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34 Problem-Solving Products That Really, Truly Work And Have The Before-And-After Photos To Prove It
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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 As a BuzzFeed Shopping editor, my goal is to find all the products actually worth buying. Gloves in a Bottle is a small business that specializes in skincare products for working professionals. Promising review: "I am a teacher and literally wash or sanitize my hands several times per hour! If I'm not washing my hands, I'm cleaning all the surfaces in my classroom with harsh cleaners. I thought I would try this lotion and I am thankful I took a chance! It is not only moisturizing, but it's not too scented or greasy. We are not allowed to wear perfume at school due to allergies, and this works perfectly. The best part is that after you do wash your hands, you can still feel the lotion! My cuticles are staying moisturized, too. I am going to get more for home and the car." —Chianti Check out our write-up on this magical fabric defuzzer! The battery-operated model requires two AA batteries, not included. Promising review: "Okay, I don’t normally rave about things like this. I bought this on a whim in a last attempt to save my favorite duvet cover. The pills had gotten to the point where it was seriously uncomfortable to sleep, with them getting all up in my leg space. I thought I was going to have to get a new duvet cover entirely. Along came this lil' baby. Not only is my duvet cover basically brand new, but I have found a new hobby. I’m de-pilling everything. Sweatshirts, leggings, blankets, socks, anything that looks like it needs some love. It does the job quickly and leaves everything looking fresh. Hi, I’m obsessed. I can’t stop. I should send this back. I’ve started asking if my neighbors need anything de-pilled. I’m going to buy one of these for everyone in my life. Everyone needs to own this. Take it away from me." —Sydney Jensen Get it from Amazon for $12.48+ (available in two colors, battery-operated or rechargeable). Read more about why you need to clean the vents here. Promising review: "I was a little skeptical when I took this out of the package, yet my doubt turned to joy LOL. These are a great buy, and I believe I will serve my dryer well past its lifetime. My dryer is only a year old and I ALWAYS, after every use, clean the lint filter. I was surprised how much settles to the base of the dryer underneath the filter trap. You may have to use this a few times, depending on your machine, to get all the lint out, but at least you'll get results. Yes, I know it's easier to use the vacuum to get it out; I prefer not lugging the vacuum out for this, and this is cheaper, AND I can give one away since they give you two." —P. Andersen Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (also available in multipacks). BTW, people also love this for helping heal piercings. Promising reviews: "This is a [swap] for the Tower 28 spray that's 28 bucks for 4 ounces. I use this after cleansing my face before toners or serums. It's healed my acne. Also great for eczema. I have recommended this to so many people. Thanks, Biotech, for saving me money! Lifelong customer here." —Chey "Just an FYI, this product has the exact same ingredients as the Tower 28 spray! It's been absolutely amazing at reducing acne and texture! It's also so refreshing and gives a lil' glow. So in love!" —BK Get an 8-ounce bottle from Amazon for $11.61+ (available in four sizes and multipacks). Promising review: "These Color Catcher sheets really protect colors from bleeding. It makes all clothes/laundry brighter and looking like new — not that old washed color after just one wash without these sheets. I give this product 5+ stars. Highly recommend. A few pennies spent additionally on your laundry makes one look like wearing new clothes all the time." —Nikita Jim & Gloria is a small business that sells arts and crafts kits. Promising review: "These were so much fun! The colors are bright and the pens are easy to use. I highly recommend dyeing your animal; it's a lot of fun! And he looked super cute." —Jenny w. Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $15.93. Mad Rabbit is a small business founded by college friends Oliver Zak and Selom Agbitor after seeing a gap in the market for all-natural products to heal, protect, and enhance tattoos. The formula has antioxidant-rich butters and lightweight oils to support the skin’s natural barrier and protect it from environmental stressors. Promising review: "Product was awesome. It rejuvenated a 5-year-old tattoo and made it look like new again. Mad Rabbit absorbed into the skin very easily without being greasy." —Janson Ward Get it from Amazon for $18.85 (available in two scents). Promising review: "I love that this is a powder and not a stinky aerosol spray. That also means that this lasts MUCH longer. I use it every other day when I don't wash my hair since I have very oily roots. I've been using it for almost a month, and barely any is missing out of the bottle. A little goes a long way." —R.G. Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in two sizes and two scents). Promising review: "This stuff is great and I have ordered it several times. In the past, I just rinsed fruit or vegetables, but I was at the grocery store recently and saw a very cute kid touching all the fruit. He also had a runny nose and I just thought, 'better remember to really wash the fruit when I get home.' The great thing about Veggie Wash is you can feel the wax film wash off of certain fruit. It really does a great job of cleaning and doesn't leave any odd smell or taste. As I said, I've bought this before and make sure my kitchen always has a spray bottle nearby." —Me in SoCal Get two spray bottles from Amazon for $13.39. Promising review: "This brush is awesome!! I highly recommend it. I even bought another one to have just in case something happened to the first one. I have 3 Shiba Inu dogs. Every spring, they shed their ‘second coat.’ I have tried 6 different brushes over the past 3-4 years, including the Furminato,r and they have hated them all. They either pull and cause pain, or they don’t work. This brush is not expensive, not painful, removes gobs of hair easily and I think it may help my dogs shed less. I wish I had found it first. I could have saved money and spared my dogs' painful experiences trying all the other brushes." —Becky This product does not promise to work overnight. Apply this daily, two to three times a day, as long as needed. Be sure to be patient, as the healing process takes time! Talk to your doctor before attempting to treat your keloid on your own, and learn more about keloids from Cleveland Clinic. Promising review: "This product is amazing!! Truly a miracle product. I had an AWFUL keloid bump forming near my nose piercing about six weeks after getting it done, and it was just getting bigger and more irritated by the day; nothing was helping. I bought this stuff and started using it, and in less than two weeks, my huge keloid was completely gone! I was definitely skeptical and a little nervous when it didn’t seem to be getting noticeably smaller after a week, but then the second week, it started totally disappearing, so make sure to give it some time to work if your bump is on the larger side. If you remain patient and apply it twice a day, it should do the trick! Also smells pretty good, definitely no bothersome or overwhelming scent, which is appreciated in a product that I’m applying on the nose area." —Jordan Caprigno Get it from Amazon for $12.85 (also available in multipacks). BuzzFeed Shopping editor Amanda Davis swears by this spray. Check out her Foot Matters Shoe Stretch spray review for more details! BTW, Foot Matters is a small business that specializes in shoe-stretching products. Promising reviews: "My sandals were awfully tight on the top of my feet. I tried everything before finally finding this spray. Nothing helped; there was no relief. Then I tried this spray, and it moved heaven and earth, and now my sandals are perfect!" —Swissharpist "I injured my foot a few months back, and most of my shoes don't fit. I've tried stretchers, hair dryer, wearing multiple socks — everything. I bought this stuff, and within a half hour, my problems were solved. Try this method first." —Susan Olson Promising review: "I have super fine hair with lots of breakage. No matter how I put my hair up I have bad flyaways. This stuff is great! So easy, and it stays better and looks smoother than stiff hair spray." —Jill Stilfield BUT we want to add that no one should feel pressure to lay their edges, unless they way want to! Check out "Just A Friendly PSA That You Don't HAVE To Lay Your Edges Down If You Don't Wanna." Promising review: "Hands-down! The best edge control I have ever used, and I have used a lot of them. Stayed all day! No flakes and nongreasy! And this one is not even the strongest in the line. Love this product!" —Seabea2013 Promising review: "Bought a used car to get back and forth to work. Only problem being the back was covered in bumper stickers. Eleven to be exact. I don't like bumper stickers. At all. This removed all of them in 25-30 minutes total, no problem. Still has probably half the wheel left, so I stuck it in my garage toolbox in case I need to eradicate any bumper stickers in the future." —Prestidge Southside Promising review: "I discovered this product from TikTok, and I had to give it a try. I tried the day lip plumper, and within a few seconds, there was a subtle tingling/burning that lasted for a few minutes, but as it occurred, the plumping started to happen! It made a noticeable difference and made my lips look like I had filler! I'm obsessed!!" —Amazon Customer Make sure you read all the directions before using so you don't accidentally give yourself a hickey. I've used this, and it really works! Promising review: "I am a magnet for bites of all kinds and carry topical and medicines with me at all times — so I figured this would be a good product to see if it really works. I woke up with a bug bite on my arm, so I used this little tool (three times per the instructions) — immediately after using it, it stopped itching! And less than 24 hours later, the bump/bite gone! There is a very faint red mark from using the thing, but a small price to pay IMO. Bottom line: it’s awesome. I’m carrying it with me everywhere!" —Rebecca Get it from Amazon for $9.97+ (available in six colors and various multipacks). Just apply these to pimples after washing your face and let them go to work. Promising review: "I have been using Mighty Patches for about four or five months now. Mighty Patch is a TOTAL GAME CHANGER; you put it on your blemish, usually at night after your beauty routine, and you wake to find that nasty pimple has almost completely been absorbed into the patch. I won't lie; my pimples sometimes require another patch. But on day one of use, you'll notice the patch taking away the nasty. At this point, your blemish may be at the last stage of healing, and the Mighty Patch sucked out all of the festering inducing mess, or like myself, I put on another patch the next night and again, more gunk taken out, and more healing has happened. Either way, regardless, this, to me, ALWAYS WORKS. Thanks to Mighty Patch my skin has changed. It's healed, there are no acne "tattoos" on my face from my popping and them scarring. This, to me, is a must-have for anyone in their beauty bag. It covers the pimple to protect it from outside bacteria and pollution; it absorbs the bacteria and pimple-causing debris from the skin, all while being hardly visible. I'm in love with this product." —Hilary Get 36 patches from Amazon for $12.99 (also available in packs of 72). Promising review: "My husband brought up a fun activity for us to share with our grandkids, who are 5 and 3. We found this National Geographic tumbler and bought the kit. We were so surprised at how well made it was. We jumped in, and let 'er rip for a week. The next week, we opened the lid to find smoother, prettier rocks. We continued this for several weeks, and each time the rocks became smoother and more glossy. We were excited to learn that we can buy different kinds of rocks (agates, precious stones, and more), use rocks from our yard, and order additional grit to keep the experiments going. We can even make cool jewelry. Our grandkids look forward to coming over and seeing how the rocks are doing." —Vicki M Promising review: "I have a 2.5-carat wedding ring and have a hard time really finding anything that gets that 'first day' sparkle back. With the Dazzle Stick, it shines again. Thank you so much!" —C.Skinner To apply, just unroll, position where you want it, sloooowly smooth it down with a credit card, and then trim the excess. Oh, and don't forget to wipe down the area you're covering first so it sticks. Promising review: "I absolutely loved this contact paper. It completely transformed my countertop. It was super easy to apply, and if I messed up, it was extremely easy to redeem myself. I did this alone with no help, and I’m pretty proud of the outcome. Took me about 30 min to complete it. I used the whole roll of the smallest option, and it was enough for me. Super awesome, and I will be buying more of this contact paper soon when I transform another room in my home! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!" —Mariah Get it from Amazon for $5.99+ (available in 11 sizes). It works like a white-out for your floors! Promising review: "I was pleasantly surprised by how far these went. I did the entire floor of my large master bathroom, plus a little of the shower, with one pen. It is pretty forgiving, and you have quite a bit of working time before it dries completely. This was not a quick task, but it went faster than I thought it would. I was worried the white would look too bright, but it just makes everything look so much cleaner. I'm very happy with this product!" —Jenelle Get it on Amazon for $8.99+ (available in wide and narrow tip). 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." —Monica T. Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in four shades). This works for all indoor and outdoor plants to encourage new growth. Just add seven drops to your watering can before watering. Promising review: "I bought this for a money tree plant that my cat ate all the leaves and completely destroyed. The first pic was a week or so after using the fertilizer as recommended, on April 7, and the second is May 4. Of course, I keep away from my cat at this point. Highly recommended fertilizer!" —Beth Promising review: "I found this product through a BuzzFeed article for those with frizzy hair, and THIS PRODUCT DID NOT DISAPPOINT, PEOPLE! I put this serum through the ringer; I got this to stand up to Bay Area fog AND the nasty, humid heat wave we got a couple of weeks ago. No frizz, no extra curls. Nothing! On top of that, it made my hair super glossy. I'm very impressed. Heads-up, though, a little goes a long way. One pump is enough to cover my hair and I have medium-length hair. Also, it can make your hair look oily if you use too much. I do have oily hair, so working on my ends firs,t then working to my roots works for me." —Jazmine Carbajal To learn more, check out our full write-up of this serum. To use, you just apply a thin layer twice a day (morning and night) to the affected area and under the edge of the nail for a week — after that, switch to applying once per day at night. Promising review: “I tried EVERYTHING! I tried tree tea oil for years and various different products. Nothing worked. The reviews were so great on this that I decided to try to cure it one more time. But when you have had a condition for 35 years, you aren’t too hopeful! I followed the suggestions of some of the reviewers and cut my toenails (I only had it on my big toes) everywhere that the fungus was present. Even below the quick. I started applying this gel, which is super easy to use. I swear to you that I noticed a difference after one application.” —WIAPilot Get it from Amazon for $19.97 (also available with a file). Promising review: "In November, I dropped my hair straightener on my ankle, causing a serious burn. Once it became a scar, it was very dark and purple. I ordered this at the end of December and applied it every night after the shower and it is almost completely gone! I am very happy with the product because I never thought it would go away! 10/10 recommend!" —David Bouchelle This set even comes with nonslip straps to ensure your new seats stay in place. See more colors here. Promising review: "I have never been so excited about a slipcover. Total transformation of our couch and loveseat. I was worried about it not working on our leather couch, but it stays on really well due to the straps and the separate cushion covers. LOVE." —Brian/Liz Get it from Amazon for $38.49+ (available in eight sizes and 22 colors). Juno & Co. is a small business specializing in personal care and skincare products. Promising review: "I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!! I found it on TikTok, and OMG!! It works so well. I don't have to sit there and rub the crap out of my eyelashes to get the waterproof mascara off. I will admit it doesn't take 100% of the makeup off, but about 95% of my makeup comes off. It is not water-resistant, as emulsifying it with water helps take the makeup off. I have not found a better makeup remover, and yes, that includes Micellar Water (which also works well but leaves my skin feeling oily). With this cleansing balm, my face feels hydrated and smooth. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!!!!!! 1000/10 would recommend!!!" —Deetje Frederick Promising review: "I didn’t know what to expect with this switch plate, but what I didn’t expect was the weight of it! The quality is absolutely incredible, the polished brass is a perfect color (honestly more golden than brassy), and overall, I’m in LOVE with the design. It’s exactly what I was looking for. I’ll definitely be ordering more plates for my outlets!" —RHEA Get it from Amazon for $30+ (available in eight shapes and seven finishes). Read more about how biotin shampoo could help with the fullness of hair at Cleveland Clinic. Maple Holistics is a small business that specializes in beauty products with all-natural ingredients. Check out a TikTok of the biotin shampoo in action. Promising review: "I love this shampoo! I had gastric sleeve surgery, and my hair was very, very thin. I started taking biotin and switched to biotin shampoo, as recommended by my doctor. It doesn’t make your hair grow by washing it, but it makes your hair and roots stronger. And it worked. After using the whole bottle, my hair was stronger. I had a lot of new growth that was sticking around (the previous new growth fell out early on), and my hair was getting thicker. Eight months later, my hair is back to normal. It's longer and thicker than ever." —Diane J. Huff Get it from Amazon for $14.95 (available in eight scents). The plant comes in a gel that has all the nutrients it needs to survive. It should outgrow its home in about 4–6 months. Promising review: "I was pretty sure I'd love this, but had no idea how much! I'm the 'mom' to three full-sized Venus fly traps, and it's so fascinating to see this baby in its beginning growth stage. Sort of like marveling at the tiny fingernails on a newborn infant, I'm captivated by the tiny but perfectly formed traps. Looking forward to watching it grow!" —Siri Jeffrey Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this brush shampoo! I was a little skeptical of how well it would clean my brushes since I'd never tried it before, but after using this, I am very pleased with the outcome. It has a faint shampoo scent but nothing too overpowering and suds like you wouldn't believe. It got all the way down to the base of the brush and gave it a really good cleaning. One of my brushes is made from boar hair (Estée Lauder powder brush) and I was worried it was going to frizz it out and ruin the shape, but it actually improved it after I had previously used baby shampoo. It's very soft and not at all coarse feeling. I also used this shampoo on my Beauty Blender, and it did a great job getting all the foundation out. All in all, I'd rate this product a 10/10!" —Katastrophe Remember to spot-check to make sure it agrees with your skin! Promising review: "I bought this after seeing an ad on TikTok. I'm skeptical, but I’m a sucker for this kinda stuff, but it is genuinely amazing. I tested it on all the different areas of my body. It didn’t do a thing to my well-exfoliated palm, but my face, legs, LIPS… baby soft with big balls of dead skin coming off. Like one of those Korean exfoliating gloves, but you don’t have to scrub like you do with those. You just gently rub it in, and your dead skin peels away. I even had a weird callus on my arm that kept regrowing, and it smoothed it down so cleanly. This stuff is truly magic. Just WOW." —Nellie Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in six styles). 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 edited for length and/or clarity.
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