25 Products That Have Been Helping The BuzzFeed Shopping Team Through Quarantine

We're here to help make quarantine a little easier for you.

1. A Book of the Month subscription to help take the guesswork out of choosing your next read. Each month, you'll choose from a selection of great reads you want delivered. If nothing strikes your interest, you can save your credit and apply it towards a future month instead.

Rachel Dunkel / BuzzFeed

"I've been a subscriber for over a year and totally, completely recommend it. And 2020 has been...ya know...but I *always* look forward to the first of every month because it means I get to pick a new book! And as someone who loves literary fiction as much as a juicy romance novel, being able to cater my box to what strikes my fancy that month is key. I'm always impressed by the range of genres available. Beach reads, mysteries, nonfiction, fantasy — you name it they have it! It's also been a great opportunity to try books I never would have independently picked in the store but absolutely loved and would have missed out on! I owe my newfound love of fast-paced thrillers largely to BOTM." —Rachel Dunkel

Subscribe to Book of the Month for $14.99/month.

2. Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream for providing some much-needed moisture to dry, flaky hands — something many of us have been experiencing more from increased hand-washing and sanitizing.

Maitland Quitmeyer / BuzzFeed

"I cannot stand having dry hands. One semester of high school, I had a ceramics class first thing in the morning, and if you've worked with clay you know how dry your hands get afterwards. Almost every day I forgot to bring lotion with me to school, and every day, for the whole rest of the day I would angrily rub my hands together in dry despair. And since that time, I've been a borderline obsessive lotioner. I keep a little bottle in my purse (ESPECIALLY when traveling on planes), keep a giant bottle of lotion on my desk at the office, and every time I wash my hands, I immediately follow with a slathering of lotion.

But during COVID times, the hand-washing is more frequent than ever. And in September I ran out of regular lotion for one day (one day!!) and my hands started getting these flaky patches that regular ole lotion just wouldn't heal. So when I saw this hand cream touted by one of my favorite skincare TikTokers, I immediately added to cart. And it is a *great* thing to have around. It healed my dry, flaky patches in just a day or two, thanks to it's viscous, gel-like formula that unlike other hardcore hand creams, somehow doesn't feel greasy. I only use it when I need it, sticking to regular lotion for everyday use, but when New York Clanking Radiator Season began a few weeks ago (also known as DRY AS TOAST season), I've started using it as needed again. It's really healing and great – 10/10 would recommend, *before* your hands start to get seriously chapped. And for anyone who doesn't like (or can't tolerate) scents, this bb is fragrance-free!" —Maitland Quitmeyer

Get it from Target for $4.19.

3. A subscription to Obé fitfness to help turn your living space into your very own workout studio. You'll have access to a broad array of pre-recorded workout classes, a packed live class schedule, exciting challenges, and a supportive community.

Abby Kass / BuzzFeed

"I've been using Obé for almost a year and a half now, but I really upped my game once quarantine started. I usually did an average of four classes a week for 30 minutes, but since I was stuck inside all the time, I started regularly doing an hour. Not only did it help pass the time, but I always felt SO much better after I was done. I started by doing a lot of dance and sculpt classes — which I love, but in June, I decided to push myself by participating in their Move With A Purpose challenge. During that time, I was pushed out of my comfort zone and started realizing I actually enjoyed Dance HIIT, strength, and power classes. (I've worked my way up to using 10-pound weights now, which I never thought would be a thing!) The app pushes me to be stronger and more confident and really has been such a good thing for me in the past couple months. The instructors are great and really make you feel like you're in workout classes (which I've found is the only way I can motivate myself to workout). I feel so strong because of the app, and I did it all without ever leaving my apartment." —Abby Kass

Subscribe to Obé fitness for $27/month for the monthly plan, $65/quarter for the quarterly plan, or $199/year for the annual plan. You'll get a free seven-day trial, and won't be billed until it ends.

4. An adult coloring book your inner '90s kid will absolutely adore. It's like opening a time machine and traveling back in time and watching your favorite cartoons on a Saturday morning.

Kayla Boyd / BuzzFeed

"Like many, many others in 2020, I decided to give coloring a try — and this coloring book brought me SO much joy in the midst of the pandemic. As a '90s baby who is obsessed with the whole nostalgia trend, I was delighted to flip through and find all of the BEST cartoons from my childhood: Rocket Power, Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys, Hey Arnold, and more. It provided such a great stress relief (and a walk down memory lane). Anyone who knows the true joy of watching Nicktoons with their bowl of cereal on a Saturday morning as a kid should definitely give this coloring book a try!" —Kayla Boyd

Get it from Amazon for $12.23 or Target for $12.23.

5. A customizable leather chair that might make your WFH space your new favorite spot in your home. Is it acceptable to sleep in a chair? Asking for a friend.

Mal Mower / BuzzFeed

"Choose from their office chairs and massage chairs, then customize colors and adjustments to your heart's content! When I got mine (pictured above) I chose the works – I have the massage and heat settings and I'll never be able to work without them again! I swear, this chair has increased my focus and productivity simply because I *want* to sit in it all day. Funny bonus, the wheels make it very easy to maneuver, which is super useful in my tiny apartment when I need to roll it around two desks and a keyboard, through an illegally tiny hallway, and into the living room to use as extra seating." —Mal Mower

Get it from X-Chair starting at $1,149.99.

6. A subscription to HelloFresh for those looking to switch things up in the kitchen with some innovative, fun meals. They'll send you the pre-portioned ingredients and simple instructions you need to follow delicious recipes.

Maitland Quitmeyer / BuzzFeed

"For me there are three great reasons to try a meal kit like HelloFresh right now: 1. to reduce trips to the grocery store without having to forgo fresh produce, 2. to get out of the same-dinner ruts, especially when we're cooking at home more than ever, and 3. to learn new cooking skills in a basically foolproof setting.

Here's how it works: You can select from the four preferences: meat and veggie, veggies, low-calorie, and family-friendly. Recipes come portioned to two or four people (but I find the portions to be generous), and you can get either three or four recipes per week (for the two-person plan) or two or three recipes a week (for the four-person plan). And of course you can skip weeks, upgrade to ~premium~ recipes (think surf and turf) for an additional fee, or change the number of meals at any time. When your box arrives, you get everything you need to make the recipe, chilled to perfection, and portioned accordingly (you just need to provide pantry staples like butter, oil, salt and pepper).

And the instructions? Totally foolproof. My fave recipe so far exemplifies how helpful HelloFresh is for trying out new recipes and techniques — say hello to my little friend, tempura shrimp. I have thought about making at-home tempura for like.....years, but it seemed like a lot of work, and I'd burn myself on the hot hot oil.

But this recipe took all the scariness out of it — turns out I *didn't* need a whole pot of oil to fry these bbs up, a shallow fry worked PERFECTLY. And when I feel done with HelloFresh, when we're no longer social distancing from the grocery store and I feel like I've learned enough, I will 10000000000% make this again on my own. And I've been thinking about the sauce (an easy mix of mayo, Sriracha, and apricot jam) ever since, and will put it on just every single thing from here on out — including just a spoon. And the portions are IMO, very generous — I could not eat what they'd consider one portion in a single night, and the leftovers always reheated just as deliciously as they were the first night. And the best part = you can access their database of over 2,500 recipes even when you're not a subscriber, so you can just use it as a cookbook when you're done subscribing." —Maitland Quitmeyer

Subscribe to HelloFresh starting at $8.99/serving.

7. A weaving loom that may just inspire you to take up a new crafting hobby in quarantine. Just be ready for your loved ones to request you make them cool things.

Chelsea Stuart / BuzzFeed

"My boyfriend got me this loom for my last birthday — the very beginning of March — and little did I know then just how much time I’d have to practice my tapestries. Over the last few months, I’ve watched countless YouTube tutorials, read through a few weaving books, and just tooled around on my own to learn basics like how to warp the loom and then more complicated things like different types of weaves. I would definitely call myself a crafty person, but even if you’re not, don’t let that dissuade you — it’s a really fun hobby to pick up and you can totally go at your own pace! Just make sure you keep it away from your cats (I learned this the hard way)." —Chelsea Stuart

Get it from Amazon for $67.99.

8. Lightning bolt eye masks to aid in minimizing the appearance of puffy eyes and dark circles, as well as giving your skin a brighter complexion. Not to mention the number of selfies you'll wanna take while using these.

INN Beauty Project, Genevieve Scarano / BuzzFeed

Be sure to check out my colleague's review on the incredible INN Beauty Project's Electrify Lightning Bolt Eye Masks.

"Long story short, I was scrolling through Instagram one night and I was totally captivated by these lightning bolt eye masks on INN Beauty Project's feed. I'm so glad I decided to try them out. These eye masks are designed to help minimize puffiness, reduce dark circles, and give you a brighter complexion. They feature key ingredients like caffeine, starfruit, and indigo that work together to give your skin a major boost. Plus, they're cruelty-free, don't contain sulfates, parabens, or phthalates, and they're reusable!

When I received them in the mail, it happened to be a busy week: Between work, FaceTiming friends, catching up on my latest quarantine book, and working out, I was really tired and my eyes showed it. Putting on these little helpers was the best part though: As I gently applied them under my eyes, I couldn't help but feel like some sort of superhero saving the day (and my skin). Within a few minutes, I felt this cooling sensation under my eyes. It was really relaxing to just sit for 10 minutes with these little masks on. (And to be honest, I really needed some self-care time.) Once 10 minutes went by, I gently peeled off the masks and observed the results: My tiny under-eye bags were almost gone and my skin looked a little brighter." —Genevieve Scarano

Get a pack of four from INN Beauty Project for $18.

9. A Hulu subscription for watching a wide variety of shows and movies like The Mindy Project, Killing Eve, Booksmart, and I, Tonya — just to name a few. Plus, you can opt for a subscription that includes live TV!

Hulu

"Binge-watching is a lot less fun (and more time-consuming) when you gotta sit through ads. With my beloved no-ad plan, I've binged some of my all-time favorite series all the way through — without relying on them being on Netflix, waiting for the latest season to finish, or paying for them on Amazon or Apple TV." —Katy Herman

Subscribe to Hulu's ad-supported plan for $5.99/month (first month free), the no ad plan for $11.99/month (first month free), or the ad-supported plan with live television for $64.99/month (first week free).

10. A pair of Ugg minis you'll never want to take off. They're soft and cozy like classic Uggs, but are short enough to be worn as slippers!

Heather Braga / BuzzFeed, @ugg / Via instagram.com

"I recently got these Ugg minis and have been wearing them as my 'work shoes' now that I WFH full time. They're the perfect mix between a slipper and an actual shoe, so I can continue to wear my comfiest clothes to 'the office' (my kitchen table) but also feel like I've somewhat transitioned into work mode for the day. They're super soft, as all Uggs are, and honestly just make me happy! They are true-to-size so no worries about sizing up or down." —Heather Braga

Get them from Nordstrom for $150+ (available in eight colors, and sizes 5–11).

11. A Crock-Pot that is sure to become your new favorite appliance. All you need to do is plug it into an outlet, put your ingredients for whatever you plan on making inside, turn the switch to your desired heat level, cover, and then go about your day.

Rachel Dunkel / BuzzFeed

Be sure to check out my colleague's full review of the wonderful Crock-Pot!

"Kitchen gadgetry has come a long way. But when it comes to making immensely delicious, simple, comforting home-cooked meals, I don't think there's anything better than the Crock-Pot. Slow cooking is inarguably the best kind of cooking, BUT making time to dote on a bubbling dish on the stove all day is just...not it. The Crock-Pot allows you to dump in all of your ingredients in the morning, go about your business all day, and then sit down to the most amazing meal you've ever made eight hours later after barely lifting a finger. I have a 6-quart Crock-Pot and we always have SO many leftovers. So all my meal planning-heads: This is a fantastic way to yield simple, delectable dishes for the week.

And it may look difficult to clean, but think again! The stoneware insert and lid are dishwasher-safe, but even when I've lived in apartments without a dishwasher, I haven't had much trouble getting stuck-on food out of there. As for the shiny exterior, a simple wipe-down should suffice!" —Rachel Dunkel

Get it from Amazon for $34.99. If you're feeling like the heart eyes emoji right now looking at Rachel's red Crock-Pot in the picture above, get a similar one from Amazon for $44.96.

12. An adjustable cellphone stand so you can keep your mobile device in an easily accessible area on your desk for keeping up with important push notifications and incoming phone calls.

Jennifer Tonti / BuzzFeed

"I bought this for my home office while we've been WFH this year. It helps keep my phone in sight for breaking news, which seems to never end huh! It also helps keep my phone in one place for charging. Just slide the cord through the back and you now have a handy dandy charging station." —Jennifer Tonti

Get it from Amazon for $12.99.

13. A soft jumpsuit I'm pretty sure was made with quarantining in mind. This comfy one-piece is great to wear while WFH, lounging around, or even sporting on an errand run.

Kayla Suazo / BuzzFeed

"If I had to buy loungewear/intimates from only one brand for the rest of my life, it would be Out From Under. I have lived my entire life in these 100% cotton overalls, so much so that I bought multiple pairs. They are comfy meets cute, which is exactly what I need in my WFH wardrobe." —Kayla Suazo

Get it from Urban Outfitters for $34 (available in five colors, and sizes XS—L).

14. A face mask that my colleague purchased after speaking with a dermatologist and now swears by for preventing dreaded maskne! However, she notes that the material on this is thin, so she recommends wearing another mask over it and using this mask as a barrier.

Emma Lord / BuzzFeed

"I recently bought this five-pack after interviewing a dermatologist for our piece on preventing maskne, and this Etsy shop is not playing with the shipping times — it reached me in three days! The material is on the thin side, so I'd actually double them up or wear them under a mask to be extra cautious about going into a store or an area where I'm not confident I can keep a social distance, BUT having them as a barrier between my face and masks has hugely impacted my maskne. I probably only get one or two bad spots a week now as opposed to the general lawlessness my skin had at the beginning of mask-wearing." —Emma Lord

Type Of Fit: Elastic ear bands

Pocket For Filter: No

Fabric Type: Cotton

Shipping Time: Expected to ship within 1 business day

Get a pack of five from Dutch Label Shop on Etsy for $5.85 (available in two colors).

15. A subscription to Piquant Post to introduce your tastebuds to incredible new spices. If you're someone who loves cooking, this is an awesome way to experiment with new flavors.

Kayla Suazo / BuzzFeed

"This monthly spice subscription has sparked a fire deep down in my cooking soul. The spice blend combinations are incredible, and each spice comes with a corresponding recipe. I just made this cauliflower curry and my life will never be the same. I want to cook anything and everything with these spices." —Kayla Suazo

Subscribe to Piquant Post starting at $9.99 per month.

16. Animal Crossing: New Horizons (and of course, a Nintendo Switch or Switch Lite) that puts you in charge of taking a deserted island and turning it into your very own dream island bustling with adorable animal villagers.

Samantha Wieder / BuzzFeed

I got the Nintendo Switch back in April, and it's still one of my favorite quarantine purchases I've made. For starters, at a time where things are... stressful, to say the least, it's been really nice to have a mindless form of entertainment whenever I want to just de-stress.

I bought my Nintendo Switch to play Animal Crossing: New Horizons. I loved playing Animal Crossing on my GameCube when I was younger, so the nostalgia aspect of the game was a big selling point for me. The best part of it though is the fact that it truly feels like an escape from reality. I love that I can spend hours interacting with my adorable villagers, designing my dream home, and building/re-arranging my very own island. I definitely want to explore other games, but from the standpoint of someone who bought this console literally for just one game and still loves it, I can tell you this really is a great purchase. —Sam Wieder (aka, ME!)

Get a Nintendo Switch from Best Buy for $299.99 (available in three colors), a Nintendo Switch Lite from Amazon for $199 (available in four colors), and Animal Crossing: New Horizons from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in two formats).

17. A laptop desk tray for anyone whose ideal WFH set-up is their bed. I can't say I blame you.

Marquaysa Battle / BuzzFeed

"The ULTIMATE laptop desk tray — I own it and I can promise that any student who works from bed (listen, sometimes it's like that) will enjoy every single feature. I don't know where my back and neck would be without it. This baby has three adjustable heights as shown in the photos. On top, it has a spot for your laptop and a mouse pad. Both sections lift up and reveal a storage spot inside the tray for pens, pencils, notepads, etc... The tray also has five USB ports, an LED light, and a laptop fan. Of course, all that runs on three AAA batteries. Simply put, this laptop desk tray has all the bells and whistles for a student to work comfortably and have what they need in less than arm's reach." —Marquaysa Battle

Get it from Amazon for $47.99+ (available in four colors).

18. A Disney+ subscription so you can access a world of nostalgia-inducing shows and movies you grew up with, and discover new and exciting Disney+ exclusives.

Heather Braga / BuzzFeed, The Walt Disney Company

"I’m not sure how I would’ve made it through this year without Disney+. As a diehard fan of both the parks, the films, and the music I felt a big entertainment void filled whenever I tuned in. I’m a creature of habit and have been more than happy to watch classics like Beauty and the Beast and Hercules over and over, but it’s been such a delight to watch new Disney+ originals as well. I highly recommend The Imagineering Story, which is all about the creation of the various Disney parks. Howard is also a wonderful option if you want to learn about the mastermind and musical partner partner of Alan Menken, Howard Ashman. Don’t even get me started on Baby Yoda. Disney+ has, for lack of a better term, helped fill my year with some much needed magic." —Heather Braga

Subscribe to Disney+ for $6.99/month or $69.99/year.

19. A 3-in-1 night serum made with an AHA/BHA/gentle flower acid blend, hyaluronic acid, and a proprietary honey blend to help resurface, hydrate, and clarify skin ALL while you sleep!

Sarah Lee / BuzzFeed

"Farmacy's Honeymoon Glow is my favorite go-to fix for when I break out due to stress, hormones, etc. I’ve been using it a lot these days (at least once a week) as an overnight treatment and it’s been a lifesaver. My zits reduce in size, so I'm less likely to pick at it — thus avoiding acne scars! I’m also not positive but I have seen a reduction in blackheads on my nose. When I first used this product it did have a slight tingle but it quickly went away! To adjust to the tingle, for the first couple of times I used this mask as a wash-off mask to get my face adjusted to it but I’ve learned that the real work is done when left overnight! It may be a bit pricey, which is why I reserve it for times when I break out a lot or need a little pick-me-up before an event. I've had this product for a while because all I need each time I use it is one pump, so it'll go a long way!" —Sarah Lee

Get it from Sephora for $58.

20. A water tumbler with colorful rubber bands that'll make it easy to keep track of your water intake — something I personally found to be an early days of quarantine struggle.

Samantha Wieder / BuzzFeed

I own this wonderful water bottle, and I swear it's the only reason I'm good at keeping up with my water intake now. It comes with eight colorful rubber bands, and each time I finish the bottle, I take a rubber band off and wear it on my wrist. It's actually so rewarding getting to take a band off, and even more rewarding once you take the last band off. I've tried setting alarms on my phone, buying bigger water bottles, using the Plant Nanny app — this is the only thing that has worked for me. —Sam Wieder (aka, ME!)

Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in four colors).

21. Amazon Fresh for those looking to further cut down on trips to the grocery store. This awesome delivery service makes it easier to shop for all the food items you need.

Marquaysa Battle / BuzzFeed

"First of all, Amazon Fresh has *aisles* to scroll through just like you would in the grocery store — except you can do it while laying in bed with your sleep shirt on, no socks, and no hustle to find a close park or physical cart in need of sanitizing. Clutch! Instead of completing my order with a handful of get-me-by items, I ended up buying enough groceries for a full two weeks. And I got free delivery within a two-hour window since my order was $35+! Everything was delivered in these super eco-friendly paper bags. Delivery was 100% contactless. The Amazon Fresh delivery person placed my bags neatly at my door, rang my bell, and then walked down the hall wayyy beyond 6 feet away to wait and make sure I had heard the bell. When I opened my door, they waved and thanked me for my business, and headed out. The experience was super seamless and pleasant." —Marquaysa Battle

Check out everything Amazon Fresh has to offer!

22. A floating desk that'll serve as a handy spot to do work and attend Zoom calls without taking up floor space. Plus, the shelves are adjustable, so you can truly fit this baby to your liking.

Mal Mower / BuzzFeed

"This desk has upgraded my work from home life so drastically I can hardly remember life without it (pretty sure I've blacked out those work-from-bed days). I got the filing shelf to hold all my favorite spooky books, the dry erase panel for taking quick notes, and a headphone hook. It doesn't take up floor space (a need in my tiny apartment) and it even has a charging dock available with extra outlets for USB cords and standard plugs, so you don't have to hunt around your house for extra outlet space. The adjustable shelves are simple to set up and super satisfying. Plus it's pretty...dang pretty." —Mal Mower

Get it from Dash for $275+ (available in four kits with additional add-ons).

23. A subscription to Shudder, a service by AMC Networks that offers a generous catalog of horror, thriller, and supernatural fiction titles.

Shudder

"Say it with me: Horror on Netflix sucks! After much hemming and hawing about 'Do I need another streaming service?!' I ditched Disney+ and finally got Shudder. Now I'm hooked! I'm a huge horror fan and seek it out year-round. So, TBH, I'm shocked I waited this long! It has lots of exclusive movies (like 'Color Out of Space' with Nic Cage, a Shudder original) and TV shows (like 'Channel Zero,' which you've likely heard about), along with stuff you need in your life. Plus the Collections part of the app, helps you narrow down new films to watch in categories like Foundations of Horror) or Slashics." —Elizabeth Lilly

Subscribe to Shudder starting at $4.75/month, with a 7-day free trial.

24. A Core meditation trainer to help guide your breathing, focus your attention, and leave you feeling more relaxed.

John Mihaly / BuzzFeed

This comes with the trainer, a wall plug/micro-USB cable, and a charging dock!

“Finally, a vibrating device I can actually review! I've tried all number of meditation apps with little success. There was always something missing and I finally figured out what that is: a physical element. Core combines its Meditation Trainer (the round, buzzing, rosewood orb) with app-based on-demand classes and instructors. Charge the trainer (it'll last for two weeks), select a meditation from the app, and place your fingers on the biometric feedback pins to begin.

Depending on the session type, the vibrations will guide your breathing or help you focus your attention. That's the physical element I mentioned. Having something to feel is the perfect distraction for keeping your mind from running off while breathing consistently. The app will also track your progress when it comes to how calm and focused you are during your sessions as well as chart your heartbeat.

I'll say this, I feel different after I use it, calmer, more relaxed. I try to do 20 minutes a day. App upgrades and new sessions are available at an added cost. I think I finally found the thing that does the thing!“ —John Mihaly

Get it from Core starting at $149.

25. A cocktail machine that'll turn your living space into the best bar in town. All you have to do is insert a cocktail pod of your choice, fill a bottle with the liquor to match, choose your cocktail strength, push a button, and enjoy!

Hannah Loewentheil / BuzzFeed

"When I first caught wind of the Bartesian premium cocktail machine ($349.99 on Amazon), my first thought was does anyone actually need this gadget? But after trying it for myself, I can say the answer is a firm YES, and here's why. I love making cocktails at home, and while I'm no bartender, I feel very comfortable shaking a spicy margarita, stirring a negroni, or whipping up a Pisco sour. But making craft cocktails at home requires many (often expensive) ingredients, bar tools, time and effort. With the Bartesian though, you can make fancy drinks with the click of a button — literally. Once you turn the Bartesian on, it prompts you to insert a cocktail capsule. The smart gadget recognizes the cocktail you're trying to make and will ensure you've placed the proper spirit in the bottle (I know, it's mind-blowing). Next, it prompts you to choose your cocktail strength (there's even a mocktail option), and to place a glass with ice underneath the spout. Next, the Bartesian will start pouring your craft cocktail. The whole process takes about 20 seconds and it's all very exciting. With many bars closed and people quarantining or feeling hesitant about going out to eat, this gadget allows you to make professional-quality cocktails at home." —Hannah Loewentheil

Get it from Amazon for $349.85.

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