For us, the start of February felt like a breath of fresh air after January seemed to drag on. We celebrated love and Black History Month (browse our favorite Black-owned businesses while you’re here) while enjoying a snow day or two (or three). Plus, we found plenty of reasons to press add to cart: There were over a dozen new launches this month, including Apple’s new iPhone 16e and a slightly unsettling LED face mask, alongside worthwhile deals on Apple AirTags, Lego sets, furniture and more.
With winter weather in full swing, it’s no surprise readers shopped for skin care most — they looked for ways to heal chapped lips, moisturize dry skin and address pesky fine lines. They also bought teeth whitening strips, exfoliators for extra smooth skin and shampoos for shinier, bouncier hair.
Read on for a full list of the bestsellers our readers couldn't get enough of in February.
SKIP AHEAD February bestsellers | Why trust NBC Select?
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February bestsellers
Aquaphor Healing Ointment
4.8-star average rating from 15,989 reviews on Amazon
Aquaphor’s Healing Ointment really is the perfect way to heal dry, flaky skin when a typical moisturizer just isn’t doing the trick, plus it’s incredibly versatile, in my experience — you can use it as a lip balm, a hand cream, a heel moisturizer, a scar treatment and so much more. I’ve repurchased this travel-friendly tube more than a dozen times because it’s easy to take on the go and inexpensive.
Learn more: We tested over 50 lip balms — here are the best ones for dry lips
La Roche-Posay Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer
4.6-star average rating from 64,337 reviews on Amazon
If you have dry and sensitive skin, this moisturizer is simply it. “I never want to stop using it because it’s the perfect maintenance tool for keeping my skin moisturized, calm and happy,” says NBC Select associate reporter Bianca Alvarez, who has dry, sensitive and eczema-prone skin. The consistency isn’t as thick as other dry skin-friendly moisturizers, so it absorbs quickly and sits beautifully underneath makeup.
Learn more: The best face moisturizers for very dry and flaky skin, according to experts and editors
Apple AirPods 4 with ANC
4.4-star average rating from 3,274 reviews on Amazon
Our readers cannot get enough of Apple AirPods, so when we reviewed the Apple AirPods 4 (the latest iteration from the tech giant) in February, they listened. NBC Select tech reporter Harry Rabinowitz says that thanks to their semi-open ear design, they’re a great option for people who hate little silicone tips in their ears. While the active noise cancellation isn’t quite as good as AirPods with ear tips, it still impressively filters out background noises and conversations, says Rabinowitz. And if you’re like me and prone to losing your headphones, the case has a speaker built-in so you can ping it using Apple’s FindMy app.
Learn more: I tested Apple AirPods 4 ANC for over two months — is it worth the upgrade?
Cetaphil Face and Body Moisturizer
4.6-star average rating from 3,932 reviews on Amazon
This face and body moisturizer consistently shows up on our bestsellers list and there’s no doubt why: It earned the top spot on our list of 100 best moisturizers and dermatologists we’ve spoken to constantly recommend it for dry skin. “It may not exactly scream ‘spa day,’ but that’s not the Cetaphil brand. It is a drugstore staple and a household essential for a reason: It’s a cream for everybody and every budget,” says Rabinowitz.
Learn more: The 100 best moisturizers tested and ranked, according to NBC Select editors
Crest 3D Whitestrips Sensitive
4.4-star average rating from 3,149 reviews on Amazon
After years of testing products, our shopping editors know that getting whiter teeth at home doesn’t have to be extremely expensive or painful. These are made specifically for sensitive teeth and are one of the only ADA-accepted options on the market, so you know you’re in good hands. One box comes with 36 strips, which is enough for 18 30-minute treatments to help you get a bright, glowing smile in just a few weeks.
Learn more: 9 at-home teeth whitening products that can help you achieve a brighter smile
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum
4.6-star average rating from 21,614 reviews on Amazon
The Ordinary is one of the most budget-friendly brands sold at high-end beauty retailers like Sephora — most of its serums, acne solutions and cleansers are under $10. Dermatologists we’ve spoken to consistently recommend this hyaluronic acid serum because it soothes and hydrates skin, plus the fragrance-free formula is great for those who are more sensitive. “I’ve been using this hyaluronic acid serum every day for about six months and my skin soaks it right up,” says NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin.
Learn more: 15 hyaluronic acid products to plump and hydrate your skin
Dr. Dan’s Cortibalm
4.6-star average rating from 8,418 reviews on Amazon
Lip balms are undoubtedly having a moment, but not everyone has the funds to splurge on a high-end, influencer brand (though we do love many of those). Or perhaps, you just want a simple, no-frills lips balm that does exactly what you need it to do. Dr. Dan’s Cortibalm is exactly that: It’s a medicated lip balm with 1% hydrocortisone, which is a topical steroid that has anti-inflammatory properties. It’s one I often reach for when I’m dealing with dry, cracked lips in harsh winter weather, and it never fails me.
Learn more: We tested over 50 lip balms — here are the best ones for dry lips
3M Aura N95 Respirator
4.5-star average rating from 8,965 reviews on Amazon
Like clockwork, people get all kinds of illnesses during the winter season, which means face masks tend to fly off the shelves. Our readers are keeping themselves safe with this N95 mask, which is approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), meaning the respirator has met very specific requirements for testing. This specific mask also has a low-profile design around the nose and eyes to accommodate glasses.
Learn more: The best NIOSH-approved N95 masks, according to doctors
Kelo-Cote Advanced Formula Scar Gel
4.3-star average rating from 6,071 reviews on Amazon
This dermatologist-recommended gel softens and flattens raised scars, which helps reduce the appearance of scars from surgery, burns, acne, scrapes and more. It’s water-resistant, non-sticky, doesn’t have an odor and dries completely clear, so you can wear it out and about without worry. It works on old scars, too, according to the brand.
Learn more: The best scar creams and treatments, according to dermatologists
Differin Gel
4.5-star average rating from 82,597 reviews on Amazon
We’ve long reported on Differin Gel’s ability to treat stubborn acne and acne scars, but we recently learned it’s also a great way to get rid of and prevent milia, which are small white bumps that appear around the under eyes and face. The gel is the strongest over-the-counter retinoid you can get without a prescription and it has 0.1% adapalene, which helps gently exfoliate your skin and increase cell turnover.
Learn more: How to treat and prevent milia, according to dermatologists
RoC Retinol Correxion Line Smoothing Eye Cream
4.3-star average rating from 30,406 reviews on Amazon
Our readers can’t get enough of eye creams, especially when they help address fine lines and dark circles. This RoC eye cream is another consistent staple on our bestsellers lists thanks to its lightweight and retinol-infused formula that won’t irritate sensitive eyes. Plus, you won’t have to break the bank to get this one.
Learn more: The 29 best eye creams for hydrating, brightening and smoothing in 2025
Dyson Digital Slim Cordless Vacuum
4.3-star average rating from 432 reviews on Amazon
Spring cleaning season is right around the corner, so readers are naturally gravitating toward new supplies. Purchasing a new Dyson vacuum is essentially the adult equivalent of opening the hottest new toy at Christmas. Our shopping experts constantly talk about Dyson as the best of the best, and our readers agree. This February, they bought the Dyson Digital Slim Cordless Vacuum which, at just 4.4 pounds, is one of the lightest the brand has to offer (including several of its handheld options). It takes the guesswork out of cleaning: The LCD screen tells you the remaining run time, maintenance alerts and the cleaning mode you’re in.
Learn more: This Dyson cordless vacuum is 50% off at Walmart right now
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m an updates editor at NBC Select who has covered a variety of shopping categories since 2021. For this article, I compiled a list of the top 12 bestselling products among our NBC Select readers during the month of February.
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