24 Products I Honestly Wasn't Sure Would Work Til I Tried Them

Consider this sceptic converted.

1. Turns out buying some great sports bras actually did make me go to the gym more, despite my doubts.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

They're long enough to double up as a gym top IMO, and I love their breathable (and pretty) cross-strap backs. Crucially, the support these give me is something else – I honestly think I've missed fewer classes since buying these cute and comfy options. Also, let's pretend this sweaty-haired, loo-heavy photo is because I'm being authentic and not because I forgot to take a pic until after my class, thanks.

Price: £17.60 for two – they come in sizes XS-XXL, and have eight colour combos. I find they're true to size.

2. This set of four ultra-fluffy pillows is perfect for fellow side sleepers.

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

They're designed to contour to the curves of your neck *exactly*, so it's no wonder I've noticed my back loosening up a little after using these. Ergonomic design aside, they're the comfiest options I've ever tried – I reckon I get to sleep about five minutes after laying my head on one of these. That might be due to its 100% cotton material and hypoallergenic filling, or maybe I'm just resting easy knowing I can chuck these in the washing machine every time they get a little grubby.

Price: £55.02 for four.

3. After a sleeping mask that really won't let light in? I just bought myself this sleep mask that has an adjustable wire in its nose cover, and I'm never going back.

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Because its clip can be fitted to your exact nose, it won't let in a single ray of light (super useful on these bright mornings). 

Price: £5.03.

4. Okay, okay, last bed recc: if you want your bed transformation to be complete this beautiful washed cotton set looks and feels exactly like real linen (which ususally costs around £250 per bedding set – yikes).

Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

I can't get over how *expensive* these sheets look and feel (think zero static, unbelievable softness, and complete shrink resistance after washing). It makes sense, I suppose – they're made from 100% cotton that's been enzyme-washed, which is machine-washable and incredibly pretty. 

Price: £45.99 for a double bed set – it comes in sizes single, king, and super king too.

5. I thought this retinol eye cream was too cheap to work until I tried it.

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I bought this because I'd seen a friend of mine rave about it on Twitter – two weeks in, I'm so glad I fell for the hype. I put a tiny amount under each eye at night before my moisturiser, and I've already noticed that my lines have softened and my skin has plumped (the dream, TBH).

Price: £10.95.

6. e.l.f's Poreless Putty primer is so hyped that it's got to be worth a try, right?

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Okay, okay, I know this stuff literally says 'poreless' in its name, but I'm still amazed at how effectively it smooths my skin. It gives my makeup a texture-free, velvety base to grip onto, but I've started using it on bare-faced days too because of how even it makes the pockmarked areas near my nose. Tl;dr – all the rumours are true!

Price: £8.55.

7. This shower shield solution means that I don't have to worry about fingerprints or shampoo stains forming on my glass or metal surfaces.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

I share a flat with a few other people, so our shower sees some pretty heavy action. I wasn't sure that this formula would actually deliver on its promise to protect my unit from smudges and limescale buildup, but having applied it myself I now *completely* understand the rave reviews! I just had to clean my surfaces before applying the protective solution twice and then buffing it with a cloth. It's kept our shower muck-free for weeks now, and my taps no longer accumulate soap stains and finger marks the second I finish cleaning them.

Price: £10.44.

8. This powerful acne cream is great at banishing blemishes.

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I'm prone to *pretty* severe breakouts, so when I found this cheap acne cream that reviewers raved about, I knew I had to give it a try. I'm incredibly glad I did – it's gotten rid of my most severe spots, and now I use it daily to enjoy its results.

Price: £8.48.

9. This incredible descaler spray transformed my shower head in no time, and it even removed limescale buildup from the hardest-to-reach nooks and crannies.

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Spray some of its enzyme-packed formula onto any affected surfaces and a thick foam will come out, which then works its limescale-destroying magic for five minutes at most.

Price: £3.50.

10. Mould is a pretty common problem in the UK, and our flat is no exception. This removal spray banished the unsightly marks from our ceiling where nothing else had worked!

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Leave this foaming spray on any affected areas for up to half an hour and then wipe it away to reveal a mildew-free surface underneath!

Price: £5.25.

11. Cover AND heal your spots with CORX's acne patches.

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The hydrocolloid patches stick to your skin and slowly draw the gunk out of your spots (so gross, but so satisfying). They also blur the edges of your spot and dull any redness when you're wearing them – what's not to love?!

Price: £5.69 for 24 patches.

12. I look at screens all day long and am stressing out a lot during the second lockdown, which is basically a two-step recipe for headaches. This levomenthol-infused stick relieves me of my symptoms in just a couple of minutes!

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

This stick has gotten some rave reviews, so I was pretty keen to give it a go myself. I've been really impressed by how well it works and how easy it is to apply — I just run it over my forehead and wait for two minutes or so for its soothing formula to get to work! It's ideal if, like me, you're not a fan of taking painkillers every time you feel some tension in your forehead (and unlike with regular medication, you can reuse this product as many times as you want to).

Price: £3.60.

13. This COSRX 'Snail 92' all-in-one cream really does live up to its name.

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NGL, I was a *little* skeptical about this stuff because it sounded too good to be true. A couple of uses in though and I'm completely converted! It makes my skin look naturally dewy, smooth, and hydrated, and it feels really lightweight too.

Price: £13.38.

14. Having tried this heated air rack myself, I'm honestly not sure how I lived (or got ready for work) without one.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

I've always wanted a heated air rack (if I have to lift one more still-damp pair of jeans from my current clothes horse three days after I've put them there, I'll scream), but it was hard to find one for less than around a hundred quid. Thankfully, this highly-rated option is under £70 and works brilliantly – it's cut my clothes' drying time by about a third, and it can hold loads of laundry too.

Price: £69.99.

15. These reusable copper lint rollers will de-fuzz your sofa, clothes, and carpets in a few simple strokes. No wonder pet owners swear by 'em!

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They're made from durable and lightweight copper which is formed into rows of tiny combs. They can pick up everything from fine hairs to dust!

Price: £9.99.

16. Oh boy, do people seriously love this lengthening lash serum.

Valeza Bakolli / BuzzFeed

The formula is packed full of lash-lengthening peptides and nourishing vitamin E, so your lashes will get stronger and look longer after repeated use. Customers (and my coworker) both say it leaves their lashes thicker, fuller, and is cost-effective too! It's as easy to apply as eyeliner thanks to the handy brush inside.

Price: £8.09.

17. I didn't think there was a topcoat out there that would give my fidgety, nail polish-picking (I know) self a long-lasting manicure, but that's exactly what this Seche Vite topcoat does!

Valeza Bakolli / BuzzFeed

As someone who has never had nail polish stay on my nails for more than about 12 hours without it chipping or flaking before, I was more than a little suspicious about the claims this topcoat makes. It promises to make your nail polish last longer without any chips(!) by penetrating through the nail varnish and bonding it to your nail beds, ensuring that it doesn't budge, yellow, or chip for ages. I thought I'd try it out seeing as it had gotten such rave reviews, and like literally thousands of other customers, I was surprised by how well it actually worked!

Price: £4.90.

18. This anti-fog cloth is an absolute game-changer for people who wear glasses.

Xavier Singh / BuzzFeed

It contains special molecules that prevent condensation from building up on your glasses, and it can be reused up to 700 times too. It's perfect for these chilly mornings!

Price: £16.95 for three.

19. Like most homes in the UK, my flat is in a hard water area. I avoid having to deep-clean the limescale from my kettle by using this drop-in descaler ball instead! I just popped it in and continued to use the appliance as normal while it worked its magic (so low-hassle).

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

Mineral deposits will collect in between its mesh wires rather than building up in your kettle. I can remove and rinse it quickly and easily whenever I need to, which is much easier than cleaning built-up mineral deposits from my most-used kitchen appliance!

Price: £2.56.

20. I'm almost emabarrased to tell you how much money I wasted on skincare before the pros recommended CeraVe's hydrating cleanser.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

Ever since my dermatologist recommended CeraVe's hydrating cleanser for my dry, acne-prone skin, I've been addicted to its ceramide-packed, barrier-rebuilding formula. It's helped to heal dehydrated, almost-flaky skin while also banishing my ever-present spots, so I understand why my derm insisted that there's really no point buying anything pricier – when in comes to cleansers, the simpler, the better.

Price: £8.00.

21. This Aquaphor lip balm has been the only salve for my dry, cracked lips.

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It's brought my already-dry lips back from the verge of a mid-cold draught, which isn't surprising considering its rave reviews. Customers say it's helped their lips through intense stressors, like surgery and skin conditions (fine, I guess my sniffle isn't the toughest dilemma this intensive product is designed to tackle).

Price: £6.60 for 10ml.

22. These machine-washable bamboo rounds will frankly leave your disposable ones in the dust.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

I wear makeup almost every day, which is why I kept putting off buying reusable cotton rounds – surely even a pack of thirty would run out before my lazy self managed to machine-wash the used ones, right? Wrong, of course – I use one or two of these a night, so I only need to remember to wash them about every fortnight. They're made from sustainable bamboo, come with a handy wash bag that keeps them all together in your machine, and have lasted reviewers for ages!

Price: £8.95 for 30 rounds and a washbag.

23. I genuinely prefer this inexpensive heat protector spray to pricier alternatives.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

If (like me) you've got long, fine, or unruly hair, it can be really hard to find a product that makes your tresses look truly smooth – so you can imagine how happy I was to find my ride-or-die solution for under four Great British pounds. Simply spray it onto your ends before heat-styling your hair for a glossy, smooth, and frizz-free finish!

Price: £3.11.

24. Looking for a low-hassle way to keep your sink's water flowing freely? These drain sticks keep my plugholes clean on a day-to-day basis.

Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

They're packed full of enzymes that break down the gunk and grease in your drains as they dissolve. All you'll have to do is put 'em in and leave them to get to work!

Price: £6.80 for 12.