A set of silicone cups for upping your breakfast game by several Michelin stars. Folks, say hello to fancy brunch via avocado toast with a perfectly poached egg on top — no extra time required, no panicking over the potential of a broken yolk.
Promising review: “These things are fantastic. I am a total klutz in the kitchen. A complete noncook. And yet two poached eggs came out perfectly the first time I used these little beauties. A squirt of Pam in each cup, crack and drop the egg in, set them on the turntable of my 1,100-watt microwave, cover them with a paper towel and 60 seconds later I had two completely delicious wonderfully done poached eggs. Voila! If I can do it, anyone can… Boy, am I impressed.!!!” —Leland C. Sheppard
Promising review: “These things are fantastic. I am a total klutz in the kitchen. A complete noncook. And yet two poached eggs came out perfectly the first time I used these little beauties. A squirt of Pam in each cup, crack and drop the egg in, set them on the turntable of my 1,100-watt microwave, cover them with a paper towel and 60 seconds later I had two completely delicious wonderfully done poached eggs. Voila! If I can do it, anyone can… Boy, am I impressed.!!!” —Leland C. Sheppard
Affresh dishwasher cleaning tablets because HOW can you get clean, glistening dishes if the dishwasher itself is *gag* covered in grime? Answer: You can’t. These babies are here to help. Simply pop one in, put on the rinse cycle, and continue watching your show. Easy peasy.
Promising review: “Works extremely well. We haven’t done any cleaning on our dishwasher in five years, and the sliding dish trays were tough to pull out or push in, there was detergent buildup all over the inside, and there was a milky film on all our cups. I bought Affresh, ran the dishwasher with two tablets while it was empty, and the difference was astounding. There was still some buildup and I figured it would require another cycle, so I popped another two tablets in, ran the machine a second time, and now it looks and sounds brand new. No more film on the glasses, no more dirty dishes from clogged sprayers, no more odors.” —Martoune
Promising review: “Works extremely well. We haven’t done any cleaning on our dishwasher in five years, and the sliding dish trays were tough to pull out or push in, there was detergent buildup all over the inside, and there was a milky film on all our cups. I bought Affresh, ran the dishwasher with two tablets while it was empty, and the difference was astounding. There was still some buildup and I figured it would require another cycle, so I popped another two tablets in, ran the machine a second time, and now it looks and sounds brand new. No more film on the glasses, no more dirty dishes from clogged sprayers, no more odors.” —Martoune
CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion is about to become the *only* thing that matters in the morning (the exception being caffeine). One swipe contains hyaluronic acid and ceramides to leave your complexion feeling hydrated and supple, but the real winner here? SPF30. Your sunscreen will have been applied along with your moisturizer.
Rebecca O’ Connell / BuzzFeed
Promising review: “Hands-down holy grail product. I have extremely sensitive skin. No itching, burning, or redness, my skin is combination and it moisturizes very evenly. Even helps with my natural redness and dark circles. Best product on the market.” —joseph gauthier
A heavy duty pizza stone for dough that looks like it was flipped several times by an expert wearing a white chef’s hat. This stone guarantees a delicious crust charred to perfection, which means the frozen pizza you’re eating for dinner (yet again) will taste gourmet.
Promising review: “Whether you make pizza from scratch or enjoy a frozen pizza from the market, this pizza stone is essential for the best at home pizza experience. Preparing your pizza on a stone assures a crispy crust and removing the pizza from the oven, on the heated stone, assures you that it will remain warm while the slices are consumed.” —Steve
Get it from Amazon for $39.95 (available in 14″ and 16″ sizes).
5.
A no-scrub Wet & Forget cleaner to make “cleaning” as easy as one, two, spritz. This no-rinse product should be used weekly to keep your shower free of mildew, which basically means it will take all of two seconds to feel like you’ve deep-cleaned the place in which you bathe.
Promising review: “This stuff is excellent. It performs as promised, it has a very nice scent, no fumes, and leaves shower clean with no scrubbing actually necessary. It is very easy to apply and rinse off. It is designed very well, with squirting spout separate from the large container and attached by a longish tube, so you don’t have to hold the heavy container while applying the product. I’ve been using it for quite a while now, and I love it. I highly recommend it.” —Stephanie Martin
Promising review: “This stuff is excellent. It performs as promised, it has a very nice scent, no fumes, and leaves shower clean with no scrubbing actually necessary. It is very easy to apply and rinse off. It is designed very well, with squirting spout separate from the large container and attached by a longish tube, so you don’t have to hold the heavy container while applying the product. I’ve been using it for quite a while now, and I love it. I highly recommend it.” —Stephanie Martin
A liquid-free, reusable rolling screen cleaner because it’s about time you saw what your phone, laptop, and tablet looked like pre- permanent fingertips. A few quick swipes = no more smudges staring back at you whilst you attempt to binge the newest Netflix true crime series.
Promising review: “This little device removes the oil from your screen. Often, when you are ‘cleaning’ your screen by wiping it with a cloth, you are simply pushing around the oil into a thin enough layer to see through without noticing it as much. This device actually lifts the oil and removes it. My screen feels like new, which is great because I am picky about my devices. Also, this is much better than cleaning the screen with some kind of wipe since repeated cleaning with most wipes will damage the screen over time. Unbeknownst to me, my wife was cleaning her screen daily and now her screen collects oils far too quickly because she wore off the protective layer. With this product, you don’t need to worry about that. Clean it as often as you want/need and you can continue to enjoy that pristine screen without fear of wearing the oleophobic layer off prematurely. I would highly recommend this to others.” —Alex
Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in two sizes).
Promising review: “This little device removes the oil from your screen. Often, when you are ‘cleaning’ your screen by wiping it with a cloth, you are simply pushing around the oil into a thin enough layer to see through without noticing it as much. This device actually lifts the oil and removes it. My screen feels like new, which is great because I am picky about my devices. Also, this is much better than cleaning the screen with some kind of wipe since repeated cleaning with most wipes will damage the screen over time. Unbeknownst to me, my wife was cleaning her screen daily and now her screen collects oils far too quickly because she wore off the protective layer. With this product, you don’t need to worry about that. Clean it as often as you want/need and you can continue to enjoy that pristine screen without fear of wearing the oleophobic layer off prematurely. I would highly recommend this to others.” —Alex
Get it from Amazon for $19.95 (available in two sizes).
7.
A plant-based, paraben-free EcoTools makeup brush shampoo about to give you the most satisfying results: envision globs of orange foundation dripping onto porcelain. It’s fantastic, it takes only a few minutes from start to finish, and you *will* feel the need to stare at your squeaky clean kabuki all day long. Immediate feelings of accomplishment guaranteed.
This formula is made with gentle, plant-based ingredients that won’t damage your brushes OR your skin. Plus, it can be used on any of your brushes or sponge applicators!
Promising review: “This is the best brush shampoo I’ve ever used. I’ve used brush shampoos from high-end/luxury lines, too, and they did not work as well as this. First and most importantly for me, there is no scent! I absolutely hate when companies put heavy perfume in products that end up touching or going near the face. When washing brushes with shampoo that is heavily perfumed, that just ends up irritating my sinuses whenever I’m using the brushes to apply makeup. So awful. This is not like that at all, so I can use my makeup brushes without having sinus/allergy trouble. It cleans extremely well! No more going over and over again like with using other makeup brush shampoos. A little goes a long way, too, so it is extremely economical. The value is awesome. I highly recommend this brush shampoo and will continue purchasing it.” —L.L.
This formula is made with gentle, plant-based ingredients that won’t damage your brushes OR your skin. Plus, it can be used on any of your brushes or sponge applicators!
Promising review: “This is the best brush shampoo I’ve ever used. I’ve used brush shampoos from high-end/luxury lines, too, and they did not work as well as this. First and most importantly for me, there is no scent! I absolutely hate when companies put heavy perfume in products that end up touching or going near the face. When washing brushes with shampoo that is heavily perfumed, that just ends up irritating my sinuses whenever I’m using the brushes to apply makeup. So awful. This is not like that at all, so I can use my makeup brushes without having sinus/allergy trouble. It cleans extremely well! No more going over and over again like with using other makeup brush shampoos. A little goes a long way, too, so it is extremely economical. The value is awesome. I highly recommend this brush shampoo and will continue purchasing it.” —L.L.
A spice organizer so that you never have to shove past the bottles of thyme, garlic powder, and cumin in order to find the one thing you actually need: oregano. This will de-clutter your spice drawer (or any drawer, for that matter) in minutes.
Amazon
Promising review: “This is one of my favorite things I’ve ever purchased from Amazon! I think this will be my go-to gift for all of my friends who love cooking as much as I do! Freeing up cabinet space and having something that can so easily be rinsed off in the sink makes this a for-sure buy!” —momonono
Promising review: “This is one of my favorite things I’ve ever purchased from Amazon! I think this will be my go-to gift for all of my friends who love cooking as much as I do! Freeing up cabinet space and having something that can so easily be rinsed off in the sink makes this a for-sure buy!” —momonono
Seche Clear and Seche Vite Polishes because the manicure you painstakingly complete today should not be chipped by *insert frustrated sigh* tomorrow. This base and top coat duo work in harmony to protect your nail beds from stains, promote a shiny, longer-lasting mani, *and* reviewers swear it dries in minutes. A manicure that doesn’t take seven years = the best.
Promising review: “I used to never do my nails at home because they never looked like nail salon manicures. I purchased this after I realized that I would not be able to go to the salon for sometime due to COVID. I made the best decision. The base coat is so thick yet makes the perfect surface for the next polish layer. The top coat literally looks like glass and dries within five minutes, tops. I use the top coat every other day to freshen up manicure and make it last longer. I have been very happy. I redo my nails every 10 days and only because I like to change the color often. The top coat is a blessing because with other top coats I used to always get bubbles trapped inside but this has not happened ONCE with this one!” —Aysar
Get the base and top coat set from Amazon for $11.38 (available in four formulas).
10.
A set of thick velvet slip covers for a brand new couch on a very, very small budget. It doesn’t take a DIY genius to master these beauties — literally just ~slip~ them over sofa cushions for an immediate uptick to your living room decor. *considers starting a home renovation blog*
This set even comes with nonslip straps to ensure your new seats ~sit~ perfectly still and stay in place.
Promising review: “I have never been so excited about a slipcover. Total transformation of our couch and love seat. I was worried about it not working on our leather couch, but it stays on really well due to the straps and the separate cushion covers. LOVE.” —Brian/Liz
Get it from Amazon for $21.70 (available in two sizes and nine colors).
11.
Goody hair pins to give you that perfect ballerina bun in under 30 seconds — because just one pin can do the work of up to *20* hair pins. How does it work, you ask? Just secure your hair into a ponytail, pull it into a super tight bun, spin the pins into place, and that’s it! That up-do is done.
Promising review: “I’m a nursing student and have to wear my hair in a bun every day. I’ve tried all the bun makers, watched YouTube videos, and spend way too much time on getting my hair into a bun. I was able to make a pretty bun that was secure in under 30 seconds. I thought it was a fluke so I did it again, and then again. I just ordered two more packs because I know if I lose one of these, I’d have to tear the house down looking for it. I have hair to my mid back, and three of these worked perfectly for me. If I can get my hair in bun in under 30 seconds, trust me…anyone can.” —Tina
Promising review: “I’m a nursing student and have to wear my hair in a bun every day. I’ve tried all the bun makers, watched YouTube videos, and spend way too much time on getting my hair into a bun. I was able to make a pretty bun that was secure in under 30 seconds. I thought it was a fluke so I did it again, and then again. I just ordered two more packs because I know if I lose one of these, I’d have to tear the house down looking for it. I have hair to my mid back, and three of these worked perfectly for me. If I can get my hair in bun in under 30 seconds, trust me…anyone can.” —Tina
A reusable Revlon oil-absorbing roller stick made with volcanic stone to give greasy T-zones a permanent boot. Quickly whip this out between Zoom meetings for a shine-free forehead that required no annoying setting powder ~or~ any mattifying primers.
Amazon
Promising reviews: “This is another product that I think everyone should have and put on your Christmas list. Sometimes even if you shower your skin can still get oily and all you have to do is rub this on the oily parts and it completely gets rid of it. Even if you have makeup on, but you want to get the excess oil off it leaves your makeup but takes away the oil. It is also very easy to clean. I recommend cleaning it every three days or five uses. All you have to do is get soap and cold water and then let it sit overnight and put it back, all done.” —Meghan Guydish
“This… this! I don’t know what sort of sorcery this is, but this thing totally works, and it’s freaking me out! I tested it by standing outside for a few mins (I live in the south, very humid) and then came back inside and rolled it along my nose. Sucked that oil right up!! I cannot believe I have been wasting money on blotting paper when this was out there (and reusable)! Totally buying some for my sister and friends. If you’re on the fence about it, JUST BUY IT!” —Stellar
A ~Fasta Pasta~ cooker for the person who *insists* on eating Italian every night. This makes perfect al dente pasta right in the microwave every single time, plus the lid doubles as a strainer! So long to the 10 pots and pans that end up in my sink in the pursuit of penne.
Promising review: “I bought this microwave pasta cooker at a time when I did not have a stove. Even though I have a stove now, I still use this cooker for dinner for myself sometimes because it works so well and quickly! The pasta comes out very soft and perfectly cooked when instructions are followed. When the pasta is done, the lid is used to drain the cooker of water and works very well. Pasta is the only thing I have cooked in this product, but there are a lot of other things you can cook in it. I highly recommend this to any college student or adult who needs a fast microwave pasta cooker!” —Kelsi Murphy
Promising review: “I bought this microwave pasta cooker at a time when I did not have a stove. Even though I have a stove now, I still use this cooker for dinner for myself sometimes because it works so well and quickly! The pasta comes out very soft and perfectly cooked when instructions are followed. When the pasta is done, the lid is used to drain the cooker of water and works very well. Pasta is the only thing I have cooked in this product, but there are a lot of other things you can cook in it. I highly recommend this to any college student or adult who needs a fast microwave pasta cooker!” —Kelsi Murphy
An erase-a-hole putty that fills cracks in drywall, plaster, and wood faster than you can say “HGTV.” Just follow the handy dandy guide below for a DIY repair that would a: impress even the great Joanna Gaines and b: won’t take too much time or patience.
Amazon
Promising review: “I love this stuff! It’s super easy to use and it flawlessly anything from nail holes to larger drywall anchor holes. Bonus that my walls are white and I can even get away with not repainting if I do a clean job! I hope they never stop making this stuff.” —bookworm
A universal cleaning gel here to — and I cannot believe I’m about to say this — make cleaning… fun?! This goo hunk traps dust mites and dirt with relish. In moment. Your car vents need this.
Amazon
Promising review: “I purchased this product to clean those little spaces in my car filled with random crumbs from my husband and dog hair, and it works amazing. Picked up everything and didn’t leave a residue. The lemon scent was faint and didn’t overpower the vehicle while I was cleaning it. But this definitely got in all the little nooks and crannies.” —Kimberly
Promising review: “I purchased this product to clean those little spaces in my car filled with random crumbs from my husband and dog hair, and it works amazing. Picked up everything and didn’t leave a residue. The lemon scent was faint and didn’t overpower the vehicle while I was cleaning it. But this definitely got in all the little nooks and crannies.” —Kimberly
Silicone-free L’Oreal Paris Elvive 8 Second Wonder Water Lamellar – it makes good on its promise of shine, shine, shine. This banishes dullness in eight seconds flat, giving your mane all that lustrous hydration and bounce but thankfully *none* of the weigh-down.
Apply this directly to wet hair avoiding the roots, massage it in for eight seconds, then rinse. Effort required = practically zero.
Promising review: “This is the holy grail of hair products. Seriously I need gallons of this stuff! I put it on my hair for 10 seconds and could feel while still in the shower that my hair felt amazing! I usually have stringy ends and after using this, my hair was soft and silky!” —Sky T Block
Apply this directly to wet hair avoiding the roots, massage it in for eight seconds, then rinse. Effort required = practically zero.
Promising review: “This is the holy grail of hair products. Seriously I need gallons of this stuff! I put it on my hair for 10 seconds and could feel while still in the shower that my hair felt amazing! I usually have stringy ends and after using this, my hair was soft and silky!” —Sky T Block
A watering funnel that gives you no choice but to water your plants. The amount of water that has pooled on my floor rather than into the roots of my ZZ… ridiculous, quite frankly! This is effective, takes up no extra space, doesn’t look like an eyesore, and gets a task (one that you constantly put off) out of the way.
Amazon
Promising review: “Do you have a lot of plants? Are they crowded together and hard to see where on pot begins? Or bushy plants that spread out low and wide? These will help in all of these situation. My plants are happy and my floors are dry.” —k gannon
A 10-pack of pull handles for a quick, easy way to catapult your kitchen cabinets into the 21st century (no disrespect intended to the love couple who designed your space in the early ’70s).
Promising review: “We ordered these pulls to replace some other 3-inch center hardware we had in our kitchen (it’s a hard size to find!). I was impressed by the quality for the price and was surprised to find they included screws in three different lengths. Install was quick and easy.” —alicia
Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $30.99+ (available in seven colors and three sizes).
Promising review: “We ordered these pulls to replace some other 3-inch center hardware we had in our kitchen (it’s a hard size to find!). I was impressed by the quality for the price and was surprised to find they included screws in three different lengths. Install was quick and easy.” —alicia
Get a set of 10 from Amazon for $30.99+ (available in seven colors and three sizes).
19.
A Vivienne Sabó volumizing mascara to upgrade your lash game with a clump-free, cruelty-free, smudge-proof formula. Just one coat will make you feel as if you ~actually tried~ this morning, sans heavy foundation or a ton of time.
This is very likely the last mascara brand you’ll ever want to purchase because of how freakin’ well works to really separate and thicken your lashes.
Promising review: “I absolutely LOVE this mascara. I have very sensitive eyes and holy moly, I’m in love. I’ve found my new favorite mascara! It makes my lashes look longer and it looks the same all day long. Plus, it doesn’t smudge during the day. It’s wonderful and a total must-buy!” —Katherine Ochsman
This is very likely the last mascara brand you’ll ever want to purchase because of how freakin’ well works to really separate and thicken your lashes.
Promising review: “I absolutely LOVE this mascara. I have very sensitive eyes and holy moly, I’m in love. I’ve found my new favorite mascara! It makes my lashes look longer and it looks the same all day long. Plus, it doesn’t smudge during the day. It’s wonderful and a total must-buy!” —Katherine Ochsman
e.l.f. Poreless Putty Primer – it blurs pores, mattifies excess oil, and offers light coverage with one swipe! It wears well under foundation, plus is great to slather on when you’re pressed for time but want a bright, dewy complexion. This is widely considered an A+ dupe for more expensive primers on the market.
Promising review: “Beauty gurus have been raving about e.l.f.’s putty primer, so I decided to give it a try because of the affordable price. Another reason why I appreciate e.l.f. products. At first, when I applied the primer, it did feel greasy on my skin, but after applying my makeup, my skin looked amazing. Not only did this primer minimize my pores. It also kept my oily skin at bay and helped my makeup last throughout the day. I can now say that I found a holy grail and this primer was definitely a product I will keep purchasing.” —Pamela
A pan scraper and squeegee set that will get all the burnt-up food crisps permanently off your very expensive cookware set. (It even includes a convenient suction cup for easy peasy sink storage.)
Amazon
Promising review: “These are great for cleaning pans and the fact that they stick to the side of the sink and I don’t have to find them is really handy.” —Nicole P.
Promising review: “These are great for cleaning pans and the fact that they stick to the side of the sink and I don’t have to find them is really handy.” —Nicole P.
A bottle of Mike’s Hot Honey to take your taste buds on an all-expenses-paid adventure. This all-natural honey, chili pepper, and vinegar mixture add the perfect touch of spicy and sweet to any meal, which means you can say so long to bland and boring dinners that looked more appealing when the YouTube chef made it.
Amazon
This Paleo-friendly, gluten-free condiment is truly the cherry on top of any meal.
Promising review: “I’m in love with this! My entire family (with the exception of my husband, who doesn’t like spice) reaches for this bottle of Mike’s many times a week. We’ve tried it on biscuits, cornbread, fried chicken, bacon (AMAZING), and more. Mike’s offers just the right kick of heat to balance the delicious sweetness of the honey. I plan on keeping this in my pantry.” —MichiganTraveler
This Paleo-friendly, gluten-free condiment is truly the cherry on top of any meal.
Promising review: “I’m in love with this! My entire family (with the exception of my husband, who doesn’t like spice) reaches for this bottle of Mike’s many times a week. We’ve tried it on biscuits, cornbread, fried chicken, bacon (AMAZING), and more. Mike’s offers just the right kick of heat to balance the delicious sweetness of the honey. I plan on keeping this in my pantry.” —MichiganTraveler
A plant-based gel cream that works OT to tame pesky flyaways that no amount of brushing can get rid of. You can confidently slick back those baby hairs with this nongreasy, completely transparent formula — it’s also super easy to use thanks to its mascara wand applicator.
Promising review: “I was surprised to find that this product is very easy to use and extremely effective. It didn’t leave my hair looking greasy or sticky and it works great for baby hairs around the face.” —GoBlue
Brow Flick – a brush-tip detailing pen that makes filling in sparse brows a summer breeze. The smudge-proof formula is sheer but buildable, here to help you create a natural (or dramatic) look depending on your preference.
Maitland Quitmeyer / BuzzFeed
“I’ve lived many eyebrow lives until this point: the not-filled in at all, the filled in WAY TOO HARSHLY AND DARK (major regret), and most recently, the ‘just a few sweeps of brow mascara.’ But when Glossier launched their newest eyebrow wonder, the Brow Flick, I really wanted to try it and see if it filled in my brows a little more than just gel does, without looking tooooooooo over-the-top. My perfect face of makeup is a heavy-ish brow, mascara, and a red lip, but finding the right balance for your forehead caterpillars can be a major challenge. I have bushy-ish brows, but the front of them (closest to my nose) is a very sparse swirl, making it look like my brows don’t even start where they should.
TL;DR: I LOVE this pen! It’s really easy to apply in short, hair-like strokes, and the fluid doesn’t come pouring out quickly so you don’t make mistakes. I like a dramatic brow look (as you can see LOL), but you can defs do a more natural one! Thanks to the really fine tip and not-too-inky formula, it’s VERY easy to build up! Just a few quick strokes (easier and more natural looking than a brow pencil, I found), a couple of brushes with your favorite brow gel (Boy Brow is great, and Glossier sells Boy Brow and Brow Flick in a set, saving you four bucks!). I also realized I really needed to pluck my brows after taking this photo for you guys, so it’s a win-win!” —Maitland Quitmeyer, BuzzFeed Senior Editor
Get it from Glossier for $18 (available in three shades).
25.
An adjustable duster brush great for air conditioners, fans, and window blinds because YES, those need to be cleaned on occasion (the amount of dust that can accumulate there is *cough* genuinely disgusting). And don’t worry, cleaning said crevices requires but a few minutes of your time and just a flick or two of the wrist.
This handy dandy tool comes with five microfiber cloths, meaning you’ll be able to clean your whole darn house in one sweep.
Promising review: “This product is AMAZING! You can clean both sides of two blinds at once and grip them firmly to get ALL of the dust off. Plus, it comes with five covers, so that no matter how dirty your blinds are, you’ll be able to finish dusting your whole house! I also love that you can wash the covers and don’t have to waste money on refills.” —Sarah
This handy dandy tool comes with five microfiber cloths, meaning you’ll be able to clean your whole darn house in one sweep.
Promising review: “This product is AMAZING! You can clean both sides of two blinds at once and grip them firmly to get ALL of the dust off. Plus, it comes with five covers, so that no matter how dirty your blinds are, you’ll be able to finish dusting your whole house! I also love that you can wash the covers and don’t have to waste money on refills.” —Sarah
A Schick dermaplaning razor for anyone ready to bid adieu to the pains of plucking. This rids stray brow hairs and unwanted peach fuzz with just a few swipes, meaning trips to the salon or a rendezvous with at-home wax will no longer be necessary.
Promising review: “This is a 100% painless and incredibly easy alternative to waxing or plucking. A few quick swipes gets rid of peach fuzz and I never have to worry about breaking out because of it. Also, it doesn’t make hair grow back coarser or darker.” —Ellen R.
Promising review: “This is a 100% painless and incredibly easy alternative to waxing or plucking. A few quick swipes gets rid of peach fuzz and I never have to worry about breaking out because of it. Also, it doesn’t make hair grow back coarser or darker.” —Ellen R.
A Glamglow pore-refining mask that only requires *does quick double check* 60 seconds of your time. A blend of bentonite and kaolin clays, witch hazel, aloe vera, and licorice root tackle enlarged pores, blemishes, and excess oil — plus, it bubbles up, which means that application is downright fun.
Sephora
Promising review: “This mask is the only mask that has an overnight difference to my face. I have dry skin and this doesn’t dry me out, and it either clears my acne or makes it less noticeable/flatter. My face feels very smooth afterwards as well. Not to mention it takes 60 seconds and it works better than masks that take more time. Plus it’s fun to use and very pretty!” —esilaganig
Promising review: “This mask is the only mask that has an overnight difference to my face. I have dry skin and this doesn’t dry me out, and it either clears my acne or makes it less noticeable/flatter. My face feels very smooth afterwards as well. Not to mention it takes 60 seconds and it works better than masks that take more time. Plus it’s fun to use and very pretty!” —esilaganig
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser – it’s formulated with goji berry and Haloxyl because no one on that Zoom call needs to know that you spent the entire night watching YouTube bloggers. Just a quick swipe of this (there’s an attached sponge applicator so no need to worry about packing a brush) and *poof* your dark circles are now a thing of the past.
Kayla Suazo / BuzzFeed
Promising review: “I am a makeup snob. I have stupidly high standards for cosmetic performance, and drugstore brands have let me down every single time I’ve given them a shot. So when I graduated from Covergirl to Sephora after college, I never looked back. My kit is full of Dior and YSL foundation, Armani concealer, Benefit brighteners, etc. But this thing is truly great.The sponge applicator is better than you think. Firstly, it’s antimicrobial, so you don’t have to worry about the hygiene aspect. Secondly, its ability to blend the product is outstanding. The concealer itself doubles as a highlighter, it looks good without primer, and it lasts so much longer than you’d expect.” —Sarita
Get it from Amazon for $7.12 (available in 12 shades).
Promising review: “I am a makeup snob. I have stupidly high standards for cosmetic performance, and drugstore brands have let me down every single time I’ve given them a shot. So when I graduated from Covergirl to Sephora after college, I never looked back. My kit is full of Dior and YSL foundation, Armani concealer, Benefit brighteners, etc. But this thing is truly great.The sponge applicator is better than you think. Firstly, it’s antimicrobial, so you don’t have to worry about the hygiene aspect. Secondly, its ability to blend the product is outstanding. The concealer itself doubles as a highlighter, it looks good without primer, and it lasts so much longer than you’d expect.” —Sarita
Get it from Amazon for $7.12 (available in 12 shades).
A one-line-a-day journal for anyone who would love to sit down and journal on the daily, but let’s be realistic here — you probably won’t. And that’s fine! This little blue book encourages you to sum up your day with just a line or two for five years…
…meaning you’ll be able to compare where you are right NOW to where you were last year, on this specific date, on the dot.
Promising review: “You will never regret buying this journal. I have always been a huge proponent of journaling. I journal everyday. I reread my old journals weekly. I love writing. This journal is a great way to ease yourself into journaling if it is an idea you’re exploring but are nervous to completely delve in. It is a huge commitment; I won’t lie, I occasionally go a few days without writing a few words. But being able to compare the years throughout your life is amazing. I wish I’d been doing this since I learned to write. If you’re thinking about getting this journal, do. It is my most prized material possession.” —Samantha Bone
Get it from Amazon for $11.79 or Bookshop for $15.59 (to support local booksellers).
…meaning you’ll be able to compare where you are right NOW to where you were last year, on this specific date, on the dot.
Promising review: “You will never regret buying this journal. I have always been a huge proponent of journaling. I journal everyday. I reread my old journals weekly. I love writing. This journal is a great way to ease yourself into journaling if it is an idea you’re exploring but are nervous to completely delve in. It is a huge commitment; I won’t lie, I occasionally go a few days without writing a few words. But being able to compare the years throughout your life is amazing. I wish I’d been doing this since I learned to write. If you’re thinking about getting this journal, do. It is my most prized material possession.” —Samantha Bone
Get it from Amazon for $11.79 or Bookshop for $15.59 (to support local booksellers).
30.
A hard water stain-remover so that your faucets can finally look brand spankin’ new. So long, days of staring at my gross shower head that still looks awful despite hours (upon hours) of scrubbing. This quick-working formula is great for toilets, tiles, shower doors, and really anything else that’s been affected by hard water!
Promising review: “I’m impressed. I thought the container was small for the price, but a little bit goes a long way. It takes a lot for me to review, but this is worth it. Five years in the hardest calcium filled water and this is the first cleaner to remove it. I’ve tried scrubbing, only to scratch the surface. Every time I fill the water and ice at the fridge, I’m impressed by the result. I could see this working best, right at first.” —Joshua N. Dufek
A cult-favorite Fanola purple shampoo that nips brassiness in the bud. The violet pigment in this formula works to wash away unwanted yellow in your ‘do, meaning you can extend the time between salon visits and save a metric ton of money (all with one shower sesh). Easy + affordable? My prayers have been answered.
Use this only once a week (for about three minutes at a time) to prevent your hair from turning a slightly lavender shade.
Promising review: “Finally! A purple shampoo that actually does something to my brassy hair! I have silver-white hair that is exceptionally hard to maintain due to how easily my hair gains brassy tones and how stubborn they are to remove. I’ve tried a ton of other brands, and none of their toning shampoos will do a damn thing to my hair even if I leave them on for an hour. I normally have to dilute violet direct dyes to make a dent in my brass. It’s nice to not have to schedule a chunk of time to mix a batch of custom toner, painstakingly apply it, and then sit around for an hour while it does its stuff. This shampoo actually works really well and can cut a lot of time out of my bi-weekly color maintenance.” —Audrey
A cable management box to hide unsightly wires that cause heartache by just looking at them. The tangles! The never-ending tangles! They’re more than I can personally handle, aka quickly hide them with this box. It’s the more efficient tech equivalent of “the chair.”*
Amazon
*THE chair that becomes the spot in which you store all of your clean laundry for weeks on end.
Promising review: “This box does the trick. I’m able to place a few cords in here and the only thing I would change is to make it so the top stays on; maybe a groove it has to slide through so it can’t fall off. It looks nice and it works well.” —Gigi
Nontoxic leather conditioner with the power to ~rejuvenate~ everything from your favorite pair of boots to the very, very old couch you thrifted (you didn’t realize how expensive furniture was until you submitted your security deposit and started scrolling through West Elm. Yikes!) This lifts years of stains in minutes.
Reviewers note that using this may darken the leather, so keep that in mind!
Promising review: “Excellent product! So happy I tried it! I wore kitchen gloves and smoothed a thin layer of the product all over the couch, instead using of the cloth. Went way faster and I didn’t waste product soaked up by the cloth.” —Kristie
Reviewers note that using this may darken the leather, so keep that in mind!
Promising review: “Excellent product! So happy I tried it! I wore kitchen gloves and smoothed a thin layer of the product all over the couch, instead using of the cloth. Went way faster and I didn’t waste product soaked up by the cloth.” —Kristie
Vacuum storage bags for all the winter outerwear that takes up about 95% of your already minimal closet space. These easily compress chunky sweaters and thick duvets to a fraction of their normal size, plus an anti-microbial material keeps funky-smelling mold and mildew away. Just stuff, vacuum, and store.
These storage bags come with a tiny valve that you attach to your vacuum (or the hand pump they provide), which takes out ALLLL the air from inside the bag and compresses all the items inside.
Promising review: “I didn’t believe that this product would work, but OH HOW WRONG I WAS! I purchased the jumbo-sized bags, and I was actually able to place over 20 thick sweaters in one bag, and three leather coats, five pea coats, and additional winter clothing into another bag. I was able to store all our winter clothing away, which created a ton of space and eliminated overwhelming clutter.” —VickyGener85
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in four sizes).
These storage bags come with a tiny valve that you attach to your vacuum (or the hand pump they provide), which takes out ALLLL the air from inside the bag and compresses all the items inside.
Promising review: “I didn’t believe that this product would work, but OH HOW WRONG I WAS! I purchased the jumbo-sized bags, and I was actually able to place over 20 thick sweaters in one bag, and three leather coats, five pea coats, and additional winter clothing into another bag. I was able to store all our winter clothing away, which created a ton of space and eliminated overwhelming clutter.” —VickyGener85
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in four sizes).
35.
Cake Beauty The Curl Friend Defining Cream – it delivers glossy, frizz-free curls on second (or third or fourth or tenth) day hair. A blend of shea butter and lightweight natural oils provide a ton of moisture but thankfully none of the weigh-down, which means your tresses will look salon-quality even though it’s been…several days since you last washed it.
Promising review: “This is the most reasonably priced curly hair product I’ve found. I originally got a little tube from my Ipsy order, and I liked it so much, I came to Amazon to order a full-sized bottle. It doesn’t make my hair crunchy or greasy, even if I accidentally put too much on. My curls look natural and bouncy after using my diffuser, and even when I let hair air dry, this gives my curls a little extra form and structure to look like I actually did something to my hair.” —sbgoodgirl
Promising review: “This is the most reasonably priced curly hair product I’ve found. I originally got a little tube from my Ipsy order, and I liked it so much, I came to Amazon to order a full-sized bottle. It doesn’t make my hair crunchy or greasy, even if I accidentally put too much on. My curls look natural and bouncy after using my diffuser, and even when I let hair air dry, this gives my curls a little extra form and structure to look like I actually did something to my hair.” —sbgoodgirl
An attachable aerator to make your less-than-$10 wine taste like it was sourced from Napa and aged for 10 centuries. “I’m getting some dry notes of expensive,” you’ll say.
This attachable aerator deposits oxygen into your wine, which improves taste and allows aromas to EXPAND! Plus, it couldn’t be any easier to use.
Promising review: “These wine aerators are FABULOUS! I do wine demos for different wineries and I don’t always have time to let a bottle of wine breathe properly before a demo starts. These greatly enhance the flavor and it makes all the difference in the world. My sales numbers increased greatly. And you can’t beat the price!” —Ash Bash.
This attachable aerator deposits oxygen into your wine, which improves taste and allows aromas to EXPAND! Plus, it couldn’t be any easier to use.
Promising review: “These wine aerators are FABULOUS! I do wine demos for different wineries and I don’t always have time to let a bottle of wine breathe properly before a demo starts. These greatly enhance the flavor and it makes all the difference in the world. My sales numbers increased greatly. And you can’t beat the price!” —Ash Bash.
A pumice-like stone for removing accumulated lint and pilling, because no one has to know about the 250 times you washed and wore that fleece hoodie. A few swipes of this = your most beloved wardrobe staples will look newly plucked from the racks of your favorite store.
Celsious
Psst, this is made from upcycled car windshield glass! And FYI that Celsious is a small, Black-owned business based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn that focuses on eco-friendly alternatives for products we use all the darn time.
A squeegee broom to quickly sweep up the water spills, potato chip crumbs, and stray strands that have quickly taken over your tiny apartment. An extendable handle and 100% natural rubber also make this an absolute beast for scooping up pet hair.
Emma Lord/BuzzFeed
“An embarrassing confession: my hair gets so ingrained in the carpet that a vacuum truly does nothing for it. In fact, to make matters worse, weird particles get stuck in the hair on the floor, which is stuck to the carpet, so I often was just unrooting clumps of hair from the floor with my hands (sorry for the visual). I bought this broom and it immediately started pulling it up GOBS of hair. My carpet like, genuinely changed color (turns out the pink was supposed to be much pinker, whoops). Anyway, do with that semi-horrifying information what you will.” —Emma Lord, BuzzFeed Editor
“An embarrassing confession: my hair gets so ingrained in the carpet that a vacuum truly does nothing for it. In fact, to make matters worse, weird particles get stuck in the hair on the floor, which is stuck to the carpet, so I often was just unrooting clumps of hair from the floor with my hands (sorry for the visual). I bought this broom and it immediately started pulling it up GOBS of hair. My carpet like, genuinely changed color (turns out the pink was supposed to be much pinker, whoops). Anyway, do with that semi-horrifying information what you will.” —Emma Lord, BuzzFeed Editor
Keurig cleaning cups to deep clean your coffee machine (#poetry) within minutes. Simply pop this biodegradable cleaner in as you would a cup of caffeine, proceed to marvel at the gunk that’s made its way into your daily cup of joe.
Promising review: “We’ve had our Keurig for a few years, and with the exception of using only filtered water and dispensing hot water every so often, we’ve never cleaned the needle or K-Cup area. I used three cleaning cups back to back and WOW our machine was dirty! I’m so happy I purchased these! I’ll be keeping up on cleaning these more often.” —Heather Garcia
Promising review: “We’ve had our Keurig for a few years, and with the exception of using only filtered water and dispensing hot water every so often, we’ve never cleaned the needle or K-Cup area. I used three cleaning cups back to back and WOW our machine was dirty! I’m so happy I purchased these! I’ll be keeping up on cleaning these more often.” —Heather Garcia
A microwave steam cleaner that’ll finally (and I mean finally) rid your microwave of the caked-on dinner that’s been there since about, oh, last year. Simply fill this handy device with vinegar, let ‘er run for five to seven minutes, wipe, and done.
Promising review: “I was skeptical about buying this at first, but it’s AWESOME. It works like a charm! Super easy to use and does exactly what it says. It made my microwave look brand-new again!” —Lisa
Promising review: “I was skeptical about buying this at first, but it’s AWESOME. It works like a charm! Super easy to use and does exactly what it says. It made my microwave look brand-new again!” —Lisa
A rapid veggie steamer because eating your broccoli shouldn’t feel like such a chore, dammit. Eating greens is simple with this dishwasher-safe product: Just add water until the marked fill line, add your veggies, microwave for two minutes and 30 seconds*, then presto! You’ve got yourself a side dish.
Amazon
*For frozen vegetables, you’ll want to microwave for four minutes!
Promising review: “I use this item to quickly steam my broccoli in the morning before work and it is a lifesaver! It’s so easy and quick that it is helping me have better eating habits.” —JCapone
A water-based tile pen that makes deep cleaning grout feel like filling in the pages of an adult coloring book. Consider mold banished after a few swipes of this nontoxic formula, which releases anti-bacterial agents with each pass.
Promising review: “These things are awesome! I cleaned my bathroom tile grout first because the lady who lived there before me really let it go. A few places stayed stained and I was worried it wouldn’t cover them, but all grout areas are bright white and look new after using this.” —Donna K Cook
Promising review: “These things are awesome! I cleaned my bathroom tile grout first because the lady who lived there before me really let it go. A few places stayed stained and I was worried it wouldn’t cover them, but all grout areas are bright white and look new after using this.” —Donna K Cook
A SodaStream to make it easy to DIY your own carbonated beverage. This turns flat water fizzy in just a few seconds, saving you *all* the money you’d typically spend on seltzer plus it prevents you from wasting a ton of plastic. All in all, a total win.
Abby Kass / BuzzFeed
So how does it work? V. simple. Fill the bottle with water to the designated line, put it on the machine, then press the button on top for two second intervals (do this until you hear a releasing sound).
FYI, this comes with CO2 and a BPA-free bottle.
Promising review: “I drink a lot of carbonated water and now I drink even more! This soda stream is super simple to use — just snap the bottle in place and hit a button. In a minute, you’ve got a liter of carbonated water. It couldn’t be simpler.” —JA Hoffman
So how does it work? V. simple. Fill the bottle with water to the designated line, put it on the machine, then press the button on top for two second intervals (do this until you hear a releasing sound).
FYI, this comes with CO2 and a BPA-free bottle.
Promising review: “I drink a lot of carbonated water and now I drink even more! This soda stream is super simple to use — just snap the bottle in place and hit a button. In a minute, you’ve got a liter of carbonated water. It couldn’t be simpler.” —JA Hoffman
A twist-to-dispense click pen that quickly and efficiently wipes away built-up gunk to reveal a brighter, more breathtaking surface within seconds. Consider this an easy way to make your best friend (re: diamond) look and feel as good as new.
Promising review: “I worked in a fine jewelry store for several years that sold this product. I was always impressed with the instant shine the diamond stick provided! The brush tip is very helpful for getting under the stones and in the setting where gunk builds up, which reduces that brilliant shine. I recently got engaged and immediately purchased a diamond dazzle stick of my own. You simply brush, rinse, dry and go. I don’t feel this product replaces the need to professionally clean your jewelry every now and then, but it does help with the maintenance of that new, shiny sparkle.” —Amazon Customer
Promising review: “I worked in a fine jewelry store for several years that sold this product. I was always impressed with the instant shine the diamond stick provided! The brush tip is very helpful for getting under the stones and in the setting where gunk builds up, which reduces that brilliant shine. I recently got engaged and immediately purchased a diamond dazzle stick of my own. You simply brush, rinse, dry and go. I don’t feel this product replaces the need to professionally clean your jewelry every now and then, but it does help with the maintenance of that new, shiny sparkle.” —Amazon Customer
