Animation: Julian Glander
October Prime Day is here, and we’re updating this story hourly. To find the best deals in every category, follow all of our October Prime Day coverage.
Another Prime Day is here. I’ve been covering the sale since 2022 (and as the Strategist’s deals editor, I regularly peruse Amazon’s deals page), so I’m here to be your guide on how to shop smartly. Lots of Strategist-tested and -approved products are available at exceptional discounts — discounts we likely won’t see until Black Friday or next year’s Prime Day — so it’s a good time to get holiday shopping done early or stock up on best-of-the-best products. The deals end tomorrow night, so check out early while everything is still in stock.
I’ve broken down my finds into categories. If you know what you’re after, use the links below to jump down to a specific category. If you’d like to go more in depth in a particular category, I’ve linked to my fellow writers’ roundups where applicable, including Ambar Pardilla’s top October Prime Day fashion deals, Krista Bennett DeMaio’s best beauty picks, and Liza Corsillo’s favorite toys on sale.
If you’re sticking to a strict budget, we’ve collected the most delightful October Prime Day finds under $50. Since this sale is a kickoff to the holiday-shopping season, we’re also pulling out the best deals that would make excellent holiday gifts. And we have a guide to Strategist-tested and -approved products on sale here. Finally, if you’d rather shop elsewhere, we’re rounding up the best non–Prime Day deals happening across the rest of the internet right now.
As always, be sure to sign up for our newsletter to keep up with all of our Prime Day coverage. Deals writer Cassie Hurwitz and I will also be sending some special emails through the Strategist Deal Freaks Daily newsletter, which is the best way to receive each day’s top deals in your inbox.
Our best overall sleep mask at a rare discount.
These make a great gift for tweens, teens, and college students.
This Strategist staple goes on sale but once (or twice) per year.
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“To quote Tom Wambsgans, [it’s] absolutely ludicrously capacious,” says Strategist contributor Katie Stone. Her “personal capacity record” includes a laptop, swimsuit, sauna hat, chargers, toiletry bag, lip balm, hand cream, wallet, pill case, and water bottle.
Read more: I Found the Tote Bag to End All Tote Bags
A dark-wash, baggy pair of Levi’s for under $30.
A classic Nike sports bra.
The longtime favorite Strategist coat is on sale just in time for winter.
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As always, there are some great discounts (read over half off) on classic Levi’s jeans, though the price will depend on the wash.
Six pairs of socks for working out or just casual wear, now $3.03 apiece.
You cannot go wrong with classic Calvin Klein boxer briefs.
If these joggers are good enough for stylist Law Roach (and they are), they’re good enough for us.
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This breakout-zapping liquid exfoliant is great for blackheads and whiteheads both, unclogging pores without irritation thanks to the inclusion of soothing green tea.
Read more: Best Face-Exfoliating Toner
Strategist canonical snail-goo serum that hydrates and calms skin.
Micellar water is suitable for all skin types and doubles as a face wash and moisturizer.
Our reader-favorite exfoliating pad that combines salicylic acid and AHA.
For cute coverage of your standard pimple.
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This French do-it-all oil can be used as a post-shower body moisturizer, as a bath oil, and even to tame eyebrows. As writer Sadie Stein put it back in 2018, “Basically, anything argan oil can do, HP can do too — only it’s somehow sexier.”
Read more: I Use This French Dry Oil in Some Form or Another Every Day
Those with very dry skin will benefit from this deeply hydrating shower oil from Bioderma.
This inexpensive exfoliating lotion is also fantastic for treating keratosis pilaris.
It contains probiotics, baking soda, and hyaluronic acid to neutralize odor and hydrate the skin.
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Our No. 1 conditioner for just about any hair type is at one of the best prices it gets — 25 percent off, making it just $17.
Read more: The Best Conditioner Overall
If you want a hair dryer that comes with attachments, we recommend the Shark SpeedStyle Pro.
My waffle-knit hair towel efficiently absorbs water and cuts drying time in half.
Buildable enough to use repeatedly on wet or dry hair without feeling greasy, says one editor.
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The teeth-whitening strips Strategist readers always stock up on during Prime Day. They’re mess-free, convenient, and cost-effective.
Read more: The Best Teeth-Whitening Strips
A good option if you have sensitive teeth.
The purity of its ingredients is separately certified by NSF for Sport and Informed Sport.
Contains a blend of micronutrients that are clinically shown to increase hair density.
The Hypervolt is just as powerful as the popular Theragun but much quieter.
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A top seller with Strategist readers. Join them in stocking up while it’s on sale.
Always worth stocking up on.
The ridiculously indulgent detergent that smells much nicer than your average Tide pods.
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Yoto’s audio player makes a good alarm clock for kids too. Both senior editor Jen Trolio and senior writer Lauren Ro have children under 10 who’ve been using their Yotos as alarms for years. Ro’s 7-year-old son wakes up much more easily than he ever used to in the year he’s been using the Yoto (which is entirely controlled through the Yoto phone app). Everything is adjustable, from how many alarms you set to each one’s volume.
An interactive gaming projector that gets children (and whole families) moving.
A whole lot of Play-Doh for 51 cents per can.
The 790-piece set includes 33 brick colors plus windows, doors, base plates, and wheels.
An inexpensive, classic gift for kids of all ages.
For an enthusiastic sous-chef.
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Prime Day is far and away the best time to buy a Kindle. I recommend the kids’ version, which works just as well for adults and comes with a cover, is automatically ad-free, and has a two-year warranty (versus one year for the standard model).
Read more: The Best E-Reader for Kids
Makes a great nightlight.
A smart baby-monitor system to check in on little ones while they’re sleeping.
The best affordable convertible car seat, which senior editor Jen Trolio used for both of her kids.
Converts from rear-facing (4 to 40 lbs.) to forward-facing and high-back booster (up to 100 lbs.).
Affordable, easy to install and use, and compatible with a range of strollers.
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Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?
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Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?
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Amazon’s smart plugs have been a best seller with Strategist readers every Prime (and October Prime) Day since 2023. This is the cheapest they ever get.
Classic (and half-off) Beats if you want to take a break from the earbuds.
Hit your end-of-year reading goals with a (rarely on-sale) Kindle.
Amazon’s simplest, least expensive smart speaker is half off right now.
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Want to be emailed about sales and other updates to your saved products?
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An older Dyson for a pretty nice price.
The miniature version of our favorite carpet-and-upholstery cleaner is perfect for apartments.
The heavy-duty model is particularly effective at cleaning up pet messes.
Roborock’s vacuums have excellent suction and mapping software, so they really clean every corner.
The HEPA filtration and anti-allergen seal make it our favorite pet vacuum for heavy shedders.
This is lighter-weight and quieter than previous Dustbuster models.
An even-more-powerful option.
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It has an “exceptionally high” CADR smoke score and an inoffensive design.
It has notes of fresh lemon, coastal lily, blue lotus, and seagrass.
Tushy’s bidet is among the sleeker options, and it’s incredibly easy to set up and use.
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Arguably the most popular Ninja appliance these days is the Creami, which lets you turn practically any ingredients into ice cream. It’s 23 percent off right now — a standard but still very worthy discount.
Read more: The Best Multipurpose Ice-Cream Maker
It’s push to blend and excellent at making sauces and marinades.
Our favorite flavored olive oil is 20 percent off.
If you drink espresso, Breville is the home-machine standard.
“It grinds pepper in a beautifully consistent way, resulting in more intense flavor,” a writer says.
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$40
for 2
$60
now
33% off
The best inexpensive pillows for any kind of sleeper.
It has a firm interior and a cushioned exterior with a cotton cover, so both sides stay cool.
Purple’s signature flexible grid is sturdy enough to support your neck while still feeling squishy.
Over $200 off an already-inexpensive mattress from Casper.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
