Anyone Who Appreciates Shortcuts In Life Will Want These 35 Genius Home Products
This microwave bacon cooker is about to make your brain go 🤯 in the best way.
1. A set of legging organizing hangers for anyone who owns approximately [number redacted] pairs that are currently tangled in a dresser drawer like a giant athleisure nest. This will not only free up space, but give you easy access so you're not rooting through them for the One Pair That Makes Your Butt Look Good.
Each hanger holds 10 pairs of leggings.
Promising review:"Yes...I have too many clothes. I LOVE my leggings. These saved me soooo much room! Now I have much more space, AND I can see them all easier." — Larry Seymour
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $14.99.
2. A two-slice slim toaster to fit virtually *anywhere* in your tiny kitchen, and to look gosh darn adorable doing it. Bonus — these long slots make it ideal for larger slices of bread, like your beloved sourdoughs.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Psst — if you're looking to save space in your kitchen and don't want to sacrifice on aesthetic, check out Bella's matching line of compact, affordable kitchen appliances!
Promising review:"The narrow width of this toaster helps free up real estate on my small countertop, plus it accommodates two slices of toast, English muffins or bagels as well as a regular width toaster. It comes in a beautiful teal color which I love. And the three toast levels ensure you don't burn food and the quality of the toast is just right — from light to brown. I highly recommend it!" — Joyce Hill
Get it from Amazon for $19.98 (available in five styles).
3. A set of universal reusable K-cup pods so not only will you cut down on environmental waste, but you can get reeeeal picky about exactly what blends you're brewing into your beloved cuppa every morning. We are all officially getting too old not to have Annoyingly Specific Coffee Preferences, and this is here to help us on that journey.
www.amazon.com
Pure HQ is a small business that specializes in kitchen products.
Promising review: "Works great for my Keurig. I feel better not throwing away all those pods! Love the pod measuring scoop! The pods work great and are easy to use and clean. I just open the pod top and tap the bottom of the pod over the garbage to empty. Great value for money." — Kindle Customer
Get a set of four from Amazon for $12.95 (also available with a scoop).
4. A "Lifty Loo" toilet seat handle to keep things germ-free when you're lifting the toilet seat up and down — even your toilet seat deserves to accessorize!! And these come with an adhesive that make them super easy to install.
Lifty Loo is a small business that specializes in toilet lifting tabs that are made with recycled ocean plastic.
Promising review: "Works perfect for what I need it for. I just figured out where it would work best on my toilet, then I adhered it. It doesn't get in the way and my younger boys are able to pick the seat up without touching the seat." — SK
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $11.97.
5. An easily installed, stick-on fogless shower mirror so you can shave right in the shower and save yourself some time. Reviewers also love to install this outside their showers to do beauty and skincare routines easily if the Big Mirror is full of fog from a long shower!
www.amazon.com
ToiletTree is a small business that specializes in bathroom products for home use.
To keep it fogless, add hot water to the reservoir behind the mirror before you shower. This comes with a squeegee and a little shelf, and even rotates so you can get your best angle!
Promising review:"I have tried multiple 'fogless' mirrors, but they all fail to live up to their claim. This one really works. Whomever came up with putting hot water in the back gets a thumbs up from me! You won't be disappointed with this mirror." — Veronica Greene
Get it from Amazon for $37.95.
6. A snap-on pasta strainer to free your pasta from its hot juices straight from the pot, and spare you storage space to boot (is it just me or are colanders always in the business of being exactly in the way of whatever it is you need?). Psst — these are also a game-changer for washing your fruit, too!
Amazon
Kitchen Gizmos is a small business that specializes in kitchen accessories.
Promising review:"I've owned this for about six months, and I couldn't imagine cooking without it. I hate strainers. They are bulky and fill up the dishwasher, I'm lazy, whatever. This strainer is a lifesaver. Clip it on your pan, strain, and voila! And it is so easy to clean. A little hot water and it's good to go for the next round. I highly recommend this gadget, it will retire your current strainer." — Viola Evens
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in seven colors).
7. A no-scrub weekly shower cleaner you can quite literally "set and forget" to maintain its cleanliness over time — once you apply it after a shower, you just have to wait eight to 12 hours and it'll quietly tackle the soap scum, grime, oils, mold, and mildew stains without any elbow grease from you.
www.amazon.com
Promising review:"I saw this product on TikTok and decided to try it out for myself. The name doesn't lie — spray it on, shut the bathroom door, and in a few hours, the shower is 100 times cleaner. Usually I'll let it sit overnight, and by morning, the visible grime on the shower is gone, include soap scum. I'll usually let the shower water rinse the residue out, and then will take a bucket just to get everything off the shower walls. It is a bit slick if you try to get in the shower without rinsing the residue, but otherwise it's a worthy cleaning staple in my house." — Tara D.
Get it from Amazon for $19.39+ (available in two scents and two sizes).
8. A set of magnetic fridge spice organizers to magically create storage space out of ~thin air~, and keep all your favorite spices and seasonings in convenient eye-level reach.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "These work well and solve the problem of having to dig into a cabinet to find spices. These shelves are better than mounting a spice rack as the shelves have strong magnets that easily stick to a the side of a metal appliance as shown in the product description." — Michael
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $21.99 (available in nine colors and in larger packs).
9. A reviewer-beloved veggie chopper that'll get you uniform, oh-so-satisfyingly cut veggies — this gadget juliennes, chops, spiralizes, and slices vegetables in an instant and has a built-in storage container to hold the chopped veggies so you can pour them into a pan or dish without any mess.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Fullstar is a small business established in 2017 that specializes in kitchen gadgets.
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 $24.87+ (available in six styles and in four colors).
10. A set of two traceless adhesive shelves for your bathroom or kitchen that *don't* require any drilling or complicated installation other than sticking it straight to the wall. A chic and easy home fix?? Ugh, we lazy folks love to see it.
Promising review:"I saw this on TikTok and had to try it. I love it. I have one in the shower and the other on the bathroom wall holding all the stuff normally on the sink. 10/10 recommend." — Sonia
Get it from Amazon for $30.49+ (available in four colors).
11. A can colander to easily drain the juices from your canned goods. (No offense to whatever it is our beloved chickpeas are swimming in!!)
Amazon
Promising review:"For years, I've been saying somebody needs to invent something to easily drain tuna. Finally, it's here. Drains in 1-2-3. Quick, easy, and no mess. No longer do you have to deal with being sprayed or getting your hands messy. I only wish I had been smart enough to invent it myself. Who knew such a simple item would save so much time and less mess in the kitchen." — Lisa
Get it from Amazon for $5.59.
12. A "Bread Buddy" dispenser that keeps sandwich bread fresh by ensuring it stays *way* more airtight than it does in just the bag alone, and also lets you use the bread bag in a clever way to dispense slices one by one. Tons of reviewers are noting how much longer their bread stays fresh (and how much easier it is to store without worrying about it getting smushed!).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok of the Buddeez sandwich bread dispenser in action.
Buddeez is a family-owned, Missouri-based small business that specializes in unique household products.
Promising review:"The Buddeez Sandwich Bread Dispenser is great! It does exactly what it was intended for. I live alone and I don't quite go through bread often enough before the last quarter section of the loaf starts to go stale. I was originally looking for something to put a loaf of bread in as a shell for my vacuum sealer, that would keep the bread from getting crushed from the pressure. This dispenser solved all of my problems. Thank you!" — DRMcQuaig
Get it from Amazon for $13.59.
13. A stainless-steel sandwich cutter and sealer for anyone with Uncrustables tastes and a mortal human budget. Now you can make your own at home in batches and freeze them — and better yet, customize them so they're stuffed with your favorite brands of peanut butter and jelly or meats and cheeses. It's an Uncrustable, but make it cheap and bougie.
You can also freeze the leftover crusts to make bread pudding, French toast sticks, bread crumbs, and stuffing! Or just go to clown town and eat them right then. 😋
Promising review:"What a game changer for saving money compared to buying the Uncrustables in the store. They are ridiculously overpriced, and with this thing, you can make them at a fraction of the cost. It's really simple to use and works really well. Also, it's very easy to clean, although I would keep it out of the dishwasher to avoid rust. This thing crimps the edges of the bread really well, so there is no spillage or leakage. It works just as well with Nutella as it does with deli meats and cheeses. There's a little learning curve as far as where to put your ingredients, but once you get the hang of it, it's super easy." — Josh Fowler
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
14. A clever silicone " Broombi," designed to flex harder than most of us have in a calendar year — it's an all-surface broom, squeegee, *and* pet hair remover, making it your one-stop shop for all your "fix this grimy floor IMMEDIATELY" needs.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review:"Absolutely love this broom! It does everything it states and shows. Excellent on carpets and spilt messes on the floor. Love how I get more dust and dirt off the floors. Also love that it can be made longer with just a quick twist. Durable, stable, and the appearance is much better than a tattered brush at the bottom most brooms! Getting into the corners is so much easier, too. Excellent broom!" — Sandra Moyer
Get it from Amazon for $34.95 (available in two colors).
15. A pack of five refillable touch up paint pens you'll be especially glad to have for those high traffic areas in your home, where things get bumped and chipped and knocked about. Now you can fix up doors and cabinets in a quick minute instead of dealing with a whole can of paint.
Slobproof is a small business that specializes in paint touch-up pens.
Promising review:"I keep these in my kitchen drawer and it's SO convenient for my painted cabinets! I LOVE the way they look, but inevitably (even though I sanded and prepped), I'll get little chips in the paint. These touch-up pens stay in my junk drawer, which is full of paint at all times. T he cap makes it so it never dries out and stays super clean. But I'm able to grab them any time and just touch things up so my cabinets ALWAYS look fresh." — Claire Flores
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
16. A ceiling fan carbon filter that's about to be any allergy-prone human's hero — you can hide it on top of a ceiling fan blade, where it will secretly pick up dust, pollen, smoke, dander, and other allergens and improve the air quality of the room. Take THAT, pesky particles.
Promising review: "I wasn't sure what to expect when purchasing these, but now they are a staple in every room of our house. Within three days the air smelled more crisp and was easier to breathe in our home. So simple and effective!" — Haylee Marez
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $19.79.
17. A set of Wad-Free pads to ensure that your sheets stay separate from each other in the dryer and come out fresh, dry, and unwrinkled instead of looking like they got into a wet cotton brawl.
Amazon
Wad-Free is a small business established in 2020 after the founder Cyndi Bray self-taught computer-aided design to create the pads.
Promising review: "THIS ACTUALLY WORKS!!!! I saw a TikTok about these and decided to order. Sheets balling all up in the washer and dryer has been a pet peeve of mine for forever. I was super skeptical of these, but I tried it, and it works as advertised! It's a little on the expensive side IMO, and that's kinda holding me back from purchasing a second set, but they really do work." — StrangerThings
Get a set of two from Amazon for $19.99.
18. A "Slice'n Store" butter dish that will stop you from dirtying a bunch of butter knives and leaving them on the counter. All you do is pop this out of the fridge, slice of a lil' (or large) slab with the built-in blade, and be on your merry, buttery way.
www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Great addition to my kitchen essentials. Its durability is impressive, and it is straightforward to use. What makes it a keeper is how easy it is to clean. The quality is top-notch, and it's definitely worth the price. It stores butter well and fits perfectly in my fridge. Plus, the color adds a nice touch to my kitchen decor. Overall, it's a fantastic kitchen gadget." — Tiffany Mueller
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
19. A set of ingenious double shower curtain hooks to make putting on the shower curtain and the liner so! darn! easy!! that you'll never go back to those silly rings that pop off annoy the heck out of you again.
Amazon
Promising review: "I hate changing out the liner on my shower because it meant I had to remove the curtain too. Not any more! I saw this set of hooks in a TikTok review. Now I can swap out the liner with ease. The hooks also slide on the curtain rod very easily, no tugging." — Christina
Get a set of 12 from Amazon for $6.99 (available in 18 colors).
20. A magnetic microwave cover perfect for anyone whose Panera soup obsession is a little *too* well documented over every surface inside of their microwave. This conveniently sticks to the top of your microwave so you can pop it right off whenever you're looking to tear up some broccoli cheddar on a wild Tuesday night.
www.amazon.com
Hover Cover is a small business that specializes in microwave covers for home kitchen use.
Check out a TikTok of the microwave cover in action.
Promising review:"If you live in a small space like I do, this will seriously change your life. No longer do I have to struggle to find somewhere to put my cover if I'm heating up a cup of coffee. Just attach it to the roof of your microwave. Hopefully, you have a flat surface; check before you buy. There is a slight learning curve as to where to put it or the force or lack thereof needed, but after a couple of times, it's second nature. Love, love, love this product. I'm probably going to get some for Christmas presents next year, it's one of those items that you wouldn't necessarily buy for yourself, but it will change your life." — Rachel
Get it from Amazon for $24.95 (also available in two-packs).
21. And a microwave cooling caddy that doesn't get hot so you can pop your grub out of the microwave without waiting for it to cool down or grabbing oven mitts. Especially important when several humans need the microwave and you can't be lingering there waiting for your soup bowl to be grab-able.
Amazon
Handy Gourmet is a small business that specializes in home and kitchen products.
Promising review: "Who would have guessed how much easier this product makes getting hot items out of the microwave? This makes the retrieval much safer for me. I have hand problems and gripping this tool makes the removal steadier and safer without getting burns. I recommend!" — Envy's Opinion
Get it from Amazon for $12.95+ (available in three colors).
22. Oxo's new compact Brew Rapid Brewer, aka the answer to any money-conscious coffee lover's prayers — this version is not only cheaper and more portable than comparable models on the market, but WAY faster making cold brew without compromising on flavor. I'm talking five minutes as opposed to overnight, like other pitchers take — and it doesn't need to be charged or plugged in. 🤯
Amazon
You can use this to brew hot coffee *and* cold brew by adding coffee grounds to the top portion, tamping it down, letting it steep, and pumping into a carafe full of hot or cold water.
Promising review: "Simple to use and cheaper than that other brand. This is about the best tasting coffee I have ever made at home. Easy to clean. Sturdy. Portable." — Alex Bonick
Get it from Amazon for $34.79.
23. A laundry soap station that will help organize your space *and* serve as a handy drip tray for your detergent, so you don't have to lug that jumbo container like a lumberjack every time you need to squeeze a few suds out for a load. This also helps ensure you get every last drop out of the container!
Skywin is a small business that specializes in home and kitchen products.
Promising review: "I've been using this product now for several months. I'm honestly surprised by how something so simple can be so helpful and save me money. Just by tilting my laundry detergent jug on this, I'm able to get every last drop of detergent out of it, which prevents wasting detergent and saves me money. I've never had issues with clogging, and it holds a standard-size bottle or an oversized jug. It also helps to keep my laundry closet looking clean and organized. Good buy!" — Jenn Madonna
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in sets of two and three and in 10 colors).
24. An under-cabinet lid opener for anyone who doesn't feel like playing another rousing game of "knock on the neighbor's door to see if someone can open this damn Nutella jar" (don't look at me!!). This is also an excellent space saver compared to other manual lid openers, and causes way less wrist strain!
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Check out BuzzFeed's overview of the EZ Off Jar Opener.
Promising review:"I saw this item on TikTok. Yeap. I am so glad I got it! I have trouble opening jars and bottles and this has been awesome. It works great. I followed the suggestion from other reviewers and installed it under the cabinet with the bottom of the 'V' facing away from the wall. You will have to twist the bottle counterclockwise. This method works well. I haven't had to use the little screws. I definitely recommend this item! It is wayyyyy better than the silicone grips." — Mariposista Queen
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
25. A jar of all-in-one decor paint, a chalk-style paint with a built-in primer designed to easily glide on furniture, upholstery, and any wood, metal, and glass surfaces. It's eco-friendly and dries with a chalky matte finish within 30 minutes of application, making it a boon for parents doing DIY projects. Reviewers use it on everything from old couches to front doors to dresses to fences.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Country Chic Paint is a family-owned small business that specializes in all-in-one paint.
Promising review: " I've bought a total of four of these things. I went on a kick of painting all of my generic black/dark brown Ikea furniture. I used this on both the shiny/smooth furniture and wood furniture, and it worked well on both of them. It definitely worked better on the wood furniture, though. The paint was unexpectedly very easy to use and the color came out a LOT prettier than expected! It was easy to clean off my hands and brushes and the paint came right off my clothes in the wash as well. Overall, I'm very very pleased with this paint and will purchase more if I need any crafty paint in the future." — Anna
Get it from Amazon for $28.95 (available in 55 colors).
26. A microwave bacon cooker because as fun as it is to get your cardio in dodging bacon grease spitting at you from the pan, THERE IS ANOTHER WAY. This can cook seven to nine strips at a time, and comes with grooves and a spout designed to pour out the extra fat.
Promising review: "Best way to make bacon!!!!! I will never cook bacon any other way. Bought one for me and one for my daughter. Buying one for my MIL for Christmas." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in three colors and two-packs).
27. A "Magic Tap" automatic drink dispenser as the ultimate parent hack — this battery-operated, spillproof system easily slides into jugs of water, milk, and juice in your fridge to make it easy for kids to serve themselves. Essentially it means a whole lot more independence for the kiddos, and a WHOLE lot more convenience for you.
Check out a TikTok of the drink dispenser in action.
Promising review: "Super happy with this purchase. Our two little ones (5- and 3-years-old) can now easily fill their own drinks. We also purchased a dual cereal dispenser from Amazon, so now the kids can get their own breakfast cereal with milk!" — April M. Ramos
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in four colors and in multipacks).
28. A set of stick-on appliance sliders for anyone who ends up playing games of Appliance Tetris on their counters every morning — these padded, elevated sliders attach to the bottom of large gizmos, making it simple to ease them across counters (and prevent them from getting wet at the bottom if water spills nearby)!
www.amazon.com
Check out a TikTok of the appliance sliders in action.
Promising review: "These are a game changer! I have some heavy appliances like my espresso machine and reverse osmosis filter that I hate to pull out to fill with water. These tiny sliders have been incredible! Immediately better, and so far (about three months in) no issues at all. Still gliding!" — sara
Get a set of 24 from Amazon for $9.99 (available in five sizes).
29. A rectangular lazy Susan to turn you into a legitimate fridge wizard by holding *way* more than the traditional round version. This features 360 degree rotation so when you install it in the fridge, you can easily access condiments and foods at the "back" by spinning them closer to yourself. No more accidentally dumping pickle jars on your unsuspecting feet!!
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Check out a TikTok of the rectangular Lazy Susan in action.
Promising review: "Wow! I love this turntable organizer! I can fit so many items on it, and because of that, I now have so much more space on the door shelves. With this organizer, I will have easy access to all of those extra items that just don't have their own space. Now they do have a place to go! I would highly recommend this product to everyone who wants to feel more organized and doesn't want to lose items in their fridge." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
30. A cheerful fruit bowl for a pop of deeply functional color in your kitchen — this thing is secretly also a colander, so you can wash your fruit and leave 'em sitting pretty on the counter to dry.
Amazon
Promising review: "I LOVE the look of this fruit bowl. I also love that its pedestal minimizes the space it takes up on the counter. I wasn't sure about whether I would like that it is plastic but now consider it a big plus. It keeps the bowl lightweight (but it is still sturdy) and makes it easy to clean. I highly recommend this fruit bowl. I couldn't be more pleased with mine." — Opinion o'Jen
Get it from Amazon for $20.99 (available in four colors).
31. A handy collapsible twisting whisk to save you time twice over — not only does flattening it out after mixing make it easy to shake the excess batter into the bowl, but *wayyy* easier to clean. Bonus: it's dishwasher-safe and heat-safe up to 392 degrees F!
Amazon
Check out a TikTok of the collapsible whisk in action.
Promising review: "Absolutely perfect. Easy to clean, easy to use, very sturdy. The whisk stays in the positions quite well, it stows away quite flat. The perfect solution for a kitchen with limited storage!" — CMA01
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
32. " Ever Toast," a wildly clever plate for toast and grilled sandwiches that keeps your meal elevated so it doesn't get all soggy on the bottom. Now you can take your time eating your toasted grub get that oh-so-satisfying CROOONNNCHHH in every bite.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Ever Toast is a small business that specializes in unique dinner plates.
Promising review: "GENIUSSSSS. Thiss product is NECESSARY if you hate soggy sandwiches, pizzas, waffles! Works great, keeps everything crispy and toast, we love it here! And for two plates it's a great price!" — Paolo Rivas
Get a set of two from Amazon for $14.99.
33. An absurdly gorgeous, oh-so-functional detachable cookware set that has the luxe look of a lot of expensive brands, but wayyyy more convenience. These premium, nonstick pans are designed to save a ton of space with detaching handles that let the pans "nest" snugly in the cupboard.
www.amazon.com, amazon.com
Each set includes an eight-inch and ten-inch frying pan, a ten-inch deep frying pan, a seven-inch and eight-inch saucepan, two glass lids, two removable handles, and four pot protectors.
Promising review: "I found these detachable pots and pans on a YouTube video. They are such a space saver for small kitchen. They can stack on top of each other, which only takes up a small corner of the cabinet. The spot protectors are so useful and neat that you won't scratch the pots. They are very easy to clean. Great quality that I've recommended to several friends." — Yuli Aoki
Get it from Amazon for $59.99.
34. A handy brownie dividing pan so you can flex during the next cozy movie night by presenting your friends with perfectly crisp-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside brownies all in uniform sizes and shapes. Those chumps with ordinary pans could NEVER.
Emma Lord/BuzzFeed
Um, I'm obsessed with this pan. I make those gooey three-layer brownies that are cookie dough on the bottom, Oreos in the middle, and either brownie or Nutella on top, and I famously underbake them because salmonella doesn't apply to me. Which is to say, usually when I make these it's a big gooey mess and my friends have to dig in with a spoon and it's less inviting for guests to take one. With this tray it was SO easy to put the batter in, stick the divider on top, and bake individual small bars. it was completely nonstick, and it was easy to pull the divider out once everything was cooked. The uniform brownies were a huge hit at a party!
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
35. A pack of dual-sided SneakErasers designed so that one side of them cleans scuffs, dirt stains, and grimes, and the other side whitens them, restoring your sneakers and their soles to their former glory. Take THAT, passage of time.
www.amazon.com, www.instagram.com
Sneakerasers is a small business that specializes in shoe care products.
Check out a TikTok of the SneakErasers in action.
Promising review: "I have a couple of pairs of sneakers I stopped wearing because they started looking a bit grungy. Just couldn't justify throwing them away though, because they were still in great shape and not very old. I came across these sponges and took a chance. They work like a charm. I cleaned two pairs of shoes and could not believe the results! Awesome." — Spencer
Get a 10-pack from Amazon for $11.98.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cosmopolitan
9 minutes ago
- Cosmopolitan
The Oura Ring 4 Fixed My Sleep. Here's My Honest Review in 2025.
I love my Oura ring. Ask any of my friends and they'll tell you that it's become one of my main personality traits over the past year and a half, that if I had a cartoon character, she would have a gold ring on her pointer finger. I'm never seen without it (if I am, get ready to hear a panicked 'Wait… did I lose my Oura ring?' in three… two… one…) and the minimal weight slips below the level of consciousness so it's basically a part of me. In the time since I last updated my 2023 review of the Gen 3 Oura ring, the company released a brand new iteration, the Oura 4. Checks out, as they've historically released a new version every three years. And because of the aforementioned making-it-my-whole-personality thing, I knew I had to do a full test of the new version. After wearing it for six months, I'm ready to give you my full, in-depth, scientifically-proven (okay, I'm not a scientist, but there's lots of ~health data~) review—it's broken down into sections that are easy to scroll through in case you're looking for something specific, with tons of pics and anecdotes about what I loved and didn't love. Note: If you want a more in-depth walkthrough of how I picked out my ring and set it up, you can read the full breakdown in our Oura 3 review here. The fit metrics and process of ordering a size kit are both still the same, just make sure you're specifically ordering the Oura 4 size kit—either on their website or on Amazon! So, the Oura Ring is a health tracker. But what does it actually track? 'The Oura Ring boasts temperature sensors, a suite of LED lights to measure heart rate and blood oxygen, and an activity accelerometer to provide you with accurate insights to support your overall health,' says Jason Russell, Oura's Senior Director of Product. Once data is collected via the sensors, you're given three scores each day to help you interpret your stats at a glance: your Sleep Score, your Readiness Score, and your Activity Score. It's a number out of 100 that grades your sleep, your movement, and how prepared your body is to take on the day based on tons of data points from REM and deep sleep to heart rate variability and your body temperature while you're asleep. You also get a stress rating and resilience rating, and you can opt into Cycle Tracking as well. While the basic concept and experience you know and love is still the same, there are a handful of useful new features that the Oura team rolled out with the fourth-generation ring. And pssst: While the new hardware features are unique to the 4, the software and app updates will be available for anyone with any version of the Oura Ring! First up: Major redesign! The app used to have a fixed design but now, you'll see different stats and scores highlighted depending on what time of day you open up your app. Whatever is most helpful or notable will float up to the top throughout the day, whether it's an exceptional sleep score or an elevated body temperature. Huge news for anyone who doesn't want to get into the weeds of HRV charts and just wants to be given the most important highlights! Visually, the bumpy domes on the inside of the Gen 3 have been removed and replaced with flat sensors for a more comfortable wearing experience. This new ring also has smart sensing and increased accuracy, which didn't pick up on any life changing new data so it wasn't a huge, measurable impact on my life, but someone who tracks their heart rate or body temperature more closely will appreciate this. I also find that the battery lasts a lot longer, allowing me to go several days without charging rather than having to juice it up every other day. I was a perfect size 6 in the Gen 3, so I ordered the size 6 in the Gen 4, but that ended up being so loose that I was experiencing gaps in my data. I exchanged it for a size 5, which I wore on a smaller finger. A word to the wise: Because the Oura 4 has flat sensors on the inside instead of the Oura 3's raised sensors, it's going to be slightly looser even if you get the same size you had before. Don't assume you'll be the same size in the newer Gen 4! To avoid this, order a sizing kit beforehand. And if you have an older Oura ring that you're upgrading, transferring your data over is incredibly easy—just click on the battery signal in the top right corner of your app, hit 'Set up a new ring,' and follow the tutorial (it took me 30 seconds…max). The Oura Ring 4 will cost $349 for Silver or Black, $399 or Brushed Silver or Stealth, or $499 for Gold or Rose Gold. In addition to that, there's a $5.99 monthly subscription cost to use the app that displays and interprets all of your data. Would I say that's cheap? No. But the monthly subscription cost barely makes a dent compared to other health apps (WHOOP costs hundreds per year) so you're really just making a one time investment that you'll be able to wear for a couple years. I'm not proud of it, but I used to check Instagram and TikTok first thing in the morning. Like, as soon as I opened my eyes. I can't say I've fully kicked the phone habit, but I'm no longer going straight to brain rot the second I'm awake, because now I check my Oura app as soon as I wake up to get the full download on my sleep. When you wear the ring overnight, it collects data on when you fell asleep, what sleep stages you were in throughout the night, how your breathing, heart rate, and temperature changed through each phase, and how long you slept for. That's insanely valuable data, people, considering the fact that it's hard to monitor your own sleep while you're, well, asleep. Once you check your app in the morning, you'll receive a sleep score from 0-100 based on your numbers as well as whether your stats were higher, lower, or about on par with the usual. I found that I tended to average in the 80s, but it really depends on how stressed I am! Oh, and your Oura Ring will track naps, too. Whether it's an accidental 30 minute couch snooze or your attempt at falling asleep in your dinky economy seat that only lasts 15 minutes, your ring will pick up on that and adjust your daily sleep score accordingly. Ah, the elusive Readiness score. What does it actually mean to be ready? What is 75 points ready vs. 90 points ready? Do I have to cancel all of my plans if I wake up with a 56 as my readiness score?! All good questions. To put it simply, it's a rating of how ready your body is to take on the day based on how well you've been sleeping and how your resting heart rate has been trending recently. If you've been clocking under six hours a night with a heart rate that won't calm down (a symptom that usually correlates with drinking, by the way!) your readiness score might be lower than usual. This, paired with your Resilience level (which basically measures your current stress levels and how you're recovering from it), is a great indicator of how much your body is able to take on. But you don't have to be tied to it. Sometimes getting a great sweat in on a lower Readiness day helps me bounce back from it, whereas other times it's permission to skip that workout class and cancel your nighttime plans in order to get better recovery sleep. The Oura Ring is meant to make your life better—so think of a high Readiness score as an encouragement to try going the extra mile, and a low Readiness score as a reminder to be kind to yourself if things feel harder than usual. When I reviewed the Oura 3, the weakest point was probably the fact that the old software would think that certain activities (walking, emptying the dishwasher, going up the stairs) were other activities (boxing, swimming, sports). But I can confidently say that the activity tracking on the new ring and new software has improved. It correctly picked up on the fact that I was boxing, skiing, and kayaking without me needing to manually tag each activity, and it's nice to be able to see my route and cardio zones via the Oura app when I (very occasionally) go on a run through Central Park. In addition to activity detection and running features, the Oura Ring also tracks your steps and caloric expenditure, if you're into that kind of thing. I don't do a ton of cardio and I'm aware that as a New York City resident I clock plenty of steps per day, but it was nice to see the correlation between heavy activity days and how quickly I was able to fall asleep the following night. The Oura Ring may not be the most comprehensive training tracker on the market. It doesn't claim to be! It is, however, hands down the best middle-of-the-road option out there. It's chic, non-intimidating and accessible, it looks pretty on your hand, and it gives you comprehensive activity data with zero pressure to close activity rings (you know what I'm talking about) or stand up every 30 minutes. It's perfect for someone like me, who wants to remain active and have a general awareness of it—but not at the cost of my sanity or how cute my accessories are. I was confused about a lot of things during my teenage years, including my period, which was pretty high up on the blind-navigation list. Basically, it would come every 25-40 days, and it was a complete shock every time. But after learning how to track my cycle via body temperature over the past couple of years, I've gone from being like, 'My period is here AGAIN?!' to being like, 'Yeah I know I'm getting my period at some point today because my temperature dropped.' Confused? Basically, your body temperature typically sits below baseline during the follicular phase (the first part of the menstrual cycle), spikes right around ovulation, and then sits above baseline during the luteal phase (the part of the menstrual cycle right before you bleed) until the day of your period when your temperature drops noticeably. The Oura Ring 4 takes your temperature every day and charts it so you can keep track of where you're at in your monthly cycle, which is, uh, SO much better than going into it blindly and then being stuck without a tampon in a public restroom while wearing white jeans. Just me? This temperature data can also be used to estimate fertile days if you're trying to conceive or trying to avoid getting pregnant without being on hormonal birth control. I didn't find Oura's in-app ovulation and period prediction dates to be super accurate, if I'm being honest, but you can sign up for the Natural Cycles app (an FDA-cleared form of non-hormonal birth control) which integrates seamlessly with the Oura app. I found the Natural Cycles predictions to be much more accurate and consistent, and it's $119.99 per year, which comes out to just $9.99 a month. The most important part of the entire review, if you ask me. I've tried so many different stacks, some out of necessity (because my ring is a little loose on certain fingers) and some for style purposes. My favorite compliment is 'Omg I didn't even notice you were wearing a health tracker, it blends right in with the rest of your jewelry!'. Here are some of the stacking rings I've invested in… The complimentary rings I reach for the most often are these two Pavoi bands that went semi-viral on TikTok for being under $20 each. Tons of people started wearing these bands above and below their Oura ring for a shockingly luxe look—and yes, I can confirm that it's a totally seamless stack. Alternatively, I love wearing my Oura ring with a solitaire crystal ring—my go-to is from Uno de 50 and currently sold out, but below are some alternatives as well as rings I tend to wear on other fingers! And lastly, I've found it really helpful to wear a thin chain around my neck for periods where I need to take my ring off but want to make sure I don't lose it, like when I'm getting a manicure or when I'm lifting weights and don't want the bar to scratch up the metal. Okay, that was a lot of information! After testing out the Oura Ring 4 for six months I can confidently say that I'm a huge fan and love the product even more than I did before, but if you're still trying to digest all of that before making your decision, let's break it down into a simple pros and cons list... Hannah Oh is a self-proclaimed nerd for biometrics and sleep optimization. Along with writing about the best sales and deals to spend your hard-earned money on, she has tested a variety of sleep-tracking devices and wearables on her quest to create the perfect bedroom sanctuary in the middle of noisy New York City. She is never seen without her Oura ring and has been known to tell strangers on the street why they should buy one, too. Hannah is the Shopping Editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from chic home decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and pictures of her office outfits that nobody asked for.
Business Insider
3 hours ago
- Business Insider
21 affordable must-haves every New Yorker needs in their life
Hello, New York! I moved to the city five years ago and, like any good New Yorker, quickly learned how to stretch a dollar without sacrificing style or sanity. What do Angelinos know about schlepping? Not as much as the average Brooklyn granny, I'll bet you that. It takes a shrewd knowledge to keep up with the hustle and bustle here, so with the help of my fellow New York-based colleagues, I've curated all the best products for urban living. New York is an expensive place to call home, but with these affordable finds, you can make life here more comfortable, practical, and efficient. A chic granny cart Lauren Savoie/Business Insider Schlepping is a careful science. My roommate and I invested in our own Hulken, and it forever changed the way we buy groceries. Learn just why we love it in our full Hulken review. A portable fan for hot summer subway rides Jisulife Handheld Mini Fan Several of our editors swear by this mini fan for the summer. In addition to a fan with two speeds, it's also a portable battery charger and a flashlight. Check price at Amazon Highlights Compact and cute design Up to 19 hours of continuous cooling time Doubles as a phone charger and flashlight Wait any longer than five minutes for the subway in a stiflingly hot station, and you'll be wishing you'd scored on this deal. Our deputy executive editor loves this Amazon mini fan because it's portable enough for her purse and inexpensive. A big blanket for when the whole friend group gets together Lauren Savoie; Les Shu/Business Insider Our New York-based editors came together at a park near our office to test the best picnic blankets. We liked this beach blanket because it's big enough for large groups but folds up compactly for storage, and it stays put in windy weather. If you and your friends are regulars at Jacob Riis, you'll appreciate this ultraportable beach blanket. Headphones that block out all the city noise Noise-canceling headphones saved my sanity when construction began across the street from my apartment. These over-ears let you switch between quiet and aware modes with a simple tap. This way, you can enjoy stillness and be aware of your surroundings on the train while you listen to music. Read our full guide to the best noise-canceling headphones. A shoe tray so you won't track sidewalk grime into your apartment Ottomanson Multi-Purpose Boot Tray This waterproof tray's raised edges mean your wet shoes won't leak onto the floor. You can also use it as a pet food bowl tray or a place for draining plants. Check price at Amazon I live in a "shoes off" apartment. I leave mine on a rack near my door, but when it's wet outside, I slide this shoe tray out from underneath the bottom shelf so there's no mud, rainwater, or heaven-knows-what-else leaking from my shoes onto the floor. Anti-chafe balm for long city walks Sweaty summer walks can cause uncomfortable chub rub, so we recommend this anti-chafe stick for the thick-thighed girlies. A cute carry-all that zips closed Style editor Samantha Crozier has tested dozens of totes in search of the best work bag for women. She touts this affordable nylon work bag as both weather-resistant and lightweight, making it ideal for rainy commutes. Buckets of hand sanitizer Pack thousands of people into small spaces like the subway and germs are bound to spread. My first year in NYC, I got sick roughly once a month. Now I keep one of these compact spray hand sanitizers in my bag wherever I go. A TV you can move around your shoebox apartment Samantha Crozier/Insider "I first saw LG's portable StanbyMe TV on TikTok," writes Samantha. "As a New York City apartment dweller, I'm always looking for space-saving options." You can easily wheel it over to your workspace, kitchen, or bedroom for portable entertainment. Read our full LGStanbyME review. A sturdy umbrella that can withstand city wind Summer rainstorms can happen in a flash. To save precious space in your tote bag, we suggest this pick from our guide to the best umbrellas. It's super light and compact, and it won't collapse as you walk down the wind tunnel-like streets of Manhattan. Memberships that make city life a little easier Paying a chunk up front can save you money in the long run, especially in a city like New York. The most essential memberships for city dwellers are Citi Bike, Instacart, and Class Pass. Citi Bike is often the easiest and most direct way to get around, but bike rides and unlocks are significantly more costly if you're not a member. Bundling a membership via Lyft essentially gets you three subscriptions in one: Citi Bike, Lyft Pink, and Grubhub+ — and it's $20 cheaper than the base Citi Bike membership. You need only make the mistake of buying a $10 stick of butter at Gristedes once to swear off most city grocery stores. Unless you're right near a Trader Joe's, I've found it's actually cheaper (or comes out to about the same cost) to order groceries via Instacart. You can shop around for the best prices and get bags and bags of groceries delivered right to your door — no schlep required. The annual Instacart+ subscription gets you lower fees and comes with an NYT Cooking and Peacock streaming subscription, which makes it worth the cost. New York has so many great boutique fitness studios and classes to try out that it's hard to commit to a single gym membership. ClassPass offers a way for you to take classes or book gym time at studios all across the city, and the rates are typically better than booking each class à la carte. You can try a free trial for two weeks before you commit. An AC that you don't have to worry about dropping out your window Windmill 10,000 Btu Inverter Window Air Conditioner with WhisperTech If aesthetics are important to you, Windmill makes one of the most attractive and easy-to-install ACs on the market. This 10,000 Btu unit should comfortably cool up to 450 square feet and is WiFi enabled so you can control it from anywhere. Check price at Amazon This is a great air conditioner for New Yorkers because it's super easy to install, meaning you won't have to worry about dropping the unit out of your apartment window. Sneakers that can handle 20,000 step days Gabrielle Chase/Business Insider I've tested a lot of walking shoes all over my neighborhood. As much as I love stepping out in some fashion-girl shoes, I keep this OOFOS pair by my apartment doorway because they pull on easily, so I can slip out to the bodega at a moment's notice. A white noise machine to drown out traffic Homedics SoundSleep White Noise Sound Machine The Homedics SoundSleep White Noise Sound Machine is a fantastic entry-level sleep machine that is easy to use and effective, with six types of relaxing noise settings. It's smaller and more lightweight than most white noise machines, making it perfect for traveling. Check price at Amazon Getting a good night's rest with blaring car horns outside a street-facing bedroom window is no easy task. A lightweight white noise machine by Homedics lets you drown out busy traffic sounds in your home or abroad. Read more about how this portable white noise machine can help your sleep routine. A powerful roach bait so you don't have to share your apartment with creepy crawlies Combat Max 12-Month Roach Killing Bait Common, small roaches don't require anything too complicated, and Combat Max 12-Month Bait Stations are plenty effective — and discreet. Roaches are an unfortunate fact of life in any NYC apartment building — no matter what your realtor tells you. If you want to keep the insects from infiltrating your unit, a solid bait will keep them at bay. Read more in our guide to the best roach killers. A sleek cordless vac that doesn't take up much space Dyson V8 Plus Cordless Vacuum For a Dyson at the lowest price possible, you can't go wrong with the basic but mighty Dyson V8 Plus Cordless Vacuum. It offers two cleaning modes, three attachments, and a cleaning time of up to 40 minutes. Check price at Amazon My old clunker of a vacuum was heavy, loud, and took up too much room. Dyson makes tools like hair dryers and vacuums that are a genuine pleasure to use. I find myself cleaning with this cordless unit out of habit more than necessity. My roommates and I love how it stows neatly onto a wall mount, letting us reclaim our closet space. Read more in our guide to the best cordless vacuum cleaners. A phone mount you can use on a Citi Bike Lamicall Bike Phone Holder This adjustable phone mount secures your device to the handle of your bicycle so you can navigate hands-free. Check price at Amazon The most common (and potentially deadly) Citi Bike offense I witness is people navigating busy city streets while looking down at their phone. With this bicycle phone mount, you can keep your eyes on the road and find your bearings more easily. Sandals that'll still feel good after miles of walking These supportive, waterproof slides, featured in our guide to the best walking sandals for women, are better for city streets than any other slides we've tried. Their strap comes over the top of your foot rather than down around your toes, so they stay in place better. Plus, the platform gives you a little separation between the sidewalk and your toes. An air purifier to filter out city smog Coway Airmega AP-1512HH Mighty Air Purifier If you need a powerful, energy-efficient air purifier for medium to large rooms, the Airmega AP-1521HH Mighty is your best option. It includes three filters and ionization, and the fan speed adjusts based on the air quality. Check price at Amazon Check price at Walmart What we like Performed the best at removing air pollutants and VOCs HEPA filter lasts up to a year Lowest energy consumption of all the models tested Energy Star Certified What we don't like Noisy on the highest setting Bulky shape No remote Specifics CADR:Smoke: 234, Dust: 248, Pollen: 232 Room size:Up to 1,748 square feet Weight:13.2 pounds Size:9.37" x 16.81" x 18.30" Auto-mode:Yes Filter type:True HEPA and carbon Heidi Borst/Business Insider Do you remember that strange summer day when the Canadian wildfires turned our sky orange? I do, because I have a distinct memory of showing my friend our guide to the best air purifiers before she could impulse-buy anything subpar. This air purifier will help clear your apartment from harsh pollutants and can improve the overall respiratory health of your household. Gabrielle Chase Senior Associate Style & Beauty Editor Gabrielle Chase is a style and beauty expert who has worked in the fashion journalism industry for five years. As an editor and reporter, she has covered viral products, luxury companies, and durable closet staples. She applies a healthy dose of skepticism to the fashion trends on social media — still, she's never above a good designer joining Business Insider in 2023, Gabrielle interned with Interview Magazine, and then wrote for Elle Magazine's online series, The her role on the Reviews team, Gabrielle tests clothing, shoes, and jewelry for their durability, quality, and, of course, style. She brings her eye for fashion to every story she writes or edits, whether she's helping readers get dressed for work or find their new favorite pair of jeans. Gabrielle is also an expert when it comes to finding great deals on clothing and shoes, from finding affordable hidden-gem brands, to showcasing the best discounts around deal upholds Insider Reviews' rigorous product testing standards, recommending only products that look good, feel good, and last for season after Women's shoes and clothing Apparel deal hunting Viral fashion trends Designer dupes EducationGabrielle graduated from the University of Rhode Island with degrees in Journalism and Spanish. There she started runway modeling, which gave her an intimate look at how much work goes into producing a single garment. Backstage she'd overhear designers passionately retelling their creative process, so she switched her focus from broadcast journalism to fashion of workGabrielle enjoys K-pop girl groups, horror movies, and science fiction books. She is based in Brooklyn. Read more You can purchase logo and accolade licensing to this story here. Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@
Buzz Feed
7 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
27 Reviewer-Loved Makeup Products To Buy ASAP
A Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream with a lightweight formula that'll even out your skin tone and leave your complexion looking fresh and dewy. It even has SPF 30 so that's one less thing to worry about when you're running late or packing for a trip. Read our review of the Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream (#5 on the list)!Promising review: "This is the gold standard of BB creams for me. It has a mild scent, a great color match, and gives the skin a healthy, natural glow. It absorbs quickly and doesn't look tacky. The coverage is light to medium, as expected, and it provides good hydration. It's super easy to use, so I recommend it to anyone who wants a simple, effortless look and wants to save time in their morning routine." —EvelynGet it from Amazon for $7.50+ (available in five shades). Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Stix for getting excellent color payoff (get ready for oh-so-many compliments and questions about which shade you're wearing) *without* sacrificing hydration — it has a big dose of vitamin E and shea butter to keep your lips plump and conditioned all day. Most lip glosses are neither pigmented nor moisturizing and this one somehow manages to be both! This product is vegan and cruelty review: "I'm not typically much of a lip gloss-wearer, but I impulse bought this on my birthday, and it is my new favorite thing. The smell is DELICIOUS. It is a luxurious and moisturizing feeling on your lips, it feels like the world's best lip balm but looks much chicer. Dresses up your face beautifully (it can be fairly sheer and subtle or layered for more color impact) but is just a sensory delight. What a treat!" —pascaleGet it from Sephora for $25 (available in 10 high-shine finish shades and two shimmer finish shades). A Maybelline Dark Circles Treatment Concealer with a built-in felt applicator so you don't have to whip out a brush. It'll erase all evidence of the fact that you went to bed at 4 a.m. (but unfortunately, it does not get rid of tiredness). Even self-proclaimed ~makeup snobs~ are giving this their stamps of approval — just check out the over 14,000 5-star reviews on Amazon. Read our review of the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer (#4 on the list)!Here's an excerpt: "I still don't know how a $7 tube of concealer (I use the Neutralizer shade) beats out the more expensive ones I have stuffed into my vanity, but it does. It's not too creamy or thick, yet it still gives solid coverage without the cake-y feeling. When I am done with my entire routine, my eyes look lighter and brighter, but not in a way that's totally obvious — even when photos are taken and the flash is on. Basically what I am saying here is this is a staple beauty product that, IMHO, deserves a place in every makeup bag!" —Kayla Suazo (former BuzzFeed Shopping & Products editor)Get it from Amazon for $8.98 (available in 24 shades). A L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion to wear alone, under makeup, or mixed into your foundation for a ~natural~ dewy look — you can skip the highlighter. Get ready to constantly hear, "Wow, did you just come back from vacation?? Because you are seriously glowing." Promising review: "This is a nice addition to my morning ritual. I even use it when I do not wear makeup (about half the time). It adds a nice glow to my skin and when used with makeup, is even better. It does moisturize, too. I liked it so much, I bought another one before the other ran out." —MJ ChardGet it from Amazon for $12.73+ (available in five colors). An eyeliner stamp that may seem gimmicky at first but actually works (according to tens of thousands of Amazon reviewers) and can save so much time and frustration because we all know getting those wings to match can take forever and ever. And we simply don't have time for eyeliner drama before work. One side is a winged stamp and the other side is a regular eyeliner review: "I've been using this winged eyeliner stamp for at least five years, and I've lost count of how many times I've rebought it (seven? eight? a lot). I always get the 12mm vintage black, and nothing else I've tried compares — other stamps smudge the second you blink. This one? Stays put, even with my hooded eyes and 4:30 a.m. work face. I stamp it at just the right angle to fake looking awake, then follow it with eyeliner paste and a brush to fill it out. The other end of the pen works fine, but it's shinier than I like, so I skip it smudge? Only if I rub my eyes like I'm trying to summon the void. It survives sweat, long shifts, and my chaotic mornings. The only 'issues' I've had: if I'm not careful, the cap can slice off the tip of the wing when I put it back on (annoying, but fixable), and the words rub off the pen so I have to guess which end I'm opening. I've got extras in my car, my tool bag, my bathroom — you name it. Just don't leave them in the sun, or they dry out faster than my patience at 4 a.m. Honestly? Best hack I've ever found. People think I freehand this masterpiece every day. Let I've ordered it nine times since 2019. Talk about dedication." —Mandi WhiteGet a two-pack from Amazon for $14.98. A Sheglam Color Bloom Liquid Blush with a silky formula for giving you that natural, just-pinched glow. The cute little bottle and doe-foot applicator make it feel like a luxury product, minus the $$$ price tag. Reviewers rave about the buildable color that doesn't budge and don't worry — the bottle may be small, but a little goes a long way. A Juvia's Place Bronzed Duo with two complementary shades of bronzer so you can customize your glow or use one for contouring and the other for warming up your complexion. The silky powder blends like an absolute dream, and the big pan means you'll have plenty of product to last through summer (and beyond). Promising review: "Okay, can we just talk about how Juvia's Place never misses? This Dark to Deep Bronzer Duo is giving rich auntie vibes in the best way. The pigmentation? Ridiculous (in a good way). A little goes a long way, so you're definitely getting your money's two shades in the duo are perfect — one for that soft, everyday warmth and the other for when I'm trying to serve cheekbone drama. And blend? Like butter, baby. Smooth, no patchiness, and buildable if you want to go full I don't even contour every day but this bronzer has me out here doing full beat face just to go to Target. Highly recommend if you love a warm, melty bronze that actually shows up on deeper skin tones. She's THAT girl." —siantta LouissaintGet it from Amazon for $20 (available in five shades). A Milani 2-in-1 concealer + foundation to give you all the coverage you want in *one* glorious product. Reviewers say it covers everything without looking too thick, applies super smoothly, blends well, *and* doesn't break the bank. What more can we ask for?! Promising reviews: "This is my favorite foundation. It covers up everything I need it to cover up while still looking natural. Who needs to spend $40 on foundation when you could get Milani. Save your money girl, and go buy another eyeshadow palette." —Brandy"I absolutely love this foundation! It blends effortlessly, feels lightweight on the skin, and gives a flawless finish without looking cakey. It stayed on all day — even through heat and humidity — and didn't oxidize. Great for sensitive skin, too! I'd definitely buy it again." —Mon AGet it from Amazon for $9.59 (available in 41 shades). A clump-free Vivienne Sabó Cabaret Première mascara with a small, easy-to-use wand (read: it won't poke you in the eye) that'll lengthen and curl your lashes. The lash curler can, thankfully, stay in the drawers. This product is review: "This mascara tops everything I have ever tried before. From the cheap drugstore mascara to the expensive high-end mascara. I don't plan on ever going back! The bottle is beautiful and my lashes are long, voluminous and not crunchy or uncomfortable. It dries pretty quickly, too. I don't even need to curl my lashes anymore!" —Indigo RobertsGet it from Amazon for $13.95. A Coty Airspun loose face power for keeping your makeup in place all day, even in hot and humid weather. It's been popular for a long, looong time (your grandma might have owned an earlier iteration) and reviewers say the current version still outperforms its luxury counterparts. Promising review: "It's perfect!!! It comes with so much product, and the puff it comes with is pretty handy. The application is smooth. My makeup came out flawless. I set my makeup with this and worked out right after. THERE WAS NO SEPARATION, NO CREASING. This powder blessed me. GOD BLESS." —andreaGet it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in five shades). A Half Magic Glitter Puck Pressed Fairy Dust you'd probably find in Tinkerbell's makeup bag. The gel-based formula glides on smoothly (with just your finger), stays put for hours, and gives you a shimmer straight out of Euphoria — with minimum fallout. (And actually, this brand was created by the head makeup artist of Euphoria!) Promising reviews: "I have been on the hunt for anything and everything glitter for my makeup recently and came across this last night at Ulta. I was so impressed with the ease of application, amount in the packaging, and the fact that it's compressed glitter, my inner child was squealing! needless to say I got both of the available colors and it is not a purchase that I regret, these are amazing, and I highly recommend. I do wish that there were more colors though!" —Merkadoh"I'm a professional MUA and I keep this in my kit at all times! This product is so sparkily without being glittery, if that makes sense. It is incredibly versatile and can be used anywhere on the face or body." —Beauty by GarutiGet it from Ulta for $29.50 (available in two shades). An Ami Colé Soft Shape waterproof lip liner to enhance the look and longevity of your favorite lipstick or wear alone with just some clear gloss — the creamy formula will glide effortlessly so you can get the *exact* shape you want. Chef's kiss (or any kind of kiss — since your lip color definitely won't budge). Promising review: "Okay, so I did not think I would like this pencil liner because usually I gravitate towards gel liners but I decided to try it and I am so happy I did! It is the closest color match I have found to my natural lip color so I love it to over-line my lips! But I probably wouldn't use it for all over my lips because it's a true pencil liner and it just feels a little too abrasive for me (but that's just a personal preference). The shade is perfect, it lasts so long, and the packaging makes it feel like it's great quality! Highly recommend." —thatgirltkmGet it from Sephora for $18 (available in five shades). A MAKUP Brow Me Sculpt brow gel that'll give your brows a ~laminated look~ without the salon cost. This dual-power formula combines wax-y hold with gel-like finish, drying clear and matte so your arches stay lifted and flawless all day long. With 4.3 stars on Amazon and over a thousand reviews, the people — and their brows — have spoken. Promising review: "This eyebrow sculpt gel has completely elevated my brow game! The formula provides just the right amount of hold to keep my brows in place all day without feeling stiff or crunchy. It shapes and defines beautifully while still looking brush makes application super easy and precise, allowing me to sculpt and lift my brows exactly how I like them. I also love that it doesn't flake or smudge, even in humid weather." —VPGet it from Amazon for $9.98. A Saie Glowy Super Gel illuminator for achieving a dewy finish that's subtle and not glittery in the least. The lightweight, noncomedogenic formula will apply beautifully (read: no patchiness) *and* it can be worn alone or mixed into skincare and makeup, making this a versatile, multipurpose product you'll reach for day after day. The product contains olive-derived squalane which helps to lock in moisture, and rosehip seed oil, which is rich in antioxidants, to visibly brighten and moisturize skin. It's silicone-, fragrance-, and review: "I am soooo in love with this product!! It makes your skin glow and feels so smooth! Anytime I don't want to wear a full face of makeup, I put this on with some moisturizer and it makes my skin GLOW! I will be using this for the rest of my life, lol." —natalieejpGet it from Sephora for $28 (available in four shades and mini sizes). A waterproof Julep Crème 101 Eyeshadow Stick you can actually apply with one hand (there's even a spongy smudger on one end for blending) so you can amaze others by truly only taking five minutes to finish a full face of makeup. Reviewers say the cream-to-power formula lasts all day yet is easy to remove — a winner all around. Promising review: "I have to do my makeup most mornings with one hand while holding my baby on my hip with the other. Bought this because using an eyeshadow brush and palette were out of the question. You can layer it for more intense color or just do one light swipe for a hint of shadow. Stays all day, doesn't crease or smear, even in the blistering 100+ degrees Texas heat. Love this stuff. Worth it all day." —Millennial MamaGet it from Amazon for $18 (available in 56 shades). An e.l.f. Instant Lift Brow Pencil to give your brows the definition and fullness they deserve — without emptying your wallet. This dual-sided wonder has a precise, creamy pencil on one end and a spoolie on the other for blending everything to brow-perfection. Reviewers say it's shockingly good for the price, with a formula that stays put all day (even if your plans go from morning coffee to late-night karaoke). Promising reviews: "This is hands-down my favorite eyebrow pencil! It's super easy to use and gives my brows a natural, defined look that lasts all day. The formula is smudge-proof, so I never have to worry about it wearing off, even in heat or humidity. The tip is just the right size for creating precise, hair-like strokes, and the built-in spoolie makes blending a breeze. It fills in sparse spots perfectly without looking harsh or overdone. If you want brows that stay put and look amazing all day long, this is the one. I always keep a backup on hand!" —Rachael Andes"This is the ONLY eyebrow pencil I will use. I have some small spots missing from my eyebrow from a prior injury involving stitches, but this pencil fills them in SO easily." —elbekaypGet it from Amazon for $3 (available in four shades). A Dibs Beauty Desert Island Duo Stick aka the one product you'd probably want if you were in fact stranded on a desert island. It has blush on one end and bronzer on the other, so you can sculpt and flush with one product — and one hand. The blendable formula means you really can't go wrong even without a mirror (which you probably won't have on a desert island). Promising review: "I never write reviews on Ulta but I had to for this product. This is the most amazing blush and contour ever! It blends out very easily and isn't the most pigmented making it super user/beginner friendly. I would recommend this product to any person at any level of makeup. I also don't reinforce the cream product with powder and it lasts all day!! Don't think twice about this because it's soooo amazing!! :)" —RileyGet it from Ulta for $36 (available in 9 combos). A ColourPop Pressed Powder Eyeshadow Palette with buttery, pigmented shadows in versatile shades perfect for everything from workday neutrals to night-out smokiness. It comes in lots of different combos so you're almost guaranteed to find the shades to fit your ~vibes~. Promising reviews: "I bought Deja Brew and I love it. The pigment is there, and the colors are beautiful. What I like about this particular palette is there are several base or mid colors instead of a lot of really dark colors I won't use. Great natural, nude palette that also includes pretty shimmers." —allieb"I bought two of them (Gone Metal and Mauvin' Up). They are very pigmented and great quality for the price. I wet my eyeliner brush and apply them as eyeliner as well. When you wet your brush, it makes the eyeshadow pigments more tense. You could also use brown, red, and/or black eyeshadows in any of these eyeshadow palettes to fill in your eyebrows with an angled brush. The quality is comparable to any designer brand eyeshadows." —MRGet it from Target for $14 (available in nine combos). A Rare Beauty Soft Pinch liquid blush so you'll always have the most natural-looking flush — so natural, that your friends might say, "OMG, is that really blush?! Are you sure you didn't just come from Pilates??" The formula is super light and blendable, and a little goes a looong way. Promising reviews: "The color looks intimidating at first, but it blends very well into my cheeks and looks very natural. I usually do two dots on each cheek since it is very pigmented, and I apply it evenly with a brush. I have sensitive skin, so I am happy this product does not make me break out. It's part of my every day look now!" —sw3etn0vember"I love this blush! I have had mine for almost six months now, and it's a staple in my routine! I'm also convinced that this blush will never run out, lol." —4makeuplover4Get it from Sephora for $25 (available in nine radiant finishes, four matte finishes, and mini sizes). A Clinique Almost Lipstick in the shade Black Honey because this shade honestly looks fantastic on everyone and has pretty much reached cult-favorite status at this point. It has a sheer-yet-buildable formula for when you don't want full-on lipstick but need a little more than a tinted lip balm or oil. This is basically a Goldilocks lippie — not too moist, not too dry, not too pigmented, not too transparent — it's juuust right. Promising review: "This is my new favorite 'go-to' lip product. It literally gives you the most perfect shade for your skin tone. I don't know it does. It looks completely different on my mother and sister and all are so complementary! It has a beautiful sheen and the color can be darkened by layering on more of the product. Does not feel heavy or sticky. I have definitely noticed my lips are softer since using this, even in cold Northeast weather." —Kristi-RaeGet it from Amazon for $25. An Essence Lash Princess Mascara that'll lengthen your lashes without being clumpy *and* is a lot more low maintenance to apply and wear than fake lashes. Is it lash extensions or is it your new $5 mascara? Keep 'em guessing. A Nyx Butter Gloss with a formula that's as smooth as, well, buttah. It's creamy, dreamy, and never sticky — and it's got thousands of 5-star ratings on Amazon backing up the hype. Plus, it comes in *dozens* of shades. NYX products are reviews: "I'm honestly obsessed with this lip gloss! It has the perfect balance of shine and moisture without feeling sticky. The formula glides on so smoothly, and it keeps my lips feeling soft and hydrated for hours." —WINDAH SYLVESTRE"I rarely use gloss because I don't like a sticky feel on my lips. This is the first gloss I've tried that gave a good shine without feeling sticky. Stayed in place pretty well & had a nice touch of sparkle." —Amazon CustomerGet it from Amazon for $5.97 (available in 34 regular shades and seven shimmer shades). A Danessa Myricks Beauty Yummy Skin Glow Serum with hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and vitamin C for a makeup primer that acts like skincare. This serum-oil hybrid hydrates, brightens, and preps your skin for flawless makeup application. It can be layered under or mixed with foundation, or worn alone for a naturally dewy look. It's free of parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates, mineral oil, sulfates (and many other ingredients) and contains less than one percent synthetic fragrance. It's also vegan and reviews: "This will give you a glow-from-within look and my skin feels amazing during and after wearing. Wears beautifully under makeup. This is my third purchase; a staple." —Chrissybklyn718"I love this. It's such a beautiful, glowy, but not sticky primer. I often wear it on its own with a little mascara, concealer, and gloss. It smells like heaven and never breaks me out. Perfect for those dry skin ladies like me." —AllizenGet it from Sephora for $34 (available in three shades). A L'Oréal Brow Stylist Definer Pencil so precise it'll make your brows look naturally fuller and more polished, even if your morning routine is chaos. The ultra-fine tip lets you flake tiny brow hairs like a fine artist, and the waterproof formula keeps your masterpiece intact through sweat, tears, and unexpected downpours. Reviewers also say it's comparable to the popular (but much more pricey) Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz. Promising review: "I have tried all the top brands of eyebrow pencils (Benefit's Gimme Brow, Anastasia, you name it), and I keep coming back to this L'Oreal pencil. It works just as well as the more expensive brands, and I love the precision you can get with the fine tip. Stays on all day and comes off easily at night with a little makeup remover. Most importantly, it's easy to create a natural, well-defined brow with this little pencil." —Arlington ArtistGet it from Amazon for $7.95 (available in 10 shades). An E.l.f. Monochromatic Multi-stick perfect for busy bees on the go and people who can never find their makeup sponges/brushes. It's basically a pocket-size magic wand — swipe it on cheeks, lids, or lips for a monochrome look that says 'I spent hours on this' when you actually spent 30 seconds. Promising review: "I don't shop drugstore makeup as often as I used to but every time I purchase from e.l.f. I'm never disappointed. I got the shades Sparkling Rose and Glimmering Guava. At first I was scared because when I searched them they look so shimmery, almost glittery. But when you apply them to the face and blend it out, it's actually a really pretty glow and doesn't look glittery or overly shimmery at all. They're such a creamy formula and so easy to blend, but still pack a punch with pigment. Very forgiving though so if you go overboard you have time to sheer it out. I'll definitely buy more colors." —VCGet it from Amazon for $5 (available in six shades). A Glossier Cloud Paint that's like a dewy blush filter IRL — the fingertip-friendly gel‑cream formula delivers a buildable flush that lasts all day. Reviewers praise how pigmented yet seamless it is (you can go subtle or bold, depending on your mood), with many saying it's a staple in their routine. Check out a BuzzFeeder's full review of Glossier's Cloud Paint! Promising review: "I got this to make my before-school makeup routine quicker, and it's amazingly easy to apply. It took me a couple of tries to get the amount perfect, I kept over blending it. I would recommend this to anyone, it is one of the best makeup products I've ever bought. I got Dusk and was worried it would be too dark or bring out my redness, but it blends so seamlessly. I love the size, it makes it so convenient for travel." —Travel_addictGet it from Glossier for $22 (available in 10 blush shades and five bronzer shades). A Winky Lux Confetti Balm Lip Stain so adorable you'll want to reapply in public just to show it off — the clear balm is filled with sparkly bits and adjusts to your unique pH for a custom pink hue. Reviewers love the hydrating formula and the fact that it doubles as a conversation starter. Promising review: "This is my second Winky Lux balm stain I have owned. I have the lavender one also. They both are very similar but I'm glad I have them both. I keep one in my desk at work and one in my purse. This is very easy to use and I don't even use a mirror when I apply. The color is perfect and goes well with any skin tone since it's PH balanced. This would make a perfect stocking stuffer for any person! I highly recommend this product. It is definitely something I use every day and will plan to always buy." —NCGal83Get it from Target for $17 (available in two shades).
