Each month, Fashionista editors try a *lot* of beauty products. And while not every formula we test is a winner, we’re constantly unearthing new favorites. Here, we’ve rounded up our latest hair, skin, fragrance, wellness and makeup discoveries — whether fresh-to-market drops or merely recent additions to our personal routines.Winter’s coldest months are upon us, and team Fashionista’s skin-care routines are feeling the strain. We’re clinging to barrier-boosting creams and skin-saving salves for dear life, but the first month of 2026 also held impressive upgrades to our beauty bags.Our favorite makeup finds from January included a crease-proof, natural-looking concealer, an airbrushed matte setting powder, a creamy lip liner and an auburn-colored tubing mascara. To combat the season’s cold, dry air, we reached for a hydrating cream packed with seven ceramides, a thick moisture balm, a lightweight milky essence and an urea-packed hand cream.Below, see (and shop!) all of our top beauty discoveries from January.
Oribe Curl Gloss, $46, available here: “Oribe generously sent me its entire rebranded curl line and it’s filled with excellent products (that smell amazing), but I find my myself reaching for this Curl Gloss the most. It’s a truly lightweight, hydrating gel that helps my hair hold onto its shape and keeps frizz at bay without making my strands feel crunchy or weighed down. The resulting look is more soft and natural than ultra-defined.” —Dhani Mau, Editor in Chief
Cyklar Ceramide Milky Essence, $30, available here: “Body care was a big focus for me this month, and this lightweight, yet super moisturizing, essence became a staple of my routine. The milky formula absorbs quickly, delivering ceramides for moisture, urea for exfoliation and elasticity and polyglutamic acid for hydration. It’s an extra step that’s totally worth it.” —Steph Saltzman, Beauty & Style Director
Rare Beauty Find Comfort Lip Butter Balm + Overnight Mask, $18, available here: “Selena has done it again. I’ve recently found myself wanting less of an overly glossy lip look and more of a naturally hydrated glow. I usually can achieve a decent version of that using a buffed-out lip liner and a generic, colorless balm, but this new offering from Rare Beauty accomplishes the exact effect I’m going for with a single swipe. Plus, the slight vanilla scent makes for a perfectly sweet application experience.” —Brooke Frischer, Associate Editor + Social Media Manager
Innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Cream, $30, available here: “I’m already a devout fan of Innisfree’s Green Tea Seed Hyaluronic Cream (seriously, I scrape the jar clean every time), and now the K-beauty brand has introduced a deeply hydrating cream for dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin. I’m choosing to believe this was specifically created for me, as it addresses all of my winter skin woes: It’s formulated with colloidal oatmeal and ectoin to soothe the skin, along with seven ceramides and cholesterol to boost hydration. On top of all of that, it also visibly reduces redness — a win for the sensitive skin crowd.” —Catie Pusateri, Staff Writer
Coach Dreams Starlight, $120, available here: “I have many — too many — perfumes, so it’s a big deal when I find one I love so much I wear it on repeat. This is a true favorite: At first spritz, a very sweet combination of vanilla and pistachio kicks in. But as it dries down, the sandalwood makes its appearance, settling the fragrance into something lighter and creamier. It’s a fascinating blend that I reach for when I’m looking for something whimsical and feminine.” —Janelle Sessoms, Staff Writer
Cyklar Sacred Santal Urea Hand Cream, $22, available here: “My skin’s been extra dry this winter, such that I basically need a hand cream stocked in every purse and room in my home. This new urea-packed launch from Cyklar is my current at-home favorite: The size is substantial (2.2 oz) and the packaging is gorgeous. The formula’s mix of humectants and emollients effectively moisturize and soften my hands and the scent is lovely — and pretty strong at first. Applying it before leaving the house feels a bit like getting a quick perfume spritz for the road.” —Dhani
By Ava Jello Skin x Joa V-Line Ear Seed Kit, $90, available here: “Ear seeding is an age old TCM practice with many different applications, and I’m so grateful to By Ava for making this kit specifically to help with sculpting, lifting and de-puffing your face. It includes sticky strips and tiny beads loaded with kaolin clay, ginseng and Chinese herbs, along with a guide to applying them. These tiny little miracle workers are super effective for promoting lymphatic drainage and improving circulation. How do I know? Literally just by looking in the mirror — the puff-deflating, skin-snatching effect is incredible.” —Steph
Prequel Barrier Therapy Rich Skin Protectant Cream, $20, available here: “It’s me and my colloidal oatmeal against the world. This skin protectant cream has become my secret weapon for quelling eczema flare-ups, as its powerful formula (starring colloidal oatmeal, ceramides, allantoin and adenosine) immediately soothes my dehydrated skin. I also must take a moment to applaud its size: You get 10 fluid ounces for just $20. Seriously, the bottle is bigger than my head.” —Catie
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Crease-Proof Long-Wear Blur Concealer, $36, available here: “I’ve been on the market for a new concealer, so I was very excited to try this new launch from Charlotte Tilbury. It truly delivers on its name, effortlessly blurring into my base with a few quick dabs of a sponge, and without being overpowering or looking too makeup-y. It’s especially great for the undereyes and doesn’t crease at all on me. For days when I’m extra tired, the thicker formula is super buildable for added coverage, but still gives off a natural appearance.” —Brooke
Beiin The All-Over Oil, $42, available here: “Another new body-care obsession I discovered in January was this line developed by the owner of a ‘clean’ beauty shop in San Diego. The packaging is beautiful, and while all of the formulas are elegant and sensorially pleasant to use, I’m particularly into this body oil. The blend of sesame, camellia and essential oils with squalane helps seal in moisture for super soft, supple results.” —Steph
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Shield Invisible Blemish Protectant, $15, available here: “There’s one blemish-related problem I often experience that no product seemed to solve: what to do with a pimple that’s already popped but hasn’t healed — essentially an open wound that cannot and should not be in contact with makeup. Hero Cosmetics finally released a decent solution: a clear liquid you apply onto the spot (whether it’s popped or not) in a thin layer and let dry into a protective film; it’s like a pimple patch that’s actually invisible and allows for a smooth base for sunscreen and makeup. At the end of the day, you just peel it off.” —Dhani
YSE Beauty Wide Awake Brightening & Depuffing Eye Cream, $68, available here: “In addition to de-puffing undereyes with the combination of caffeine and a cooling metal applicator/massager, this lightweight tinted eye cream also corrects dark circles with vitamin C and niacinamide and offers sheer, non-makeuppy coverage to make me look significantly more awake than I feel.” —Steph
Urban Decay Tube Job Lash Augmenting Tubing Mascara in Auburn, $25, available here: “I don’t often come across an auburn mascara, so I was particularly excited to try Urban Decay’s new tubing mascara. The warm auburn shade melts into my natural reddish-brown lashes and delivers a lifted, subtle look that lasts all day. Tubing mascara also makes removal simple: I gently wipe it off with water instead of scrubbing my lashes raw.” —Catie
Ciele Conceal & Protect SPF 50+ Concealer, $36, available here: “I’m already quite the fan girl for Ciele’s skin tint, and I’m happy to report that its spot concealer is just as impressive. Even though it boasts medium to full coverage, it melts into the skin for a natural-looking finish and doesn’t disrupt my acne-prone skin. It’s formulated with tranexamic acid, which helps improve the look of discoloration, and mineral SPF 50+, which protects the skin from developing further spots.” —Catie
Joonbyrd Kaleidoscope Smoothing Body Serum, $102, available here: “I also became a big fan of derm-developed body-care brand Joonbyrd, which incorporates actives into all of its formulas, offering results-driven treatments that are normally reserved for face-focused products. A standout is this intensely smoothing serum, which relies on a blend of gentle yet potent acids to slough away dead cells, obliterate KP, deliver a brightening effect and support the skin barrier in a single step. It also doesn’t compromise on scent: With notes of vanilla, sandalwood, cherry and peony, it’s a truly lovely formula to coat your limbs in.” —Steph
This Works In The Zone Body Lotion + Shower Gel Set, $48, available here: “I love this body wash and lotion duo. The wash, in particular, transforms my shower into a spa with its fragrance notes of frankincense and patchouli, all while making my skin feel smooth as can be the moment I step into a towel. The coconut oil-based lotion is the perfect cherry-on-top for an ideal everything shower experience.” —Brooke
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Pillow Talk Deep, $26, available here: “This has to be one of the creamiest lip liners in my makeup bag. It glides on with ease, delivering a buttery feel with a soft, blurred finish. It gives my lips just enough of an illusion of having a fuller mouth without leaning too far into ‘lip filler gone wrong’ territory.” —Janelle
Rhode Barrier Butter Intensive Moisture Balm, $22, available here: “I know I’m a little late to the Rhode Barrier Butter party, but better to arrive tardy than not at all. This intense moisturizer is thick, and a little goes a long way — I only need a couple of dollops to cover my entire face. It promises skin barrier-strengthening and hydration-retention benefits, and after applying it daily for the past month, I’ve definitely noticed improvements in facial plumpness and a smoother texture. I also love that immediately after applying, I walk away with a dewy finish.” —Janelle
Farmacy Green Clean Cleansing Balm, $39, available here: “This gentle cleansing balm is trusted by Elphabas on Broadway for a reason: It easily dissolves makeup, sunscreen and stubborn waterproof mascara without leaving the skin dry or irritated. It’s formulated with a super greens blend for healthier-looking skin, sunflower oil to melt makeup and papaya extract to target impurities. The best part? My sensitive, acne-prone skin hasn’t experienced a single blemish from incorporating this into my routine.” —Catie
In case you missed last month’s picks, you can find them here:
Cyklar Mandelic Acid Deodorant in Sacred Santal, $20, available here: “I’ve tried basically every aluminum-free deodorant there is, and this is a true standout — from an effectiveness perspective, but also from a user experience, scent and aesthetic one. The lightweight gel roll-on formula relies on a blend of mandelic, azelaic and shikimic acids to reduce odor-causing bacteria while also exfoliating, reducing underarm discoloration and ingrown hairs. The ‘Sacred Santal’ scent is equal parts sweet and earthy, making for a lovely sensorial experience. Plus, because the rollerball is oversized, it allows me to give myself a little underarm lymphatic massage as I apply it.” —Steph Saltzman, Beauty & Style Director
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