Our Favorite Products: January 2018

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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. It's only January, but we're already stressed and running on empty. This stuff is helping. Read on.

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Lord Jones All Natural Old Fashioned High CBD Gumdrops

I tested these by passing them out to a small group of co-workers, and I can attest to them definitely working! They do mellow you out. Nothing better than a $5 CBD gummy to get you through a Monday. These are lovely and that's all you need to know. —Tom Newton

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Augustinus Bader The Cream

Don't hate me—this one's not out yet. But it will be soon (February 12 to be exact). I've been using it for a few weeks now and I have to tell you...it's an exciting product that's worth the plug. Definitely a favorite from January. Let this candid conversation speak to it:
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—Anna Jube

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L'Oréal Voluminous Feline Mascara

It only took two decades, a flight home to San Diego, and an impromptu trip to Ulta Beauty to find my holy grail mascara, Tarteist Lash Paint. It also took me exactly 10 days to lose it. When I came into work and couldn’t do my usual lash touch-up, I did what any Glossier HQ-er does when in a bind—check the product closet. There, I found L’Oréal’s Voluminous Feline, a mascara whose name clearly needs a little work, especially since its brush does much more than add bulk to your lashes. Tarte and L’Oreal’s brushes aren’t exactly the same, but their streamlined bases and distinct, isolated bristles do everything I need: helping to volumize, lengthen and separate my lashes. I really don’t mind finishing this up until I switch bags and eventually stumble upon Lash Paint—aren’t two mascaras always better than one?
—Utibe Mbagwu

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Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Crème

A few weeks ago on my way to Amangiri, I was sitting on the floor at the Phoenix airport, eating Wendy's. A few other beauty editors and I were going round-robin, sharing our most frequently asked questions. I'd never really thought about it before, but after a few minutes, I was pretty sure: Eye cream. People are always asking me about eye cream. I'm not an avid user of any particular brand, never seeing remarkably good results from any. Lucky for me, the trip was all about eye cream, and Ole's new one is especially good. It's infused with banana powder, the trusty yellow pigment makeup artists love, to give immediate brightness and cover to the area without concealer. I wore it the whole trip sans makeup—and took many, many selfies to prove it. —Emily Ferber

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YSL Tatouage Couture Matte Stain in 7

If the fact that both Carla Bruni and Beyoncé keep this lip stain in their makeup bags hasn't yet convinced you of its worth, please allow me. It's an easy to use tint that holds its color well over lip balm and can be worn to work, to dance class, to the gym, to dinner, to drinks, and—God willing—to bed. Yes, I have worn it in every one of those scenarios. Best of all, it fits into a tiny handbag just fine. —AJ

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Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Re.Pair Serum

I'm all here for a product targeted towards people with sensitive skin that isn't heavy, emollient, and creamy. This is such a nice, light serum aimed not at the dry-skinned, but the reactive. I definitely notice a redness reduction while using, if only subtly, but it is one of those products that just makes your skin sing—no stinging, no fragrance, no weird texture. —TN

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Vernon Francois Braids & Locs Spray

Though my Senegalese twists have reached the end of their two-month tenure, it’s been hard for my busy schedule to accept this fact. I haven't had a moment (much less a full weekend) to take them out. Fortunately, there’s Vernon Francois Braids and Locs Spray. It’s reminiscent of a childhood classic, Sulfur 8 Spray, but actually smells good, and gives my scalp a budding new growth and a moisturized and natural sheen. I use it every other day, as not to give my twists too much slip, just enough to alleviate my finicky scalp and keep flyaways under control. I’m hoping the regular spritzing also makes the take-down a little easier…hopefully next weekend.
—UM

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Chanel Lip Balm and Powder Duo

Very rarely am I excited by beauty product innovation. More often than not, companies take something good, make it more complicated, and call it "new and improved." But I can't take my eyes off of this new palette by Chanel. Lip Blush is what I've named it in my head—the red pigment is a powder like you'd find for your face. Tap it over anything...the balm on the left, or maybe another lipstick. It's getting me back into the lip color game after I'd abandoned it for a year or two. No small feat. —EF

Photographed by Tom Newton.