Own October With These Life-Changing New Beauty Buys

Admitted: I have a serious crush on NYC jewelry designer Alexis Bittar. It's not a Ryan Gosling-type of thing — but rather, I've been obsessed with his statement jewelry for years. So when he teamed up with Sephora on three holiday pieces (a brush set, a travel brush and case, and a luxe mirror), I was pumped. My favorite pick out of the Studio 54-inspired offering is this brush and bag set ($58, available Oct. 16). The brush has the softest bristles set against a 24-karat plated gold and lucite handle studded with Swarovski crystals. The suede pouch is perfect for toting the blush tool or your baubles.

Fine. Scoff at me. I'm the same gal who spent $62 on Armani foundation, only to drop and break it a week later — then went and purchased another. (I'm not proud.) But as my mother puts it, I tend to gravitate towards the most expensive thing in the room . . . and right now Dolce & Gabbana's The Lift Foundation ($72) is the crème de la crème of coverage products out there.

I like my foundation to look like a second skin — not cakey. I'd like to be able to wear it on camera, so it has to provide ample coverage. And mostly, I want something that offers skin care benefits in addition to coverage. The Lift Foundation includes gold silk sericin extracts, Italian olive oil, and vitamin B3, which all work to moisturize, smooth fine lines, and improve the skin's texture (in about four weeks). I've only been using it for a week, but my dry skin already loves it!

I was blessed with pretty good skin, but when the leaves change, my complexion does, too. I look tired and sallow (not just a side effect of late-night Netflix bingeing!), and lots of little flakes start cropping up and ruining my foundation application. But one application of Boscia's Bright White Mask ($38) has my skin looking completely luminous. The formula's Stay C-50, a form of vitamin C, repairs signs of skin damage caused by UV — which may not totally get me off the hook for forgetting SPF on occasion this Summer but definitely helps. And, since you peel it off, all those flakes go with it, leaving me perfectly smooth.

Rose water and rose oil are my latest obsession after a few models mentioned they spritz with the stuff. When the Gülsha Rose Distillate ($16) came across my desk, I started to brainstorm all the ways I could use it. I mist my face with this fragrant water before applying foundation in the morning and after removing my makeup at night. I also spray my curls down with the stuff to keep my hair moisturized between washes. Smelling like a British garden is just one of the unexpected perks.

There's a new oil cleanser on the market, and it's a game-changer. Tata Harper's oil cleanser ($64) can be used as a makeup remover when applied to a dry cotton pad; second, it can be mixed with water as a regular face wash. Pretty genius. Celebrity favorite and natural product guru Harper mixed an intoxicating blend of oils with major beauty benefits. Rosehip seed oil offers vitamins A and C and lycopene to prevent toxins from damaging the skin; argan oil infuses the face with antioxidants; and sacha inchi oil (a concentrated source of omega-3) hydrates. I have been using this for the past few weeks, and I can honestly say my skin looks brighter and feels more nourished. Plus, the nongreasy oil melts off my makeup at the end of a long day.

It's October, which means black anything and everything is fair game. I love a dramatic black lipstick, but I also like using it for what it's meant for — to deepen other shades.

Napoleon Perdis makes two options for you mixing mavens out there: Pro Lips Lipstick and Lip Gloss in Noir ($20). I like applying a deep red on top of the lipstick then glossing it up afterwards for a deep burgundy shade. Or, if I'm feeling a little moody, I'll use the lipstick and gloss alone to deepen my natural color.

When it comes to washing my face, I am seriously lazy. As in, often too lazy for wipes. But once it crossed my desk, I haven't skipped out on using Avène Micellar Lotion ($20). It's a toner, cleanser, and makeup remover all in one (really!) and manages all that without being remotely irritating. It feels just like water on the skin but leaves me feeling hydrated, nourished, and squeaky clean. I especially love it the morning after trying an intensive night treatment — it seems to take away any residue without going overboard.

They don't say "wake up and smell the roses" for nothing! When I am spritzing this rose-infused mist ($14) on my skin and hair, that's all I'm really thinking about. The multipurpose spray does everything from soften hair to refresh skin and set makeup. Plus, the floral fragrance is mood boosting — and I promise it doesn't have that old-lady stench. Rather, it smells like a mix of the beach and a Southern French garden. Mmmm . . .

The Caudalie Polyphenol C15 Overnight Oil ($52) smells so good, I might have attempted to slather it all over my body. But truthfully this elixir is too precious to waste on my elbows. This oil is mostly grape seed oil topped off with sweet almond, sandalwood, lavender, carrot, and more oils. With the fickle weather, dry patches have been popping up all over my face. At night I use six drops of this oil under a hydrating overnight mask. In the morning, I add a couple drops to my tinted moisturizer for a dewy (not greasy) finish.

You know how I know my skin is dry? Because I can slather on the heaviest cream in my repertoire — literally let it sit on top, without so much as rubbing it in — and my skin sucks it up like there's no tomorrow.

I've found cloth masks have been my saving grace. (At least when it comes to replenishing my skin with moisture.) Hada Labo Tokyo's Ultimate Anti-Aging Facial Masks (four for $15) are full of everything your skin needs in your late 20s: hyaluronic acid, soy peptides to help boost collagen production, and vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that protects your skin for cell deterioration. (Scary, right?)

Leave them on for 10 minutes — I like to apply after the shower, before I go to bed — then pat the serum into your skin and go to sleep!

I am a self-confessed Urban Decay junkie (seriously, that was my screen name in middle school), so the brand can pretty much do no wrong by me. The original Naked Basics is perfection in my book – matte neutral shadows, good range of shades, fits in the smallest handbag — so you know I love Naked Basics 2. ($29). If you're wondering if the two are different enough to merit owning both, the answer is a resounding yes! This palette contains hues cooler-toned than the original, but are creamy and pigmented enough to not look ashy on the skin.

I already believe in the power of an at-home peel to clear breakouts and brighten my complexion. Now the Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Medi-Spa Peel ($110) has become the keystone in my Sunday night skin care ritual. It's the quickest way to erase all my weekend sins (like too many margaritas). The pads come with dermatologist-grade acids to exfoliate skin, then the antiaging peptides smooth on after. On Monday morning, I wake up looking like I spent the weekend sleeping serenely in my studio.

Hands are often the forgotten area when it comes to antiaging skin care, but they should not be overlooked as they can show sun spots and wrinkles pretty quickly. I'm keeping my paws looking fresh with Clé de Peau Beauté Hand Cream ($75). The fancy new hand lotion has SPF 18 — remember, when you're in a jacket, your hands are still exposed to the sun. It's also packed with awesome ingredients! Damask rose water promotes collagen and targets fine lines, cherry leaf extract offers antioxidant benefits, and rose fruit extract brightens skin while combatting dark spots.



I met Deborah Lippmann last month at Olive & June's first anniversary party, where she was performing . . . as a singer! Boy does this woman have some pipes. I knew about her jazz background, but seeing it in person really put into perspective the many talents of Ms. Lippmann.

To commemorate her 15th anniversary and the Fall season, Deborah released 12 all-new shades in partnership with Barneys New York, including this little gem, When Doves Cry ($24). Besides the nod to Prince, it's become my fast favorite of the season because of the beautiful color — warm gray with a cream finish. I guarantee will be on my manicure throughout the Fall, into the Winter, and well into Spring 2015.

Juice's peels were the first I ever tried, so I was really excited to try the brand's new night treatment ($45). This formula is not for the sensitive of skin or faint of heart — it is strong and you may experience some irritation. That said, I love it. Each pad is soaked with powerful fruit acids to renew and exfoliate your skin, so any unwanted spots or stubborn crinkle lines don't stand a chance.

If you're into powder foundation for the Fall, you'll hit the jackpot with Nars All Day Luminous Powder Foundation ($48). I love powder foundation but dislike the mess it usually results in. Because this is a pressed powder, you can easily keep it in tow during a night out or at work for a quick touchup. Plus, no translucent powder is needed! There are 15 shades to choose from, which means you can easily find the best match for your skin tone.

Last month our beauty team was reporting from backstage at New York Fashion Week, but I brought some of the designer goods home with me in the Kilian x Veronica Beard Travel Set ($155). The box comes with four different fragrances along with a miniature atomizer. Each of the aromas was hand selected by Veronica Miele Beard and Veronica Swanson Beard to coordinate with the Spring 2015 collection. My favorite is the rosy floral scent of Liaisons Dangereuses, which I will be carrying on all my date night clutches.

I am too chicken to get highlights, but I love adding flecks of blond to my naturally brown locks. This new blowout cream from Tigi ($23) not only makes my hair supersleek, but contains gold mica to add a little sparkle to my style. The particles are superfine, so any excess on my palms gets added to my cheekbones for a natural, luminous highlight.

Whenever I mist Oribe's many amazing hair sprays into my long locks, I find my boyfriend sniffing my strands. The luxury hair care line is known for its intoxicating scents, so it makes sense that the brand is now venturing into fragrances. Oribe Cote d’Azur Eau de Parfum ($85) is my favorite, as it contains notes of citrus, plum tuberose, jasmine, sandalwood, and amber. The result is both sweet and musky — just like the cult hair products. Plus, it's meant to be spritzed in your locks or all over your body.

The Briogeo Curl Charisma Leave-In ($18) is like foundation, but for your hair. Applying this light cream before all my other styling products makes everything look better. My kinks don't get crunchy from the gels or greasy from the butters I add on top. Plus, curls I never knew I even had start to appear. With Fall weather arriving, my hair benefits from all the aloe and avocado oil. Oh, and did I mention it can pass even the most stringent "natural" product test?

My go-to Halloween costume? Webby Woman. All you need is eyeliner, some rhinestones, and you're good to go. And although I love getting decked out every weekend leading up to All Hallows' Eve, the ease of this costume makes the payoff 10 times better.

Usually, I go with thick, heavy lashes for this look — until I found these babies! Fright Night's Spider Web lashes($4) are the perfect addition for Webby Woman. They look intricate, but once you apply them, they add a subtle detail to you costume. Plus, you can find them at Walgreens!