In the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty & Personal Care Lab, our team of scientists and beauty editors receive almost every new beauty product launch, from face and body skincare products to haircare and styling, makeup, tools and devices, fragrances, and more. Luckily, after decades of experience testing products, we can easily spot the winners in a crowd. In this monthly series, GH Beauty Lab experts sort through the hundreds of samples crossing our desks to share the ones that stood out enough for us to use in our routines.
This past month in the GH Beauty Lab, we were busy with the launch of our 2026 Good Housekeeping Beauty Awards (check it out if you haven’t already!), as well as staying on top of all the latest launches at countless brand events and meetings. We are seeing lots of new hair products and sunscreens in preparation for outdoor season—more on that soon. Right now, our team is gravitating toward products that enliven our skin, hair, and senses for the sunny days ahead. Take a peek at our current favorites!
Our experts
Credit: April Franzino / Good Housekeeping “I’ve been using this eye gel, made with brightening vitamin C and smoothing peptides, every morning for the past few weeks and have noticed a difference. My extremely dark circles seem lightened and lines are softened. I also love the cooling metal applicator, which feels soothing and wakes up my tired eyes each morning—much-needed as the mom of a 10-month-old baby!” — April Franzino, GH Beauty & Style Director
Credit: Celia Shatzman / Hearst “With the arrival of warmer weather (finally!), I’m leaning heavily into air drying my naturally curly hair. But some days my texture looks better than others—meaning more definition and less frizz. On those not-so-great hair days, I spritz this on to help with both, plus pump up the volume, without leaving any sticky or visible residue behind. It’s also ideal to bring second-day curls and waves back to life and I love the earthy floral scent.” — Celia Shatzman, GH Temporary Beauty Editor
Credit: Good Housekeeping / Cameron Jenkins “The last few weeks, I’ve gravitated toward this fragrance the most. I’m typically someone who reaches for a warm gourmand, but this is a feminine and refreshing scent that is balanced with a touch of sweetness. When it’s first sprayed, it's fresh and floral, but it then dries down to a mild honey note that lingers on my skin throughout the day. I love that it isn’t overpowering. It’s really the perfect transition scent for spring into summer.” — Cameron Jenkins, GH Staff Writer
“I typically love cream blushes—they go on smoothly and blend so nicely. Dibs Beauty’s new blush serum takes it to the next level. All you need is a tiny drop and it spreads beautifully for a pretty, natural flush. You can definitely add more for a more pigmented pop of color if that’s what you are going for. I am loving the Cool Girl shade—it’s the perfect rosy pink for my fair skin.” — Dori Price, GH Contributing Beauty Editor
Credit: Celia Shatzman / Hearst “As a dedicated double cleanser, I always kick off my wash routine with a cleansing balm and this is one of the best I’ve ever tried—and I’ve tested a lot. Formulated with microalgae and silica straight from the famous Blue Lagoon in Iceland, it melts away makeup and the remains of the day without leaving a trace of residue behind. But it does more than cleanse: it also strengthens the skin barrier, leaving my skin silky soft.” — Celia Shatzman
Credit: Sabina Wizemann / Good Housekeeping “The classic scent of Herbal Essences Rose Hips Shampoo and Conditioner is now available in a hair mist, and I’m fully embracing the nostalgia. The floral rose scent instantly takes me back to the early 2000s—clear bottles, drugstore beauty aisles, and all. What’s even sweeter is seeing my much younger daughter fall in love with the fragrance, perfect for spring and summer days. Now the whole house smells like that signature scent.” — Sabina Wizemann, GH Beauty Lab Director
Credit: April Franzino / Good Housekeeping “I was wary of spraying an oil on my dry hair, but this one, created by celebrity hairstylist Chris McMillan, truly amazed me. The super fine mist is undetectable on hair and leaves zero greasy residue, yet makes strands instantly noticeably shiny and smooth. See the right side of my hair with the spray applied versus the left without it for proof!” — April Franzino
Credit: Celia Shatzman / Hearst “Boasting the best of both words, this cream-to-powder blush has a blurring effect to leave skin looking airbrushed. I have combination to oily skin that loves to absorb makeup, but I found this came close to its 12-hour wear claim. It comes in eight gorgeous shades and if you want more than one, (who doesn’t?!) the chic packaging is stackable.” — Celia Shatzman
Credit: April Franzino / Good Housekeeping “I am constantly trying new shampoos and many of them just don’t leave my hair fully clean—once dry, the roots will still look dingy and my hair color will be dull. Not with this shampoo, which I used with the matching conditioner: My strands were sparkling clean yet still soft, not dehydrated.” — April Franzino
Credit: April Franzino / Good Housekeeping “As a new mom, I am all about makeup that takes two seconds to apply and does more than one thing. This morning, I grabbed this brand new Kosas cream color stick and swiped it on my cheeks and lips before running out the door. When I looked in the mirror, my face looked instantly glowy and put-together with no other makeup. I used the shade Intuition, a dusty brown-ish rose, and loved how it appears natural and not makeup-y.” — April Franzino