Just 9 Things To Try In January

Because we tried them for you in December.

This post features a mix of items that we purchased with our own money and those that were provided to us at no cost for the sake of review. (But! We’re under no obligation to write a review of those things, let alone a positive review.)

1. A stylish work tote with pleeeeeenty of room for everything you need to bring with you. Professional, practical, and surprisingly inexpensive? Check, check, check!

BuzzFeed / Anna Kopsky

"I have been carrying my laptop in a backpack for the last five years, because I really haven't found a laptop bag that is cute, comfortable, AND within my price range... until this beaut. Not only is it extremely adorable, but it also has survived plenty of walks in the rain and still looks like it's in the same condition as the day I got it. Best of all, I can throw everything I need for the day into the bag and there always still seems to be more room for more items.

Just this week, I tossed everything in the image above in my bag like I do every morning before work, before realizing I also needed to bring extra hairspray, deodorant, and my makeup bag. All of those things also fit in this bag, and it was so nice to not have to carry a bunch of bags around on my commute! I really recommend this laptop bag for a stylish option that is well within anyone's budget. Woo!" —Anna Kopsky

Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in four colors).

2. An LED teeth-whitening kit tailored specifically for *you* — and each treatment only takes 10 minutes!

"If you’re familiar with the pearly world of teeth whitening, then you already know it’s a sensitive process. And if you see your dentist and go the professional route, it can also be an expensive one. That's why I decided to try GlowUp when I noticed my teeth looking a little yellow. It's an LED whitening kit that is fully customized to your mouth. To start, you take a comprehensive quiz, answering questions about your brushing habits and how discolored your chompers currently are. Once you're done, you get a specific formula shipped to you.

Glowup costs $60 for a one-time kit, or $30 if you sign up for a bimonthly subscription, which is around what you’ll spend for most at-home whitening kits. A treatment takes only 10 minutes (compared with overnight trays or strips you keep on for 30 minutes to an hour). My blend included hydrogen peroxide (the whitening ingredient commonly used by dentists), menthol (to provide a refreshing minty sensation), and cellulose gum (to fight off irritation and discomfort). For anyone who’s all about natural ingredients, Glowup also utilizes pomegranate seed extract, chamomile flower, and aloe leaf juice to remove bacteria and disinfect breath.

I love a schedule: setting one and keeping one. So brushing my teeth at night and using the kit was a cinch. I’d apply my custom gel to the mouthguard, set a timer for 10 minutes, and plug the cord directly into my iPhone’s charging port. It truly was that easy. For such a mindless process, I saw a significant difference in the color of my teeth after a week of daily use. Seeing that I’ve never used a whitening light before, I was skeptical. But the results were obvious and I now have refill gels shipped to me for touchups." —Alexandra Napoli

Get a kit from Glowup for $60, or $30 if you sign up for a subscription (with refills for $10).

3. A pair of stylish and waterproof Naturalizer boots with a super-supportive footbed and hiking-style tread for all day comfort — even with the heel!

BuzzFeed / Maitland Quitmeyer

"Not much annoys me more than when the weather *maybe* calls for rain, and I'm stuck wearing my flat lil' rain boots instead of a cute shoe (with a heel!!!) like I usually like to wear. No one likes to ruin their shoes in a sudden downpour! So I've been very low-key on the hunt for a pair of fall and winter boots that fit a very specific set of requirements: not too warm for wearing in the early fall and later spring, a mid-height heel (aka 2.5-3 inches — these are 3"), a cushioned footbed for my long tromps through the city streets, and a plain, casual-but-stylish-look. PHEW! That's a lot to cover. So I was pumped to find these bbs from foot-friendly brand Naturalizer. I've only had them for several weeks, but they haven't left my feet MUCH.

I wore them on several days on a recent trip to Rome — including for full days where I walked 17,000 steps on everything from cobblestones to slippery museum marble floors to underground catacombs — and they kept my feet comfy and ache-free. I've worn them in the rain and my tootsies have remained totally dry. The arch support is ::chef's kiss:: — after a few days of wearing no-support fashionable sneakers, these were a very welcome break, and my feet stopped aching as soon as I put these on. And they're cute! The lug boot style is on-trend and goes with everything from leggings and a sweater to a fancier midi dress to tone it down a bit. What more could you ask for?" —Maitland Quitmeyer

Get them from Nordstrom for $174.95 (available in sizes 6.5–11).

4. An electric candle lighter to make setting your favorite scented candle aflame even *more* satisfying.

BuzzFeed / Heather Braga

"I'm obsessed with candles, so it was a no-brainer for my husband to gift me this surprisingly super fun gadget for Christmas. It's really simple to use and charge, and it really works! If you're someone who gets a thrill from RAW POWER this is sort of the product for you. No, it's not a super intense gadget, relax pyromaniacs, but it does buzz and produce a burst of electricity that I personally find exciting. AND I'll never have to buy another lighter again! Stop burning your fingers on matches and pick up one of these bad boys." —Heather Braga

Get it from Amazon for $14.99.

5. A Garnier Moisture Bomb sheet mask that will moisturize the heck out of your face, which we all know is so important this time of year.

Kaysey Davis/BuzzFeed

"I love a good sheet mask, and the Garnier Moisture Bomb sheet mask is one of my absolute favourites. Unlike other masks that are made of microgel, cellulose, or foil, this mask is made out of cotton, which is not only super soft, but more environmentally friendly. The cotton has a bit of stretch to it, so it's easier to fit it around my face, nose, and lips than other masks. It's also very gentle on the skin and less irritating than other mask materials, so it's great for anyone with sensitive skin.

I have oily/combination skin, so my cheeks and chin tend to be drier than the T-zone. I love using the Pomegranate sheet mask to boost the moisture levels in my skin, but all the different types of masks are equal when it comes to hydration. I can just sit back and relax while my skin soaks up all the liquid goodness. Even after I remove the mask, there is so much product left on my skin and in the package that I use it the excess serum on my neck. I can immediately see brighter, smoother, and more hydrated skin after just 15 minutes on my face. I use them a couple times a week before I go to bed, so I wake up with my skin at its best." —Kaysey Davis

Get a six-pack from Amazon for $14.94 (also available in four other varieties).

6. A cozy teddy jacket for a cuddly-chic look at an affordable price. We keep putting it in posts for a reason, folks!

BuzzFeed / Kayla Boyd

"I got this faux shearling coat for Christmas and I have worn it every day since! It is soft, cozy, warm, and pretty much everything I want in a jacket. I love that it fits oversized so I can easily wear it over a sweater or hoodie. The front pockets are deep and easily fit my phone without feeling like it's going to fall out. And of course, I think it's really cute and stylish. For less than $35 (!!), I might even grab another color." —Kayla Boyd

Get it from Amazon for $31.99 (available in sizes S–3X and 17 colors and styles).

7. A pair of Lou & Grey sweatpants so soft, you might just not ever want to take them off. And luckily for us all, they're just stylish enough — *and* have pockets.

BuzzFeed / Lara Parker

"Recently I've embraced the fact that I can no longer comfortably wear jeans or anything tight because of my endometriosis. The pressure of certain clothing on my abdomen can cause me to be in a wild amount of pain by 4 p.m. and I've decided that life is too short to be uncomfortable. I was living in leggings but would always be a bit annoyed by the lack of pockets and sometimes even leggings felt too tight on my body.

Then I discovered the Signature Soft Super Plush Upstate Sweatpants from Lou & Grey. I tried them on in the store when I was visiting New York and nearly cried. They are legitimately the softest and most durable sweatpants I've ever owned and even though they *feel* like the comfiest sweats, you can still dress them up or dress them down. They're versatile. Also, they have pockets. I've already ordered them in two different colors and will likely end up with them in a third color by 2020. They really are that good." —Lara Parker

Get them from Lou & Grey for $79.50 (available in sizes XXS–XXL and four colors).

8. A tub of Aztec Secret's clay mask (you may have seen us review it before), because people love its ability to basically *vacuum* out pores for your clearest skin yet.

BuzzFeed / Jasmin Suknanan

"I've been using this clay mask for a few months now — stopping briefly to try something else — and I can seriously tell that there's a HUGE difference in my skin when I'm using this mask versus when I'm not. I break out once or twice a month, but I typically get huge cystic acne flare-ups that leave dark marks. My skin gets more and more clear with every use. I've tried mixing the mask with just water and just apple cider vinegar and found that I get a smoother consistency with ACV, so that has been my go-to. I literally use just ONE TEASPOON of clay mask with one teaspoon of ACV and that's enough to cover my whole face and neck in a nice, comfortable, thin layer. I leave the mask on for about 20 minutes — it feels like it's strangling the crap out of my pores!!! — and wash it off. My face turns super red afterward, but it goes away after about 15 minutes. My face LOOKS clean and FEELS fresh afterward. I have been using the mask twice a week alongside the Murad InvisiScar Resurfacing Treatment and some huge, dark marks I've had completely faded!! And, the mask helps dry out the cystic breakouts before they can cause too much trouble. Plus, I've got enough product to last possibly another six months because the jar is so huge. " —Jasmin Suknanan

Get it from Amazon for $12.95.

9. A midi dress you ~tulle-y~ won't want to take off at the end of the night. It's so comfortable and will make you feel like a real ~star~.

BuzzFeed / Abby Kass

"The moment I saw this dress on the ModCloth site, I feel in love. It was absolutely beautiful, and I knew it would be perfect for my holiday party. When I got it, it was even more beautiful in person, as the stars have a nice glitter to them you can’t really see in the picture. Plus, once I tried it on, it was super flattering. The fit was perfect — I went with my normal size and was glad I did. I wore it to our company holiday party and loved every minute of it. It was so gorgeous, and it made me feel like a superstar in in. Plus, I was able to run around all night with my friends and be comfortable the whole time.

And then once I got home, I actually stayed in it for a good 45 minutes longer than I needed to because I didn’t want to take it off. Yeah, that’s right. I didn’t want to put on sweatpants after wearing this for hours. Honestly, I’m now thinking of other events or places I can get away with wearing this because it is THAT good. The dress is great for the holidays, but I also think you could pull it off in other settings year round because the black and tulle are super classy. Now which of my friends is going to have a fancy wedding or party ASAP???" —Abby Kass

Get it from ModCloth for $119 (available in sizes XXS–4X).

Shine bright, shine far, be a star!

Buena Vista Television

Looking for more reviews? Check out our December, November, and October editions for more products we love.

Want more? Check out our favorite online clothing stores for all your shopping needs, perfect places to shop for clothes if you’re in your 30s, plus the best places to order custom t-shirts online and the best clothing stores for petite sizes. Still not satisfied? Check out all of our clothing content for even more.

Shopping for something specific? Check out BuzzFeed Reviews to find the best things for every budget!

BuzzFeed