Launch List: The Best Body Care Launching in April

Bondi Sands Technocolor 1 Hour Express Self Tan ($27)

The Aussie brand is calling this its most exciting launch to date: four “never-before-seen self-tanning shades that adapt to every skin tone. Using proprietary Dermachromatic Color Technology, the formulas enhance your natural skin tone rather than change it, to help users avoid that dreaded orange look associated with many self-tanners. It’s also not drying, which is another common gripe within the category.

“In a world of one-size-fits-all products or products that claim to be ‘suitable for all skin tones’, Technocolor is a true innovation for the self-tanning category, developed from a world-first skin study to understand how different skin tones react to and process self tanning active ingredients,” says Blair James, CEO and cofounder. “ This is a unique range of one-hour express self-tanning foams with tailored levels of self-tanning active ingredients, moisturizers and tone enhancers to cater for all skin tones and the desired result of every self-tanning consumer.”

Luna Daily The Everywhere Spray-To-Wipe ($16)

New to the U.S., Luna Daily is teaming up with Sephora to bring us microbiome-balancing intimate-care products formulated by group of dermatologists, gynecologists and experts. This innovative, eco-friendly alternative to single-use wipes (one bottle equals 300 wipes) provides instant cleansing, whether you’re at the gym, sweating at the beach, or anywhere else. Just spray it directly on to your skin (you can also spray it onto a tissue) and voila!

“Luna Daily was born out of personal experience of not being able to use traditional body-care products for my intimate skin, frustrated at the outdated feminine hygiene products available with all of the ‘what’s wrong with her’ associations,” says founder Katy Cottam. “Revolutionizing a new category of products is only part of our mission. I want to help normalize conversations and change education, connecting women to each other and their entire bodies.”

U Beauty Resurfacing Body Compound ($128)

Since the OG Resurfacing Compound for the face launched in late 2019, fans of Tina Chen Craig’s cult-favorite brand have been clamoring for a body version. Well, the day has finally come, and the new formula does not disappoint. If you’re frustrated by dry, crepey skin, rough skin and/or bumpy skin on your arms or legs (or anywhere else from the neck down), this is your go-to.

Leveraging the brand’s innovative SIREN Capsule Technology and a long list of powerful ingredients—AHAs, BHA and peptides, enzymes, marine ferments, and more—it improves the skin’s natural cell turnover process and unclogs pores and hair follicles (i.e. frustrating ingrowns) for your smoothest skin yet.

Saltair 5% AHA Serum Deodorant ($12)

We’ve been big fans of the brand’s refillable Skincare Deodorant, which won our 2023 Beauty Award, and now there’s a new deo formula joining the Saltair family. This rollerball is a great option for anyone who wants a little exfoliating action along with their odor protection.

Utilizing mandelic, lactic and polyhydroxy acids, it helps brighten discoloration (dark shadows in the armpits is a common complaint) and also reduces the appearance of ingrown hairs. Additionally, it doesn’t contain salicylic acid like the Skincare Deodorant, so the brand has labeled it pregnancy-safe. It comes in three scents: Pink Beach (shown here), Santal Bloom (my personal favorite) and Fragrance-Free.

Saint Jane Deep Sleep Bath Salts ($58)

If you have sore muscles at the end of a long day, or have trouble quieting your mind before bed, this is the bath ritual to try. Add two or three scoops into a warm bath and take a few deep breaths of the relaxing, herbal scent as the magnesium provides soothing benefits.

Plus, I appreciate that they don’t dry out your skin (some bath salts are notorious for that), but rather hydrate it with hyaluronic acid. The addition of peptides also helps nourish the skin barrier, and evening primose oil softens the skin.

Methodology 5-Day Signature Reset (Starting at $350)

“I was working for a tech company and logging so many hours, so I tried a bunch of different meal prep services and none were using ingredients I wanted,” says brand founder and CEO Julie Nguyen, saying they were functional, but not joyful. “So, I hired a personal chef to cook the way I wanted and asked my friends who wanted in on it. We all kept doing it for months and it was like $35 a meal, but we were spending that because we needed the product and the service. It felt really rewarding to design menus and help my friends eat healthier.”

Fast-forward to today, and Nguyen’s communal dinners have grown into a science-backed, sustainable and delicious brand with a major cult-following. (Jessica Alba even brings it to eat on-set at photo shoots.) The five-day Reset, which just began shipping nationwide, includes daily meals and snacks made without refined sugar, dairy, gluten, or processed ingredients and housed in beautiful, reusable containers.

I opted for the Meat + Seafood option (there is a Vegan program as well), and my menu included meals such as Vadouvan Lobster Truffle “Parmesan” Risotto and Al Pastor Pastured Pulled Pork Taco Bowl. “We have over 2,500 meals in our database, all of which use global recipes and consist of whole foods,” Nguyen says. “We grow our foods custom on a farm, so we have the most diverse plant variety you’ll find in a prepared meal program. Customers will hit their daily fiber content every day. I want healthy eating to feel indulgent.”

Perricone MD Essential Fx Acyl-Glutathione Chia Body Oil ($69)

A little goes a long way with this dry body oil (I love a good dry oil that sinks right into my skin and doesn’t leave behind a residue) that is great as a treatment for areas that need extra attention and nourishment, like the elbows, knees and ankles/feet. The crepey lines I’m beginning to see above my knees could definitely use some TLC.

The star ingredient is acyl-glutathione, which experts have dubbed “the master antioxidant” and naturally diminishes in our bodies over time (like HA, collagen, etc). It helps smooth the skin and make lines look a little less noticeable. Omega-rich oils (flax, chia and macadamia) are supporting actors, keeping skin supple so its moisture barrier stays happy.

MAELYS GET-BACK Targeted Acne Spray ($39)

Though I’m not prone to backne, I’ve definitely had a few spots here and there over the years, and they can be super embarrassing, especially in the warmer months when you’re exposing more skin and don’t realize a big pimple has popped up that you couldn’t see. This spray is formulated with 2-percent salicylic acid (the max strength you can use OTC) to keep blemishes at bay, and you don’t have to rub it in!

It also contains alpine willowherb, which helps reduce excess oil in the skin to keep pores clean. In a 42-day clinical trial, the spray was clinically proven to reduce the appearance of acne and visibly decrease acne breakouts.

Ellis Brooklyn SUN FRUIT Glistening Golden Scented Body Oil ($70)

If you’re someone who wants a body oil that doubles as perfume, this beautiful new launch from Ellis Brooklyn is a no-brainer. Ellis Brooklyn is one of my favorite fragrance brands in recent years, and if you haven’t tried it, I highly recommend (the new mini sizes are adorable too!). This one has top notes of fig, bergamot, plum and pear; a heart of jasmine, cyclamen, orris and orange blossom; and a dry-down of amber, vanilla, musk and coconut. It’s summer in a bottle, but in a sophisticated way.

The vegan formula includes two rich, moisturizing oils—rice bran and jojoba—as well as lightweight squalane and soothing calendula flower extract. It makes your skin glow, but it’s not shimmery (although Gen-Z seems to be loving the full-body shimmer trend right now).

Jurlique Aloe Vera Hand Cream ($38)

Though many of us are finally escaping winter and dry climates that make our hands scream for moisture, I’m a believer in hand cream year-round. We give so much love to our faces, but our hands are responsible for so much labor and need love too. This limited-edition formula gives me a little spa-like moment every time I apply it, and makes me feel good about pampering my hands thanks to the mix of farm-grown Australian aloe vera, a trio of moisturizing oils, honey and vitamin E.

The fresh, earthy scent is rooted in essential oils—citrus, green tea and cedarwood—rather than synthetic fragrances, and has an uplifting, mood-boosting effect.