The 30+ Must-Have Products That Stunned Our Team in 2025

What You Need to Know

Out of the hundreds of products we test every year, our editors and writers share what made their personal favorites list for 2025. You’ll find affordable finds like a book light (perfect as a stocking stuffer), carry-on luggage for your next trip, skin care gadgets that refresh the skin, and more. Some of our favorites can even make it to Christmas Day if you order now.

Our team of editors and writers spends the whole year finding the best deals, so our readers never miss out on savings. But we also test products year-round to help our readers make the most informed purchases. Sometimes, though, our picks don’t always make these lists, so we’re sharing what our team deemed their personal favorites of 2025.

There’s a mix of kitchen gadgets, chic speakers, beauty tools, home decor, and more that have earned five stars from our editors and writers. Keep reading to see what made their personal bests—and some are favorites of multiple editors and writers, too!

Our Editors’ Favorite Products of 2025 Overall

• Glocusent USB Rechargeable Book Light, $13 (was $18); amazon.com
• Hatch Restore 3, $170; amazon.com
• Cocokind Electrolyte Water Cream, $20; ulta.com
• Ole Henrikson Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment, $23; sephora.com
• Quince Carry-On Suitcase, $130; quince.com
• Levoit Aero Cordless Vacuum, $500; levoit.com
• Magnifique 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, $153 (was $153); amazon.com
• Pura 4 Smart Home Diffuser, $35 (was $50); pura.com

Editor-Loved Home Products of 2025

Our editors and writers love home products, whether it’s a productivity tool or something to set the ambience of our homes. This year, particularly, we’ve become fans of the Hatch Restore 3, which combines light and music to wake you up. You can also use it to wind down with options of white noise, story telling, and more. The Pura Smart Home Diffuser was also dearly loved, but if you like an old-fashioned candle, we also recommend the Sokcvsea Candle Warmer Lamp that releases the fragrance without any flames.

• Glocusent USB Rechargeable Book Light, $13 (was $18); amazon.com
• Hatch Restore 3, $170; amazon.com
• Coop Linen-Cotton Sheet Set, $269; coopsleepgoods.com
• Aogelan Premium Genuine Sheepskin Rug, $88; amazon.com
• Sokcvsea Candle Warmer Lamp With Timer, $50; amazon.com
• Sperax Walking Treadmill Pad, $150 (was $210); amazon.com
• Pura 4 Smart Home Diffuser , $35 (was $50); amazon.com
• Being Frenshe Reset Candle - Moon Milk, $11; target.com
• Aura Aspen 12-Inch Digital Frame, $209 (was $229); auraframes.com
• Quince Carry-On Suitcase, $130; quince.com
• Marshall Acton III Bluetooth Home Speaker, $180 (was $300); amazon.com

Glocusent USB Rechargeable Book Light

$18
$13 at Amazon

“I’ve tried to make it a point to stop scrolling before going to bed this year, and getting back into reading has honestly made my nights so much better—and restful. This book light has the same effect as getting a new workout set before going back to the gym; I want to read at night just so I can use it and am obsessed with its different settings. It’s frequently under $15, it comes in cute colors, and my mom is currently using hers every night, too. We can’t believe we went this long without it.” —Melanie Fincher, Editor

Hatch Restore 3

$170 at Amazon

“Be honest—is the reason you hit snooze because your alarm clock is set too early…or is it because you sleep procrastinated the night before? For me, my bedtime routine was the biggest reason why I could never make my morning workout classes, but the Hatch 3 swooped in to fix things. The app’s seemingly endless options for soundscapes, podcasts, and meditations have helped me set up a 30-minute nightly routine that—while not always perfect—is significantly more consistent than the “scroll social media until I’m tired” process I had before. Who knew the best feature on an alarm clock would be the one you use before you even fall asleep?” —Kate Geraghty, Vice President

Coop Linen-Cotton Sheet Set

$269 at coopsleepgoods.com

“As a hot sleeper, I’m most comfortable in linen sheets, but never have I ever met a set this cozy. Linen typically isn’t soft, but this cotton blend feels like my favorite, most lived-in and loved-on T-shirt. The naturally breathable fabric keeps me cool in warmer weather and perfectly snug in the winter—it’s nearly impossible to get out of bed. The set comes with one fitted sheet, one top sheet, and two pillowcases in neutral colors. There’s even a matching duvet cover with an innovative L-shaped zipper closure (sold separately).” —Taylor Rock, Associate Editorial Director

Aogelan Premium Rug

$88 at Amazon

“I’m a fan of wool rugs—I love sitting and stretching on the floor. This double-pelt sheepskin rug fits perfectly over my yoga mat, provides a cozy couch cover, and looks great on my reading chair. The texture is luxurious and soft, but a little too slippery for sun salutations. However, it’s lovely for stretching, leg lifts, and lounging. Plus, when using it on the cold floor, it’s much warmer than a plain yoga mat. Merry Christmas to me!” —Sheri Kaz, Writer

Sokcvsea Candle Warmer Lamp With Timer

$50 at Amazon

“Living in a small space with pets and kids, I haven’t burned candles for several years—they just sit there on a shelf as unused decor. But this candle warmer has really made the fall and holiday season feel so much cozier. I have the white lamp, and it’s small and blends in perfectly on a small table. I just swap out my favorite candle depending on my mood or the season, and I don’t have to worry about an open flame. I love the timer, too.” —Jenica Currie, Senior Editor

Sperax Walking Treadmill Pad

$210
$150 at Amazon

“I spend half the week working from home, and while I have a Flexispot Standing Desk to get on my feet during the day, I was not moving nearly as much as my in-office days. I had three criteria for a walking pad: It had to be compact, it had to be easy to use, and I needed to set it up in 60 seconds or less, otherwise I knew I’d never use it. This walking pad quite literally checked all the boxes I needed it to check. It’s among the smallest walking pads I’ve found, and it’s roughly 22 pounds, so I can lift and move it where I need it. I store it upright behind my door when not in use, and when I want to use it, I place it beneath my standing desk, plug it in, switch it on, and start walking. (It has an accompanying app and vibration pad option, but in 5 months I’ve never used those features.) I now walk at least three miles each day I work from home, and my body feels less stiff and sore after a full work day. Generally, I just feel more energized! Quick tip: If you have carpet like I do in my office, you’ll want this walking pad mat; the 55-by-23.6-inch size is perfect for the Sperax walking pad.” —Anna Knief, Director of Home Testing

Pura 4 Smart Home Diffuser

$50
$35 at pura.com

“I love candles, but ever since I was gifted the Pura 4 Diffuser I can't go back. Although I love the ambiance of candles, and still light them from time to time, this diffuser makes it easy to have my apartment smelling great all day without any safety concerns. I love that this model can alternate between two fragrances, which you can schedule on the Pura app. Plus, you can adjust the scent intensity, as well as set the fragrances on a timer.” —Jamie Weissman, Senior Editor

Being Frenshe Reset Candle - Moon Milk

$11 at Target

“If you want your home to smell like a chai latte, this is the scent for you. Since I bought this candle last month, it hasn’t left my candle warmer. The scent’s also available in a line of bodycare products from the same brand, but I prefer it as a candle since it’s so cozy and inviting.” —Dena Ogden, Associate Editor

Aura Aspen 12-Inch Digital Frame

$229
$209 at auraframes.com

“I never understood the digital frame hype until I got my hands on the Aura Aspen Frame. Every time guests come over, they naturally gravitate towards it. My fiance and I love uploading our photos and family photos. It even plays the little live photos with the sound. It’s also so sleek and pretty thin. There’s no glare, and you can even set a timer for when you want it to turn on and off for the day.” —Kennedee Fowler, Writer

Quince Carry-On Suitcase

$130 at quince.com

“When it comes to travel, I’ve always been a shoulder carry-on person, and I pretty much accepted that my arm would go numb every time I got on a flight. It wasn’t until this year that I finally tried out a rollie option, and I’m never going back. This hard-shell suitcase from Quince has been with me around the world at this point, and it’s still in top-notch condition. It’s surprisingly spacious—especially for an overpacker like me—and the four spinner wheels help it glide smoothly.” —Jamie Fischer, Shopping Writer

Marshall Acton III Bluetooth Home Speaker

$300
$180 at Amazon

“I was a huge skeptic of fancy, expensive speakers, but this Marshall one blew me away. It’s truly the best speaker I’ve ever used. The sound is unmatched, and I get a ton of use out of it as someone who loves to host and have music on constantly in my apartment. Plus, it’s the most stunning speaker I’ve ever seen, so it doubles as decor.” —Julia Fields, Senior Writer

Editor-Loved Kitchen Products of 2025

This year, we particularly loved multiuse products, but single-task items like this Krups Coffee Grinder still left us impressed. The Magnifique Slow Cooker was the MVP for one writer when her stove died, and she loved that it could be used for making rice, pasta, and to braise meats, too. For an extra-handy tool, another editor recommends the FinaMill Spice Mill; it streamlines the cooking process and keeps your spices and seasonings organized.

• GreenPan Nut Milk Maker, $100; amazon.com
• Krups Blade Coffee Grinder, $27; staples.com
• Magnifique 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker, $154 (was $180); amazon.com
• Dreo ChefMaker Combi Air Fryer, $359; amazon.com
• Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker, $400; amazon.com
• FinaMill Spice Mill, $90 (was $120); amazon.com

GreenPan Nut Milk Maker

$100 at Amazon

“It’s been a year of me really loving kitchen devices, and this GreenPan Nut Milk Maker is the newest gadget that has left me—and my hard-to-impress mom—a little speechless. The name is misleading in a way, because you can use this for so much more than just making nut milk. With soup season in full swing, I’ve made so many different kinds, and the end results are quite literally the smoothest, finest textures ever. It’s a set it and forget it type of situation that I love and super easy to clean thanks to the self-cleaning mode, too.” —Euna Park, Senior Editor

Krups Blade Coffee Grinder

$27 at Staples

“Ten years ago, a friend moving cross-country willed me her Braun coffee grinder with the caveat that if she moved back, I’d return it. She never did, it gave me many happy coffee-filled mornings, until one day it decided enough was enough. On my journey for something the same size or smaller and the same decibel level or quieter, I found this little guy, and in the past several months it’s never steered me wrong. I’ve had to adjust to not grinding my coffee for as long, since it’s more powerful than my last one, and there’s no dedicated groove to coil the cord around. But the price is so right, I can deal with wrapping it up myself!” —Leanna Yip, Copy Editor

Magnifique 4-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker

$180
$153 at Amazon

“I constantly test kitchen cookware, gadgets, and appliances, and this one has been my favorite of the year—by far. When my stove died, I was left with limited methods of cooking, and as the sole meal-maker of my household, I needed a solution that would make the process streamlined and simple. The eight-in-one appliance isn’t just a slow cooker (though I used this cooking mode a lot), it also works as a rice cooker, pasta cooker, braiser, and more. I especially love the sear/saute setting, which basically transforms it into a frying pan. I’ve made chili, macaroni and cheese, white rice, and even tender pot roast in it, and I’m never looking back. Plus, it’s made from clay with a porcelain liner, so it’s both nontoxic and safe to use in the oven, too!” —Alicia Geigel, Writer

Dreo ChefMaker Combi Air Fryer

$359 at Amazon

“I’d somehow never used an air fryer before this year, but since getting this one, I use it multiple times per week. I love the easy-to-use touchscreen interface and how it has preset cooking times and modes for various proteins. It includes a probe for cooking things like steak so you can get the perfect temperature. I even made the crispiest chicken wings for my Super Bowl party last year, and they were a crowd pleaser—but mostly, it cuts down on time for weeknight meals when I’m super busy (and everything tastes delicious). I love the glass front because I can quickly check on the food while working on other things or washing dishes.” —Kaitlin Marks, Writer

Fellow Aiden Precision Coffee Maker

$400 at Amazon

“The coffee ‘snobs’ and regular coffee drinkers in my life have only said good things about the coffee that’s brewed in the Aiden. It makes a fantastic drip coffee—and you don’t have to be a coffee connoisseur to know how to do it. The machine does everything for you, whether you want to create a custom recipe with specific bloom times, temperature, and water ratios, or if you just want a very good, smooth, automatic drip coffee. I love that you can set it to how much coffee you want, and the machine calculates exactly how much coffee you need to add. The best part is that I can control everything through the app as well, so for the mornings I want a drip coffee, I schedule a brew to be ready for when I’m up for the morning.” —Euna Park, Senior Editor

FinaMill Spice Mill

$120
$90 at Amazon

“If you love to cook—or garnish—this FinaMill will be a game changer for your kitchen both for organization and practicality. The FinaMill works by having designated pods for your spices and seasoning, and all you do is just press the mill over each pod to connect it to the gadget itself. Then just hit the button at the top of the mill to single-handedly season and garnish your foods. You can very quickly change pods, again, just by pressing over the mill to release the pod. I use mine for salt, black pepper, and sesame seeds. There are a variety of pods designed for the hardness of your spices and seasonings, ranging from the Everyday Pod for your standard salts and small seeds to a heavy-duty Grater Pod for cinnamon, nuts, and chocolate.” —Euna Park, Senior Editor

Editor-Loved Beauty Products of 2025

In 2025, we loved beauty products that kept our skin hydrated and hair looking sleek and clean. The Cocokind Electrolyte Water Cream was a favorite across multiple editors who can’t stop praising its effectiveness—it’s a staple in their beauty cabinets. The Dr. Althea Cleansing Balm is also another multieditor pick that we love for its unique packaging that keeps the balm itself cleaner for longer.

• Cocokind Electrolyte Water Cream, $20; ulta.com
• Wavytalk Thermal Blowout Boost Brush, $45 (was $60); amazon.com
• Ceremonia Dry Shampoo, $28; amazon.com
• Blind Barber 40 Proof Sea Salt Spray, $22; amazon.com
• Dr.Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm, $17 (was $23); amazon.com
• Pmd Clean Mini, $49; ulta.com
• Ole Henrikson Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment, $23; sephora.com
• Cosrx All About Snail Kit, $18 (was $25); ulta.com
• By Rosie Jane Dulce Perfume, $80; sephora.com
• Elbbub Beef Tallow Cream, $12 (was $16); amazon.com

Cocokind Electrolyte Water Cream

$20 at Ulta

“I’m a religious user of Cocokind skincare—it’s really been the only line that’s made a difference in my sensitive, acne-prone skin. This was a new introduction from them this year that made me throw away all my other moisturizers. It feels like it’s barely there, yet it gives me hydration I can still feel 10 hours later.” —Mia Gotto, Editor

Wavytalk Thermal Blowout Boost Brush

$60
$45 at Amazon

“I’m a firm believer that the hair is part of the outfit, so as someone who is a bit hair-challenged (and not paying for a weekly blowout), the struggle is very real. After seeing countless TikTok reviews, I finally caved and got the Wavytalk Thermal Blowout Brush. While tons of hair tools claim to be easy to use, this one actually is. Just brush through your hair, curl up the ends, and you’re done. Seriously, that’s it. I love that it gives an effortless blowout that’s casual enough for everyday wear, kind of like that coveted ‘day after haircut’ look.” —Jamie Fischer, Writer

Ceremonia Dry Shampoo

$28 at Amazon

“As someone who only washes my hair one to two times per week, I’m always trying new dry shampoos. While I love Amika’s Perk Up Plus and Not Your Mother’s Dry Shampoo, I have a new favorite in 2025. This powder dry shampoo from Ceremonia goes on easily; you apply with a little pouf (inside the yellow cap) and can target those spots that always get greasy, without having to spray your entire scalp (which is what I normally do and then wonder why my scalp gets itchy after one too many days). I’ve never had any irritation from this, and the entire container lasted me for about two months. Plus, it smells good (have you tried any of Ceremonia’s other products? They smell amazing), and it doesn’t weigh my hair down after multiple uses. I also love that I can travel with it—it’s much smaller than all my other aerosol cans of dry shampoo and fits inside of my toiletries bag rather than just stuffed in my suitcase somewhere. Highly recommend!” —Meg Lappe, Senior Editorial Director

Blind Barber 40 Proof Sea Salt Spray

$22 at Amazon

“As someone with curly hair, I never gravitated toward sea salt spray—it didn’t seem possible for my hair to achieve that ‘beachy wave’ effect that it’s known for. But a few haircuts ago, my stylist recommended sea salt spray as a solution for my persistently flat roots. I can’t remember what led me to try out Blind Barber’s 40 Proof Sea Salt Spray, but it totally changed my hair. The hold on this stuff is incredible. A few sprays provides enough grit that the fine hair at the top of my head is able to hold a wave much more consistently between washes.” —Erin Mayer, Editor

Dr.Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm

$23
$17 at Amazon

“I thought I’d found my holy-grail cleansing balm for removing makeup, but I purchased the Dr.Althea Pure Grinding Cleansing Balm during Prime Day mostly out of curiosity, and now I keep it on subscription so I’m never without it. It’s much softer than others I’ve tried and warms up instantly in my hands. As a K-beauty product, it melts off makeup with ease, whether it’s sunscreen or mascara. But the best part has to be the packaging—instead of scooping out of the tub, the twist top has a grinding mechanism that distributes the product in a hygienic way and avoids overuse.” —Melanie Fincher, Editor

Pmd Clean Mini

$49 at Ulta

“In my opinion, there’s no better feeling than a freshly washed face—but the process usually leaves my sleeves soaked and my bathroom a total splash zone. So, the Clean Mini has completely changed my skincare routine. The cleansing head vibrates at 7,000 vibrations per minute, giving me a much deeper clean than my hands ever could. I can literally feel it breaking down the dirt and grime, and since I’ve started using it, I’ve noticed my skin becoming much softer, smoother, and clearer. Plus, it’s small enough to bring on the go.” —Jamie Fischer, Writer

Ole Henrikson Pout Preserve Hydrating Peptide Lip Treatment

$23 at Sephora

“My obsession with lip balm runs deep. It’s not uncommon to find six or more lippies in my bag—I even have one attached to my keys. But my favorite discovery from 2025 was the Olehenrikson Peptide Lip Treatment. It’s seriously moisturizing and gives enough shine to double as a lip gloss. And the tasty vanilla flavor is just the icing on the cake.” —Lily Gray, Senior Editor

P.S. Multiple editors deemed this their favorite lip balm of 2025!

Cosrx All About Snail Kit

$25
$18 at Ulta

“I had been eyeing Cosrx skincare for a while and decided to treat myself to this kit during Amazon’s Big Deals Day sale. I love it because it includes four of the brand’s most popular items from their snail mucin collection (perfect for gifting). I’m someone who doesn’t have acne, but I do have some hyperpigmentation. I used this kit consistently for about a month, and my skin became more glowy, and I did notice a difference in my dark spots. I loved it so much, I recently ordered the full-size cleaner during Black Friday.” —Kennedee Fowler, Writer

By Rosie Jane Dulce Perfume

$80 at Sephora

I’m obsessed with perfume, but only use clean brands, and this scent from By Rosie Jane was one of my favorites this year (I need to restock ASAP, since I ran out!). It’s cruelty-free, which is also important to me, and includes notes of Creamy Vanilla, Brown Sugar, and Warm Hinoki Wood. It’s a light but decadent vanilla scent that feels more elevated than just vanilla. I’m also obsessed with Rosie from the same brand—just the prettiest skin scent for everyday wear.” —Kaitlin Marks, Writer

Elbbub Beef Tallow Cream

$16
$12 at Amazon

“I’ve tried dozens of moisturizers for dry skin, and this $12-option from Amazon is the only one I still use. I’ll admit I was skeptical of putting beef tallow on my face at first (I feel like ‘beef’ and “‘ace’ shouldn’t go in the same sentence), but I’ve officially been influenced. The cream is made from just three ingredients: beef tallow, honey, and beeswax. No chemicals, no fragrance, nothing extra. It’s the perfect consistency—not too greasy, not too thick—so I use it every morning under my makeup and every night before bed. It leaves my skin looking clear and feeling ridiculously soft. I actually look forward to putting it on every day.” —Jamie Fischer, Writer

Editor-Loved Cleaning Products of 2025

Levoit as a brand not only made our “Best Air Purifiers,” but the brand also made our favorite vacuum that one writer said they’re in love with. We also loved the Blueland cleaning products, including the Dishwasher Detergent Tablets and the Glass and Mirror Cleaning Kit that are eco-friendly and effective for keeping things spotless.

• Levoit Aero Cordless Vacuum, $500; levoit.com
• Blueland Dishwasher Detergent Tablets, $21; blueland.com
• Dyson Air Purifier, $650 (was $850); amazon.com
• Full Circle Crumb Runner, $13; amazon.com

Levoit Aero Cordless Vacuum

$500 at levoit.com

“Yes, I’m in love with a vacuum. I have tested dozens over the years, but this one is hands-down the best at taming my husky’s ever-shedding hair. It picks up hair with ease, and I don’t have to worry about the hair wrapping around the roller brush. (The worst!) The best feature is the auto-empty cleaning station, which also charges the vac. (I refer to it lovingly as my rocketship because it kind of looks like a launchpad.) When docked, the vacuum automatically starts charging, and with the push of a button, its dust bin empties out in a separate bag inside the station. It takes a month or so to fill the external dust bag, then I throw the whole bag out without getting my hands dirty or inhaling any dust.” —Steph Osmanski, Shopping Writer

Blueland Dishwasher Detergent Tablets

$21 at blueland.com

“With so much plastic in the world, I love using these dishwasher tablets. This is the only eco-friendly product I have found that washes as well as Cascade Platinum Plus pods. I’m also crazy about their window cleaner. The starter kits provide a forever container, and the refills are dissolvable tablets that are packaged in eco-friendly packaging. In the case of the dishwasher tables, the starter kit container is a cute metal container that looks good on the counter. The glass and mirror cleaner kit contains a sturdy spray bottle, but any spray bottle will do. Just add the tablet to water and let it dissolve. It cleans better than vinegar and water, or Windex.” —Sheri Kaz, Writer

Dyson Air Purifier

$850
$650 at Amazon

“I tested this Dyson air purifier for REAL SIMPLE, and it’s made a profound impact on the quality of my home. At first, it was hard to tell if the purifier was really making a difference because of its whisper-quiet fan speed and slim profile; until one day, I realized that kitchen odors were evaporating in a snap, and I’ve never caught a whiff of ‘cat’ smell since bringing it home. It automatically increases its fan speed when it senses toxins such as candles, aerosols, and cooking oil. And it doubles as a powerful fan in the summer.” —Lily Gray, Senior Editor

Full Circle Crumb Runner

$13 at Amazon

“This small countertop broom is my new favorite kitchen helper. It takes literally seconds to use, and I’m always impressed (and relieved!) at how much it collects from my patterned countertops that camouflage crumbs. The brand has another design that’s, dare I say, even cuter than the set I have.” —Dena Ogden, Associate Shopping Editor

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