TikTok to show how it takes makeup off with one cleanse. I tried it out at home and it really works.

I’ve been trying to find noncomedogenic moisturizers because my skin has been very reactive lately. The Air Angel is hydrating and moisturizing, without feeling too heavy. The brand suggests to pair it with a heavier moisturizer in the winter, but even on its own, it’s been keeping my skin hydrated. It dries with a plumping but not sticky finish.

I’ve finally figured out how people achieve the glass-hair look: It’s Olaplex’s Bonding Oil. My hair is noticeably softer after I use this. Last week, I went to the fabulous Jenna Perry salon to try the treatment and have been getting nothing but compliments ever since.

Mara Roszak is a true expert when it comes to hair. She is responsible for many of Emma Stone’s red-carpet hair looks. She’s created a beautiful line of products including shampoo, conditioner, serum, and oil. Her latest product is a root-lift spray that is nonsticky but really holds. I will be buying this one again.

Confession: I swear by all products developed by esthetician Shani Darden. Why? They’re always efficacious. I use her triple-acid peel twice a month and am always excited to try her new launches. Her latest has been my skin’s favorite serum as I brave the cold NYC winter: a moisture-plumping serum. Sure, I’ve tried a plethora of hydrating serums, but why I love this one is because the feel of my skin being hydrated lasts throughout the day.

I often rush out of the house and don’t have time to do a full makeup routine, but I still want to put something on my skin. I started using Ami Colé’s new skin sticks at the beginning of January and I haven’t reached for any of my foundations since because I’m finally able to get the look I want within minutes. The skin-enhancing foundation stick is medium coverage and gives the complexion a natural glow. With a formula as smooth as butter, it’s not only blendable but also easy to use for everything. I also sculpt and contour my face with deeper shades. It’s only January, but this will be a top 2024 launch.

This is not your normal Bum Bum cream from Sol de Janeiro, this whipped body butter is a thicker texture that locks moisture into the skin and relieves it of any dryness. It’s also formulated with ingredients like passionflower-seed oil to calm stressed skin. My favorite part, though, is the scent: vanilla orchid, sugared violet, and sheer sandalwood. It’s a warm and sensual aroma, I wore it during a trip and have dubbed it my official vacation scent.

This product is already viral and it hasn’t even launched yet. Let me explain. Glow Recipe’s OG watermelon dewdrops serum is beloved for its brightening effects on the skin and dewy finish. The brand is launching the serum with a sheer warm bronze tint and TikTok creators including Mikayla Nogueira have been trying it on the app. It has the same hydrating and brightening effects as the original serum, but this one also decreases redness in the skin. I’ve been blending it with my foundation to give my skin an extra sun-kissed glow amid winter. It looks great on all complexions, too, and is transfer-proof, my two main concerns. It’s officially launching on February 23.

I already love Youth to the People’s face products, so I was excited for their venture into body care. This scrub instantly became a favorite of mine because of the black pepper, ginger, and velvet woods aroma, blended together to reset your energy. Not only did it make my shower more of a calming experience, but its AHAs and jojoba beads visibly resurface my skin, leaving me with unclogged pores and a smooth texture.

I can’t stop raving about this gentle yet effective and fast-acting retinol. The botanically derived formula has the same antiaging benefits as traditional retinol while also protecting against free radicals and pollutants. My skin felt noticeably smoother after just a few weeks of using it.

I rarely find sheet masks that make a lasting impression on me. I like using them before makeup application if my skin feels particularly dry, but the results are usually nothing to write home about. This one, however, is packed with powerful antioxidants that deeply penetrate the skin. It leaves my complexion plump and glow-y, plus it helps reduce redness and inflammation.

This mascara makes my lashes look defined and fully coated without weighing them down. Even though the formula is thick and volumizing, it’s smudge-proof and easy to apply.

You know when you try a new perfume that you’re on the fence about, then by the end of the day you realize you hate it? Well, I had the opposite experience when I tried this one by Australian-based brand Who Is Elijah. With notes of jasmine, saffron, amber wood, and cedar, it’s not a fragrance I would normally gravitate toward — but I’m so happy I did. It’s one of those complex scents that will garner compliments and turn heads no matter where you are.

This Urban Decay brow gel is the closest I’ve gotten to the long-lasting laminated-brow look without residue. (And I try a lot of brow gels.) One side of the wand slicks your brows down and the other helps to shape them fairly easily. The comb is a little rougher on the skin than your typical brow wand, but it gets every hair.

Naturium’s Phyto-Glow Lip Balm is available in this thicker, more nourishing mask form. It’s moisturizing, glossy, and melts on your lips, so it doesn’t feel sticky or oily.