The Best New Skin

By Lisa DeSantis

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

Dryness, redness, and irritation are three of the red flags that retinol often brings to a relationship. But Avène RetrinAL Ceramide Lipid-Replenishing Balm instead taps bakuchiol (a retinol alternative), which harnesses all of the skin-smoothing benefits of vitamin A, sans the baggage. For good measure, it also has a powerful dose of ceramides to keep skin hydrated.

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.

Courtesy of brand

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.

Courtesy of brand

Make like a snake and shed your dead skin to reveal the brighter, fresher cells below — in a significantly more sophisticated way. The Mary Kay Clinical Solutions PHA + AHA Resurfacer helps to gently slough away (with exfoliating polyhydroxy acids and alpha hydroxy acids) old cells that are responsible for dullness, discoloration, and uneven texture.

Sweet dreams are made of… radiant skin. Applying Stripes Evening Wear, a retinol-infused cream, before bedtime takes you straight there. The addition of hydrating squalane helps temper the not-so-pretty effects of vitamin A (redness and flaking) to prevent any irritation nightmares.

If a trip to Tokyo isn't in your near future, this cleansing disc is the next best thing to visiting an onsen (Japanese hot springs). Insert the DamDam Tokyo Snow Mushroom Salt Cleanser soap round into the provided glove — made of plant fibers that offer a delicate form of exfoliation — and add several splashes of water to create a lather. Dirt and excess oil get washed away, sans stripping.

Read more about new products.

Now watch Ava Max's beauty routine.

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