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Including the curling mascara that can only be described as “witchcraft.”

I'm a Shopping Editor who uses my passion for hitting "add to cart" (and my 8+ years in media) to curate the best products on the web — I'm particularly passionate about finding the best beauty products, which probably stems from my days of working at Lush Cosmetics, where I learned about effective skincare ingredients while getting covered in bath bomb dust every day.

Every month, we round up recommendations from writers and editors across BuzzFeed for products they've tried and love, to help you discover vetted things you might also love. Yes, these are our personal reviews! In our October 2026 edition, we're raving over all kinds of smart finds, including a supportive *and* comfy workout bra, a pimple-clearing stick from the makers of Mighty Patch, and a plastic bag dispenser that's about to change your organization game.

"I’m pretty sure this mascara is witchcraft. I walked two miles in an August MONSOON; I ruined my shoes, my bag, and almost ruined my laptop, but my mascara didn’t budge. 

Aside from the biblical downpour, the mascara holds up really nicely throughout the day, and I haven’t noticed any fallout or raccoon eyes at the end of the day. I have sensitive eyes, and this product didn’t bother me, which is great. It’s a very thin brush, so you can go for a subtle 'my lashes are just naturally long and dark' look or build it up for a nice fluttery effect. Plus, it allows you to get really into your lower lashes and pesky inner corners. I even fell asleep with it on last night (sorry, skincare gurus!) and my lashes still looked pretty good when I woke up. This has definitely become a makeup bag staple!" —Remy Tepner

Get it from Amazon for $12.79+ (available in two colors and a volumizing formula).

"This adorable little crustacean holds securely on my small and medium pots for veggies and pastas, and comes out sparkling from the dishwasher top rack every time. I’ve used it consistently for several years, and it still looks new. For rare BIG vats of pasta, I still use an in-sink strainer, but for 95% of what I make, this has replaced that." —Natalie Brown

"I live in New York City, where, like many places, you can no longer get plastic bags at a store, and there's a fee for any other kind of bag you'd get at the store. But the thing is, those plastic grocery bags make the perfect bin liners for my small trash can, and I cook at home almost every day, so I'm constantly taking out a bag of trash. So I'm constantly going through these small-scale bags, and even make my mom save hers for me, and resigned to just storing them all within one big one in a ball underneath my kitchen sink after lackluster experiences with the IKEA bag dispenser, and this popular wall-mounted dispenser. But I think I may have found my product match with this beaut. As you can see, here's the mass of bags I had scurried away without a holder (Lysol can for scale), and I was able to fit 46 of them inside this holder. The product listing promises it'll hold up to 40. But I was determined and was able to fit all but three of my saved bags in there! It's super sturdy and stands up just fine in my cabinet when I reach in to pull out a bag. And it's pretty slim, so I didn't have to shuffle around my cleaning products as much as I assumed I would." —Elizabeth Lilly

"I have very small shoulders and very big boobs, so finding any bra is a challenge, let alone a sports bra, let alone a high-impact sports bra. Lululemon answered my prayers!! My current Energy bra has lasted three years, holds up through five intense workouts every week, and still looks and feels like I just bought it. The only reason I even got a new one three years ago was that I had lost weight and needed a smaller size, but the first bra was still fully supportive during that awkward in-between phase.

Most importantly, this bra has amazing support: fully adjustable straps and a three-hook back clasp have me feeling strapped in and secure through runs, hikes, and even four hours of line dancing. The underwire is described as 'soft and brushed,' and I’m not entirely sure what that means, but it’s not hard and uncomfortable, so I’ve never been poked or chafed, regardless of what position I’ve twisted myself into. Lastly — and this is a big one — NO UNIBOOB!! The molded cups (yeah, that’s right, f*** you removable cups) lift and separate, so I could wear this bra under a T-shirt or sweater and look totally normal — arguably better than normal because the girls are hoisted up.

TLDR: your boobs will thank you." —Remy Tepner

Get it from Lululemon for $68 (available in sizes 32B–40D and five colors).

"As someone who has to sleep with a sleep mask to get some solid shut-eye, I'm going through sleep masks like it's my job. Some are great, but they often don't block out light 100% of the time. However, when I got to try the Loop Eclipse, I was incredibly impressed by how comfortable it was and that it actually blocked out light — seriously, no bits of light peeking through the mask. Even my husband, who was a sleep mask denier, has finally been converted after using it. He normally doesn't like to wear eye masks because they can feel too tight around the head, but since this one has adjustable straps, he can wear it however he pleases, AND now I have to fight for the sleep mask when I never had that problem before." —Raven Ishak

Get it from Amazon for $49.95 (available in two colors).

"The brand sent me a sample of their current array of flavors to try: Classic Oat, Dark Chocolate Chip, White Chocolate Raspberry, and Salted Peanut, and y'all... every flavor was BOMB DOT COM! I'm not even a hard cookie fan like that, but my boyfriend and I ran through these four boxes like water (lol). Real talk, I was lucky to even get a taste of the dark chocolate chip ones because of how quickly my man devoured them. Joy Supply has truly mastered how to make a cookie with the perfect amount of sweetness. I am not a big sugar fan. I prefer my cookies to be more on the decadent side than super sweet, and I feel like these have such a great balance of salty and sweet. Also love that they were made with high-quality ingredients. Would happily indulge in these again!" —Daysha Edewi

Get three boxes for $27 (also available in three other flavors).

"This dress deserves AWARDS!! I love an exercise dress as much as the next person, and I’ve tried several, from name-brand to bargain bin. They have all been okay, but either the bodysuit was too long and loose, or the straps were as supportive as floss. And don’t even get me started on the removable pads.

Enter: Popflex. Bodysuit? Snug with a normal length. Straps? Thick and adjustable. Removable cups? Okay, yes, there are removable cups, but they were big enough to actually provide shape and support and didn’t get all folded and weird.

Popflex is woman- and AAPI-owned, and it’s so clear how much thought the founder puts into her products. Everything from the princess seam under the bust and the really cute leg slit to the ultra-stretchy pockets and the anti-camel-toe design shows that this is a dress by women, for women. I’ve practically lived in this dress over the last two summers and have been comfortable, cool, and cute the entire time." —Remy Tepner

Get it from Popflex for $94 (available in women's sizes XXS–3X and 13 colors).

"So, my dental hygienist and I have discussed that I might just be one of those unfortunate souls that generate plaque more quickly than others, which is a bummer because paying for extra cleanings is not fun. So, I decided to look for other ways to help calm down all that plaque that's constantly brewing in my mouth and discovered this pre-brush rinse by TheraBreath. I've heard wonderful things about the brand, but I always approach using things like this with skepticism. And lemme tell y'all... I'm SO glad I gave this a chance! My mouth has never felt so clean — even if I have a night where I forget or am too tired to brush. In the past, if that happened, I could literally feel the plaque buildup by the next morning. But with this, my teeth still feel so clean. I even got my boyfriend hooked. I'm so curious to see what my hygienist thinks when I see her next!" —Daysha Edewi

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $17.02 (also available in a four pack).

"These have become my new favorite jeans! I’m really starting to love the wide-leg style, and the material is super soft and comfortable on my skin. The waistband hugs my hips perfectly and has just the right amount of stretch. It stays secure without feeling loose, but when I eat a big meal, I don't feel the need to unbutton them!" —Brittney Trinh

Get it from Carve Designs for $124 (available in women's sizes 0–14 and 13 colors).

"I'm not usually a fan of lip oils because they tend to have issues staying put; however, this one from Typology doesn't bleed. It's incredibly smooth and hydrating (with squalane, jojoba oil, and vitamin E) on the lips, and doesn't feel sticky at all. I also love that it's scent-free and buildable, so you can add a touch for a subtle look or pack it on for full color. I tried the color Tomato Red, which is also great to add to the apples of your cheeks for a natural 'blushing' look." —Raven Ishak

Get it from Typology for $32.50 (available in seven shades).

"I recently tried this and wow, y'all — the shimmer is perfect; much more like you are glowing and sun-kissed than a glitter bomb went off (which I very much prefer). But what really gets me when I put this on is the SMELL. It smells so luxe and light. And it's funny because I typically don't care for floral scents, but this has a lil' body to it that I really enjoy. And then the oil, overall, is very lightweight and doesn't leave behind a greasy finish." —Daysha Edewi

Get it from Amazon for $38+ (available in two sizes).

"I've been testing out this pimple-clearing pen for the better part of the year, and I don't think I can live without it. Whenever I have a tiny pimple pop up, I dab on the product (which is made with lactic acid, azelaic acid, and 2% salicylic acid), and no joke, the pimple is pretty much gone the next day. I don't think I've had to worry about a pimple getting out of control since I've had this pen in my arsenal — and a little goes a very long way." —Raven Ishak

"This sunscreen is so good! It smells amazing, leaves no white cast, and gives your skin the prettiest, subtlest glow. I brought it with me for a full day at Disneyland and loved how compact and sturdy it is. I never worried about it leaking in my bag, and the bright purple packaging made it super easy to spot when it was time to reapply. When sprayed, it feels lightweight and non-greasy, leaving my skin noticeably smoother." —Brittney Trinh

Get it from Target for $18, Ulta for $12.60 (originally $18), and Nordstrom for $18.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.