Every now and then, the one that changes everything comes along.
I’m talking about products, of course: that special thing you never knew you needed until it fell into your lap and completely changed your routine for the better.
The Shop TODAY team has accumulated many such gems over the years, and our senior editor Julie Ricevuto stopped by Studio 1A to share a few of the best. From timely finds to ensure your produce is clean and fresh to an “instant cuticle remover,” we don’t know what we’d do without these handy products.
Ready to make life a little easier? Scroll on to shop all of these tried-and-true Amazon favorites, which start at less than $5.
Amazon finds you didn’t know you needed, as seen on TODAY
Ricevuto calls this fabric stitch gun “a life-changing find.” Simply thread the needle through the fabric and with a click, you have a stitch. It comes with 2,000 black and white fasteners, so you’ll be stocked for countless projects.
“It allows you to do alterations on the go, and it’s super thin so the stitching is almost invisible,” Ricevuto vouches. “Whether you have a top with a low neckline that needs a little reinforcement, pants that need a hem, or even a seam that needs repairing, this works so much better than a pin or fashion tape.”
The instant cuticle remover by Sally Hansen is so popular right now that over 40,000 of them have been bought on Amazon in the last month. The product softens the cuticles instantly and gets rid of excess skin, so your nails will look amazing from the first use.
“All you do is apply the formula to your cuticles, wait 15 seconds and then easily push them back and remove with a manicure stick or even your fingers,” instructs Ricevuto. “Plus the formula includes aloe and chamomile so it’s soothing and anti-inflammatory.”
You never think about the gap between your car seat and center console until you drop something down there. The “Drop Stop” fills that dangerous space where your phone, keys, wallet and other valuables always seem to disappear to at the worst times. This set comes with two, one for the driver side and one for the passenger side.
“You’re protecting your valuables but most importantly you’re avoiding distracted driving which is the No. 1 cause of car accidents in the U.S,” cautions Ricevuto. “According to the brand, it’s easy to install, fits any car, and moves with the seat, so there’s no need to readjust or reinstall when you move the seat.”
Recent headlines about contaminated produce have been a good reminder that it’s important to clean your fruits and veggies.
“This vegetable cleaning brush helps scrub away bacteria, dirt and pesticide residue from produce,” Ricevuto explains. “One side uses angled, gentle bristles to scrub delicate produce like mushrooms or berries, while the stiffer white bristles on the other side work for scrubbing hardier items like potatoes, radishes, cucumbers and more. It comes in a pack of two and is dishwasher safe.”
“After cleaning your produce, keep it fresh for longer with the FreshPaper Food Saver sheets,” Ricevuto continues. “According to the brand, the sheets are infused with organic botanicals that naturally extend the life of fresh produce for up to four times longer. Just add the sheets to your fruit bowl, berry container, produce drawer or bags of lettuce and it’ll help maintain freshness. Each sheet keeps working for up to a month, so you can reuse them multiple times.”
People always forget to clean the appliances that do the cleaning, but consider this your sign to show them some TLC, too. Throw these tablets in with your dishes to clean, remove odors and descale your dishwasher, breaking down any hard water buildup, grime and stains in the process. According to the brand, the tablets also help prevent clogs and clear out foam in the internal tubes and filter area, so routine use can save you the trouble of calling a plumber down the line.
More Amazon finds you didn’t know you needed
Clumpy mascara is no match for this eyelash comb. Right after applying your mascara as usual, simply wiggle the comb gently from the base of your lashes outward to separate and define lashes. Perfect mascara, every time.
Stick this “cheat sheet” on the side of your fridge to quickly reference when you fire up your air fryer. It’s got suggested cook times for everything from meat and veggies to frozen foods and more.
Got a squeaky door or sticky drawer? These WD-40 pens are easy to hold and allow you to lubricate tight spaces precisely.
This deodorant has a cooling effect, making it especially great for summer. You can use it on your underarms, chest, feet and more areas for a burst of chill and deodorizing wherever you might need it.
The towel you use to dry your face after cleansing might actually be re-introducing bacteria to your skin, making your issues worse. These disposable towels eliminate the risk of re-using your washcloth, hand or bath towel, which the brand says can help with a ton of skin concerns, from fine lines and wrinkles to acne and more.
Between sweltering temperatures and the peak of wedding season, now’s the time when strappy tops and tricky dresses prevent some undergarment puzzles. These top-rated stick-on nipple covers replace your bra without showing any straps, and unlike petals, you can reuse them over and over again.
We love this night light for your hallway, bathroom, kitchen and more spots you might need to get to in the middle of the night. Per the brand, they detect motion up to 25 feet away to turn on, and they’ll turn off automatically after 90 seconds of no activity.
Breaking in a new pair of shoes? Add these socks to your cart to skip blisters and irritation around your heel. I personally own and love these for stiff loafers, new boots and more otherwise-uncomfortable footwear.
“My mom introduced me to this product after both her and I experienced some hair thinning,” shares associate editor Madison San Miguel. “It’s a hair powder that conceals any sparse areas and bald spots with a fine colored powder. It is transfer-proof and wind-, rain- and sweat-resistant. I can attest to those claims!”
Make any device or appliance in your home “smart” with these plugs, which you can turn on and off right from an app on your phone. We love these for lamps, coffee makers, holiday lights and more home finds, and you can even set schedules from the app so they’ll turn on and off automatically.
Tossing and turning to find the cool spot in the bed? Try this blanket, which has a cool side that’s breathable and won’t trap heat in the sweltering summer months.
“I got the chance to try this new launch from PopSocket for a few weeks before it officially came out and immediately was obsessed with it,” raves editor Kamari Stewart-Jackson. “My favorite part is the rotating stand that you can pull out so you can watch anything you like on your phone in any rotation. I wouldn’t leave the house without this on my phone during the Finals because I knew I could prop my phone up anywhere with ease to watch a game.”
I used to dread my alarm clock going off in the morning (and who wouldn’t, when every day starts with a panic at the sound of a jarring blare that startles you awake?). This alarm clock has made all the difference for me, gently stirring me from even the deepest of slumbers with a gradual light before the actual alarm goes off. Plus, it doubles as a noise machine and a bedside lamp.
Meet the experts
Our team features a range of qualified experts and contributors in our broadcast segments to reveal the latest in trends, remarkable sale events and all things shopping across a variety of categories. Products were independently chosen by members of the Shop TODAY team along with Julie Ricevuto.
- Julie Ricevuto is a senior editor for Shop TODAY with over a decade of experience covering beauty, fashion and lifestyle content.
- Shop TODAY is a team of shopping editors and writers who spend hours every day finding the best new products, tried-and-true favorites and more finds available on Amazon that are worth shopping, according to our high standards.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
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