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 Crock-Pot slow cooker for easier at-home cooking if you're just *tired* of it at this point. Pop in your ingredients, press the button, and let the magic happen already.

BuzzFeed / Rachel Dunkel

"Kitchen gadgetry has come a long way. But when it comes to making immensely delicious, simple, comforting home-cooked meals, I don't think there's anything better than the Crock-Pot. Slow cooking is inarguably the best kind of cooking, BUT making time to dote on a bubbling dish on the stove all day is just...not it. The Crock-Pot allows you to dump in all of your ingredients in the morning, go about your business all day, and then sit down to the most amazing meal you've ever made eight hours later after barely lifting a finger.

^Take that pork, for example. In the morning, I threw a pork roast, garlic, onion, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, honey, ground ginger, gochugaru, and some stock in the Crock-Pot and eight hours later was greeted with tender, shreddy goodness. It's literally the easiest appliance in the universe to use. There are only three settings that you choose between with a dial. You definitely don't have to be a top chef to choose between High, Low, and Warm! I have a 6-quart Crock-Pot and we always have SO many leftovers. So all my meal planning-heads: This is a fantastic way to yield simple, delectable dishes for the week. And it may look difficult to clean, but think again! The stoneware insert and lid are dishwasher-safe, but even when I've lived in apartments without a dishwasher, I haven't had much trouble getting stuck-on food out of there. As for the shiny exterior, a simple wipe-down should suffice!" —Rachel Dunkel

Get it from Amazon for $22.02+ (available in 3-quart–8-quart sizes). If you're in love with my red Crock-Pot, get an 8-quart version from Amazon for $40.09. Or if you just feel like browsing, check out all of Crock-Pot's appliances here.

2. A customizable face mask that's the most *cooling* one our resident face mask aficionado has tried yet — if you don't care about temperature, the tie-dye print is ~cool~ too!

BuzzFeed / Emma Lord

"If you are also a human with sweat glands and the ability to feel the sensation of heat, odds are that you, like me, have endured the 🥴 of wearing a face mask as the sun gently cooks your face. While there are lots of good options for cooling face masks, one of my go-tos has been Zazzle's face mask — which, incidentally, comes in a bajillion different customizable designs. This was one of the very first face masks I bought at the start of quarantine (as you can see, I leaned deeply and immediately into the tie-dye trend), so I've been using it on and off for months now in my rotation of masks, and it's still a top fave.

Zazzle face masks come with super comfy elastic ear straps (which, as you can see, I tied back because I have a lil' hobbit face) and a pocket for a filter, which are definitely perks. But what I love the most about them is how genuinely cooling the fabric feels on your face. I cannot claim any scientific validity to this statement, but I personally *feel* like this mask is 10 degrees cooler than the temperature of wherever I am at the moment. I'm talking "dripping in sweat in the middle of Central Park without a shady tree in sight" levels of heat, y'all. Zazzle's masks are polyester, and have designed fabric on the outside and white on the inside, so the layer touching your face is especially nice and cool. I've noticed it's significantly less "soggy" than other masks when I sweat into it, too (which, trust me, I have an aggressive amount of experience with). Arguably the most fun thing about Zazzle's face masks, though, is that you can get them in pretty much every print, pattern, and character under the sun — all of which you can customize with your own text, shapes, and colors and preview right on the site. And if truly none of the thousands of designs on the site already appeal to you, you can start from scratch and customize your own." —Emma Lord

Check out all of Zazzle's face masks, starting at $12.95, for more inspo (and snag the tie-dye one here!).

3. A few toddler pairs of Bombas, the durable fan-favorite socks that give back.

Bombas / BuzzFeed Melissa Jameson

"Although back-to-school season looks and feels wildly different this year, I’m still having to refresh essentials for my 4-year-old — who seems to be outgrowing all her clothes faster than I can buy them. And that includes socks!

When it recently came time to toss a bunch of old pairs, I replaced them with Bombas. A fellow preschool parent recommended them to me in pre-pandemic times. As she put it, they were the only toddler socks she could find that would actually stay up — and withstand a ton of washes without becoming flimsy or worn out.

Several months later? I’m happy to report she was right! The socks are super sturdy, comfortable, and well-made. And — unlike most toddler socks — they don’t slip down or stretch out after several wears. Bombas *do* come with a higher price-tag than most, but with a toddler size range of 1 to 5 years old, cost-per-wear would go way down if you bought them on the earlier side of that. For every pair sold, Bombas also donates one pair of socks to an organization in need. (And fun fact for any fellow Shark Tank fans: They’re the best-selling product in the show’s history!)" —Melissa Jameson

Get a four-pack of toddler socks from Bombas starting at $19 (available in various colors and styles).

4. A pair of vintage-y Adidas dad sneakers to ~kick~ up your look a notch but still stay comfy allllll day long.

BuzzFeed / Kayla Boyd

"It's no secret that various versions of 'dad sneakers' (which were once considered kinda uncool) have basically overtaken mainstream style. And as someone who owns a lot of sneakers, like... a lot, I have a confession to make: I am VERY onboard with this trend. From chunky Fila Disruptors to classic New Balances, they all hold a special place in my heart (and in my small NYC bedroom). But, one of my favorites by far are my Ozweego Adidas. Behold, them in their chunky, '90s dad glory.

And speaking of the '90s, these sneakers were originally designed then, and have since seen a few modern updates. Basically, they're perfect if you love incorporating a bit of nostalgia into your wardrobe — and who doesn't love that?! My pair is mostly white with some beige details, reflective piping, and a few smaller lavender details. I like that they're pretty neutral and versatile without being too simple. I often wear them with leggings, but they also pair well with skinny jeans or even a casual dress. The shoes are available in nine different colors on the women's listing, as well 20 more colors on the men's listing (which also displays comparable women's sizes). In addition to the wide range of colors and versatility, the technology makes them ~extremely~ comfy! Unlike many chunky sneaker designs, these are very lightweight. The inner layer is snug, stretchy, and hugs your foot like a sock. They're breathable and I never have to worry about them coming untied. Not only are they great for a cool, casual everyday look, but they could also easily become your new workout shoes." —Kayla Boyd

Get them from Adidas for $55+, Asos for $110, and Footlocker for $99.99 (available in women's sizes 5–15, men's sizes 8–14, and kids' sizes 11K–3).

5. A water bottle with colorful rubber bands to help keep you hydrated. You know when you complain to your mom and she's all like "drink a glass of water" — sometimes she's right.

Samantha Wieder / BuzzFeed

"I’m someone who genuinely enjoys drinking water. I’m not into soda or sports drinks, and other than a cup of coffee or herbal tea, I always try to drink enough water throughout the day, but I always feel as if I’m never drinking enough. I’ve tried to track my water intake through the Plant Nanny app several times, but I’m not a very good virtual plant mom (welp!), and I’ve tried to set alarm reminders on my phone, but then they’ll go off when I’m in the middle of doing something and I forget. That’s where this tumbler comes in. I’ve seen it numerous times on Amazon, and because I am bored in the house, and in the house bored, these days I’m tempted to buy anything and everything on Amazon… so, I did it.

I’m not going to lie, my expectations for both this tumbler and myself were low. I could never succeed at taking care of a cute little plant on my iPhone, HOW would I succeed at moving some rubber bands off a water bottle? There was no way this could actually work. Boy, was I wrong. I’ve had this for three weeks now, and for three consecutive weeks have drank eight of these a day, every.single.day. It’s become a fun little daily challenge to work my way through all of the rubber bands. Each time I finish drinking all the water in the tumbler, I slide a rubber band off, and wear it on my wrist, and it actually feels SO rewarding. I also feel so much better keeping up with my daily water intake and knowing that I’m staying hydrated." —Samantha Wieder

Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in 16, 20, or 32oz).

6. Tarte's Busy Gal Brows tinted gel to shape, tint, and sweep up your eyebrows one swipe. With ~12-hour~ hold, along with a formula that *won't* flake, you can get a groomed, filled in look for your video calls in seconds.

Maitland Quitmeyer / BuzzFeed

"Usually my brow routine involves many products to get the bolder, straight brows I like. I've ~liked~ many brow gels in my day, but I've never loved one. Until now. Busy Gal Brow Gel lives up to the name, because it gives a Full Eyebrow look in a few sweeps. When I want extra dramatic brows, I'll pop on a little of Glossier's Brow Flick (which I LOVE), but if I just want a quick face, Busy Gal Brow is plenty. And it holds the best out of any brow gel I've tried yet. It's even waterproof, so I look forward to testing it out when I hit the water...someday. I wear the shade 'Taupe' which is a perfect not-too-cool, not-too-warm shade for my brown eyebrows and heavily highlighted hair." —Maitland Quitmeyer

Get it from Tarte for $18 (available in six shades).

7. Breville the Barista Express espresso machine, which while investment, is still cheaper than latte after latte after latte after latte —and resides *in* your kitchen.

Yi Yang / BuzzFeed

"This stainless-steel beaut is the single most expensive appliance in my entire home and lemme tell ya — it's worth every penny! I had it on my wish list for *many* years before finally investing in one and I've used it literally every day for three years. It's still running like new and consistently makes cafe-quality drinks. I used to buy a latte outside every other day (which in NYC, costs around $5 a cup — big yikes) but I've cut that down to maybe once a week (at most) since getting this machine! I think with the money I've saved on lattes, this machine has already paid for itself.

Before this, I tried pretty much every kind of coffee gadget to try to recreate the same taste as my local cafe but just couldn't get it 100% right (including the Nespresso machine, which comes pretty close). What I love most is I can grind the beans, extract the espresso, and froth the milk all in one place — you really don't need to purchase any other accessories to go with it (other than water filters and cleaning tablets). And all three of these components work really well, almost at the level of a professional machine, especially the milk frother which produces super fine bubbles that make latte art possible.

It's also great to be able to choose the beans I want — so I can still support local coffee roasters — instead of having to purchase capsules. Bottom line — the coffee is darn good. If you mostly drink cold brew, pour-overs, or drip coffee, then this machine is probably unnecessary. If you love espresso-based drinks and are somewhat of a coffee perfectionist, I'd highly recommend the Breville Barista Express. It's a splurge but will likely last you for many years to come." —Yi Yang

Get it from Amazon for $689.99.

8. A portable Marshall Bluetooth speaker that works from up to 30 feet away, has 20+ hours of playback on a charge, and a stylish design and strap so you can jam out wherever you'd like.

BuzzFeed / AnaMaria Glavan

"Do you ever get something so amazing, you actually mourn the times in which you *didn’t* own said item? That’s how I felt about this Marshall speaker. It is, in a word, divine.

The sound quality is amazing. Like, really amazing. You can control volume, treble, and bass with the slightest twist of a button, and this small speaker can get LOUD if you so please. I left it outside, put it on its loudest setting, went inside — and I could still hear my Spotify playlist going while I washed my hands. The design itself is also really lovely and, despite looking like it would be heavy, it’s actually surprisingly lightweight. This is definitely one of those sound systems that’s sturdy (and portable) enough to take with you anywhere, whether that be a beach or backyard barbecue. The battery life is also great!! It was playing for eight consecutive hours yesterday and it was still charged halfway. (As someone who’s electronic devices are almost always at 3% because I forget to charge everything, I *truly* appreciate this feature, lol.)

I had been putting music from my iPhone on full blast for years, but having a legitimate speaker has honestly been such a wonderful luxury. If you love music, listen to podcasts, or prefer audiobooks, this is one of those investments that’s completely worth it." —AnaMaria Glavan

Get it from Amazon for $249.99 (available in black and grey) or Marshall for $249.99 (available in four colors).

9. Poppi prebiotic soda, a must-have for anyone (like myself) who relishes flavorful drinks but is tired of sipping on sugary refreshments.

BuzzFeed / Heather Braga / Via instagram.com

"Guuuuys. I'm obsessed with these drinks. I tried them on a whim and now I can't get enough of them. I've always been a big soda fan (I don't drink alcohol — everyone who knows me knows my actual vices include ginger ale or Cherry Coke) so I wasn't sure how I'd feel about these prebiotic-infused beverages. And yet, after one sip, I was hooked! My favorite flavors are raspberry rose and strawberry lemonade (so refreshing). Even my husband, who hates anything carbonated, loves these drinks. In addition to their Instagram-able packaging, these babies are free of fat, gluten, GMOs *and* are vegan! While I *could* live without these, I don't want to!" —Heather Braga

Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $35.88 (available in two variety packs and seven overall flavors).

10. Tarnish-removing wipes to magically whisk your silver and gold jewelry to how they looked back when you first bought them — or back to when your *grandparents* first bought them.

Heather Braga / BuzzFeed

"My mother-in-law recommended this product to me and it may be the greatest thing she's ever given me (aside from, I guess, the life of my husband). I had a bunch of tarnished Tiffany's jewelry and my standard jewelry cleaner wasn't doing the trick. I ordered a jar of these wipes and put them to the test. I think my photos (pictured above) speak for themselves! I went to tooooown cleaning every piece of jewelry I owned simply because I was amazed at how well this product worked." —Heather Braga

Get it from Amazon for $15.