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29 Game-Changing Personal Care Products For All Sorts Of Perplexing Problems
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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 From perpetually sweaty hands to morning “dragon breath,” these problem-solving products tackle those issues that have been irking you for way too long. As a shopping editor with over a decade of experience working in journalism and digital media, I cover everything from beauty and fashion to home, travel, gaming, and pets, and I'm constantly saving interesting products on TikTok (in *very* organized folders, mind you) to share with BuzzFeed readers. At some point, we all experience annoying issues that come with having a human body. A blister on your heel after a long day of walking, stretch marks that pop up after your weight fluctuates — literally, we've all been there, and that's exactly why these helpful personal care products exist. Check out a TikTok of the acne-banishing body spray in action. Promising review: "This body spray has helped clear up stubborn back and shoulder breakouts better than anything I’ve tried. The 360-degree spray makes it super easy to apply, even to hard-to-reach spots. It dries quickly, doesn’t stain clothes, and has a clean finish. After a couple of weeks of consistent use, I saw smoother skin and fewer breakouts. It’s also lightweight and doesn’t feel sticky. Definitely recommend for anyone dealing with body acne." —Rosiemelisa Get it from Amazon for $14.87 (also available as a two-pack). Promising review: "What a cool product! I found these on a ‘got to have’ list off Facebook. I throw shoes out because of the smell rather than wearing them out as I hate wearing socks. Bare feet all the time in shoes is not a winner. These are great at preventing stinky shoes — trim to size and just toss in the washer when needed! I will be buying several additional pairs!" —Amy Get it from Amazon for $9.32+ (available in two sizes and three styles). Learn more about different kinds of eye drops and what they can do at Cleveland Clinic. Note that eye drops can potentially mask symptoms of eye conditions, so you should talk to your eye doctor about what's right for you. And according to Mayo Clinic, you should avoid redness-reducing drops if you're looking for dry eye relief. Promising review: "I have a big spot of blood vessels in the inner corner of my left eye. I use the expensive lubricant eye drops for moisture — I've used Visine, Clear Eyes, you name it. No eye drop has made my eyes look this great. Only Lumify! I was soo happy when I looked in the mirror and saw some beauty in my eyes instead of darkness and redness." —Angela Leonard Get it from Amazon for $11.93 (also available in a preservative-free option for sensitive eyes). It's color-adapting, so one of four shades will work well for any skin tone! To use, apply this in thin layers to avoid creasing, then follow with your favorite concealer and setting powder if you like. If you don't like applying products with your fingers, they also make a triangle-shaped puff that's perfect for using with this. I have this in the Light Rose shade (I'm very pale), and it works *so* well to brighten my under-eyes — I use my fingers to apply it (after moisturizing and applying my primer), and it blends seamlessly. In the gif above, I'm showing how it looks freshly applied to one under-eye versus how it looks on the other side without the brightener. I don't have super dark under-eyes, but it still makes a huge difference! Psst — my former colleague Heather Braga (a mom with two toddlers) also swears by this! Promising review: "I purchased the Golden Toffee color on a complete whim, as I had never heard of this brand before. Didn't expect much since other color correctors in the past did literally nothing for me except frustrate me further. When I tell you I almost fell out of my vanity chair when applying this the first time. I feel like my life has instantly changed for the better. It's so perfect for my severe dark eye circles and me that I'm able to use just a little bit of the color corrector ALONE on no makeup days and just go outside to run quick errands! Great coverage, great texture, and blendability. Talk about a complete game changer for me. I love you, Catrice. Please don't ever stop making this product. AND THE PRICE???? ARE YOU KIDDING ME? <3" —JennyWHOA Get it from Amazon for $6 (available in four shades). Promising review: "I used this product on my 10-year-old son. He sweats A LOT on his hands. He would tell me that he was embarrassed at school and he had problems making friends. My son told me he had never shaken a hand outside of mine ever before in his life...it broke me. As a father, I knew I had to fix this. I set up an appointment with his doctor and got nowhere. The doctor said it's normal and should go away in the coming years. I asked about surgery, and they said it would be around $10,000, so I started saving. Couple of weeks went by and I came across this product I asked my son if he was OK with trying it and he desperately said yes. We put it on, and his hands are completely dry now. When it worked, he started practicing shaking hands and high fives with his brother. It's been two weeks now, and it is working AMAZING." —Hector Lorenzo Read more about nasal rinses and allergies at Mayo Clinic. Promising review: "I seldom write reviews but this nasal spray deserves its five stars. My nose was SO stopped up I couldn’t breathe through it for several days. When this arrived I put it to the test and within 30 seconds I could breathe. Magic! This stuff would be worth $100 a bottle. It really does work. So far I’ve been nasal congestion free for eight hours. If you are looking for a fast remedy don’t hesitate. This stuff is like having a decongestant genie in a bottle, granting your wish to smell the air once more." —Sad Eyes Get it from Amazon for $7.35 (also available in multipacks). Promising review: "I’m not one to post reviews but I hope this helps someone. I was so desperate to find anything that would help my skin! This product is cheap and it works! Compared to all the lotions and creams I have tried, this is the absolute best. I pair it with their face wash. It was recommended by my dermatologist, I will be using it for life! I had a rash reaction that lasted almost two weeks with flaking skin and sore red spots. Once I started using this product, within two days I saw major results! The initial picture my skin was on fire, painful, dry, and I couldn’t even use makeup. The second picture is three days later after using the wash and moisturizer twice a day." —Kerry BuzzFeed Shopping writer (and apparently investigative journalist!) Karly Jacklin says, "I asked myself the question, 'What would happen if I just called Therabreath up?' And then I verified with a brand representative that this toothpaste's pH is 7.5–8, which is alkaline enough to effectively clean teeth without harming enamel. (Always be sure to check with your dentist to make sure you are using the right toothpaste for you, though.) "I have super fragile, sensitive teeth that I need to be *extra gentle* with...and that means staying away from harsh whitening toothpastes. And that's super hard, because I want white teeth! Luckily, this 'deep clean' is enough to scrub the stains away without causing pain. No stinging, no sensitivity, and it still leaves my teeth looking about a shade whiter after consistent use. It obviously cannot undo the damage that is already there, but it's helped my teeth feel much cleaner, and helped banish my inflamed gums. A tip I got from my dentist that's REALLY helped? In addition to brushing and flossing, I put a tiny bit of this toothpaste on an expandable floss (like Cocofloss) and scrub in-between my tightly crowded areas that my toothbrush can't reach. It's like magic if you're prone to cavities in those spots. Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.58. Promising review: "This product works!! High quality material, well made, easy to clean, corrosion resistant, at least in my experience. I can tell this will last a long time. And, it works!!!! Got rid of a coating on my tongue that other tongue scrapers and the tongue cleaners on toothbrushes did nothing for!! Noticed it got a lot off the first use!!! My tongue looks healthy, and my throat feels better. Once a thicker layer starts on the tongue due to postnasal drip there's nothing else that got rid of it. It's easy to hold, and doesn't gag me at all. It comes with a travel case, which I love because I don't want anything that goes in my mouth loose in a bag." —Saffire Dragon Get a single pack with a travel case from Amazon for $9.95. Read more about how biotin shampoo could help with the fullness of hair at Cleveland Clinic. 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. I still use it twice a week and love it! I [don't love] the way it smells but others love it when they smell my hair." —Diane J. Huff Get it from Amazon for $14.95+ (available in four sizes and six scents). If you have any neck or back issues, talk to your doctor before use and read more about cervical traction at Cleveland Clinic. For this, instead of like a regular pillow, you're supposed to lie on it in 10-minute intervals; the seller suggests working your way up to it by starting yourself off at five minutes at a time, with a one- to three-day adjustment period before regular use. Promising review: "This neck relaxer is so easy to use! It took a few times to get used to, but it is not uncomfortable and is very much helpful with my chronic neck pain and shoulder tension. I felt pain relief after the first use! I have even been able to cut back on my chiropractor appointments because of this product. So thankful for this amazing find, as I am only 41 and have been struggling with neck pain for several years now." —Mary Beth Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in five colors). My former colleague Ciera Velarde is a huge fan: "I've used it for about 12 years now and it's the only thing that I can trust to prevent that dreaded chafing after a sweaty day of walking around. It glides on perfectly, it's unscented, and it doesn't melt away when you start to sweat. If it's a particularly hot day out, it can start to fade after a few hours, so just make sure to bring it with you to reapply. In addition to preventing chafing between my thighs, I've also applied it on my arms where my sports bra rubs against them when I run and it works like a charm!" Promising review: "Sometimes I feel as if a fire is going to start between my fat thighs, but with this stuff they just glide right on by each other, it has been a summer life-saver. Only thing is you have to pack it on and reapply maybe 4 hours in, so bring it along for the ride. I will be buying again." —Ash Promising review: "I don't normally have trouble with blisters or pain from my work shoes, but I travel regularly to Washington, DC, for work. I walk a lot while I'm there, including when it's hot and muggy in the summer, and any kind of shoe I've tried gives me blisters when I walk 5 miles a day with extremely sweaty feet and no socks. I thought my only options were to coat my feet in Band-Aids or bite the bullet and start wearing tights or socks in the heat, but then I found this stuff. I just got back from a week in DC in shoes that have given me blisters before, and my feet are completely fine. I did reapply in the evenings going out for dinner, but otherwise, just a few swipes on the problem spots and I was ready to go, with no painful rubbing. And, of course, the size is convenient for travel and to keep in my bag in case I do need to reapply." —L. Kelly Promising review: "Took this on my first cruise. Anytime that I started to feel woozy I’d reach for it. I’m sure the required act of deep breathing helped a lot - and breathing in the fragrance of the essential oil is very calming and effective. Worked for me! Wonderful!" —Willy&Lilly Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.99 (also available in a pack of four). They're individually packaged, so you can easily toss some into your bag if you're spending the night with someone. Promising review: "Do you love the feeling of your underwear getting damp hours after adult time? That surprise wetness just as you're about to step into a meeting where you'll be presenting in front of your boss, as well as their boss? If so, this is not for you. For the rest of us, these are amazing. Just slip in one of these, let set while you check your phone, then remove and toss. The package says a few seconds, but my first time using it didn't work, so I did a full minute, and it works every time. No more wet spots to try to sleep in. No more wearing liners after fun time when you have to go to work. I will be a lifelong customer (well, sex life long anyway)." —Monica K. Jones Promising review: "These babies are a staple of mine. At 45 with DDs, I’ve tried everything. I can’t wear strapless bras; fighting gravity with extra wide and tight straps are so uncomfortable with fat squeezing out paths of least resistance and my boobs end up as a catch-all shelf under my chin. I’ve tried the petal fabric-feel pasties — they wrinkled and didn’t hide hard nipples. Other silicon-type pasties were too thick and one could see what looked like bread plate-sized areolas protruding from thin fabric. Then I found these amazing things. These are my second pair, as a backup. I follow directions and wash them off after wearing and my first one are still going strong after a full year (have worn them dozens of times). Under even thin tops- you cannot even see the outline of it. It’s truly a life-saver for me! Very smooth, even naked it looks smooth. God I love these covers! No nipping out. Thank you!" —A.G. Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in three sizes, five shades, and a version that provides some lift). Promising reviews: "I’ve had problems with my nails for decades. They have prominent vertical ridges, they’re yellowish, and they’re very brittle. (Yes, I’ve seen a dermatologist). I’ve tried acrylic nails, powder gel nails, press-on nails, nail wraps...literally EVERYTHING I could think of to cover, fill, and improve the appearance of my problem nails. THIS POLISH IS THE SOLUTION. It fills my ridges smoothly without a separate base layer. I no longer have to buff these ridges into submission. Also, it is a lovely, natural color. It actually does illuminate the nail; I have no idea how it does it. My nails appear greatly improved: healthy, smooth, light pink. And they’re stronger, too. They’re much less likely to break or tear. I am no longer ashamed of my nails, and I’m not plagued with having to spend a lot of time or money trying to fix them." —K. Evans Get it from Amazon for $20+ (available in six shades). Check out our Londontown Illuminating Nail Concealer review for more deets! I finally tried out this tool with my Crave Naturals brush, which I used for (*checks Amazon order history*) TWO YEARS without ever doing a deep clean of it. I mean, sure, I would regularly pull out the loose hair and whatever I could get to using my fingers, but there was always this gross layer at the bottom I couldn't reach, and I kind of just tried my best to pretend it wasn't there. LET ME TELL YOU: This tool is genius. With barely any effort, it pulled out that gross, years-old layer of *stuff* at the bottom of my brush (the photo above shows that layer already ~dislodged~ by the tool, right before I pulled it out), and now I don't have to feel disgusting every time I run it through my hair. It actually feels like it's doing a better job of *brushing* now too! Seriously, if you are a human with brushable hair on your head, you need this. Note: It's worth giving your hair brush a good rinse with soap after that layer of hair and lint is pulled away! I didn't find it was necessary to soak my brush before using the tool. Promising review: "My right ear has been plugged up for months. I squirted warm water in there, peroxide, tried various ear scraper tools, then just gave up. A month or so later, I saw this product at a local CVS, and gave it a try. Laid on couch with several drops in my ear for a half hour. I could hear weird fizzing noises. Then I flushed warm water in my ear with the included soft bulb syringe, and out came the culprit. Had to have been deep in there." —fixitforgood The Migrastil migraine stick comes from small biz Basic Vigor. Promising review: "I have suffered from migraines for at least 10 years and have tried everything under the sun for it. I am a nurse. I can't take a few of the other meds (looking at you Fioricet) due to my job. And that also makes me super skeptical of natural remedies. So you can trust me when I say this WORKS. I am sitting here 30 minutes after application. Had a nice right-sided migraine solid 7/10 pain curling in a ball in a dark room practically blind in my right eye levels of pain. Now I am down to a manageable 2/10 writing this. It's cheap enough you may as well try it out, and besides skin sensitivities, it's far lower on the side effect scale. Getting another one now to keep in my work bag." —Amanda M Read BuzzFeed's Migrastil migraine stick review for more deets! Promising review: "This product is amazing. I've always had acrylic or dipped nails because my real nails have always been brittle and always break and peel. I decided to give my nails a break and wanted to try and grow them out. I can't even believe the outcome! They are stronger than ever and growing! I really wish I had taken a before pic to show the difference!" —JOE D. Promising review: "This product is a true gem. I’m eight months pregnant, and due to the baby pressing on my diaphragm, I’ve begun to snore terribly. My poor husband is a light sleeper, so I needed to figure something out. I started applying this at night, and he says he doesn’t hear a peep out of me! If you have trouble sleeping or snoring, this is something you need." —Raevyn Get a box of 26 strips from Amazon for $11.49. Promising review: "I wasn’t sure what to expect from a jelly-style wireless bra, but this turned out to be extremely comfortable and surprisingly supportive. The material is soft and stretchy, and it molds nicely without digging in or leaving marks. Even without underwire, it gives a lifted shape that looks natural. The minimizer effect is real — it smooths everything without flattening, and the full back coverage helps with support and keeps the bra in place all day. I especially like how lightweight it feels while still giving a secure fit. It’s a great option for anyone who prefers wireless bras but still needs good lift. Overall, this is a very comfortable plus-size bralette that works well for everyday use. Soft, supportive, breathable, and easy to wear all day. I’m very happy with it." —Reviews Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in band sizes 32–48 and cup sizes B–DDD, and in 17 colors). Promising review: "I wish I had found these sooner!! These cold sores were probably the worst I've had and wouldn't clear up or stop itching/hurting. I googled cold sore remedies, and these happened to pop up. After reading the reviews, I immediately ordered them. They came right on time, and I put them on before bed last night. It's been less than 36 hours, and these cold sores are already healing beautifully. I plan to order another pack or three, so I can keep one at home, one in my purse, and one in my locker at work so if I ever feel the warning tingle/itching of a new breakout, I can slap one of these bad boys on and get rid of it quickly! Highly recommend for my fellow cold sore sufferers." —Jessica Hill Get a pack of 15 from Amazon for $12.97. 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, switching 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 This comes with a kit containing 10 toenail braces and tools for application. Each brace lasts three to six weeks. Former BuzzFeed Shopping writer Haley Zovickian says, "After spending hours upon hours of my youth in tight cleats playing sports, I now deal with gross, painful ingrown toenails. I put off seeking a solution for them for a long time — I hoped they'd improve on their own (spoiler: they didn't) and was resistant to shelling out any money to deal with them. A few months ago, I lightly brushed my big toe against the floor, was met with bloodcurdling pain from an ingrown, and finally decided enough was enough. I ordered this kit, and stuck the brace on my most severe ingrown. "Honestly, I was astonished by the improvement this made, even within just a few days. Now, a few weeks later, my nail is straight and evened out like a healthy toenail should be, and it doesn't hurt at all when I wear shoes or when it knocks against something. They recommend you keep the brace on for a full nail growth cycle to fully correct the ingrown, so it'll be a longer road for me, but I couldn't be happier with the results so far. Note: The brace causes a very slight discomfort at first. If you feel any pain, you should take the brace off immediately and apply it with less pressure." Reviewers across all hair types, from thin, straight hair to coarse 4c hair, report a positive experience with this dandruff shampoo, i.e. that it's kept their hair itch- and flake-free. Haley recommends this too: "I get dandruff from time to time, and when I do the flakes are stubborn and hard to get rid of. Nizoral is a godsend and the only thing I will use for getting rid of it. Because it's antifungal, it actually gets at the root of the problem so you get fast relief. I make sure I never run out — it's the only thing that'll take care of my dandruff effectively and quickly." Promising review: "I’ve had dandruff for my entire life and I didn’t know what caused it. I came across a dermatologist on TikTok saying this may be due to some fungus infection and recommended this product. I literally just used it two times a week for couple of weeks and I can see almost no dandruff anymore. Also the smell is good, it doesn’t smell like medicine and I kinda like it!" —Amazon Customer Promising review: "My hair was always straight until recently, so I’m still pretty new to figuring out my curly/wavy hair. My hair is fine and probably about a 2b, which is curlier when shorter. I had been sleeping on a regular cotton pillowcase and waking up to frizz and limpness, so I knew I needed to change things up. This is my first bonnet, and it works great! I’ve tried using it both in a loose pineapple using the included scrunchie, and on its own, and it definitely keeps my curls/waves more defined and less frizzy for longer and helps my hair to keep its definition. In its curly state, my hair is right at/just past my shoulders, and I was worried about there being too much space in the bonnet to keep my hair looking good, but it does the job! I also can’t stand being too warm at night, and I find this doesn’t bother me." —DC Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in 21 colors and a version with a tie band). Read more about tea tree oil and acne at Mayo Clinic. Promising review: "This kicked my buttne's a#$. I will say that I paired this with an antibacterial body wash (which I recommend if you have folliculitis) Background real quick: My skin is pretty sensitive and I work out 5 days a week. A bad combo for your skin, especially if you have folliculitis. Everything irritated my skin: sitting down, wearing the wrong underwear, shaving my bikini line even got irritated the next day. Summer time was always the worst. The extra sweat really clogs your pores. I have been using this for a week and a half. It did get worse for the first 3 -4 days and then all of sudden it cleared up like the sun coming out after a hard rain. I like the smell of the lotion, personally I think its a mild smell. It dries fast and doesn't stick to your clothes. I put this on in the morning and in the evening. You don't need much. Your skin is left feeling very smooth. If you have buttne, give this a try — you will not be disappointed." —Dani Dawson 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. Note: Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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