If there’s anything that teases springtime more than a groundhog or bloggers sharing throwback photos in floral dresses on Instagram — we get it, #WaitingOnSpring — it’s the beauty industry. Before we’ve even stored our puffy coats, brands are releasing a ton of new products. At least, testing out all the newness serves as a distraction while we wait for that warm weather.
From bold eyeliner to curling creams, the beauty aisles were overflowing with brand-new innovations this past month. So much so, that it was difficult for us to pick just one product that we loved. Ahead, we’re letting you in on all the products — across the categories of hair, skin, and makeup — that our editors couldn’t get enough of this past month.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
"This isn’t your nightly AHA serum — it’s MUCH stronger. The glycolic works to exfoliate the top layer of skin to prevent clogged pores, milia, and blackheads without rinsing or waiting. I’ve been using it to spot treat the areas of my face that are chronically clogged, like my chin and around my nose, and have noticed smoother skin without any redness." — Lexy Lebsack, Senior Beauty Editor
SkinCeuticals Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight, $80, available at SkinCeuticals
"There’s a time and a place for a long, relaxing mask, but there’s nothing I love more than a treatment I can knock out in under 10 minutes. This mask-scrub hybrid is just that. Massage it into clean, damp skin after washing, and you get a gentle exfoliation. Then, let it sit for five minutes while the charcoal clarifies pores. My skin feels less congested after one use with no irritation or dryness. Win-win!" — Lebsack
Clark’s Botanical Dual Charcoal Detox, $58, available at Clark’s Botanical
"E.L.F.’s $2 Perfect Blend Concealer was the first concealer I ever bought for myself. But the two-shade, sheer-coverage formula was quickly eclipsed by others on the market. After that, I shied away from E.L.F.’s complexion line, reaching instead for their eyeshadows and highlighters. But (finally) the brand has launched a full-coverage, long-wearing concealer in 18 shades, and it is good. It blends beautifully, conceals everything from dark circles to pimples, and never cakes, crusts, or creases. Plus, it’s $5 — need I say more?" — Mi-Anne Chan, Beauty Writer and Host
e.l.f. Cosmetics 16HR Camo Concealer, $2.5, available at e.l.f. Cosmetics
"I love bold, colorful liners, but finding pigmented formulas that don’t budge on my oily lids can be a tough ask, especially for under $10. ColourPop’s BFF Liquid Liner clocks in at $8 and comes in tons of fun shades, like marigold yellow, green, bubblegum pink, and red. Other benefits: It has a flexible tip that makes it easy to create crisp wings, it lasts for hours on the lids, and it goes on opaque in one or two coats. I need the brand to launch 38,9482,875 more colors!" — Chan
ColourPop BFF LIQUID LINER in Ducky, $8, available at ColourPop
"I went through a phase in my life when I sacrificed comfort for longevity — namely in the form of liquid lipsticks. So, over the past few months I’ve been editing my lipstick collection, keeping only the shades that leave my lips feeling juicy. Milk’s Demi-Matte Lip Colors are a new addition that have quickly became top-shelf faves. First off, the packaging is beautiful — sleek and minimal with a satisfying magnetic cap. But best of all the formula (which comes in 10 beautiful, punchy shades) is packed with shea butter, coconut oil, and grapeseed oil, meaning they never EVER leave me picking dry skin off my lips at the end of the day." — Chan
Milk Makeup Lip Color, $24, available at Milk Makeup
"I swept the glitter side on before our company’s rockstar-themed holiday party, and the compliments were rolling in all night. I’ve found that most eyeshadow creams are too thick, which makes them look crusty or thick on the lids, but this formula is super thin and pigmented for a more natural look (you know, minus the glitter)." — Cat Quinn, Beauty Director
Huda Beauty Matte & Metal Melted Double Ended Eyeshadows, $25, available at Sephora
"You can stop looking for the perfect nude gloss, because it has officially arrived in this NARS formula. It’s just thick enough for even coverage (without feeling gloopy) and has the perfect amount of sheen to look full, but not over-the-top. I wear it every day." — Quinn
NARS Lip Gloss, $24, available at NARS
"It’s been months since I’ve had a proper manicure, but when Fashion Week rolled around I knew my nails needed something before going backstage and mingling with models and industry pros who might, for a moment, glance down at my overgrown cuticles and internally gasp with disgust. So, I went to Target and found this glossy basecoat. I initially liked it because the simple polish made my nails look clean and presentable, but keep using it because it works double duty as a strengthening treatment, too." — Samantha Sasso, Beauty Writer
Tenoverten The Foundation, $18, available at Tenoverten
"I never expect my skin to look good after a flight, but after a 24-hour trip to Vegas, two six-hour plane rides, and one layover in Chicago (during a polar vortex), this serum convinced me that the impossible was possible. Honestly, my skin looked so good I could’ve fooled everyone into thinking I just got back from Canyon Ranch and not a smoky casino. Although I owe the refreshed glow to the six — yes, six — acids (lactic, salicylic, glycolic, mandelic, tartaric, and pyruvic) inside the formula, it’s the sneaky addition of hyaluronic acid that gets the credit for my soft complexion." — Sasso
GlamGlow SUPERSERUM 6-ACID REFINING TREATMENT, $65, available at Sephora
"This has been the worst winter for my skin, ever. While I’ve been able to maintain a solid, effective facial skin routine, the rest of my body has been covered in itchy, dry patches, which I inevitably scratch, leaving my legs and arms inflamed and swollen. The only formula that has mildly reduced the irritation is this creamy butter from Cetaphil. I even leave it on my bedside table just in case I need to scoop out a handful of product in the middle of the night to relieve a midnight itch." — Sasso
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream, $15.99, available at Ulta Beauty
"Have you ever air-dried your face? If you haven’t, you should. I started doing it after the founders of Glow Recipe said they never use washcloths or anything after they cleanse — just air — and now I’m obsessed. It seems frivolous, but my skin is so much more hydrated. The trick is to let your skin dry off a little, then go in with a hydrating serum or essence. I use an obscene amount of this gel every time — it locks the moisture in, feels super soothing, and balances everything out. I top it off with a quarter-sized amount of Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream before bed, and I swear I’m in skin-care heaven." — Rachel Krause, Senior Beauty Writer
Pixi pHenomenal Gel, $24, available at Pixi
"Some people feel they’ve been put on this Earth for a reason — like to save the world or help the needy. I am fairly certain that I am really just here to find the perfect tinted lip balm. I take my calling very seriously and never miss an opportunity to try a new one, like the hyaluronic acid-spiked Kosasport LipFuel. It’s a slightly waxy balm from one of my favorite makeup brands on the market right now. I’m partial to Pulse, a sheer, warm rosy-beige shade that has just the right amount of color for every day. Rami Malek was wearing the clear Baseline option when he won the Oscar for Best Actor; I wear it to bed and on the elliptical." — Krause
Kosas Kosasport Lipfuel, $18, available at Kosas
"A hairbrush is the enemy of the tousled, messy-on-purpose texture I live for — or so I thought, until I tried this handcrafted brush, which has a blend of boar and nylon bristles that make my fine hair smooth and shiny but somehow preserves volume at the same time. Also, it feels like a scalp massage, and who doesn’t want a scalp massage?" — Krause
DryBar Flat Mate Boar Bristle Brush, $85, available at Sephora
"Bronzer and I have had a rocky relationship. It’s either too dark and I end up looking like I have cocoa powder swiped across my face, or it’s too light and looks more like a setting powder. This latter is what I experienced with the original shade of the cult-favorite Hoola bronzer — it would completely disappear into my skin. But finally, the brand released two darker shades and the Caramel was it. When I dusted it under my cheekbones, the color blended in nicely with my tan skin, so much so, that I use bronzer almost every day now." — Thatiana Diaz, Beauty Writer
Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer, $30, available at Sephora
"It’s been four months since I cut my hair to start my curly transition, and I’m still looking for a styling product that will give me bouncy ringlets. This cream was given to me by a co-worker, and I was immediately hooked on this formula. It defined my curls but left them desirably soft. And unlike any other product I’ve tried, it had my curls still flourishing on day four." — Diaz
Garnier Style Curl Treat Smoothie Defining Leave-in Styler , $6.99, available at Target
"After years of being annoyed when half my eyeshadow powder would end up smeared down my face, I’ve finally fallen in love with liquid eyeshadow. I don’t know what took me this long, but here I am. This particular set of six buildable, actually not sticky, and perfectly shimmery eyeshadows has become one of my favorite under-the-desk products. I keep them buried away until 5 p.m., when I realize I have after-work plans and have to face people other than my closest co-workers. With a few swipes, I magically turn into a woman who looks like she put more than 10 minutes into her appearance in the morning. It’s magic." — Rachel Lubitz, Senior Beauty Writer
INMO Cosmetics Eye-Lighter Glam Kit, $39, available at INMO Cosmetics
"Despite almost always wearing thick glasses, I’m passionate about my eyebrows being groomed and sculpted enough to peek over them. I’ve fumbled around with different pencils in the past, but nothing has come close to how good this eyebrow gel is. With a tiny spoolie that makes application so easy, two swipes is all it takes for my brows to be the shade and shape I want. And it lasts all day long — I’ve napped facedown in a pillow and woken up with my brows still in check." — Lubitz
Thrive Causemetics Instant Brow Fix Semi-Permanent Eyebrow Gel, $24, available at Thrive Causemetics
"Even though my hair seems to thrive on a bi-weekly wash-day regimen, my scalp is not happy when day 14 rolls around — I’ve got itching and flakes that run-of-the-mill shampoo doesn’t seem to get rid of. This mask solves that problem. I just wet my hair with a spray bottle and massage the product into my scalp, finger-detangling my coils along the way. I wait about 15 minutes, and when the tingling sets in, I know it’s working. The formula foams up a bit so it definitely feels more like a shampoo than a mask, but when I rinse it out in the shower, my scalp feels clean and refresh, so who needs shampoo?" — Jessica Cruel, Deputy Beauty Director
Head & Shoulders Root Rejuvenating Pre-Wash Mask with Tea Tree Extract, $1.99, available at Target
"Olivia Wilde is the face of True Botanicals and her skin is so dewy, which was reason enough for me to try this new mask. I was also influenced by the fact that the first batch sold out in less than 48 hours. After one try, I never want to sleep through another cold, dry winter night without it. A thin layer is enough to cover my whole face in an almost-translucent veil of restorative moisture. I don’t know if it’s the hyaluronic acid, the squalene, or the plumping collagen pre-peptide that makes the biggest difference for my skin, but I do know that I wake up every morning with a smooth, fresh-looking face, and zero pillow lines.” — Megan Decker, Beauty Assistant
True Botanicals MOISTURE LOCK OVERNIGHT MASK, $60, available at True Botanicals
“A few months ago, my boyfriend started raving about this Evo styling powder that he got from his barber, which made me want to try the brand myself. Gareth Bromell, Evo’s global hair ambassador, was able to recommend some products to add volume and shine to my fine, dull hair. One of them was this new shine spray, and it’s incredible. I just spritz a few pumps onto my dry shafts and ends in the morning, and it makes my hair look naturally glassy and polished, without weighing it down or making it oily. And I can’t get over the smell that’s like a watermelon Jolly Rancher." — Decker
evo love touch, $34, available at evo hair
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Source: Refinery29 – Thatiana Diaz