1. Megababe's truly incredible cream deodorant, which is a breeze to swipe on and quite possibly the holy grail of aluminum-, paraben-, and cruelty-free deos. Yup, it actually works without a lot of the chemicals commonly found in drugstore deodorants. It also claims to help with pit skincare woes like ingrowns, uneven skin tone, and rough skin, thanks to ingredients like AHAs, niacinamide, vitamin E, and squalane.
This stuff is my latest obsession. I truly cannot believe how well it works. For the past few years, my go-to aluminum- and cruelty-free dedorant has been Athena Club's All Day Deo, which I do still like as a nice-smelling, more traditional tube option. However, it really couldn't stop my hormonal sweat stink all dang day long (is this TMI? Not sorry, because you need to know the FACTS). This stuff goes on mess-free even though it's a cream — you just apply it right from the tube. And then??? Nothing. No stink, people! All day. I just smell like nothing, and my pits are less sweaty, too. Now, note that I say I smell like nothing — if you're looking for flowery fragrances, this isn't for you. It smells a bit artificial and medicinal, even, when you first swipe it on. While it's not the best scent, that fades as soon as it dries so you're set for the day, and you could even layer a more fragrant deo over it. But to me, that's all secondary, and what matters is that this stuff is odor-blocking ✨ magic.✨
Megababe is an awesome brand founded by style influencer Katie Sturino to tackle real-life body care struggles like boob sweat and B.O. *without* nasty ingredients and *with* super cute packaging.
Get it from Megababe for $14.
2. A wireless scanning pen that I can't believe 1) exists and 2) I didn't have in college. It scans 3,000 characters per minute, aka a line of text in a second, so you can quickly transfer text straight from your books to your computer notes. It can also translate 40 languages and even read text back to you as it scans to help you memorize it! The study routine of the future is here now.
See a TikTok of the scanning pen in action.
Promising review: "This is quite possibly the best product I have ever bought. It has cut my flashcard-making time down by at least half. I ordered it thinking it might be okay, but it worked way better than I ever expected it to. Once you learn how to use it (which doesn't take that much time) and scan at the right speed and angle, the mistakes will be minimal. There are still far less mistakes than when I just type it myself, and it is way faster than typing. This has completely changed my entire school experience. On top of that, the customer service is great. I got a new computer and couldn't find the product key to reinstall it. I sent them an email, and I got a new product key in a few hours. Anyone who makes flashcards on a computer needs to buy this product." —Josh
Get it from Amazon for $149+ (available in three colors and three versions).
3. A hilariously handy snack bowl designed to fit on top of your beloved Stanley Cup and help you live your best snack life. You + a cold bev in your Stanley + some kettle chips, colby jack cubes, and fruit in this? *Chef's kiss*
Promising review: "This holds a lot of snacks! Fits onto my tumbler and stays in place, even if the tray is loaded up with treats. This won't go over the lid so it's best to put it on before you put the lid in place. This is not silicone, it is hard plastic. Easy to wash and hand dry. Very cute and useful!" —Just My Opinion
Get it from Amazon for $12.79 (available in two sizes and five colors).
4. A tennis bracelet that could pass for real-deal diamonds — trust me. This beauty will look so stunning on its own or stacked with other bracelets, and you don't have to worry as much about losing it as you would a splurgier version!
I just got this beauty in my Christmas stocking and I am BLOWN away. It looks so, so classy, shiny, and REAL!!!! I am someone who wears everything from expensive jewelry to the cheapest of costume stuff, and I'm treasuring this like I do my designer pieces. Like all tennis bracelets, the clasp is a bit pesky at first, but after just a few minutes of practice you should definitely be able to get it on and off by yourself, and it it feels secure. 100/10 recommend as a gift for yourself or anyone you love!!!!
Promising reviews: "Soooo pretty. It’s 100% a Swarovski [alternative] for so cheap. Looks exactly like the photo and I wear it every day." —Trysten Walters
Get it from Amazon for $17.95+ (available in two styles, threecolors, and three sizes).
5. A shoe stretch spray, aka a leather softener that works as you wear your just-a-bit-too-tight new boots (or you can use a shoe stretcher with it to avoid doing the walking around yourself). This spray also works on other common shoe materials like suede, faux leather, and canvas, so basically any pair of cute kicks that didn't quite fit can now be in your repertoire.
BuzzFeed Shopping editor Amanda Davis says: "So, I have about three pairs of shoes that have just been sitting in my closet because while they are sooo so cute, the leather was too tight for my foot to comfortably get inside 'em. Did I return them? Nope. (We all know the hassle of online returns, right?) Instead I bought this shoe stretch spray on a whim. I didn't expect much but WOW! The shoes that took me a minute of struggling to get into fit *perfectly* now!!
The process was as simple as could be, too. I just sprayed my shoes (inside and out, heel to toe) like there was no tomorrow, I put on some semi-thick socks (just to ensure I had ample room later), and wore the shoes around my house for about 30–40 minutes. As I was walking around, I could literally feel them begin to loosen up.
After about 30 minutes, I took my shoes and thick socks off, and the shoes just ~slide~ on. Easy Peasy. Now I have a new favorite pair of shoes and zero dollars have been wasted. I tried these with a pair of chunky leather loafers, but I can only imagine what they'll do for my pair of Doc Martens — the boots known to take a while to break into. This stuff is a must!"
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
6. A divided pot ideal if you're like me and have ONE good burner on your stove — now you don't have to pick which part of your dinner gets cooked on it! It's also great for homes with picky eaters so you can efficiently whip up two versions of the same dish to suit everyone's tastes.
Plus it comes with a lid and a ladle. Check it out on TikTok!
Promising review: "I have a picky household so this works perfectly to reduce the amount of pans to clean. Made taco meat and burgers at the same time. Pan was an easy swipe of a sponge to clean. Really pretty pan too." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $79.99.
7. A gorgeously detailed jeweled charcuterie board bottle opener that is quite simply a need, not a want for your glam wine and cheese nights this year. Un-brie-lievably fabulous.
Get it from BaubleBar for $38 (also available in three other chic styles: a bow, a martini glass, and a rosé bottle).
8. A fold-up travel version of the popular "flossing" toothbrush with super-duper thin bristles so you can still get a satisfying clean on the go when you're away from the snazzy electric brush you splurged on. These fold in on themselves so there's no need for those little removable travel caps you always end up losing (same) and they claim to resist buildup better than regular toothbrushes, so you might even be able to use one for several trips!
The brand sent me a sample of these to try out and I love them for all the reasons above! Mine has honestly stayed super clean- and fresh-looking after several trips over the past couple of months, so I haven't immediately tossed it after short trips like I usually do with travel toothbrushes. It's super convenient, compact, and my teeth and gums feel fresh and invigorated after use!
Mouthwatchers is a dentist-founded small business specializing in upgraded toothbrushes. While these can't be a full substitute for flossing, they're helpful if you don't floss as much as you should (I feel you).
Promising review: "This toothbrush is a new staple item for my on-the-go Invisalign bag. When I need to brush my teeth and don't have time to floss before putting my aligners back in, this brush makes sure my teeth and mouth feel clean and removes debris in between my teeth. The bristles are soft, this toothbrush is sturdy, and the different lengths of bristles help remove debris or help floss your teeth on the go. This brush also dries very fast in between uses." —V. Brown
Get a set of two from Amazon for $8.69.
9. A super clever set of terrazzo-inspired wall decals to make DIYing a Pinterest-worthy wall a breeze (and so, so affordable)! Bye-bye to those visible scuffs on your wall and helloooooo to having decor that all your friends will envy.
Promising review: "I love these. I had this bare wall in my apartment that I felt needed something else and these were perfect. They don’t feel super sticky (we will see how they hold up) but I like that right now because they don’t take the paint off, since I’m renting! I love them. For this tiny wall, one sheet was enough!" —Makayla Hawkes
Get it from Amazon for $10.89 (available in six styles).
10. A laser engraved, Disney-themed jar that comes with a tealight candle but would also work perfectly with a tiny flameless LED one. It'll lend a super dreamy, dare I say magical vibe to cozy nights on the couch, especially when it's 1,000% dark outside at 5:30 p.m.
One of my besties gave me the Tangled version above for my birthday, and I am fully enamored 😍 with it. And let me say, I am not at all a candle person! I fear fire and use this with an LED tealight (this listing says the jar only comes with a real tealight candle, but I was sure mine came with both real and fake, though maybe that was just my thoughtful BFF...). It lends such a cozy, aesthetically pleasing glow to my windowsill! If you, like me, start to feel gloomy when the sun sets early and/or you are away from a Disney theme park, 10/10 recommend this to help remedy both those woes.
This adorbs Connecticut-based small business specializes in gorgeous laser-engraved goods for Disney fans.
Get the Rapunzel version or the Cinderella castle version (available in four colors) from Baxter & Co. on Etsy for $28.
11. And for your next theme park trip or just cutie patootie everyday hairstyles, a delightful set of Mickey and Minnie ice cream cone hair claws. Yes, it's a cute set to split with a pal, but I also wouldn't blame you if you mouse-t have both to yourself.
Get a set of two from BoxLunch for $20.90.
12. A genius frame designed specifically for storing your kiddo's endless masterpieces (even if that term is used loosely). While displaying one drawing at a time, the frame opens up to store up to 100 (!!!) other creations inside with elastic straps. If you've got a prolific pint-sized Picasso on your hands, this is a must.
Check 'em out on TikTok.
Promising review: "Wish I'd known about these with my first kid... or my second. Now I'm on my third and our kitchen was littered with art projects. These were a great solution to clear out the clutter and make my kitchen look less like a kindergarten classroom. The frames store A LOT of art in them and each kid has their own frame and can decide which picture to put on display. Magnetic case makes it easy to open but stays shut when it's supposed to." —probooks627
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in 14 colors).
13. An Airplane Pocket tray cover that's so smart and serves so dang many functions. It'll cover up that germy surface, provide four stretchy pockets worth of storage for all your in-flight musts, and ensure you never leave your glasses or water bottle tucked into the seat pocket in front of you again. It's also water-resistant and machine washable in case you spill!
Check out this product — which is made by a small business — on TikTok.
Promising review: "I used it last week and it was terrific. It fit everything: magazine, iPad, tissues, gum, glasses, phone, earplugs and water bottle. It stretched easily but tightly over the tray and both the flight attendant and my seat mates complimented me on it. I plan to use it every time I fly. It would be perfect for children, too. Highly recommend it." —Sue G.
Get it from Amazon for $29.99.
14. A personalized Eras tour ticket sticker you'll treasure. It's customized with not only your city and date, but also your surprise songs! Not to brag, but I got "Holy Ground"....
My mom gave me one of these for each Eras show I attended in my stocking for Christmas and I adore them!!!! They're currently hanging on my magnet board (as you can see above) because I don't want to commit to sticking them on anything I may one day replace! They're from a Chicago-based small business that makes super cute stickers and flair (many of which are Swiftie-themed).
Promising review: "So cute and good quality! Bought one to give to my bestie who went to the Eras Tour with me (and one for myself). A great memento to remember a wonderful night!" —Shelly Wiita
Get it from Jocelyn Diebolt Designs for $5 (available for all US shows March–August 2023).
15. A dino nugget pillow if your decor vibe = nostalgia and your cravings = fried chicken. It's just soooo cute I'm internally squealing at my screen.
Promising review: "This dino chicken nugget pillow is a real Jurassic dream come true! It's the perfect cuddle companion for all the paleontologists-in-training or anyone with an insatiable appetite for comfort. Just be careful not to accidentally take a bite while you're napping, because it looks deliciously deceiving!" —LadyTee
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in four dinos, two sizes, and in multipacks).
16. A "Noodle Monster" spaghetti container because frankly I don't care about the hip, aesthetic way the Kardashians and such organize their dry goods — I want mine to be cute and ideally, alien-themed, dang it!!!!!
It's airtight and dishwasher safe.
Promising review: "I love this so much. Like, so much. The canister part is glass, which I love. It's tall enough for long pasta, but also good for macaroni. His lil' noodle noggin is plastic with a silicone seal, so it's actually practical while also being literally the cutest thing in the world. And his eyestalks make opening the lid a breeze while also being absolutely adorable. I really want a little gang of them for my pantry, and I'd make little hats for them." —Surua
Get it from Amazon for $24.95.
17. One of Instagram-famous jewelry brand Oomiay's stunning black-gold dipped and CZ crystal pieces that are dreamy for stacking/layering or rocking on their own. Edgy + glam always = drool for me, IDK about you.
18. An absolutely genius portable Worky station, aka basically a whole home office setup that folds up into a case so you can easily go from home to your S.O.'s to the office and back again and not forget a thing. Just plug it in to use the built-in adjustable LED light, two outlets, and USB-A and -C ports. It's got all kinds of compartments for your stuff *and* the inner lid is a magnetic dry-erase board. Just wow.
It's made by a small business, and you can see it in action in this TikTok!
Promising review: "I've had my Worky for three months now and have loved it. I love that everything is in one place and then I can close it up and work disappears. The compartments are great for tucking away piles of paperwork, the many charging outlets are convenient and the LED lights are helpful on Zoom calls when lighting in the room are not ideal. Everything in one place, simple and convenient. Just the way I like it." —Amy
Get it from Amazon for $126.49.
19. A pack of two magnetic hair ties specially designed for thick, curly, coily, or braided hair and dreadlocks and twists. Unlike regular rubber bands, you wrap this around your head and fasten it yourself *and* it's adjustable, so no more forcing a fit to get a perfect puff, bun, or pony.
It's from a Florida-based small biz!
Promising review: "Product is amazing. I’m happy. Give it a try guys!! No snagging, no pulling, no tangles, and very easy to use!! Absolutely 10/10. IT DOES WHAT IT SAYS, SERIOUSLY. No kidding!!" —Anissa
Get it from Sister Grateful on Etsy for $21.99 (available in two colors).
20. An incredibly affordable pair of combat boots that are a super convincing Dr. Martens alternative if you're in the market for a totally trusty everyday boot without the splurge. Plus, the side zip means no constantly undoing and redoing the laces!
Promising review: "RUN DON'T WALK!! My friend and I went to a music festival with our significant others. She wore real Doc Martens, and I wore these boots. My boyfriend is darn near a shoe expert, and he thought these were legitimate Doc Martens! They held up perfectly and were so comfortable even after 12-hour days full of walking, dancing, and standing. Very easy to clean. 10/10 recommended!!" —Karolina Muscadine
Get them from Amazon for $33.29 (available in women's sizes 5.5–10 and four styles).
21. Squeakee The Balloon Dino, aka a truly delightful interactive pal with over 70 sounds and reactions kiddos can discover. He can roar, chomp, play tug of war and other games, react to being tickled, and even dance when you put his very stylish purple headphones on! Oh, and let's not forget that he'll fart when you pull his tail 😳.
BuzzFeed contributing writer Kit Stone says: "Last year, I got the super-popular Squeakee balloon dog. It was a HUGE hit with my nephews. I'm even more excited for this new Squeakee because every kid wishes they could have a pet dinosaur, and now they can!"
Promising review: "My daughter screamed so loud when she opened this on her birthday that I thought my ears world bleed! This toy is so much fun my 8-year-old loves it and I love it too! He sits when I tell him to sit, he listens better than my kids! Great toy, entertaining, and so worth it. I got to be, 'the best mom ever' and it felt great!" —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $24.95.
22. A squee-worthy duck bowl perfect for pasta, salad, cereal, or quacking...I mean snacking. Because if you can opt for dishes this cute instead of boring solid ones, why the duck not?
Promising review: "I love this bowl for putting snacks in. It is good in the dishwasher and holds an okay amount of stuff. I love the cute face on it." —Mana McPhee
Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in two sizes) and shop more duck dishes here.
23. Plus! A silly chair pillow because your current uncomfy seat and boring WFH setup always tempts you to ~duck~ out of work early. This dude is cushy, fuzzy, and completely absurd — literally what more could you want?
Promising review: "This product is a little smaller than maybe what I was expecting. But, regardless, it is still very comfortable. I spend a lot of my time sitting on the computer but don’t have a legitimate desk chair, and this has definitely been a breath of fresh air for my rather unforgiving wooden kitchen chairs. Plus, I was looking for something cute and fun to bring some more color to my apartment, and this adorable duck definitely accomplishes that. I think it would be extra perfect for kids, too!" —Claire Rorick
Get it from Amazon for $35.99.
24. A grape and tomato zip slicer to make the groan-worthy task of slicing cherry tomatoes and similar fruits (usually enough to make me give up and just order takeout, tbh) super-satisfying, easy, and actually fun. It's dishwasher safe and just look at that smooth swipe! *Swoon*
Promising review: "Saw this on TikTok. Had to try it. LOVE IT. So fast and easy. Washes easily and we just lay it out to dry. But we have also put it in the dishwasher too. Saves us so much time and no more almost slicing fingers cutting tiny tomatoes. Wish I’d had this when the kids were tiny and I needed to cut their grapes. Would’ve saved me time." –Mermaid
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
25. A totally ~fire~ crochet kit that'll provide everything you need to make the cutest purple dragon stuffie worthy of guarding the tallest room in the tallest tower!!! BRB, squealing over those teeny wings — the only way they could get better is when you tell people you crafted 'em yourself.
This Asian-owned small business specializes in squee-worthy amigurumi (the Japanese art of making small stuffed animals from yarn) kits and provides tutorials for every step of the process on their site, so even total novices won't feel lost. The kit comes with yarn, stuffing, plastic eyes, an already-started piece of crochet material, a stitch marker, a needle, a PDF pattern download, a carrying bag, and an optional crochet hook if you don't already have one. You can even access extra support over email any time! This kit is rated intermediate, so if you've never crocheted before, you might want to try one of their even easier animals first (though the instructions are so good, you could probably handle it anyway!).
After writing about this awesome biz many times, I was finally influenced to try them for myself — which is a huge vote of confidence for anyone who knows me, considering I am very lazy, not particularly artistically inclined, and my "hobbies" primarily rhyme with Schmetflix. However, I have now made four Woobles and purchased several more! The videos are suuuuper detailed so like they promise, anyone can learn to crochet with them. Once you get the hang of it, it's so soothing and hard to stop, and it becomes — get this — a great thing to do with your hands while watching said Schmetflix! And of course, the finished products are so, so cute and great to keep for yourself or give as gifts. I haven't tried this particular kit yet but am def tempted by this ridiculously cute dude and the adorbs matching crochet hook!
Promising review: "I love this kit so much and had so much fun making Kaida! This was my third Wooble (and third time ever crocheting) and I was nervous about attempting an intermediate kit. I was especially terrified about the wings, but now that she’s done, I’m so proud of myself! Kaida was my first project that went smoothly from start to finish, so I can really attest that these kits do teach you how to crochet and improve your skills! The packaging was so pretty and the special hook is really cute! On to the next Wooble… :)" — M.M.
26. A personalized pet feeding tracker you can get with a magnet or Command strip back so you can pop it in plain sight and flip the cutie patootie paw switch to let family members, your partner, or roommates know whether those begging puppy dog eyes are *actually* hungry or just trying to fool you.
It's from an Illinois-based small biz that makes all kinds of cute trackers and signs.
Promising review: "This is absolutely everything I was looking for. The craftsmanship alone is outstanding. It spins seamlessly and the magnet is beyond strong. I am beyond happy with this, though I can’t say the pups are….They’re likely heartbroken that second breakfast will no longer be a thing." —Tracy Capote-Sanchez
Get it from Weeping Birch Home on Etsy for $18.99 (available with a back magnet or Command strip).
27. A pair of stunning statement earrings that are perfect for Valentine's Day or pretty much any day you wanna feel chic as heck. As we all know, that red lip classic thing never goes 🎶 out of style 🎶.
28. A wonderfully whimsical unicorn cat tower for playtime out of your kitty's wildest fantasies (and that will be anything but an eyesore in your living room).
Promising reviews: "Absolutely love this adorable unicorn. The cats love to scratch the legs and cuddle up inside for a good nap. Highly recommend!" —Holly
"So fun. This unicorn is so cute. My cat loves it, but my only issue is the opening at the top of the body is jagged, so I had to put some tape so my cat wouldn't get scratched." —Susan
Get it from Chewy for $59.
29. An inflatable travel pillow sure to have fellow passengers' looks of confusion quickly turning to looks of jealousy when they realize you've actually achieved a comfy sleeping position. And reviewers were mostly able to inflate it using 10 breaths or less — for some, it only took three!
Promising reviews: "Easy to inflate, easy to deflate and carry. Used it for a five-hour flight and it was best sleep I've had on an airplane. It was super comfortable. I also used to stuff my feet it in it when it got too cold on the flight." —rubi
"This travel pillow was amazing! My flight was delayed six hours, and I even used this to sleep in my chair at the airport! I slept so good with this! I used it on the plane and was able to fall asleep within a few minutes because it was so comfortable! Your head is supported perfectly! I didn’t have a stiff neck when I woke up, like I normally would after sleeping on the plane! I won’t ever leave on a trip without this pillow!" —Kimberly Mozuch
Get it from Amazon for $20.95 (available in three colors).
30. A precious plush that is somehow both incredibly specific and a universally big mood. I'm talking a grouchy potato dressed as a cat inside a pink recycle bin with a banana peel on its head (I want to be a fly on the wall in the pitch meeting for this). An important reminder that even on those days when you feel like trash, you're still a cutie.
The bin zips, so it makes for adorable storage if you take the cat-tato out for cuddles!
Promising review: "This product is so cute and arrived in perfect condition! The trash can is on the softer side, but for a plush that's what I wanted, and it's fantastic the cat can come out of the trash can! 10/10 and definitely recommend!" —Aria
Get it from Smoko for $30 (originally $38).
31. An instantly downloadable and printable "Life Binder" in case you ever wanted someone to map out how to organize your life like a grown-up for you. This is essentially your wish come true. This PDF has 67 pages (!!!) to make keeping together and planning so many of life's administrative things — like vehicle records, insurance, meals, personal documents, finances, chores, medical information, exercise, accounts, and so much more — actually feel less overwhelming.
It's from a Connecticut-based small business founded by a professional organizer that stocks tons of templates to help you get your whole dang life together.
Promising review: "I haven't found a set as complete and beautifully designed nor as large as I need it. This is invaluable and will be used for years to come." —Renee J.
Get the digital download from Life's Lists on Etsy for $23.
32. A sweet duo of doggo wall hooks for keeping leashes, tote bags, masks, and other essentials adorably within reach.
Each one has 3M adhesive on the back that can hold up to 3 pounds, but if you want to use them for heavier stuff, you can also mount with a nail!
Promising review: "I bought almost every style of these. I put the dog ones at my front and back doors. They aren't strong enough to hold a bath towel but will hold a smaller microfiber towel. Absolutely adorable touch for a house with four dogs. Love it." —Joan
Get a set of two from Natural Life for $10 (available in six styles).