Here at Well+Good, we get to play with a lot of free samples. We test cookware, fitness equipment, and general gadgets and gizmos that are meant to make our lives easier, and, well, better. (And hopefully yours, too.) My personal favorite category is beauty: Serums that comes with the promise of brighter, happier skin; lipsticks that make my entire ensemble pop; and hair care that gives my strands the extra nutrients they need for peak shine and strength. Give. Me. All. Of. It. Many of us feel the same way, and while we do get our fair share of samples, we still have to restock on the essentials on our own dime.

I asked some of our editors what they actually purchase themselves, and particularly, what they bought last month. Here’s what they said.

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The Sephora products our W+G editors bought in October

MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Metals Eyeshadow Palette — $48.00

“The holidays always give me an excuse to have a little bit of fun with my makeup, and this palette is the only one I’m using for rest of the season. It’s ultra pigmented, and packs a major punch with little-to-no effort. When I want a more subtle look, I use a fluffy brush to dust the shadows across my lids, and when I’m going for something higher impact, I’ll wet a smaller brush and use one of the shades to line my lashes.” -Zoë Weiner, Sr. Beauty Editor

IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ — $40.00

“I love a sun-blocking foundation that doesn’t feel like it’s sunblock, and this is my number one in that category. I restocked this month when I was looking for something that could carry me through the last few sunny days of fall, and still feel lightweight enough for a day of Zoom meetings indoors. It blends easily and stays in place, too, while providing an extra dose of hydrating hyaluronic acid.” -Erica Sloan, Associate Lifestyle Editor

Blinc UltraVolume Tubing Mascara — $26.00

“It’s been a ‘mo since anyone has complemented my makeup—cough, cough: I haven’t worn any—but when I was wearing this tubing mascara last weekend, I got countless compliments. The tubing formula really ups the volume on your lashes, and it’s a breeze come time to wash it off. The tubes slide right off your fringe.” –Ali Finney, Deputy Editor, Brand Initiatives

Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer — $34.00

“I ordered this ahead of Halloween because I needed to know my makeup would stay all night—I was a lion (complete with an eyeliner-painted nose, lips, and whiskers) and my makeup did not smudge even the slightest bit after hours of spooky fun. It was amazing—even friends asked what I used on my face since it looked as good at the end of the night as it did the beginning.” –Frankie Krempa, Commerce Writer

Farmacy Clearly Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm — $34.00

“After I stopped using makeup wipes, I wanted to find a product that would be just as effective at removing my makeup without tugging at my skin. And this has been a godsend. I like that the formula is gentle and quickly melts off my makeup.  And while it does require using a lot of water when applying it, my skin always feels clean and hydrated afterward.” –Taylor Bell, Sr. Commerce Writer

stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner — $22.00

“I’ve tried hundreds of eyeliners at this point, and Stila is just the best. Hands down. No comparison. Nothing Compares 2 U, Stila. It gives you the inkiest, blackest, most precise line for a crisp cat eye, and the formula will *not* budge, even when you just finished sobbing because you watched [redacted] die on Grey’s Anatomy. It also lasts forever. I only had to buy another one because mine ran out after a year.” –Gina Vaynshteyn, Sr. Commerce Editor.

La Mer The Luminous Skin Set — $165.00

“I know that Sephora’s holiday gift sets are technically meant to be given to other people, but I use them as an excuse to stock up on skin-care I’ve been drying to try. This La Mer set offers some wild bang for your buck, and includes the brand’s best-selling serum, moisturizer, eye cream, and face oil. With this set, I’ll be walking (or really, strutting) into the new year with my most radiant skin yet.” –Zoë

Charlotte Tilbury Mini Charlotte's Magic Cream — $29.00

“God bless this moisturizer come November, and you’ll use every last drop it. This consistently-sold out formula contains good-for-skin ingredients like hyaluronic acid to plump and vitamins C and E to brighten.” –Ali

Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask — $68.00

“Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask is an integral part of my Friday night routine: I wash my face, put on a mask (this mask), tidy up my room while it dries, light a candle, and binge Netflix or catch up on reading. Oh, and I order sushi. Every. Friday. Night. And I wake up in the morning feeling more refreshed, and my skin looks amazing (thanks to the mask’s Japanese beautyberry, vitamic C, and AHAs). Plus, it makes for cute selfies.” –Gina

Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo — $22.00

“The Living Prood Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo is handsdown the best dry shampoo I’ve ever used. It smells amazing, doesn’t leave a white cast, and removes oil buildup while leaving my hair soft and shiny.” –Kara Jillian Brown, Beauty Writer

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