22 Little Ways To Upgrade Your Life For Under $25

Chic workwear, genius kitchen gadgets, game-changing beauty products, and more hella affordable goodies for anyone who's ready to take it to the next level.

1. A Wet Brush, which looks like a basic hairbrush but has super soft, flexible bristles for getting every last tangle out of wet hair — not to mention over 3,000 five-star reviews.

amazon.com, amazon.com

I have at least five of these and they are the only hairbrushes I buy! They just move through my hair so much more easily and painlessly than any other brushes. While they work their detangling magic best on wet hair, they also work fabulously on dry hair as just a regular brush. Add the curved, comfy handle and the cute colors and prints, and it seriously can't be beat!

Get it from Amazon for $5.87+ (available in 11 colors and prints).

2. A genius 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 dinner. Boiling water? I don't know her.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "I've had this thing for less than twelve hours and I've used it three times. IT'S MAGICAL. I eat a lot of pasta — like, A LOT. I probably eat pasta at least seven times a week; I love pasta! Boiling water is a pain in the ass and I've always hated having to wash the big pasta pan afterwards. This puts that to an end. Now all I have to do is measure my pasta, fill to the water line, and wait. If you want to make perfectly cooked pasta without having to test it, without the bulky pan, and WITHOUT having to wait for that darned water to boil, this is your ticket. Now pasta takes half the time and I'm grateful! —Kate Slater

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

3. A super compact and convenient portable charger that's so reliable, it's got over 20,000 positive reviews (yes, really).

Amazon

The lipstick-sized power bank comes with a Micro USB cable, and can quickly give more than a full charge to an iPhone 8 or at least an 80% charge to other smartphones.

Promising review: "I absolutely trust this charger. With a surplus of portable chargers on the market, it's difficult to identify and separate the good from the junk. I've tried over eight different ones and can't say enough about this extremely reliable, user-friendly, and ergonomically distinct product that can fit in your pocket. Of course, it's not going to pack the punch of a big, bulky charger, but that's not the point of this little guy. Even given the small size, it can't be beat. I would argue it's an absolute necessity in this era where phone utilization and battery drainage is a daily occurrence." —Braxton Aldrich

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in five colors).

4. The Two Minute Mornings journal with simple, easy prompts that remind you to take time to think about what your focus is and what you're grateful for each day. It's a quick way to help ensure you wake up on the right side of the bed!

Amazon

Promising review: "I got this as a Christmas gift from a co-worker. I only recently started using it, as I've been dealing with some troubles in my life. I don't know what it is, but even if I repeat some of the same stuff, getting this done in the mornings (or sometimes at night if I don't make the time in the morning) has made such a tremendous difference in my attitude towards myself and others — so much so that several people have taken notice. I've since purchased a couple copies for friends who are also dealing with troubles. I highly recommend it. Even if you aren't dealing with any issues in life, it's such a help for clearing your head before starting your day." —Sumo

Get it from Amazon for $9.25.

5. Practical rain boots that are actually chic as heck, so a rainy day will never slow down your style again.

Amazon, amazon.com

Check out more of the best rain boots you can get on Amazon.

Promising review: "There are no half sizes, so since I'm a 6.5 I got the 7. They're a bit roomy, but I can pair them with socks. They're very cute and slim-fitting, so they don't give you the bulkiness of other rain boots. They get the job done — I've worn them twice, and the second time was at a rainy music festival. When I got home, my feet were dry. The red color is really gorgeous and I got lots of compliments on them." —KimE

Get them from Amazon for $20+ (available in sizes 4.5-9 and in three colors).

6. A polished, work-ready bow blouse so you can let everyone know who's boss without breaking a sweat (literally — the short sleeves make layering way comfier).

Amazon

Promising review: "Blouses NEVER fit me, but this one did. I ordered up a size (XL) just in case, and it fit perfectly with a little room. The material is thin, but I’m a blazer woman so it’s perfect. It’s just like the picture!!!" —MrsD

Get it from Amazon for $9.88+ (available in sizes XS-XXL and in three colors and prints).

7. A super effective toilet cleaning wand with disposable, disinfecting heads so you can throw your gross old toilet brush in the trash where it belongs.

Amazon, amazon.com

The kit comes with a wand, caddy, and six cleaning heads already filled with Clorox cleaner. Once you scrub out all the crap (literally) from your bowl, you can hit a button on the handle to drop the head in the trash, without having to touch anything icky yourself.

Check out BuzzFeed's full write-up on these toilet wands.

Promising review: "I used to dread cleaning our toilets with nasty old bowl brushes, so we didn't do it very often. But this makes cleaning your toilets FUN, dare I say it! Now, I'm giving them little touch-ups every week. A fresh scrubber every time is wonderful. And, with the toilet always gleaming, I seem to find the inspiration to keep on top of cleaning other things as well. I'm considering buying these as birthday gifts for all of my friends and family!" —E. Tomlinson

Get it from Amazon for $8.88.

8. A sexy velvet PJ set that's a major step up from your go-to baggy tee and boxers, but just as comfy.

Amazon, amazon.com

Promising review: "These are super soft and comfy. I wear this set often and I’m probably going to buy more. It's a great material, and the lace isn’t scratchy at all. It has survived quite a few washes and there isn’t any fraying. I'd definitely recommend. I’m 5’5”, 130 lbs, and wear an A cup, and I got a medium." —Carly Evanson

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in sizes XS-XXL).

9. Jet-Scrubz, a super long-lasting sponge (I'm talking months, people) that's made from a synthetic material that's way less prone to bacteria growth than most sponges, helping to keep it stink-free. Smell you later, gross old kitchen sponges.

Natalie Brown / BuzzFeed

My coworker who tried this sponge recommends sanitizing it weekly by running it through a heat dry cycle on the top shelf of the dishwasher. Still, it's super easy! This wonder is one of BuzzFeed Reviews' top picks for the best kitchen sponges. Check out BuzzFeed's full write-up on this sponge.

Promising review: "SpongeBob wishes he were this awesome! We purchased our sponge over two months ago. It's one of the best purchases I've ever made. I'm sick to death of stinky, frayed sponges with debris that won't rinse out and that have to be replaced every week or so, and have to be bathed with alcohol or peroxide to get rid of the mold smell. I'm sick to death of having moldy-smelling fingers when I pick up a sponge that wasn't properly squeezed out and treated with alcohol the night before. This sponge has far exceeded my expectations. I'll only buy this brand from now on. It does exactly what they claim it will do! It cleans exceedingly well without scratching. It rinses clean and looks brand new after every use. It has ZERO odor. In a world of cheap and sub-par products, where everything is replaceable, it's so nice to have my sponge waiting for me at the kitchen sink in the morning, looking perky and smelling like nothing in particular! My quality of life in my kitchen is better because of this sponge." —L. Ivanov

Get a three-pack from Amazon for $14.99 (available in two shapes).

10. A sweet and simple daily planning pad for managing your entire life — from to-dos to meetings to self care — all in one, can't-miss place.

Amazon

Promising review: "I've never been much of a daily planner user, even though I definitely need one for my job. I'd buy them and end up abandoning them for several reasons, all of which this thing solves. Smaller, cheaper planners never had enough room for me to write all my different tasks and ideas, while the super-deluxe ones seemed to weigh a ton. The Bloom Daily Planner is a very light little note pad with the same configuration for every day, and it somehow manages to cover a lot of bases in a very small amount of space. It has a box listing your top three must-dos for the day to keep you focused, and under that is a big (13 line) space to list other tasks and ideas. Rather than giving you an hour-by-hour time log, this has a box that lets you write in the times of your appointments yourself (they give you room for five). They also have this genius 'to buy' box, which solves the problem of free-floating shopping lists. The other four things on the page are maybe not quite as essential, but I like them. There's a box to write things you're grateful for, slots to describe what you're making for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, a box for exercise, and even a little sketch of eight glasses of water a day which you can cross off when you drink them! I love these because they remind me that my day isn't all about work, and that I need to focus on health and happiness, too." —Katie J

Get it from Amazon for $8.95 (available in four colors).

11. A 2-in-1 eyeliner pen that might actually allow to do do perfect wings for ONCE in your damn life.

Amazon, amazon.com

One side has a pencil while the other has a liquid liner brush.

Promising review: "I've been wing challenged forever. I love the look of a nice black cat eye, but the technique has always escaped me. This tool is amazing. The tip is firm so you have lots of control, and the actual liner is a nice intense black that dries down matte. I quickly stocked up on more of these because I'm thinking it's a holy grail product. The picture is my first use with just one pass." —Tiarra Reyes

Get it from Amazon for $1.46.

12. The Pooch Selfie, a beyond clever device that'll make your pup say "cheese" (or "kibble" or whatever their nom of choice is) in every single pic.

Amazon, amazon.com, amazon.com

It includes a removable squeaky ball. Plus, the attachment clip works universally with all smartphones and won't block the camera from either side, so you can get great regular pics as well as selfies!

Promising review: "I bought this after adopting my adorable and excitable 2-year-old Rottweiler. I was hoping to get some nice pictures to share with friends, and guess what, this thing works! At first my fiancé mocked me for buying this, but now that he's seen the great pictures, he says this idea is genius. Titan loves tennis balls and the squeaky function really allows me to capture his attention. Just look for yourself at the pic I was able to get! All pet owners need this!" —Maranda

Get it from Amazon for $9.99.

13. A brainteasing logic puzzle book filled with 200 grid puzzles for anyone who, like me, is a total nerd and LOVED doing these in school. It's a fun, relaxing downtime activity that lets you exercise that big noodle of yours!

Amazon

Promising review: "I love this puzzle book. I got sick of doing logic puzzles online or printing them out, so I decided to buy a book. Compared to the logic puzzles you can buy on the magazine rack at grocery stores, these are exceptionally better. They keep me busy during my down time. I love that each one has a solve rate, average time, and best time next to it. I enjoy timing myself and calculating how much faster (or slower) I was than the average. I also like how the puzzles in the front are easy and the puzzles closer to the back get harder. I recommend it for anyone looking for logic puzzles." —Abigail Kamin

Get it from Amazon for $14.60.

14. This totally OMG-worthy car dipping sauce holder you won't be able to understand how you lived without all this time.

amazon.com, amazon.com

It can fit on most vents and hold most sauce containers from major fast food chains. Whoever designed this thing knows their sauce — some containers can fit into the holder horizontally, others vertically, and there's an inner cup you can remove to make room for larger containers.

Promising review: "This is the best invention ever! I’m a sauce queen and this allows me to have sauce in my car without wasting it! Whoever invented this knows my love language!" —Quintana

Get it from Amazon for $5.99 (available in two colors).

15. A go-everywhere reversible tote with a removable pouch and crossbody strap that might just be the perfect bag — the one that can fit everything, is easy to carry, and is actually chic — you've been searching for for all your days.

Walmart, Jessica Seib / BuzzFeed

Where have you been all my life????

Promising review: "I'm the queen of all things cheap, so please believe me when I tell you that this affordable bag is a MUST-HAVE. This reversible bag is a spot-on dupe for more expensive totes, and it carries everything I need — a 13" Macbook, charger(s), headphones, makeup, wallet, full-sized dog, queen bed, you name it! I'll admit, I ordered three, but I have zero regrets. The quality was the biggest surprise upon arrival. It's super sturdy and able to take on a commuter girl's struggles in and around a big city. It has easily become my latest broke-girl staple piece." —Jessica Seib (check out her full review here, #4)

Get it in Walmart for $13.97 (available in four colors, find more colors here).

16. Bawdy Butt Mask, which is exactly what it sounds like — a sheet mask for your butt. Because hey, if you want the cheeks on your face to look hydrated and toned, why wouldn't you want the cheeks on your tush to do the same?

Free People

Each variety has a slightly different effect, but they claim to do things like brighten, firm, hydrate, and tone. They're gonna change the idiom to "smooth as [insert your name here]'s bottom."

Get it from Free People for $9 (available in four varieties) or Amazon for $9.95 (available in four varieties).

17. A cool colorblocked faux suede pocket tee to upgrade your basic tee game. This baby + a pair of jeans = an instant outfit that looks like you actually tried.

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "This shirt is awesome! I received so many compliments when I wore it! The fit was perfect. I usually wear a size small or medium, but I chose the medium based on other reviews and because I wanted a looser fit. The fabric is so soft and comfortable. It washes well. I dried the shirt on low heat after the first wash and high heat after the second (because I forgot), and it didn't shrink at all. It's perfect to wear with jeans for a casual look or to dress up with black pants. The V-neckline doesn't dip so low it shows cleavage, and the white fabric isn't see-through, so there's no need for a cami underneath. I highly recommend this shirt." —Tmccreery

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in sizes S-XXL and in five colors, with short or long sleeves).

18. Shea Moisture African black soap, an oil-absorbing, exfoliating, and moisturizing skincare wonder that's basically a glow-up in bar form.

amazon.com

It's cruelty-free and made with moisturizing shea butter. Check out BuzzFeed's full write-up on this amazing soap and more skin care products that'll give you amazing before and after photos.

I've never had major acne struggles, but I do get zits just like everyone else and am prone to rashes on my forehead. I've been using this for a few months, 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), people have literally told me I'm glowing lately! I really think this stuff has done wonders for my skin.

Promising review: "This soap is absolutely incredible. I'm in my late 20s and I've suffered with acne for a good chunk of my life and never found anything that worked, until now. After the first use, my face was smoother. After a few days, I could tell my existing acne was healing and I wasn't getting any new blemishes. After a week, my skin was clear. After two weeks, my face is completely smooth, with no new breakouts, and I'm happier than ever. Not only is my skin clear, by my confidence is boosted. I work in sales so I'm face-to-face with people all day, and I finally feel like, for the first time in my life, people aren't just staring at my breakouts. This soap is AWESOME! The left set of pictures are from about two months ago. The others are from this afternoon. I wash my face twice a day with this soap and it doesn't dry my face out at all. I don't use anything else with it." —Dana Cammarata

Get it from Amazon for $4.18.

19. An adorable serving tray with a genius toothpick holder so your guests can grab their bites with ease — after they finish gushing over your cact-tacular taste in serving ware, that is.

ModCloth

It comes with the tray, two bowls, and 100 toothpicks so you're ready to serve up a storm! The cactus part can also be removed from the tray to make storage easier.

Get it from ModCloth for $19.99.

20. A bright, five-pocket expanding file folder that can hold up to 200 pages and FINALLY organize every last one of those obnoxious loose papers that are cluttering up your space.

Amazon, amazon.com

Check out BuzzFeed's full write-up on these folders.

Promising review: "I absolutely love this! I've always been the type of person to have a different folder for each subject in school, and to buy new folders every semester because they accumulate wear and tear by the end of the term. But it became too annoying to have to switch out notebooks and folders every day depending on which classes I had. It also increased the likelihood that I'd forget a folder for a particular class, so I gave this a try. After four months of continuous use, it's held up really well! It holds everything that I need and it is always by my side. It actually still looks somewhat new. I got compliments on it because it's cute and a great organizational tool." —KaleSensei

Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in eight colors). Get one in a floral print here.

21. Mouthwatering chocolate-coated waffle shot cups that'll make your fave drinks and desserts even yummier, no cones about it.

Uncommon Goods

Promising review: "Amazing crunchy chocolate yumminess! I didn't think a cone could enhance the ice cream but it's true. Seriously the best thing created since ice cream itself." —Rkhawaii

Get a box of six from Uncommon Goods for $24 (available in bittersweet chocolate and cookies & cream).

22. And a Rock the Vote graphic tee, because the best way you can upgrade your life (and the lives of others) this fall is by VOTING.

American Eagle

100% percent of proceeds go to Rock the Vote, an organization that provides tons of resources to help everyone get registered and understand the voting process. Check out their site to register to vote (there's still time in many states) and get all the deets on voting in your state. If you're already registered and are interested in early voting, get more info here.

Get it from American Eagle for $19.95 (available in sizes XS-XL and in three styles).

Also check out last month's installment of things that'll upgrade your life for under $25.

Actual footage of your life leveling up:

4Kids Entertainment

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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