16 products we tested and loved in February from Amazfit, Olaplex, Prequel and more
Smartwatches, moisturizing lip balms, perfumes and more wowed us this past month.
When I was covering Valentine’s Day gifts earlier this month, San Diego-based brand Caked sent me a sample of its cookies to try, and describing them as delicious would be an understatement. If you prefer chewy cookies, you will absolutely love these; they have the most decadent, cake-like texture to them and they’re so tasty and rich, you may have to save half for later. Also, the selection of flavors is incredibly unique. The brand goes beyond just chocolate chips and opts for ube, pandan coconut mochi, s’mores, pistachio, strawberry matcha and more. The brand also makes brownies, chocolate and other items that make for the perfect edible gift.
Since I do a lot of walking while living in New York City, I expect that my go-to pair of work shoes will inevitably wear out. During my search for a new pair of shoes that’s comfortable, stylish and work-friendly, Aldo sent me a sample of these loafers to try out, which are available in both black and dark brown. While many loafers I’ve had in the past looked modern and high-quality, they were almost always very uncomfortable to walk in on a daily basis. This isn’t the case with these loafers — the soles have pads that conform to my feet, making it easy to walk in them for hours. The outside is also durable and it doesn’t crease easily, and overall they’ve held up well for around a month.
My lashes are on the thin side, especially the bottom row. I’ve always been afraid of trying out lash serums because of the harmful effects of prostaglandin, a popular ingredient that can cause redness and itchiness in the eyes and hyperpigmentation, according to the brand. This plant-based formula is free of prostaglandin and has phytoactives and peptides to help grow lashes, according to the brand. I’ve used it for a few weeks, and I love that the serum doesn’t irritate or sting my eyes and it’s easy to apply without accidentally putting the serum on my actual eye. While results can take about four to eight weeks to show, I’ve noticed my top lashes feel healthy and don’t shed as often as usual.
When it comes to drip coffee, my go-to has always been Verve. I rarely stray from my favorites, but cookies and cream is one of my husband’s favorite flavors. I thought I’d take a risk and surprise him with a bag of coffee that tastes like his favorite dessert. While I wouldn’t normally pay $20 for beans I’ve never tried before, the reviews raved about the flavor and, when I finally made this into a pour over, I could understand why. When it was black, the coffee didn’t taste like much, but adding a little brown sugar completely changed the flavor profile. If I liked cream, I could only imagine how delicious this would be in a morning cup of coffee.
After realizing that knocking my portafilter on my trash can has caused irreparable damage, I decided it was time to invest in a knock box for my espresso set up. After a little bit of research, I decided on the Crema version because of its moisture-control design and sleek appearance. It has a non-slip base and is super easy to clean. Initially, I was worried the box might be too small for my needs, but it fits anywhere between 12-16 pucks (and even a few pour-over filters filled with used coffee beans as well). It’s a little pricey, coming in at just under $50, but it’s made with non-toxic materials and is stain-resistant, a huge plus for something that’s repeatedly covered in coffee grinds.
I have a very extensive collection of fragrances, but this perfume milk is the most unique one I own. Instead of a typical spray, it has a creamy, serum-like consistency that I can rub on my skin like a moisturizer. It’s so light that it absorbs almost instantly with no residue or greasiness, and the scent lasts all day (I’ve noticed it lasts a lot longer than most of the perfumes I spray on a regular basis). I’m already a big fan of Noyz’s scents, so making them last longer is a huge plus.
I’m a big fan of both Cocokind and Olipop, so when I found out that the two brands released a lip balm collab with the prebiotic soda’s popular flavors (strawberry vanilla, cherry cola and cream soda, to be exact), I had to get my hands on it. The brand sent me a few flavors to test out and I now use it every single day. I’ve tried the Cocokind Ceramide Lip Blur Balm in the past, but the new tints and flavors make it so much more fun to use. My favorite is the strawberry vanilla (it has a bright pink tint), which happens to be my favorite Olipop soda flavor.
I’ve been in a new round of fitness tracker testing, and this sample I received from Amazfit might be a winner. It’s $100, which is a steal for a fitness tracker, especially one with a stainless steel case, built-in speaker and bright, colorful screen. It’s also surprisingly sleek and slim: 9.9 millimeters, nearly as slim as an Apple Watch Series 11. While the software could use some improvements compared to brands like Apple, Google and Garmin, it’s hard to nitpick when it costs so much less.
I’m not a makeup person whatsoever, but in the past few years, I’ve had to expand my skills beyond the 5-minute look my mom taught me in middle school since I often do my makeup when I’m on-air. That’s made me pay attention to products more than ever before, and it’s forced me to try new things. My latest discovery is TirTir’s setting spray, which is hands-down the best one I’ve used yet. It practically erases my pores, and makes my makeup look incredibly smooth and matte. The setting spray is so lightweight, I barely feel it on my skin, but I can tell it’s working — even after wearing my makeup for 12 hours, it doesn’t get nearly as cakey or creased as it has in the past, and it’s practically transfer- and smudge-proof. I swear this stuff glues my makeup to my face in the very best way.
I’m always looking for pants that are versatile enough to dress up or down, which is exactly what these are. Ever since Lululemon sent me a sample to try, I’ve been living in them. I pair them with an oversized sweater or long-sleeve shirt when I want to be comfortable yet look put together at the office, or I wear them with a blouse and heels when I’m on-air. They’re super breezy and lightweight, and they’re not stiff at all, so I can move freely in them. The waistband is stretchy and has a hidden internal drawcord inside so I can adjust the fit without adding a belt (there’s also belt loops if you want to use them). Perhaps my favorite part is that I can throw them in the washing machine and they come out as good as new, which I can’t say about most of my other dry clean only trousers. And yes, they fit true-to-size.
I thought it would be easy to find a carrier for my 8-pound dog Mabel since she’s so small, but it’s been much more challenging than I expected. Most carriers swallow her up, and the opening where she’s supposed to rest her head is too high, so she can’t see out the front. Cleverpup’s Transit Tote, however, doesn’t have either of these problems. It feels like it was made for Mabel. It’s the ideal size — roomy enough that she can comfortably lay down, but compact enough that I can easily carry it — and the head opening is in the perfect spot for her to peek out of. The carrier has an adjustable leash tether I attach to her harness to make sure she’s safe on our journey, and it’s made with lots of pockets and pouches to store essentials, plus an exterior poop bag dispenser. It also comes with a removable, machine-washable plush to keep Mabel cozy inside.
I wasn’t a pajama set person until recently, so I was skeptical when Neendi sent me a pair of its pajamas to try. But after wearing this set a few times, I’m all in on matching pajamas. The material is insanely soft, silky and super breathable, which is a must for me since I’m a hot sleeper. I also love to complain about the lack of pockets on my pants, but these actually do have side pockets. And the print? Almost too cute to handle.
I’ve been using Olaplex’s hair products for years, and one of my favorites is the No.3 pre-wash treatment. The brand recently revamped the formula, and I was super excited to try it out. I’ve used this a few times in the last few weeks and I’ve definitely seen a difference in my hair. I only have to leave it in for a few minutes before rinsing, and it leaves my hair feeling silky, smooth and super light. I’ve noticed that the ends of my hair feel much healthier, too.
I make eggs for breakfast every single day, and they stick to my pans more than any other meal I cook. I’ve gotten used to my routine of cooking then soaking my pans for an entire day to get rid of the residue, until I got the Caraway nonstick ceramic pan. It is by far the best nonstick pan I’ve ever used. My food cooks perfectly, then easily slides off when I’m done. I’ve fried eggs, pancakes and vegetables in this pan, and I haven’t had to deal with the annoying scrubbing that usually comes after cooking.
I tend to have oily skin, but with the sub-zero temperatures in New York City this month, I found myself dealing with dry, cracked skin for the first time in my life. When I finished my tried-and-true tub of Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream, I decided it was time to find something that was a little more heavy duty and could help with the dryness I was dealing with on my face, knuckles and knees. I grabbed this dry skin ointment from Prequel, and it has truly saved my skin over the last few weeks. It’s hydrating without feeling too heavy on my skin, and it layers great under makeup. I even carry the bottle around with me, so I can apply it to my hands at any time of day.
This takes the trophy for the weirdest facial product I’ve ever tried. The serum is an odd grey color and when you apply it, the dead skin on your face begins to peel off almost immediately. Other exfoliating serums that I’ve used in the past have made my face sting, but this one doesn’t cause any irritation. Its main ingredient is hypochlorous acid, a gentle antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory ingredient that helps calm acne and rosacea, according to experts we previously spoke to. It’s so satisfying to use and leaves my face feeling baby soft.
This is my fourth time purchasing this Skincare Junkie moisturizer. When my acne was at its very worst, my dermatologist recommended this moisturizer. Two years later, my skin is mostly clear and this product remains my favorite everyday moisturizer. It’s noncomedogenic, meaning it won’t clog your pores, and has hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid and ceramides.
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I’m a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I write about deals and sale events, product roundups, reviews and more. The NBC Select staff and I test products monthly from brands in tech, beauty, skin care, hair care and more. I made this list based on the product recommendations from editors and reporters on staff.
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