(Beauty)
28 New February 2019 Beauty Launches That Have Nothing To Do With Valentine's Day
There are two types of people in the world: those who get heart eyes just thinking about Valentine’s Day, and those who firmly believe it’s a Hallmark holiday manufactured to sell greeting cards. Whichever camp you fall into, there’s no denying that the V-Day vibes are everywhere right now. So here's a gentle reprieve from the lovey-dovey content that’s likely taken over your Instagram feed and email inbox: 28 new February 2019 beauty products that have absolutely nothing to do with the 14th of Feb. (Save for the odd rose-scented fragrance, rose oil mask, or red lipstick, of course — because, as every beauty enthusiast knows, those are year-round staples.)
After sifting through all the skincare, hair care, and makeup launches for the month ahead, I can confirm that February still has a lot of love in store; as in, you’re going to fall in love with every last product. The best new beauty releases include innovative formulas to soothe your skin, care of Summer Fridays’ latest; gloss your hair, courtesy of hair care queen Kristin Ess; and add a little sparkle to your everyday makeup routine, via Touch In Sol’s new foiled eyeshadow.
Ahead, shop 28 fresh new beauty picks — one for every day in February — across skincare, makeup, hair care, body care, nail care, and fragrance; none of which are related to Valentine’s Day in the slightest. (Although this roundup is kind of like a box of chocolates — you can’t pick just one.)
Skincare
Vintner's Daughter's soon-to-be launched Active Treatment Essence is bound to become a cult classic. (The brand's only other product, Active Botanical Serum, is an industry staple.) A single bottle could theoretically replace your whole skincare routine — it features 13 botanical extracts (to soothe), vitamin C (to brighten), micro and mini hyaluronic acid (to plump), probiotics (to protect), and micro-exfoliating acids (to polish). Whew! Get on the waitlist to be notified when it launches on Feb. 25.
Dealing with hyperpigmentation or acne scars can be tricky for those with dry or sensitive skin (lots of brightening agents have the tendency to be harsh), but this new mandelic acid-spiked serum from Allies of Skin is about to change that. As the most gentle of all the alpha hydroxy acids, mandelic acid tackles pigmentation without the irritation.
Makeup
Hair Care
"I've always wished there was a salon-equivalent gloss I could send home with my clients that would keep the tone and shine of their hair in check between color services," Kristin Ess tells TZR of her new collection of hair glosses. "This is a safe way to keep your color shiny and vibrant in between salon visits." Crystal Quartz, a clear gloss, works for all hair colors and hair types.
Body Care
Fragrance
Diehard Gucci fans, get your hands on Alessandro Michele's latest creation with The Alchemist's Garden, the label's "haute perfumery line." Its just-released Cypress fragrance features a light smattering of rose and bergamot notes that come together in "'A Winter Melody' scented water," according to the Gucci site. The result is equal parts eccentric and intriguing, like pretty much everything else Michele dreams up.
Nail Care
Take a break from your ever-present mani with this Dermelect set, which targets nails that have been damaged from gels or acrylics. First, swipe on a coat of the Transfix Nail Restore treatment base coat (to simultaneously camouflage damage and strengthen with protein peptides); then, cover with the Expedite Protect + Prolong treatment top coat (which forms a high-shine protective shield via keratin and vitamin E).