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October Prime Day is here. To find the best deals in every category, follow all of our Prime Day coverage.
We’re back for day two of Prime Day. As I said yesterday, October Prime Day is essentially a repeat of July’s big sale, but I’ve noticed some slight variations in what’s on sale. For example, the Dyson Airstrait bundle is 25 percent off and includes a travel bag and holder for easy storage, which wasn’t the case earlier this year. It’s still a great time to stock up on drugstore products (the Neutrogena eye cream is 70 percent off) and premium beauty brands like Tatcha, which is discounting lots of popular items by 30 percent, a better deal than its annual Friends and Family sale.
My strategy for October Prime Day is the same as it was earlier this year — I’m still using our deals editor Sam Daly’s guideline that a good deal is a price cut of at least 20 percent and cross-referencing it with products we’ve written about before. And if you’re in the market for non-beauty things, like an artificial Christmas tree or kid’s toys, we collected all the best deals in our big Prime Day hub.
Prime Day is winding down, so if you haven’t checked out yet, I recommend doing that soon. The sale ends at 3AM EST (11:59 PT) but there’s no guarantee stock will hold until then.
The Deals I Personally Think Are Best
Prime Day is a great time to stock up on viral beauty essentials — the retailer tends to offer deep discounts on stuff you’re likely seeing on your “For You” page, like the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask and CosRX Snail Mucin Essence. I’ll be buying both, along with the L’Occitane Shower Oil, another product I found during a late-night scroll.
Luxury Skin Care
The OG Nuface Trinity, which includes a wrinkle-reducing attachment and one specifically for lip and eye, is up for grabs. The Mini is our top pick for microcurrent devices because it’s beginner-friendly and easy to use. The Trinity is essentially the same, but the attachments offer the benefit of targeted microcurrent treatment.
One of my friends goes to Paris a few times a year and she always buys a few bottles of the Nuxe body oil to bring back. The dry oil has a velvety texture and is a great post-shower moisturizer among other things. Writer Sadie Stein uses it for just about everything — from taming her eyebrows to coating the ends of her hair.
Azelaic acid has a become a popular ingredient in recent years as it’s effective at treating acne but is relatively mild. It also plays well with other actives so it can be added into a skin-care routine without having to play chemist. Rio likes this azelaic acid booster from Paula’s Choice because it can be used on its own as a serum or added into your existing moisturizer. “If you’re someone who doesn’t like the fuss of multiple products and are trying to keep your routine as simple as possible, this is a great option,” she says.
Canopy, the self-proclaimed “beauty world’s humidifier,” is our top overall pick because it’s easy to clean, nice-looking, and pushes out the right amount of humidity to keep skin moisturized.
Drag queen Farrah Moan is an evangelist for this moisturizer, which she found out about from fellow performer Kim Chi. “I recommend it to anyone I talk to about products,” she says of the moisturizer, which is packed with hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, which hydrates and brightens skin over time.
Topicals makes skin-care products specifically for addressing hyperpigmentation. The Faded Serum has been granted “holy grail” status by beauty enthusiasts who swear by its blend of niacinamide, kojic acid, azelaic acid, and soothing centella.
Also on sale: the popular ingrown hair serum, which contains a powerful blend of salicylic and glycolic acids.
Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa has been using this antioxidant-rich cleanser for two years. He enjoys that it “foams up a good amount, and I don’t have to restock for a few months, even with twice-daily use” and likens using it to a spa treatment.
Every makeup artist I know keeps a tube of Embryolisse in their kit because it’s perfect for creating a hydrated base for makeup and doesn’t irritate skin.
A nice-smelling body wash from Salt & Stone, which makes our favorite scented deodorant.
This moisturizer is a favorite of our beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton, who likes that it contains soothing colloidal oatmeal and is rich without being comedogenic and irritating. I’m also a big fan of this moisturizer, and reach for it whenever my skin is freaking out.
This beauty-editor favorite exfoliant is a perennial Prime Day deal, and for good reason. It’s incredibly effective at unclogging pores and helps prevent breakouts.
Another perennial favorite: the Foreo Luna. It helps to achieve a deeper clean and thanks to hypoallergenic silicone bristles, it won’t collect the same amount of bacteria as a nylon bristle. It’s also gentle enough to be used twice a day and doubles as a facial massager thanks to transdermal pulsations, offering some slight sculpting benefits.
And for the occasional pimple, there’s Starface hydrocolloid patches, which keep grubby fingers away from the pimple and help heal the spot at the same time. The stickers also look cool and make breakouts a little more stylish.
Our favorite affordable body scrub for treating keratosis pilaris is even cheaper. A blend of glycolic and lactic acid, along with pumice buffing beads, offer physical and chemical exfoliation and vitamin E soothes the skin.
I will be taking the opportunity to snag my favorite micellar water at a discount. This makeup-artist favorite beauty staple is a consistent feature in my routine because, like other formulations I’ve tried, it doesn’t leave a film behind or sting my eyes. It’s great at breaking down makeup and the day’s detritus and doesn’t irritate sensitive skin.
Bioderma also makes a cleansing oil that incorporates micellar technology and is packed with amino acids and omega 3-6. I like to pair this with the micellar water for a squeaky but hydrated clean.
I’m also buying another bottle of the L’Occitane shower oil, which starts moisturizing skin while in the shower. I was generally skeptical of the shower moisturizer before I started using this body wash, but now I can’t imagine a day without it.
We’ve been raving about the Klorane dry shampoo for years because unlike other formulations, it doesn’t have that weird synthetic-y scent and neutralizes shine without causing lots of build-up on the hair.
Another beloved dry shampoo, and Rio’s favorite, is the Living Proof Perfect Hair Day, which she says has revolutionized her hair routine. “There’s zero stickiness or tackiness, and my hair feels just as it would if I had showered that morning,” she says.
Our favorite body oil is also up for grabs. It tops our best-in-class list because of its consistency (fast-absorbing, non-greasy), and vitamin-rich formulation. It contains 11 botanical oils that help to enrich the skin and fortify the skin’s barrier and has an earthy, slightly citrusy scent.
The body scrub is also quite good and is our best-in-class pick for dry skin. Strategist writer Brenley Goertzen has been using it for a few months and says she’s “blown away by how delicately it exfoliates.”
Retinol can be tricky: the benefits are numerous but so are the challenges. Dryness and peeling can be the norm as skin adjusts (or becomes “retinized”) but some formulas, like this one from Avéne, helps to offset dry skin with gentle, moisturizing ingredients.
There are so many celebrity fans of the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask I wrote an article about it, and it often tops our Prime Day best-seller list. It’s a cocktail of nourishing ingredients — hyaluronic acid, coconut oil, shea butter and murumuru — and has a candy-sweet scent. It also gives lips a glowy-but-not-extremely-glossy sheen.
For something with a higher shine factor I always recommend the Laneige Glowy Lip Balm, which has a thinner texture and comes in an array of sweet-smelling scents.
Tizo makes our favorite sunscreen for acne-prone skin because it has light, liquid consistency, has a silky texture, and has antioxidant properties that help to lighten dark marks over time.
EltaMD tends to discount its popular (and Strategist favorite) clear sunscreen, but this year it’s discounted the mineral formulation, which solely uses physical SPF and has a matte finish.
For wiping off the day, Elemis makes a collagen-filled cleansing balm that’s so cleansing and hydrating that The Bear actress Abby Elliot sometimes uses in lieu of a 20-step skin-care routine.
Is this essentially fancy water? Yes. Do I still hoard bottles as if they’re being discontinued? Also yes. This skin mist is packed with antioxidants designed to smooth and hydrate skin. Another bonus: It imparts a noticeable glow.
Also on sale from Tatcha, a soothing cleansing oil that handily removes makeup and sunscreen and leaves skin clean but not stripped.
When I asked estheticians about the best devices for sculpting the face at home, Natalie Aguilar introduced me to the Theraface PRO. “it offers so many different therapies, such as LED light, hot and cold rings, various face massagers, and, of course, a microcurrent attachment,” she says, noting that it’s very easy to use and offers instant results. “It really depuffs and tones.”
Drugstore Skin Care
This lightweight-but-hydrating body lotion from the Neutrogena Hydro Boost line is good for people who don’t have particularly dry skin but want to stay moisturized.
This under-$15 concealer is our favorite drugstore option because it’s creamy, easy-to-blend, and doesn’t sink into fine lines. It also comes in a decent amount of shades, making it a versatile (but not exhaustive) option.
Hand models love this eczema-friendly hand cream from Neutrogena. “It’s not oily, but it’s very thick and concentrated,” says hand model Ariel Paredes. “I rub it in, get it all around my cuticles, and then when I arrive [on set] my hands look baby soft.”
Of all the CeraVe cleansers, this one is my favorite. The cream-to-foam texture offers a deep clean without drying out skin, and after using it for over a year, I can attest that it doesn’t irritate my skin. It’s also our top pick for combination skin types because it’s the best of both worlds. Dermatologists also like the ingredients. It contains ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and amino acids, which help to support the skin barrier and lock in moisture.
Whenever I ask my fellow writers about hand creams, the impressively hydrating O’Keeffe’s Working Hand Cream comes up. The main ingredients are glycerin and dimethicone, which work together to protect and hydrate skin.
We often recommend mineral sunscreens for sensitive skin, and this one from Blue Lizard tops our list. Dermatologists like it because it doesn’t contain chemical SPF or fragrance, two known skin irritants. It also has a thick consistency that doesn’t budge, so you can sweat within that reapplication window and not worry about losing coverage.
Our top pick for pimple patches, the Mighty Patch is good at sucking gunk out of a pimple and cutting down on healing time. I’ve been using them since they debuted at Indie Beauty Expo in 2017 and have been a loyalist ever since. I like these invisible-looking ones in particular, which have thinner edges than the original and melt seamlessly into skin.
If you’re in need of a functional moisturizer that will moisturize and soothe skin, I’m a big fan of the Aveeno Daily Moisturizer, which has become my go-to over the past few months. It hits the sweet spot of being moisturizing but not heavy and is ideal for year-round use.
The brand’s oat body oil, which has gone viral on Showertok (a corner of the internet that chronicles their shower routine) is also 50 percent off.
We’ve been recommending the Neutrogena Hydro-Boost moisturizer for years, so it’s good news that the eye cream is on sale (and also very good). I’ve previously recommended it as a good moisturizing option because it’s mostly hyaluronic acid and offers an added boost of hydration in the under-eye area.
This moisturizer from acne-zapping brand Differin (their claim to fame is adapalene) works well for oily, acne-prone skin because it utilizes micropearl technology, which absorbs excess sebum and also gives skin a matte finish.
A 60-day supply of adapalene, a topical retinoid that’s particularly effective for acne, is now cheaper thanks to the sale. Adapalene addresses acne at the root and works just as well as pricier products.
This acne-fighting cleanser contains a high amount of benzoyl peroxide and is especially good for stubborn areas or parts of the body with thicker skin, like the butt.
Lots of CosRX is on sale, including this moisturizer, which Rio has said is “one of the best affordable, ultrarich creams for winter.”
This beloved essence is a beauty enthusiast favorite for a reason. It’s mostly made up of snail mucin, which is well-tolerated by most people. The ingredient, which comes from the slime trail snails leave behind, is packed with vitamins and hyaluronic acid, which helps skin stay hydrated.
For snail mucin newbies, Dr. Sam Ellis likes the face cream moisturizer because he says it’s easier to incorporate than an essence.
Self-tanner has a reputation for being messy to apply but this one dries quickly, doesn’t dehydrate skin, and gives your skin a just-got-back-from-a-Euro-summer look.
Hair Care
This hydrating hair mask, which we’ve written about dozens of times, is a favorite of Crown Affair founder Dianna Cohen. “Vitamin E restores the protein and keratin of your hair, which in turn makes it shinier and silkier without clogging your scalp or causing buildup,” she says, noting that the mask works well for a wide range of hair types.
The Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie is a curly-hair staple and works especially well for looser-curl types because of its thicker texture, which helps to “freeze” hair in place.
Strategist writer Rachael Griffiths says the Verb Ghost Conditioner is her favorite conditioner of all time. “It’s ultramoisturizing without ever weighing the hair down,” she says. Kelsie Schrader, the Strategist’s managing editor, is also a fan and says her hair isn’t the same if she uses anything else.
Verb also makes our favorite hair oil. It contains moringa and argan oils — standard hair-oil fare — along with lesser-known bamboo extract, which contains lots of silica, a strengthening ingredient. I’m personally a big fan of the oil and am impressed by its spread, I only need one pump for my entire head.
Made with keratin, marshmallow root, shea butter, and avocado oil, this nourishing shampoo and conditioner set from Ouai is formulated to strengthen and add volume to fine hair.
And for getting hair squeaky clean, the Ouai Detox Shampoo works impressively well. Rio started using it after loading up on too much dry shampoo and says it left her hair looking, “soft, bouncy, and voluminous.”
I’ve been a Dyson blow-dryer evangelist for years. I never have to worry about it frying my hair, thanks to smart temperature control, and it dries my hair quicker than any other hair tool I’ve used. Plus it’s our top pick for blow dryers, and writer Dominique Pariso also sings its praises: “Of all the hair dryers I’ve tried in my life, the Dyson is far and away the best,” she says.
And if you’re in the market for a heat tool that turns wet hair straight, the Dyson AirStrait uses airflow to smooth the hair strand and combines drying and straightening hair into a single step. This bundle also includes a stand to hold the straightener when it isn’t in use and a bag to take it on the go.
As far as blow-dry brushes go, there’s a reason this one consistently tops the list. It’s beloved by curly and thick hair types especially because it creates tension at the root and then smooths the hair.
We like this curling iron from BaByliss for thick hair, which goes all the way up to 450 degrees and has ceramic plates, which evenly distributes heat across the hair strand.
Hairstylist Yene Damtew, whose client list includes Michelle Obama, is a fan of GHD flat irons because they’re sleek, lightweight, and good at creating a range of hairstyles without damaging hair.
Billed as a lip gloss for your hair, it’s made up of a blend of safflower oil, sunflower oil, and vitamin C and leaves hair soft, bouncy, and frizz free.
Makeup
The Stila Liquid liner is gold-medalist approved. It’s a favorite of Olympian Laurie Hernandez, who has been using it since she was 16. “Any photos from the Olympics of me as a teenager with eyeliner on, it’s this one,” she says.
Few eye-shadow palettes are as iconic than the Urban Decay Naked line. I remember releases feeling like major cultural events, sparking hundreds if not thousands of YouTube videos reviewing the latest shimmery, neutral palette. Though the hype has quelled, the product is still good — and it’s 30 percent off.
The warm-toned Naked Heat palette, which celebrity makeup artist Mylah Morales, who regularly works with Rihanna and Taraji P. Henson, says is “a great everyday palette for all ages,” is even cheaper and offers a mix of matte and shimmery shades that work well on a wide range of skin tones.
We’ve been recommending the Anastasia Brow Wiz since 2017. The fine-tipped eyebrow pencil is great for creating thin, hair-like strokes and defining overall eyebrow shape.
This brow gel from the brand is also exceptional. Its made fans of celebrities like Hailee Steinfeld and Devon Lee Carlson, who are impressed by its staying power. “I put it on in the morning and I’m good all day. It doesn’t get flaky,” Steinfeld says.
And to create that laminated, soap-brow look, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze locks hairs into place. Claudia Soare, Anastasia’s daughter and the CEO of ABH, says she has the “straightest hair in the world,” and that this is the only product that gets the hair to stay up all day long.
Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star Lisa Barlow found out about NYX Butter Gloss from her makeup artist Morgan Fay and has since bought a bunch. She likes the shade Madeleine, which she describes as the perfect pinky brown.
“Compared to other mascaras, this adds so much more volume, and I find that it lasts all day long,” says model Chanel Iman of the Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, which we’ve said is the best for achieving a dramatic lash. It’s ultra-dark and buildable, so you can add a bunch of layers without creating clumpy lashes.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
