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30 Thrifty Products You Are Going To Be A Little Bit Smug To Tell Your Friends About
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BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More If you’re the person in your friend group who loves sharing how much you paid for something after a compliment, you’re gonna love this list. As a resident writer on the BuzzFeed Shopping team, I can't believe that I get to search the internet to help you find the best, most unique, life-changing products for my job. Fellow Buzzfeed Shopping writer, Emma Lord, has actually tried this out and says: "I bought this after being peer-pressured by all the lovely reviews and I'm happy to report it lives up to the hype. The scent is lovely — it has depth with a hint of floral, but it's light and not at all overpowering. My favorite thing about it is how easily it pairs with other scents, because I am a body mist gremlin who swaps out her scents every day. The lather is also deeply satisfying and I feel quite refreshed and squeaky clean without ever feeling dry." Promising review: "Cremo's body wash is nothing short of exceptional. If you’re a fan of luxurious fragrances, this product will quickly become your new favorite. It boasts an incredible scent that perfectly mimics Baccarat Rouge 540 — a fragrance renowned for its sophisticated and captivating aroma. What sets this body wash apart is not just its stunning scent but also its longevity. The fragrance lingers beautifully throughout the day, ensuring you stay enveloped in that luxurious aroma long after your shower." —Ralph D. Thompson II Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in two other scents). Promising review: "I wasn’t sure what to expect when I ordered this, but I’m seriously impressed! The fit is snug in all the right places without feeling too tight. I got it for working out and casual summer outfits, and it works perfectly for both. The fabric is soft, stretchy, and surprisingly good quality for the price. It hits just above the waist, so it looks great with high-waisted leggings or shorts. I’ve washed it a couple times already and it’s held up really well — no shrinking or fading." —Sarah Rosa Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in women's sizes 3XS–4XL and 37 colors/prints). Fellow Buzzfeed Shopping writer, Emma Lord, has actually tried this out and says: "I bought this because I crave that Black Honey and will buy it until the day I die, but I am always paranoid of losing it, so I almost never let it leave my bag. I have tried probably five or six "almost" versions of Black Honey that came close, but this one genuinely spooked me. It has the same easy glide, same buildability, and the same refreshingly hydrating effect. It was a two-pack so I gave one to my BFF, another Black Honey fan, who also could not detect the difference!" Promising review: "Better than Clinique! I bought this one on a whim but never liked the real Black Honey Almost Lipstick by Clinique, since it tends to run red on me. This shade, in my opinion, is exactly what Black Honey SHOULD be, as it looks more like Black Honey in pictures. For the price, it can’t be beat, so I’m buying more." —HAC Get it from Amazon for $5.99 (also available in pink honey and nude honey, a two pack or a three pack that contains all of them!). Promising review: "I absolutely love these sunglasses! They suit my face beautifully and elevate any look with their stylish design. The gold details on the sides are such a stunning touch — reminiscent of high-end Miu Miu sunglasses but at a fraction of the cost. They’re lightweight, comfortable, and feel durable. I’ve received so many compliments already. Highly recommend these for anyone looking to add a chic accessory to their collection!" —Arsalan sheikh Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in five styles and in two or three packs). Promising review: "Makes skin very glowy and elastic! I love to use The Ordinary for my skincare. I have tried several of their products, and the best things I like about them are their affordable prices and quality. This serum is thick but lightweight and absorbs fairly quickly while leaving a smooth layer on top. I use it every night before bed, and I wake up every morning with my skin feeling super soft, hydrated, and plump. This has been great for combating dry skin in the winter, and to fix my skin barrier after using exfoliating products and other harsher products. Definitely would recommend, it gives you glassy skin that you will love!" —Rina Get it from Amazon for $9.90 (also available in a two-pack). Promising review: "I am a lotion user every single day. I use face moisturizers that I love. I am over the moon by how good this is. I mainly use it on my neck, hands and forearms. The difference is amazing. My skin actually feels so good. I wish I could but larger containers of it." —Kimberly P. Check out a TikTok of the E.l.f. tubing mascara in action. Fellow Buzzfeed Shopping writer, Emma Lord, actually owns this and says: "I am not a new human to the tubing mascara game, and in fact readily spent $26 on the famous OG blend from Blinc every time it needed replacing. I didn't even love it for the length half as much as the fact that tubing mascara like this genuinely never smudges, but can I just say — regardless of price, the E.l.f. tubing mascara formula blows all the others I've tried out of the water. It gives me way more length and volume than other brands, slides on so much more easily, stays put ALL day, and never, ever smudges. My favorite part, though, is how gently and easily it comes off with soap and water. In the past, other mascara removals have felt rough on my lashes, but this comes off so fast that I'm like ??? was I even wearing mascara a minute ago?? Anyway, I hesitate even writing this review because I want to gatekeep the hell out of this before it sells out, but the world needed to know. I'm a big fan of the brown shade (which is what I'm wearing above!), but it also comes in black and soft black." Get it from Amazon for $8 (available in three shades). Psst — it also comes with an extra silicone pad, which means you'll be able to use this for a long time! Promising review: "I am shocked at the quality of this eyelash curler from E.l.f. After trying and using so many over the years until they break or wear out (including the much overrated Shu Uemura), I find this one to be easy to use. It's ergonomically well designed, as it easily goes up to the eye without sticking out too far in your hand." —TD Promising review: "This product delivers exactly as promised and is incredibly easy to use. I suffer from dry skin and often apply various products to soften my feet. With this, I simply spray it on and immediately massage it in with my hands. The dead skin comes off effortlessly. There's no waiting time, and it's gentle on the skin. It leaves my feet feeling exceptionally soft. This has quickly become my new favorite thing." —KimT Promising review: "So comfy and they look just like the photo! The quality is great, they aren't see-through, and I love the bright color! They fit true to size. They are definitely a great value for the money." —Hope Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in women's sizes XS–XXL and 27 styles). Promising review: "I have been searching for a sunscreen like this for a long time. I really dislike putting anything heavy on my face and prefer a gel-like consistency. I am a big fan of the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid serum and the texture of this sunscreen feels pretty close to that. I have tried much more expensive 'serum' sunscreens and find this one my favorite and for a much better price point." —JHoch Febu is a small business that specializes in earth-friendly, non-toxic home products. Promising review: "I love these! I have used these for years instead of a sponge or a dishrag. They hold up great, mop up crumbs and spills quickly, can be popped in the dishwasher to clean, and bring a bit of color to the sink area in my otherwise neutral kitchen." —Wynnefred Get a set of five from Amazon for $14.95 (available in 15 very pretty sets). Promising reviews: "Heaven sent for your skin; heavenly scent to enjoy. This feels absolutely amazing going on. Gets absorbed quickly, for a lotion rich with oil. Doesn't leave a greasy feeling, as long as you give it a minute or two to fully absorb. The scent is, for me anyway, like aromatherapy. It smells like an iced sugar cookie, and is a great base layer for fragrance. Very relaxing." —Dragonheart Jo "I love everything about this lotion! I had been using a body butter that was ten times as expensive, but I was looking for a cheaper alternative and I am SO glad I found this! I immediately ordered three more bottles." —Samantha Also, if you're more of a thong person, reviewers are obsessed with these Skims-inspired thongs that are also on Amazon! Promising review: "These are my new favorites. They are comfortable and do not show under all my clothes. They are super soft too and hold up all day without gapping. I have been buying Victoria’s Secret underwear for many years, spending unnecessary money. I’ll repurchase these over and over again." —Joshua Get a set of six from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in women's sizes XS–XXL and 16 sets). The color-adaptive formula is designed so one of four shades will work on any skin tone. Promising review: "Took years off my eyes! This product is so reasonably priced. I came across a TikTok promoting this and decided to take a chance since the price was super reasonable. My eyes looked brighter in a good way, and the concealer worked so well that I felt I looked younger. I got compliments from friends asking what I did differently with my makeup. I recommend it." —Placeholder Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in four shades). Promising review: "I love this so I ordered a second for backup! Depending on my day I will add no more than one or two drops to my moisturizer or my primer. Takes away the winter pallor of my face which definitely has not had enough sun lately. The bottle is small, but you don’t need to use much. Reasonably priced for the amount. I would say buy it." —Incognito Popilush is a small business that specializes in activewear and shapewear. Promising review: "Run to get this! PURCHASE!! I ordered a large — I’m usually wearing an XL, however, it fit perfectly. It does not cut off my thighs, so so comfy! No bra needed, will be a staple this summer. It’s not overly thick, but it’s not cheap material. I’m obsessed!" —Andrea Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in women's sizes XS–XXL and seven colors). Promising review: "Diva, stop letting these influencers sway you into spending your hard-earned (and scarce) beans on $20–$30 subpar lip balms — you’re paying for the brand, and the quality is questionable. E.l.f. KNOCKED THEM BOTH OUTTA THE PARK WITH THIS! SO BUTTERY, SO YUMMY, SOOOOOOO MUCH PRODUCT!!!!! I wasn’t expecting the tube to be so generous in size, by far the biggest amount I've seen from the market. The flavors are divine, the color payoff is even better than Summer Fridays … and it’s only $9, you cannot go wrong. I just can’t fathom any balm being priced above $12, E.l.f. always hits and barely misses. 🩷💋" —SONIA Get it from Amazon for $7.83+ (available in 14 flavors). Promising review: "LOVE. It is super comfortable to wear and is great for supporting my chest when I go on a run. Doesn't collect sweat, very nice and cool material for hotter environments. I have it is so many colors because I love them so much. HIGHLY recommend!" —Cheyenne Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in women's sizes XS–3XL and 47 colors). Promising review: "Right after the first pair came I got another. These shorts are so comfy and they fit well on me as a plus size person. I use these for exercising, swimming, lounge wear on a hot day, and as safety shorts underneath skirts and dresses." —Mak Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in women's sizes XS–3X and 45 colors). FYI — these are NOT noise-canceling, however, many reviewers report great sound quality. iJoy is a small business that specializes in headphones and tech accessories. BuzzFeed Shopping writer, Emma Lord, says: "I own a pair of these and because I'm vain as heck and need to own all things pink, but I was decently surprised by how well they muffle noise! I feel like these are ideal for people who still want to hear some of the world around them (read: parents, people working in open offices), but still want to listen to their tunes comfortably. The charge on these goes for at least four hours (I haven't tried it beyond that yet), and the Bluetooth connects to my devices super easily. Excellent pair of headphones for the price point." Promising review: "They’re comfortable, hold a charge really well, and actually work really well in terms of noise cancellation. My daughter can be sitting next to me talking and I can barely even hear her. I almost prefer these in terms of sound quality to my Gen 1 AirPods as well. Easy to charge, easy to pair, very lightweight, and fit is adjustable. I’m very impressed with these headphones!" —Samantha H. Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in five colors). Here's what BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly has to say about them: ""I own multiple sets of these and even pack them when I travel because I never want to sleep on a cotton pillowcase again after getting used to these beauts." Promising reviews: "My hair has never been better! I got this because of TikTok, and it has done wonders for my hair. My hair isn’t frizzy or dull-looking when I get up in the morning." —Aaron Key "These are really nice — perfect price point too. There's no difference between these and the same pillowcases from Kitsch at three times the price." —Keri Get a set of two from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in 30 colors, four sizes, and in a set of four or as a single). Promising review: "The perfect non-name-brand ring you can find honestly. I wasn't looking for a Cartier knock-off when I found this ring, but I have had people ask me if it's the real deal. I honestly love this ring though, the sizing was accurate, it is weighted well, none of the 'diamonds' have fallen off, and it hasn't tarnished! I've worn it daily for almost a year now and it has held up well. It has some very small scratches on it, but that's typical of most rings. For the price, I am super happy with this ring and I honestly can't believe how well it has handled everything I've put it through." —Eva Richterkessing Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in sizes 5–12, three finishes, and two styles). Joy Jolt is a small business that specializes in modern and pop culture-themed drinkware and kitchen accessories. Promising review: "Crate & Barrel look for less. These look and feel very high end — almost like a thin crystal." —Lauren Get a set of two from Amazon for $13.95 (also available in two other styles). Promising review: "I have the Skims bodycon as well, and this is a great alternative! The Skims dress is ribbed, and the fabric is thinner and softer, but I don’t think that the Skims dress quality increases proportionally with the higher price point. If I were to purchase another bodycon dress, it would hands down be this one. It hugs my figure beautifully and can be layered and styled for all seasons. It’s one of the most versatile pieces in my wardrobe!" —Makayla Curtis Get it from Amazon for $21.99+ (available in women's sizes XXS–L and in nine colors). Lulu Candles is a US-based small business that specializes in scented candles and perfumes. Promising review: "This is such a great candle that fills the room quickly with a really nice, strong smell that is soothing and relaxing. I was looking for a less expensive Le Labo Santal 33 scent candle, and this one is very, very close! It's a bit stronger, but I love it! The shipment arrived fast, and I just love how fast it fills up the room without being lit for so long!" —Cristina Bertolotto Get a 9-ounce jar from Amazon for $19.95 (also available in three other sizes, in gift box options, in packs of two, and in a variety of scents). It's definitely the perf affordable swap for all you lovers of Abercrombie & Fitch that need to give your wallet a break this month. Promising review: "So cute, love it! Functional buttons all the way down. Light ribbed fabric and the style is darling!" —Megan Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in women's sizes S–XL and 17 colors). BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly also owns this — she packed it as her only bag for a trip to busy trip to Iceland in 2023, and not only did it hold a ton and keep her hands free, it easily fit around her waist over her outerwear. It's still holding up two years later — she also used it for a Panama trip, where it fared well from airports to hanging bridges to a sunrise hiking trip to the top of Panama's only volcano! Promising review: "TikTok told me this compared to Lululemon, and it’s true, it is. Love this little bag! And the price — you can’t beat it." —Jolie Get it from Amazon for $12.98+ (available in 30 colors). Promising review: "I am LOVING this 'ONE AND DONE' product. I'd watched a few videos about how wonderful having this dual-ended item was; blush on one side, bronzer on the other. I needed something easy for travel, and I love creamy textures, so I thought I'd try them. WOW; I'm in love. They glide across the skin, blend out, and look very natural. The value is fantastic compared to other dual-ended makeup sticks. The smell is light and a touch tropical." —Vanessa Sykes Get it from Amazon for $12.10+ (available in four shade combos). Promising review: "I love these! So great for yoga or mat Pilates. I like that they are 2 pounds each, which is the perfect weight, and you can even take off weight as well. I use them every week for my workouts. Very durable band as well!" —Robyn Get a pair from Amazon for $22.49+ (available in three sizes and 15 colors). 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. Reviews have been updated for length and/or clarity.
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