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Here Are 20 Must-Have Products Editors Are Shopping In August

Some of our faves as we head into fall

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editors picks for august hero
Rails, Fenty Hair, Quince

Welcome to August! Personally, this is one of my favorite times of the year because it’s still warm enough to wear those chic maxi dresses on vacation earlier this summer, but it’s also not too early to begin thinking about your fall capsule wardrobe and early holiday gifts. I polled multiple PureWow editors on the must-have products they plan on purchasing this month, which ranges from trendy TikTok beauty faves like the new Homecurl Defining Cream from Fenty Hair ($28), to an Apple iPad Mini ($380) for manuscript writing. Keep reading to see more of our August selections.

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Any fall wardrobe requires a chic trench coat, according to Assistant Commerce Editor Natalie LaBarbera. “I'm obsessed with this versatile trench from Madewell. It has such a chic look and it'll make a great layering piece that can go with practically everything in my closet on fall nights.” Made with a cozy blend of lyocell, cotton and linen, it comes in two different neutrals that are perfect for the cooler seasons ahead.

I lost my curling iron while moving about a month ago and have desperately been on the lookout for a replacement. I’m thinking I’ll jump on this Airflow Styler from Sharper Image, which comes with six different styling heads, three adjustable speeds and three heat options. There’s even a 360-degree swivel cord that gives you a frictionless range of motion while using. using. It’s also currently under $200, which is another reason why I’m making the splurge.

Editor Abby Hepworth has been eyeing this super cute switch plate for her apartment. “I've had my eye on these cute gold switch plates for ages now and think I'm finally going to do it. They're such a cute and easy way to add some personality to my apartment.” Aside from the variety of colors available, there are also multiple sizes such as single rocker, and double rocker to choose from as well.

This sweater selection comes courtesy of PureWow’s Affiliate Director Pamela Masin, and is a great transitional piece to take you from summer to fall. Made with a blend of organic cotton, ecovero viscose and cashmere, this piece accentuates your shoulders with its slightly draped fit and is supremely soft against your skin. Of note: some reviewers say it runs large, so size down if you’re looking to achieve a perfect fit.

I’ve been looking to get my natural curl pattern back after having a not-so-great experience with some products at a hair salon recently, and this new curl cream from Fenty Hair has been receiving rave reviews on TikTok and other beauty forums. The core ingredients include replenicore-5 (which is Fenty Hair’s proprietary complex that helps with strengthening your hair molecules) and wild mango butter for moisturizing and conditioning. One Fenty shopper shares, “This cream works very well with my hair. have 3b/c curls and it’s literally perfect. I have some heat damage, but it moisturizes well and kept my hair from looking frizzy for days. I like that it’s not extremely thick but it’s creamy and dense enough to have a medium-ish hold on my hair.”

This moisturizer is exactly the addition your beauty cabinet needs, according to Associate SEO Editor Marissa Wu. “I just tried this moisturizer and was blown away,” she says adding: “I recently did a review on Typology’s makeup, and was curious about their skincare and whether it lives up to the hype. There are only nine ingredients in this moisturizer, and the packaging is recyclable. A little goes a long way, it's travel-friendly and is also fragrance-free. I love the consistency—there's just enough slip to make spreading it easy, but it's not greasy or overly viscous. I will be restocking!”

Need a new bag? This one checks all the boxes says Wu. “I know we're late into summer, but I’ve been obsessing over this basket bag for months. I might just have to buy it! Raffia bags are a good staple every summer sooooo…might as well be prepared for next year? They make two sizes, but I’m an over packer (I like to think I’m just over prepared), so I’m opting for the maxi. In the past, I’ve had problems with woven bags snagging my clothes but the way this one is made looks like I’ll avoid that issue, hopefully!” There are two additional colors to choose from as well, giving you plenty to work with.

PureWow’s Editor-in-Chief Jillian Quint is currently looking at these effortlessly stylish and comfortable shoes. “As I look forward to fall, I'm excited about some tres chic house slippers, so I can still look cute when entertaining at home in my no-shoes house.” Boasting five versatile colorways, you can snag a pair for just $85.

Wu has also had an iPad Mini on her wish list for quite some time. “As a New Yorker, I spend an obscene amount of time riding public transportation and have been wishing for a way to turn commute time into writing time because my two manuscripts aren't writing themselves! I’m probably going for the mini because I want to be as inconspicuous as possible and have it fit in even my tiny handbags, while still being able to have somewhat of a keyboard.” With back-to-school season around the corner, this could be handy for note taking and assignments.

The bulk of grilling season might be over, but my best friend snagged this grill in time for Labor Day (and next summer, of course). There are loads of dishes you can cook on it, and the food comes out tasting incredible. It’s also easy to use and fire up, which is important because we’re not exactly grill experts over here! Once you get the hang of it, the process becomes easier, and I can already tell from the quality that this is a grill that will last years (maybe even decades).

Investing in a new pair of shades is always a *yes* according to PureWow’s Special Projects and Royals Senior Director Rachel Bowie. “I'm very interested in snagging this cute pair of mint-green (basil is the official hue!) sunglasses from Krewe for the end of summer—they’re such a nice contrast to my typically black shades, but also a color that feels universally flattering—I swear mint is the new mustard yellow!”

Editorial Assistant Courtney Mason has been eagerly waiting to purchase this new fragrance from Margiela. “This literally just came out. Replica finally released a vanilla fragrance and I’m honestly so excited! It has notes of Madagascar vanilla, Madeleine accord, and sandalwood. I think it’ll be a great gourmand fragrance for fall.”

Physical planners are still an important item to have, according to VP of Editorial Content Candace Davison. “Even though I'm not going back to school, I love a mid-year reset, and I've recently gotten hooked on Laurel Denise's mid-year planners. The column-style layout and skinny pages allow you to plan out your day while seeing the month at a glance, and there's great space for writing to-do lists and stray notes.” Currently marked down to $29 (from $59), there’s no better time than now to pick one up for yourself.

Once I saw Taylor Swift wearing this skirt, I knew I had to grab one for myself. The checkered pattern offers the ultimate preppy look for fall, but it also comes in black if that’s more your speed. As with all things Taylor, I imagine this will sell out fast, so I wouldn’t waste any time grabbing at least one color while it’s still available.

My 14-year-old sister is starting high school this month, and I’m buying these for her—not just because she is a huge Monster High fan, but also due to its edgy platform style. The lug outsole, padded midsole and twill lining ensure she’ll be comfortable as she walks around all day, and the color is versatile enough for her to pair with all of the outfits she has in her closet.

I just got this, as I’m on a mission to embark on a healthier diet and lifestyle. The process of making your milk is super easy—all you have to do is select which plant base you want, use the accompanying measuring cup for your ingredients and hit the brew button. It only takes six minutes to make as well!

My bedroom can get quite chilly at times, so I’m going to give this weighted blanket from Bearaby a try. Aside from the variety of colors it comes in, the brand gives you four different weights to select from (10 to 25 lbs). Reviewers also say this blanket has helped them relax and fall asleep faster, so I can’t wait to pick one up for myself!

18. Peloton Tread

Peloton

Executive Managing Editor Editor Catrina Yohay is planning on adding the Peloton Tread to her home gym lineup. “Unpopular opinion: I love running on a treadmill (and honestly, I am OVER this summer heat). I'm moving soon and will have a bit more space, so I've recently been batting around the idea of investing in a home treadmill. There are so many good brands out there like Echelon and NordicTrack, but I'm leaning towards the Peloton Tread since I'm a huge fan of the app and its instructors (shout out to @becsgentry!). The screen is superb, the speed and incline adjustment mechanisms are genius (including the auto feature) and I love that it's a more compact size than most. Peloton, please do me a favor and have an end of summer sale!”

Senior Editor Dana Dickey recommends this compact and efficient travel organizer for the fall. “This Calpak travel organizer is on sale for back-to-school, and I'm thrilled at the idea that I can finally keep my charging cables together on my fall travels and beyond.” An under $40 buy, there are multiple colors to choose from.

If you're somebody who likes working out when traveling/away from home, I highly recommend buying this adjustable phone stand. Not only can it hold all types of devices such smaller tablets and iPads, it can also be easily adjusted to fit into your bags and suitcases. Much better than having to prop your phone up on whatever you can find when you're on the road, and super durable.


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Associate Commerce Strategist

  • Covers all things commerce and entertainment
  • Has over a decade of editorial experience in both fashion and entertainment, and was previously with ONE37pm before joining the PureWow team in March 2024
  • Studied journalism and marketing at Columbus State University in Georgia

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PureWow's editors and writers have spent more than a decade shopping online, digging through sales and putting our home goods, beauty finds, wellness picks and more through the wringer—all to help you determine which are actually worth your hard-earned cash. From our PureWow100 series (where we rank items on a 100-point scale) to our painstakingly curated lists of fashion, beauty, cooking, home and family picks, you can trust that our recommendations have been thoroughly vetted for function, aesthetics and innovation. Whether you're looking for travel-size hair dryers you can take on-the-go or women’s walking shoes that won’t hurt your feet, we’ve got you covered.