A handy little knife sharpener designed to be easily held against the edge of your counter so you won’t scratch up your surfaces when sharpening. It’s efficient, effective, easy…you get the point.
Promising review: “I’m very surprised by how well this product works. I make knives and sharpen my knives by Japanese wet stone or belt grinder. I sharpen my mom’s and grandma’s knives by stone whenever I visit. I’ve tried to teach my mom to use a honing stick while I’m gone to keep the knives in good shape, but she can’t seem to get the hang of it, so I decided to buy this product because of the simplicity of use. I tested it on a few of my dull knives at home, and it takes about 10 strokes on the course grind and 10 strokes on the fine grind to get a sharp enough edge to slice printer paper without tearing.I love how simple and how little time it takes to sharpen a knife enough for kitchen use. Now my mom and grandma can sharpen their knives whenever they need it. I highly recommend this product!” —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four colors).
2.
A peppermint, spearmint, and lavender essential oil roll-on headache and migraine relief stick that I personally swear by, so you can stop taking so much ibuprofen and finally get your head in the game.
Katy Herman/BuzzFeed, Yi Yang/BuzzFeed
I started using this magical product a couple years back and since then have told approximately 1,089,642 people about it. I keep one in my purse and one on my dresser, and I reorder before I’m actually close to running out. While it won’t kill a major migraine on its own, it feels super soothing and cooling. If I end up taking ibuprofen for my headache, this is really nice to use while it kicks in. Also, if I just have a slight headache or just the beginnings of one, a few swipes of this (lightly on my temples and forehead and as heavily as I want on my neck) can actually knock it out or delay it getting worse. It’s really changed my life, and I so wish I’d had it during high school and college to help me get through the day! Check out my full Migrastil review.
Promising review: “I get headaches constantly. Migraines at that. I literally have a bottle of ibuprofen in my purse at all times, because of how much I used to take it. I found out about this migraine stick from a BuzzFeed list of Amazon products that actually work. I figured, for $10, what could I lose? If it gets me off of taking ibuprofen two or three times a week, it will be worth it. Let me tell you how I have NOT had Ibuprofen in over 2 months…y’all. I cannot even understand how this stuff works, but I tell EVERYONE about it. Whenever someone asks me for headache meds, I always offer them the roller first. And I’ve gotten a few people from my office hooked on it. So happy this product exists.” —Amazon Customer
I started using this magical product a couple years back and since then have told approximately 1,089,642 people about it. I keep one in my purse and one on my dresser, and I reorder before I’m actually close to running out. While it won’t kill a major migraine on its own, it feels super soothing and cooling. If I end up taking ibuprofen for my headache, this is really nice to use while it kicks in. Also, if I just have a slight headache or just the beginnings of one, a few swipes of this (lightly on my temples and forehead and as heavily as I want on my neck) can actually knock it out or delay it getting worse. It’s really changed my life, and I so wish I’d had it during high school and college to help me get through the day! Check out my full Migrastil review.
Promising review: “I get headaches constantly. Migraines at that. I literally have a bottle of ibuprofen in my purse at all times, because of how much I used to take it. I found out about this migraine stick from a BuzzFeed list of Amazon products that actually work. I figured, for $10, what could I lose? If it gets me off of taking ibuprofen two or three times a week, it will be worth it. Let me tell you how I have NOT had Ibuprofen in over 2 months…y’all. I cannot even understand how this stuff works, but I tell EVERYONE about it. Whenever someone asks me for headache meds, I always offer them the roller first. And I’ve gotten a few people from my office hooked on it. So happy this product exists.” —Amazon Customer
Promising review: “I absolutely LOVE this brush shampoo! I was a little skeptical of how well it would clean my brushes since I’d never tried it before, but after using this I am very pleased with the outcome. It has a faint shampoo scent but nothing too overpowering, and suds like you wouldn’t believe. It got all the way down to the base of the brush and gave it a really good cleaning. One of my brushes is made from boar hair (Estée Lauder powder brush) and I was worried it was going to frizz it out and ruin the shape, but it actually improved it after I had previously used baby shampoo. It’s very soft and not at all coarse feeling. I also used this shampoo on my Beauty Blender, and it did a great job getting all the foundation out. All in all, I’d rate this product a 10/10!” —Katastrophe
A Luv Scrub, aka an exfoliating nylon bath cloth inspired by a common grooming routine product used in West Africa. The long and stretchy cloth will exfoliate, turn each shower into a a spa-like experience, and leave you with remarkably soft skin. Can a regular wash cloth do that? Didn’t think so.
Luv Scrub
It’s even long enough that you can easily scrub your back! Several of my coworkers have tried and love this product, which is from a Black woman-owned small business!
Get it from Luv Scrub for $18 (available in five colors).
5.
Miracle-Gro indoor plant food spikes, which seriously live up to their name. Like, I think you could actually keep a plant alive if you tried this stuff (and I know that’s no easy task).
Each spike can be used for 30-60 days, depending on the season. The reviewer pics on the right are all of the same plant — the top one shows how this magical stuff helped the rather sad dude perk up in just 10 days, and the bottom one shows that he’s completely come back to life three weeks later! Check out BuzzFeed’s full Miracle-Gro plant food spikes write-up.
Promising review: “I always kill my plants but I decided to try again. I just bought five houseplants, and three of them were marked down because they were looking pretty puny. Since I tend to kill them anyway, I figured I would give them a try and save some money. I put one of these spikes in each plant and they all looked so much healthier and happier after just a couple days. I also added one spike to the only houseplant that I’ve had for years without killing (I was beginning to think it was artificial) the leaves looked healthier almost immediately. I’m very happy with this product and it was a great price.” —victoria
Get a pack of 24 spikes from Amazon for $2.57. Get a version just for orchids here.
Each spike can be used for 30-60 days, depending on the season. The reviewer pics on the right are all of the same plant — the top one shows how this magical stuff helped the rather sad dude perk up in just 10 days, and the bottom one shows that he’s completely come back to life three weeks later! Check out BuzzFeed’s full Miracle-Gro plant food spikes write-up.
Promising review: “I always kill my plants but I decided to try again. I just bought five houseplants, and three of them were marked down because they were looking pretty puny. Since I tend to kill them anyway, I figured I would give them a try and save some money. I put one of these spikes in each plant and they all looked so much healthier and happier after just a couple days. I also added one spike to the only houseplant that I’ve had for years without killing (I was beginning to think it was artificial) the leaves looked healthier almost immediately. I’m very happy with this product and it was a great price.” —victoria
Get a pack of 24 spikes from Amazon for $2.57. Get a version just for orchids here.
6.
The simple-yet-brilliant Cat Dancer, which has a tiny price tag and only one job — you guessed it, to make your cat dance. This ridiculous-antic-inducing gizmo is under $3, but your feline’s pure joy will be priceless.
Promising review: “I have a whole room filled with cat toys that my cat is not interested in. It’s funny how the least expensive cat toy I have makes him go wild. He plays with this until he’s panting like a dog and I’ve never seen him jump so high. I’m certain this toy will help him lose his belly. He loves it! I highly recommend it!” —Kwoo
Promising review: “I have a whole room filled with cat toys that my cat is not interested in. It’s funny how the least expensive cat toy I have makes him go wild. He plays with this until he’s panting like a dog and I’ve never seen him jump so high. I’m certain this toy will help him lose his belly. He loves it! I highly recommend it!” —Kwoo
Howard Feed-N-Wax Wood Polish and Conditioner, a beeswax and orange oil formula that’s basically like a spa treatment for your wood surfaces. In addition to polishing, it adds a protective layer and helps prevent the wood from drying out or fading.
Promising review: “I read about this in a BuzzFeed article, read the reviews, and looked at the images posted by reviewers. I figured for under $10, why not. Our house is about 20 years old and things are starting to just look worn. Add kids and a dog to the house and you have plenty of scratched up or water-stained wood. This is magic in a bottle! The first picture is a door the dog scratched up. While the scratches are still there, you can no longer see them. The other picture is of a window that was left cracked open when we were gone and it rained. The wood was trashed, but now it looks brand new. I bought on a whim and now I’ve added it to my monthly Subscribe and Save.” —ByteMe
Promising review: “I read about this in a BuzzFeed article, read the reviews, and looked at the images posted by reviewers. I figured for under $10, why not. Our house is about 20 years old and things are starting to just look worn. Add kids and a dog to the house and you have plenty of scratched up or water-stained wood. This is magic in a bottle! The first picture is a door the dog scratched up. While the scratches are still there, you can no longer see them. The other picture is of a window that was left cracked open when we were gone and it rained. The wood was trashed, but now it looks brand new. I bought on a whim and now I’ve added it to my monthly Subscribe and Save.” —ByteMe
A genius dongle case that can clip to a keyring and is made to do the job that literally everyone with an iPhone needs done — aka keeping your dongle where you can find it without turning your bag and all your pockets inside out.
DukeofCases/Etsy
It’s from a Black-owned Etsy shop!
Promising review: “Love it. I’m always losing my cord or leaving it in my other jacket or pants pocket. Now all I have to do is put it back on my keyring. Brilliant!!!” —Mel Roberts
A natural shoe deodorizing spray made with lemongrass, mint, and tea tree essential oils that over 3,000 positive reviewers say can save even those shoes so stinky, you’d considered banishing them to a deep circle of Hell.
Promising review: “Even with the great reviews, I was convinced there was no way this would touch the stink in my son’s shoes. These shoes…while headed to town as a family we were struck with the stench, so we turned the car around, drove 10 minutes back to the house, chucked them into the yard, and went to buy new shoes (which also stunk after one wear). He lost the new shoes three days in, just in time for my order to arrive. I was forced to try this with the nasty yard shoes. O. M. G. One soak in this stuff and the smell was GONE! I sniffed hard to find that underlying stink that I was sure was there. Gone. He’s been wearing the newly revived demon shoes for a week at summer camp, spraying every day before he puts them on, and the smell is still GONE. Completely! It has a strong herbal/eucalyptus-type smell, but that fades and it smells clean anyways.” —Broncodriver
Promising review: “Even with the great reviews, I was convinced there was no way this would touch the stink in my son’s shoes. These shoes…while headed to town as a family we were struck with the stench, so we turned the car around, drove 10 minutes back to the house, chucked them into the yard, and went to buy new shoes (which also stunk after one wear). He lost the new shoes three days in, just in time for my order to arrive. I was forced to try this with the nasty yard shoes. O. M. G. One soak in this stuff and the smell was GONE! I sniffed hard to find that underlying stink that I was sure was there. Gone. He’s been wearing the newly revived demon shoes for a week at summer camp, spraying every day before he puts them on, and the smell is still GONE. Completely! It has a strong herbal/eucalyptus-type smell, but that fades and it smells clean anyways.” —Broncodriver
Shockingly effective water bottle cleaning tablets that deserve a medal or something, since we all know that getting your trusty beverage container TRULY clean is a nearly impossible feat.
All you have to do is put one tablet and some warm water into your bottle and let it fizz all the ickiness away. The tablet will dissolve completely, so once you rinse it out, your bottle’s all set to be used again! That means no more scrubbing and no residual soapy taste.
Promising review: “I was a bit disgusted at the state of my tea cup once the flash went off on my camera, yikes! I use this cup for my daily tea at work and it’s no secret that tea stains. I’ve purchased new mugs once they become stained, but they aren’t cheap, so when I saw a BuzzFeed article about these capsules I was curious if they could actually clean this mess. The before and after pictures prove it right there! I’ve never reviewed a purchase before but I had to with this one. I let the tablet sit in hot water for eight hours and EVERYTHING poured out. There was a very faint chemical smell, but after washing the mug with dish soap and water it was gone. I highly recommend this product!” —Cassandra Cioffoletti
All you have to do is put one tablet and some warm water into your bottle and let it fizz all the ickiness away. The tablet will dissolve completely, so once you rinse it out, your bottle’s all set to be used again! That means no more scrubbing and no residual soapy taste.
Promising review: “I was a bit disgusted at the state of my tea cup once the flash went off on my camera, yikes! I use this cup for my daily tea at work and it’s no secret that tea stains. I’ve purchased new mugs once they become stained, but they aren’t cheap, so when I saw a BuzzFeed article about these capsules I was curious if they could actually clean this mess. The before and after pictures prove it right there! I’ve never reviewed a purchase before but I had to with this one. I let the tablet sit in hot water for eight hours and EVERYTHING poured out. There was a very faint chemical smell, but after washing the mug with dish soap and water it was gone. I highly recommend this product!” —Cassandra Cioffoletti
Pur Home multi-surface scrub cleaning powder, an eco-friendly, nontoxic, and paraben- and cruelty-free option that’ll clean pretty much anything just as well as its far less natural competitors.
In addition to being friendly to animals and the planet, this awesome brand is Black woman-owned!
Promising review: “As someone who grew up in a Jamaican household where Ajax was synonymous with clean, this product knocks Ajax out of the water. It works just as well if not better than it! I love that it’s not toxic and gets the job done. I use this in my bathroom and kitchen. It has scrubbing capabilities and leaves the surface with a faint smell of mint. I also mix this with water to get out pet stains in my carpet. All around great product and highly recommend!” —Michelle H.
Get it from Pur Home for $9.99 (available in six scents). You can also get the brand’s liquid multi-surface cleaner here.
12.
Efficient five-blade herb scissors to make all that slicing and dicing a thing of the past. Plus, with over 1,000 5-star reviews, you know they’re ~a cut above~ the rest.
They come with a safety cover, which can also be used to safely push all the extra herb cuttings off the blades!
Promising review: “I grow many different herbs and it can be tedious cutting and preparing them for cooking, drying, and preserving. I used these right away and loved them!! Just be very careful, they are very SHARP, but that’s a good thing! They were easy to use and I love the little sleeve that comes with them, not just for storage but to get every little bit of whatever you’re preparing out from between the blades (do not use your finger). These are great for snipping right over your pan as you’re cooking — no cutting board needed!” —Kiki
They come with a safety cover, which can also be used to safely push all the extra herb cuttings off the blades!
Promising review: “I grow many different herbs and it can be tedious cutting and preparing them for cooking, drying, and preserving. I used these right away and loved them!! Just be very careful, they are very SHARP, but that’s a good thing! They were easy to use and I love the little sleeve that comes with them, not just for storage but to get every little bit of whatever you’re preparing out from between the blades (do not use your finger). These are great for snipping right over your pan as you’re cooking — no cutting board needed!” —Kiki
Adjustable bed sheet fasteners that’ll actually keep your fitted sheet in place ONCE 👏 AND 👏 FOR 👏 ALL. Really.
Amazon
Promising review: “My husband turns a lot in his sleep and has always woken up with the fitted sheet halfway off his side of the bed. We bought these and we have NEVER once had to adjust the sheet in the morning! These are amazing! They’re the kind of thing you’ll never know how you lived without before.” —LinseyB
Promising review: “I love this product. It’s so easy to apply and lasts SOOO LONG. Seriously, this eyeliner lasts literally an entire two days if you don’t take it off at night. The black is also super black, which I love. I have had this eyeliner for a while now and it hasn’t gotten watered down whatsoever.” —Jenny Journals
Get it from Amazon for $22 (available in two tip sizes and in nine colors).
Promising review: “I love this product. It’s so easy to apply and lasts SOOO LONG. Seriously, this eyeliner lasts literally an entire two days if you don’t take it off at night. The black is also super black, which I love. I have had this eyeliner for a while now and it hasn’t gotten watered down whatsoever.” —Jenny Journals
Get it from Amazon for $22 (available in two tip sizes and in nine colors).
15.
Possibly heaven-sent pimple patches here to suck every last bit of gunk out of that nasty zit that appeared on your chin this morning. Gross work, but someone — or something’s — gotta do it.
Promising review: “Okay, what is this sorcery?? I can’t believe I never knew these existed. I seriously felt like a teenager again last weekend. Literally days after talking about how great my skin has been, this giant, painful, bulging zit was starting to form right in the middle of my chin. A week before my cousin’s wedding, naturally. It was like it wouldn’t stop growing, and spot treatment solution was doing absolutely nothing. It hurt so bad, and I couldn’t help trying to pop it, but it refused. Then I heard about these. I placed one on my chin the second they arrived in the mail. After a few hours, I saw the white forming and I was curious and peeled it off. Then I put a fresh one on before bed, and come the next morning…HOLY COW, the entire dot of the patch was now a giant white blob. This zit was no joke. It’s amazing how much fluid/pus had to get sucked out. Like I said, this is some magic. The zit completely went away within a day.” —Heather R. Weather
Promising review: “Okay, what is this sorcery?? I can’t believe I never knew these existed. I seriously felt like a teenager again last weekend. Literally days after talking about how great my skin has been, this giant, painful, bulging zit was starting to form right in the middle of my chin. A week before my cousin’s wedding, naturally. It was like it wouldn’t stop growing, and spot treatment solution was doing absolutely nothing. It hurt so bad, and I couldn’t help trying to pop it, but it refused. Then I heard about these. I placed one on my chin the second they arrived in the mail. After a few hours, I saw the white forming and I was curious and peeled it off. Then I put a fresh one on before bed, and come the next morning…HOLY COW, the entire dot of the patch was now a giant white blob. This zit was no joke. It’s amazing how much fluid/pus had to get sucked out. Like I said, this is some magic. The zit completely went away within a day.” —Heather R. Weather
A durable, top-rated Bare Minerals concealer brush that may be a bit more of a splurge than your usual brushes, but it’ll be worth it when you pretty much never want or need to buy another concealer brush again.
Bare Minerals
Promising review: “I have had this concealer brush for OVER 20 YEARS!! Yes, 20 years! I use it for everything and clean it up after every use and it has stood the test of time. I use it for both wet and dry products on face, eyes, etc. I have oily skin and I can use this to clean up areas under my eyes and around the lips to move and apply product as needed. I was so glad I finally got around to search for it and am purchasing two more as I expect that when I die, my heirs bury me with it. I’m definitely using this in the afterlife…LOL :)” —abitofrouge
Colorful Sharpie fine-tip art pens capable of producing lines so bright and clean I’m amazed we’re even allowed to show you them on this website — they’re borderline porn for office supply lovers.
Promising review: “I’m an absolute office supply nerd. I love searching for better pens and pencils, and few things make me happier than finding the ultimate writing tool. These pens are this writing tool. They don’t smear while writing like so many other pens do. They also don’t bleed through unless you use really thin, cheap notebook paper or press down really hard, and they have bold ink that doesn’t fade or run out. I hate having to scribble with a dying pen to get it to work, but I don’t have this problem when using these pens. My hand also hurts considerably less when using these pens compared to a pencil, especially after an hour of note writing in lectures. Writing utensil snobs rejoice!” —Kooky Kitty Reviews
Promising review: “I’m an absolute office supply nerd. I love searching for better pens and pencils, and few things make me happier than finding the ultimate writing tool. These pens are this writing tool. They don’t smear while writing like so many other pens do. They also don’t bleed through unless you use really thin, cheap notebook paper or press down really hard, and they have bold ink that doesn’t fade or run out. I hate having to scribble with a dying pen to get it to work, but I don’t have this problem when using these pens. My hand also hurts considerably less when using these pens compared to a pencil, especially after an hour of note writing in lectures. Writing utensil snobs rejoice!” —Kooky Kitty Reviews
Promising review: “‘SuperStay’ is right. The top is right after application, and the bottom is after eight hours and two meals, with no touch-ups (the color is ‘Ruler’). It stays on amazingly well. It easily survives a day of work/class. It’s not particularly drying either, though I have had to scrub it pretty well with a washcloth in the shower to get it off. Still, it’s more than worth it to me to not have to worry about my lipstick all day, even after meals. I’ll definitely be buying more in different colors. This has become my go-to lipstick.” —kclareq
Get it from Amazon for $7.89+ (available in 45 colors).
19.
A ~sweet~ little clay bear who’s more than just a cute face. Add water to him, and he’ll soften brown sugar you’d thought had hardened past use.
This little dude absorbs moisture, so you can also keep him dry and pop him in a bag of chips to help them stay fresh!
Promising review: “Unbelievable! The brown sugar I had was in the original opened bag. It was so hard that I had to break it into pieces with a hammer in order to fit it into a new air-tight container I bought. According to the instructions, I soaked the Brown Sugar Bear in water and then put it on top of the rock-hard brown sugar chunks and closed the lid. It took a few days, but the brown sugar is now completely soft. I am truly amazed at how well this worked.” —KK Vegas
This little dude absorbs moisture, so you can also keep him dry and pop him in a bag of chips to help them stay fresh!
Promising review: “Unbelievable! The brown sugar I had was in the original opened bag. It was so hard that I had to break it into pieces with a hammer in order to fit it into a new air-tight container I bought. According to the instructions, I soaked the Brown Sugar Bear in water and then put it on top of the rock-hard brown sugar chunks and closed the lid. It took a few days, but the brown sugar is now completely soft. I am truly amazed at how well this worked.” —KK Vegas
A pair of go-everywhere, ridiculously cool and comfy Adidas sneakers, aka the footwear ~sole~mate we’re all searching for to anchor our casual wardrobe. Your future errands outfits, workouts, and outdoor excursions are all counting on these babies, but they can handle it.
Adidas
Promising review: “Love the design! They’re super lightweight and really support your soles. My favorite shoes right now!” —AHERRE724
Get them from Adidas for $140 (available in women’s sizes 6-14/men’s sizes 5-13 and in four colors).
21.
A vegan foot scrub made with granulated pumice and essential oils ready to give your crusty tootsies a makeover. In addition to exfoliating, it’ll help parched feet absorb lotion more easily.
Lather
Promising review: “I’ve never had such dry flaky heels and feet until this year. I feel that this is the best foot scrub on the market. It does the job well on my very dry flaky heels and feet. I soak my feet for a few minutes in the bathtub, then I start to scrub my feet, and what a nice foam comes about. This scrub has made a difference. I use this two times a week, and on the other days, I use the pumice stone. I will definitely purchase this again.” —Tressa L.
Promising review: “I’ve never had such dry flaky heels and feet until this year. I feel that this is the best foot scrub on the market. It does the job well on my very dry flaky heels and feet. I soak my feet for a few minutes in the bathtub, then I start to scrub my feet, and what a nice foam comes about. This scrub has made a difference. I use this two times a week, and on the other days, I use the pumice stone. I will definitely purchase this again.” —Tressa L.
Drop Stop seat gap fillers, which are basically superheroes disguised as pieces of neoprene. They’ll rescue your phone, keys, and change from falling into the abyss between your car seats ever damn day.
No wonder they’ve got over 6,000 positive reviews!
Promising review: “The gap between the seat and center console in our car is big enough to lose french fries and debit cards in, but not big enough to fit my adult hand when I try to retrieve anything. Now, with the Drop Stop, I don’t have to worry about it anymore. It’s great when it keeps things from going into the Gap of No Return. Once, I was in the car by myself and I literally said out loud, ‘Thank you, Drop Stop,’ like I was in an infomercial.” —Rhett A Lahey
No wonder they’ve got over 6,000 positive reviews!
Promising review: “The gap between the seat and center console in our car is big enough to lose french fries and debit cards in, but not big enough to fit my adult hand when I try to retrieve anything. Now, with the Drop Stop, I don’t have to worry about it anymore. It’s great when it keeps things from going into the Gap of No Return. Once, I was in the car by myself and I literally said out loud, ‘Thank you, Drop Stop,’ like I was in an infomercial.” —Rhett A Lahey
Remarkably clever and reliable spray bottle hangers to save tons of space in cabinets, laundry rooms, bathrooms, or anywhere you store cleaning products. You just stick ’em to the wall like you would a regular Command strip — which means they can adhere super strongly to multiple surfaces without leaving damage or requiring you to break out a hammer and nails.
Promising review: “Let’s face it, Command products ROCK! This was perfect for our truck camper, under the sink, to hold a small, refillable spray bottle of 409 to clean the kitchen. It has literally hung by this Command hanger for 3,000 miles now — bumpy roads, up and down hills, you name it. Everywhere we’ve gone, and neither the bottle nor the Command hanger have ever been found down. Still hanging in there like the day I stuck it. Works AWESOME!!!! It also keeps the bottle out of the way by tucking it up to one side under the sink. PERFECT!” —Jenn
Beauty Pie’s One Palette Wonder, which lives up to its name by providing everything you need for your everyday beauty look all in one handy place. It’s got blush, bronzer, highlighter, and three shadows and can pretty much put all your single-product compacts out of business.
Beauty Pie
It’s also cruelty-free!
Promising review: “Versatile, well-thought-out palette. The colors are well-coordinated and can be multipurpose. The powders are long-lasting, no creasing, and they look as they do in the photo. The quantity of product and color payoff are great for the look I’m trying to achieve.” —HappyShopper
Get it from Beauty Pie for $45 ($8.45 for members; available in warm or cool shades).
Beauty Pie
It’s also cruelty-free!
Promising review: “Versatile, well-thought-out palette. The colors are well-coordinated and can be multipurpose. The powders are long-lasting, no creasing, and they look as they do in the photo. The quantity of product and color payoff are great for the look I’m trying to achieve.” —HappyShopper
Get it from Beauty Pie for $45 ($8.45 for members; available in warm or cool shades).
25.
Athena Club’s natural, plant-based, aluminum- and cruelty-free deodorant, a product whose one job is to deal with your stinky pits, and it can handle it. Trust me — it will make you take back pretty much everything bad you’ve ever said about natural deodorant.
Katy Herman/BuzzFeed
Two things I used to believe: 1) That putting on deodorant would never be something I looked forward to and 2) natural deodorants just didn’t work as well and I was stuck with my regular drugstore brand (rhymes with Schmecret) instead of the effective aluminum- and cruelty-free formula that was my white whale. But now, slap me in Cabin 6 and call me Annabeth Chase, because I’m a dutiful daughter of Athena (Club). The first thing I noticed when I got my sample of this magic stuff in the mail was the sleek and pretty packaging that feels all Insta-worthy on my countertop. Then, the smell — I really don’t like perfume-y, overpowering scents, but this was so mild and beautiful and natural-smelling (I picked scent No. 2, a rose, sage, vanilla, lime and cedarwood blend). But most importantly, it heckin’ WORKED. I will confess that I have skipped some shower days in quarantine with my family. I’m not going anywhere and my parents love me unconditionally, okay??? But I also feel totally fresh with this stuff on. My pits stay noticeably dry and smelling A-OK pretty much all day, even if they were pretty stinky to begin with (is this TMI??). And it achieves all that with really just a swipe — no need to apply a ton. And I actually look forward to putting this goodness on in the morning!
Get it from Athena Club for $12 (available in two scents).
26.
CND SolarOil, a low-key magical oil here to banish brittle nails and dry cuticles for good. Nailed it!
Promising review: “I had a problem with my cuticles getting so dry that they would split sometimes, and no matter how many times I put lotion on my hands they would never get moist enough to lay flat like they’re supposed to. My nails were dry and brittle, so I’d end up with one breaking and then have to cut them all back in order to have them the same length. This oil has ended all of that. Now I have to cut them back because they seem to be growing faster.I haven’t had a nail split since the day I started using this oil. It soaks into your cuticles and nails so well. I was really good at using it every day in the beginning, but in the last week I got busy and and only used it twice so I ended up with a split cuticle. That’ll help you remember, right?!?! I got back on track these last two days and the cuticle is healed already. That’s just how moisturizing this stuff is. I highly recommend it!” —mlasorensen
Promising review: “I had a problem with my cuticles getting so dry that they would split sometimes, and no matter how many times I put lotion on my hands they would never get moist enough to lay flat like they’re supposed to. My nails were dry and brittle, so I’d end up with one breaking and then have to cut them all back in order to have them the same length. This oil has ended all of that. Now I have to cut them back because they seem to be growing faster.I haven’t had a nail split since the day I started using this oil. It soaks into your cuticles and nails so well. I was really good at using it every day in the beginning, but in the last week I got busy and and only used it twice so I ended up with a split cuticle. That’ll help you remember, right?!?! I got back on track these last two days and the cuticle is healed already. That’s just how moisturizing this stuff is. I highly recommend it!” —mlasorensen
A hypoallergenic, anti-bacterial, anti-mold, and anti-yeast panty wash formulated by an actual gynecologist — so yes, she knows how to get the job done. It’ll be delicate on your delicates but tough on all the gunk (yes, I am talking about discharge) you need to wash out of them.
Clean And Cute
This Black-woman owned business is the genius creation of Philly-based OB/GYN Dr. Tosha Rogers, and it’s good for bras too!
A stunningly effective diamond cleaning stick precise enough to clean every every last corner of your most prized gems and get them to shine as bright as Rihanna said they would.
Promising review: “If I could give this 20 stars, I would! After reading all the reviews on this, I was expecting it to work, but I was still amazed by how great it worked! It seriously made me realize that I ring I inherited from a family member 15 years ago was a completely different color than I thought it was. In the 15 years I’ve had this ring, I’ve never seen the actual color of the stone! My mind was blown! I’ll have one of these on hand for the rest of my life.” —Amazon Customer
Glisten Disposal Care foaming cleaner, which’ll not only quickly stop your garbage disposal from smelling like something died down there, but also look dang cool doing it.
All you gotta do is run some hot water, pop one of the packets in your disposer, let it foam, then wait for the foam to fully disappear. Then, kiss all the ickiness that’s been living down there goodbye!
Promising review: “I ran full hot water for a minute or two then put it to the smallest trickle I could. After seeing it say it only takes two minutes (mine was closer to four) I thought, no way it will work. But now I can literally hear how much easier the disposal spins. I can see the metal, which used to be black. I’m in an apartment where it has probably never been cleaned. The second sink drain I didn’t even know was white until this. It had a layer of brown gunk. Simply amazing. I’m shocked by how well this stuff works.” —J. Peace
All you gotta do is run some hot water, pop one of the packets in your disposer, let it foam, then wait for the foam to fully disappear. Then, kiss all the ickiness that’s been living down there goodbye!
Promising review: “I ran full hot water for a minute or two then put it to the smallest trickle I could. After seeing it say it only takes two minutes (mine was closer to four) I thought, no way it will work. But now I can literally hear how much easier the disposal spins. I can see the metal, which used to be black. I’m in an apartment where it has probably never been cleaned. The second sink drain I didn’t even know was white until this. It had a layer of brown gunk. Simply amazing. I’m shocked by how well this stuff works.” —J. Peace
They’ve got over 2,000 positive reviews and are machine washable so you can use them again and again!
Promising review: “I was skeptical of these, but now I’m pretty sure they’re what Mulan’s outfit was made of when she wiped her makeup off on her sleeve in the movie. Even totally dry, they do a pretty impressive job of taking off all my makeup (including waterproof eyeliner and mascara) in a couple swipes. I like to use a little micellar water to make my skin feel a little cleaner. It’s nice not to burn through so many cotton pads.” —RachelM
They’ve got over 2,000 positive reviews and are machine washable so you can use them again and again!
Promising review: “I was skeptical of these, but now I’m pretty sure they’re what Mulan’s outfit was made of when she wiped her makeup off on her sleeve in the movie. Even totally dry, they do a pretty impressive job of taking off all my makeup (including waterproof eyeliner and mascara) in a couple swipes. I like to use a little micellar water to make my skin feel a little cleaner. It’s nice not to burn through so many cotton pads.” —RachelM
Or a gentle, vegan, and cruelty-free makeup-removing cleanser that actually won’t leave your skin feeling dry and drained, thanks to nourishing ingredients like sunflower seed oil and grape seed oil.
Ren Skincare
The packaging is made from recycled materials and can be recycled again.
Promising review: “This product, in my opinion, is Ren’s best! Massage it on for a minute or two before you add water, and you can feel it work its magic. It effortlessly melts away even stubborn makeup, firms and leaves your skin baby soft. I use it twice a day and it will be part of my routine forever. If there’s one product to try, make it this one, you won’t be disappointed!” —Katy M.
The packaging is made from recycled materials and can be recycled again.
Promising review: “This product, in my opinion, is Ren’s best! Massage it on for a minute or two before you add water, and you can feel it work its magic. It effortlessly melts away even stubborn makeup, firms and leaves your skin baby soft. I use it twice a day and it will be part of my routine forever. If there’s one product to try, make it this one, you won’t be disappointed!” —Katy M.
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, which has over 9,000 5-star reviews and will ~work work work~ to take your natural makeup look to a whole new level with its full coverage and range of shades designed to fit every skin tone.
Promising review: “This is the only creaseless, perfect coverage, transfer-resistant, longwear, perfectly-matches-your-skin-but-looks-even-better foundation I’ve ever found. I had it on from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and literally forgot I was wearing it. I was just wearing the foundation, no other products. I almost didn’t wash it off before bed; it’s that lightweight! Thank you Fenty!” —NaanaEsi
Get it from Sephora for $36 (available in 50 shades).
Promising review: “This is the only creaseless, perfect coverage, transfer-resistant, longwear, perfectly-matches-your-skin-but-looks-even-better foundation I’ve ever found. I had it on from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and literally forgot I was wearing it. I was just wearing the foundation, no other products. I almost didn’t wash it off before bed; it’s that lightweight! Thank you Fenty!” —NaanaEsi
Get it from Sephora for $36 (available in 50 shades).
33.
An ingenious washable, reusable, cotton-blend towel made to do (and excel at) one very specific job. Namely, absorb all the grease from your bacon with less waste than just using a paper towel.
GreenCityLiving/Etsy
Just use it to blot bacon like you would a normal paper towel, then soak it in hot water and degreasing dish soap and toss it in the washer to be used again. This genius creation is from a woman-owned, Colorado-based shop that makes fabric alternatives to all sorts of disposable household products and donates 1% of proceeds to Climate Emergency Fund.
Promising review: “Ok, I’m really impressed! I thought it might be inconvenient compared with paper, but I am sooo amazed! It soaked up the bacon and left it perfect (no paper bits). Super easy to wash with a bit of dish soap by hand and toss it in the dishwasher. I’m telling all my friends! Excellent shop, highly recommend!” —Julie
Mid-weight merino wool hiking socks that are quick-drying, temperature-regulating, cushioned, and versatile enough to become your go-to pair. And here you thought all socks were equally good at being socks. Sorry, none can go ~toe to toe~ with these.
Promising review: “Never in my life did I think I’d turn into the kind of person who pays $23 for a pair of socks. But here I am, handing over $23 many times over for these Darn Tough socks. I’ve accumulated at least 10 pairs over the past four years (worn October till May in the great state of Vermont) and not a single pair has a hole or any sign of wearing thin. These socks have accompanied me hiking, skiing, doing field work, going to work, and for daily traipses around town. They’ve outlasted a pair of leather boots and braved the harshest of laundromat washing machines. I hated wearing socks until I found merino wool, and now Darn Tough are the only socks I’ll buy. I’m a size 7.5 in shoes and purchase these socks in a M. If socks are a religion, baptize me in the church of Darn Tough.” —Jennifer S.
Get them from Backcountry for $22.95 (available in women’s sizes S-L and in six colors).
Promising review: “Never in my life did I think I’d turn into the kind of person who pays $23 for a pair of socks. But here I am, handing over $23 many times over for these Darn Tough socks. I’ve accumulated at least 10 pairs over the past four years (worn October till May in the great state of Vermont) and not a single pair has a hole or any sign of wearing thin. These socks have accompanied me hiking, skiing, doing field work, going to work, and for daily traipses around town. They’ve outlasted a pair of leather boots and braved the harshest of laundromat washing machines. I hated wearing socks until I found merino wool, and now Darn Tough are the only socks I’ll buy. I’m a size 7.5 in shoes and purchase these socks in a M. If socks are a religion, baptize me in the church of Darn Tough.” —Jennifer S.
Get them from Backcountry for $22.95 (available in women’s sizes S-L and in six colors).
35.
Bar Keepers Friend multi-surface cleanser, which’ll probably make you wonder why all any other cleaning products exist when this stuff can do the job better than any of them.
Kayla Suazo/BuzzFeed, Amazon
Yup, that’s my coworker Kayla’s stove (on the left) before and after using this stuff. Check out her full Bar Keeper’s friend review.
Promising review: “I just moved into a new place with a huge stainless steel sink. I was so excited that I could fit an entire pan in to soak after cooking! I did just that, lifted up my pan to clean it, and found RUST STAINS all over the new sink. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t even realize the pan was rusty on the bottom. Nothing would get the rust out — like, hi, I thought this sink was supposed to be stainless? I tried baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice, anything I already had in the kitchen, as well as some heavy-duty cleaners. The stain lifted a teeny bit from the baking soda with a lot of elbow grease, but not enough to make a difference. It had been a few weeks and the stains hadn’t moved from normal use and scrubbing. I was devastated. I decided to buy this as a last ditch effort. I wish I’d just bought it immediately, but I didn’t think it would really help that much. I am so happy to be wrong! I literally put it on the sponge and scrubbed a little and the stains were all instantly removed! I can’t believe it. It took less than a minute even though I spent ages trying to scrub it out before. My sink is perfect again! If you’re hesitating at all, just buy it! It really works and I’m so relieved!” —Customer
Get the liquid cleanser plus two scrubbing cloths from Amazon for $18.99.
Kayla Suazo/BuzzFeed, Amazon
Yup, that’s my coworker Kayla’s stove (on the left) before and after using this stuff. Check out her full Bar Keeper’s friend review.
Promising review: “I just moved into a new place with a huge stainless steel sink. I was so excited that I could fit an entire pan in to soak after cooking! I did just that, lifted up my pan to clean it, and found RUST STAINS all over the new sink. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t even realize the pan was rusty on the bottom. Nothing would get the rust out — like, hi, I thought this sink was supposed to be stainless? I tried baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice, anything I already had in the kitchen, as well as some heavy-duty cleaners. The stain lifted a teeny bit from the baking soda with a lot of elbow grease, but not enough to make a difference. It had been a few weeks and the stains hadn’t moved from normal use and scrubbing. I was devastated. I decided to buy this as a last ditch effort. I wish I’d just bought it immediately, but I didn’t think it would really help that much. I am so happy to be wrong! I literally put it on the sponge and scrubbed a little and the stains were all instantly removed! I can’t believe it. It took less than a minute even though I spent ages trying to scrub it out before. My sink is perfect again! If you’re hesitating at all, just buy it! It really works and I’m so relieved!” —Customer
Get the liquid cleanser plus two scrubbing cloths from Amazon for $18.99.
36.
A game-changing salicylic acid, tea tree oil, and witch hazel body acne spray, because even if we don’t like to talk about it, pretty much *everyone* sometimes gets zits places other than their face. Don’t turn your back on bacne, people!
Versed
It’s cruelty- and paraben-free and the bottle is recyclable!
Promising review: “I love how EASY this spray is. It’s always been an issue remembering to apply acne products on my back and it’s always annoying if I miss a spot. This spray is so easy and dries fast enough and WORKS. Especially for that price!! And I’ve barely made a dent in it and it’s almost been a month. Doesn’t ball up or anything by the way. Sinks right in! No irritation. :)” —Redlipsivania
A highly-reviewed foot massage roller for a soothing tootsie massage that might even be better than the one you’re always begging your S.O. to give you (not that you would know, since they never agree to do it), especially if you struggle with foot pain.
Amazon
Over 4,000 Amazon reviewers love this roller, which you can use while you’re sitting or standing up.
Promising review: “I can’t believe it — three days of using this three times a day and my foot pain is much better. Each foot has different issues, and the most recent issue, pain in my right foot that felt like all the bones were out of place, is completely gone. I’ve had plantar fasciitis in the left foot for two years, which I treat per podiatrist’s therapy. It is still there, but does feel better. Very sturdy, well-made item that doesn’t slide on a rug. I’m very happy with the purchase.” —D. Darrell
Get it from Amazon for $18.95+ (available in two sizes).
Amazon
Over 4,000 Amazon reviewers love this roller, which you can use while you’re sitting or standing up.
Promising review: “I can’t believe it — three days of using this three times a day and my foot pain is much better. Each foot has different issues, and the most recent issue, pain in my right foot that felt like all the bones were out of place, is completely gone. I’ve had plantar fasciitis in the left foot for two years, which I treat per podiatrist’s therapy. It is still there, but does feel better. Very sturdy, well-made item that doesn’t slide on a rug. I’m very happy with the purchase.” —D. Darrell
Get it from Amazon for $18.95+ (available in two sizes).
38.
A neutral color-blocked tote that checks all the boxes on the criteria for the perfect everyday carryall. Room for all your crap? Chic? Ethically produced? Matches everything? Check to all the above — this tote is hired.
Nisolo
It’s made from leather that’s a byproduct of animals killed for meat and from tanneries that care about ethical treatment. Learn more about Nisolo’s practices regarding their supply chain here and ethical worker wages here.
Promising review: “Besides buttery soft leather, this bag is so roomy. It’s perfect for work and holds my clutch/wallet, laptop, and planner, with room for all the odds and ends! Love this beautiful bag, and I feel good about carrying responsibly-sourced leather!” —Lisa S.
Get it from Nisolo for $170 (available in six colors).
39.
NYX matte finish setting spray, an amazingly affordable spritz that reviewers swear by for seriously locking in their makeup ~lewks~. I’m talking all dang day, people!!!
Promising review: “This is the first time I’ve ever used a setting spray, but it was my daughter’s graduation and 99 degrees outside. I sat outside for three hours in the heat! We went out to dinner and to the store before I finally got home to take off my makeup. I was a little shinier than before I left, but very happy with this spray!” —Jess Y.
Promising review: “This is the first time I’ve ever used a setting spray, but it was my daughter’s graduation and 99 degrees outside. I sat outside for three hours in the heat! We went out to dinner and to the store before I finally got home to take off my makeup. I was a little shinier than before I left, but very happy with this spray!” —Jess Y.
A wireless mouse that connects via a small USB plugin, so it’s ideal for people who hate dealing with Bluetooth (me). I personally find this type of mouse much more reliable, plus it’s purple, so what more could you want?
Promising review: “My home office needed a major upgrade, as my PC was 10 years old and my mouse and keyboard were just as old. I bought an AIO computer and wireless keyboard, so a wireless mouse was a must have. I had a bad experience with a wireless mouse before at work and I had refused to use one since. This mouse, on the other hand, has been perfect and very responsive. I have fairly large hands compared to my wife who has more petite hands, but we both love this mouse as it’s a perfect size for both of us. I was very happy with this mouse and I bought an additional one for my laptop.” —Dave33
A hairbrush cleaning tool for anyone, who, like me, becomes disgusted by hair the second it is no longer attached to a head and would like to banish buildup from their hair tools ASAP.
The reviewer above got such amazing results by using this tool along with soaking their brush in a Dawn and diluted vinegar solution!
Promising review: “When I bought this I was really skeptical. I am grossed out by my hairbrush and clean it all the time. I’ve soaked it in vinegar and tea tree oil, used a toothbrush, scrubbed it with shampoo, picked it clean by hand — everything you can think of. Still, it’s so hard to get the little lint that forms at the base of the brush — they don’t dissolve off and you have to pick them off the bristles one by one because a toothbrush won’t even break them up. This thing works amazingly. I don’t know why, it just does — the particular texture of the bristles on this really grabs everything. It scraped the little lint rings right off and now my brush is cleaner, 10 times as fast.” —HeartsofHavoc
The reviewer above got such amazing results by using this tool along with soaking their brush in a Dawn and diluted vinegar solution!
Promising review: “When I bought this I was really skeptical. I am grossed out by my hairbrush and clean it all the time. I’ve soaked it in vinegar and tea tree oil, used a toothbrush, scrubbed it with shampoo, picked it clean by hand — everything you can think of. Still, it’s so hard to get the little lint that forms at the base of the brush — they don’t dissolve off and you have to pick them off the bristles one by one because a toothbrush won’t even break them up. This thing works amazingly. I don’t know why, it just does — the particular texture of the bristles on this really grabs everything. It scraped the little lint rings right off and now my brush is cleaner, 10 times as fast.” —HeartsofHavoc
It’s made with breathable, heat-wicking materials and gel beads for an extra cushion-y feeling.
Promising review: “BEST NIGHT’S SLEEP I’VE EVER HAD. The mattress is like a mix between Tempur-Pedic material and gel which makes it softer than the regular Tuft & Needle mattress. This mattress has cooling gel that keeps you cool at night and makes the mattress much softer. WE LOVE THIS MATTRESS. The first night sleeping on this mattress, my husband and I woke up the next morning praising the mattress and how well we both slept. We were sick of being woken up every night every time one of us turned over. This bed does not transfer any motion. He is 230 pounds and I don’t feel anything when he turns over.” —Rebecca B
Get it from Amazon for $476+ (available in five sizes and with or without antimicrobial protection).
You, putting these products to good use:
CBC
The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
