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. Right now, we're relieved to have made it through February. Here's everything that got us to this point.
GHD Gold Professional Performance Flat Iron
The Chi straightener I’ve had since 2012 and once left in Missoula, Montana, from where it was recovered and shipped to me has, for the past six years, been a loyal companion and the only hair tool I’ve needed. But spring is a time for change. (February isn’t spring, but it’s the month I always wish would be). As a matter of chance, this GHD Gold Professional Performance 1” “Styler” (AKA flat iron) just came out. And by what is not mere coincidence, my hair looked and felt really good through this short month of hell. Now March is arriving, and this is still my new favorite thing. It heats up super fast, doesn’t dry out my hair in the same way my old one did, and works equally well as a curling iron. Time for some real nice weather. —Anna Jube
Biossance Micronutrient Fine Mist (Out on March 1)
Hilary Rhoda is everything to me. The brows, the eyes, the pale skin—I've loved her since her A+F modeling days, through to the Nicolas Ghesquière muse days. And when I shot her Top Shelf she went on and on about this thing I hadn't heard of, squalane, and how perfect an ingredient it was. I didn't really come across it until recently, but thanks to this mist, I am sold. It's a light, non-irritating, truly neutral, moisturizing mist. For the days where I get to work and realize I forgot to put my second serum on, or I went too light on the gel cream. Which, in the transition out of winter I need, because I don't really know how to moisturize when the weather doesn't know how to be nice. So this stuff's great. And Hilary is great. Done. —Tom Newton
Noto Multi Benne Stain in Ono Ono
Every month, when the ITG team sits down to pick our favorite current products we play a little game: Who picked the ugliest product? It's usually me (see: Sudocrem and Neosporin. But this month, it wasn't me! (I think the honors go to Utibe? You be the judge!) The reason I'm confident in February's aesthetic is because I picked up this product recommendation from Tamira Jarrel, an aesthete if ever there was one. She's got a great eye for color (in that she doesn't wear much of it—just black, white, navy, and neutrals). So the fact that she featured this burnt peach told me it was special. So special that I've been using it on lips, cheeks, the bridge of my nose, and to contour around my eyes. At this point, it's my only color product beyond Boy Brow and occasionally mascara (read on below). Black, brown, and neutral... Tamira never lets me down. —Emily Ferber
Cane & Austin Retexturize Lotion
It’s kind of weird realizing that a skin thing you thought was your own unique condition is actually a thing that a lot of people have. I found out Beyoncé has keratosis pilaris, so these days, I'm not so concerned with ridding myself of the appearance of “strawberry legs.” But the rough bumps that become even more pronounced and scratchy during colder seasons…those needed to go. Cane & Austin Retexturize Lotion completely solved that for me. Its application doesn’t stick to my skin—it slips over it—making it easy to saturate and diminish rough patches. At the least, you’ll experience less scratchy skin all over—at the most, every day will feel like an “I-just-shaved” day to your legs. Even if you haven’t! —Utibe Mgabwu
Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask
Once again I am here to plug the Sisley product none of us can really afford but are sometimes willing to sacrifice for anyway. What can I say? I'm sorry. The thing is that I went through AN ENTIRE TUBE of this in February. (For perspective, one typically lasts me a minimum of four months.) Sleep comes less easily and hangover face happens more often this time of the year. To make everyone else think I'm living the well-rested, stress-free life of my dreams, I'll slather this on in the morning before my shower (usually sparingly, but...sometimes not) while I down a few liters of water. I'll do the same at night. Maybe twice! In a row! The point is that it works. I'd die for this mask. Goodbye. —AJ
Biologique Recherche Complexe Iribiol
One can never have enough air-light serums. I love the texture of this one; it's a little slick on me, and feels really right on my skin. It seems like it's been mitigating some of the tough times my skin has been going through. I'm pretty sure it's the only serum I have that isn't specifically 'calming' or 'clarifying'. That's good—I think I need to break that cycle a bit and use something that's actually reparative. Also, let me just jump on this bougie Rescue Spa life. That's something, too. —TN
DHC Double Protection Mascara
It's simple: If you don't want your mascara running down your face during the day but also don't want to fight with a waterproof formula at night, use this. It's a low key look in terms of volume and length—good for daytime—but with a shiny slick upon application. At the end of the day, it removes easily without being one of those weird tubular formulas (not a fan). Gentle on sensitive eyes. Emma Watson recommends it. What more do you need? —EF
Erborian Yuza Double Lotion
I am very happy to report that Yuza Double Lotion is not a makeup remover/micellar water, as I thought when I first bought it. Essentially, it is what it says—lotion—and it has resuscitated my skin this winter! I’ve started incorporating it after my serum and before my moisturizer, and it feels like I’ve cracked the code to something. My skin stays hydrated, my other products don’t pill off my face...I can’t wait for the summer to see if it’ll just replace my moisturizer altogether. —UM
Read about what we were vibing this time last year, right here.
