Editors' Picks: The Best Beauty Products We Tried in December
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Featuring a creamy lipstick from Drew Barrymore's beauty line as well as exciting product launches
People / Kristin Kempa
At PEOPLE, we take beauty testing very seriously. We sift through hundreds — nay — thousands of pitches and products on a regular basis, carefully swatching, spritzing, and applying the latest and greatest offerings so that we can then share with you, dear readers, those that are worth your hard-earned money.
And we're keenly aware that beauty products are subjective, which is why we consult with experts like dermatologists, makeup artists, and hairstylists to determine what will best suit our specific skin and hair types. We also boast a large testing pool of varying beauty needs so that we're each giving the products a fair trial before writing them off. Sometimes, though, there are those especially shiny offerings that we feel the need to shout from the mountaintop of bottles, tubes, and compacts, which is why we publish this monthly series of our absolute favorite picks.
Below, we're rounding up the makeup, skincare, and hair products that made us do a double-take last month — and then reach for them again and again. From a dermatologist-designed serum to a creamy new lipstick from Drew Barrymore’s beauty brand, here are the products we tried and loved the most this month.
Virginskin Daily Glow Active Hydrator
"The best product I tried in December is also the best product I tried all year and I'm willing to bet all the moisturizer in our beauty closet that you've never heard of it, because until this month, I had no idea it existed either.
"I discovered Virginskin through a friend who knew the brand's founder, Andrea Lefkovits, and wanted us to meet. Andrea (great name, by the way) is the daughter-in-law of the late Dr. Albert Lefkovits, a Manhattan dermatologist who created Virginskin to soothe his patients' skin post laser treatments. In addition to being incredibly calming for skin, the formula, which contains a proprietary botanical blend, also has an anti-aging effect.
"The product gained a cult following and when Dr. Lefkovits passed away, Andrea, who was a dedicated Virginskin user, was determined to keep his legacy alive. She pivoted from her career in education to skincare and upgraded the original formula with modern ingredients including niacinamide, peptides, and polyglutamic acid.
"Long, touching story short, I tried the Daily Glow Active Hydrator and was immediately impressed with the sensorial experience of the formula — it has a light, silky consistency so it glides across skin and absorbs quickly. It also smells fantastic. But most important, after just a week of using it, my skin looks noticeably smoother, clearer, and dare I say, younger." — Andrea Lavinthal, style & beauty director
Eva NYC H2-Whoa! Hydration Leave-In Conditioner
"I’m very wary of leave-in hair products because of the way my skin reacts to them; I was a competitive dancer for several years, and as a result of constantly spraying my hair into slicked-back buns, the slightest dusting of hair products on my skin turns my complexion into a playground for pimples. But all of my walls came down once I tested this leave-in conditioner from Eva NYC, a formula that treats your hair like skin with ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and bio-identical vegan collagen at the forefront.
"I was stunned to see that I could go to bed with my hair damp from a nighttime shower plus a few healthy spritzes of this conditioner and wake up with the same clear skin that I went to bed with. And don’t even get me started on the scent; it smells like that first waft of air when you walk into a beachside suite on a tropical island. Not only that, but my hair held its natural waves so beautifully in the days after using this product that I was able to go out without heat-styling my hair — a look I can rarely achieve. 10s all across the board." — Alyssa Brascia, staff shopping writer
Flower Beauty Perfect Pout Lipstick in Snapdragon
"It seems like every brand is coming out with a hydrating balm-gloss now, and don't get me wrong, me and my dry winter lips are not complaining. But can't a girl want color payoff and hydration? Is that too much to ask for? Well, Drew Barrymore answered my prayers with the uber-creamy Pout Moisturizing Lipstick. It leaves a lovely shine and bright wash of color on the lips. And for just $11? I'll take one in every color." — Cai Cramer, staff shopping writer
Olfactory NYC Riley Perfume Spray
"I've been traveling for the entire month of December, so I needed a reliable perfume that I could pack for my trip. Olfactory NYC lets you customize a fragrance using their core scents, but to be honest, I really love their signature perfume 'Riley' as is, so that's the one I use. It's a subtle blend of sandalwood, musk, and vanilla and it always draws compliments when I wear it. The 15ml spray is perfect for trips, but if you fall in love with this scent like I did, you can grab the full 50ml size for a more permanent fragrance companion." — Madison Yauger, senior commerce writer
Farmacy Wake Up Honey Eye Cream
"It’s 2024 and I’m saying goodbye to dark circles and puffy under-eye bags with the help of this mighty cream. One look at its hydrating and brightening ingredients, like vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, plus one of Farmacy’s fan-favorite skin-soothing honey concoctions, and I was sold. More proof? I slept for nearly 11 hours after applying this cream, and there was hardly any puffiness in sight the next morning." — Michelle Lee, editorial assistant
Sol de Janeiro Delícia Drench Body Butter
"Now, I know I'm late to the party, but this month was the first time that I'd ever tried any of the famous Sol de Janeiro body butters. Though I've heard nothing but rave reviews from friends and beauty experts alike, there's nothing like trying it for yourself — and better late than never, I'll say.
"At first, I was wary of TikTok commenters claiming that a supposed combination of farnesyl acetate and hexadecyl acetate in this formula could attract spiders — but after doing a little bit of my own research (and the brand confirming that these arachnid-attracting chemicals are in fact not in their product), I began using this body butter as a self-care staple before going to bed. I'm certainly having sweeter sleep because of it (spider-free, thankfully).
"I wasn't expecting the formula to be as rich and, frankly, dense as it was, but my dry winter skin is eating it up. The combination of thick Bacuri butter and hyaluronic acid acts as a hydration-rich barrier, locking in moisture while leaving my skin with a warm, floral scent that's just as seductive as it is soothing. This one has earned a spot on my bedside table, and I don't see it moving anytime soon." — Alyssa Brascia
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Sculpture Palette
"This Hourglass palette has been a game-changer in my makeup routine. The bronzers deposit the perfect amount of pigment for a sculpted but soft contour, while the blushes leave behind the most natural-looking flush. The real star of the palette, though, is the finishing powders, which give my skin an all-over, filter-like glow. Yes, at $85 it's one of the pricier items in my collection, but since it includes three different products in one, it's more than worth the investment. If you're struggling to decide what to use your holiday gift cards on, this palette is definitely worth the splurge." — Karli Bendlin, associate director of content strategy
Drunk Elephant Ceramighty AF Eye Balm
"If you're on Tiktok, you're probably familiar with stories about "11-year-olds at Sephora" clamoring for Drunk Elephant — and while brand staples like the D-Bronzi Drops and Protini Polypeptide Moisturizer are typically always out of stock, I stumbled upon a hidden gem in the Drunk Elephant-verse this month with this ceramide-pumped, ultra-creamy eye balm.
"Usually, the main issue with my under-eyes is my naturally dark bags (thanks, mom and dad), but during winter all gears shift towards battling dryness. So when I started incorporating this whipped balm into my routine, it was somewhat of a game-changer. One small pump on the pad of my fingertip is enough to effectively hydrate my under-eyes and swipe along my brow-bones, another area where I start to experience seasonal dryness.
"I’ve noticed that my concealer lays far better on my skin now that my under-eyes are properly hydrated, creasing less than usual and preventing powder from settling into the fine lines that inevitably pop up after a long day. At $60, you won't want to be using more than a single pump, anyway, if you want to preserve that expensive formula. And I promise, your pre-teen doesn’t need eye cream." — Alyssa Brascia
Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed
See at Danessamyricksbeauty.com
"I've tried a lot of blushes in my time as a shopping writer, so I'm confident when I say that the Denessa Myricks Yummy Skin Blurring Blush is the most unique formula I've ever felt. It applies like a creamy balm, but as soon as you tap it on with your fingers or a brush, the formula transforms into a soft powder finish that blends like a dream." — Cai Cramer
Related: The 10 Best Cream Blushes of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Cetaphil Healthy Renew Night Cream
"With winter in full swing, I've been loading on the skincare, and this heavy-duty anti-aging cream is the cherry on top to my nightly skincare routine. (Yes, I'm in my 20s, but it's never too early to give my skin that extra bounce!) My skin drinks up this hydrating formula which, fortunately for its sensitivity, is packed with a gentle retinol alternative made of purified peptides. Overnight, my stressed-out skin feels smooth to the touch and my complexion looks as radiant as ever." — Michelle Lee
Gisou Mini Honey Infused Hair Perfume
"I never thought hair perfume was something I needed, but this one by Gisou is an absolute must-buy. It smells like a dream (I would use it just for the scent), but it also adds shine to your hair and refreshes and nourishes it. Loaded with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants, it effectively protects and moisturizes my hair." — Dhara Patel, commerce project manager
Ursa Major Alpine Rich Cream
"I've been a fan of Ursa Major for years, and one of my favorite things about the beauty brand is how curated their line is; they rarely launch new products, so when they come out with a new offering, you know it's going to be good. The new Alpine Rich Cream, however, exceeded my already high expectations.
"The concentrated cream offers some of the deepest hydration I've ever received from a moisturizer, but still feels incredibly light on my skin. And thanks to key ingredients like tremella mushroom and moss stem cells that lock moisture in, my skin stays supple long after I finish my skincare routine (even in the dead of winter!). It's become an immediate staple in my seasonal routine, right up there with my cozy sweaters and fuzzy socks." — Karli Bendlin
Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel
"I had recently fawned over Dr. Loretta's Urban Antioxidant Sunscreen in our October Beauty Picks story — and I'm here to share another winner from the brand: Dr. Loretta Tightening Eye Gel. I've tried dozens upon dozens of eye creams, gels, and serums over the past few years to combat the first signs of aging I'm experiencing, and this one has by far been my favorite — because the effects are truly visible when it comes to reducing the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark circles.
"It achieves this by adding four important ingredients: Chromabright, a brightening ingredient that helps even out skin tone and protects skin from free radicals; Tetrapeptide-5 and Lipochroman. which together help with the appearance of puffiness, dark circles, fine lines, and wrinkles; and skin-firming algae extract, which also supports collagen production and further helps to protect the skin. While the price is high at $60, a little goes a long way, and since it does the job, the value is definitely there." — Erika Reals, senior shopping editor
Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Rich Repair Cream with 6-Butterlipid Complex
"This cream from Drunk Elephant has become an absolute essential for me; it keeps my skin hydrated all day and night and protects my skin barrier. Because it's so thick and soothing, it's ideal for the drier months of the year because it seals in moisture so well. All in all, I love how plump and firm my skin looks after using this." — Dhara Patel
Laura Geller Jelly Balm Moisturizing Tinted Lip Balm
"I can’t stop wearing this Laura Geller tinted lip balm (in shade Just Peachy). It’s lightweight, ultra-hydrating, and long-wearing. I love that it swipes on just a subtle hint of color that’s perfect for all-day, everyday wear — even on days when I’m sporting sweats and still want to feel polished and pulled together." — Kayla Kitts, shopping editor
The Inkey List Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer
"Winter has arrived, so I've prioritized one thing in my skincare routine: hydration, hydration, hydration. I was sent this recently launched moisturizer from The Inkey List and was excited to add it to my arsenal for December. Taking into consideration its clinical results, this moisturizer is quite impressive.
"After applying it every night for the past couple weeks, my skin has felt silkier and smoother upon waking up. In addition to quelling dry skin, thanks to the ceramide-enriched formula, it also targets and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. While I haven't used it long or often enough to see a difference in the latter, its moisturizing effects alone have been enough to win me over." — Erika Reals
Related: These Are the 15 Best Face Moisturizers for Dry Skin of 2024, Tested and Reviewed
Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray
"I’m one of those people who has multiple humidifiers in my home. I can’t stand dry air, and I hate what it does to my skin. I used to keep a rose water mist in my bag for a quick hydration hit, but this SOS spray from Tower 28 is much more effective. Any time I feel my skin drying out (especially at the office), I spritz a bit of this on my face, and my skin just drinks it up." — Erin Johnson, senior shopping editor
Pink Sugar Hair Perfume
"Perfumes typically tend to be too strong for me, but I still want to smell fresh all day. This Pink Sugar Hair Perfume is perfect for those in-between hair wash days. The scent — with notes of vanilla, orange, lavender, and citrus — smells like cotton candy and lasts for hours. I love to spray it on at the start of the day and right before bedtime. My husband loves the scent so much that I even bought the matching body spray." — Kayla Kitts
Related: The 17 Best Perfumes for Women of 2024, According to Testers
Vaseline Intensive Care Soothing Hydration Lotion
"It's winter, so it's time to stock up on Vaseline. I carry my little Vaseline petroleum jelly tub everywhere I go, but when it's time to moisturize after an 'everything shower,' this is my favorite lotion to apply. I've tried several different versions of Vaseline lotion, but I keep coming back to this one. It's super hydrating, has only a faint clean scent, and it keeps my dry skin in check during the cold months." — Erin Johnson
Loops Variety Face Mask Kit
"My sister gifted me this Loops Face Mask Variety Pack and I’ve been obsessed ever since. (Riverdale actress Camila Mendes is the creative director and partner for the brand.) The hydrogel masks come in two pieces — a top half and a bottom half — so you get the perfect fit. What I love about the variety pack is that there’s a mask for any skin concern and need: hydrating, soothing, purifying, depuffing, calming, brightening, and more. My skin is always glowing afterward!" — Kayla Kitts
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