Every few weeks, I tell myself I’ll finally complete a “no spend” challenge. At the end of September, I had fully committed to making October my month and was prepared to not buy any new clothes, beauty products or home accessories. The problem is, I’m a sucker for a sale, and it felt like almost every day this past month, there were too many good deals I couldn’t resist. Plus, fall’s the perfect time to get ahead of my holiday shopping by buying gifts for him and my mom. So, unfortunately for my bank account, I pushed my savings challenge back another month or two to take advantage of this shopping moment.
Aside from my personal spending, I, alongside the NBC Select team, try dozens of products every month for our reporting and tons of items we try don’t make it into any stories we write. Below, we share the items that actually stood out to us over the course of the past month that we think you should know about.
SKIP AHEAD Rebecca Rodriguez | Cory Fernandez | Zoe Malin | Jordan Bowman | Bianca Alvarez | Ashley Morris | Mili Godio | Lindsay Schneider | Nikki Brown
Best beauty find$19.79$30.00
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Rebecca Rodriguez, editorial projects manager
American Eagle Peanuts Western Plush PJ Set
I’m a pajama enthusiast and a Peanuts fan so when I saw this pajama set from American Eagle I didn’t think twice. I love that the long-sleeve set has shorts instead of pants as bottoms because I tend to run hot at night regardless of the temperature. I’ve worn the set twice now and the material is soft and light and I may have to buy the matching set for pets once they restock the right size for my cat.
Karhu Mestari Sneaker
I came across these sneakers on a daytrip to Beacon, New York in a desperate attempt to replace an uncomfortable pair of boots. I was originally looking for a ballet flat of sorts since I have too many sneakers but when I saw these I knew I had to have them. They look very flat but the inside has great arch and heel support. You definitely need to size down because they run quite big — I went a half size down.
"One Dark Window” by Rachel Gillig
I’ve read 32 fantasy books this year and “One Dark Window” is one my top three series. This is the first book in The Shepherd King duology and although its sequel, “Two Twisted Crowns”, was just as riveting, the first book holds a special place in my heart. It’s a dark fairytale filled with unique magic, obscure riddles and a forced proximity romance that made me swoon. Gillig does a wonderful job of building this immersive, enchanting world that Ijust wanted to get lost in. The book ends on a heartbreaking cliff-hanger that had me reaching for the second book immediately.
Cory Fernandez, commerce editor
Vintage Ribbed Glass Tumbler with Lid
I have iced coffee almost every morning, and when I work from home, I enjoy having it these fluted glasses from Amazon, which I bought during fall Prime Day. I love how my iced coffee looks in them and that too much condensation doesn’t pool on the outside, so it’s not uncomfortable to hold. Plus, all the parts are easy to clean by hand, though they’re also dishwasher safe.
Zoe Malin, associate updates editor
Knead Therapeutic Cat Bed
I’m always looking for the latest and greatest products in the pet space, both as someone who covers these types of items for NBC Select and as a mom of two cats. So when Knead reached out and asked if I wanted to try its cat bed, I had to say “yes”. I wasn’t sure if my cats would love it because they typically prefer sleeping in their cat trees, but they were clearly obsessed with Knead from the moment it arrived — before I could even fully get it out of the box, one of my cats climbed inside. The spongy orthopedic bed has a sculpted shape with a dip in the middle, which my cats curl up in, and a sherpa-like cover they love making biscuits on with their paws. The coolest thing about the bed is that it comes with herbal pads, which eases joint pain and helps cats relax, according to the brand. I can also plug the bed in so it gets warm.
Kes Self-Adhesive Toilet Paper Holder
This probably sounds ridiculous, but the toilet paper holder built into my bathroom wall is tiny — likely because it was installed in the 1900s when the mega rolls I buy in bulk at Costco didn’t exist. I didn’t want to drill into my tile to install a new one, or add some sort of free-standing holder so I bought this peel-and-stick towel rod on Amazon instead. It honestly looks perfect and no one can tell it’s held up by sticky tape. It’s super sturdy and I wish I bought it sooner.
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Jordan Bowman, commerce editor
Ikea Skådis Pegboard
I noticed that Zoe Malin, NBC Select associate updates editor, had a pink version of this pegboard in the background of one of our team Zoom meetings. I wanted to find something similar, so she suggested I look into a more simplistic Ikea option called the Skådis. After a recent visit to an Ikea store, I picked out a medium-sized pegboard and a few accessories, like clips to hang my oven mitts, a mesh basket for snacks, coffee filters and hooks for anything else I might hang later on. It’s easy to install and makes everything more accessible — eliminating my need to rummage through my kitchen cabinets and drawers.
Bianca Alvarez, associate reporter
First Aid Beauty Hydrating Eye Cream with Hyaluronic Acid
My skin always struggles when the cold fall air hits. To help combat the dryness, I started using more hydrating products into my routine, including this eye cream from First Aid Beauty. Since I’ve only been using this for a month, I haven’t yet noticed a massive difference with my fine lines or puffiness, but my under eyes definitely feel less dry and have a more plump look. It’s free of common ingredients that irritate my sensitive, eczema-prone skin, too, which I appreciate.
Roz Santa Lucia Styling Oil
As much as I want to avoid applying heat to my hair, I love a good hot tool, but because they can leave my hair a little frizzy, I’ve been using this styling oil at the end of my routine to fix that. Other hair oils I’ve tried always either weigh down my hair or make it look like I haven’t washed my hair for weeks. This one doesn’t do that. I apply it from the middle of my hair down to the ends after towel-drying, and again, once my hair is styled, I add three to four drops to the ends, giving it a shiny, frizz-free finish because it’s so lightweight.
Merit Foundation and Concealer Stick
My eczema flare-ups have been bad lately, leaving white patches on my cheeks and forehead, making me feel incredibly insecure. My tinted sunscreens and moisturizers aren’t providing enough coverage, so I turned to a foundation stick instead. After scrolling on TikTok and getting recommendations from makeup artists and influencers, I purchased this Merit complexion stick, and it’s been my favorite thing to play with and use. It has a creamy formula that glides onto my very dry skin, giving it enough coverage that I can’t really tell I’m going through one of the worst one of the worst flare-ups of my life. It has a skin-like finish that doesn’t further irritate my skin, and I thank the ingredients because it has glycerin and fatty acids in its formula that also moisturize my rough, dry patches.
Abercrombie McLaren Graphic Crew Sweatshirt
If I’m not watching football on the weekends, I’m definitely watching an F1 race. I bought this sweatshirt as a birthday present for myself because it features one of my favorite drivers on the grid. Plus, I knew it would last me forever because my Abercrombie loungewear is some of the most durable clothing items I have. The crewneck is so soft and thick, but I don’t feel like I’m overheating when I wear it.
Catbird Candy Chain Gold Bracelet
After years of never wearing bracelets, they’re now one of the pieces I don’t leave my house without. I recently went to France with my mom, where I bought two bracelets that I love, and I wanted to add to the stack in a purposeful way. This chain option from Catbird ticked off all my boxes: It fits my wrist perfectly and has a dainty, gold look I can wear with my other accessories. I haven’t taken it off since I bought it and because it’s solid 14 karat gold, it hasn’t tarnished. Unlike some bracelets I own, this one can be worn in the shower so I really never have to ever take it off.
Calpak Luka Mini Tote
I recently visited my family in Virginia and was pleasantly surprised by how much I could fit in this mini Calpak tote. During my trip, I spent a few nights at my friends’ houses and fit two outfits, my toiletry bag and essentials like my wallet, hand sanitizer, keys and phone in it. It made me feel like Mary Poppins, and I plan to use this as I walk around New York City and run errands.
Ashley Morris, associate SEO reporter
"Three Revolutionary Films” by Ousmane Sembène Box Set
I’m a big fan of buying physical media, and when it comes to movies, I love purchasing from the Criterion Collection. They’re dedicated to restoring and distributing independent, international and arthouse films that may otherwise be unavailable. I waited in line for hours at a Criterion Closet pop-up to get this set (for 40% off). It has 4K restorations of three political films — “Xala”, “Ceddo” and “Emitaï” — from the iconic Senegalese director Ousmane Sembène, who’s known as one of the fathers of African cinema. Since it’s a Criterion edition, it has gorgeous cover art, a bonus documentary on the making of one of the films and conversations, essays and more from experts on African cinema. This is what I love about Criterion editions — the bonus content lets cinema lovers like me really dig into not only the films themselves, but all of the cool processes and minds behind them as well.
Mili Godio, updates editor
Verloop Pattern Patch Dog Sweater
As the weather gets colder, I want to make sure my dog Bella, who is a 6-year-old havanese and bichon frise mix, is as bundled as I am. I love getting her sweaters to make sure she’s warm and comfortable, but most that I come across are holiday-themed or a little tacky. This Verloop knit sweater has an adorable turtleneck design and though she typically hates sweaters and other clothes, she got used to this one quickly.
Partners Coffee Brooklyn Blend
I’m a big coffee drinker, and I typically brew a cup (or multiple) every morning. Since I drink it regularly, I love testing new coffee blends and roasters to give me some variety. I recently tried out Partners Coffee after the brand sent me a few of its blends to try, and I became immediately obsessed — the coffee tastes super smooth and has unique flavor profiles that really shine through. This Brooklyn blend, for example, has notes of cocoa, sweet toffee and dried fruits — and I could really taste the taste coming through. I also love the Aidé Garro blend, which is women-produced in Colombia and has flavors like watermelon, cherry, mango and elderflower.
McConnell’s Coffee with Molasses Chips Ice Cream
Our team loves sweet treats, so when McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams sent us a variety pack of its popular ice cream flavors, we were all delighted. The ice cream was just as good as it was hyped up to be — the brand has intriguing flavors and every one I tried tasted delicious. Plus, it had a rich, creamy texture that stayed this way after weeks in our freezers and never got that icy, hard consistency some ice creams get.
Nest New York Madagascar Vanilla Perfume Oil
I had heard incredible things about this Nest perfume oil on social media, and as someone who loves to layer my fragrances, I was really excited to try this. Not only does it smell divine, but the scent also stays on my skin for the entire day. I’ve noticed that the oil makes my fragrances smell even more intense and I’ve had multiple people stop me and ask me what I’m wearing when I’m out.
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Lindsay Schneider, commerce editor
Quince Mongolian Cashmere Cardigan Sweater
Anyone who knows me knows how addicted I am to Quince (it’s a running joke among my friends and family, because my love runs deep). Their prices feel extremely fair considering the materials they use and how well constructed their pieces are. The brand revamped its cashmere this year and I have no notes (which is unheard of for me). It has a thicker, more substantial feel than it has in the past and it now fits true to size (where in previous years I’ve had to size up). It’s 100% cashmere, not itchy and its shell buttons feel elevated. Quince sent me this cardigan, but I’ve already added a few more to my cart because I love it so much.
Nikki Brown, SEO editor
Swedish Dishcloths
I see these dishcloths on best-of cleaning lists at least once a week. Is the hype real? Absolutely. They’re the perfect texture for cleaning a range of surfaces in my apartment, including wood, bath tile and stainless steel. They absorb water well and dry in only a couple hours without dripping all over the place. And yes, they work just as well after I wash them, too.
Lifestraw 7-Cup Glass Water Filter Pitcher
I’m on a mission to downsize my plastic use, especially in the kitchen. There are a lot of great water pitcher filters out there but finding a glass one wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be. Thankfully Lifestraw makes this beautiful option. The 7-cup size is perfect for my small space and it was easy to put together. My only complaint is that the filtration is a bit slow but I’m willing to tolerate it for the glass container.
Barnaki Ceiling Fan Filters
These were on my Amazon shopping list for awhile and since they were on sale for Prime Day I thought, why not? I have a ceiling fan in my living room that I pretty much always have on to keep air circulating since pet dander and dust easily accumulate there. It took less than three minutes to put together — each filter comes with an adhesive side that sticks to the top of each fan blade. So far, they haven’t come off and I look forward to seeing how much dust they’ve picked up in a few weeks.
Comfilife Knee Pillow for Side Sleepers
I shift between my stomach, side and back throughout the night when I sleep. However, I always start the night on my side. This pillow has already done wonders for my back because it helps keep everything aligned. Plus, even when I shift to other positions, it mostly stays in place. It’s super firm but after a couple of sleeps, it molded to my body while still providing sturdy support.
Fabuletta Warm and Cool Mist Humidifier
The air in my apartment is dry year-round so a humidifier is absolutely necessary for me. Without it, I would be congested with dry skin and brittle hair. This option isn’t necessarily small but it does fit on my nightstand alongside my sunrise clock and Google speaker. I love that I can switch between cool and warm air, depending on the weather, and that there’s a pod on the back where I can drop essential oil when I want some aromatherapy.
Tranomos Silicone Bottle Covers
When traveling, I always pack at the last minute, no matter how hard I try to do the opposite. I don’t think about travel-size containers until it’s too late and honestly, I rather just throw my everyday essentials in my bag instead of transferring them to new bottles. (The only downside is having to check my bag for products that aren’t TSA approved.) I love these bottle covers and wish I started using them a while ago. They make me feel a lot less nervous about things spilling in my suitcase and they stay put while in transit on bottles of varying shapes and sizes. — Nikki Brown, SEO editor
Wells Lamont Leather Palm Work Gloves
Fall is one of my favorite seasons with just one downside: I have to winterize my garden, which involves a lot of cleaning and putting down mulch to keep my soil warm through the winter. I actually bought these gloves a couple of months ago during a Costco trip and saved them specifically for this task, which typically does a number on my hands and acrylic manicure. These gloves have the perfect amount of thickness and don’t slide around, thanks to the wrist strap. I can still feel what I’m grabbing without the worry of anything poking through the fabric.
Why trust NBC Select?
I’m an associate reporter at NBC Select, covering beauty and wellness, including recent stories on the best floss and best pajama sets. For this story, our staff, who frequently try hundreds of products a month, share their favorite finds from October.
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