Our Favorite Products: February 2019

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Welcome to Our Favorite Products, a monthly feature in which ITG's editors discuss our favorite products. They're the best things we've tried all month long, reviewed, photographed, and anthropomorphized before we have the opportunity to get sick of them and move on to something new. Winter has taken its toll on us—and will continue to do so for at least another month. These are the products putting us back together, piece by piece.

Grown Alchemist Detox Serum

My nighttime routine is a miracle. Clarifying cleanser, glycolic toner, retinol, and moisturizer—four products my skin is very clearly happy with. Add Zit Stick or a pimple patch when necessary and there’s no errant breakout I can’t solve. But at the moment, I do all my “fixing” at night. Should I ever be faced with a blemish or rough texture…how do you continue to perfect it during the day? Turns out I’ve been staring at the solution for years. Grown Alchemist Detox Serum is a product I stashed in my boyfriend’s medicine cabinet for god knows what reason. I thought it was your run of the mill, hydrating antioxidant serum with a nice rose smell—but peek at the ingredients list and lo and behold! There’s lactic acid! That paired with tri-peptides and aloe vera leaves my skin plump and ready for the day, and somehow looking even better when I get home. I’m not a fan of surprises, but this was a particularly good one this month. —Emily Ferber

Jordan Samuel Olio Per Il Corpo

For whatever reason this winter has really done a number on my skin—especially my legs. They are...dry. So dry that I’m embarrassed to say I can see scales on the skin near my ankles. It’s like I’m living that Lubriderm commercial with the zoomed-in elephant butt in real time. Thankfully Jordan’s new oil is ending this deeply personal horror. I’m using it liberally—right after I shower while my skin’s still wet, just like Danuta told me, and then I’m topping it with Body Hero, followed by a little more oil (I said I was dry…). I’m losing the scales, and I’m loving the oil’s scent, which was inspired by the Italian countryside. Just call me bella, baby. —Ashley Weatherford

Iles Finishing Serum

The best thing about getting very coily hair blown out at a salon is that someone else does it for you. Similarly, the worst thing about getting very coily hair blown out at a salon is that someone else does it for you. There’s been plenty of times I’ve told the hairstylist to keep the blowdryer heat to an absolute minimum...but the fear, of heat damage, or stressed or damaged curls looms with each pass of the hot air. I’ve quelled my worries with this Finishing Serum from Iles. With the consistency of a leave-in conditioner, it left my hair velvety and cushioned in a way I only experience with Day 1 curls after wash day. It also has a laundry list of oils, nutrients, and UV protectants that will obviously make my hair the strongest it’s ever been—I think I’m going to try it as a styler too, can’t hurt right? —Utibe Mbagwu

Aesop Hwyl Fragrance

I love this type of fragrance. It seems to have a bit of garden herb, a bit of forest, and a bit of smoke, while still also feeling fresh?! That's hard to nail—the only other one I can think of is from Goop. So now I have another one to add to my collection. This makes me think of falling asleep next to a campfire you just put out, but maybe in a luxury yurt. —Tom Newton

Lancer Dani Glowing Skin Perfector

If we’ve established that my night routine is solid (and that I now have a day serum that keeps my skin working its hardest), the last needle to thread in my otherwise very satisfying routine is the proper day moisturizer. I’ve always felt the Lancer line was a little too Hollywood and grownup for me—but let me tell you, there’s a reason all the Hollywood grownups are using this stuff. The Dani Skin Perfector is a light moisturizer that has tiny little sparkle particles in it and brings the dew in a very photo-ready way. I would not call it tinted—you’re not covering anything up—but there is a skin-evening glow that is addictive. I spread it on and I feel like Victoria Beckham. I like that feeling. —EF

Skinceuticals Glycolic 10 Renew Overnight

Listen, I love most acids, but I want to marry this treatment. It’s 10-percent glycolic acid but it reminds me of the more heavy-duty peels—minus the potential irritation. The name pretty much gives away what it does. You put it on at night...and you wake up renewed. Renewed meaning that the texture on my face the next morning looks smooth—possibly the “dolphin skin” that BbbBbbBKkkKkkK knows all about. I don’t use it every night like the label recommends; more like once a week. And that’s been working for me. Believe me, I’m just as surprised as you in my ability to exercise restraint. —AW

Ialuset Cream

Does anyone understand what NYC is doing weather-wise? According to Glossier HQ’s weather Slack channel, we’re in Fool’s Spring, a time characterized by deceptively moderate days, followed by blinding winds and a wish for real Spring to hurry the F up already. In this transitional time, a moderately hydrating moisturizer has been crucial. Not too rich, not too light, but still plumping and able to be mixed with all the Vitamin C boosters I’ve been trying lately. It feels like my skin becomes more plumped through the day when I put this on (that's the pure hyaluronic acid in there!), and I never head home with my face feeling tight to the touch. Cannot wait to see how it fares when Spring of Deception rolls around. —UM

Inkey List Kaolin Clay Mask

I go through clay masks like you wouldn't believe. So many. I usually go for strong, suck-your-face-off ones, but I've been liking this newer, gentler one lately. It's a little creamy—doesn't dry me out SO much, but definitely calms my breakouts like only clay masks can. The price doesn't hurt either!! —TN

Photographed by Tom Newton.