Just 10 Things To Try In September

Because we tried them for you in August.

This post features a mix of items that we purchased with our own money and those that were provided to us at no cost for the sake of review. (But! We’re under no obligation to write a review of those things, let alone a positive review.)

1. A three-zipper crossbody bag that'll hold everything you need (securely!!) without taking up a lot of space. I'm never leaving the country without it again.

BuzzFeed / Maitland Quitmeyer

"Before embarking on a week-and-a-half trip with my college besties, I realized the one thing my closet was seriously lacking — a secure crossbody bag that I wouldn't care about if it got wet or ruined (beaches and boats were a key feature of this trip). Plus I didn't want *yet another* black bag; I wanted a pretty neutral that would look good with colorful summer dresses and swimsuits, without a huge black line across my torso. So after some extensive research, I found this three-section zippered crossbody on Amazon — in a perfect lightly metallic gold. Score! I scanned the reviews to make sure it could fit an iPhone, passport, Kindle, etc. and immediately added to cart.

You guys, I didn't realize how much I would fall in love with this bag. It's the *perfect* length for wearing across your torso, with the zippers on the inside at your waist to ensure no one can get in (it's also adjustable for anyone with a longer or shorter torso than mine!). It (securely!) holds *plenty* of stuff — on our boat trip day, I even shoved a WHOLE DANG RASHGUARD in the front pouch because I was so afraid of getting sunburned. The separate sections meant I could organize my items Virgo-style, so I didn't need to open the designated wallet pouch to access my Chapstick while on a busy Athens street. And one of the things I love the most? It's casual but not ~too~ casual, so it went will all my vacay outfits, whether I was Doing the Most in a linen romper at the Parthenon (above), or going on a makeup-free early morning walk in bike shorts to avoid the crowds in Santorini. I'm going on another trip in October, and I have no idea what to pack yet — except for this crossbody bag. I might have to also get a darker color for a fall travel mood, but regardless, I don't think I'm going to ever go on another trip without it!" —Maitland Quitmeyer

Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (available in 22 colors and patterns).

2. An OXO tea infuser to finally end all the annoying parts about drinking loose leaf tea. It's easy to clean, has plenty of room for the leaves to bloom, and is edged with silicone so you can stop burning your fingers.

BuzzFeed / Natalie Brown

"I think there's no cozier way to end an evening than with a cup of herbal tea (hot or brewed double strength and poured over ice!), but despite the boxes of tea bags I'll go through in a year, I never seem to finish my loose leaf tea because I hadn't ever found an infuser I was happy with. Every tea ball I've tried is impossible to clean out, doesn't leave enough room for all the leaves to fully ~bloom~, and eventually breaks in one way or another. And one ball in particular always let a few loose leaves through, which I didn't love at the end of my cup. I have one David's Tea infuser mug (similar to this one, $23), but that basket doesn't fit my favorite wider mugs from Anthropologie that I've gotten from my family as gifts over the years, and TBH when it's 9:30 at night after a long day, I want to enjoy my preferred mugs! (It's the little things!)

Enter the OXO tea infuser basket. It's big enough to fit over my widest mugs, but not so big that it can't also fit in regular and even my more narrow mugs (I have one from the Guggenheim that's lovely but small-ish). I can microwave my water, then ease the basket into the cup. (I'd love to have room for a kettle, but my apartment is just too small!) The infuser's spacious enough to let all those herbs and tea leaves I pay good money for open to their fullest, most flavorful extent, but never lets even the smallest bits escape. It has a stainless lid that helps keep in some of the steam for a stronger brew, and that's also edged with silicone so I can easily take it off without burning my fingers. I flip that lid upside down, use the wide, cool arms of the basket to pull it out of the cup, set the dripping basket on the lid, then retreat to my couch for one more episode of Parks & Rec. When I'm done, the leaves tap out into the trash, and I either rinse it well or pop it in the dishwasher along with my mug. I don't know what more I could ask of it!" —Natalie Brown

Get it from Amazon for $12.99.

3. An adorable dog toy with an ultrasonic squeaker (aka only dogs can hear it) that'll fill your pupper with joy — without interrupting your Netflix binge.

BuzzFeed / Sarah Aspler

"My dog Beans loves chewing on soft plush toys, but the annoying high-pitched squeakers drive me bonkers. Not to mention, they never last long. She’s a boxer lab mix who has ripped every single plush toy to absolute shreds — and after she murdered her fifth plushie, I swore I would never buy them again. The only toys that would stand the test of time were her Kong and rope toys.

But I felt bad. I missed how excited she got when I'd bring home a cute toy and how she would do zoomies all over the room waiting for me to give it to her. So I went into a pet store and decided to just spend the $10 anyway on a new plush toy, even though I knew it would only provide Beans with a couple of minutes of fun before she chewed it into oblivion, and I threw what was left of it in the garbage. I actually didn't realize until I got home that the toy I bought had an ultrasonic squeaker, meaning it makes a sound only dogs can hear. The squeaker produces a sound which is a higher frequency, just like a dog whistle. I was a bit skeptical but once she got a hold of her new purple elephant, she went nuts for it, and I could only hear the very quiet sound of bursts of air. She played with it for a good 45 minutes and then totally passed out on the carpet. The kicker? The toy was still in one piece. Of course, with Beans’ chewing skills, I don’t expect the toy to last over one week — but still, that’s really impressive, considering all of the other toys (RIP) lasted approximately two minutes." —Sarah Aspler

Get it from Amazon for $7.69+ (available in tons of animal shapes your pop will love).

4. A pair of expensive-looking heart-shaped sunnies, but at a price point you won't be afraid to wear and tear as usual. That's right, they're under $10!

BuzzFeed / Elizabeth Lilly

"Awhile back I ran across these sunnies that marry heart eyes and cat eyes, easily my two most favorite sunglasses lens shapes. Naturally, I put them in a story I wrote and bought them. It also didn't hurt their case that they're substantially cheaper dupes for these $420 Saint Laurents. They were my go-to sunnies throughout an 11-day vacation to Greece and I got tons of pics in legendary spots while wearing them. But they don't just LOOK good. They hold up super well for some $9.99 Amazon sunglasses. I jumped off a catamaran into the Aegean Sea while wearing these (so much boat jumping) and they were completely fine. Not to mention all the jangling around in my bag they've done since I bought them." —Elizabeth Lilly

Get them from Amazon for $9.91.

5. A multi-use True Botanicals nutrient mist you can spritz on to set your makeup, refresh your skin after a workout, or soothe sensitive skin. Pro tip: keep it in the fridge for an extra boost!

BuzzFeed / Maycie Timpone

"For my birthday, my bestie got me a little self-care pamper package, and I'm obsessed with the True Botanicals Nutrient Face Mist she included! It's feels like a portable spa for your face! It smells luxurious and amazing (a mix of lavender, black tea and other florals), and is made with nontoxic ingredients and developed to be have a minimal impact on the environment, so you don't have to feel bad about yourself!

I personally have been using it post-workout and it feels super refreshing when you're hot and sweaty, but the packaging also says it doubles as a setting spray, so you can also spray it on after you've done your make up, or throughout the day for a little pick-me-up. When I posted about it on my Instagram story, True Botanicals wrote back and gave me the hot tip that you can also keep the spray in the fridge, so when you spray it it feels extra cooling and even more refreshing!" —Maycie Timpone

Get it from True Botanicals for $28.

6. A ruffle-bedecked, three-quarter-sleeve dress that's incredibly popular on Amazon and *also* stunning IRL. Summer-into-fall dressing, we're ready for you!

BuzzFeed / Alexandra Napoli

"So ironically, I spotted this dress by working here at BuzzFeed as a part of the shopping team! It was a dress I added into my fashion roundups because a) it's super cute and b) was really loved by Amazon shoppers and BuzzFeed readers. Long story short...I decided to buy it for myself, and also love it. It's the perfect option that can be worn summer into fall because of its color (I bought the red) and sleeve length.

It's very cozy and falls right to my knees so I get enough coverage (AKA appropriate for work). Its got a looser fit so I feel very comfortable throughout the day. It's also light so I really never overheat in it. You can definitely wear it on a summer day and not feel like you're swimming in your own sweat (even with the sleeves). When fall hits, I plan to pair it with a pair of booties or possibly a vest, but until then, I've worn it multiple times this summer. BTW – the color red is vibrant! Not like, overly vibrant where you need to shield your eyes, but definitely a brighter red. Not to worry though, I got a ton of compliments the first time I wore it. Everyone on my team was so excited that I bought this popular Amazon dress and trust me for the price, it is worth it!" —Alexandra Napoli

Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in sizes S–XL and six colors).

7. A rechargeable lantern you'll fall in love with if you need extra (cozy!) lighting, but don't have a lot of outlets to spare.

BuzzFeed / Yi Yang

"One of my favorite Amazon purchases to date is this rechargeable, touch sensor lamp by TaoTronics. My apartment is pretty old and has maybe two outlets in total, so finding a place to plug in lamps is a chore (the whole process involves a lot of frustration and several extension cords). I found myself searching for an aesthetically pleasing wireless light online. While this Menu lantern was on the top of my wish list, I couldn't justify the price. Instead, I ordered this lamp as a dupe — and I absolutely love it.

It looks and feels very high quality without being heavy (I especially love the faux-leather handle), can be dimmed or brightened with just one touch, and the battery lasts for hours and hours. The light is very warm (which is what I prefer) and it makes my tiny apartment feel oh-so-cozy — I don't even light candles anymore because this lamp is all I need! I use it at my dining table, next to my bed, on the coffee table — basically wherever I need some extra light. Every guest that comes over to my place asks about it and one of my friends even ordered one for herself. Spoiler alert: she loves it, too." —Yi Yang

Get it from Amazon for $32.99.

8. A hydrating lip balm that transforms on your lips, reacting to your ~body's chemistry~ to enhance the natural color of your pout. Move over, MLBB lipsticks!

Birchbox

"I'm not afraid to admit that I first discovered these lip balms in the comments section of vegan chef Chloe Cosarelli's Instagram account. Turns out, she has great taste because these lip glosses are my new favorite thing! First, they're incredibly moisturizing and fully functional as any Chapstick would be, but with a more velvet-y smooth finish. The best thing about these, though, are the way they look once you put them onto your lips. I'm no scientist, but the color of the gloss is different for everyone and, according to the product description, will react "to your body's chemistry to transform into a unique shade that enhances your natural lip color." I don't know ~how~ they do this, but I know that the color of the gloss is a bright, lovely pink that looks perfect in any occasion. If there's a beauty product that's close to a magical instrument, I think it must be this!" —Whitney Jefferson

Get it from Birchbox for $15.

9. A mini vibrator with a super-smart design (hello *built-in* USB charger — no pesky cords!) and a silicone attachment (pictured on the right) for extra external stimulation.

BuzzFeed / Lara Parker

"I love to orgasm, like many people. But because of some nerve issues, I'm usually unable to do so on my own, which is where vibrators come in. I consider myself decently well-versed in vibrators as I've tried out at least 15 different kinds, so when I liked the new Baton from Le Wand as much as I did, I was sort-of surprised. Outside of getting the job done, which it did multiple times, the design is what really blew my mind. Most vibrators I own come with charging cables and therefore I have an entire half of a drawer in my room dedicated to charging cables. I am not clever enough to have labeled them to the corresponding vibrator, so the number of times my ~me time~ has been thwarted by a vibrator in need of a charge and me not being able to figure out which damn cord I need is endless. This charger has the USB charging port built into it. You can't lose it unless you lose the vibrator. Outside of that, it's small and sleek and compact and makes it easy to travel with — I just took it on a trip with me. As far as vibrators go, it's a relatively simple design but it blew my mind in more ways than one." —Lara Parker

Get it from Le Wand for $100 (also available in rose gold).

10. A pair of slip-on Clarks loafers for a fall fashion–forward option that's actually *kind* to your feet.

BuzzFeed / Sarah Han

"A well-known truth: I am a flats stan. I like being able to quickly slip my shoes on and go out the door. Don't get me wrong; I love a cute heels moment, but it usually takes a lot more motivation (and sometimes a special occasion) to make happen. A lie: flats are always comfortable, especially after hours of wearing them. Yeah, this is where it gets bad. After particularly long, walking-heavy NYC days, my arches start to hurt big time. Particularly, my right one. To the point where I'd come home and massage the bottom of my feet due to the pain — and, if I came home super late, I'd have trouble falling asleep because of it too. I tried buying thin-ish foot inserts, but found them too uncomfortable and bulky still. Surely there was a better solution!

Well, these Clarks loafer flats saved the day. Besides looking incredibly chic with a neutral tone that goes with just about anything and can be dressed up or down, the insoles are super soft and have additional, barely noticeable padding (called Clarks Cushion Plus, I'm told) to reduce the impact of your every step — which is why I can walk around for hours in these bbs and not feel an ounce of pain, even though there isn't a straight-up arch support area. The leather lining and insole meld together perfectly and give my toes both room and stability (it's hard to explain, but this was an issue with my other flats). I wear them without no-show socks, so there was the teensiest bit of rubbing at the back, but no blisters formed and it was nothing I even thought about slapping a bandage over — so compared to my usual, painful break-ins, this was actually nothing! (If you're still worried about blisters, you can always rub on some blister balm.) And I love a teensy stacked heel! I'm also a shoe wearer-creature of habit, so you know these flats have gotten A LOT of wear (98% of the past month) and stand up against far too much NYC sidewalk pounding. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to log in a few more miles! —Sarah Han

Get them from Amazon for $54.98+ or Clarks for $79.99+ (available in sizes 5.5 -11, medium and wide widths, and five colors — depending on the retailer).

That feeling when you finally find a pair of comfy flats:

PBS

Looking for more reviews? Check out our July and August editions!

Looking for more great Amazon finds? Check out some of our favorite cheap things to buy on Amazon, some of the weirdest things on Amazon you might actually want, or read through all the rest of our incredible Amazon product recommendations.

Shopping for something specific? Check out BuzzFeed Reviews to find the best things for every budget!

BuzzFeed