Latest news with #CurlyGirlMethod
Graziadaily
29-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Graziadaily
This Is How To Get Perfect Beach Waves At Home In Three Easy Steps
As a certified beauty junkie, I am diligent about certain things: I use the two-finger rule to apply SPF everyday, I wash my make-up brushes regularly and I gua sha nightly, but my high-maintenance approach stops at my hair. I wash it twice a week (and would do it less if I could), I avoid heat styling where I can, and I keep product use to the bare minimum. You won't find any fancy scalp exfoliants, bond builders or gloss-givers in my bathroom cabinet. My lazy-girl approach isn't for everyone, but it's helped me to discover fool-proof hacks that save time and require minimal effort, all while maintaining hair health. In fact, I've recently come to rely on a simple three-step hack that lends the kind of beachy look that will see me through summer. All you need? Two products and a plait. For context, I have thick, medium dense, XXL strands that fall into the category of type 2 waves. My low-fi approach wasn't always so, for years I had masked my natural texture with straighteners and hair thinning cuts to make things appear more 'manageable' and 'put together'. Stumbling upon the Curly Girl Method in 2019 gave me all the confidence I needed to shift my mindset. I adopted specific wash days, used curl activators and gels, and bought a diffuser; my type 2C S-waves flourished like never before. But in the end, even that became too laborious. I thought I met my match with heatless curlers, but the effort of intricately and evenly weaving my hair around a satin rod, which always left my roots looking a bit funky, felt bothersome, too. Three steps to heatless effortless beach waves My new three-step routine is the happy medium and it starts with freshly washed hair. Post-evening shower, step one sees me towel-dry my hair before applying Fable & Mane's MahaMane™ Leave-In Conditioner, £28, which is without a doubt the best leave-in product I've ever used- trust me, I've gone through five bottles of the stuff since it launched in 2023. The all-rounder detangles, protects against heat and UV, and nourishes with a cocktail of moisture-boosting aloe vera, antioxidant-rich amla and elasticity-enhancing red hibiscus extracts, which together condition, strengthen and soften hair to prevent breakage. The milky mist provides ample hydration without weighing roots and lengths down, and scents hair with a warm blend of saffron, rose damascena and sandalwood, to create the perfect base for natural styling. Step two introduces oil into the mix. Applying oil to damp, towel-dried hair allows the product to penetrate into the hair shaft effectively while helping to lock in moisture. It's also great for detangling and sealing over cuticles for a smoother look. I use this step to treat my hair and reach for Virtue's Healing Oil, £42. Pouring a few drops into my hands before warming between my palms, I apply the oil to the mid sections and ends of my hair. The clever oil combines the brand's patented bio-identical keratin protein Alpha Keratin 60ku , which can directly bind to damaged areas of the hair to repair, with antioxidant vitamin E, strengthening Tahitian gardenia flower extract, and environmental damage-shielding Kalahari melon seed oil. While rich and hard-working as far as ingredient quality in concerned, the oil is super fluid, featherweight and glides over lengths for a glossy-never-greasy finish that always helps my waves to look lustrous by morning. Continuing the theme of good smelling haircare, this oil is infused with a functional fragrance blend of creamy coconut and tropical yuzu extracts, which tend to hair while making it smell delicious. The final step requires two braids and I'm not talking fishtails, French or any other type of complex braid pattern. Just two very simple pigtails. I part my hair down the centre and tie either sides of my hair into two separate plaits. Once tied, I go to bed with ever so slightly damp hair. Come morning all that's left to do is unbraid, run through with my fingers and go. Consider this hack lazy girl-approved. Beauty writer Sameeha Shaikh with overnight heatless braided curls 1. Fable & Mane's MahaMane™ Leave-In Conditioner Price: £28 What the brand says: 'Instantly detangle, protect and moisturize hair with this lightweight leave-in conditioner.' What we know: Fable & Mane looks to ingredients, rituals and techniques based in the ancient principles of Ayurveda, so you'll find hydrating aloe vera, conditioning amla and shine-giving red hibiscus extracts in this milky mist. Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'This is without a doubt the best leave-in product I've used – trust me, I've gone through five bottles of the stuff since it launched in 2023. The all-rounder detangles, protects against heat and UV, and nourishes with a cocktail of moisture-boosting aloe vera, antioxidant-rich amla and elasticity-enhancing red hibiscus extracts, which together condition, strengthen and soften hair to prevent breakage. The milky mist provides ample hydration without weighing roots and lengths down, and scents hair with a warm blend of saffron, rose damascena and sandalwood, to create the perfect base for natural styling.' Pros Delicately scented Weightless hydration Cons Spray nozzle can spritz unevenly once most of the product is used 2. Virtue Healing Oil Price: £42 What the brand says: 'Created with all hair types in mind, it's the ultimate multi-tasker, delivering the shine, softness, and moisturizing you'd expect from a hair oil and the damage repair, strengthening, and environmental protection that only our bio-identical protein can provide.' What we know: Virtue's clever biotech-first approach means the brand has cooked up its own bio-identical keratin protein, which can bind directly to damaged areas of the hair to repair. A combination of this patented Alpha Keratin 60ku® protein and pure, hydrating oils make this product a failsafe for all hair types. Sameeha Shaikh, beauty writer, says: 'While rich and hardworking as far as ingredient quality in concerned, this oil is super fluid, featherweight and glides over lengths for a glossy-never-greasy finish that always helps my waves to look lustrous. It is also infused with a functional fragrance blend of creamy coconut and tropical yuzu extracts, which tend to hair while making it smell delicious.' Pros Lightweight, hydrating oil Dropper makes it easy to use and leak-proof Cons Sameeha Shaikh is Grazia's beauty writer, covering all categories to bring you insights on the latest trends, industry news and the products you need to know about, viral or not (most probably viral) .
Buzz Feed
29-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Buzz Feed
25 Splurge-Worthy Products That You'll Feel Like A Genius For Investing In
1. Clinique Almost Lipstick Tinted Lip Balm in Black Honey because it's been a classic since the '70s for several damn good reasons: the lightweight formula moisturizes while adding a just-right amount of color, goes with basically any and every skin tone, shines without stickiness, and doesn't require a mirror to apply. According to Clinique, seven tubes are sold *every minute*. No wonder it's one of TikTok's latest hits. Amazon My colleague Emma Lord raves about this stuff: "I was very adamant about not buying this for the longest time because I am stubborn about 'expensive' beauty products, but this is worth every penny and then some. It's so lightweight and layerable, it's foolproof to apply, and I have yet to wear a single outfit it doesn't complement??? I love watching it instantly elevate a casual look or add simple elegance to dressy ones. I wear it every day now, and after weeks of use, I've barely made a dent. Also, and maybe this is just me, but I tend to get pigment on my teeth with a lot of lip products, and I've simply never had an issue with this magic stick. Anyway, watch this TikTok of someone using it on their lips AND cheeks, because I did and oops, this lipstick FELL into my cart." Get it from Amazon for $25. 2. A washable, 100% Mulberry Silk pillowcase that, while still a splurge, clocks in at under $50, an excellent price for something so luxe. I sleep on one of these every night and, besides it feeling so soft against my skin, have noticed one big benefit: my wavy-texture hair has significantly less frizz in the morning as compared to when I sleep on a cotton or linen pillowcase. Yep, that's my pillow pictured above! I run the pillowcase through the washer all the time, and air dry it — it's a little over two years old and still looks new. I change up how I style my hair, so here's a little about how it affects each: 1) Sometimes, I style my long, type-2 wavy hair using the Curly Girl Method with mousse or gel so it dries with a defined texture. Those nights, I pineapple my hair with a scrunchie to help protect the texture, and the pillowcase silk goes even further to prevent the individual waves from separating and frizzing. 2) Most often, I sleep on this with dry hair with no product in it beyond basic shampoo and conditioner, and leave my hair down. (I have a baby, so no time for doing hair stuff besides a mom bun during the day.) When I wake up in the morning, it's almost like any frizz my hair had the night before has smoothed down and vanished! 3) When necessary on occasion, I sleep on this with wet hair, hair down, no product beyond shamps/condish. Those mornings, my hair's usually still slightly damp, and has minimal frizz. Get it from Quince for $44.90+ (available in 12 colors and 3 sizes). 3. An Ember temperature-controlled "smart mug" because when you have one of those days where you sit down at 9 a.m. for your first meeting of the day, then feel like you blink and it's suddenly an hour and a half later, your coffee will still be precisely somewhere 120 degrees F–145 degrees F (your choice), drinkable, and ready to power you through your next block of tasks. Tell it the temp you want, and the mug keeps it there. Promising review:"You know that feeling when you sip hot chocolate, and it doesn't burn your mouth but feels hot and warms your chest all the way down? I just found out that that's 141 degrees! (At least for me.) I'm very impressed with this. It maintains the heat and doesn't burn the coffee. If you drink coffee slowly and want to use a mug instead of tumbler — and don't enjoy increasingly lukewarm, then cold, coffee — this is worth it." — Samuel Wilwerding Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available in two sizes and eight colors). 4. Some high-fidelity, nearly-invisible, infinitely-reusable Vibes earplugs designed to cut down on the decibels every time you go to your favorite concerts or practice on your drumset, so your hearing stays protected without completely muffling the music's clarity and sound quality. Yup, it's a brilliant upgrade over the vibrant neon orange disposables. Reviewers say they also help people with autism, PTSD, and sensory overload be more comfortable in loud environments! Supposedly they work because of special sound-cutting filters; when you order a set they come with three size options for comfort. Plus they're reusable and hand-washable. Abby, a former editor here at BuzzFeed, even took them to a couple of concerts back in 2019 and said, "I thought the sound quality was even better with the plug in, because it really cut down the bass, lower tones, and the extra noise you don't really need." For more, read her full Vibes Earplugs review! Promising review:"I am a hobbyist musician (drummer and guitarist) and am around loud music quite a bit. I also go to a few concerts. I tried these out at a Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert. I was very pleased with the results. They allowed me to hear the music just fine while blocking out a lot of the ear-splitting volume and unwanted overtones within the arena. I've tried similar ear plugs in the past and always felt like they were blocking out too much of the sounds I wanted to hear. Wish I had started using these years ago. If you are a performing musician or a regular concert-goer interested in preserving your hearing, I highly recommend giving these babies a try. I don't think you will find a better value for an as effective product." — Fudge13 Get them from Amazon for $23.98. 5. The Steelcase Series 1 ergonomic office chair because while about $500 is still a hefty chunk of $$, that's half the price of many name-brand ergonomic chairs (including others made by this same brand), which makes it much more feasible as a WFH purchase. Your body's in your WFH chair 40+ hours every week, and you only get one body. You deserve a chair that's highly adjustable to help mitigate any pain, made of quality materials that minimize harmful chemical emissions into your air, in a color that brings you joy, and with a 12-year warranty so you know it'll stay in good condition. Steelcase You can adjust the chair's height, recline, lumbar support, seat depth, and arm height — some reviewers say it makes it feel like it's made just for them. When you buy from Amazon, you can choose from carpet casters or hard floor casters, and with or without a headrest, in addition to 9 upholstery colors that match the microknit. When you buy from the Steelcase website, you can choose from 4 colors of microknit back, 30 colors for the seat between 4 fabrics, and either black or white for the frame and base color. And yes there are probably knockoffs out there, but when it comes to something I'm spending THAT much time in, I'm personally going with the name brand. Promising reviews: "Comfort chair. I have been using for 5 years. Improved posture with back support. Reduced wrist pain with adjustable arm rest ability. Worth the replacement. Overall you can really count on this chair to have your back when you want to get things done at work." — Ramki R. "Love this chair! I got it for a home office where I'm sitting about 8 hours a day and it's been great. I'm 5'2" and all of the adjustments allowed me to fit it perfectly to my needs. I also really enjoyed customizing the look and think it looks great in my office. The chair pad was a tad firm at first but I felt comfortable on it after just a few days." — Megan W. Get it from Amazon for $498 or from Steelcase for $523. 6. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream so you can see for yourself why your fellow BuzzFeed readers have bought sooooo many jars of it (over 3,000 since the start of 2025): the rich salted caramel and vanilla scent will make your mouth water like you have cookies baking every time you use some, and the coconut, açai oil, cupuaçu butter and caffeine–packed formula will dose your skin with serious hydration and some noticeable short-term skin tightening. Caffeine can brighten skin and temporarily minimize the appearance of stretch marks and cellulite, if that's something you're looking for in a product. Read more about the skincare benefits of caffeine at the Cleveland Clinic. Promising reviews: "This cream may be a little expensive but it's well worth the money. The smell is fantastic and stays all day. I'm 74 years old and skin at that age is a little tougher than normal but this cream immediately soaks right into your skin." — Jacquelyn Skaggs "Where has this been all my life? I have been using this for maybe three days now, and putting it on in the morning and evening are the best parts of my day. The description of the scent as "pistachio, salted caramel, and vanilla" does not even begin to describe the incredibly decadent smell of this cream on my skin. My skin feels like velvet and I saw improvements in the texture after the first application. I will use it for the rest of my life. Do not ever discontinue this! I did not expect to be so amazed my this cream, but it is life-changing. Buy it! You won't regret it." — Michelle Brown Get a 2.5-ounce jar from Amazon for $22. And if (when) you do fall in love with the scent, they make tons of other products, including a fragrance! 7. A Bissell multipurpose portable cleaner — you'll have an immediate effective solution anytime something gets spilled or a pet makes a mess on your carpet, couch, rug, car seat, or mattress. Even if you don't have spills to clean, you'll be astounded at how much disgusting grime it'll suck up from your furniture! Promising reviews:" I've had this machine for almost 3 years now and I can honestly say I love it. I've used this to shampoo my couch monthly, as well as spot cleaning pet messes on the carpet and cleaning my car floor mats. Despite using this regularly to clean my couch, the water always comes out a murky brown, not sure how my couch gets to be so dirty but I'm glad to see all the dirt and grime getting extracted effectively. Afterwards, all I have to do is rinse the two tanks and leave to dry overnight, then it's ready for use again. Definitely recommended for those wanting a simple, lightweight upholstery cleaner." — Sara "This vacuum is amazing. I first heard of it on TikTok where people were using it to clean their stairs, mattresses, car seats, etc. and from the videos, it already looked amazing. But considering how dirty my dining chair cushions were, I was a little bit apprehensive and skeptical. I purchased the item and used it on my chairs for the first time and the results were SO AMAZING. Best vacuum I've ever used. I even bought a second one!" — Davina Get it from Amazon for $123.59 (also available in a pet style). 8. An easy-to-set-up beach tent so you and the kiddos can enjoy hours and hours of fun in LOTS of shaded space, staying protected from those harsh UV rays thanks to its UPF 50+ rating the whole time. (I mean, you still should wear sunscreen, but that extra protection is *chefs kiss*.) Setup takes just a few minutes, and thanks to its smart sand-weighted design, you won't have to chase it down after a sudden gust, like you did last year's rainbow umbrella. To set it up, scoop sand into the four pockets with the provided shovel, stick the collapsible poles in each corner and secure with a bungee tie. Several reviewers suggest putting the sand bags into the holes left over when you fill them with sand for even more wind resistance. Even blustery sea winds won't dislodge it! And the way you use the beach's sand keeps the tent itself super lightweight to carry. Promising review: "Bought this in 2021 when we moved to the beach. We've set this thing up well over 100 times at this point. It's still going strong. Fabric still stretchy, stitching still in tact, poles all good, carrying case and everything is fine. The 'large' size we is plenty of space for two chairs and a cooler with extra room. We've had four under it plenty of times but it does feel a bit cramped for that many. This thing lives in my car roof box. The only damage so far is some scratches on the pole joints from sand and some light wrinkles that might occurs from not washing salt off before this gets packed into storage in the off season." — Kyle Get it from Amazon for $129.95+ (available in three sizes and four colors). 9. A Ninja Hot and Iced Coffee Maker because it's basically engineered to satisfy every household member's changing coffee needs through each day and each week. Press a button to summon iced coffee (that's not watered down), 10-minute cold-brew, and two strengths of hot coffee — all in your choice of single mugs, single to-go cups, or a carafe for the weekends and WFH days. Oh, and it's brewed with regular coffee grounds of your choice, no wasteful or expensive pods necessary. Promising review: "This machine is perfect for a household that has different coffee tastes in the morning, or for smaller households where you only need enough for one person much of the time. We replaced a basic coffee maker with this one, so it was quite the upgrade. Me and my husband are constantly at odds over coffee. He almost always wants hot no matter what time of year or temperature outside, whereas I much prefer iced. We can now do both in half the time! Absolutely love the scoop that snaps on the side and a washable and removable filter. Everything you need all in one place! My only con with this machine so far is the carafe is really hard to wash. Had to get a bottle brush for it. Other than that I highly, highly recommend this machine." — Sarah Rose Get it from Amazon for $149.95. 10. Paula's Choice 1% retinol treatment to help refine pores, smooth texture, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, if those are some of your skincare goals (and they certainly don't have to be). It may even help with acne. Be well aware: This stuff means business. It WILL accelerate the rate your skin layers turn over. After a couple of months, compare with your own "before" pic and your jaw's almost guaranteed to drop. Start by using it just once a week at night on clean skin — and I'd moisturize before applying this to help prevent peeling, because that's what my derm suggested when I used prescription retinol. Pump *only* a pea-size amount, and distribute it in little dabs all over your face for even coverage, avoiding your eye area. After a month or so of use, increase to applying twice a week, and after one more month, up to three times a week. Always wear sunscreen in the daytime. If you want to give it a try before fully committing, buy the $15 travel-size bottle at the same listing! Promising review: "It actually works! After using for two months (one bottle, not used everyday) my skin is smoother, the skin tone is more even, and the lines around my eyes are fainter. I have used plenty of products, high and low, and have never felt as if I did anything more than really moisturize. This is completely different. If you are not used to retinol, ease into it. It's not for everyday use. I am 56 with fair skin." — Eli C Get it from Amazon for $65. 11. The Beast Mini Blender because, in addition to fast single-serve smoothies, it can, in less than two minutes, whip up fresh salsa, hummus, Alfredo sauce, vinaigrette dressing, nut butter, gazpacho, or even a frozen marg or frozen espresso martini. The recipe possibilities? Basically endless. Let's not forget how gorgeous it'll look sitting on your counter, too! Amazon I used this blender a ton when I was pregnant to make myself smoothies with frozen fruit and yogurt to, ahem, help with constipation (IYKYK). It's truly the perfect size if you're making individual smoothies or quick salsas — I do a pico-inspired mix of tomatoes, onion, jalapeño, salt, lime juice, and cilantro — or DIY blended iced drinks like a frap or margs. It breaks up frozen fruit and ice quickly and effortlessly, takes up very little storage space, and looks adorable on your countertop! And you can enjoy your drink right out of the blender glass — it even includes a lid and straw that screw on for easy transport. The Mini comes with just one large size container, while the Mini Plus (what I have) also includes medium and small size containers. Promising review: "We have been through a lot of blenders, from some big names. We make on average two smoothies a day so they get lots of use. We replace them once a year and I finally decided to splurge. My husband and I both say this is our favorite. We have been using it for about a month and neither of us has ever had a random fruit chunk in our smoothie!! The auto run feature is awesome, it's so nice not having to hold the button down. It works quickly and efficiently. It's not too loud. It also looks pretty sitting on our counter. Well worth the price!" — Brianna Get it from Amazon for $99+ (available with either one or three cups). 12. A Four-Pack of Apple AirTags — even though $70 feels like a lot to pay for four little circles of metal and plastic, that's actually pretty cheap when you realize how functional it is. Besides locating your lost backpack in the maze of an airport, and it can dissolve your anxiety when you're at work, get a text from a neighbor who thinks they saw your cat by the elementary school, but you confirm they're safely in their favorite spot in your house. You can get all kinds of accessories to make them more useful, too, like keychains, wallet holders, pet collar attachments, fabric mounts for things like purses or coats, ones with pins to hold them in place in your need is, there's probably an accessory that works for it. Promising reviews: "This product allowed us to see exactly where our luggage was while the airline told us nothing. We were able to track our bags across Europe on our smart phones as the airline mishandled them. Very valuable advantage. Recommended." — MS LCSW "They are amazing for iPhone users. Since there are so many iPhone users they are really accurate. Even told me where my truck keys were when my brother (who has an Android phone) had borrowed our truck and was stopped at a red light. I often use the find my app to find my keys or wallet AirTags instead of actually looking for them. It's so quick and easy. It beeps, tells you the distance away you are." — PB Get them from Amazon for $69.99. 13. Kiehl's Avocado Eye Treatment, which uses caffeine and avocado oil to help your skin hold onto its moisture while adding even more hydration to the mix. And all that hydration can help prevent your under-eye makeup from settling into fine lines, so you won't have to smooth it all out again and again every time you look in the mirror. Caffeine can brighten skin and temporarily minimize the appearance of puffy eyes from things like crying or tiredness (but not genetics), if that's something you're looking for in a product. Read more about the skincare benefits of caffeine at the Cleveland Clinic. The instructions say to massage it between your fingers first, to help the water-in-oil formula do its best work. Promising review: "I wanted to wait a few weeks before posting about the results from this eye cream. I have tried MANY, MANY eye creams for my under eye area, and I was always underwhelmed. This eye treatment from Kiehl's feels luxurious and moisturizing when I put it on, but most importantly, it has made a real difference in how my under eye area looks and feels! I went out the other day with NO concealer on at all, and I literally never do that. I have seen a marked improvement in puffiness. If you have been looking for a cream that delivers results, definitely give this a try. I'm extremely happy with it, and I think you will be too." — S Lawson Get it from Amazon for $62. 14. A Made In cast-iron Dutch oven with an enameled interior — look, if you don't have something like this and you cook a lot, do yourself a favor and get one because you'll use it constantly. Call it your home base for soups, stews, pastas, sauces, chilis, braises, deep fries, and sometimes even roasts and breads. The heavy cast iron distributes heat effortlessly, the hand-enameled interior will stay nonstick basically the rest of your life and keep things easy to clean, and everything's so durable it'll last the rest of your life and then some. It's made in France, just like the brand name ones, but clocks in at $100 less. If you have an induction cooktop, this one's optimized to work on it! My colleague Tasia Bass uses hers all the time and loves it: "I've only had mine for like two months now, but when I say I use it a lot, I mean it. I have made stews, curries, soups, and more in it. It is very versatile and sturdy. It's easy to clean, even if you have dark sauces in it, it just wipes out clean. Also, you can make a lot of food in it. Sometimes I will double my normal portion size and freeze the extra. It is a little heavy, so I tend to keep it on the stove, instead of trying to put it into a cabinet. Yet, despite that, I really love using this. I think it is much better than some of my pots because this feels like it is built to last." Promising review: "After looking for an enameled cast iron Dutch oven, it was down to the Le Creuset, Staub, and Made In. Comparing all of the features, Made In had all of the best over the Le Creuset and Staub. The interior color is light like the Le Creuset. The cover of the Dutch oven is dimpled like the Staub." — Donald R. Get it from Made-In Cookware for $199 (available in three colors). 15. A luxury Hanalei overnight lip treatment featuring 1) Hawaiian kukui nut oil, which is packed with skin-loving vitamins A, C, and E and 2) lots of other nourishing ingredients like lanolin, grape seed oil, and shea butter. If your current lip balm's not quite cutting it, this'll become your new go-to, leaving your lips soft from the moment you wake up till your head hits the pillow again. Promising review: "It keeps your lips kissable and soft!!!! I love love love this product. I've been using it for the past few years and it's by far one of the BEST lip moisturizing products I've ever used!!!! If you want soft, nourishing lip treatment, well, this is the product for you!!! Hey, hurry up before I order them all! 🥰" — P. Washington Get it from Amazon for $15.55 (available in clear and four colors). 16. An extra-large blanket for *100 square feet* of cuddliness that'll fit you, your partner, and all four of your kids for family movie night without anyone complaining they don't have enough covers. Speaking of cover problems, it'll solve them in the bed you share with your S.O., too — even if they steal this blanket every time they turn over, you'll still have plenty left for yourself. Amazon Its polyester-spandex fabric keeps it super soft without letting you get too hot! Big Blanket Co. is a small business specializing in these especially large blankets. Promising review:"Living in Florida means finding a blanket that breathes, and this one sleeps as cool as a cucumber. It's HUGE, so my husband and I have plenty of blanket for our king size bed without one of us stealing the whole thing lol. The soft material is a dream but it still feels heavy enough to be cozy, which is how I love to sleep. I waited forever to switch from my duvet, but this blanket delivered it all!" — Sarah Get it from Amazon for $179 (available in eight colors/patterns). 17. A HappyLight Luxe sunlamp to help perk you up if you don't get enough sunshine in your day-to-day — its 10000 lux bulb can help you get the same mood- and energy-boosting effects as the OG version (yes, I mean the big star at the center of our solar system), and without those pesky sunscreen-requiring UV rays. Read more about sunlamps and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) at Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic. This upgraded version (over the $49.99 version) has two more brightness levels, three color temperature options, and a countdown timer that's programmable in five-minute increments up to one hour. Promising review:"Very happy with my purchase. I didn't initially realize that I could've bought a slightly smaller light for less money, but I'm glad I went with the Luxe model. The timer is a nice feature, especially in the beginning as you adjust to using the light. I started with five or ten minutes and then gradually increased the time. I truly noticed a difference in my mood, energy levels, and quality of sleep right away — and I was very skeptical. I'm so thrilled that I bought the smaller Lumi model to use at work." — JerseyJD Get it from Amazon for $62.99 (clip the $7 off coupon on the product page for this price). 18. Wonderskin Wonder Blading One Step Lip Stain Masque, if you love wearing lip color every day, but hate reapplying constantly. Because it's a stain instead of a lipstick, even if you dig into greasy pizza or enjoy a nice long smooching session, it'll look just the same as it did when you first put it on. Even more fun? It glides on purple, then peels to reveal the color! Amazon, Wonderskin is a small business that specializes in makeup and skincare products. Promising reviews: "I kept seeing Wonder Blading Lip videos on my TikTok. Went to Sephora and couldn't believe they didn't have it. Wound up buying it on Amazon and loving it!" — PM "I didn't know what to expect when I received this product, but I have to say I am pleasantly surprised! I absolutely love it! I put it on as soon as it arrived. I kept it on for almost a minute and when I wiped it off with a damp cotton ball, the color was beautiful. It's true to its word about the 12 hour stay power. I put a little lip balm over it and enjoyed eating, drinking, and talking. It didn't come off! If you like lip stain? Get this product! It's a keeper. I will be ordering all of the shades." — Brandy Get it from Amazon for $22 (available in 22 shades). 19. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Bluetooth headphones because if you WFH with a baby around like I do (yep that pic is me in all my WFH with a baby glory), even if they have another caretaker all day, you're gonna NEED something to give you peace and quiet, and these deliver. Whatever has your headphones on for 8+ hours a day, these beauties will silence it, won't cause achy lobes because they sit *around* your ears, will connect to your phone and laptop at the same time so you don't miss anything, and will look and sound good doing it. Or you work in an open or cubicle office, where people chatter all the time. Or maybe your roommate's dog barks incessantly. Or you find yourself on an airplane every other month, and can't stand that airplane white noise anymore. There are SO many situations where you might benefit from a pair of these. Yes, I bought them because I'm back at work now after having a baby, and working in the same apartment as my baby! He always has someone else taking care of him who I trust, but I can still hear him cry from behind my closed door, which intensely stresses me out — pressure on my chest, accelerated heart rate, the whole nine yards. When I slip these on and turn on some white noise or music, I can't hear him at all anymore, so that stress melts away and I can focus on work. Even if I don't turn on audio, it muffles the sounds enough to help me stay on task. I'm deeply impressed with how seamlessly they work. To turn them on, simply put them on your head. To turn them off, take them off. When I put them on, they instantly reconnect to both my laptop and my phone, and play audio from both devices, so if I'm playing music on my laptop and get a text notification on my phone, I hear both things. (If I watch a video on my laptop then try to also play music on my phone, it won't interrupt the video to play the music. I simply pause the video and try playing the music again.) The charge lasts for a full workday of wearing them, and then some. They have spatial audio, which is fun if you listen to a lot of music that comes in that format. The included carrying case is foolproof thanks to a tag that shows how to put them in so they take up a minimal amount of space. Get them from Amazon or Bose (available in five colors) for $349, or in a special deep plum color from Bose for $429. 20. A Dazzle Dry mini kit that's the solution to your nail polish problem, no matter what your particular problem is. Want to upgrade your DIY mani to something that will genuinely last for well over a week, no chips? Get this. Want to wean yourself off or quit gels completely, to save money, your nail health, your time, or all three? Get this. Want to spend only five minutes(!!) waiting for your mani to completely dry? Get this. Dazzle Dry is a small business that specializes in nail care products. I'd start with this mini kit so you can figure out if you like it, then get full size bottles — you see all the options on their Amazon Store page. My colleague Emma Lord can't get enough of this kit and says: " See that pic of the pink-nailed hand up there?? Those are my DAY SEVEN DAZZLE DRY NAILS (after just getting back from a wildly busy trip across the country, which I did a TON of apartment cleaning to prep for!). I have been using the Dazzle Dry system in salons for years now because it is the only way to get your money's worth, even if with the salon's upcharge. My nails are SO much healthier and longer now that I've quit gels completely, and this polish is so good that it often doesn't chip for 10–14 days (and even then it's just the smallest chips). Plus I cannot shout enough about how much I love just bouncing from the salon or my couch with my nails so dry that I never have to think about them after I get them done." Promising review:"I purchased this mini kit to try the Dazzle Dry system. I am so pleased with the results! I did my manicure 10 days ago and it is still holding up. The Prima Ballerina color is very soft and neutral and exactly what I was looking for. I followed all the simple instructions and it truly was dry in five minutes (although I was a little hesitant to test it, it really was dry). I will definitely be purchasing additional colors. Highly recommend!" — Jodi S Get it from Amazon for $38 (available as a kit in 24 colors; you can find bigger bottles of different colors at the Dazzle Dry storefront here). 21. A slim two-drawer side table to add instant storage *and* a place to set your teacup when you're curled up in your favorite reading chair, all without taking up more than like, two square feet of floor space. Those two drawers stretch all the way to the back, so you can stash all sorts of things away but keep them easily accessible! Promising review: "This table is more attractive than I expected. Our first house guest commented that she thought I'd picked up an art deco piece at an antique store. I'm using it in the den as a side table beside a recliner. It fits perfectly and can easily hold a beverage (on a coaster!) and remotes; plus, it has two roomy drawers for tissues and other odds and ends. The workmanship is excellent. Overall, I'm extremely pleased. Well worth the price. — L M Gee Get it from Amazon for $158.99 (also available in a set of two). 22. A Denman hair brush that'll work miracles on your curly hair. You'll use it three times to get perfect curls: First, detangle your knots post-shower. Second: Brush it through again after applying your mousse, gel, or other favorite product to let the plastic bristles thoroughly distribute those ingredients on each and every strand. Third: Wrap each curl around the thin handle to get them all in ship-shape. It's designed for 2c–4c curls. Promising review:"I have always been told that brushing curls is BAD, until I went to a new hairdresser and she did the 'Denman' technique on my hair and I was flabbergasted! It really brings out the curl; it's full-on MAGICAL. To think everyone had this style of brush in the '80s, and none of us knew their full potential! Highly recommend you look up how to use, and it is of course on wet hair only!" — Elisa Salmon Get it from Amazon for $21.95+ (available in six colors). 23. A Ruggable washable rug runner to protect your floor and add a little cushion and style even in high-traffic areas, all while looking brand new for years because yes, it *both* machine washes and dries! Throw all the dusty shoes, soggy paws, droplets of wine, and splatters of sauce at it that you can. The mess WILL come out. Amazon My sister, my mom, and I all three have some shape or size of Ruggable rug because they work SO well, and wash so effortlessly. Yes they're a splurge but if you have pets or kids, they're so worth it. They come in two layers: a non-slip rubber bottom, then the washable, soft top that goes on top. They're not especially plush rugs, but that's what makes them great for washing and using in busier spots. Promising review: "I was on the fence with this rug, putting it in my cart and taking it back out again for more than a year. Tried two other brands and ended up sending both back. Caved and spent the money for the 9x12 black Inkdrop. It is everything I hoped for and more!! I have had to wash it twice already thanks to my puppy, but it washes easily — even the large size fit in my washing machine. Came out beautifully and still looks like new. Will be buying more of these for my house." — Susan P. Get the runner from Amazon for $219, or see all the sizes and patterns available on the Ruggable Amazon Store Page. 24. An upgraded iRobot Roomba Q052 vacuum because goodness knows I'm not going to sweep or vacuum every day without one of these babies doing it for me. This one features a variety of bells and whistles your basic one of these won't have: A dock the device travels to for an auto-empty (and auto-charge) as needed, cutting down on your time cleaning and maintaining the machine itself. A stronger suction than previous generations, to grab even more gunk. Custom settings you choose via app to get the kind of clean you need in each room. Got pets? Get this. Promising reviews: "I stinking LOVE this thing! I have been using Roombas for years, and with two shedding dogs I often needed to clean my old one out three times a week. This thing is hands-off and so strong! It sucks up all the dog hair and consistently finds its base when the battery gets low. So far, I am nothing but pleased with this product." — Amazon Customer "This Roomba is 10,000%% quieter than my 4-year-old Roomba. It cleans and maps my whole house (1500+ square feet) in about an hour and then just goes home and empties with no problems or dying." — Tasha Wallace Get it from Amazon for $249. 25. Laneige's Neo Blurring Powder — unlike most similar powders, it features hyaluronic acid and a semi-matte finish, which means it effectively controls that oily shine by absorbing excess sebum but without feeling chalky-dry, or disappearing that well-earned glow you've worked hard to achieve with other skincare products. Amazon, Check out a TikTok of the Laneige Neo Blurring Powder in action. Promising review:"I'm in my 50s and don't like to use a lot of makeup products. But I was needing something and this was perfect. The amount of powder is somewhat controlled because of the covering. Sometimes it is easy to get too much and then your face just looks powdery. With this one, it is just light and enough to cover any shine and smooth out any imperfection. I was pleasantly surprised and plan to purchase again." — JK Get it from Amazon for $25.
Buzz Feed
15-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- Buzz Feed
29 Products That Are Like Little Upgrades For Things You Do Every Day
1. A washable, 100% Mulberry Silk pillowcase that clocks in at under $50, an excellent price for something so luxe. I sleep on one of these every night and, besides it feeling so soft against my skin, have noticed one big benefit: my wavy-texture hair has significantly less frizz in the morning as compared to when I sleep on a cotton or linen pillowcase. Yep, that's my pillow pictured above! I run the pillowcase through the washer all the time, and air dry it — it's a little over two years old and still looks new. I change up how I style my hair, so here's a little about how it affects each: 1) Sometimes, I style my long, type-2 wavy hair using the Curly Girl Method with mousse or gel so it dries with a defined texture. Those nights, I pineapple my hair with a scrunchie to help protect the texture, and the pillowcase silk goes even further to prevent the individual waves from separating and frizzing. 2) Most often, I sleep on this with dry hair with no product in it beyond basic shampoo and conditioner, and leave my hair down. (I have a baby, so no time for doing hair stuff besides a mom bun during the day.) When I wake up in the morning, it's almost like any frizz my hair had the night before has smoothed down and vanished! 3) When necessary on occasion, I sleep on this with wet hair, hair down, no product beyond shamps/condish. Those mornings, my hair's usually still slightly damp, and has minimal frizz. Get it from Quince for $44.90+ (available in 12 colors and 3 sizes). 2. A dog bark deterrent whistle because you lose count of the number of times each day you attempt to stop your over-enthusiastic pup from LOUDLY announcing that a neighbor's walking by your house. With this upgrade, simply press a button to sound a whistle only dogs can hear, getting their attention and putting a stop to their problem behavior — digging, barking, chewing — immediately. It works by grabbing the dog's attention, similar to shock collars, but without the pain of the shock. They say it's better than collars even because it simply redirects the dog's attention, instead of punishing the dog. Watch the video on their Amazon store page to learn more! NPS is a small, family-run business! Promising review: "I rarely write reviews but just felt I had to on this. I have 3 dogs. The little terrier gets everyone going and it's been next to impossible to quiet them all down once they start. We have tried everything. Nothing has worked consistently until this. Total peace and quiet. They are so calm now. LOVE this product." — Lisa D Get it from Amazon for $37. 3. A wireless keyboard and mouse set that comes in 14 different color options, so you're basically guaranteed to find one that sparks joy. You spend enough damn time clacking away MTWThF that you deserve something that both looks cute *and* feels nice. Watch a TikTok of the keyboard IRL. And don't forget to pick up some AA batteries, both the mouse and keyboard need 'em. Promising review:"Absolutely amazing keyboard. Colors are eye-catching and make a drab office pop with color! I am currently the envy of the office. Ladies in the other departments are waiting on their own to come in now after seeing mine. Easy plug/play. It travels between home and office with me. Love the keys on this as well. Sleep mode seems to pop on kinda quick, but it's nothing bad. Just push a button or click the mouse and it's on again. I have had mine for about a month now and will not be going back to any other style!" — Nikki Bell Get it from Amazon for $31.97+ (available in 14 styles). 4. A set of four shower curtain clips to help keep the steam in and the cold air out for as long as possible because cold air ruining your shower sucks! They stick to your wall with included adhesive, then hold tight to your curtain, no matter how much it wants to blow around. Amazon, Promising review:"These are awesome shower clips! They keep the water from getting on the floor, and they keep the cold air out. They were super easy to install. I recommend wiping whatever surface you plan on attaching them to with rubbing alcohol first, and then sticking them on where you want." — Ben P Get the pack of four from Amazon for $9.99. 5. A super cute Porter Seal-Tight glass container because besides looking gorgeous, these jars are coated in silicone so they're nearly break-proof and have lids that screw tightly on to prevent leaks, making them perfect for to-go lunches. I have a couple I use all the time for leftover storage, and they work like a dream *and* they're even more spacious than they seem! Amazon Naturally they're dishwasher- and microwave-safe: that's SO key. (I did get them for free, but was under no obligation to feature or review them, let alone give a positive review.) If you're into these, the brand has all kinds of other cute, coordinating food storage options you can check out on their Amazon store page. Promising review: "I saw these containers for the first time on one of those aesthetically pleasing TikToks. I thought to myself, 'I need these to be my best organized self.; When I came to Amazon and saw how much they were, I was appalled. Because, quite frankly, why would I spend that much on ONE little container? I was so curious as to why it was so expensive, I went ahead and bought one to see what all of the fuss was about. When I got the package, and took that sleek heavy duty bad boy out, I knew immediately why it was on the higher side. It's sleek, durable, adorable, and excellent quality. It's microwave safe, which is nice. It's also dishwasher safe, which is even nicer. I realized that I do, in fact, need these in my life. I plan on purchasing more of them and I definitely recommend giving them a try!" — Ally "Absolutely love this! It is beautiful, well-sized, and leakproof! It fits in my bag so much easier than traditional Tupperware. The rubberized portions make it so much easier to take out of the microwave without burning your hand. I also received many compliments on the design and look." — svs2016 Get them from Amazon for $25+ each (available in two sizes and five colors). 6. And to continue the minimalist vibes, some stoneware bowls crafted with elegantly uneven edges, so everything you cook looks like it could have come from the kitchen of the trendiest restaurant in town. Seriously, these remind me of the handmade dishes at the upscale ABC restaurants in Manhattan that I've wanted forever, but without the $$$$ price tags. Amazon Here's a TikTok of the bowls IRL. And yep, they're dishwasher and microwave safe — essential! Promising review: "These are awesome! Perfect thickness (not too thin and not too thick). I love the wavy appearance. Matte black has a sort of sheen to it and it's just lovely. These look amazing on my open shelving in my black walnut kitchen. They are LARGE, too. Awesome pasta/salad plates." — C. Mah Get a set of four from Amazon for $31.95 (available in four colors and two set sizes). 7. An eyeliner with wing stamps — it's practically guaranteed to speed up your morning routine, whether you're a liquid liner novice or a seasoned pro. It checks your other eyeliner boxes too, because it's waterproof, sweat-proof, and smudge-proof, even if you have oily skin. Promising review:"I super suck at eyeliner. I had heard of stamps but was dubious. Fast forward to reading a BuzzFeed post, adding to my wish list, and when I got a gift card decided to give it a go. Result? ONE HUNDRED BAJILLION TIMES WORTH EVERY PENNY. I wish I'd bought them in all three sizes the minute I'd read about them! Easy to use, just line, stamp and fill in/neaten as desired! The color is smooth and goes on perfectly. Also I have super sensitive skin and the pigment does not bother me! I've had wing envy most of my adult life and I cannot table-flip and shout this products praise enough!! If you're even considering it just trust and do yourself the favor. It's fast, quality and so very very worth it!" — Seth Lauritsen Get the set of two pens (one for your left eye, one for your right) from Amazon for $14.97. 8. Shower steamers because they come out to a little under $1 each, so you won't hesitate to actually enjoy their fun fizzing scent every morning, instead of feeling like you have to save them for some special occasion. At this price, pick up a couple of scents so you can switch it up depending on your mood! Mermaid Soul Bath Co. / Etsy Mermaid Soul Bath Co. is a Michigan-based small biz run by a mom of six who looked for something to fill her time when her youngest became a senior in high school. With encouragement from family and friends, she's turned a hobby making bath bombs into this little business! Promising review: "LOVE these! Perfect size for a typical shower time and the smell is amazing. Love the packaging and less waste. :)" — Mel Bohlander Get a bag of 12–14 steamers from Mermaid Soul Bath Co. for $11 (available in four scents). 9. A Baby Shusher because it does exactly what it sounds like: makes a rhythmic shushing sound to help calm and relax your little one so you don't have to. Anything that gives you time back when you have a baby makes an enormous difference, including not having to shush them through their entire nap. It's lightweight and portable, too, so you can carry it to the grocery store, airport, or just the living room. Promising review:"I bought this for my niece and I couldn't believe how well it worked. As soon as she started to fuss, we just gave the shusher a twist and just like magic she calmed down. One for the crib, one for the home, and one for the diaper bag! Always have one at the ready! I'll be buying these for all my new parent friends and family!" — Hannah George Get it from Amazon for $34.99. Naturally, it's a small business and was designed by a couple who raised three girls of their own, because they know all about the sleep deprivation that comes with the baby phase! 10. An insulated tumbler that helped fix my incessant dry eye problems (turns out I was dehydrated, who knew) because it made me actually drink the amount of water I needed. Between the large size which seems to never empty, the insulation to keep cold water ice cold for 12 hours, the screw-top lid with a straw innovation to prevent leaks, and the gorgeous rainbow sparkles, it genuinely makes something as simple as drinking water about 1,000x better. I am on my SOAP BOX about this tumbler. Besides being adorable, insulated, and complete with a silicone-topped stainless straw and slip-resistant base, it has *actually* helped me drink enough water every day that I don't need to use tons of eye drops to take my contacts out at night!! Obviously, I got it for my wedding, but the miracle moment came when my husband suggested I try to drink *two full fills* of the tumbler a day. Cue the immediate effect! On the very first day and for every day I've used it after that — almost two years now — even though I stare at my work computer for eight full hours, I don't need eye drops to remove my contacts!! I do have contacts designed specifically for dry eyes, and do a couple of other things my eye doctor recommended to help, but I was still having to use several rehydrating drops each night to get them out of my eyes. Until I got this tumbler, that is. Of course, just because this worked for me doesn't mean it will work for you. Read more at the American Optometric Association about Computer Vision Syndrome and Dry Eye, and at Mayo Clinic about how much water you might need in a day. And I always recommend talking to your doctor! "Other cool features that make it worth the money? The screw-top lid features both a rubber gasket and a spring-shut, gasket-sealed trapdoor over the straw hole that closes up when you pull the straw out. All of that means you can pull the straw out to throw the mug in a bag, with zero worries about leaks. "If you put enough ice in — the more you add, the longer it'll stay frozen — the insulation will keep 'em frozen solid and your water super chilled for AGES. I tested it with 12 ice cubes, and my water stayed ICE COLD for 12 WHOLE HOURS, even with two refills over the ice! Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in 20 colors). 11. A Soap Standle because if you like to use bar soap, it's a game changer — I know, I use several all the time and love them. It's basically a little plastic oval with spikes on one side that easily insert into the bar and stay there, and a wave-gap pattern on the other that allows the bottom of the soap to dry. Your bars will last longer *and* you'll never have to clean a soap dish again! One reader saw my review of it and seconded my thoughts: "I have SoapStandles all over the house — try it at a sink, too — you may be surprised how much you like it. The bar lasts longer." — jimmygould, from this collection of things those of us at BuzzFeed have tried and loved And here's my review: " If you like or use bar soap, I'll go ahead and say it: you need the Soap Standle, and probably more than one! Made from sturdy, infinitely reusable plastic, it puts every soap dish I've ever seen to shame. The top has pointy teeth that easily insert into your bar, then stay stuck there until your bar's down to the tiniest nub. The bottom has several waves in the plastic, perfectly designed so your bar of soap will sit neatly on the counter but have enough airflow in the gaps between the waves that the bottom of the bar easily dries out between uses and never gets mushy or gross! It's not bulky, so the bar looks pretty sitting next to your sink or on the shelf in your shower. I've used three of them since I got them in June — one with hand soap, and two with my favorite shampoo and conditioner bars — and have zero complaints. I just put the bars with the Standles directly on the counter and shelf, and both surfaces have stayed perfectly clean. I 100% agree with the 1,445 other people who have rated this 5 stars on Amazon, this product is such a game changer and a problem solver! P.S. Bar soap is perfect if you're looking to reduce the amount of non-reusable plastic in your life, and these make it much more practical!" Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.99 (available in five color combos). 12. A gorgeous acrylic dry-erase wall calendar to swap for the less aesthetically pleasing dry-erase calendar your family relies on to keep track of who is where and doing what. Yes it's the same high function as the one from the office supply store you've used for ten years now, it's just a heck of a lot more beautiful. You deserve beautiful. 1801 and Co. is a Minneapolis-based small biz that specializes in these gorgeous custom acrylic pieces including calendars, chore charts, and event signs. Promising review: "This product is very durable and the mounting hardware they provide includes wall anchor (which I appreciate)! Mounting instructions can be found on their website. Overall, quick, fast service and makes a great addition to our kitchen welcome wall!" —snwright21 Get it from 1801 and Co. on Etsy for $32.96–$333.71 (available in six sizes and two acrylic thicknesses). 13. A luxury Hanalei overnight lip treatment featuring 1) Hawaiian kukui nut oil, which is packed with skin-loving Vitamins A, C, and E and 2) lots of other nourishing ingredients like lanolin, grape seed oil, and shea butter. If your current lip balm's not quite cutting it, this'll become your new go-to, leaving your lips soft from the moment you wake up till your head hits the pillow again. Promising review: "It keeps your lips kissable and soft!!!! I love love love this product. I've been using it for the past few years and it's by far one of the BEST lip moisturizing products I've ever used!!!! If you want soft, nourishing lip treatment, well, this is the product for you!!! Hey, hurry up before I order them all! 🥰" — P. Washington Get it from Amazon for $15.55 (available in clear and four colors). 14. A pastel mug warmer because you have too many of those days where you sit down at 9 a.m. for your first meeting, blink, and it's suddenly two hours later, and you're drinking room temp coffee, ugh. No more! With this, your coffee will still be perfectly hot (key on a chilly spring morning!) drinkable, and ready to power you through your next block of tasks. Promising review:"Like so many people, I often get so involved in my work that I forget to drink my coffee so when I do reach for it, it is cold. This mug warmer has changed all that. I put my coffee on it when I walk into my home office and no matter how distracted I get, when I want a sip of coffee it is at the perfect temperature for me. I typically use it at the highest level of heat. It fits nicely on the corner of my desk and matches all my desk accessories. I did notice that it does not work as well on one very tall mug I have, but other than that one it is good for mugs of all sizes. I would highly recommend this cup warmer to anyone who is tired of cold coffee at work." — Rev Maria Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in five colors). 15. Or if you're an iced coffee drinker: A reusable, insulated sleeve to keep your favorite bevvie colder for longer, and less slippery with condensation. It fits both the coffee shop's disposable cups and, if you order the right size, probably will fit your reusable iced coffee tumbler, too. The small size fits Grande cups from Starbucks and small cups from Dunkin. The medium size fits Venti and Trenta cups at Starbucks and medium and large at Dunkin. The Frederick Family Co. is a small biz based in Montville, NJ specializing in crafting cute, functional items in a variety of patterns and designs. Promising review: "So excited to use this with my morning iced coffee. There's nothing worse than having condensation from the cup all over my desk at work! This will be a life saver to keep my drink fresh and my desk clean." — Amy R. Get it from The Frederick Family Co. on Etsy for $12 (available in two sizes and up to 8 designs). 16. A splurge-worthy RoboVac because between the kids, the dog, and your own two feet, your floors need swept on the daily. This will do all that work for you, getting the job done right while you accomplish the other dozens of things on your to-do list. IDK about you, there's no way I'll ever vacuum or sweep every day without one of these little buddies doing it for me. This vac moves between hard floors and low-pile carpets/rugs without a glitch and can pick up all the accumulated dust, dirt, and hair left strewn about your home while you go do literally anything else. The reviewer who took the pic on the right above says that with a goldendoodle in the house, it picks up that much dust and hair EVERY DAY. Omg. Promising review: " Best housekeeping hack! I have to empty it almost everyday because it does it's job so well! I call her Mrs. Doubtfire and may purchase a twin to work upstairs as well. Timer was easy to set after reading the directions. Cleaning her out is a regular occurrence. She rarely gets stuck but usually only if the floor is cluttered worth cords or something. She also stops when she's full and needs to be cleaned instead of burning out her own motor which I think is nice. I have two Great Pyrenees and she handles the hair beautifully as well as the mess I track in from the barn." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $199.99 (available in two colors). If you're sold on the idea but want to consider your options, here's how to choose the best robo vacuum model. 17. A glare-free Kindle Paperwhite to help you meet your goal of reading at least an hour a day. It lets you carry dozens of books with you at once but weighs just a little over 7 ounces — *and* can 100% handle it if you want to take it in the bath with you. Oh, and if you want to save $$ on buying books, get it set up with your local library, and you can download your reads for free! Amazon Yes, that means it's waterproof! Its black-and-white screen reads like paper, even in direct sunlight. If you're a Prime member, you get free access to over 1,000 books and magazines. The reviewer below mentions a suction holder; you can get one for $9.99. Promising review:"I LOVE it. This is the first Kindle I've owned and it was the best thing I've ever gifted myself. I'm about 1.5 months in and have read over 15 books! I love that I can change the brightness and warmth as needed and even set a schedule. It is super easy to customize the text style and size for reading. I also love that I can rent books from my library and download them straight to the Kindle. I have over 90 books on my Kindle and have only paid for one. Download speeds are super quick. It is a good size and pretty comfortable to hold but I did purchase a suction holder." — Spirit Get it from Amazon for $159.99 (available in three colors and with or without lockscreen ads). 18. A veggie chopper to slice and dice onions, celery, and even tomatoes in a matter of seconds. Cooking most nights of the week saves so much $$, and this'll significantly, um, ~cut~ the amount of time and effort you spend to prep. I've done lots of onion-dicing with a knife, and while it's not hard, something like this would still count as a total upgrade on weeknights. Amazon Check out a TikTok of the veggie chopper in action. Promising review:"Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. We used to have a Prepworks chopper which was a similar idea, but you had to press so hard to chop, and it broke after not too long. This one requires very little effort to cut through the food and it has a generous container." — Amazon Customer Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (also available in a crocodile version at another listing). 19. The Diamond Dazzle Stik because you wear your wedding ring day in and day out, so might as well get to see it at its **sparkliest** all the time. Simply add a few dabs of its gentle cleaning solution from the pencil-sized portable stick, rinse, and enjoy an always-clean ring. You simply twist its base to dispense the solution into the bristles, brush it over your gems, rinse with water, and voila! Your ring will sparkle like a thousand stars, and you can toss the Stik back in your purse, ready for the next time you notice a little dinginess. (It works with pretty much every gem and metal except pearls.) Promising review:"I was a bit skeptical about this product and the fact that it's under $10 but once I opened and used it... OMG! I have a rose de France amethyst wedding ring and the stone was so cloudy it looked terrible. I used this product and once it was rinsed and dry it looked just like the day I received it. I was so excited! Fell back in love with my ring again and can't stop looking at it. The bristles on the brush really get into the tiny holes behind the ring setting which allows for an actual scrub on the back of the stone to remove the buildup. This product is amazing." — KY Acton Get it from Amazon for $8.78. 20. A heart-shaped gold tea strainer if you're a daily drinker of loose-leaf teas — besides looking so darn cute, it functions both as a handled scoop and a strainer. Simply squeeze the handle to open the heart up, dip it in your tea tin to pick up your oolong, close the heart by releasing your squeeze, then drop it into your mug to brew! Ecovibe Ecovibe's a Black-owned, woman-owned, family-owned small business based in Portland, OR, with so much gorgeous plant and home stuff that I wish I could teleport there to visit them IRL! Get it from Ecovibe for $12. 21. A set of two seat gap fillers because commuting by car = a lot of time behind the wheel, meaning you're practically guaranteed to drop something down that crack of no return at least once a week. These'll catch your phone, that one french fry, your house keys, and the coffee spill before any of it can get irretrievably stuck down there. Amazon Because it fits over your car's seat belt holster, it moves along with your seat as you adjust it — which means you can stuff it in and forget about it, at least until it saves some popcorn from disappearing into the abyss. Promising review:"I have to admit, my expectations weren't very high. I thought it was more of a joke when my husband got this for me for Christmas. Little did I realize it would be one of my most favorite gadgets ever! I don't know if I realized just how many things went missing in my seat gap. It has really saved a lot of things from disappearing into that black hole. It was easy enough to fit into my car and it's soft! It's just like an extension of my seat, except it fits every curve of my seat! There really isn't another product that compares to this." — Tessa Forbes Get a pack of two from Amazon for $24.99. 22. A battery-powered Conair fabric shaver so you can take sitting in your favorite-but-now-pilled chair from a 5/10 to a 10/10 experience. This quickly and easily pinches off those pesky little buggers to make all kinds of fabrics (like clothes, upholstery, and bedding) look brand-new. Promising review:"This is awesome! I don't know how I've lived without it — I consider it a life hack. I've gotten rid of so many items because they looked horrible due to pilling. Yes, it's true. But this product has opened a new chapter of keeping various materials looking 'clean-cut.' I used it on a brand new cotton bedding set that looked horrendous after the first wash. It came out of the dryer with tiny cotton balls stuck everywhere, pilling beyond belief! Needless to say, I was pretty unhappy, but this product saved the day (and the bedding set)!" — Jennifer M. Superales Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four colors). 23. A twee but functional collapsible laundry basket — I like it for its daisy-pattern cuteness, but I LOVE it for its supreme functionality. Space-saving, lightweight but well-made, and stackable if you nab two, it'll infuse a splash of delight into your everyday mundane tasks like laundry! This TikTok shows the collapsible laundry basket in action! Promising review: "Bought this as a laundry basket for our newborn's dirty clothing. It's so cute and perfect for that use. Love that it's collapsible and can be taken in our suitcase on trips or stored without taking up much room in our house." — Meggss Get it from Amazon for $22.70. 24. A pair of amber soap dispensers because they'll give your bathroom a warmer aesthetic without different brand names, logos, or packaging characters on regular soap distracting from the calm oasis you're trying to cultivate at your bathroom sink (or in the shower). Hotel vibes in normal life? Yes please. Promising reviews:"These are amazing soap dispensers. The amber glass is sturdy and strong, and the pump works great. They're easy to fill and they look so good on your bathroom or kitchen countertop. Highly recommend!" — Emily "Excellent quality, very sturdy, thick amber cheap hardware! Love it! Used it to put my toothpaste and made me do it! 😆" — WeeZie Get a two-pack from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in three different pump colors). 25. Wonderskin Wonder Blading One Step Lip Stain Masque, if you love wearing lip color every day, but hate reapplying constantly. Because it's a stain instead of a lipstick, even if you dig into greasy pizza or enjoy a nice long smooching session, it'll look just the same as it did when you first put it on. Even more fun? It glides on purple, then peels to reveal the color! Amazon, Wonderskin is a small business that specializes in makeup and skincare products. Promising reviews: "I kept seeing Wonder Blading Lip videos on my TikTok. Went to Sephora and couldn't believe they didn't have it. Wound up buying it on Amazon and loving it!" — PM "I didn't know what to expect when I received this product, but I have to say I am pleasantly surprised! I absolutely love it! I put it on as soon as it arrived. I kept it on for almost a minute and when I wiped it off with a damp cotton ball, the color was beautiful. It's true to its word about the 12 hour stay power. I put a little lip balm over it and enjoyed eating, drinking, and talking. It didn't come off! If you like lip stain? Get this product! It's a keeper. I will be ordering all of the shades." — Brandy Get it from Amazon for $22 (available in 22 shades). 26. A Crack'em egg cracker and spoon rest because they're your go-to breakfast, but it's SO ANNOYING to end up with whites on the stovetop and eggshell in the pan — seriously, this happens to me almost every time. This has a little ridge designed for precise and clean cracking so easy, reviewers who are parents say it's helpful for kids to use! Amazon Watch this TikTok of the egg cracker to see how quick it is! Promising review:"I absolutely cannot believe I'm doing this. I got this because I am ALWAYS having to pick out the shell when I crack an egg, whether for breakfast or my baking. Since buying this, I have cracked dozens of eggs without ANY shells in it. To say I am happy is an understatement. If you don't have one you should rush to get one. We are going to get them for wedding gifts when we know that the couple loves to do their own cooking. Kudos to whoever thought of this. It works perfectly, every time." — Edwin Myers Get it from Amazon for $11.99 (available in up to 6 colors, and in packs of 2). 27. A Squatty Potty toilet stool to help make pooping easier and faster because it aligns everything in a supposedly more natural way. Pooping that isn't fast or easy makes life extremely unpleasant, so I'd say anything that helps with that definitely qualifies as a real upgrade. Amazon Read more about constipation relief at home, including using a squatting position, at Cleveland Clinic. Several BuzzFeeders own and love these — read one person's review. Promising reviews:"Per my husband: 'First time I used mine I was like, ' there's no way the last 3 inches of that poop would have come out without the Squatty Potty. '" — m2 "Unbelievable that I've been performing a basic bodily function incorrectly my entire life. This is a wonderful product that is well worth the money. It allows one to adopt a natural, healthy position without giving up a western style toilet. You just have to use it to truly appreciate it." — Amazon Customer Get it the 7-inch high stool (for new squatters) for $24.99 or the 9-inch-high stool (for advanced squatters, or shorter squatters) for $29.99 from Amazon — or see all the color and size options available on Amazon on their store page. 28. A Turbie Twist that'll wrap your entire sopping-wet head of hair in its microfiber lengths and hold everything securely with its elastic loop, even if you start head-bopping as you sing along to your favorite morning playlist. This > just using your regular, heavy, huge body towel in the same way. Turbie Twist Promising reviews:"I've learned the hard way that not all microfiber hair towels are the same. I've tried many different types/brands and the only ones that seem to really live up to the hype is Turbie Twist. I have waist length curly hair that is very thick, and this is the only towel that works for me. It pulls a lot of water out of my hair, stays in place and doesn't pull on my hair at all. It's usually soaking wet when I remove it but I toss it over the shower rod and it's dry by the next morning. This is legit the only microfiber towel I will ever use!" — GeekMom Get a four-pack from Amazon for $39.95. 29. A sunrise alarm clock to make waking up in the morning a little easier because the lamp gradually gets brighter and then floods your room with light, instead of blaring an annoying alarm sound at you. Yep, it's just like that pricier Hatch alarm clock according to TikTok, but'll run you less than $50 instead of over $100. You can program it with seven light settings, seven chill "wake up" sounds, and set it to start slowly lighting up at 30, 20, or 10 minutes before you wake up. Promising review:"I am an extremely heavy sleeper and normally sleep through alarms and everything else. I got this in hopes that the light would help me wake up, and it definitely does!! Before the sound registers to my sleepy brain, I wake due to the sunrise function of the light slowly getting brighter. It's also a great reading light before bed! This alarm clock/light is definitely doing what I needed it to!" — Brynne Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in three colors). You, when you start using one of these products: BBC
