A beauty tester and commerce reporter shares her top 30 'holy grail' beauty products, spanning skincare, hair care, makeup, and tools, that are already on significant sale before Amazon's October Prime Big Deal Days, highlighting genuinely worthwhile discounts.
If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a beauty tester/commerce reporter meets Amazon’s biggest sale of fall, the answer is a bathroom overflowing with moisturizers, shampoos and serums. I spend a lot of time testing beauty products and even more time figuring out whether a sale price is actually a good deal. Obviously, with early October Prime deals here, I’m *very* busy and already have a long list of prices I’m keeping tabs on. The official Prime Big Deal Days (PBDD) are between Oct. 6 and Oct. 7, 2026, and I’ve covered enough Prime Day sales that I can probably tell you all the regular sale prices in my sleep. When I scout early PBDD beauty deals, I’m not just looking for the biggest percentage-off number. I’m checking how much products normally cost, comparing sale prices, keeping an eye on products I’ve tested and looking for brands that tend to offer bigger discounts during Prime events. I’ll be watching for deals on everything from skin care and hair care to makeup, beauty tools and those viral products that seem to show up everywhere. Some of the brands I’ll have my eye on include Laneige, Olaplex, Sol de Janeiro, Drunk Elephant, Tula, Medicube, Mario Badescu, Anua and Amika. The goal is simple: to help you find the beauty deals that are actually worth your money. Ahead, find the products with genuinely good discounts that I’m sending to the New York Post Shopping team on Slack and my BFFs in every group chat. Skincare Deals | Haircare Deals | Makeup Deals | More Beauty Deals Belif me when I say, I love the belif Super Drops Niacinamide Golden Glow Serum because it instantly gives my skin a radiant, lit-from-within glow while helping brighten and even out my complexion over time. The lightweight formula absorbs beautifully without feeling greasy and it’s easy to wear alone or under makeup for an extra boost of luminosity. It leaves my skin looking healthy, smooth and glowing, which is why it has become a staple in my skincare routine. I reach for the Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturizing Cream when my skin needs a serious hydration boost. Its PDRN and hyaluronic acid-focused formula gives my routine that juicy, plumped-up feeling I love. If you’re searching for a Korean moisturizer for dry, dehydrated-looking skin, this one is a fun addition to my skincare shelf. I use the Celimax The Vita A Retinal Shot when I want to add a targeted retinal step to my nighttime skincare routine. Retinal is a favorite ingredient for helping improve the look of fine lines, uneven texture and overall skin smoothness. Grab it while on sale. I keep Neutrogena Makeup Remover Ultra-Soft Micellar Cleansing Wipes nearby for those nights when a full cleansing routine feels like a marathon. The micellar cleansing formula lifts away makeup and everyday buildup while the ultra-soft wipes make removal feel quick and comfortable. For anyone searching for easy makeup remover wipes for busy nights, these are my grab-and-go beauty shortcut. For anyone researching an at-home IPL hair removal device, Braun Skin i·expert puts personalized guidance and hair-removal technology right into your beauty routine. The Braun Skin i·expert Smart IPL Hair Removal Device uses smart IPL technology designed to help reduce the appearance of hair over time. Its connected smart features are designed to guide users through treatment and help support consistent coverage. I love using the Meditherapy Retinal Skin Booster when my skin is craving a smoother, more refined-looking glow. Its retinal-focused formula fits beautifully into a nighttime routine designed around improving the appearance of texture and signs of aging. Think of it as a tiny booster shot of skincare energy. I love turning an ordinary shower into a little self-care moment with Eos Body Wash (trust me, I reviewed nearly every scent). It gives my shower routine a fun, pampering feel while leaving my skin feeling clean and refreshed. If you’re looking for a body wash that makes everyday showering feel a little more luxurious, this is an easy one to reach for. I reach for the Anua Azelaic Acid 10 + Hyaluron Redness Soothing Serum when I want my skincare routine to focus on calming redness while keeping skin hydrated. The combination of azelaic acid and hyaluronic acid makes this serum an especially appealing step for a soothing, moisture-focused routine. I love pairing the Anua Collagen + Retinol Refining Gua Sha Cream with a relaxing gua sha moment when I want skincare to feel like self-care. Its collagen- and retinol-focused formula fits nicely into a routine aimed at smoother-looking, more refined skin. It’s basically skincare plus a spa-at-home vibe in one cute little ritual. When I want my body-care routine to feel anything but boring, I reach for the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream after my shower. The rich body cream leaves my skin feeling moisturized while its signature fragrance makes applying body lotion feel like a mini vacation. If you’re searching for a famously fun-smelling body cream, this is the one that makes me *actually* look forward to moisturizing. I use LED face masks regularly, and I’ve seen a difference in how my skin looks and feels when I stay consistent with them. The iRestore LED Face Mask brings that at-home LED skincare experience into a convenient wearable format designed for facial treatments. For anyone researching an LED face mask for an easy beauty routine, this is a gadget that makes consistency feel surprisingly fun. I love keeping the D’alba Piedmont First Spray Serum close when my skin needs a quick refresh and a boost of lightweight moisture. The fine mist makes it incredibly easy to work into my routine whenever I want that fresh, dewy skincare feeling. I can spritz it on and instantly feel like I’ve entered my “glowy skin” era. Dyson lookalike, found. I reach for the Wavytalk AireShape Pro Styler when I want to turn my hair routine into a styling session instead of a struggle. Its multi-purpose styling approach makes it useful for creating different looks while keeping my routine streamlined. I’m seriously impressed with the tool for bouncy, polished looks, and it’s a fun, more affordable option to have in the rotation. It’s a 10 Miracle Leave-In Product is an actual miracle, making my hair so much easier to style while keeping it soft and smooth. It tames frizz, detangles stubborn knots and adds lightweight moisture without weighing hair down. Whether I’m blow-drying, curling or wearing my hair naturally, it leaves my strands looking polished, healthy and effortlessly styled. The Shark FlexStyle because it gives me salon-quality blowouts, curls and smooth styles with one lightweight tool. The interchangeable attachments make it easy to dry, volumize and style hair quickly, while the intelligent heat control helps minimize heat damage. After reviewing it, I’ve come to love how it saves me time, replaces multiple styling tools and leaves my hair looking polished and full of volume. I love the Tymo CurlPro Plus Automatic Rotating Curling Iron when I want curls without doing all the wrist gymnastics myself. The automatic rotating design helps make curling feel quicker and more approachable, especially when I’m styling my hair in a hurry. In my review, I detail how It’s basically my shortcut to giving straight or flat hair some serious salon energy. The Bio Ionic Long Barrel Curling Iron is designed with a longer barrel that gives users more room to wrap and style their hair. Its design makes it easy to create curls and waves on longer hair or larger sections. For anyone searching for a long-barrel curling iron, this is a styling tool built with efficient hair wrapping in mind. Kenra’s Volume Spray is a go-to styling product for creating fuller-looking hair with lasting volume. Its salon-grade formula is designed to help boost body and hold so hairstyles can look polished rather than flat. If you’re searching for a volumizing hairspray for big, touchable-looking hair, Kenra belongs on the shortlist. The L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion gives my skin a natural, lit-from-within glow without looking glittery or overdone. The lightweight formula feels hydrating and comfortable, and I can wear it alone, mix it with foundation or use it as a highlighter for extra radiance. Sometimes, I can’t believe it’s this affordable — now even more so with Prime Day discounts already happening! It instantly makes my complexion look healthier, brighter and more luminous, which is why it’s a staple in my makeup routine. When I want my lashes to look instantly more defined and lifted, I reach for Lancôme Lash Idôle Volumizing Mascara. Its lash-focused brush and volumizing formula help create a fuller-looking eye without requiring a complicated makeup routine. It’s my favorite kind of mascara moment: swipe, blink and suddenly I look much more awake. I never mind bedtime skincare when the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is involved. I apply it as the final step of my nighttime routine for a nourishing, overnight lip-care moment. If you’re searching for a hydrating lip sleeping mask for soft, smooth-looking lips by morning, this is an easy beauty ritual to love. I love the Julep Eyeshadow Stick & Lip Balm when I want makeup that is quick, easy, and actually fits into a busy morning. The creamy eyeshadow stick adds effortless-looking color while the lip balm gives my lips a simple swipe of comfort and tint. It’s basically my “five more minutes of sleep” makeup strategy in product form. I reach for the Too Faced Better Than Sex Volumizing Mascara when I want my lashes to be the main character. Its iconic volumizing formula is designed to build dramatic-looking lashes that make even a simple makeup look feel more glam. Fit for the 20-somethings and the 60-somethings, Laura Geller’s Baked Balance-N-Brighten Foundation is a bestseller for a reason. When I want coverage that still feels easygoing, this baked powder formula helps even the appearance of my complexion while giving my makeup routine a lightweight, polished finish. Cue the nostalgia. I love Clinique’s Black Honey Almost Lipstick because it gives me that effortless “my lips but better” feeling with a universally flattering-looking sheer tint. The iconic Black Honey shade builds beautifully depending on how much color I want, so I can keep it subtle or make it more noticeable. It’s the lipstick I can toss in my bag and swipe on without even needing a mirror. I use Crest 3D Whitestrips when I want to give my smile a brighter-looking boost. They’re designed as an at-home teeth-whitening treatment, making them an easy addition to a beauty and oral-care routine. For anyone searching for convenient teeth-whitening strips, Crest 3D Whitestrips are a familiar go-to and recommended by thousands of Amazon shoppers. The Waterpik Aquarius Countertop Water Flosser makes water flossing feel like a simple upgrade to a daily oral-care routine. Its design delivers targeted streams of water to help clean between teeth and along the gumline, and it’s an early Prime Day deal your dentist would approve of. Tom’s of Maine Antiplaque & Whitening Toothpaste combines everyday brushing with ingredients and benefits focused on plaque control and a brighter-looking smile. This two-pack is especially convenient for keeping an extra tube on hand instead of discovering an empty toothpaste tube at the worst possible moment. The Oral-B Pro 1000 Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush helps me get a thorough-feeling clean without relying entirely on manual brushing technique. It’s a simple and affordable upgrade for anyone who wants to prioritize their oral care. After my Invisalign treatment, the Efferdent Retainer Cleaner is the only effective cleaner I’ve found that keeps my retainer sparkling clean each day. With 126 tablets in the box, it’s an easy everyday solution for anyone searching for a convenient Invisalign retainer cleaner. Prime Big Deal Days — fondly known as October Prime Day — is Amazon’s biggest fall sale, offering massive discounts before the holiday rush of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. October Prime Day runs from Tuesday, Oct. 6 to Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026. Prime Day and Prime Big Deal Days are both Prime member-exclusive seasonal sales with massive discounts on rotating bestsellers. Unlike July’s Prime Day, Prime Big Deal Days runs every October as a precursor to the busy holiday season, allowing shoppers to start saving on gift shopping early. October Prime Day is exclusively available to Prime members. However interested shoppers can grab a 30-day free trial to try Prime, and its many benefits with no strings attached, and gain access to exclusive deals and the convenience of fast, free shipping. From reporting on Amazon sales for years, we can tell you for certain that Amazon’s October Prime Day is the ideal time to save on big-ticket tech, Amazon devices, gift-worthy clothing and beauty and skincare staples, household essentials and many more Amazon best-sellers. Every Prime Day sale is a great chance to score deals on thousands of best-sellers, top tech and appliances and every day essentials, but Amazon’s October event also has great pre-holiday discounts on gifts. Our team diligently sorts through all the offers to find the very best items to grab on sale. Already wondering when Amazon’s next Prime Day is? We expect Prime Day to return in summer 2027, but anticipate just-as-good (if not better) deals coming this Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Follow Post Wanted’s around-the-clock coverage, and you’ll be the first to know about headline-worthy sales. Click here to find all of the best deals. This article was written by Victoria McDonnell, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include testing the best sheet masks on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat review of the best shampoos for all hair types and budgets. Victoria, who received a beauty industry essentials certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored. Looking for a headline-worthy haul? Keep shopping Post Wanted.
