
Promising review: “I have been an avid Amazon shopper for years. Never once have I (selfishly) written a review for a product. After purchasing this simple tongue scraper, I am now ending that streak. For YEARS, my tongue had been a whiteish-covered organ. It was more white-covered than pink. It looked like it had been born permanently stained with streaks of vanilla ice cream. I secretly envied the wet, pink, glistening tongues of others. Over the years and with countless attempts of desperation, I scrubbed and scrubbed my tongue with the fronts and backs of toothbrushes, all to no avail. Until tonight. As I pulled the gentle scraper down across my tongue, I couldn’t believe my eyes. I HAD FINALLY UNCOVERED WHAT MY SOUL HAS CRIED FOR FOR YEARS — A PINKISH-RED TONGUE! [Short version]: BUY THIS SCRAPER. It will take years off your tongue and add them back upon your life.” —Stewart Clyde
Dr. Tung’s is a small biz that makes breath-improving dental products.
Psst — reviewers love these undies, but suggest sizing up!
Promising review: “It took me a while to finally give in and buy these, because I wasn’t sure if they would work. I am kicking myself for letting them sit in the cart for that long, while I spent hideous amounts of money on disposable products that are freaking uncomfortable torture devices that let you down when you need them most. These undies are SO. WONDERFUL. I could cry at this point. I tried these for the first time this week. One of my worse, heavier monthly rounds. I crossed my fingers, packed lots of extra pads in case they didn’t work, and dove into my hectic day. I forgot I was wearing them. No crinkle puff-butt discomfort. No running for the bathroom. They didn’t even leak overnight, which, for me, is unheard of. I’m never going back.” —Blythe
Available in women’s sizes XS–XXL, in plus sizes, in four colors, and in various pack size combos.
Promising review: “Best dry shampoo ever. I have been literally obsessed with finding the perfect affordable dry shampoo. I have tried plenty of sprays, none of them really do the job. I happened upon this product. Let me tell you…changed my world. I washed Wednesday. Used it Thursday, Friday and was blown away. My hair wasn’t greasy. The powder gives your hair a texture so you can get some good lift if you want. Also, I could have gone a third day no wash if I wanted. I am 100% percent happy with this.” —Kristina Boddie
“Tip: When you put these on your feet, put a pair of old socks on over them. It will ensure that the liquid gets in every little fold of skin, in between toes, etc.” —J. Jupa
Promising review: “This stuff works! At first I thought I had a small callus but as months went by it was getting larger. I started to Google and realized I had a plantar wart on my thumb! Embarrassing! So I got it frozen off and thought ‘This has to work!’ Nope! I tried freezing it off three times and nothing! I then realized the wart had spread to my other thumb. Now I was desperate to get rid of them and knew I had waited too long! Bought the invisible strips and they removed my small wart in four days and my big wart in eight!! I couldn’t believe it. I left the strips on for two days and then reapplied with fresh ones. I thought my skin would be damaged but it looks like nothing was ever there!” —Audrey N.
Promising review: “Folks. Buy it. This is like head lice treatment. If you are looking at it and thinking about it, YOU NEED IT. And this stuff. Is. Awesome. Literally chunks of ear wax came out of my ear holes the SIZE OF CORN KERNELS. Where was this coming from? Why is my body making so much wax? Where was it being stored because I did NOT think ear canals were that spacious, but apparently there are some storage closets in there or something because HOLY MARY MOTHER OF GOD the ear nuggets are real. My ears feel so squeaky clean! And get this, my hair makes sounds. Like I put it up in a hair tie afterwards, and I could HEAR MY HAIR MOVING ON MY HEAD. What is that?! Seriously?! If you also did not know that moving hair creates a sound, you need to buy this product ASAP.” —Samantha
Promising review: “Seriously — this is amazing. I have long hair and recently had a baby. Our poor tub drain was getting clogged constantly, and we were spending ridiculous amounts of time shoving a drain snake down there and pulling it out over and over. I figured if this worked to catch even half of my hair then it would be worth its salt. Holy moly. When they say it catches every hair they aren’t kidding. We clean it off about twice a week. And when they say it’s easy to clean, they are right again. A swipe with toilet paper and the hair blob comes right off to be flushed down the toilet. I’ve already told so many people about this product because I love it so much. Fantastic!!!” —sasamo
Promising review: “MIRACLE PRODUCT! If you have a flaky scalp from dandruff, BUY THIS. I was about to go to the dermatologist if this stuff didn’t work. Thank goodness I saved myself hundreds of dollars by giving this product a shot. I used it four or five times (over a month) and it cleared my scalp almost completely. One more use and my scalp will be 120% healed! This stuff blew my mind. Totally worth it.” —chris
Promising review: “I’ve had acne for probably close to 20 years, since my preteens. So rather than stick a ton of little circles on my face that are meant for individual zits I figured I’d try these extra large patches. Wow. They work absolutely amazingly. The adhesion was fantastic and when it came time to remove the patches it didn’t feel like I was ripping off my flesh. I could see all the gross and yet satisfying little white blobs on the patch from where it had absorbed my excessive sebum and bacteria while I slept. My pores looked so much smaller because all of that gross stuff that was clogging them had been removed. Seriously, this stuff is great and did way better than any pore strips I have ever used. Go buy these if you want to have baby-soft poreless skin and are tired of it looking like Neil Armstrong should be planting a flag on your face.” —Christina Smith
Avarelle is a small business that aims to make the best skincare that’s also honest and affordable. All their products are vegan and cruelty-free!
Promising review: “I’m a (now) 37-year-old who still gets breakouts, including painful cystic acne at times. I sleep with these babies on, and in the morning, the size and redness is usually 50%–75% better. If it’s a larger breakout or a cyst, I repeat the process and have been known to wear these to work — depending on location of the pimple. They really are great and makes having acne in your mid-late thirties less stressful. They’re usually gone in one to two days with these patches! Highly recommend!” —Lauren Kerley
Promising reviews: “I wish I’d found this product 10 years ago. This is the absolute best cleaner I’ve used. Deep cleaning is easy since you spray and let it dry!” —Casa Koch
“Amazing! And we couldn’t be happier!! Imagine buying a brand new sofa, and within a week, your cat ‘marked it’ as his very own…the cushions no less. We tried so many things. Cat urine is no joke. And it only gets worse as the days go by. But this spray? The directions were easy, and the results FABULOUS!!!! If you have a cat who has these tendencies, or even accidents, buy this!! You will not be sorry!!!” —Karen Byrne
Rocco & Roxie Supply Co. is a family-owned small business named after the family’s Labradoodle and rescued tabby. They specialize in pet tools, treats, and toys!
Promising review: “We get fruit flies every summer, but this year has been the worst by far. They land on any food you leave out, but worst of all…they hover around your face. I’ve tried a lot of different things, and nothing actually attracts the fruit flies. They’re always attracted to everything except the bait that I put out! I bought four of these little apple-shaped fruit fly traps and filled them with the bottle of Terro bait. Within a week, each trap had at least 20 fruit flies. What’s really cool is that you can unscrew the traps to dump the fruit flies out. Once the fruit fly goes in, it can’t get out, and that is eliminating a great deal of them. I highly recommend trying these if you are suffering through a fruit fly infestation!” —KZ & SC
Promising review: “It’s what everyone says; perfect. I live on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi — hot, humid, and plenty of moisture in the air. My garage, where my trash cans are kept, opens to a large wooded area. Lots of flies. Regardless of washing them out weekly, using bags with ties, or making sure to rinse meat packages and such, my trash cans were fly heaven and laden with maggots around trash time. Well, I stuck these where everyone said to, underneath the lid. In less than TWO days there were no flies or maggots. NONE!! Now, you might open the lid and have one flying around, but he won’t last long. Seriously, this stuff works better than described.” —ztennyson
Promising review: “This product is terrific for hiding the pesky gray hairs that start to emerge 1–2 weeks after coloring my hair. I have dark hair, and a lot of gray around my forehead and temple areas, so any gray hairs are beyond obvious. Once they start to peek out, I use this product and I can last another couple of weeks before coloring.” —Carissa K
Available in eight colors and in packs of two.
Promising review: “I was skeptical this would work but boy howdy this is amazing! I never took my shoes off at people’s houses because my feet sweat and stink. These took the odor out of not only newish shoes, but ones I’ve been wearing for years! It’s amazing and I’m buying more.” —Ashley Patrick
I swear by these pill cases for keeping my meds secure while on the go. The cases are sturdy and, for pill holders, surprisingly fashionable — their discreet, minimalist design makes me feel confident carrying them around without feeling self conscious. Each compartment holds a *lot* of pills, so I feel prepared for basically anything with this in my bag. One of my best purchases this year.
Promising review: “I love, love, love, this little pill holder! It’s a great size, super discreet, and holds a lot! I have one in my purse with things like Tums, Advil, Tylenol, etc. and one on my nightstand with my daily meds. You could also use these for traveling with jewelry or other little things. I would definitely recommend these! They’re super convenient, easy to use/clean, and it’s great that they come with three in a pack!” —Olyvia Repyneck
Promising review: “I’m a makeup artist and kept hearing from others about how face shaving (derma-planing) makes makeup look better and makes skin glowy, and decided why not, let’s try it! And I’m so impressed! I wish I had a picture of how much white peach fuzz came off in small strokes as I was using this! I loved it as an eyebrow tool, too. It’s important to properly cleanse before using as you will be opening up your pores in the process for exfoliating, some of the reviews said they broke out and I imagine it’s because they didn’t properly cleanse. From research, they recommend not wearing makeup the day you use this and applying moisturizer after. I dipped the blade in rubbing alcohol to sanitize after using, too. I don’t know how some reviews said they cut theirselves with this tool, I was nervous to try this because of those reviews but honestly no. Hold the tool at a 45 degree angle, make small strokes downward and hold the skin taut on the area you are shaving, and you’ll be fine. Give it a try!” —dl
Promising review: “I love these! Even as an adult, I hate my food touching. Thought they might keep things apart but not juices or things, but they really stick to the plate, and the meat juice doesn’t run into the salad. It saves me from having different plates for each food. I wish I had these a long time ago. Also used when I hurt my arm and only had one hand to help push things onto the fork/spoon. I told a friend who had a stroke about them, and she loves them as well. What a cool idea for many people.” —Superbeckee
Food Cubby is a small business whose products aim to make mealtime easier.
Promising review: “I never realized how curved and not-OK my toenails were. I thought the pain I had was just normal and a fact of life. Only when I read about the Curve Correct product did I realize that I had a major problem that could be resolved! Now I’m on the way to normal, flat toenails that DON’T grow curved into my skin!” —Jamie H.
Folks, these are not the gloppy whitening strips of your childhood that slid all around your mouth and had you spitting out globs of product every few minutes so you wouldn’t swallow it. I know this because I grew up using those exact strips to treat my hereditarily, naturally-kinda-yellow teeth. I eventually swore off whitening strips because they were so awful and uncomfortable. Ten years later, I decided to give at-home whitening another try since I now drink, like, a million cups of coffee a day, which obviously did nothing to help my yellow teeth lol. Long story short, I was FLOORED when I tried these strips. They may or may not be the best beauty development of the 21st century. These things stay put with literally zero gloppy residue, no spitting or readjusting required. They work so well, I’m almost resentful ~kids these days~ won’t experience how absurd at-home whiteners used to be lol. Anyway, they’re so comfortable that the 30 minutes or an hour you have them on zips by, so that by the time you’re through, your teeth look whiter with virtually zero effort on your part. Can I nominate this for some sort of award??
BTW: If your teeth feel sensitive while you’re using the strips (mine did), just take a break for a few days before starting them again.
Promising reviews: “These are amazing for when you’re on the go and can’t stop to brush your teeth. They get your mouth really clean and make your breath smell really fresh. They’re also good if you’re ill and don’t feel well enough to get out of bed to brush your teeth. You can keep them by the bedside.” —Byrds
“I have an autoimmune disorder whose primary symptom for me is extreme dryness in the mouth — in simple terms, I don’t produce much spit! What this means is that almost anything I eat ends up sticking to my teeth. When I am at home it’s not too much of a problem since I can just go back and brush my teeth. However, that option isn’t available to me when I am out. These are a game-changer for me and I have a supply in the glove compartment of both cars as well as in my handbags. Even if you aren’t starting with an autoimmune disorder, you will find that these brushes will make your mouth feel fresher even if you don’t have access to your regular toothbrush and the privacy of your own bathroom.” —Leigh Hill
Dress Strong is a woman-owned small business based in New York. The weights are reusable, and with proper care, the adhesive on the back lasts for about six uses.
The metal on the comb is anti-rust and easy to clean, and comes with a protective cover for maximum hygiene.
Promising review: “As a pro makeup artist, this is an excellent tool to have in my kit. Excellent for removing mascara clumps.” —Lady Marina
“I use this all the time now. Just squirt into pans or dishes that need extra attention and leave it for a while. Come back and you can literally just wash the pan and put it away. If it is a really baked-on, leave it overnight. I have found it always comes off. Also been using for a stain removal and so far it has worked every time!” —Keg
Promising review: “I am in love with this! I’ve told so many people about it! I live in Louisiana, which is hot and very humid. Therefore, I would get shiny often so I’d touch up with powder and by the end of the day my makeup looked cakey. So this roller is miraculous! It just glides on your face and instantly shine is gone, and better yet, it doesn’t take your makeup off!” —Angie Manganello
Promising review: “This product works! We took in a kitten several months back and she would use the litter box sometimes, but also was at least once a day peeing on my bed and pooping on the floor beside my bed. I found this, bought it, and on the first night of sprinkling it in her litter box, she used it from there on out. Even with litter changes, I’d still use some just in case. She’s not peed or pooped anywhere else since and I don’t really use it anymore other than here and there, so it’s not just going to waste.” —Jessica Benjamin
Promising review: “Great to give, great to have! Giving this to my wife for a stocking stuffer since she really liked the one I had for travel. It’s a beautiful travel-hack item to ensure your black clothes stay lint-free (or animal hair-free). Rolls back up into its own casing and back in the bag. Done! SIMPLE!” —Andrew Marquez
Promising review: “I bought a couple of pairs of these socks for a big trip where I’d be spending hours on a plane. Without a doubt, these are the most comfortable compression socks I’ve ever worn. These pull up nicely without me feeling like I needed to squeeze my calves into them. I have athletic calves and some compression socks were too tight and just not enjoyable to wear. These are perfect! I’m ordering more to have on hand to just wear around the house.” —Angie-B
Comrad is a small biz that makes cute, high-quality compression socks.
Available in sizes S–XL, including wide calf sizes, and 14 color/pattern combos.
Hero Cosmetics is an Asian woman-founded brand and home of the popular Mighty Patch and more. Ju Rhyu launched the brand in 2017, and it’s since evolved with products such as cleansers, toners, nose strip Mighty Patches, and more!
Promising review: “I was skeptical about these but I was quickly all about them when I put them on. I get really motion sick when flying but this weekend I did not get motion sick at all during a four-hour flight! I was even able to read my book for a while on the plane without sickness! I have never been able to do that before. I love these and they are now a must-have whenever I travel again. 10/10.” —Rosse
Promising review: “I don’t often write reviews of products. But this was so impressive, I thought I should let others know. We have a set of vinyl outdoor chairs that were constantly covered with mildew. When we were feeling ambitious, we’d take the time to power wash the chairs, which worked pretty well but was a lot of work. The problem was that a couple of days later, the mildew was back almost as bad as before. With this mildew stain remover, we sprayed the chairs, let them sit a few minutes, and hosed off with a regular garden hose. Easy. And they were cleaner than they ever got using the power washer. When we put the chairs away two months later, they were still clean.” —Christine A. Simonson