We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A roll-on headache and migraine relief stick, which I haven't stopped recommending since I first tried — and I don't plan on stopping any time soon. It's the perfect size to keep in your bag or pocket for when that mid-day tension headache creeps in.
I started using this magical product (which is made with peppermint, spearmint, and lavender essential oils) a few years ago and since then have told approximately 1,089,642 people about it. I keep one in my purse and one on my dresser, and I reorder before I'm actually close to running out. While it won't kill a major migraine on its own, it feels super soothing and cooling. If I end up taking ibuprofen for my headache, this is really nice to use while it kicks in. Also, if I just have a slight headache or just the beginnings of one, a few swipes of this (lightly on my temples and forehead and as heavily as I want on my neck) can actually knock it out or delay it getting worse. It's so great to help me get through my busy workdays and social activities, and I really wish I'd had it during high school and college to help me get through the day then! Read my full review here.
Promising review: "Migraine miracle!! This stuff is my go-to fix when I feel a migraine coming on. I suffer from sinus headaches and migraines usually once or twice a week. I put it on each temple, under my nose, and on my wrists when I feel the pressure starting and it cuts the pain to a minimum. It seems to stop the worst pain before it has a chance to start. I will buy again and again!" —Brenton1985
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
2. An on-trend boxy houndstooth sweater vest for a fashion influecer-y look that still feels quirky and fresh. It's also versatile enough to layer or rock on its own!
I write and edit a lot of Amazon fashion posts, and it's only rarely that I see a piece on the 'Zon that suits my style. But a couple of months back, I was editing a piece by one of our lovely freelancers on comfy Amazon clothing and I couldn't resist this baby. Back in the good old days/fashion pocket universe that was 2009, I had some favorite Forever 21 sweater vests that I adored, and I was definitely in the market for one once they started to come back in style in 2021. I love the black and white versions that are everywhere, but I absolutely cannot resist anything purple. The lavender hue feels so fresh and different, and pairs great with all washes of denim. So far I've only worn it once, styled with a chain necklace and jean shorts for a stay-at home-and-watch-The Bachelorette date (see the pic above, then stop what you're doing and catch up on Katie's season if you haven't), which it was perfect for. I'm usually between a medium and a large, and I ordered a large so it was extra cozy and there would be room to layer. It's the ideal 2021 wardrobe item because it's comfy enough to work from/chill out at home in, but also can be dressed up all sorts of ways when you do go out. I'm planning to pair it with BF jeans and experiment with tossing it over collared shirts and tees, and maybe even under jackets. TL;DR: the sartorial vest is yet to come.
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in women's sizes S–L and in nine colors).
3. Scrumptious pre-seasoned black beans you need only microwave for — get this — ONE minute, so they truly change the nutritious at-home meal prep game for those who are short on time and cooking skills (aka me). They're amazing when you need something filling and yummy but also quick.
4. Shea Moisture African black soap, an oil-absorbing, exfoliating, and moisturizing bar made with shea butter that I personally recommend if you're looking for an amazing glow-up for only $4 (and who isn't?).
I'm a super low-maintenance skincare person, but I absolutely swear by this soap. It's basically my whole morning skincare routine, along with this moisturizer. I've never had major acne struggles, but I do get zits just like everyone else and am prone to nasty fungal acne breakouts on my forehead. I use this every morning in the shower, and while I'm not 100% free of pimples (as a person with bangs and who uses a roll-on essential oil stick for headaches, I can never really expect to be), I feel like this stuff makes my skin glow. I also don't get my flare-ups on my forehead when I use it daily. I really think this stuff has done wonders for my skin. I bought it after putting it in countless BuzzFeed Shopping articles and have been using it for years now. One bar will actually last you years, too — the one in my shower is still going strong, and I think I would still have had some left even if I hadn't spent a year at my family's house for quarantine (where, yes, I also made sure to have a bar).
Promising review: "This stuff is a GODSEND. I've had good skin for most of my life, with maybe an occasional pimple on my chin during that time of the month. However, over this last winter I had THE WORST breakout I've ever had. I had pimples all over my forehead, chin, and lips. Nothing was really working for me, so I bought this on a whim after seeing it all over Instagram. And Oh My God — when I tell you this stuff cleared my skin, I MEAN IT. If you have doubts about buying this, just go for it. It's only four dollars, and if it doesn't work for you, it still smells wonderful. Literally. If you have acne, you NEED this product." —Edie
Get it from Target for $3.99 or get a four-pack from Amazon for $14.72.
5. One Line a Day: A Five-Year Memory Book, which'll motivate even the busiest people to take some time to journal each day. Plus, once you use it for a full year, you'll be treated to a glance back in time from that day last year every time you go to add a new entry.
Over 2,000 Amazon reviewers love it and so do I! Each page is dated and has five small spaces and room to fill in the year for each one, so you can keep a short record every day for five years and compare what you wrote over time. I adore this and it's the first thing that's actually gotten me to journal every day. I usually write more of a blurb than a sentence, but it literally takes me two minutes or less right before bed. I started it about a year and a half ago, so the comparisons of what life was like at the end of 2019/beginning of 2020 and then in quarantine compared to now are...very strange, to say the least! I plan to keep buying one of these every five years for sure, though maybe my next one will be in this other pretty design, or maybe a floral version....
Get it from Amazon for $12.16 or Bookshop (to support local booksellers) for $15.59.
6. A microwave popcorn popper that's just as easy (but less greasy) than microwave bags — seriously. Cue the music: ♫this popurtunity is standing right in front of me...♫
I'm a popcorn lover. In college, I had microwave popcorn almost every night — the really greasy salty kind. Yum. It was my treat for myself after a long day of studying. Once I had a real job and apartment and supposedly became an 'adult,' I guess it's appropriate that I finally started to worry about whatever icky, unknown chemicals are in those microwave bags. But let's be real, as someone who just put the word 'adult' in scare quotes, the deliciousness and ease of microwave popcorn was still hard for me to pass up. I'm lazy.
So when I heard about the Colonel Popper, all my dreams came true. This is a super easy and cute (it's made of soft, BPA-free silicone, comes in bright colors, and is collapsible) microwaveable bowl that can pop good old fashioned plain kernels to perfection in three minutes — really. You just pour in the kernels (there's a fill guideline on the inside that shows you how much) and add butter and salt to your heart's content. Then you throw it in the microwave for two or three minutes (stick around and listen to get a sense of when it's done popping) with the lid on, and voila — a perfect bowl of popcorn that you can eat right out of the popper itself. It's so delicious, you guys, and I feel much better eating it than corn from microwaveable bags. Then, just when you thought this couldn't be easier, you can simply put the popper on the top rack of the dishwasher to clean it or rinse it with some dish soap, so it's ready to be used again tomorrow — because it definitely will be. I use it so often that it lives rent-free on my counter, but it's also collapsible for easy storage.
Get it from Amazon for $12.97+ (available in eight colors).
7. A sheet of sweet period tracker planner stickers to help you go with the flow...or at least predict when the flow might show. Few things are fun about periods, but it's a scientific fact that stickers make everything better.
I saw these in a colleague's post a while back and knew I needed to treat myself to them. My planner is a mess of ink and scribbles — friends say it looks like the planner of a serial killer. The only thing I'm killing is my to-do list, joke's on them!!! But I digress. It is true that all that ink makes it harder to find notes (for example, a subtly scribbled "P" on the day when my period's due), and stickers are an easy way to find such info at a glance. And seeing one of these at the end of a week where everything has been causing me inexplicable rage? Well, suddenly said rage is not so inexplicable. Basically, having and tracking your period isn't much fun, but these teeny tiny stickers make it a teeny tiny bit more so.
Get a sheet of 42 from Illogical Discourse on Etsy for $3.13 (available in two styles).
8. A 3-in-1 avocado tool that's a splitter, de-pitter, and slicer all at once, because the only bad part about eating avocados is actually trying to get all that goodness out of the skin.
I have this and use it all the time. Like all Oxo products, it's sturdy, simple, and easy to use. TBH, most times I only use the splitter knife, but it's worth it to me even just to not have to break out a super sharp knife every time I want to eat an avocado (which is often). It's very easy to clean and dishwasher safe, which is a must for lazy ol' me.
Promising review: "This tool is awesome. It's easy to cut open the fruit. The pit remover works well — just push onto the pit and give it a twist, and the pit pops right out. The best part is the slicer. It makes beautiful slices for a great presentation (see attached photo of slices...okay, one side came out perfectly, and I kind of messed up the other side). The tool can then be used to scrape any remaining fruit out of the skin. Really happy I bought this tool!" —NPR MAN
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
9. My personal favorite pimple-eliminating patches (and as a BuzzFeed Shopping editor, I've tried several kinds) for super satisfying, zit-flattening, pus-absorbing results.
I find these Nexcare patches check all the boxes — they are really absorbent, stay on well, and are transparent enough to wear in public (I feel like they're often even less noticeable than the zit itself!). One box comes with two different sizes, so just find the one that fits the zit, pop it on, and go about your business! They're super gentle and don't hurt like popping a pimple can. The pic on the right was taken after leaving the patch on overnight, which is how I find them to be most effective. They need several hours to really knock out a blemish. I also use them during the day, but often find I take them off too early. They also work best on pimples that are already a little bit open — a sucker that's not quite ready to pop won't usually yield results as dramatic as this. Still, putting on a patch during the day or on a non-open zit can still help an acne emergency. I find that they mask the zit a bit and help prevent you from picking at it or making it worse. If nothing else, the blemish is usually a little less huge and swollen when a patch comes off. Check out my full Nexcare pimple patch review.
Promising review: "Okay, what is this sorcery?? I can't believe I never knew these existed. I seriously felt like a teenager again last weekend. Literally days after talking about how great my skin has been, this giant, painful, bulging zit was starting to form right in the middle of my chin. It was like it wouldn't stop growing, and spot treatment solution was doing absolutely nothing. It hurt so bad, and I couldn't help trying to pop it, but it refused. I placed one of these on my chin the second they arrived in the mail. After a few hours, I saw the white forming and I was curious and peeled it off. Then I put a fresh one on before bed, and come the next morning...HOLY COW, the entire dot of the patch was now a giant white blob. This zit was no joke. It's amazing how much fluid/pus had to get sucked out. Like I said, this is some magic. The zit completely went away within a day." —Heather R. Weather
Get a box of 36 from Amazon for $5.64.
10. A whimsical cropped tee and shorts PJ set available in tons of sweet designs you will won't want to ~sleep on~, but should sleep in.
These were super popular with our readers back when I first started at BuzzFeed, and over the years I have collected many, many sets of them (including the pandas on the right). They make me smile every time I put them on, and they look so cute on that sometimes I'm even tempted to take a selfie in them! I run hot when I sleep, so the shorts-and-cropped-tee combination is perfect. They're comfy and machine-washable, too. There are so many ridiculously adorable prints available, you'll understand why I wasn't able to limit myself to just one pair.
Promising review: "These are so fun! Very comfortable, and in the days of Zoom meetings I can wake up and wear them to an online meeting and no one really knows the top is a PJ top, which is a bonus. Ha!" —Carly Cartmill
Get them from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in women's sizes XS–XXL and in 32 styles).
11. A genius meal planning pad to solve the struggle of actually figuring out what to eat. It lets you map out your munchies for every day of the week, make your shopping list as you go, then tear off the list when you're ready to hit the store. Plus, it's got magnets on the back so you can easily hang it on your fridge!
I didn't order this for myself, but rather as a stocking stuffer for my master of planning (meal and otherwise) mother. She loved it and has ordered more for herself since! It's a perfect template for the meal plan notes she makes regularly anyway, and it stands out on the counter from her myriad other lists. It's cute enough that it didn't feel too boring to give as a gift, either!
Promising review: "This simple tool is just what I need to get dinner organized for each week. Deciding what to cook one night at a time can be stressful for me, and the added time of running to the store for the day's missing ingredients can really add up. Sometimes we'd just give up and go out for dinner. This product has saved me time and money." —minmom24
Get it from Amazon for $9.95 (available in two designs).
12. A clear umbrella with a friendly animal face ready to help you face the elements.
I had always been a believer in small, nylon umbrellas that you can fit in your purse, but then I included this adorable baby in a post way back in 2018. After all, if something has a Frenchie on it, I'm basically sold. And the reviewers raved about how this truly kept them dry and let them protect their face from the elements while still being able to see where they were going. Plus, they said it was strong enough to not end up inside out, like my small ones always did. I still didn't love the idea of carrying around an umbrella so tall it could basically be a walking stick, so I remained skeptical. But all that changed one blustery day after it arrived. Let me tell you, this thing exceeded all my expectations. It made walking to and from the subway on an absolute garbage day NBD. It was like I had a happy little bubble all around my person protecting me from the nasty outside world. The little Frenchie faces cheered me on, at least in my imagination. And as for its portability? It was not the major schlep I had feared. The handle is amazingly smooth and sturdy and the whole thing is SO LIGHT. Plus, the U-shaped handle means I can grip it easily or even hook it over the edge of my tote. I am a bubble-umbrella convert, and the precious pups will be this woman's best friend on many rainy days to come. Check out my full review here (#5).
Get it from Amazon for $22.90 (the Frenchie is currently sold out, but it's available in a cute cat version).
13. A genius dish squeegee sure to make anyone who has ever done dishes and touched icky leftover food or struggled to clean up a countertop spill say, "Where have you been all my life?!?!"
It's BPA-free and one side is curved so it works on bowls as well as plates. I'm a big fan of the Oxo brand (also see the avocado tool above), and this was another BuzzFeed Shopping top seller I finally caved and ordered. I make a lot of orzo pasta, and anyone else who does knows those suckers really like to stick to the sides and bottom of the pot. This product is PERFECT for scraping those stubborn grains out. It feels so much less gross than a sponge, since your hand stays farther away from whatever you're cleaning and it doesn't just sit there wet and festering after you use it. You can rinse it off and toss it in the dishwasher!
Promising review: "This product is AMAZING. We live in a studio apartment with a small kitchenette. Our sink likes to spray everywhere, and we don't have a garbage disposal. This product is not only is fantastic at scraping food off of our plates (so it doesn't go down the drain), but it helps to squeegee the countertop when water has sprayed everywhere!!" —Elizabeth
Get it from Amazon for $6.99.
14. A pair of top-quality in-ear headphones that I love, but you don't have to take my word for it. You can also take the word of over 53,000 people who've left positive reviews.
They come with three different size pads so you can get your perfect fit. I've had a pair of these for a couple years now and they're still going strong, and I love the fun colors (I have metallic purple)! I'm not much of a tech person or an audiophile, but these are cute, cheap, and reliable, and that's all I need!
Promising review: "Compared to MANY other earbuds that I've had that cost $75, $100, $150...these sound as good as any of them. I'm astounded! I use these for running. I figured for $8, I could afford to sweat up a few of these and replace them whenever I needed to. I'VE RUN 1,500 MILES WITH THESE in the last year and a half! I've gone through four pairs of New Balance shoes, two iPod Shuffles, three pairs of sunglasses, and I'm on the SAME set of earbuds! And THEY STILL SOUND GREAT! They stay in my ears, too!" —Gene Goodell
Get them from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 15 colors and with or without a mic).
15. A simply delightful flamingo pool thermometer, because knowing the temperature of your water and making your pool look cute are both equally important goals.
I have a rather large flamingo obsession and collection of flamingo pool toys and summer apparel. So after seeing this while editing a BuzzFeed Shopping post, I immediately sent it to my mom to order for my parents' pool. Okay, does it fade a bit in the water and sun and is it a bit wobbly? Yes and yes. But does Mini Janice (Janice is our full-size flamingo pool float) bring me a ridiculous amount of joy? HECK yes. She's so cute and once you get her tied up she just bobs around, chilling until you need to interrupt her swim to check the temp. Totally recommend to upgrade your pool *and* your mood.
Promising review: "Every time I look out there in the pool and see my little pink flamingo floating about it cracks me up! It is HOT here in Texas and sometimes the pool water gets so warm you are like, "This feels like bath water!" Now I can KNOW that it is almost as hot as bath water! Seriously though, it does what it is intended to do (let you know the temp of the water) while injecting a little fun into your world. I would recommend to a friend if they have a pool or hot tub." —DFusionShopper
Get it from Amazon for $11.99.
16. A bottle of anti-dandruff shampoo to stop you from being a flaky friend, once and for all.
It's got over 5,000 positive reviews, and works for more than just dandruff. I get recurring bouts of fungal acne on my forehead, and I last summer I started using this at the recommendation of the interwebs (its key ingredient is an antifungal). Every other day, I slathered it on the affected area like a wash-off mask, let it sit for a few minutes, and rinsed it off. My forehead looked better the next day, and other reviewers have had similar experiences! I'm actually about to buy more since I'm having another flare-up right now (I haven't been using my black soap enough on vacation!).
Promising review: "This stuff is absolutely amazing. I was one step away from going to the dermatologist. I had severe dandruff that was so bad I could shake my head and it would come off. With just a few uses per week, I got rid of all of my flakes. My scalp also stopped burning from dryness. My hair has never been healthier." —Moo Moo
Get it from Amazon for $14.84 (or $14.10 with the Subscribe & Save option).
17. A game-changing microwave pasta cooker you just fill with water and noodles (there's a line on the side that shows you how much), heat in the microwave for 12-ish minutes, and bam — you've got a yummy, hearty dinner ready to eat less than a half hour after you're home from work. Boiling water? I don't know her.
Two of the most basic facts about me are that 1) I love pasta and 2) I'm lazy as heck. Cooking pasta is pretty easy, even for someone like me who rarely cooks. But still, it's a little more than I want to do when I'm feeling hungry and/or burnt out to wait for the water to boil and have to wash the pot and colander when I'm done. What I really needed was something that could have the whole process done in under 15 minutes and that I could just toss in the dishwasher.
Enter the Fasta Pasta (great name btw). I'm really amazed by what a game-changer it is, as well as how user-friendly it is. It comes with a booklet of instructions on how long to cook/how much pasta and water to use for all different shapes of pasta, plus there's an extended list on the product's website. All you have to do is measure out the pasta and fill the tub with water to the appropriate fill line, then microwave it on high for the noted amount of time. When it's done, you pop on the lid, which has convenient handles. I was nervous about using my bare hands to take this out of the microwave even with the handles, but amazingly it doesn't get that hot! The lid also has a built-in strainer, which is perfect for both helping you fill the Fasta Pasta with a precise amount of water and for straining once the pasta is cooked. Then voila! You've got pasta! Check out my full Fasta Pasta review (#2), and yes, please cast me in an infomercial about it.
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
18. Super durable and reliable Invisibobble hair ties basically guaranteed to become your new everyday must-have. They blend in with your 'do and actually stay in place as you ~do~ your thing, unlike the fabric-covered elastics you've been using every day since middle school — trust me, you're never going back.
A coworker reviewed these ages ago and they became a BuzzFeed Shopping staple. Once I finally tried them, I totally understood why. I plan on never using any hair ties other than these for as long as I live. They're marketed as "traceless," or that they won't leave a crease, but if you have your hair up for a long time, I think there's gonna be a crease no matter what. That's not what I like about them. For me, it's all about the comfort and the GRIP. I can just put my hair up with it and forget about it the rest of the day, without adjusting it a zillion times. They stay put and make for messy-bun perfection. I'm also headache prone, and these are super comfy and don't cause headaches even if my hair's up all day. They're comfier and more attractive-looking just chilling on my wrist than normal elastics, too. And OH, I would be remiss if I didn't mention the freaking DURABILITY. One of these things lasts me for actual months. Not only do they not fall out of your hair and get lost, but even when they get super stretched out, they shrink back down to the right size to be usable again. Can't say enough good things.
Promising review: "I ONLY buy this brand. I've tried tons of others that stretch and lose form and can't be used. These bounce back in shape easily and they hold my hair tight." —CM
Get a set of three from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in four colors).
19. Super satisfying blotting papers anyone with oily skin will want to take absolutely everywhere. They'll get your face so visibly smooth and dry, it'll be like an instant makeover.
My skin isn't *super* oily, but over the course of a day it definitely builds up enough it could use a good wipe. Add in the fact that I'm prone to fungal acne on my forehead and that my grooming routine hasn't been as consistent in quarantine, and I recently decided it was time for me to try these babies. They work well, and it really and truly is so satisfying to see all the schmutz they get off your face. Plus, the package is pocket-sized and easy to throw in a purse or toiletry bag. Check out BuzzFeed's full write-up on these blotting papers.
Promising review: "I've been searching for something as effective as these for a long time now. I have extremely oily skin. I live in the Caribbean, and whether I wear foundation or not, very early in the day my face will be covered in oil. My T-zone is where I get especially shiny and oily. These are excellent. They pick up the oil quickly, leaving my face naturally matte-looking for hours. I'm pleased with the lightness of the sheets and the pack fits perfectly in my purse or jeans pocket. The first pic (on the left) is before I used one, and the second is after. I'm not wearing foundation. These are a must-have for anyone with oily skin." —Melisa
Get a pack of 100 sheets from Amazon for $6.95 (or $6.60 with the Subscribe & Save option; available in bamboo charcoal or green tea).
20. Tasseled tortoiseshell hoops for a statement earring that's as fun as it is versatile.
I'd wanted something from The Tiny Tassel — a Black woman-owned, Charleston-based small business specializing in super whimsical and smile-worthy handmade clothes and accessories — for ages. I finally ordered these adorable earrings after including them in a roundup of stylish things from Black-owned businesses. They're such a cool twist on classic hoops and I wore them with several different outfits as soon as I got them (they really stand out on video calls!). They perfectly combine several of my favorite fashion things: statement earrings, scalloped details, acrylic tortoiseshell, and a gorgeous lavender hue (can you tell from this post that I like purple??). My one note of caution is that the tassels can come off if you tend to play with your jewelry like I do, but that is totally my fault. Honestly, even if I eventually lose all the tassels, they'd be great plain (or not-so-plain) hoops!
Get them from The Tiny Tassel for $34 (available in nine colors).
Me and my favorite BuzzFeed Shopping finds:
Looking for the perfect gift for any occasion? Check out all of BuzzFeed’s gift guides!
