February is upon us, and it’s a month that’s all about love. So it only makes sense to indulge in a little self-care. Of course, there are myriad ways to do that, but might we recommend taking up the soft-girl aesthetic? With February’s new launches, you can go easy on yourself and your skin: These products calm, soothe, and refresh.
To keep your skin looking radiant and feeling hydrated this winter, there’s a brightening eye gel from Byoma and a deeply nourishing balm from Avène. And because we all know the most important step in a skin-care routine is always sunscreen (no matter the weather forecast or time of year), we’ve included an innovative new SPF stick from Coola.
Keeping in mind that healthy skin is the foundation for gorgeous makeup, we selected new favorites that also help in that department. Joining Benefit‘s lineup of pore-smoothing primers is an entire collection of skin care dedicated to achieving a “poreless” look (pores can’t actually shrink, but you can de-gunk them, which makes them appear smaller).
And to round things out, we say hello to a couple of new brands that are making their way into our medicine cabinets, including Gen Z-centric WYOS, which stands for Write Your Own Story, and Current State, a line of products that encourages you to ask yourself, “What does my skin need now?”
No matter how you answer that question, you’ll find something to love in this month’s newness.
Benefit The Porefessional Tight ‘N Toned
The brand that brought you great brows also wants to help you reach peak glowy skin. Benefit’s Pore Care line (with cleansers, toners, and face masks) is jam-packed with ingredients focused on unclogging pores using purifying kaolin clay and exfoliating alpha hydroxy acids. The star of the line, in our opinion, is the Porefessional Tight ‘N Toned: Pore-Refining AHA + PHA Toning Foam. Unlike most toners, you can simply massage on this cloudlike foam for smooth, glowy skin — without the use of a single cotton pad.
Byoma De-Puff & Brighten Eye Gel
Does the list of your undereye concerns rival the length of a CVS receipt? Byoma De-Puff & Brighten Eye Gel‘s multitasking formula is here to address them all: The cooling jelly texture depuffs, hyaluronic acid hydrates, and vitamin C combats darkness over time.
Sisley Paris Ecological Compound Advanced Formula
If you’re not a chemist, the ins and outs of this reformulated serum might be a bit mystifying. But all you really have to know is that the Sisley Paris Ecological Compound Advanced Formula is the 2.0 version of the original, launched in 1980, now with even more benefits. Infused with powerful botanicals such as centella asiatica and meadowsweet extract, the lightweight formula works hard to fend off environmental aggressors like pollution and UV damage, so skin stays balanced and toned.
Coola Refreshing Water Stick SPF 50
Unlike many other sunscreen formulas (too chalky, too heavy, too greasy…), there are no excuses for not applying this one — the Coola Refreshing Water Stick. The easy-to-use stick hydrates (with coconut water, aloe, and hyaluronic acid) while protecting your skin from sun damage. Plus, its portable packaging makes on-the-go touch-ups doable, so you can reapply sunscreen every couple of hours.
Kitsch Perfect Glide Safety Razor
Shaving can be a pain, literally. So Kitsch designed this plastic-free Perfect Glide Safety Razor, which features a single stainless blade and a copper handle, to achieve a smoother shave and prevent ingrown hairs and razor burn.
Caliray Surfproof Setting Spray
A good setting spray keeps your makeup looking fresh all day. A great setting spray, like Caliray Surfproof Setting Spray, hydrates (with glycerin) and brightens (with niacinamide) at the same time. Spritz, spritz!
WYOS The Big Reveal Purifying Face Mask
Inspired by the way that Gen Z wears a bazillion hats (you know, the barista who’s in school for marine biology who’s also a content creator and just happens to be the captain of the local pickleball team?), WYOS is all about writing your own story (hence, its name). These travel-friendly sticks are ready to go along on your journey, whether that’s to your bathroom or around the globe. Our favorite feature is the mess-free application of The Big Reveal Purifying Face Mask, which makes masking 100 percent relaxing with zero cleanup.
Current State Current State Hyaluronic + Arnica Hydrating Serum
This new brand gets its name from the question it asks users to pose daily, before deciding which product to reach for: “What is the current state of my skin today?” Breakouts might call for the Salicylic + Green Tea Exfoliating Cleanser and Aloe + Algae Lightweight Gel Cream, whereas dry skin might crave a boost of moisture from the Hyaluronic + Arnica Hydrating Serum. Choose your fighter — and don’t hesitate to switch it up the next day.