
These 37 Inexpensive Amazon Finds Are Worth Every Penny
SweatBlock antiperspirant wipes with a clinical strength formula that'll last up to seven days (!!!) for folks who get seasonal depression whenever the sun has them sweatin' it for no good reason.
A stunning minimizer bra to basically give you a surgery-free breast reduction with some ultimate seduction. The comfortable sheer mesh and lace details are oh-so-sexy that, despite the impressive results when worn under shirts, you may find yourself too distracted looking at your gorgeous shelf (oops, I mean, self) to wanna put clothes on over it. Reviewers rave about the bra's ability to support breasts while minimizing bulk without the awkward separating and squishing that often result from lesser bras.
A pack of two Downy fabric sprays — with this, you're *finally* gonna rid your caftans and pants of those stubborn crinkles and creases.
A set of extra soft cooling bedsheets reviewers say feel like sleeping at a luxurious hotel. If you've found falling asleep a chore because of tossing, turning, and *sweating* at night, then treat yourself to these cult-favorite sheets!
A ChomChom pet hair remover roller — this is gonna pick up fur and lock it inside the roller, making cleanup a breeze. Plus, it doesn't lose its effectiveness with heavy use. We love our pets, but woof, shedding is their greatest skill.
A timeless tennis bracelet made with 14K gold plated cubic zirconia that's sure to look like you put down some serious $$$ on Swarovski, which can stay our little secret.
John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Air Dry Waves Styling Foam for folks who know in their heart their bedhead could look beautiful, but also know they'll never get into a beauty routine (am I just talking about myself at this point?). This non-sticky product WANTS your hair to look gorgeous, and it's happy to do all the work! Just scrunch it through your wet hair and air-dry your way to a beautifully styled 'do.
Tie-front satin PJs that'll keep you feeling breezy and cool even on warm summer nights. Plus, these'll have you looking like an influencer even when you're home alone, positively LIVING off of Netflix and mac n cheese...but wearing *catwalk-worthy* loungewear.
A retinol body lotion — sure, retinol is great for your face, but there's a whole *body* of skin it can help out! This particularly dreamy, creamy formula helps promote skin cell turnover using retinol, while the ferulic acid firms skin to promote natural skin tightening.
A foaming garbage disposal cleaner to clean out your rental's sink before your landlord decides to dispose of your deposit. And when I say, "clean out your sink," I really mean...toss in some foam and let it do all the work. That chore is way too gross to do yourself.
Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener (made with a *chef's kiss* mix of hyaluronic acid and shea butter), which became a knockout success once reviewers started raving en masse about the product's instant invisible coverage. If you're looking for quick and easy results that suggest you don't even require sleep...you've come to the right brightener.
Venus Visage Teeth Whitening Pens — simply brush the product onto your teeth, wait two minutes, and watch those coffee stains disappear! Each pen lasts up to 20 uses and is said to lighten up to eight shades. This has the rave reviews to prove it!
A bug rug woven with soft wool so comfortable you and your family may find yourselves crawling around with these creepy crawlies all the time! This already has a rubber backing, so it'll be g2g the moment it gets to your door. The best part? It's machine washable!
Kitsch's iconic claw clip, made famous for its impressively strong hold despite such a dainty design (it's suitable for all hair types) and rounded teeth that'll hold your style together all day without damage or breakage.
A hidden fly trap you plug into an outlet when you have house flies, fruit flies, moths, or gnats crawling around. The little light lures bugs by up to 400 feet (!!!), and the sneaky design means this thing'll be blastin' bugs by the dozen without ruining your room's clean aesthetic.
A wooden digital alarm clock/wireless phone charger so you can enjoy the comforts of modern technology while keeping the soothing, neutral vibes you've worked hard to cultivate in your home. This has adjustable volume and brightness settings, can be scheduled for different weekend and weekday wake-up calls, and has a spiffy little snooze button.
A luxury-scented candle comparable to Le Labo's Santal 33 (we're talkin' rich notes of jasmine, oud, and sandalwood) for folks who are old enough now to want their home to have its very own signature scent. Sigh, it's such a satisfying stage in life — I'm right there with you. And this candle is about to be with ME.
Lilac St. Original Lashes — you're sure to wanna join the reviewers who have saved *thousands* of dollars by replacing their expensive lash extension appointments with these silk lash fiber lashes. These have an ultra-thin band, they adhere well, and they're meant to last up to 10(!!!) days. Plus...just look at these review photos! They look more natural than my *actual* lashes.
A leave-in conditioning spray for curly hair with no parabens, sulfates, or phthalates so you can de-tangle your kid's tough knots with something scalp-safe and nourishing.
And a detangling brush that has over 65,000 5-star reviews! There's no need to brush off your kid's (and TBH, YOUR) tears when their tangles try to ruin your morning. Use this pain-free option instead. You are ~knot~ losing to bedhead anymore!
A plant-based gel-cream made from a formula that's nongreasy and completely transparent. Even if you just pull your hair up into a greasy bun in the morning, smoothing out your baby hairs makes a big difference! Get this, and your flyaways are instantly gonna, you know, fly away.
A cheerful fruit bowl with a spiffy secret — it's also a colander — for keeping your produce on display. Fresh produce on the counter looks so lovely *and* reminds you to eat your rutabagas before they go bad.
A heart-shaped Paris Hilton cast-iron Dutch oven so darn darlin' it's gonna be worth keeping on your stove top 24/7. If you believe food tastes better when a little extra love is added in, just *imagine* how good your meals are gonna taste when they're made in this dreamy Dutch oven.
A Revlon hot air brush designed with open-ended vents for optimum airflow, taking your wet, tangled, frizzy hair and turning it into a shiny, salon-style blowout in mere minutes.
A plush diaper caddy basket with a wipeable surface (which is, to be frank, unnervingly necessary) that's so surprisingly stylish you just might forget the terrible purpose it serves. Just kidding, new parents, diapers aren't THAT bad. Particularly if you have a caddy this cute. This can create a warm, earthy, and inviting space for your child without turning them into a sad beige baby. Bless.
A root touchup powder great for folks with fine hair who would like the appearance of a fuller hairline *and* for anyone who wants to take longer breaks between coloring appointments. This includes a sponge for applying the powder — just rub it directly onto your hair. I learned about this product when looking for solutions for postpartum hair loss, and was awed that this had over 18,000 5-star reviews. Sold.
A tennis skort with a dreamy four-way stretch and moisture-wicking material for folks who spend the summer desperate to find outfits that won't be drenched in sweat at the end of the day. This precious piece has chic side slits, a high-rise waistband, and two hidden pockets. When I tell you I'm buying this in every color and wearing it all summer long...believe me (I already own it in black).
A sulfate- and paraben-free dry shampoo *foam* because washing, conditioning, and drying your hair is a LOT — and you don't wanna do a lot! This uses cactus water (that dries in 60 seconds!) instead of powder, so it's gonna give your hair a clean and voluminous look *without* making your scalp look and feel like it's covered in dandruff. Suuure wish I'd known about this stuff sooner. I look like I have gray roots every time I use a typical dry shampoo.
A positive daily planner with an appointment tracker, a priority list, a meal planner, a water intake tracker, and more. If coming up with a list of all the lists you need to make each day keeps you from getting organized, this is here to help!
A pack of dishwasher cleaning tablets so you can clean your machine while it runs naturally, makin' it sparkle and shine without you spending time scrubbing!
A box of washing machine cleaning tablets to dissolve residue and make your washing machine actually smell fresh, which is a big deal when you haven't washed your machine since...you bought it.
Cosrx's Snail Mucin Repairing Essence reviewers love for the extra boost of hydration it gives their skin, helping clear up acne, inflammation, peeling, fine lines, and more! Stop being ~sluggish~ about investing in your skincare routine and get this on your face. Fast.
Cerave eye repair cream, which is cooked up with their famous blend of ceramides (a skincare "secret sauce" if you will) and a healthy dose of hyaluronic acid to boost hydration and niacinamide to help tighten and brighten the appearance of skin. If you're revitalizing your skincare routine, add this to the mix and reduce the appearance of dark circles, under-eye puffiness, *and* fine lines. ~Eye~ love to see it.
A jar of The Pink Stuff (the internet's favorite cleaning product) that'll clean everything from your faucet to your toilet tank to blotches in your bathtub (and it works *outside* of the bathroom too — spiffy). Move over, firefighters; I want a calendar of THIS sexy stuff and its shiny results.
A bottle of professional-grade callus-removing gel (with over 35,000 five-star reviews!!) — to use this spiffy stuff, just presoak your feet, apply the gel, let it sit, and rinse. Then watch in wonder as you scrape off *years* worth of calluses.
A bottle of Elizavecca hair treatment, which, like Olaplex, has repairing properties like collagen and protein extracts to aid in hair health. Apply this after you shampoo, let it sit for 5 minutes (where you can race through a shave or a song in the shower — you do you), and then rinse it out. Stronger hair care, here we come!
A hip seat sling that'll keep you from straining your back and exhausting your arms when your kid cries as if the floor is lava when you try getting them to walk on their own. Reviewers consider this a must-have product when taking a toddler to Disneyland (which I know from personal research because I impulse-bought this while planning my kid's trip to Disney).
A set of "wine wands" for cheap-box-wine-loving fiends who don't want their boozy movie nights turning into hungover mornings. Simply swish these in a glass of wine, and in three minutes, those pesky sulfates and histamines will be removed. Then...poof! They've become hangover-free drinks thanks to these real-life magic wands.
A water bottle *bag* that'll hook comfortably snug around your beloved tumbler so you can carry it like a crossbody bag. This has room for your phone, lip balm, cards, and even includes a clip to hang your keys from. You know you'll always have your water bottle by your side, and thanks to this, you'll *also* remember all your other essentials too.
A magnetic cat-eye gel nail polish kit for anyone who knows all things can be fixed with a killer manicure. Not only will you get an onslaught of compliments, but you'll also be able to say, "Why thank you, I did them myself!" to boost your cool kid ego even higher.
A versatile veggie chopper that'll help you prep (and clean up!) with speed that feels downright magical. The interchangeable blades just pop out, then just throw them right into the dishwasher!
A longline sports bra so your outfit can say "Lululemon" even if your bank account is saying "You know we can't afford Lululemon." This top-tier top is a hit with reviewers because it's suitable for so much: outdoor workouts, gym use, *and* casual wear. Its lightweight design is breathable but sturdy and supportive without being too compressive, making it a stunning staple both at work and while working out.
Good Molecules Yerba Mate Wake Up Eye Gel that'll be beloved by people who drink up yerba mate like it's water from the actual fountain of youth. And that's not the only powerful ingredient this gel has to offer! It also boasts three unique forms of hyaluronic acid to moisturize and revitalize the skin under your eyes. There are no dark circles here, my dear!
A reviewer-adored Cozy Spaces-themed coloring book — tuck into your favorite reading chair, put on your noise-canceling headphones, and remind yourself that there's no need to think about anything other than coloring for a moment. This is designed to distract your busy brain with tiny bears making turnip tinctures and bugs decorating their overturned teacup homes. Cute.
A textured NeeDoh gumdrop that'll be the best stimming toy this side of Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory. These are made to be extra squishable with a satisfying weight *and* although they are silicone, they won't gather dust. It's basically a real-life everlasting gobstopper.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream formulated with cupuaçu butter, coconut oil, and açai oil to give your skin a powerful dose of hydration. It'll also wake up and temporarily tighten your skin with the same stuff you use to become awake and alert for the day...caffeine! That's right, our skin enjoys the stuff as much as the rest of us. This smells like vanilla and caramel, which means it's basically a latte for your skin. Delicious.
A Shark Tank-favorite Click & Carry Grocery Bag Carrier that'll give you Herculean strength in an instant. Hook your bags to the clip, place it around your shoulder, and lift up to *80 pounds!!!* without bag straps literally breaking your back.
Miss Mouth, a travel-friendly stain spray (with a whopping 48,000 five-star reviews!) named with the messiest eaters in mind, for those of us who need a stain remover that understands our struggles. This is a baby-safe product that works on grease, coffee, underwear, and food stains with ease.
A silicone clip-on strainer that's dishwasher-safe, attaches to any size pot or pan, and is designed to save a bunch of space in your kitchen cupboards.
A head-protecting padded backpack designed with a plush doughnut-hole top that'll make your kiddo's crash landings a lot more comfortable as they learn to walk. This has adjustable straps and includes a lead for keeping your kids nearby when out and about.
An E.l.f. Camo Liquid Blush — a blendable and buildable blush (say that five times fast) with a lightweight formula and a powerful pigment. If you've worked hard on your glass skin technique, finish off your routine with a blush that's dewy and glossy to stay looking as smooth as glass.
E.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter for achieving the same dewy no-makeup-makeup effect of Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter (but at a price that doesn't make you sweat). This also has a healthy dose of hydrating hyaluronic acid that your skin is gonna be glad to drink in every day.
A cervical neck "pillow" that'll provide ergonomic support, align your spine, and give you a much-needed vertebrae massage simply by lying down.
A set of French fry clips to keep open snacks fresh. This includes a magnetic holder to avoid stashing chip clips in a cluttered junk drawer. Funny, functional, AND organized?! These things are delicious.
A reviewer-favorite Alleyoop 4-in-1 makeup brush designed with an eyeshadow brush, a blush brush, a brow brush, *and* a blending sponge — all in one! This beauty tool is about to become your new best friend, adventuring with you (because it's small enough to fit in your bag for quick touch-ups) every single day.
A car baby monitor (with a spiffy 14,000+ 5-star reviews!) that'll help you instantly know what's going on with your baby in the backseat without adjusting mirrors or turning back to see what's going on (when the car is stopped, of course). Stay safe on the road with your little one, and keep them *easily* within sight!
And finally, a mini highland cow plush (that can be heated AND cooled!!), because highland cows are finally having the moment they deserve. These critters are soothing just to look at...imagine how nice it'll be snugglin' up with one of your very own!

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Buzz Feed
7 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
27 Problem-Solving Skincare Products
A cult-fave Panoxyl foaming wash, aka your answer for acne and even backne breakouts. It's formulated with 10% benzoyl peroxide, the highest over-the-counter concentration you can buy. It's also antimicrobial, which means it's fighting off the bacteria that causes acne in the first place and preventing new breakouts from forming. A powerful Paula's Choice 2% BHA salicylic acid exfoliant useful for clearing out pores and evening your skin's texture and tone. It's gentle enough to use daily, unlike those other gritty face scrubs that feel like you're sandblasting your skin. A tea tree and peppermint remedy soap, a multi-tasking wonder that can tackle all sorts of skin issues, including dryness, acne, and athlete's foot. Plus, it can help kick body odors to the curb and leave your skin feeling fresh and nourished all day. Cult-favorite Brazilian Bum Bum body cream, which can help tighten and smooth your skin with the help of caffeine-rich guarana, hydrating cupuacu butter, açaí oil, and coconut oil. This fast-absorbing formula allows your skin to indulge in a little pampering, leaving your skin soft and supple and smelling like a tropical paradise. Gold Bond's neck and chest firming cream specifically designed to pamper your décolletage, an area that often gets overlooked in our routines as we get older. With its skin-loving blend of salicylic acid, glycerin, and aloe, this cream gently buffs away dullness while delivering a refreshing boost of hydration that leaves your skin appearing more plump, tightened, and firm. With consistent use, reviewers have seen results in as little as a week! A pore-clearing cleansing oil that visibly sucks out sebum from your pores and removes makeup residue and blackheads, leaving your skin looking clearer and feeling smoother. Reviewers of all skin types swear by it, including those with acne-prone skin (who say it doesn't cause breakouts)! And their deep cleansing foam, which dives deep into your pores, gently whisking away gunk and removing dead skin cells. Heartleaf extract is the magic ingredient here, and it's all about calming things down, reducing inflammation, and keeping your skin feeling soothed and pampered long after you've rinsed off. A pack of two dark spot corrector soap bars packed with collagen, retinol, and vitamin C, a powerful trio that can even out your skin tone and reduce the appearance of dark spots, fine lines, scars, and blemishes. It *also* contains turmeric, hyaluronic acid, shea butter and vitamin E to leave your skin feeling cleansed, revitalized, and oh-so-glowy. An intensive Tocobo glazed lip balm that practically melts into every nook and cranny of your chapped lips, creating a glazed coating that locks in hydration and adds a luscious glow. It contains a PHA that (without getting too science-y) gently buffs away any rough patches while keeping your lip's pH in check, leaving a kissable finish. A tinted jelly lip serum because makeup that is ALSO skincare is a cheat code that's so right, it almost feels illegal. This serum replenishes moisture to dry, chapped lips, making it perfect for both day wear and as an overnight mask. It's formulated with ingredients such as pillow peptides for plush moisture, rejuvenating rose extract, and carrot collagen for firming and plumping. An innovative Dermalogica cream cleanser if you've been on the hunt for the most hydrating cleanser out there — I'm happy to inform you that your search ends here. Incoming skincare science: Our skin's surface naturally has a negative charge, which can make it tricky to hold on to moisture. Enter: the positively charged hyaluronic acid in this cleanser — it acts like a moisture magnet, bonding hydration right to your skin. Medicube's "Zero Pore" Pads containing lactic acid, salicylic acid, and a dual-textured surface to help control excess sebum while exfoliating dead skin and refining pores, all while keeping your glow game strong. A jar of 40% urea cream if the skin on your feet is A) thick, B) rough, C) cracked, or all of the above. This cream helps slough away corns, calluses, and dry patches while bringing your ~sole~ back to life with some much-needed rehydration. A set of multipurpose dermaplaning razors for a means of gentle exfoliation, removing peach fuzz and dead skin so your skincare products can actually penetrate and get to work! First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub — with the combined power of glycolic and lactic acids, your skin will be left feeling fresh and rejuvenated with a radiant glow. This product is typically used to help with keratosis pilaris (or "chicken skin"), but reviewers say it was also able to help with their body acne. Or an exfoliating scrub mitt made with viscose fiber that's rough enough to visibly lift dead skin away but also buffs and smoothes, leaving your skin velvety soft. Reviewers also use this mitt to help with ingrown hairs and to remove spray tan. A container of Aquaphor multipurpose healing ointment that's honestly a miracle worker and widely adored by people who deal with dry, cracked, or irritated skin. Reviewers use it for those stubborn dry patches, chapped lips, peeling cuticles, fresh tattoos, eczema — the list goes on. A little goes a long way, and with a jar this big, it can last you from season to season. Antimicrobial facial spray designed to blast away acne-causing bacteria and help unclog pores — *without* drying out your skin — while you're on the go. Some reviewers even use it post-workout or while traveling when their skin feels like it's been through a battlefield of sweat and dirt. It goes on completely clear and doesn't leave any icky residue. A tub of Vanicream that's been a game-changer for folks with sensitive skin. This moisturizer is free from those common irritants and fragrances that usually turn your skincare routine into a nightmare. It also comes with a pump dispenser so you don't have to dip your fingers inside and risk contaminating your precious cream. A magical instant foot-peeling spray for when your feet are starting to feel a little less than Cinderella-esque in between those pedi appointments. Just a few spritzes of this transformative formula, combined with a gentle rub or an exfoliating mitt, help lift away dead skin, revealing heels as smooth as a baby's cheek. A lightweight squalane oil that can help improve skin texture and overall moisture levels in acne-prone skin. It has antibacterial properties that can help prevent breakouts and regulate oil production. And if you're a mom (mommy, mamacita?), some reviewers also say it helps with cradle cap, too The Ordinary's 7% glycolic acid toner — a single (and inexpensive) product that can address several body concerns. When used daily, this gentle exfoliator can help treat dandruff, address rough and discolored skin (think elbows and knees), anndddd it can even handle B.O. to the point where reviewers are able to go all day with little to no deodorant and still remain fresh. A cult-favorite TruSkin vitamin C serum that's won over nearly 99,000+ 5-star reviewers for working wonders left and right. This serum contains hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, aloe vera, and jojoba oil to help improve vibrance and reduce the appearance of dark spots, fine lines, and wrinkles, leaving you with a ✨ glowing ✨ complexion. A beginner-friendly skin booster serum formulated to visibly reduce the appearance of wrinkles, refine your skin's texture, and minimize pores. Its made with retinal, the most potent over-the-counter retinoid you can snag (basically retinol's cooler cousin). Retinal's more effective, which typically means it can be more irritating — but here, the addition of Centella asiatica keeps it gentle and safe for sensitive skin. You can expect results within four weeks, but many reviewers said they saw results much sooner! A 36-pack of discreet Mighty Patch hydrocolloid stickers that excel at covering up that one stubborn, agitating pimple that always seems to pop up when you have something important going on. These work their magic by extracting all the gunk to help them shrink, all while blending in with your skin and minimizing redness so you can face the day with confidence. A Beauty of Joseon eye serum to send your tired under-eye bags running for the hills. Made with ginseng, retinol, and niacinamide, it can help reduce the appearance of wrinkles, improve skin elasticity, and enhance the brightness of your skin, giving you that radiant glow. A "lifting" essence that reviewers on TikTok are referring to as "Botox in a bottle." It's made with NAD+, which can help boost cell turnover and stimulate collagen production, along with 50 types of peptides to help plump and firm your skin. With a stretchy texture that's similar to snail mucin but thicker, this gem can help make fine lines and wrinkles less noticeable in four weeks!


Buzz Feed
17 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
17 Must-Have Products For Sweat-Free Sleep
Some transparent weather stripping tape to seal up gaps between your AC unit and window. If your AC has made quite a few moves or you have wonky window frames, you know how tough it can be to get the right fit. A set of Bedsure cooling sheets so you can comfortably sleep through the night and not flip and flop around like a hot dog on a damn grill. And a Rest Evercool Cooling Comforter with temperature-regulating, moisture-wicking fabric so you don't have to rip apart your bed in an attempt to get quality sleep. The brand's proprietary fabric has a "feel temperature" (aka a Qmax Score) much lower than cotton, bamboo, silk, and lyocell! A pair of *affordable* down-alternative cooling pillows if even your A/C — set to a crisp 68 degrees — is no match for your night sweats. Some magnetic air vent deflectors so you can redirect airflow toward the center of your room because right now it's seemingly going right through the wall??? A therapeutic cold cap tons of reviewers swear by not only for alleviating intense headache, sinus, and eye pain, but also for deeper sleep on hot summer nights. Pop this in the freezer, throw it on before you go to bed, and you might just be able to get away without your AC running through the night. A breathable Cool+ throw from Coop if you're the type of person who LOVES being under a blanket 24/7 despite your body's inclination to overheat. A pack of clinical-strength SweatBlock wipes that can stop hyperhidrosis, nervous sweating, and hormonal sweating right in its tracks. The effect lasts a full week, so give your pits a good wipe down after your Sunday everything shower, and enjoy a full seven days of sweat-free sleep. A Dyson dual air purifier and fan that'll not only blast you with icy cold air, but also capture 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in size, including pollen, bacteria, and pet dander. Seasonal allergies + wildfire smoke + 90-degree days definitely call for this baby. A set of Japanese-engineered cooling pillowcases with fibers designed to absorb your body heat as you sleep. How cool is that?! A pair of washable (!) silk PJs from Lunya and before you come for me in the comments — yes, I know they are a SPLURGE, but a good night of sleep is priceless. 💸💸💸 A Sheex x Brrr° silky sleep mask that cools your noggin and encourages quality sleep with what the brand calls the Triple Chill Effect — a quick-drying, sweat-wicking, mineral-infused fabric that blocks out light and can even help relieve tension headaches. A BedJet cooling and warming system, which makes it possible to regulate your nighttime temperature so you can stop waking up with a sweat outline showing you sleep in mountain climber position. A cooling body spray made with ingredients you can 100% pronounce! (Pure essential oils, water, and witch hazel.) Spritz it on before bed and it'll help ya cool off before you start spraying sweat like you're in a Cathy comic. A set of blackout curtains that not only block out light, but heat, too! That way, you don't wake up feeling like you're a wheel of brie being baked at 350 degrees. Or a set of motorized shades which offer a different look, but will work much the same. Plus, they can block out light with the push of a button or a simple Alexa voice request. A temperature-regulating 100% cotton blanket if you simply *cannot* sleep when exposed to the elements (read: monsters and shadowy figures), but will also sweat up a storm with your regular ol' comforter.


Los Angeles Times
20 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
The Productivity Hack Brain Experts Swear By: Mindful Breaks at Work
LA Times Studios may earn commission from purchases made through our links. The biggest myth about mindfulness is that it's a luxury. Something you get around to once the emails are answered, the Slack pings stop, and you've had enough sleep (so, never). But here's what neuroscience is now saying loudly and clearly: doing nothing on purpose, even for a few minutes, is a measurable, brain-altering intervention for stress, and possibly the most important thing you're not making time for. 'Current neuroscience strongly supports the role of mindfulness in stress relief by demonstrating its capacity to reshape the brain,' says Dr. Romie Mushtaq, board-certified neurologist and author of The Busy Brain Cure. 'Studies show that regular mindfulness practice can lead to measurable changes in brain regions associated with emotion regulation, attention, and self-awareness, such as the prefrontal cortex and amygdala.' Many people have dismissed mindfulness as a technique lacking any scientific basis. However, neuroscientific research supports the many benefits of mindfulness and how it can change the brain in observable ways. Stress reshapes people's neural pathways, but neuroscience reveals that consistently practiced mindfulness can reshape them back. Stress starts in the amygdala. This almond-shaped cluster of neurons is responsible for processing fear, anxiety, and emotional responses. When we're constantly overwhelmed, the amygdala goes into overdrive. But, studies show that practicing mindfulness in a consistent way can reduce amygdala volume and activity while simultaneously strengthening the prefrontal cortex, which is the part of the brain that handles reasoning, impulse control, and long-term planning. In other words, mindfulness builds the brain's stress brakes. What makes this different from things people traditionally do to relieve stress, like confiding in a friend, binge-watching Netflix, or even hitting the gym, is that mindfulness doesn't try to distract or solve the stressor. It teaches your brain to tolerate discomfort, to notice thoughts without your brain being completely hijacked by them. 'It empowers individuals to observe their thoughts and feelings without being overwhelmed by them,' Dr. Romie says, 'creating a crucial space for response rather than reaction.' If sitting still makes you itch, or if you've ever said, 'I can't meditate, my mind races too much,' you are not alone, for sure. In fact, you might be the exact kind of person mindfulness helps most. 'Some simple, evidence-based mindfulness practices I've seen succeed with busy professionals and patients include the '3-minute breathing space,' which involves intentionally pausing to notice breath, body, and thoughts for a short period,' says Dr. Romie. 'Another effective practice is the 'body scan,' where attention is systematically brought to different parts of the body to notice sensations.' Another technique backed by research (and widely used in cognitive behavioral therapy) is the body scan—slowly shifting your awareness through different parts of the body to notice sensations. For overstimulated nervous systems, this kind of somatic check-in can be more grounding than traditional seated meditation. And then there's sound healing, which Dr. Musthaq includes in her own practice. 'I often hear from people who feel too anxious even to try meditating,' Dr. Romie notes. 'For them, there are the calming effects of sound healing, particularly through music embedded with binaural beats.' These sound frequencies are designed to synchronize with specific brainwave states that support calm, focus, or sleep. Unlike silent meditation, they can offer a softer, less intimidating entry point into stillness. One of the biggest misconceptions about mindfulness is that it takes months (or even years) to show results. But research and Dr. Romie's own clinical experience suggests otherwise. 'People can often expect to see benefits relatively quickly, sometimes within a few weeks of consistent practice,' she says. 'These benefits can manifest as reduced anxiety, improved sleep quality, enhanced focus, and a greater sense of emotional regulation.' Because of this, mindfulness has already found its way into mainstream medicine. It's now recommended by the American Psychological Association as a tool for anxiety and trauma. It's used in chronic pain management and oncology. And it's being incorporated into leadership training at Fortune 500 companies, where executive burnout is at an all-time high. When you practice mindfulness, you are actually changing how your nervous system responds to the world. You reduce baseline cortisol levels. You improve vagal tone, which influences digestion, heart rate, and emotion regulation. You enhance neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to rewire itself in response to experience. And that makes mindfulness such an important form of preventative mental health care. The beauty of mindfulness isn't in how long you do it. It's in how consistently you do it. Here's how you might be able to do this in real life: The shift doesn't have to be dramatic. But it definitely has to be intentional. If you practice mindfulness, your brain will notice. Probably faster than you think. Click here to learn more about Dr. Romie