We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. The Ultimate Reading Challenge, a book of 25 challenges (and rewards!) that'll encourage their inner bibliophile to explore new cultures, embrace diversity, and invigorate their creativity. It's time to finally get through the "To Read" pile that grows taller by the day.
Promising review: "I was so excited to get this. The book is very big, which I like. It is also super colorful. When I open it, it’s filled with all of these pockets with the challenges written on them and the rewards inside. I am a big reader and this is a fun journey to go on. I shared this with a friend of mine and she was very interested in it and wanted to get it for her daughter. Some of the challenges may need to be adjusted for ages, but you can easily just change the challenge. This is hard covered. Beautiful setup. This is going to be very fun and makes a great gift for yourself or for anyone else. And I’m really excited to see what the rewards are as I completed the challenges!" —GG
Price: $17.58
2. A pack of UV stickers so they know when it's time to slather on some more sunscreen. That's right — these color-changing stickers will alert them to when their sunscreen has worn off. They're ultra thin and will survive sweat, water, dirt, and more.
Promising review: "I am in LOVE with the concept of these. I cannot tell you how many times I asked myself the question, 'Should I put on more sunscreen?' when it's too late and I'm as red as a lobster. Big fan of the packaging and portability. A really ingenious idea. Here is to a happier, healthier, future ahead!" —CopperStad
Price: $25.99 for 16 stickers
3. The Clean Ball, a genius German invention to get rid of purse sand — y'know, the fine layer of dirt, dust, crumbs, grit, and who knows what else that they scrape their hand against whenever they're rooting around their bag and brush the bottom of their tote. Inside the honeycomb pink ball is a smaller sticky ball that picks up debris and washes clean so they can reuse it.
Promising review: "This little ball is genius! It rolls around in my purse, which I live out of. It picks up a lot lint, debris, or even crumbs. It's easy to find with the bright pink. Just remove and wash and it’s ready to go again. The price was great and something I can use for years. If you live out of your purse this a must-have!!" —dj3biggs
Price: $11.99 (available in three colors and in multipacks)
4. Some Sock Ons if they're tired of their little one wriggling out of their socks. These stretchy sleeves sit over their sock, preventing them from kicking or tugging off their socks, thus saving them the annoyance of coming home from the park only to notice their baby has one (or even two!) fewer socks than when they left this morning.
These are designed for ages 6–12 months.
Promising review: "These things are GREAT! I normally wouldn't spend money on something that seemed kind of silly like this, but my sister-in-law gave me a box of baby stuff when I had my second kid and there were two pairs of Sock Ons in there and I had no idea what they were, but let me tell you...they are HANDY to have! So much, that I got on Amazon and bought a pink pair for my daughter. They keep the socks from falling off non-stop. Without these, her socks will fall off like...100 times a day and with these they only come off maybe once or twice if she is kicking a lot. It is cold here right now so I love that they keep her socks on and keep her feet warmer. These would be a good purchase by a parent and a GREAT purchase for a gift, because it's something a lot of people won't buy themselves unless they know that they work! The ONLY downfall is that they cover up part of the sock design...which some of the little baby socks are cute...but it's worth it!" —zoey1012
Price: $11.99.
5. A cult-favorite ~secret~ popcorn salt for anyone whose favorite food is movie theater popcorn. Well, lucky for them this seasoning gives regular microwave popcorn the salty and savoriness they've only experienced with popcorn at the movies. In fact, several reviewers who've worked at the movie theaters and amusement parks swear this is the stuff they used at work, so you know it's the real deal.
BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord swears by this stuff:
"Our family recently unearthed this because beloved To All The Boys I've Loved Before author Jenny Han mentioned that it was her secret to delicious popcorn, and it may have just wrecked me for other at-home popcorn for the rest of my life. It genuinely tastes just as salty and buttery and savory as fresh movie theater popcorn. I inhaled it so fast that every single one of my organs lit up in mild alarm."
Promising review: "I used to use Flavacol during my time working at an amusement park and popping popcorn for hungry guests, so I knew this was what the 'professionals' use. I am happy to report that using this does make your popcorn taste like it was just popped at a movie theater. I like to put a little bit of oil on my kernels, mix in some Flavacol, and then add it to the pot of oil on my stove top when it's hot enough (as opposed to sprinkling it on top of freshly popped corn, which I could see easily accidentally adding too much). It also means that I'm no longer loading up my popcorn with additional toppings like butter or plain salt. Yum!" —Kate R
Price: $9.40
6. A plant-based milk maker because the only thing separating them from a glass of fresh, home-made almond milk is 15 minutes. Making nut milk at home is a lot of work; there's overnight soaking, blending, straining, nut bags, leftover pulp, and a lot of cleanup. But this magical machine does all the work for them with the push of a button — and then it cleans itself up.
It comes with six milk presets: almond, soy, cashew, oat, macadamia, and coconut. You can also use spelt,* quinoa, sesame, walnuts, pistachios, hazelnuts, and hemp. Add in flavors like vanilla or chocolate if you'd like and you're all set!
Promising review: " I just received this product today and used it once to make soy milk. I must say it is super easy to use. I ran the self-cleaning a couple of times first before I actually put soybeans in it to make the milk. Simply load the beans/rice or whatever you want to make, press the button, and the machine takes over. It will even auto clean it when done brewing. No, the milk is not as 'smooth' as the store-bought since the pulp is actually ground super fine and added into the milk during brewing instead of being strained out. I personally like it like because it tastes nice and rich and is not wasteful. Can’t wait to try making other ones with the recipe booklet enclosed. Nothing beats fresh brewed rather than in cartons. It is not huge so it doesn’t take up a lot of counter space." —Mike Weitzel
Price: $239
7. A multi-use K-beauty lip and cheek tint that'll help them create looks on the go. Its a blendable, buildable, highly pigmented formula made with shea butter so it's never drying.
Promising review: "This is the perfect product. In the past I’ve always felt like blush was so powdery, and it would build up and make my face too matte. My face is naturally dry, so I didn’t want matte. I’ve received so many compliments on this blush, because you can blend it into your foundation, or concealer however much you’d like." —Hannah P.
Price: $9 (available in five shades)
8. A Hugimals weighted stuffed animal so they have something to squeeze when you're not around. 🥺 The creator used expertise from occupational therapists, pediatricians, and psychiatrists to dream up a toy that not only combines the benefits of deep touch pressure (like a weighted blanket), a soothing tactile sensory experience, and an easy-to-wash design, but also feels like it can "hug you back."
Promising review: "Re-entering social and work engagements after two years of quarantine brought on unexpected anxiety and sleep disruptions. Weighted blankets were too warm. This has been the greatest gift! Just enough weight to be calming and soothing. Falling asleep more naturally with his Hugimal goodness!" —PK
Price: $64 (available in other styles on the Hugimals Amazon shop)
9. And speaking of chocolate, a pack of edible chocolate candles to top off birthday cakes and probably freak out a few folks when they bite into the candle post blowout. Just make sure to remove the wick before taking a bite.
Let Them Eat Candles is a family-owned small business.
Promising review: "Got this for my son’s birthday. He and the other kids love it. They were so surprised when I asked, 'Who wants to eat a candle?' But after I took a bite, everyone wants to eat it too. There was more interest in eating candle than the cake. This chocolate candle is a must for any kid's birthday." —Amazon Customer
Price: $16.95 for a three-pack (available in eight styles and in larger packs)
10. A 2-in-1 garlic press if they're the type of person who's going to add three cloves (minimum!) when the recipe calls for two. This press slices *and* minces so they don't need two separate gadgets.
Promising review: "I have carpal tunnel so I like to minimize straining my muscles. I also have pretty small hands. This garlic press is really comfortable to use, albeit a little bit annoying to clean. I recently tried using a friend's garlic press and the amount of force I needed to use really hurt my hands and wrists. If you've been avoiding getting a garlic press because you fear you lack wrist strength, this is the product for you. I'm never mincing or slicing garlic again." —Jamie Sarmiento
Price: $12.99
11. An AirPods cleaning kit for de-gunking their earbuds. They're hella dirty. Even if they can't see the earwax, it's there. Trust me.
It comes with the cleaning pen, a soft cloth, wipes, and cleaning putty.
Promising review: "I wipe down my AirPods regularly but I couldn’t get them REALLY clean. I fall asleep and wear them all night sometimes, my ears drain when I have allergies, and I just knew that horrible things lurked that I could not see. I saw online that you could buy sticky stuff to pull out the gunk so I looked on Amazon and found this kit instead, which had the sticky stuff plus some wipes and what looked like a cool little tool. I just used it and I am not exaggerating when I say I kept shrieking, 'OMG!' repeatedly as the blue stuff extricated more and more vile ear matter from the mesh on the AirPods. Then I used the brush on the tool and even MORE stuff came out. (Side note: Do you like Dr. Pimple Popper? You will love this kit. It’s gross, but so satisfying.) You know that little opening on the top of the AirPod? IT’S DISGUSTING AND I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW IT! I don’t know what kind of Tardis-type properties that thing holds, but way more stuff came of it then looked physically possible.The tool allows you to swab out the inside of the case with the foam end, and chisel out any remaining dust. The AirPods sound better now, too, as you would expect." —Nouvelle Orleans
Price: $6.89+ (available in four colors)
12. A 3-in-1 hot tool with interchangeable heads that'll style, curl, and volumize — for the jaw-droppingly low price of less than $15.
It comes with a smoothing concentrator head for precise drying, a 1.5-inch brush head for volume, and a 1-inch brush for curls and waves.
Promising review: "I'm shocked this doesn't have higher ratings. I was skeptical when I bought this, but it is the only hair tool I use now! This has made my hair look like I've just left the salon! I have long wavy thick hair and I can finish my hair in under 15 minutes. I love that it has a dryer piece along with the brushes with a hot and cool settings. It is super powerful and really works. It makes my hair bouncy and smooth. If you want pin straight hair, you can just go over it with a straightening iron. I've had this for more than a year, and it still works. Even if it stops, I'll just keep buying it as long as it is on the market. Only bad thing: I wish I knew about this sooner; it would have saved me lots of money from buying those high end hair tools. Overall great product!!" —Veronica
Price: $29.89
13. A scallop bathing suit so they can enjoy the tummy-baring look of a two piece while also taking advantage of the support of a one-piece.
Promising review: "I loved this swimsuit! It was very comfortable and fit true to size. I wore it all day and it was very comfortable." —Danielle McCray
Price: $29.59+ (available in women's sizes XS–XXL and four colors; this plus-size version is a great alternative for larger chests)
14. A dishwasher basket to corral all the bottles, nipples, pump parts, sippy cups, kids toys, food containers, and more. No more hand-washing every. single. dang. thing.
Promising review: "I bought this to wash all the little containers and lids from carrying salad dressing to work. It holds everything perfectly in place and I never have to worry about something falling through the racks and being melted by the dishwasher heater coil. Jar lids fit perfectly for sterilizing too. I can see that it would be perfect to wash little ones’ straws, baby bottle nipples, sippy cup lids, etc. The construction is heavy duty and it will find a lot of use through the coming years." —SheilaH
Price: $7.99
15. A record frame if they're a vinyl aficionado who buys LPs not only for the jams, but also for the wall art!
This frame is designed to allow records to be swapped in and out fast. And the acrylic pane should help prevent sun damage that can bleach and fade album art.
Promising review: "My fiancé has a huge collection of records and I bought him two of these to display his favorites. He loves them! The records are easy to switch out and I find that he changes them quite a bit. It's great quality and the plastic is thick." —Hayley
Price: $45.99+ (available in white and black and in a three-pack)
16. HairyGrabster, a hilariously named thingamabob (from Shark Tank!) for anyone who slaps their hair on the shower walls, much to the dismay of their roommate or partner. There are suction cups on the back so it hangs right in the shower, and is covered in hair-hungry soft bristles that latch on to shed strands so they don't clog the drain.
Promising review: "I saw this product on Shark Tank and was annoyed that the sharks (nearly all men, and one woman who’s worn her hair short for years) had such a strong negative reaction to the HairyGrabster. As soon as I saw it, I was like YES, I NEED THAT! Especially since my husband decided to grow his hair long as an outcome of the pandemic. We need this silicone thing to keep our drains clear. He had no idea you lose that much hair when you wear it long, but that’s because I’ve been the one picking his hair out of the drain lately! I tested it out in the shower tonight, and the HairyGrabster lives up to its name! See my attached photo. The mass of hair is gross, but less gross than yanking it out of the shower drain along with other nasty stuff. $10 each is kind of expensive, so I bought a two-pack to defray the cost. I never knew I needed this item, but now I can’t think of a better solution, aside from cutting my hair shorter to minimize hair loss. I will be buying more to give as gifts to my other long-haired friends. The HairyGrabster suctions to the shower door really well. You just need to wet the back beforehand!" —Holly TJ
Price: $11.955+ (available in three colors and in a two-pack)
17. A sun milk with SPF 50+ because it's like a sunscreen and primer in one. It boasts a double-layer UV-blocking system that lasts through sweat and water, while creating a silky-smooth base for makeup. And it corrects skin tone so they can just skip the makeup entirely.
In the progression photos above, you can see a reviewer before applying the sun milk, after applying the sun milk, and then the sun milk under makeup.
Promising review: "I have dark oily skin and purchased this product after reading recommendations. There is no white cast; you can barely see it upon application unless you use too much. You definitely do not need a lot, it spreads thin. When it dries, any color is gone. It also helps slow down my face getting all greasy as the day goes on, which I love. My skin is very very oily but I can still apply this after my moisturizer and feel totally comfortable. I'm not a fan of scents, and the scent on this is extremely mild." —Ms. Renee
Price: $19.90
18. A castle-building book that'll provide detailed instructions for crafting pyramids, rockets, airplanes, trains, ships, and a dozen other hideouts for their kitty. Any pet owner knows cats will care more about the box in which their treats are delivered rather than the treats themselves...so forget about the damn treats. Upgrade their cardboard studio into a freaking submarine!
Promising review: "At last, a way to reuse and recycle those Amazon boxes! Cute cat houses, ingeniously designed. Pays for itself with your first build." —Leslie Ellis
Price: $12.94
19. MicroMacro: Crime City — a really cool cooperative detective game so family game nights aren't the same boring game over and over! The board is a bird's-eye view of a city and the goal is to not only find the crimes (time to pull out those glasses, folks!) but then solve the riddles: Are there suspects? What's the cause of death?
Promising review: "This was a birthday gift for my 10-year-old nephew who lives a long distance away, so I asked a friend who had just attended a birthday party with 20 10-year-old boys what the popular presents were. This was on the list. It was a hit, and every spare moment, he asked me to play. Well designed game that encourages collaboration, searching details for clues, and bonus: He worked on his reading skills since he was the Lead Detective. It starts with an easier training crime, and progresses to more difficult. Tips: You need a large table to lay out the map and good lighting to see the detail. Adults will need their glasses. It comes with one magnifying tool. It was fun! Also satisfying to piece together the crime scene and solution. Game says 12 and up, but this 10-year-old did great." —TamaraD
Price: $34.99
20. A makeup brush cover to protect their brushes wherever they take 'em. These covers are great for traveling and will prevent the bristles from getting deformed when they're crammed in a makeup bag. Plus they're equally great if they're the type of person who throws their brushes in their everyday bags for touchups on the go since the silicone cover prevents leftover makeup from staining the inside of a purse.
Promising review: "I bought this product because I needed something to protect my makeup brushes when I throw them in my purse when I go out. The type of brushes I use to apply foundation are not retractable, so they just collect a ton of germs if just thrown into your purse. I searched Amazon and found this amazing product! It's super affordable, came in a pack of two, and is so convenient! I would definitely recommend these to anyone who uses makeup brushes and takes them on the go." —Amazon Customer
Price: $12.49+ for two (available in seven color combinations and two sizes)
21. A Le Creuset magnetic trivet if your fave chef is always dangerously juggling hot plates. This GENIUS invention allows them to simply hover a hot pot over the trivet and — BAM! — the trivet will stick to the bottom and they can place the pot on any nearby, stable surface. Gone are the days of them frantically shouting "Can someone help me in here?!" when their hands are full.
Promising review: "The wood is really super nice, smooth, and clean. Sticks great to the pan and the silicone rings add great shock absorption so it doesn't make a lot of noise when you sent down my heavy-ass 13-some-inch skillet! Cleans off easily; I've only used it a handful of times but it still looks brand new! A little pricey but it's a premium kitchen thingy. I recommend don't settle for something cheaper." —K. Lujan
Price: $49.95
22. A long-lasting treat dispenser for distracting their pup so they can actually get work done. It's designed for light to moderate chewers, but some reviewers with aggressive chewers swear it keeps their dogs busy for hours.
Treats are included.
Promising review: "This is our little pitbull’s favorite toy. A powerful chewer, she can decimate a toy in minutes, but not this Yeti! Add a yak nugget, microwave it, and it becomes a distraction that can last for an evening. Quite the babysitter for an energetic pup. She loves it and we love the quiet time ;) Fabulous concept, great execution, terrific value! Will buy again and again. Nice job, Yeti!!" —Kindle Customer
Price: $18.99 (available in two styles/colors)
23. A transparent soap bar because not only do reviewers say it's great for people with sensitive skin, but reviewers also say that it's great for soap brows. Case in point:
Promising review: "This is the best soap to use for soap brows to really get brows to look fuller and stand up at attention. This works better than all the wand brow products. Just wet the bar and use your spoolie to create a lather. Brush brows up, a little dramatically, and then as they dry down, smooth them just a little. They stay full and lush all day. And, even though it makes brows not 'soft,' NOTHING makes brows look better, IMO. When I use this, I can cover my bald eyebrow gaps, and then only pencil or powder in at the head of the brow where I overzealously tweezed as an adolescent." —HeartofAvalon
Price: $5.47 for two bars
24. A hair band cutter that'll make untying their little one's hair feel less like an impossible task. Instead of fighting to 1) grip those stupid tiny elastics and then, 2) get a finger underneath one to untie it, they can reach for their Pony Pick. It has a special hook that slides under the elastic and a built-in blade to slice through the hair tie easily.
Because there's a blade in the tool, you may want to keep this out of the hands of your little ones. Some reviewers have accidentally cut hair as well as the hair tie so be sure you're lifting the elastic away from the head before you cut!
Promising review: "I absolutely love these. They have been the only way to remove tiny hair ties without pain. They are easy to use and the design lets you pull the hair tie without catching hairs in the blade. I use the little clear hair ties with both of my kids multiple times a week, so it has made a huge difference." —Lauren Givens
Price: $9.99 for a three-pack (available in three colors)
25. A reverse coloring book to get their creative juices flowing if traditional coloring books feel stale or aren't as relaxing as they once were. This coloring book is a bit different: The colors are already on the page — their job is to add the lines.
Promising review: "This is definitely no coloring book. You can do so many things on each page, and you see different things each time. I did a couple like this one where I drew the faces and animals I saw — it can be similar to seeing things in clouds, or the bathroom floor tiles. Or it can be a loose framework — I did a couple of pages where I made mechanical or botanical stuff. Many of the pages are obviously floral, but you can change them up any way you want. When I’ve drawn all of the pages I might get another copy and do them differently. There are also more books by the same author, so I might want them as well. I’ve never had so much fun doodling. It’s easy to get into the zone with this book." —Kathy G.
Price: $9.90
You preparing to find them a gift no one else will get them:
