November Beauty Favorites

Instant Gallic allure, three dazzling fall fragrances, a pocket-size dark-circle solution, and more… Here's what O's beauty team fell in love with this month.

You know how people are always saying that French women look so great, and what is it about them? Is it the way they tie their scarves, carry their tasty little baguettes? We have the answer for you: It's their lipstick. Throw on one of the 18 luxurious, richly pigmented YSL Rouge Volupté shades ($34 each) and you will instantly assume a glamour rarely seen in these parts. With their creamy, moisturizing texture, extremely long-lasting color, and SPF 15, they're the perfect marriage of substance and style.

We tend to keep our noses to the grindstone, rarely distracted by the fireworks that beauty companies constantly set off in our midst to advertise their launches. (Moisturizer that turns back the clock! Shampoo made with mountain-spring water! Mood-altering body wash!) Sometimes, though, it's impossible not to glance up at the display. This fall, three new fragrances made us awfully glad we did (clockwise from left): Vera Wang Look ($45 for 1 ounce) is the one we've been spritzing with abandon—its soft layers of mandarin, lily, and jasmine are impossible to overdo. Lancôme Magnifique ($65 for 1.7 ounces) melds rich notes (such as sandalwood) and florals (like Bulgarian rose), while saffron lends a piquant edge. Ralph Lauren Notorious ($85 for 2.5 ounces) tops spicy peppercorn and currant with a musky vanilla-laced finish.

Two-in-one beauty products are handy, three-in-one pretty clever—but eight-in-one? That really excites us. This compact, Pixi by Petra Eye Beauty Kit, Neutralizing Coverup ($28), has hardly more heft than a credit card but holds an octet of concealers for the eye area: White brightens inner corners, green cuts redness, pink cancels out purplish hues, yellow mitigates darkness, three shades of neutrals let you mix up your perfect skin match, and a sheer powder sets the rest in place. Find your ideal formula and lighten up even the most intractable dark circles.

Last week, when contributing associate beauty editor Kate tried to choose a new shampoo, she found herself massaging her temple—and swears she felt the beginning of an eyelid spasm. She just wasn't up to squinting at labels and making price comparisons. Which is why she was happy to spot Patyka Organic Shampoo ($14). The ingredients are simple and the purity of the scents were just what she needed. If you're into simplicity: Patyka makes cleansers, lotions, and shower gels too.

Instant gratification is often fleeting, but DDF Wrinkle Resist Plus Pore Minimizer ($85) promises to combine on-the-spot results with long-term benefits. The colored swirl in the center contains light-diffusing particles that immediately minimize lines and pores (the coral tint blends into any skin tone), while the clear gel is infused with vitamins and a peptide that claims to promote cell turnover, improve skin's texture, and reduce fine lines after a few weeks of use.