buzzfeed Press
34 Impulse Buys That Will *Actually* Be Useful In The Future
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We hope you love our recommendations! While every product is independently chosen by our editors, BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. You can read more about how our affiliate partnerships work in our Editorial Standards & Ethics Guide. If your best ideas come to you in the shower, you absolutely need this waterproof notepad. Sometimes your shopping senses are tingling, and you can just feel that an impulse purchase is right around the corner. Instead of scratching that shopping itch with a gimmicky item you'll forget about 15 minutes after opening, may I interest you in some options that are A) genuinely interesting and B) actually useful?! Down below, you'll find convenient paper incense, a straw to help eliminate hiccups, a cherry-shaped toilet brush, and other products that'll make you so glad you listened to your impulses. If you’re concerned about your hiccups, talk to your doctor. Read more about hiccup causes and treatment at Cleveland Clinic. Read the brand's explanation of the science behind the straw here. Promising review: "I was admittedly skeptical at first but I gotta say, I was SO wrong because this thing is SO right. Wow. I mean, it's instant relief. I get the hiccups sometimes, and they'll last for a super long time, and they kind of hurt sometimes, too. This straw, after one sip, makes them disappear in what feels a miraculous way! If I could give 100 stars, I wouldn't hesitate." —MW Get it from Amazon for $20.95 (availble in five colors). Promising reviews: "Works great. I love these... I can use them to mark lines or just as a bookmark." —Amazon Customer "Much, much bigger than I expected!... They will be cute and the clip will easily and conveniently mark your page. They are good quality clips, and the charms are nice...Great value, most are cute, very functional." —Kay Get the 8-piece set from Amazon for $11.99 (available in six styles). You'll get one of seven designs. Also, you'll need a 1GB–128GB TF memory card, since one is not included in the package. Promising review: "It's such a fun and simple design that you really will be taking photos of everything with it when you first get it." —Hannah Vo Promising review for the Blackberry Pie shade: "It moisturizes beautifully and leaves a soft, lovely tint on the lips. The blackberry scent is delightful without being overpowering. It feels light, not sticky, and lasts quite a while. Perfect for carrying in your purse and using every day." —JuanaCacBeb Get it from Amazon for $3.59 (available in four Bridgerton flavors and also available in a bundle). Promising review: "I have never seen a more beautiful blanket in my life. The images of the red roses crochet blanket looked exactly like an actual blanket — it was warm, high quality, and cost way less than others of the same size. Not to mention, a majority of the other crochet roses I looked at looked like rolled-up socks to me, while the roses on this blanket were detailed with little crochet leaves. Even the packaging it came in was elegant. Recently bought a second one for my mother." —Jones Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in three sizes and seven styles). Promising reviews: "I’m not even joking, this changed my life. As a songwriter, I just wish I bought this YEARS ago. All of it is such great quality too — suction cup always sticks, pencil almost never needs sharpening (I’m halfway through my second notepad with my current pencil), and the paper is nice and thick." —B. "I told my husband out of the blue a few months ago that I would love to have a waterproof notepad to record all of my shower thoughts. Lo and behold, he handed me this dandy notepad on my birthday, and I LOVE it! It is great quality, providing a satisfying writing experience and never smudging. I was worried it would feel weird to write with, but that has not been the case! I write lists, and my hubby and I leave silly notes for one another. Definitely a wonderful gift!" —Noah B. This is microwave, freezer, oven, and dishwasher safe. Promising review: "I love love love this cup. My arthritic hands can hang on to it safely. It’s beautiful on the shelf. It holds a lot of cereal with fruit, or soup with lots of crackers, or an extra-large hot fudge sundae. Quite pricey but great for those special little moments in life when you need a break. And at the end of the day, I look for my cup to make my cup of herb tea. I love 'my cup.' And it doesn’t seem to break easily. It’s still in one piece, and the only other person I let use it is my 3-year-old great-granddaughter. She loves it, too. Yes, I have to get another." —Second Soprano Get it from Amazon for $29.44+ (available in nine styles). These are made without harmful substances and are certified for indoor air quality. Promising review: "I couldn't be happier with this purchase! The paper incense exceeded all my expectations. The quality is outstanding, and it works even better than the description. It arrived quickly, was well-packaged, and easy to use. Smells great and burns well. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for paper incense." —Kim Get it from Amazon for $14 (available in eight scents). Promising review: "I bought these pens to write in my Bible, and they’re absolutely perfect! Very cute, stylish, and write smoothly without bleeding through the pages. I would definitely buy them again — highly recommend for anyone who journals or takes notes in their Bible." —Modern Mom Get them from Amazon for $5.95 (available in seven color packs). Find your favorite microwavable animal on SuzziPal's homepage! Promising review: "My grandson likes that it can get warm in the microwave and cold in the freezer. He loves manatees. He thinks it is really soft and really cute! (He told me to write this.)" —Grandma Marva Promising review: "This toilet brush makes me want to clean my toilet. It is so cute, exactly what I wanted, and it works perfectly!! Fits nicely into my bathroom decor. It was delivered in perfect condition, and I've used it three times now. If you're thinking about buying this...do it!" —Michelle Maroon Promising review: "This is such a beautiful piece! Love how the logs diffuse the light from the flickering candle. For the price, it’s amazing!" —Julia K. 3DSpaceGarden is a small business based in Maine. Get it from 3DSpaceGarden on Etsy for $28 (available in eight colors). A newly updated Prepara Salad Pod for all the Sweetgreen stans who aspire to take their lunch to work every day. They can turn this on its side, remove the lid, and BOOM, they've got a perfect portable salad bowl. There's even a little dressing cup in the lid. 😭 Check out a TikTok of the Prepara Salad Pod in action. Promising review: "An awesome invention. I take salads daily to work, and it’s so convenient. Also the dressing at the top makes mixing salad so easy." —Adrienne Williams Promising review: "I love this bowl for putting snacks in. It is good in the dishwasher and holds an okay amount of stuff. I love the cute face on it." —Mana McPhee BuzzFeed Social Strategist Brittney Trinh is a fan: "I picked up the Cocokind Olipop Cherry Cola Lip Blur Lip Balm, and I love it! The moment I applied it, I could instantly smell and taste cherry cola — my favorite flavor, especially when it comes to candy. It almost felt like I had just eaten a piece of cherry cola candy and still had a hint of the sweetness lingering. I also love how glossy it makes my lips and how it adds a much-needed pop of color to my face. One of my favorite features is the small loop at the top, which lets me attach it to my bag or keyring so I never forget it and can easily reapply throughout the day." Get it from Ulta for $11.99 (available in three Olipop shades and six other shades). BuzzFeed Home and Garden Editor Sally Elshorafa is a fan: "I recently got this handheld mini vacuum, and it has quickly worked its way into my daily routine. First of all, it actually looks good. I love the green color (there's also a navy option), and unlike most handheld vacs, this one isn't an eyesore you feel the need to hide. It's genuinely tiny and breaks down to fit neatly into the included storage container. It charges via USB-C, which is perfect since I already have those cables around the house, and while it comes with three attachments, I have only ever used the nozzle. The battery lasts longer than you'd expect, recharges quickly (under two hours!) and I've even used it to clean crumbs and sand out of my car. I didn't expect to rely (and love) a mini vacuum this much, but here we are." Get it from Amazon for $59.99 (available in two colors). BuzzFeed Shopping Editor Heather Braga loves it: "I desperately wanted to get on the Eos lotion bandwagon. I gave the beloved Vanilla Cashmere scent a try, but it was a bit too sweet for my taste. I decided to give the Jasmine Peach a go and it is absolutely delightful. It's not too strong and leaves my skin feeling super moisturized. I apply it right after I get out of the shower and let it soak in overnight. I've also started pairing with the coordinating body wash — I think I've found my go-to scent!" I have a slight obsession with trying new lip balms and lip oils, and my collection was basically scattered all over my apartment. In an effort to round them up, I thought a mini Caboodle would be the perfect place to store them — and I was right! I used to steal my sister's original full-size case back in the day, so reaching for this always puts a smile on my face. Unlike a cosmetic pouch, this allows you to see everything easily, so there's no worry of anything getting lost and forgotten at the bottom of the pile. Plus, it's surprisingly spacious! The bottom portion is perfect for longer tubes, while the two top drawers are great for chunkier lip oils and glosses. It makes my '90s baby heart happy and organized." Get it from Amazon for $12.33+ (available in nine colors). BuzzFeed Social Strategist Brittney Trinh loves it: "I’ve been trying to get better at making my own lattes at home, but I don’t usually have time in the morning for a full process or to prep flavored syrup or milks beforehand. When I heard about Mooala Banana Milk, I had to give it a try! I used it as a sweetener in my Vietnamese coffee, and it tasted so great! Perfect as a morning pick-me-up. I love how convenient it is to keep in my fridge, and since I’m lactose intolerant, it was a huge plus that I didn’t have any stomach issues after drinking it. I also tried their strawberry flavor to make a cute strawberry banana latte, and it paired very well with my Vietnamese coffee. They've become a part of my morning routine that actually makes me excited to get up and out of bed when I wake up!" Get a pack of six from Amazon for $35.99 (available in four flavors). BuzzFeed Resident Writer Divinia Tarin says it's worth the hype: "Okay, everyone — after writing about and learning the lore of Maldon salt, I had to try it for myself, and... omg. I'm so happy to report that it's as crunchy and delicious as people make it out to be. I've never really liked the flavor of tabletop salt (ya know, the ones you find in shakers at restaurants), and I'm no culinary expert, but this one has such a yummy, ~clean~ flavor to it! I love that it stays flaky and doesn't dissolve, so when I'm chowing down on some eggs, veggies, potatoes, cookies, etc. (seriously, it works on practically everything), I get to enjoy a surprise lil' *cronch* throughout my entire meal. 😋 I bought this tub and it's lasted me months (and still tastes the same!), and for how easy it makes elevating your food, I def recommend!" Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in three sizes and a smoked flavor). Promising review: "This is perfect! I constantly have my hands full and now I can comfortably carry my coffee with me everywhere I go. I will be purchasing more!" —Erin VIS Paradise Goods is a Florida-based Etsy stop established in 2021 that specializes in personalized and sustainable goods. Get it from VIS Paradise Goods on Etsy for $17.54+ (available in various colors and designs). Promising review: "I got this keyboard because of its aesthetic. The look did not disappoint. Love it! Super easy to connect to my iPhone and iPad. It makes my typing and note creation on my phone quicker and cuter. I will purchase another for an upcoming friend’s birthday. I know she’ll love it as well!" —NT Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in ten colors). Promising review: "Such a great journal! Has wonderful review pages with enough space to really get your thoughts about your reads down. I've only this year started keeping a reading journal, wanting to document all the books I read or listen to throughout the year. Looking for one that has enough space for my thoughts and notes while reading, as well as listing characters, was difficult, but Rifle Paper Co. clearly knew what readers want. I highly recommend this journal. It's wonderful quality!" —Amy Get it from Rifle Paper Co. (available in two designs) and Amazon for $34. Promising review: "This alarm is amazing. The pillow shaker does its job to perfection. The shaker shakes the pillow just right so you don’t wake up startled. The loud alarm is loud enough. I wear a hearing aid to hear everything, and the loud alarm is loud enough that I can hear it without my hearing aid. Must have for someone with hearing issues so you wake up on time every time." —Scott D. Sonic Alert is a small business that specializes in alarm clocks. Get it from Amazon for $44.99 (available in seven colors). Check out a TikTok of the Cup Cozy Deluxe Pillow in action. Promising review: "This thing is great! I’m home on maternity leave with my new baby and spend most of my time on the couch under a sleeping baby. This product makes it easy for me to keep my drinks, remote, etc close by even with dogs running around. It’s a little more expensive than I would have liked but it works and I love it so money well spent!" —Amber Cup Cozy Pillow is a small business that specializes in family-friendly snack and drink organizers. Get it from Amazon for $34.99+ (available in nine colors). To use, simply slide them on your feet like socks, secure them with the adhesive tape band at the top, keep them on for 30 minutes, then remove and rub in any remaining treatment. Check out a TikTok of the foot masks in action. Promising review: "This product kind of blew my mind! We spent five days in Disney on our feet for at least 12 hours a day. After putting these on my feet, it was so relieving. They instantly soothe the soreness in your feet, and when we got ready to walk around the parks for another day, my feet felt more refreshed and not as sore, so it made the day a lot more enjoyable! It is like putting a [bag] of Icy Hot on your feet, so just be prepared for the warming sensation. It's a weird feeling at first, but then it takes the pain away and is so worth it!" —Chandler B. Get a set of three pairs from Amazon for $11.97. This is IP44 waterproof certified, meaning it can withstand splashes of water, so make sure they don't put it directly in the stream of their shower or anywhere where it can fall into the water! Hear one TikToker's thoughts on the shower lamp here. Promising review: "I bought this for my bathroom because the one light is super bright and it's too much in the mornings. I still needed some light, so I looked into a lamp like this over some kind of night light or plug-in lamp. I bought this because the reviews were promising, and so far I'm really happy. I charged it when it arrived a week ago, and haven't needed to charge it again yet. I love the warm, but not yellow-y light it emits. The lamp also seems really sturdy, like if I knocked it off the counter, it would be fine. The dimming function is great, no flickering, and I'm really happy the lamp 'remembers' the brightness level it was last on. It says waterproof, and I haven't tested that, but the charging port plug seems to seal really well, so I'm not nervous to have it on the bathroom counter or right next to the shower. My one complaint is that the wood grain color appeared different on my computer than in real life, and it's a little more reddish in person. However, I like this lamp so much I've been moving it to my desk to use in the evenings, so I may just buy another one that matches my bathroom better and leave the wood colored one at my desk." —Syd Smith Promising review: "I bought this kind of as a joke for our shower, but it's the best thing I've purchased so far this year! It's easy to use, love the dimmer, and it creates a nice ambiance." —Holla Get it from Amazon for $33.42+ (available in five colors). Promising review: "This air fryer guide is so useful that I purchased several for family members. They really like it too. It has all you need to make air-fried foods a success. It is easy to read and understand. I like that you can wipe it off. It stores conveniently on my refrigerator by the magnet on the back." —Spindoc16 Get it from Amazon for $7.10 (also available in Instant Pot and keto-friendly versions). Psst — parents really love this as a "calm down" moment for their kiddos! Promising review: "This little cloud guy is adorable and squishy! His face is very sweet, and the color morphing is great. I really like [that] it’s calming, and even if you don’t use it for meditation, it’s a cute night-light." —RgHound Promising review: "If you’re looking for a cute Band-Aid that has flexible fabric, these are it! I only use flexible fabric band-aids because they’re way more comfortable and stay on better. Bonus that these are a cute design!" —Jessica Get a pack of 30 from Amazon for $3.77. Promising review: "Great pot holder for any dachshund lover! It isn't excessively thick, but still provides a reasonable amount of protection from hot plates...not just hot dogs! Lol!" —MT Promising review: "I love sheep, and I thought this was the cutest thing ever! It’s easy to attach the roll of toilet paper, and it even comes with a second pair of eyes if you lose one. If you cock his head a bit to the side, he’s even more adorable. I’ll be back to order more so I can share these cuties with my sister and daughter. I’m sure they’ll get a kick out of them like I do." —BlackHeartNY Get a pack of three from Amazon for $13.49. Promising review: "I gotta say, using this has helped me keep track of my glasses. It's super cute, lightweight, and definitely easy to use." —Irma Get it from Amazon for $15.99 (available in two styles). Promising review: "Just received these cute little boxes and am in love with them. Very thick and sturdy plastic but easy enough to open. These will work perfectly for filling solid perfumes and giving out as stocking stuffer gifts as I don't have to worry about it being a snug fit/lid falling off. I imagine these would also be great for pretend food for kids' playsets or for a kid's trinket box. Overall, I love them, love their feel, love the colors, and am very happy." —Mary BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. Daniel Boan is a Shopping Editor who uses his passion for hitting "add to cart" (and his 8+ years in media) to curate the best products on the web — he's particularly passionate about finding the best beauty products, which probably stems from his days of working at Lush Cosmetics, where he learned about effective skincare ingredients while getting covered in bath bomb dust every day. The reviews used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.