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This post features a mix of items that I purchased with my own money and those that were provided to me at no cost for the sake of review. (But! I'm under no obligation to write a review of those things, let alone a positive review.)
1. A powerwash dish spray capable of cutting through grease five times faster than regular dish soap. Now you can spend less time doing the dishes and more time watching Bravo shows as you digest your dinner.
I was fortunate enough to test this stuff out a little over a year ago and thank goodness, I did because it's truly magic in a spray bottle. When I moved into my last apartment, my dishwasher didn't work and it took a month for them to get me a replacement. This stuff was a LIFESAVER. It cleaned my dishes so fast and so efficiently, I was truly blown away.
Get the spray bottle and three refills from Amazon for $17.50.
2. A mascara to give you lashes so dramatic, no one will believe you when you tell them you bought it for less than $5 on Amazon. No need to spend hours wrestling with falsies to get the long lashes of your dreams. Reviewers also rave that this lasts all day. Thank goodness! You have better things to do than reapply throughout the day.
As the daughter of someone who spent nearly 30 years working for a very well-known makeup brand, I've been able to try many top-notch, expensive cosmetic products for free (thank you, mom). But, I am a shopping editor, and this mascara that my team has put into a bajillion posts has a cult following, and I'm a very curious person, so I decided to test this out. It really is such a great mascara and truly just as good (if not better than some) as its mascara rivals at a higher price point. I don't use this daily, but this is my go-to when I'm out and about and need a touch-up or traveling and don't want to bring an expensive mascara.
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
3. A stainless steel tumbler for keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold for hours!!! Not to mention it looks super sleek and comes in a bunch of great colors.
I truly have been consuming more water than usual since buying this! For starters, it's available in SO many gorgie colors and prints (which makes it so fun to use — I have the lavender mist color, pictured right). My cold water actually remains cold, so I don't dread sipping from it over the span of a few hours. Not to mention, it's also cheaper than more expensive brands (looking at you, Stanley/Yeti/Hydro Flask) — always a slay to score a bargain on an equally wonderful, if not better, version of a product!
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in 35 styles).
4. An oral rinse that's loved by reviewers — and for good reason: This stuff provides 12 hours (yes, 12!!!!) of coverage from bad breath and the bacteria that leads to it. Bonus points: It's vegan and free of alcohol and artificial colors/flavors.
I've been a loyal Listerine (the zero alcohol kind) for many years now, but lately was feeling like it wasn't doing as much as it used to for me in the fresh breath department. I recently decided to try out TheraBreath because I had been seeing it EVERYWHERE and wanted to see what the hype was all about (if it was even worth it). The first night I used it, I was truly shocked. I literally felt like I had just left my dentist after a cleaning, that was how fresh my mouth felt. I've been using the mild mint flavor (although I'm debating trying the icy mint next), but the mint flavor is super subtle and the results are truly awesome. If you're a garlic/onion lover like me or just looking to elevate your fresh breath game, definitely consider TheraBreath or talk to your dentist about adding it to your routine!
Get a set of two from Amazon for $15.34.
5. A Kindle Paperwhite so you can easily dig into all those books you've had on your "to read" list for AGES, but haven't had the time to get around to yet.
I did it. I caved on October Prime Day and bought myself this Kindle Paperwhite, and boy am I glad I did. For starters, I always thought of myself as someone who preferred physical books over e-books. There's just something SO exciting to me about unboxing a book order or walking into a book store and spending way too much money. I even spent two years creating a rainbow library on my bookshelf in my apartment. BUT! After taking two vacations this year and realizing how annoying it is to pack physical books and moving somewhere that requires a long train ride to get to the city (aka increased boredom), I decided to just get myself a Kindle. For starters, I'm reading more on this Kindle in the past month than I have all year. It is incredibly lightweight (it fits into my small little BELT BAG WITH ROOM TO SPARE!!!), easy to use, and not to mention, a really great investment! I have three free months of Kinde Unlimited which means access to tons of great books for free, but the best is Libby! I just go on the Libby app from my phone, choose a Kindle book to check out through my local library, and boom, it's instantly delivered to my Amazon account to add to my Kindle library. It's safe to say I'm obsessed.
Get it from Amazon for $139.99+ (available with or without three months of Kindle Unlimited and ads, in 8 GB or 16 GB versions, as well as a kids version).
6. Home Chef, a meal delivery kit that'll take the guesswork out of figuring out what to cook each week and which ingredients to buy at the store. Just select the meals that sound the most delicious to you and wait for them to be delivered to your front door!
I subscribed to Home Chef for the first time during the pandemic and I absolutely loved it! The whole process from signing up, to picking my meals, to cooking them was seamless and fun. I got three meals (two servings per meal) that came out to be six nights worth of dinner. The ingredients were so fresh, the instructions were incredibly simple, and the finished product was DELICIOUS. I also found the portion sizes to be really generous! My favorite thing about Home Chef is the ability to customize your dish when selecting your meals. If a dish contains something like fish, beef, tofu, etc. that you don't like or can't eat, Home Chef gives you the flexibility to sub it out for another protein, usually at no extra cost. If you're looking for an accommodating, easy, and yummy meal kit, Home Chef is truly an excellent option!
Get it from Home Chef starting at $50.95 for the Home Chef Plan.
7. A white noise sound machine for blocking out unwanted sounds when you're trying to fall asleep.
I'm used to falling asleep to noise at night. I grew up in a house located right next to a busy service road and highway (when I say right next to, I really mean right next to). But back in August, I went to Los Angeles for a week with some friends and one of them brought a white noise machine that she turned on every night in our hotel room before bed. I'm someone who can never manage a good night's rest when I'm on vacation, but that week...I got some of the best sleep I had EVER gotten. When I got home, I immediately ordered myself a white noise machine and now it's something that I need to have on all night. I just find it so soothing? I like that it prevents my room from being too quiet, while also preventing me hearing potential noises in my apartment hallway. And this one is small and so easy to bring on-the-go — I'll definitely bring this on any travels I have coming up in the next year.
Get it from Amazon for $14.39.
8. A curling bar that'll literally vibrate when time is up each time you wrap a strand of hair around it to curl. Because counting seconds yourself? That's sooo 15 seconds ago.
To start, my natural hair is close to 2a. It's thin and naturally wavy with some frizz. I was first introduced to this curling bar at my hair salon a couple of years ago, and instantly loved the way it kept the waviness I love about my hair, while giving it a beachy-like curl. I ordered it on Amazon the same day, got it two days later, and have been obsessed ever since. This is SO simple to use — easier than a regular curling iron, IMO. You just take a piece of hair (I usually divide my hair into six to eight sections), wrap it around the bar, press the button, and after 15 seconds, the timer goes off, the curling bar vibrates in your hand, and you have a beautiful, flow-y curl! To keep it looking good all day without giving it that stiff feeling hairspray gives it, I use KMS Hair Play Dry Wax!
Get it from Amazon for $51.99+ (available in two sizes).
9. An ice tray for making the perfect spherical ice balls your heart desires. Your next glass of Diet Coke is about to be sooooo good with these.
I think it's a scientifically proven fact that ice cubes just taste better (and make your drinks taste better) when they're little spheres vs. boring cubes. After moving to my apartment this year, I decided I deserved a little treat yourself gift amongst all of the important things I was ordering for my move, and this ice cube tray was that gift. I love it. The ice cubes are just so cute and I love the storage box/scooping tool this comes with to make quick work of getting out the ice cubes without having to actually touch them.
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in four colors).
10. A useful, gorgeous, and AFFORDABLE duffel bag that'll make you wonder how you ever took weekend roadtrips or packed a carry-on for your flight without this baby. The interior features four compartments and the bag itself is made of water-resistant nylon because a little rain can't come between you and your much-needed rest and relaxation time.
I purchased this duffel as a personal item-sized bag for a weekend trip to Nashville back in May to see the Eras Tour. For starters, it's sleek and holds a nice amount of stuff. I used it for my laptop, a book, and some snacks for my flight. I also love that it's water-resistant. I flew to Nashville on a rainy day and didn't have any issues with the bag getting wet or anything of the sort. This is just a trusty duffel. I bought it in black, but I have some weekend trips already lined up for next year and want to purchase it in another (more fun) color soon, that's how much I love this bag.
Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in a variety of colors and options with a toiletry bag, mini crossbody, laptop pocket, and more).
11. Seche Vite — a quick-dry top coat with a cult following and for a good reason. This stuff will provide a beautiful glossy coat to your DIY manicure and help it dry in about 10 minutes.
I am incredibly impatient and truly hate waiting for my nails to dry. I have spent close to 30 minutes at times allowing my nails to dry (even at the salon) just to smudge them a few minutes later. This top coat must be formulated with pixie dust because my nails are legitimately dry in 10 minutes. I still try and be careful so I can avoid potential smudging, but I started using this about two years ago and it's a true miracle product. I even bring this with me to the nail salon now, it's THAT good.
Get it from Amazon for $6.70.
12. A Snuggle Puppy that's basically a miracle solution to help ease your pup's loneliness and separation anxiety. It's especially perfect for those crate-training their furry bbs.
I singlehandedly credit this stuffed puppy with getting me through the first week we brought my dog, Bailey, home back in June 2020. My dog is 3 years old now but in the photo above (left), he was just 2 months (and had only been home for three days) and was nonstop crying in his crate all day and night, which, as a result made me cry and wonder if we made a horrible decision getting a dog.** The Snuggle Puppy immediately got Bailey to stop crying and now, three years later, it's his favorite toy (he constantly tries to bring it out on walks).
**= Getting a dog ended up being the best decision ever and Bailey is truly the best thing to have ever happened to our family. Save yourself some stress (and some sleepless nights) with this toy if you're bringing home a new furry friend anytime soon!
Get it from Amazon for $39.95 (available in six colors).
13. An air purifier to assist in reducing the level of allergens, bacteria, dust, odors, smoke, and pet dander in the air so you can breathe a sigh of (clean air) relief.
I got to try out this air purifier and I LOVE it! I had an air purifier from another brand two years ago and I honestly felt like it didn't do much — when it was time for a filter change, I didn't even bother because why spend money on a new filter when the purifier didn't function the way it should. I was a bit hesitant to test this out, but I'm a major year-round allergy sufferer and was desperate for relief. This thing is AWESOME. I have definitely noticed a difference since I've started using this a little over a month ago in the midst of fall allergy flare-ups.
Another thing I love about this is that it warns you when smoke levels are high. My Revlon hot air brush has definitely been known to set off the smoke alarm in my apartment and with this baby, I know when the air is getting too smoky before that horrible piercing alarm goes off, and can give the air some time to cool down between uses. Just buy it!!!!
Get it from Amazon for $119.99+ (available in two sizes).
14. A rapid egg cooker that'll prepare your favorite style of the yummy breakfast food EGGtra quick — hard-/medium-/soft-boiled, poached, scrambled, omelet — breakfast for every meal, anyone?
It also features an auto-shutoff function! It can boil up to six eggs at a time, poach up to two eggs at a time, or make an omelet! There's a poaching tray, omelet tray, a six-egg holder tray, a measuring cup, a recipe book, and access to a recipe database. All nonelectric parts are dishwasher-safe! To learn more about this EGGcellent product, check out our Dash Rapid Egg Cooker review!
I love cooking, I really do, but there are two very inconvenient times that my cooking laziness strikes, and that is first thing in the morning when I wake up, and at the end of the day when it's time for dinner. Thankfully, in the morning, I now have this rapid egg cooker which allows me to make soft-, medium-, or hard-boiled eggs, poached eggs, or an omelet, all without having to stand over the stove.
It's also a great way to whip up a high protein snack during the day when you're busy with work, school, or just in the middle of a very important Netflix binge. The egg maker will let out a sound when your eggs are cooked, and then all you have to do is enjoy them!
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in seven colors).
15. A pair of earplugs to help bring down the noise at a concert to a more comfy/tolerable level. A mix of loud music and screaming fans can be a...lot...to put it lightly. Reviewers with sensory issues swear by these as well!
In early 2021, I was diagnosed with tinnitus and hyperacusis. What this means is I have a permanent ringing sound in my ear (tinnitus) and a reduced tolerance to sound/increase in sensory overload (hyperacusis) — two things I never dealt with prior to that diagnosis at age 26. One of the first things I thought of when I got this diagnosis was wondering if I'd be able to experience concerts again. I'm a HUGE concert girl and couldn't picture a life without being able to experience concerts comfortably again. I went to a tinnitus specialist and was fit for custom earplugs that honestly changed my life.
It's been almost three years now since my diagnosis. Since then, the ringing in my ear no longer annoys me the way it once did and I've gotten a lot better at being able to identify/manage situations that would cause my hyperacusis to flare up. One thing I have not gotten better at is remembering my custom earplugs. Keeping these Loop Experience earplugs on hand has been SO helpful in ensuring that I always have a pair of earplugs nearby when I don't have my customs. Not only are these comfy, but they do an awesome job at reducing noise levels without muffling sounds. I've tried a lot of earplugs on the market in the last few years in situations where I've realized I didn't have my customs and Loops truly beats out the competition. I'd say they're definitely the closest in quality to my custom earplugs.
Get them from Amazon for $34.95 (available in 10 colors).
16. A garbage disposal foaming cleaner that'll tackle built-up grime and those nasty smells you gag at every time you're near your kitchen sink. It's truly so...disgusting.
The biodegradable packet cleans/scrubs away at grime and odor that cause buildup and yucky smells on sidewalls, blades, under the splashguard, and other hidden areas. They come in pre-measured, drop-in packets and are recommended to use about once a week!
I moved into a new apartment in September and one of my favorite things (that I didn't have in my previous apartments, but had in my parents' house growing up) is a garbage disposal. Finally being free of having to clean out sink strainers of nasty little food bits has been quite the joyous occasion. But, with that, comes the increase of not-so-yummy smells emanating from my sink area. I've put this foaming cleanser in so many posts I've written, so I decided to buy some to keep on hand when I moved, and my goodness...I LOVE THEM! They are seriously so quick and easy to use. And they actually work!!! I clean out my disposal on a weekly basis now with these. I highly recommend if you also have a garbage disposal!!
Get four packets from Amazon for $3.78 (also available in a larger size).
17. A primer with a cult-following to help reduce the appearance of pores AND assist in seamless makeup application. It's a win-win.
The first time I used this I couldn't believe how well it worked. I mean, I had heard about how well it worked, but actually experiencing it was another level. This made my foundation go on so SMOOTH afterwards and I don't really know how I managed to go this long without this amazing product in my makeup bag.
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
18. A Dash air fryer that'll have you enjoying "fried" versions of all your favorite foods, minus all the yucky oils.
For some reason beyond my comprehension, it took me a while to get on board with the whole air fryer thing. I just wasn't really convinced that I needed one and didn't think I'd get much use out of it. But, I saw some recipes on TikTok that I had been wanting to make and after some time decided to take the plunge and buy one. This air fryer in particular is so easy to use. All you need to do is set your time and temperature. I know there are so many other air fryer models out there with cool features and functions, but honestly, I like the simplicity of this one a lot. It gets the job done and is beyond easy to clean. The basket is dishwasher-safe and I bought some silicone air fryer liners on Amazon to use with it that I can also toss in the machine after using. I use this for soooo many things — roasted veggies, oatmeal breakfast cookies, turkey burgers, etc. This is truly my favorite appliance in my kitchen.
Get it from Amazon for $49.99+ (available in six colors, two sizes, and two styles).
19. A wall charger complete with six outlets AND two USB ports because fighting over who gets to use the outlet next to charge their phone is such a last-year problem.
And! As if that wasn't enough — this thing also functions as a night-light. 🙏
I love hosting friends at my apartment, but have had my fair share of moments where I'm hosting a gathering or have several friends staying with me for a weekend and haven't had enough outlets for everyone's devices. It's not a huge deal and has never really been an issue, but when I moved into a bigger apartment, I realized that meant I had more space for larger gatherings, and with that, should have more outlets available. I've had a few gatherings since then and, thanks to this baby, never have a shortage of outlets anymore.
Get it from Amazon for $17.97.
20. A flexible power strip featuring a five-foot extension cord you simply arrange to your needs/liking. Goodbye to all the other power strips you own. They just couldn't compete with this genius invention.
iJoy is a small biz that sells a variety of tech accessories, speakers, and headphones.
This little power strip is awesome. For starters, you can choose to get it in a trendy color or just stick with black or white. I got the mint green color and it's SO pretty. I keep several devices in my bedroom charged/powered with this strip like my air purifier, laptop/phone charger, and the USB ports are great for allowing me to charge my Kindle and my white noise machine. Plus, the fact that it's flexible makes it easy to adjust to your own personal charging needs.
Get it from Amazon for $17.99 (available in five colors).
21. A set of antimicrobial toothbrushes with "floss" bristles that are designed to reach between your teeth (bye bye little food bits hiding in there) and are formulated with nano-silver, which may help kill off microbes left on the bristles. Your other toothbrushes simply cannot relate!!!
Mouthwatchers is a small biz that sells antimicrobial toothbrushes, fluoride-free toothpaste, as well as bundle sets and travel-sized options!
I started using this toothbrush a few months ago and I'm not exaggerating when I tell you my mouth feels cleaner post-brushing with this toothbrush than any other ones I've used. I will say the floss bristles at first can be a little rough, but I very quickly got used to it and now I'm a fan of these for life.
Get a pack of four from Amazon for $15.99.
22. A set of TikTok-famous blending sponges for some seriously smooth makeup application.
Two things about me: 1) I've always found the idea of paying $$$$ for a blending sponge (name brand or not) so silly. I mean...it's a sponge for blending your makeup. Is it really that much better if you spend $20 on it?! I will never know because I will never do that. 2) I'm terrible at remembering to replace my blending sponges so when I buy them, I need to buy them in a set so that I have multiple at a time and don't have to worry about re-stocking for a bit. I found these through our own posts and I'm a sucker for anything that TikTok loves so I decided to try them and they're great! Great price point! Great sponges! Great blending! Not much else to say than that, so add them to your beauty routine!
Price: a set of five sponges for $5.95+ (available in nine color combinations)
23. A lightweight vacuum to make cleaning your floors an easy experience. This is super easy to carry/move around and comes at an unbeatable price.
Vacuuming is my least favorite chore. I didn't want to buy a bulky vacuum because I knew I'd never bother trying to use it, and I didn't want to spend a ton of money on a lightweight cordless because I'd rather spend my money on things I actually enjoy. Then I happened upon this lightweight, inexpensive vacuum and it's perfect for my needs and living in an apartment. It's easy to carry since it's so light, does a great job of picking stuff up off the floors, and all at an excellent price.
Get it from Amazon for $33.98+ (available in three colors).
24. A pair of bike shorts that'll instantly become your new go-to bottoms. They're ideal for working out or simply lounging around the house.
I was pretty late to the bike shorts game and I'm not really sure why. 9/10 times these days I'm dressed with comfort as my main priority — when you work from home, you find yourself buying more pieces with comfort (and breaks to go for a walk/the gym) in mind. I had tried bike shorts from other brands I wasn't the biggest fan of, but finally stumbled upon these and they're too good. For starters, they're SO comfortable. Second, they have POCKETS! Super useful when I'm out and about and need a spot to put my keys and wallet but don't want to carry a bag! Third, you really can wear these anytime for anything. I wear them to work out, lounge around the house, etc. These bike shorts with an oversized tees or sweatshirt = kinda the most perfect outfit combo to ever exist...
Ge them from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 33 colors, three lengths, and women's sizes XS–8XL).
25. A set of waterproof phone pouches to help keep your phone dry when braving a storm outside to run errands, going to an outdoor event in the rain, or partaking in water excursions/sports on a trip.
Before I left for my trip to see Taylor Swift in Nashville earlier this year, the forecast was predicting pretty heavy rain. If you're a Swiftie like I am, then you know that Taylor LOVES a rain show so you better come prepared with everything you need to get through hours of singing and dancing in the rain. I bought these cases because I knew I'd want to take photos and videos (and because I had just gotten a new phone and wasn't trying to water damage it a month later). Alas, I attended the infamous Nashville night three rain show that was delayed several hours and went until 1:30 a.m. because of how bad the storm was. I kept my phone in one of these pouches and was able to get the photos and videos I wanted without ANY damage to my phone. A couple months later, these came in handy yet again when I went to see the Jonas Brothers opening night at Yankee Stadium to pouring rain during intermission. I will always keep these on hand for outdoor concerts in inclement weather as well as any water activities I may find myself doing on future vacations!
Get a set of two from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 13 color combos and sets of four).
26. A nail polish remover appropriately titled "genius remover" for a reason — not only does this stuff take off polish with basically zero effort, but it also smells sooo good. Say goodbye to the days of your hands smelling like acetone for hours post-mani.
Words can't even do this nail polish remover justice, but I will try my best to articulate just how much I love this stuff. Before the pandemic started, I was in the routine of getting my nails done every two weeks — I was AWFUL at painting my nails and keeping my nails painted at all times has helped tremendously with my old nail-biting habits.
Come March 2020, I had to learn to start painting my own nails (I'm really good at it now, might I add), but my least favorite part of my at-home manicures was removing old polish. I HATE the smell of acetone and it would seriously linger on my hands for hours, if not an entire day. I got to try out this amazing polish remover and since then, I've never looked back. Somehow this stuff removes my polish quickly and more easily than acetone-based polish remover and it seriously smells so good. This is the only polish remover I use anymore and it's the only one I plan on using ever again. I never thought I'd feel this passionate about nail polish remover, but here we are! Do yourself a favor and buy this! You won't regret it.
Get it from Orly for $12.
27. A Color Wow moisture-repelling spray that's all about stopping frizz in its tracks. Sorry, humidity, you lose this round!
My hair likes to do this fun thing (especially over the summer) where it doesn't stay put after styling. The amount of times I'll flat iron my hair just for it to turn to full curls by the time I get to where I need to be...or I'll curl my hair just for it to turn to some frizzy mess. It's SO frustrating. I've tried pretty much everything. I discovered this back in July and was hesitant because of the price but, out of desperation, made the splurge and I'm so glad I did. My hair ACTUALLY frizzes less with this. I went on a vacation in early August and was so happy that my hair actually kept its style throughout the day (it made taking photos a more enjoyable experience, too). I don't use this much in the winter as my hair actually cooperates with me more when it's cold outside, but the second the warm temps come back, which I hope is soon (because I hate winter), I will be so excited to put this stuff to good use again.
Get it from Amazon for $28 (also available in a travel size).
28. A 12-piece colorful knife set for not only adding a pop of color into your kitchen, but safely ensuring you're not cross-contaminating during meal prep.
I have a pretty inexpensive knife block set in my kitchen that I've had for the past two years since I first got my own apartment. While it looks great on my kitchen counter and the knives are usable, they're not exactly the best quality. I found I was getting really frustrated trying to chop up produce with the knives I had, but didn't want to drop a ton of money on a whole new knife block set. I bought these knives a few months ago and they are GOOD. They work really well at cutting through onions, potatoes, etc. — everything that I struggled to cut through before with my other knives. I like that they come with covers and are color-coded. They're functional, pretty, and overall. a great addition to my kitchen for meal prep.
Get it from Amazon for $22.47+ (available in two color combos).
29. A pack of Rob's Popcorn — a perfect mix of sweet and salty popcorn that just so happens to be endorsed by the JONAS BROTHERS. (Bonus if you're a fan of the band!) I promise this popcorn is so worth it.
There are two things that I really love: popcorn and the Jonas Brothers. So when I got the chance to try out Rob's Popcorn, I was super excited. It is SO good. According to the ingredient list, it contains olive oil, sugar, salt, onion and garlic powder, red bell pepper, and carrot, but I think they also sprinkled in some sort of magic fairy dust because it's basically impossible to not eat an entire bag in one sitting. It's the perfect mix of sweet and savory (perfect for anyone who is incredibly indecisive like me) and if you're also a Jonas Brothers fan, you're gonna want to try this ASAP.
Not to mention, it's GMO- and gluten-free AND vegan!
Get it from Walmart for $3.98 or get a pack of four from Rob's Backstage Popcorn for $23.99 (also available in other flavors).
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.