The 7 Best Beauty Products to Try in October

After spending months in the summer sun, I’m looking for ways to brighten up my complexion—which is exactly what Dr. Gross’s latest collection aims to do. Featuring a potent duo of vitamin C and lactic acid, the five-piece line seeks to tackle visible signs of sun damage and even out your overall tone and texture without causing any irritation. Of the quintet, I’ve been getting the most use out of this lightweight moisturizer, which has a thin, serum-like consistency that sinks into your skin instantly, leaving you with an incandescent glow.

Speaking of brightening things up, if you’re in the market for an eye cream that softens dark circles and hydrates the skin around your eyes without pilling underneath your makeup, allow us to introduce you to this little delight. Housed in a palm-sized, pink jar with a handy pump dispenser, this eye cream is packed with 10 percent encapsulated vitamin C complex, niacinamide, caffeine and peptides, to make your eyes look brighter and less puffy.

OK, so technically I got this candle sometime during the summer, but I had to mention it here because, months later, my love for it has only grown. It has a subtly sweet scent with notes of orange blossom and garden herbs that makes your home smell clean and inviting. Seriously, I’ve burned many a fancy candle in my home throughout the years, and I have never gotten as many comments from visiting friends as I have with this one. The understated kiln-fired ceramic vessel adds a nice touch, too, as it seamlessly blends in wherever you place it.

Got combination skin that causes your makeup wear off unevenly throughout the day? Give this primer a try. It has a velvety formula that glides onto your skin, smoothing over any textured areas, while tamping down excess shine in your hotspots (i.e, the forehead and around your nose). Though I was initially hesitant to the idea of adding another step to my routine, I’ve found that using this primer allows me to wear less makeup overall and get better wear time from it.

If you prefer a clean, well-defined lash that reads more “everyday look” than “girls’ night out,” you’ll appreciate this mascara. It has a silky formula that’s easy to build and impossible to overdo, in part thanks to the triple-layered wand that distributes the pigment evenly onto every last lash without clumping. The panthenol, vitamin B5 and castor oil blend also lends a nice sheen to your lashes and keeps them fluffy and soft.

Sure, it’s labeled as a pregame setting spray, but I use it throughout the day for various reasons: on bare skin first thing in the morning for a quick hydration boost, to revive makeup that’s been on for hours or—my favorite way to use it—as a mid-day pick-me-up (you know, when my eyes have crossed from staring at a computer screen for too long). Either way, the 10 percent glycerin, allantoin and centella extract in the formula keeps my skin refreshed.

What can I say? I’m a sucker for an all-purpose balm—especially one that’s inspired by French beauty. This one is formulated with castor oil, aloe vera and vitamin E and can be used anywhere you have dry skin. I apply it to my lips the most, but have also used it on dry elbows and knees, and to soothe the occasional eczema flare up. (Also of note: The balm is EWG VERIFIED, which means it meets the Environmental Working Group’s strictest criteria and is free of certain ingredients and chemicals that may be of concern.)