Best of the Beauty Closet: 22 Products We Tried and Loved in February 2026

“If you’re a brown mascara lover who wants to add both volume and length to your lashes (many formulas make you sacrifice one for the other), I cannot recommend this mascara enough. It doesn’t flake or smudge even when my eyes are tearing from NYC’s frigid winds. Plus, it separates my lashes so nicely and is a true brown that isn’t too harsh on my lighter color eyes.” —JASMINE HYMAN, ASSISTANT BEAUTY EDITOR

“I treat this mask like a standing appointment for my curls. After shampooing, I rake it through soaking-wet hair, section by section, making sure every coil is coated. The slip is unreal. My fingers glide through knots like they were never there. I let it sit for about 10 minutes (sometimes longer if I’m feeling indulgent) and rinse. What I’m left with is bounce, definition, and softness that lasts for days. My 4B curls look plush and intentional, not frizzy or thirsty. It adds weight in the best way—giving shape without flattening my volume. It’s luxury care for textured hair, and my hair absolutely knows the difference.” —JULEE WILSON, BEAUTY EDITOR-AT-LARGE

“I’m obsessed with Milk’s Hydro Grip Skin Tint, and this new concealer under the same umbrella is honestly so good, too. It has the same buildable, gel-to-cream texture that makes skin look hydrated and smooth but not overly dewy. And unlike so many concealers, this can be used to cover everything: dark circles, redness, breakouts, and more.” —LB

“I steer very clear of balms and creams on my fine hair. But when I went to the Grammys with Redken (humblebrag!), my hairstylist smoothed this on my ends to give me a super-sleek style. And now I can’t do my hair without it. Somehow, this balm doesn’t weigh down my hair. In fact, it makes my ends look a little bit fuller. This is likely because the formula uses Redken’s bond complex to help seal dry, split ends and everyone knows how dead ends can make your hair look stringy. I pick up the tiniest bit with my fingers and rub it between them before smoothing the product directly on my ends. They immediately look polished, whether my hair is wavy or straight that day.” —BG

“It’s never too early to start caring for the skin around your neck and chest. I always rub my remaining serums and moisturizer from my face down into the area, but I was never using a dedicated neck product. So when I got this serum from U Beauty, I decided to give it a try. It’s supposed to smooth, hydrate, and sculpt the skin, and while I haven’t seen visible results because I’m 26 and doing this as a preventative step, I’m definitely comforted by the fact that I’m proactively getting into the health of this area sooner rather than later.” —JH

“There’s something about stepping into the shower and immediately feeling like you’ve upgraded your entire mood. This oil-to-foaming serum body wash does that for me. The texture is silky—almost like a lightweight body serum met a nourishing oil—and it lathers into the softest, creamiest foam. I use a generous squeeze on my African body loofah and let it sit on my skin for a few extra seconds before rinsing. The result is skin that feels moisturized before I even reach for any of my lotions. It leaves behind this subtle, comforting glow that makes my limbs look smooth and expensive. There are three different washes in the collection (soothing, dewy, and radiance) and they all slap—and smell so damn good!” —JW

“I’m obsessed with Summer Fridays lip balms (as is the rest of the world), so I had high hopes for their new lip stain—and I really love it. The tip reminds me of a thin magic marker, making it easy to precisely trace or fill in my lips. My personal favorite shade is rosette, and it’s truly worthy of its hype status. It lasts all day long, and dries down in just seconds, so it doesn’t budge when you layer on some gloss or an oil.” —JH

“The smell of this body wash is straight-up magical. Inspired by Golden Hour in St. Barth’s, the notes of santal, amber, and musk create this warm, ever-so-spicy effect that makes washing your body—something I admittedly don’t give much thought to—a moment of escape. Also, the level of lather is perfect: it’s sudsy and cushiony so you can work into skin with hands or a loofah.” —LB

“I’m a tough critic when it comes to concealer. As someone with hyperpigmentation, under-eyes with purple shadows, and chronically dry skin—plus a schedule that demands my makeup last from the office well into the night—I need a formula that truly does the most while still feeling weightless and hydrating. So when Patrick Ta finally launched a concealer, my expectations were high, and I can confidently say it passed every one of these tests. I applied it at 9 a.m. before work, later in the afternoon sat through a two-hour car ride upstate (that I may have dozed off during), and went straight to a dinner that didn’t end until 10 p.m., and when I finally washed my face, the concealer was still intact with no creasing, dryness, or under-eye bags in sight.” —JH

“We might all be back in our eyeshadow era, but I don’t have time to be whipping up Modern Renaissance–esque cut creases. I’m obsessing over these easy-to-apply eyeshadow sticks from Anastasia Beverly Hills instead. They come in a bajillion colors (from shimmery pinks and golds to dusty blues to matte gray and brown tones) and they’re all quick to smudge on and extremely easy to blend out, even with a finger. I’ve used this nonstop for the last few weeks and everyone thinks I’m putting in way more effort than I actually am, lol.” —BG

“I’ve tested so many tinted eye creams over the years, but this is by far the best I’ve tried. The coverage level is substantial enough to cover dark circles without feeling makeup-y, and the formula is hydrating enough that I don’t need to worry about the skin around my eyes getting dry or crepey during the day. It’s the perfect one-swipe-and-done product for early mornings.” —LB

“This cleanser makes washing my face feel ceremonial. A small pearl-sized amount is enough for a rich, cushiony foam that feels amazing against the skin. I massage it in for a full minute, really working it around my nose, chin, and neck. It lifts away makeup, oil, and the day without stripping me dry. The ginseng gives it this subtle herbal sophistication that feels luxe and grounding. After rinsing, my skin feels clean but still comfortable and not dry. It preps my face perfectly for the rest of my routine. My complexion looks brighter, firmer, and awake (a true miracle)!” —JW

“I know everyone’s obsessed with Rhode’s lip tints, but I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest fan. While the shades are lovely, the formula isn’t hydrating enough for my dry lips, and the texture can be weird. But the brand-new Rhode lip mask, on the other hand? Absolutely obsession worthy. I have been using it nonstop, and my lips have never looked or felt better.” —LB

“I’m not a big gua sha person, I don’t love face oils on my acne-prone skin, and it just never became a habit of mine, but this is the first gua sha I’ve actually consistently used in years. It’s got tiny vibrations to release tension in the face as you sculpt, and it also has LED, which means it’s best used alongside a gel or serum. I’ll admit, I’m not consistent enough with my LED mask, and while this is definitely not a replacement for one, it’s nice to get some extra red light therapy in while sculpting my jaw. And the light projects much farther than just the spot you’re massaging, so it’s not overly concentrated to one area, for a nice even treatment.” —JH

“I was sick a few weeks ago on vacation, and the skin around my nose got so raw and chapped from blowing my nose every five seconds. Luckily, I packed this healing salve in my bag. In a day, the soothing and nourishing properties brought my damaged skin back to neutral—no more redness or flaking. It also works as a great hand cream and lip balm in a pinch, too.” —LB

“Pixi is one of my go-to favorite makeup brands, but I hadn’t tested much of their newer skincare launches (the OG Glow Tonic is a forever favorite though). This cleanser was my first reintroduction to the skincare range, and now I have a whole lineup of Pixi products to dive into based on how much I love this. The whipped texture feels so good on my skin and quickly removes makeup and leaves my face super clean but not stripped.” —BG

“This fragrance feels like silk slipping over warm skin. This Miu Miu newbie is creamy and airy at the same time—soft milk notes wrapped in delicate florals with a subtle sweetness that lingers. I spray it on my pulse points and let it melt in. It’s intimate and cozy. It wears beautifully throughout the day, never overpowering, just smooth and sexy. On me, it reads clean but sensual, like fresh skin after a luxurious bath. The bottle looks chic on my vanity, but the real magic is how it makes me feel: polished, soft, and a little irresistible.” —JW

“I just got out of a bath with this treatment, and I’ve genuinely never felt better in my life. Flewd is reimagining bath care with a strong focus on reducing stress (something I, unfortunately, know all too well). They have a handful of salts, but the new Fatigue Defeating version just truly took away my Sunday scaries. These salts include so much more magnesium than standard Epsom salts and they’re actually bioavailable, meaning your body actually absorbs them instead of just flushing it out. Plus, there’s added potassium and amino tryptophan (which is the amino acid that produces melatonin). Truly, I got the best bath of my life (and immediately following, the best sleep).” —BG