30 Products That Are So Downright Genius, You’ll Wish You’d Thought Of Them First
I have been at BuzzFeed for almost eight years now and have written many travel articles where I have included this reviewer-loved luggage scale. Heck, reviewers (and the BuzzFeed audience) love it so much that I put it in non-travel articles because I just thought it was genius.
With that being said, every time I pack for a trip, I have done one of two ridiculous options: 1) use a mechanical bathroom scale to weigh my luggage, even though said mechanical bathroom scale is nearly 20 years old and is definitely broken; 2) weigh myself on a digital bathroom scale, then step onto the scale again holding my luggage and do the math. This past summer, I went on a trip to Cabo and, upon leaving the hotel, did this second option thanks to a scale in the bathroom. When I found myself sitting on the bed trying to convert kilograms to pounds, I knew I needed a better system going forward.
I purchased this prior to a recent trip to Puerto Rico, and I am SO glad I did. First of all, I am amazed at how accurate this is. I mean, I knew from the reviews that it was, but this is kinda one of those products where you really have to see to believe. Shy of .02 of an ounce from the airport scale weight, this thing really gave me an accurate measurement (and that's no easy task with the way I pack — a very large suitcase, 50-pound capacity reached for a three-day weekend, oops). Best of all, it's small enough to store in your suitcase or carry-on (mine went through TSA just fine!), so if you're like me and ALSO enjoy getting souvenirs wherever you travel, then there won't be any surprises when you head to the airport to go back home. Highly recommend!!!
Get it from Amazon for $13.40+ (available in six colors and a two-pack).
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Fullstar is a small biz that specializes in super useful kitchen gadgets!
Promising review: "Makes life so much easier. I can't imagine chopping onions or bell peppers by hand anymore, and it does so much more. We used to have a Prepworks chopper which was a similar idea, but you had to press so hard to chop, and it broke after not too long. This one requires very little effort to cut through the food, and it has a generous container." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in four colors and five sizes).
Amazon
Besuerte is a small biz with tons of farmhouse-style decor options.
Promising review: "After looking into many similar book stands on Amazon, I found that most of them were cheap and not made of solid wood. I took a chance on this one despite it having very few reviews. It took a little bit to arrive, but the product was well worth the wait. I love that it is a beautiful, solid wood piece and was packaged in a way that didn't require assembly and would not be damaged upon delivery. The only con was that there were two nails peeking out on the inside, but I should be able to fix that easily. Overall, I'd say it exceeded my expectations and is priced well." —R. Young
Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two sizes and three colors).
Lovoir Beauty is a small biz based in New Zealand that sells this genius winged eyeliner stamp known as The Flick Stick.
Promising review: "I just want to make my morning routine as easy as possible. I love winged liner, but I don’t have the steady hand for it without mistakes. This makes the perfect and consistent wing every time. Love it! I ordered the 10 mm, and now I'll have to try the 12 mm!" —Julie B
Get it from Amazon for $14.98 (available in three sizes).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I wasn't sure what to expect when purchasing these, but now they are a staple in every room of our house. Within three days the air smelled more crisp and was easier to breathe in our home. So simple and effective!" —Haylee Marez
Get a three-pack from Amazon for $21.99.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Each of these carriers can hold up to 80 pounds! Click and Carry is a woman-owned small business; you may recognize it from Shark Tank!
Promising review: "TikTok made me buy it. This is great when you have a few bags and a box — for example, if you balance the bags, you can throw it over your shoulder and walk inside and have two free hands to carry the box, which is great. Product seems well built, and is comfortable on your shoulder or hand because of the padding." —Hung
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in seven colors and a two-pack).
Promising review: "Best snot sucker EVER! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE our NoseFrida. Yeah, yeah, it's gross sucking your kid's snot, but you know what's worse? A sick, miserable baby. Our pediatrician even recommended the Frida over those little blue bulbs. I can suck more junk out, and it's so much easier to clean and sanitize. There is NO WAY any boogies can get back into your mouth when you use this product. The gross factor is just all in your head. If you have a kid, order this! If you know someone with a kid, order this!" —Chelsea S.
Get one nasal aspirator and four hygiene filters from Amazon for $19.99.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
CrunchCup is the small biz behind the genius travel cereal cup!
Promising review: "I've always wanted to be able to eat cereal on my commute in the morning, but now I have this! Tried it for the first time this morning, and I'm in love. Put cereal in the inner cup and milk in the outer cup. Place a finger over the milk's air vent hole to prevent milk from pouring out. Pour cereal into the mouth, and remove the finger from the air vent hole to dispense milk. It works perfectly, and I'm so excited to be eating cereal every morning, no matter the circumstances now." —Matt Schrum
Get it from Amazon for $24.95 (available in seven colors and two sizes).
Amanda Davis / BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com
My colleague Amanda Davis swears by this spray. Here's what she has to say about it:
"So, I have about three pairs of shoes that have just been sitting in my closet because while they are sooo so cute, the leather was too tight for my foot to comfortably get inside 'em. Did I return them? Nope. (We all know the hassle of online returns, right?) Instead, I bought this shoe stretch spray on a whim. I didn't expect much, but WOW! The shoes that took me a minute of struggling to get into fit *perfectly* now!!
"The process was as simple as could be, too. I just sprayed my shoes (inside and out, heel to toe) like there was no tomorrow, I put on some semi-thick socks (just to ensure I had ample room later), and wore the shoes around my house for about 30–40 minutes. As I was walking around, I could literally feel them begin to loosen up.
"After about 30 minutes, I took my shoes and thick socks off, and the shoes just ~slide~ on. Easy Peasy. Now I have a new favorite pair of shoes, and zero dollars have been wasted. I tried these with a pair of chunky leather loafers, but I can only imagine what they'll do for my pair of Dr. Martens — the boots known to take a while to break into. This stuff is a must!"
Get it from Amazon for $10.99.
Hustle & Sew / Etsy
Hustle & Sew is a small business based in Saint Helens, Oregon, that sells handmade goods. You can opt to have your goods personalized!
Promising review: "Great item, catches all the drips! I requested an off-center hole for my faucet, and it turned out perfectly. Highly recommend this shop!" —Ellen Lucas
Get it from Hustle & Sew on Etsy for $13.50+ (available in five colors and four sizes).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "I absolutely love this product. I saw it on TikTok and figured I would give it a try. My grandmother passed away almost eight years ago, and she left me her first engagement ring in her will. I have tried so many jewelry cleaners, toothpaste and toothbrush, you name it. I tried everything except sending it away to get cleaned. I cleaned my ring with the Diamond Dazzle Stik, and my ring is just as shiny as it was when my grandfather bought it for my grandmother many, many years ago. I will definitely use this on all my jewelry. Highly recommended!" —Heather
Get it from Amazon for $9.48+ (available in two sizes).
ChomChom Rolleris a Massachusetts-based small biz creating an eco-friendly, reusable alternative to sticky lint rollers.
Promising review: "Where has this been all my life!! We have one long-haired cat and three dogs — suffice it to say, shedding hair is a big problem on every cloth-like surface in our home. No more vacuuming the couches and chairs like wild when you have this around. This picks up hair quickly and easily when used correctly (fast back-and-forth motion). I will never not have this in our house!" —Shelby Cipolla
Check out our ChomChom pet hair remover review for more deets!
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in four colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Buddeez is a family-owned small biz based in Missouri that sells home goods!
Promising review: "The Buddeez Sandwich Bread Dispenser is great! It does exactly what it was intended for. I live alone and I don't quite go through bread often enough before the last quarter section of the loaf starts to go stale. I was originally looking for something to put a loaf of bread in as a shell for my vacuum sealer that would keep the bread from getting crushed by the pressure. This dispenser solved all of my problems. Thank you!" —DRMcQuaig
Get it from Amazon for$19.99 (also available in a pack of two).
Amazon
Promising review: "Purchased two pairs for my running shoes. They work very well, and I have put a bunch of miles on them. No more tying/untying; just slip on. I like how they keep unified tension across the entire laces from top to bottom. I have had no issues with the lace lock at all. It snapped in well." —Scott
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in 17 colors).
Promising review: "Before I knew a thing like this existed, I spent the time it took to wash my squirming kiddo's hands one at a time, wondering how long it was going to take for his arms to grow enough to reach the faucet. I'm so glad I have this thing now! The setup is just taking it out of the box and stretching the rubber part around the faucet; it took two seconds plus some time to adjust to the best angle. Now, I can wash my 15-month-old's hands at the same time, and the whole process is much faster and easier. He liked it right away, too!" —Michelle G
Get two from Amazon for $10.95.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: "To be honest, I was initially skeptical about liking this item when I first took it out of the box. The purple straps were a turn-off, and once installed, the SnuggleBack gave me the impression that my chair had turned into a short version of Darth Vader. However, I decided to give it a fair chance and worked a full day with the SnuggleBack attached. I can confidently say that I have never been warmer! The item is incredibly thick, with a soft fleece lining on the inside and faux fur on the outside. It feels so luxurious! Surprisingly, the lower wings that I place across my thighs make the most difference in warmth. I'm incredibly happy with this purchase and would highly recommend it, especially if you have a tall chair with a high back —otherwise, the wings may drag on the floor." —Mimi K.
Get it from Amazon for$54.99+ (available in eight colors).
The Magnetack / Etsy
The Magnetack is a small biz based in Miami that sells magnetic pushpin photo and poster holders.
Promising review: "Absolutely perfect. It holds a whole stick of butter and the butter stays in place — unlike some of the other products on the market that are supposed to serve the same purpose." —Michelle
Get it from The Magnetack on Etsy for $14.95.
Amazon
Promising review: "After slightly sinking into the ground at my own wedding, I decided that I absolutely needed these for every summer wedding thereafter! They were a hit — everyone thought they were genius. My heels were spared from sinking into grass as well as dirt and gravel! LOVE THEM! I need them in every size!" —Alexis
Get them from Amazon for $11.99 (available in four sizes).
Check out my colleague's full Stoppers Heel Protectors review.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Holy cow, this thing is amazing!!! I’d been looking at brush cleaners for a while but thought they couldn’t be everything they claimed. I was wrong! This brush cleaner cleans brushes instantly and then dries them, too. It took me less than 10 minutes to wash and dry all my brushes, whereas it used to take me 45 minutes to wash them by hand and then a full day to get them dry. This machine dries them so well that they can be used immediately, and it keeps the integrity of the brush. I give it at least 10/5 stars!!!" —Ziasophia
Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in two colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Plus!!!! This product is made from 100% plant-derived fats, so you'll feel good about it! FryAway is a woman-owned small biz that makes this super smart cooking oil solidifier! The brand also made a deal with Lori and Mark on Shark Tank!
Promising review: "Honestly, I didn’t know if this would work. Waiting for it to cool down made me nervous, but once it was at room temperature, it was solid. It popped out of the fryer so nicely. Worth every penny." —Emma
Get it from Amazon for $9.97.
Promising review: "If you're like me and living in a space that doesn't have a ton of room, let alone space for a big old ironing board, this is the perfect solution. This mat easily sticks with the magnets to the top of the dryer. It's a great space-saving solution. If you're looking to minimize, this is what you want!" —JD
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in two sizes).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "This has saved my baby from hitting his head on the floor so many times. He is so determined to walk, and even when we are holding his hand or walking with him, he can get wild and go down (parents out there, you know what I mean!). Anyway, this is probably the MVP of all our baby stuff. We call it his 'backpack' and anytime someone is watching him, everyone always asks, 'Where’s his backpack???' because they know its powers of padding protection. This sort of helped him when he was learning to sit, but has been an essential item for him as he’s learning to walk! The only thing I wish is that the strap across the chest could be tighter." —Michelle H. Nguyen
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (also available in 13 styles).
Promising review: "This was bought for a young friend who had taken a new job with very early hours. She was getting in trouble at her new job because she had difficulty waking up to her alarm so very early in the morning. She has stated this alarm clock would 'wake the dead!' The clincher, though, is the earthquake that occurs under her pillow when the very loud alarm goes off! This alarm clock has fixed her problem and trained her to wake up very early each morning. She hasn't been late (from oversleeping, anyway) since she received this clock. Another plus is the terrific retro look and turquoise color of the clock. I recommend this for anyone who has difficulty waking to a regular alarm clock. It is an outstanding product! Thank you!" —Lisa Engle
Get it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in four colors).
Promising review: "We bought these for our beach vacation, and I am so glad we did! They are pretty unnoticeable until it is time to add more sunscreen, then they turn a light purple color. They worked great and stayed on through swimming and sweating. It came with a ton, so you will definitely have enough to go around. A MUST-have for sun protection." —Mindy
Get a 16-pack from Amazon for $13.49 (also available in packs of 32 and 48).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Just be mindful of the fact that while wearing this, your scalp will still be exposed to the sun!
Promising review: "I took this sun hat to Cancun. It was perfect! I love how it can roll up small to fit in luggage. The brim stays up and doesn’t flop around. It stayed nice and snug with the adjustable closure even when it was windy out. It dries quickly, and I love that I could wear it with a ponytail. This product was just as advertised. It’s the perfect traveling sun hat!" —Emily
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in eight options).
Amazon, www.amazon.com
This works for both indoor and outdoor plants.
Promising review: "I have deck rail flower boxes, and they get full sun most of the day. I filled in the drain holes to hold more water and added these to the soil. Both made a huge difference in the quality of life for the plants. They were and still are gorgeous, even if I couldn't water every day. I do have to admit I used more per planter than the recommended amount." —Pattijwr
Get it from Amazon for $11.42+ (also available in multi-packs).
Amazon
Thaw Claw is a small biz!
Promising review: "A package of frozen meat would have taken at least two days to thaw in the fridge. I used this for a 2-pound package a couple of days ago, and the meat was thawed within 90 minutes. One of the most practical kitchen gadgets I own." —Llda Schellhase
Get it from Amazon for $10.95.
Amazon
Shakalo is a small biz based in San Diego!
Promising review: "We recently moved to a beach area, and we are constantly there. This item has changed our entire lives! It lasts decently long (depending on how much you use it), it smells super good (not at all like baby powder), and it's super effective. It has saved me from vacuuming my car at least 1x–2x a week. I even use it on my dogs's paws and bellies to make sure they're taken care of. I will definitely be buying the refill and another baggie to have exclusively in the car." —Gabbs Uresti
Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (also available in a three-pack).
Promising review: "TikTok made me buy it. Pulled out the oven to find a horror story...got that all cleaned up (very satisfying), then put these lil' things in. They blend so well that it just looks like something that should have been installed from the beginning. No more crumbs/liquids/grease getting down the sides of the oven. Once you start seeing how much is there for you to wipe up, you realize just how much was falling in between!" —Stacy Dereich
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in five sizes and colors).
Amazon
Promising review: "I got absolutely FRIED at the beach this past weekend and tried everything under the sun (literally) to provide some relief for my sunburn. I was in so much pain, and every over-the-counter aloe gel, lidocaine, and cold shower was not helping. I found this wrap on my TikTok and immediately bought it. As soon as I put this on my burn, I was immediately relieved of any burning or irritation. I am wearing four patches right now, and I plan on wearing them all day, every day, until this burn heals. I will say the only downside is that they slip off when the aloe has worn off! And it is a little bit hard to maneuver to cut since it is so slippery. But overall, I love this product and will be a forever customer!" —Nick
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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