While fall technically starts at the end of September it often doesn’t actually feel like it until we’re well into October. Here at NBC Selected, the true signs of fall are easy to spot, not just by a breeze in the air or the crunch of leaves, but by how many seasonal sales take place.
Earlier this month, we wrote about hundreds of deals during fall Prime Day, and even shopped a bunch of them ourselves. Over the course of several sale events — including Target Circle Deal Days and Walmart’s major fall sale — we wrote about, bought and tested products from categories like footwear, beauty, apparel, skin care, appliances and more.
Below, my colleagues and I recommend the products we tested and truly believe are worth sharing. Some of the brands we loved this month include Adidas, Jellycat, Anyday and Bombas.
The best products we tried in October 2026
All of the products below were either sent courtesy of the brand for testing or items that we bought ourselves.
Cory Fernandez, commerce editor
These shoes have been the ultimate casual sneaker for a few years now and every once in a while I’m inspired to shop for a new color. I recently bought a pair in a brown and white shade that would be perfect to pair with fall fits, including dark-wash jeans and jewel-toned sweaters. They’re comfortable and provide a small amount of arch support, though they’re definitely better suited for weekday commutes rather than long-distance walks. I love that they come with an extra pair of shoe laces and that the laces are long, which makes them easy to double knot. Plus, I enjoy the suede appearance over the leather — something about it feels more cozy and appropriate for this season.
Ahead of the holidays and fall hosting season, this brand sent me its marvelous gift basket, which I think is the ultimate gift for a host or anyone you want to say thank you to. It’s filled with tons of salty and sweet snacks, including honey-roasted peanuts, olives, hummus, sesame treats, spreadable cheese and a bunch of international sweets, like mini cakes made in Spain and fruit jellies from Italy. Everything that comes in it would pair well with a rich fall-friendly red wine like a Rioja or Beaujolais, and the brand sells many wine gift baskets as well.
Marilyn La Jeunesse, freelance newsletter editor
It’s cardigan season, and this Merino wool number from Abercrombie is the perfect amount of plush and chic. While the exact one I received from the brand is now out of stock, this wool-blend option is a comparable alternative — the notable differences are the roll neck and tiny white buttons. Either way, the bright cherry red option is absolutely gorgeous — and an unexpected choice for fall that feels trendy. I’d recommend sizing down if you don’t want an oversized fit.
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I absolutely hate jean shopping. As someone with an hourglass figure, most jeans leave a massive waist gap, which happens when denim cuts don’t match a higher hip-to-waist ratio. I took a chance on a pair of Gap’s Curvy High Rise Barrel Jeans, ordering them in a 29 petite. I didn’t have high hopes, but I was genuinely shocked when the jeans fit perfectly (and looked good on my body). I love them so much, I bought them in two other colors and will be wearing them on rotation throughout the fall and winter.
As my cats age, I’m trying to find them supplements that they’ll actually consume. They’re notoriously picky eaters, which makes it hard to invest in high-end oils without feeling like I’m wasting money. When Open Farm offered to send me a few samples, I knew I wanted to test out their Icelandic fish oil (which they make for both cats and dogs). I started mixing it into their wet food in the mornings and, to my surprise, they’ve actually been eating it. The oil (which doesn’t have any fishy odor) is packed with omegas, which helps joint mobility, skin and coat health and brain function. I feel better knowing that they’re getting a little extra nourishment in every meal.
When Jellycat invites you to a Halloween party, you go. Dressed as a tired New Yorker (I definitely forgot a real costume), I loved the fully immersive event, complete with donut decorating, a Dylan’s Candy Bar buffet and a massive amount of — you guessed it — Jellycats. This year’s Halloween collection included adorable stuffed bats, gargoyles, peanuts dressed as black cats and so much more. At the end of the night, I was gifted a Rufferty Puppy ‘Wizard’ and an Amuseables Vampop Drink, both of which now sit on my bookshelf and are a welcome addition to my ever-expanding collection of Halloween decor.
Shalwah Evans, senior editor
At this point, Adidas needs to make me an ambassador because it seems they can’t make a shoe that I don’t like. NBC Selected reporter Zoe Malin gifted these to me and the second I stepped out of my apartment the first time I wore them, someone said they were “cool-looking” shoes and asked me if they were comfy. And the answer is yes — they’re so comfortable, the break-in was about two hours and that’s only because the leather is a little stiff on the first wear. They’re the ideal commuter shoe for someone who lives in a city like NYC where you ride the train to work, refuse to do it in your heels, but still want to look good. These will probably become my main travel shoes since they’re soft, cozy and come off and back on easily.
I got this face cream more than a year ago when it first launched, directly from founders Cynthia Bailey (yep, that Cynthia Bailey) and Dana Hill-Robinson to try it out and I instantly fell in love. It’s a very rich cream but it doesn’t leave my face oily or clog my very large pores. My skin is quite reactive so it will immediately let me know if something is bad or good for it, and this face cream got one of the best responses. It smells nice, it glides on with a smooth creaminess that feels like some luxe brands I’ve used in the past (I’m talking $250 moisturizers), and it absorbs quickly — a huge plus for someone (like me) who carves out very little time from waking up to getting out the door. I recently bought it and used it all up because my skin was very dry from an aggressive treatment I did to get rid of a breakout and this restored its balance in just one month.
Mili Godio, commerce editor
As a longtime Giggler, I’m a huge fan of ‘Bravolebrities’ Paige DeSorbo and Hannah Berner. So, when DeSorbo released the Hannah Collection for her loungewear line Daphne earlier this year, I knew I had to try it out for myself. This set exceeded my expectations: It’s super soft, stretchy and helps replace my usual oversized shirt and sweatpants with something I actually feel cute in. Plus, the matching set and neutral color makes me feel like I have my life together. The pants are definitely too long (I’m 5 foot 3, for reference), but since they’re for lounging, I don’t really mind.
As a beauty editor, I’ve tried my fair share of body creams and lotions, so it takes a lot to impress me. This Kiehl’s body butter, which the brand sent me to try ahead of its September launch, is one of my favorites I’ve used all year. It’s super thick but melts into my skin in minutes, leaving it unbelievably soft and smooth. And I don’t need to use a lot to get the moisture I need, so the tub is going to last me months. There are three body butters in the collection: Creme de Énergique (bergamot and goji berry), Creme de Tranquilitê (black tea) and Creme de Amour (sandalwood and fig). They all smell and feel amazing, but the Creme de Amour is my favorite of the trio; the scent is unmatched, and the light pink color adds a little whimsy to my day.
Ashley Morris, associate reporter, SEO
Ever since I started taking the gym more seriously, I’ve started experiencing breakouts on my back, which is pretty typical when someone with oily, acne-prone skin like mine begins regularly sweating excessively. So I started using this Dermalogica spray, and the results have definitely paid off. Where I used to constantly have patches of texture, or even bigger, cystic acne bumps, my skin is now smooth, and I only get the occasional breakout or bump or two. I spray it after every shower, and sometimes right after I finish a workout, especially if I’m running errands afterwards — I also like that it helps fade the acne scars on my back a bit as well.
I started using this lip oil while testing for a story, and as a (self-)certified lip gloss connoisseur, I can say with authority that this is one of the best glosses on the market. It covers all the basic must-haves: hydrating, non-sticky and long-lasting. But what really makes it so great is the color payoff. It’s pigmented enough to wear with a lip liner and a full face of makeup, yet the shade range is wide enough that you can also find the perfect nude for everyday, bare-faced looks. At this point I keep multiple in each bag, but the Coconut shade is definitely one of my favorites.
Jem Alabi, editorial operations associate
Save Khaki United sent me this striped tee to try, and it’s quickly become one of the most-worn tops in my closet. The boxy, relaxed silhouette is incredibly flattering without feeling tight, and the organic cotton, hemp and recycled polyester blend is laundered for an especially soft feel. I’ve washed mine about a dozen times at this point, and it still feels just as good as when I first got it.
TikTok made me buy this one. After spotting someone wearing Fenty Beauty’s Gloss Bomb Stix in the shade $weet Whiskey, a rich mahogany color, I immediately added it to my cart, and it has since become my perfect fall lip color. It gives the pigment of a lipstick with the juicy shine of a gloss, but without the sticky feel. The formula also contains squalane, vitamin E and shea butter and is designed to lock in moisture for up to eight hours.
There’s something about this sweater that reminds me of the sturdy, well-made knits my parents wore in the ’90s, which is exactly why I love it. It has a relaxed fit and slightly cropped silhouette, but it’s not so short that I have to worry about showing skin. The textured waffle knit makes a simple black sweater feel a little more elevated, and I’ve found it easy to dress up or down. It’s the kind of basic I know I’ll reach for all winter. The brand sent me this sweater to try.
I’m admittedly a sucker for a good-smelling hair product, and the fruity-floral scent is what initially won me over with this Lador oil. It has notes of apricot, jasmine and orris, but there’s more to it than the fragrance: The lightweight formula is designed to add moisture and shine while helping tame frizz and flyaways. I like it so much that Lador’s perfumed shampoo is next on my list to try. Plus, it’s currently part of Ulta’s Early Black Friday sale for $25.20, down from $36.
This dry shampoo has become such a staple in my morning routine that I keep a travel-sized bottle at my desk. Instead of the powdery formula you may associate with traditional dry shampoo, this is a lightweight, water-based spray that dries transparent without leaving behind any chalky residue or making hair stiff. I especially love using it to help tame my frizz and soothe my dry scalp, and the cooling, fresh feel is an added bonus. It’s also currently 30% off at Ulta, bringing the price down to $15.40.
As a K-pop fan, I’m constantly spotting Korean clothing brands I want to try, but getting my hands on them in the U.S. isn’t always easy. That’s what led me to Musinsa, where I found this Muarmus jacket. It was a bit of a splurge, but the rich dark navy color immediately sold me. The faux leather doesn’t look cheap or tacky, the construction feels great and I love the silhouette. It’s become one of my favorite lightweight layers for transitional weather, and I regularly get compliments on both the fit and color.
Zoe Malin, reporter
Ever since Duer sent me these jeans to test, I’ve been ignoring all the other pairs in my closet. They’re made from some of the softest, most comfortable denim I’ve ever worn, and I’ve happily spent 12 hours wearing them — I genuinely don’t want to take them off. I also find their barrel shape flattering. It’s just relaxed enough without feeling baggy or frumpy, and just tailored enough to look chic. I have the dark-wash color, which I prefer for the colder seasons, but there’s a light wash, too. I’ve washed the jeans a few times and they haven’t lost their feel at all.
I’ve had a hard time finding my 1-year-old, 8-pound dog Mabel a raincoat that fits her properly, is easy to put on and take off, and actually keeps her dry. I must have bought and returned at least five options by now — none of them have impressed me. But grandma knows best: My mom bought her Ruffwear’s Sun Shower Dog Raincoat this month and it checks all our boxes. It easily slips over her head and stays put on her body thanks to secure snap-closure straps and leg loops. The coat is a bit longer by the hips and thighs to keep her extra dry, plus it has an extended collar I can fold up to protect her neck from water. I put the raincoat over her harness since it has a leash portal on the back. And best of all, Mabel genuinely enjoys wearing it, and looks adorable in it.
I can’t stand when a bra is advertised as a “minimizer,” yet it doesn’t actually do any minimizing. Thankfully, that’s not the case with this one from Soma, which the brand sent me to test. From the first time I wore it, I noticed that my chest appeared and felt smaller, more secure and smoother under clothes, especially in form-fitting tops, dresses and button-down shirts. The bra is incredibly comfortable, too. It doesn’t dig in or pinch anywhere, and it doesn’t feel restrictive, which is part due to the flexible, unlined mesh cups. I can wear it for hours and practically forget it’s there — that’s the ultimate goal.
Bethany Heitman, commerce editor
Growing up, my mom always got us the coolest Advent calendars and I’ve continued the tradition with my own kids. Not wanting to be left out of the fun, I also get my husband and myself one. This year, I chose this Sockerbit option as mine. I had received a PR email months ago alerting me to the fact that the Swedish candy company would be putting one out and made a mental note to order one when they were released — my Spidey senses told me this will be a hot item this year and I didn’t want to miss out. The box is gorgeous and it is filled with two pounds of gummies — including lots of sour options. The hardest part is waiting until Dec. 1 to start opening the doors.
I live in the suburbs of New Jersey, where cave crickets run rampant. Never heard of them? They look like a mix between a dinosaur and a grasshopper. These huge, jumping bugs give me the serious ick and they commonly congregate in basements because they like dark, damp places. One way to mitigate their presence is with a dehumidifier. The one we have in our basement recently broke, so I was on the hunt for a new one. After reading endless reviews, I landed on this model from Zafro. It removes up to 150 pints of moisture daily across 7,500 square feet (great for our large basement) and is Energy Star certified. It’s also quiet and can be controlled via the brand’s app. Since I plugged it in, I haven’t seen a single cave cricket, which is the true win for me.
I bought these boots for my husband, a man who wears his shoes until there are literal holes in the soles before even considering something new. His feet get freezing cold every winter, so the second I saw these, I knew they were perfect. The plush shearling lining is soft and fuzzy, the cushioned lug sole handles frigid walks to school with our daughter, and they keep him warm in the yard with our son, who insists on playing outside in any weather. Best of all, the silhouette is sleek enough that they never look clunky.
I love a fidget toy and keep a whole bin of them at my desk for brainstorming sessions or whenever my hands need something to do. Putty is usually my go-to (shoutout to Crazy Aaron’s), but I was intrigued by this magnetic “putty” made of 150+ tiny, matte-coated stones. The little pebbles have such a fun texture when I mush them around in my palm, and they pack neatly into a magnetic tin.
Monica + Andy may be best known for its baby clothes, but the brand just released a line of baby skin care. It sent me the full line to try, and the Soothing Baby Balm was by far the standout. As a mom, I can tell you a good balm is one of the best tools in your baby skin care arsenal. A good formulation soothes irritated patches, helps with dryness and so much more. My 5-year-old has sensitive skin, and when the button on her jeans irritated a spot on her torso, this fragrance-free balm made the redness disappear almost instantly. She’s a tough critic and hates anything that feels greasy or sticky. But she loved this balm and said it made her skin feel “so much better.”
Caitlin Cusack, associate social media editor
My old steamer recently broke while I was using it, so I decided it was time to invest in a reliable one. This steamer from Nori is by far the best one I’ve ever tried. It heats up in just a couple minutes and quickly takes all of the wrinkles out of my clothes — I’ve used this on light cotton, denim, heavy sweatshirts and even satin dresses. My favorite part is that the water tank is on the very bottom, so I’m not spilling water everywhere every time I try to refill the tank. It’s also clear, so I can easily see when I need to refill it.
As a longtime fan of the similar Revlon One-Step Styling Brush, I was super excited to put the new Dyson AirSmooth Styling Brush to the test. My favorite part about the Dyson brush is the anti-snag bristles that are made completely of rubber. They don’t tug on my hair as much as other brushes I’ve tried, and they do a great job of taming frizz immediately. I’m able to blow out my hair in less than 10 minutes, which is basically half the time of other blow dryer brushes I’ve tried. While $250 is definitely a lot of money for a styling tool, it’s Dyson’s least expensive hair styling product and I think it’s worth it for anyone that styles their hair more than once a week.
Pasta is one of my favorite foods — I probably cook it at least once or twice a week. Before I got this clip-on pasta strainer, I was using a large colander to strain (which definitely wasn’t the easiest thing to store in my tiny NYC kitchen). This is only about 6 inches long, so it can fit in almost any cabinet or drawer. It clips onto the side of your pot and catches the pasta as you pour out the water — so you don’t have to struggle to pour with one hand and hold your colander with the other. It easily drains the water and your pasta stays in the pot you cooked it in. Plus, the silicone material is heat-resistant and dishwasher-safe. I’ve definitely saved a ton of space and time since I got this less than $20 gadget.
I use a blow dryer brush on my hair around three to four times a week, so I’m no stranger to breakage and split ends. I didn’t realize how much I needed a serum like this until Nutrafol sent me this one to try. It’s lightweight, super potent and does a wonderful job of smoothing out my hair immediately after I apply it. I like to use this right after washing my hair, then again after I style with my blow dryer. My hair always feels so much softer and easier to manage, and after using this for the last few weeks, I’ve genuinely noticed less breakage, fewer split ends and less frizz. The price point is a little steep for a hair serum, but a little definitely goes a long way, so I think that it’s worth the investment since I’ll have this bottle for a while.
Brown is definitely my favorite color to wear during the fall, so I was super excited to try this rich chocolate tote from Aldo. I like to stuff my work bag with a ton of stuff, but hate when it gets too bulky to carry onto the crowded subways and on my walk to the office. This has three large pockets that can fit my water bottle, coffee mug, lunch and more, plus a separate sleeve for my 13-inch laptop. For me, the only thing that’s missing is one or two more internal pockets for smaller things like my keys and work ID. But, for less than $100, this tote is a great pick for anyone that wants a cute, sturdy work bag that won’t bust their budget.
Kailey Sigoda, intern
I recently bought these Franz pimple patches so I could finally stop wearing makeup directly on my breakouts. During Amazon Prime Day earlier this month, I bought the Dr. Melaxin patches, which are known for being ultra-thin and invisible under makeup. After trying both brands, I’ve found they are nearly identical and work great, but Franz does the job at half the price. They are 0.01 millimeters thick, so they easily hide underneath concealer while protecting my blemishes. So far, my breakouts have been healing one to two days faster since I’m exposing them to fewer external irritants.
These makeup sponges were extremely popular in 2016, and one of the first makeup tools I owned. I’ve been using them practically everyday since to blend out concealer and set my face powder. While I try to wash them regularly, I’ve had my most recent sponge longer than I’d like to admit, so it was time for a fresh one.
Kara Birnbaum, associate art director
This shirt is the perfect elevated basic. The structure creates such a nice silhouette and the cropped sleeves make this more interesting than your average button-up shirt. I love the design and the floral print on top of the stripes is so lovely and takes the shirt to another level. It makes my office outfits more fun while still remaining professional. The brand also says that each purchase allows them to give back to their community in Egypt.
I own a pair of pants very similar to these from a much more expensive brand and they are some of my most-worn pants. I thought about buying more but spending upwards of $200 on one pair is not in my budget. These Gap pants fit me the exact same and they even have pockets. I love the stripe down the side and the satin texture — truly the best answer to being casual but also looking cool. They’re such a great alternative for a quarter of the price.
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Why trust NBC Selected?I’m a commerce editor at NBC Selected, who writes about home, kitchen and lifestyle products and appliances. I also write about deals and sale events, as well as shopping guides and explainers on retail loyalty programs and memberships. For this column, I reach out to my colleagues at NBC Selected monthly to round up all of the products we tried and recommend.
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