20 Products I Don't Understand How You've Lived Your Whole Life Without

*Extremely Sharpay and Ryan voice* ♫ I finally foundddddd...the products I've been lookin' fo-o-or! ♫

1. Miracle-Gro indoor plant food spikes, which are — get this — pretty miraculous. They can nourish and revive even those plants you were pretty sure you had zero chance of keeping alive.

Amazon, amazon.com

Really, this is a product I'm not sure how your PLANTS lived without all this time. Each spike can be used for 30-60 days, depending on the season. The reviewer pics on the right are all of the same plant — the top one shows how this magical stuff helped the rather sad dude perk up in just 10 days, and the bottom one shows that he's completely come back to life three weeks later!

Promising review: "I always kill my plants but I decided to try again. I just bought five houseplants, and three of them were marked down because they were looking pretty puny. Since I tend to kill them anyway, I figured I would give them a try and save some money. I put one of these spikes in each plant and they all looked so much healthier and happier after just a couple days. I also added one spike to the only houseplant that I've had for years without killing (I was beginning to think it was artificial) the leaves looked healthier almost immediately. I'm very happy with this product and it was a great price." —victoria

Get 48 spikes from Amazon for $2.24.

2. Ingenious grocery bag handles with not one, but two life-changing functions — they allow you to carry way more bags at a time and keep said bags closed so you don't spill spaghetti sauce all over your car (again).

amazon.com

Promising review: "My sole complaint about these is that they didn’t exist twenty years ago, because they could have saved me so much aggravation over the years! I am 100% one of those people who would rather dislocate both my arms and have them fall off halfway between my car and front door than make two trips with grocery or shopping bags. Many times before this I've had thin plastic bag handles sawing through my hands. Also, the trick of using this to twist all the bags closed so you're not slinging your groceries from side to side when you drive home is brilliant. Buy this amazing hunk of plastic without delay!" —E. Rose

Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99.

3. A pack of vegan and cruelty-free deodorant wipes you're never gonna want to leave home without. Because we all know that just swiping on deodorant in the morning simply isn't gonna keep you smelling fresh from work to the gym to a date.

Amazon

Promising review: "I have always suffered from bad odor in my underarms since I have very delicate skin and I can't use strongly-scented deodorants. I'm always trying out cream deodorants or gels, but they either irritate my skin or don't stop the odor. THIS IS THE BEST INVENTION EVER. I LOVE IT! I can't believe that something finally works! My armpits don't smell bad; I can finally move my arms freely. The scent is wonderful. I love the smell and it's not harsh on my skin. Even after a long day, my underarms still smell like coconut." —Patricia

Get a pack of 30 from Amazon for $8.99 (available in three scents).

4. An amazingly affordable and amazingly comfy pair of flats that just might be the perfect go-everywhere shoes you've been dreaming of, even if you're ~strapped~ for cash.

amazon.com, amazon.com

Check out one BuzzFeeder's full review of these awesome flats!

Promising review: "I’ve been searching for cute flats that actually stay on my feet and are comfortable, a task that seemed unattainable until these miracles entered my life. They're true to size and have comfy insoles, and the straps aren’t too tight or too loose. These are the only flats I’ve owned that didn’t need to be broken in! Def buying these in other colors." —Legss

Get them from Amazon for $9 (available in sizes 5.5-11 and in 32 colors and prints).

5. Ban.do's fun, spacious, and perfectly-arranged 17-month planner, which, if you're anything like me, you may come to rely on so much you start referring to it as your Horcrux. Mine basically holds a piece of my soul at this point, tbh.

Bando

I really like to do things old-school. I bought CDs up until a a few years ago because I liked looking at the liner notes. I think Kindles are the enemy. I just started relying on iPhone reminders a few months ago. Even as I begin to integrate more ~fancy tech~ into my life, I will continue to swear by my Ban.do agenda. I buy one every year. It's the place where my life lives, where everything I can/need to/might do is jotted down in a way that seems haphazard to others but makes perfect sense to me.

There are several things that make this the Best. Planner. Ever. First of all, each day of the week has a lot of space for writing. I’m so not about little calendars that have just two lines for you to jot things down. C’mon, who has a to-do list that short?! (I would like to meet them.) Ban.do also makes an effort to make planning fun — their stylish agendas come with cute and quirky stickers and feature bright, motivational artwork at the start of each month, and some days are marked with funny to-dos or inspirational quotes. The 2019 version even has coloring pages, a personality quiz, and a 3D page and 3D glasses to view it with!!! Plus, there’s a lot of extra space to write notes that don’t fit on a specific date, there's a pocket for storing important papers, and it includes an elastic band to keep it all together. Check out my full review of a version from a couple years ago here.

Get the medium size (which I swear by) from Ban.do or Amazon for $28 (available in six colors and prints). Find more sizes here.

Also check out BuzzFeed Reviews' picks for the best planners!

6. Truly OMG-worthy corn holders that you desperately need in your life for two reasons. 1) It's about time you were able to eat corn on the cob without your hands becoming a buttery, salty mess, and 2) THEY ARE LITTLE PINEAPPLES WITH SUNGLASSES.

Target

Get a set of four from Target for $7.

7. Neuro Gum, aka a caffeinated gum that's an amazingly simple cure for the mid-day blahs.

Kayla Suazo/BuzzFeed

Promising review: "It’s literally gum with 40 mg of caffeine (about half the amount of caffeine in an average cup of coffee), so it’s great to chew throughout the afternoon without having to worry about it keeping you up at night. It also has 60 mg of L-thanine, which is the main amino acid in green tea, so you get a natural energy boost without all the sugars that you’d find in energy drinks. THIS MEANS NO JITTERS. NO CRASHING. Just a good’ ol boost of energy. I was skeptical about this gum at first. I thought there was no way gum could wake me from my afternoon lull and increase my attention so I could get more work done. Guys, I was wrong. This stuff works, and works well. I even gave some to my coworkers who said they noticed a difference immediately after chewing it. Around 2 p.m., I pop a piece in (I looove the cinnamon flavor) and I have an instant energy boost. It’s magic. There are nine pieces in a pack and I chew about one a day, so an entire box lasts me a month — which isn’t bad considering it literally gives me life every single day. It's gluten-free, sugar-free, dairy-free, vegan, and non-GMO, and I think it's a way better option than energy drinks." —Kayla Suazo (check out her full review here, #2)

Get six packs from Amazon for $21 or from Neuro Gum for $21 (available in two flavors).

8. Goo Gone bandage and adhesive remover, an alcohol-free formula capable of getting pretty much anything you don't want on your body off. I'm talking gum in your hair, adhesive residue, ink, and temporary tattoos. Oh, and the pain of peeling off a bandage? History.

amazon.com, Amazon

Promising review: "This citrusy-smelling stuff really does work too loosen up Band-Aids. My preschoolers hate putting adhesive bandages on their cuts because they don't like pulling them off. This really does make them come off more easily. I put some on the ends, and then work the fluid down the adhesive side and it comes right off. It also takes off those temporary tattoos my kids love. There are some that don't wash off easily and you really have to scrub to get them off, but not anymore. Put some of this on a cotton ball, gently rub it, and it comes right off. I didn't know this existed until I got the chance to order it, and it's fantastic!" —JLES

Get it from Amazon for $9.98.

9. Super-portable Shout stain remover wipes that'll save the day (and your clothes) time and time again.

Amazon

Promising review: "These are much more portable than stain remover pens/markers — I can stuff these in my bags, pockets, my wife’s purse, etc. and have them everywhere. And I need them everywhere — I’m a very messy guy. So far, when used properly, they totally took care of a grease stain that would have otherwise ruined my shirt, and they took out about 80-90% of a mustard stain (thankfully my very busy-printed shirt is still acceptable; if I hadn’t had one of these nearby, it would have ruined the shirt)." —Ryan Anderson

Get two packs of 12 from Amazon for $7.20.

10. A handy beauty spatula, because you spend good money on your makeup and skincare products and should be able to use every 👏 last 👏 drop. 👏

amazon.com, amazon.com

Promising review: "This is the GREATEST thing ever. I'm able to get every drop out of my very expensive face cream. It works on bottles, jars, etc. I only wish I'd bought this product years ago. Oh the money I could have saved. Clean it with soap and water after use and store in an upright position (rubber end up) and I think you'll get your money's worth out of it. I've already bought more as gifts," —HMSK

Get it from Amazon for $6.50.

11. NYX Butter Gloss, a unicorn among lip products. Yes, I'm talking about a gloss that's actually hydrating, smooth, and the perfect shade. Oh, and the under-$5 price tag isn't bad, either.

amazon.com, amazon.com

It's got over 1,500 positive reviews!

Promising review: "What did I do before this stuff? This is a wonderful product. Even when the color is gone, the moisture remains. I carry it with me and reapply it throughout the day. I know this bothers some folks, but not me. My lips feel very moisturized after using it. The color is wonderful — not too light, not too bright. Just a really pretty color." —bg1

Get it from Amazon for $2.90+ (available in 18 colors).

12. A downright brilliant dual-filtering water bottle so you can safely quench your thirst anywhere — it filters out 99.9999% of bacteria, 99.9% of parasites, plus reduces smells, chlorine, and aftertaste.

Amazon

This is great no matter if you're traveling or just want to drink tap water at home worry- and bad taste-free. Plus, each purchase provides clean water to a kid in need for a whole school year!

Promising review: "I bought my first LifeStraw water bottle about four years ago and it's still going strong. I've used it in a variety of locations, including Cuba and the Zambezi river, and it has worked flawlessly. The charcoal filter really does help with the taste when the water source isn't ideal. It's also great peace of mind knowing that you have the ability to filter a large amount of water in any given situation, including emergencies. I decided to get another one just for traveling. Since my last purchase, it seems like they have actually improved the mouth nozzle so that it's even tighter in its socket. This makes it easier to drink without getting air bubbles mixed in, which was my only minor complaint about the older one over time. If you are an avid outdoors person, this is definitely a must-have. It's also great for traveling in general. I never leave home without it!" —Chris

Get it from Amazon for $36.84+ (available in eight colors and designs).

13. A wall-mounted hair dryer holder that's a game-changer for both people with limited mobility and people who just want to make their styling routine a heck of a lot easier.

amazon.com

The universal grip holds pretty much any hairdryer, and you can adjust the angle and swivel it all the way around. Plus, it comes with the screws you need to mount it on the wall!

Promising review: "I LOVE this hair dryer holder. It used to take me 15-20 minutes to dry my hair in the morning, but now it takes me eight minutes because I don't have to put my arms down to rest them anymore. I placed it high on my bathroom wall and tilted the arm down, because I wanted to straighten my wavy hair. My hair was sleek and straight because I brushed it while drying, which was so much easier to do without holding the dryer. I'll tell all my friends about this." —Jon Wagner

Get it from Amazon for $26.99.

14. LOL-worthy yet brilliant shoe condoms, which work just like their safe-sex counterparts but are made to protect your favorite kicks, not your favorite...you know.

Firebox

Hint — it rhymes with kicks.

Unlike real condoms, you can use these over and over again and wash them in the washing machine or dishwasher!

Get them from Firebox for $10.99 (available in two sizes).

15. Adhesive earlobe patches ear to lend some support when you want to rock those fabulous (but super heavy) earrings.

amazon.com

Promising review: "These are fantastic! I'm in my 20s, but thanks to wearing some heavier earrings than I should have when I was a teen and due to one of my earlobes being pierced a bit lower than normal (had to have it re-pierced), I thought I would never be able to wear heavier earrings again, since my lobe is stretched a bit low. But these really work, and now I can wear earrings that might weigh down my earlobes! I can definitely feel the difference with these on — they really take the load off your lobes. When I put earrings on, I try to angle the earring post up a little bit rather than straight through the patch, so that the patch bears most of the load. Not sure if it really makes a difference either way, but just wanted to share what works for me. They also stick really well! They can definitely stay on for a couple of days." —Aly

Get a box of 60 from Amazon for $5.08.

16. An amazing argan oil, vitamin E, and aloe vera hair serum here to rescue your dry, frizzy summer hair for way less than the cost of a trip to the salon.

amazon.com, Amazon

Over 2,000 reviewers swear by it for good hair days!

Promising review: "This is the most amazing hair serum I have ever used in my life. I skeptically tried a sample pack given to me by this lady at the mall, expecting it to just be yet another hair serum. But wow, was I wrong. It smells awesome, the scent lasts all day (as opposed to only about an hour with other serums), and it makes my hair the softest it's ever felt. I can't stop playing with my hair all day long — that's how soft it is. I put this stuff in right before straightening, and it literally cuts my straightening time in half. Not that my hair takes long to straighten anyway (normally about 10 minutes), but this stuff lets me straighten my hair in five minutes tops. I've tried countless hair serums in the past, and literally nothing compares. I'm completely sold, and I'll be buying this stuff for the rest of my life. Love it." —Holly

Get it from Amazon for $11.99.

17. DampRid moisture absorber, convenient little tubs of absorbent crystals to mil-dew away with humid, musty smells and help reduce the growth of mold.

Amazon

Each tub lasts up to 60 days and can be refilled with moisture-absorbing beads. It works best in small spaces like closets and bathrooms, and claims to help reduce allergens in the air, too!

Promising review: "I live in a humid climate where keeping towels and sheets smelling fresh seems impossible. I purchased this and placed one of the two containers in a small bathroom closet where my wife and I store linens. It's been working like a charm! I personally like the scent it gives the closet space. After two weeks, the towels and sheets still smell fine, no musty odors. This has been the most effective method of preventing the pesky mildew smells that can propagate during the rainy season. I also like the small, inconspicuous buckets because they're easy to place on the floor or a shelf." —Kort

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $4.22+ (available in two scents).

18. A striped tee that'll make you wonder why you've ever worn basic striped tees, when you could have been wearing one with a freaking UNICORN on it.

ModCloth

Get it from ModCloth for $35 (available in UK sizes 6-18).

19. A waterproof, 13-pocket purse organizer that over 1,000 reviewers swear by to help them actually find stuff in their abyss of a handbag.

Amazon, amazon.com

Not only will it keep you from getting stuck in the legendary purse black hole every time you try to find your keys, but it'll make switching from one bag to another way less of a pain in the butt. You'll finally have the time to match your purse to every outfit like a legit fashion plate.

Promising review: "This bag has revolutionized my life! As a professional woman who needs to stay organized, my purse was my downfall. All my adult life I've fumbled to find things on the bottom of my handbag, no matter what size. Do I have a pen? It's got to be here somewhere. Paper, yes I think I have paper? Well, its crumpled, but it's paper. Now I'm the picture of efficiency, with my wallet, pens, paper, cords, phone, keys, gum, safety pins, comb, ID badge, mouthwash, lipstick, cold capsules, and more all tucked nicely into this travel bag, which easily slips in and out of any purse I choose to carry. This organizer holds a ton of stuff and everything is in full view. It's completely changed everything." —Janis Creason

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in three sizes and 27 colors and prints).

20. And some absolutely magical Golden Snitch sneakers from the new Vans x Harry Potter line that are the fun-yet-practical statement shoes you've been seeking for ages now.

Zappos

Get them from Zappos for $74.95 (available in women's sizes 5-14.5 and in 10 other styles).

Want more? Check out last month's list of things I don't understand how you've lived without!

You, learning you could have had these products in your life all along:

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The reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.

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