Look Crisp Every Day of September, Thanks to These Beauty Must Haves

I may not wear makeup often, but when I do, I need something powerful to get all the gunk off. I typically use a cleansing balm to get rid of mascara and bold lipstick and cleanse all at once (ain't nobody got time for eye makeup remover). But sometimes, I still have to follow up with a toner to remove that greasy feeling. No more, I say! The Ole Henriksen Pure Truth Melting Cleanser ($34) has taken the beauty balm category I love to the next level. This orange goo looks and feels like a gel, then melts into an oil. Finally, it dissolves into a creamy milk once you add water. There's no oily residue (or makeup) left over.

— Jessica Cruel, assistant editor

While I may not be sold on the benefits of drinking coconut water, slathering it on my skin via Too Faced's new primer ($32) is a totally different story. Instead of the silicone-based primers that just sit on the skin, this formula sinks in to hydrate and nourish, making my skin look good with or without makeup. Plus, the delicious tropical scent is addictive.

— Emily Orofino, beauty editorial assistant

Dove invited me to the Emmys, which was all kinds of thrilling, and one of the preshow, primping highlights was trying out the brand's new bodywash! If you're an airbrush tanning fiend (like moi), you know how important it is to have a great skin cleanser on standby. When the Dove pros told me their new bodywashes promised "softer, smoother" skin after just one shower, I was admittedly doubtful. But alas, they proved me wrong. The lather is better than ever — creamy and left my skin so soft that I didn't need lotion. No joke.

While most mild cleansers aren't able to produce a healthy lather, Dove's did, and it didn't dry out my skin in the process. I tried the Deep Moisture and Sensitive Skin formulas but really loved the Gentle Exfoliating Nourishing Body Wash ($9).

— Kirbie Johnson, beauty producer and reporter

Yes, hand cream may seem like an odd choice for a 20-something to covet, but I'm all about preserving the skin I'm in for the next decade or two. When UK favorite Soap & Glory debuted its new antiaging line, dubbed Hand Food ($15) in the US, I immediately stuck it in my desk drawer. I'm guilty of piling on this light, grease-free cream every chance I can get.

— Aemilia Madden, editorial assistant

There's nothing quite like a custom-made beauty product, and new brand Concoction gives you that at an affordable price. Choose your shampoo base ($17), then pick the concentrated SuperSerums that treat the specific needs of your hair. You can add two to your base to create a hair cocktail that's perfectly tailored to your needs. I love the blonde treatment ($3) for lifting my lightened locks.

— Gemma Cartwright, UK Fashion & Beauty Editor

I have a case of RBF (look it up), so I have to work extra hard to remember to smile. (Even when I'm indifferent, I can look upset.) Focusing on being all smiles 24/7 has made a difference in how people perceive me, but it's also caused tiny lines around my eyes. Thus I've been slathering on Korres's Black Pine Eye Cream ($54). It feels extra refreshing in the morning before I apply my makeup and contains ingredients like polyphenols that help improve your skin texture. Plus, there's no mineral oil, parabens, or silicones.

— KJ

Everyone is looking for a way to get their gels off at home — and quick. We're all privy to the acetone-soaked cotton ball and aluminum trick, but if you want to amp up your process, you'll love Panasonic's new tool ($28). It includes three attachments: a nail file, gel polish remover, and sander, which all help the gel removal process.

— KJ

It's taken The Body Shop a while to jump on the argan oil bandwagon, but it was worth the wait. The brand has rolled out this new formula in all its classics (including the much-loved body butter), but my favorite is this multipurpose solid oil ($14). It's a great all-rounder that I've been using on dry patches, cuticles, upper arms, and even my hair for a dose of deep moisture. It soaks in surprisingly quickly and really works on parched skin.

— GC

It's no secret that we're pretty big fans of Urban Decay's sexy new mascara, and the addition of six Urban Decay Perversion False Lashes ($15 each) just fuels our falsie frenzy. Out of all of the styles, these sparkly ones are my favorite. While they may not scream #IWokeUpLikeThis, they are decidedly glam — and perfect for that Halloween fairy costume. I would totally wear them to a downtown New York Fashion Week party or somewhere equally fabulous.

— LL

I look forward to my Essie manicure during award season — they always host a lovely day of pampering before the Emmy Awards. I'm a stickler for my go-to polishes, Fiji and Butler, Please, but couldn't resist these two beauties from the Fall 2014 collection. My Emmys dress was a deep navy, so I opted for a chevron manicure that incorporated Style Cartel, an inky cobalt blue, and Take It Outside ($9), a taupe with a hint of pink.

— KJ

Tarte's amazing tinted BB primer ($35) is so great, I don't even need to wear foundation on top of it. It goes on like silk, lasts all day, and works absolute wonders to even out my skin, which can get very red in places — especially when the central heating is turned on as the temperatures drop. Unlike many products claiming to be BB creams, it really does have extra benefits, including SPF 30 and moisturizing properties.

— GC

A one-minute facial? Could this be too good to be true? While you're not getting extractions or a face massage, Ren's Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial ($48) does leave you with a spa-worthy glow — and you only need to step into your shower to get it!

The key is the stabilized vitamin C. It's in a silica/glyceride matrix, which means it's going to keep the vitamin from oxidizing before you use it. Kind of revolutionary, actually. It's activated by water, so you simply put the balm-like treatment on your skin, massage in circular motions, then wet your fingertips, and massage again to activate the vitamin C.

— KJ

The Giorgio Armani Eye & Brow Maestro ($34) was made with makeup artists in mind because it's a triple threat. It can be used for brows, eye shadow, and even contouring. But really, it's perfect for multitasking makeup mavens like me, because I don't have the cabinet space for all those different products and palettes (#nycstudioproblems). My mom taught me that filling in your brows is the most important step in makeup. But I've also found that the Wenge Wood shade works as an eye contouring color and on cheeks to give my face definition. Now the only question is how I keep my mother from stealing it.

— JC

I can't gush enough about just how good the cold metal applicator of Darphin's Ideal Resource Anti-Dark Circle Eye Illuminator ($60) feels on my ever-puffy under-eyes. The tube contains a flesh-colored illuminating cream that also has skin care benefits, like brightening vitamin C. I swirl the cooling tip over my skin, back and forth, which is meant to mimic a beautician's fingertips. This is a product I will be keeping in my backpack for on-the-go touch-ups!

— LL

If I splurge on anything beauty-wise, it's skin care products and tools. Wearing foundation almost every day is required since I'm usually on camera, and if I use a brush that's harsh on my skin, you can see the wear and tear after a few weeks' time. Talk to any professional makeup artist, and they'll tell you that you should spend the most time perfecting your skin over any other part of your makeup look. Brushes play a huge part in that flawless glow!

Clé de Peau Beauté's Fluid & Cream Foundation Brush ($45) is what I like to refer to as a "beauty investment," but you won't have to worry about rogue brush hairs or feeling like straw is being swiped over your skin. It comes with its own case and blends makeup beautifully.

— KJ

I've recently begun my quest for the perfect pair of brows (keeping Bethany Mota's advice in mind). Thanks to its überfine tip, Lancome's double-ended pencil ($26) ensures precise, even strokes and neatly groomed arches — even if I'm drawing them on during my commute. The unique wide-toothed brow comb on the other end is far more precise than your average spoolie brush, so you can make sure every hair is exactly where you want it.

— EO

I'm used to wearing eye patches — when I had surgery for ptosis, I had to wear two pirate-esque patches over my eyes for two weeks — so wearing these babies from Patchology ($75) wasn't a problem. The bonus is that you only need to wear them 20 minutes to see results, and they're reusable! One pack comes with three pairs of eye patches that can be used up to four times. I enjoyed these because it feels like a spa treatment at home. You apply a gel to the patches, which are thicker than most on the market, and as they set on your skin, microcurrent technology kicks in to help soothe your skin and smooth out wrinkles.

— KJ