36 Amazon Products That Have Changed Our Editors' Lives — Their Reviews Prove It

"If there's a recipe that calls for constant stirring, you better believe that's the exact moment that my daughter also starts stirring. She'll play by herself quietly when I don't need her to, but the very moment I need a few minutes to cook, that's when she wants to be picked up or to run around the house. And of course, I do my best to avoid holding her when I'm near the stove.

That's why this Automatic Pan Stirrer ($29) is incredibly appealing. It is battery-operated, has three speeds, and is self-rotating. That means you can go do something else while it's working! I cannot tell you the number of times pasta has stuck to the bottom of a pot because I left the stove to play with my child and forgot to whoosh the water and noodles around. This product is genius." — RB

"The best way to prevent a hangover is through moderation, but I'm not great at moderation. When a friend and fellow enthusiastic drinker recommended the Bytox Hangover Patch ($20 for five), I ordered a package from Amazon while midconversation — at a bar.

I should mention that I am 40 (as is my friend), and the older you get, the worse your hangovers get. In my case, hangovers manifest themselves in the form of a debilitating headache that no amount of ibuprofen can ease. Despite my best attempts to stay hydrated while consuming alcohol, the hangovers persist. At least they did, until I slapped on one of these patches.

A few years back, I tried the Flyby supplement, which also claims to prevent hangovers, but it didn't work for me. The Bytox patch, however, worked miraculously. Of course, everyone's biology is different, and this patch didn't work at all for my partner. Oh well, more patches for me!

The patch also comes with instructions. You apply it at least 45 minutes before consuming alcohol and leave it on at least eight hours after you've stopped consuming alcohol. You should also make sure to stay hydrated while using the patch.

I have worn this patch a few times, including twice when I really tested its powers. The first time, I was on holiday in Puerto Rico and spent the good part of the afternoon and evening consuming cocktails. The next day, I woke up headache-free and hardly worse for the wear. The second time, I was at a 40th birthday party, and while my partner looked pretty rough the next day, I felt pretty good. Maybe not like a million bucks, but at least like $500." —
Nancy Einhart, executive editor and VP of content

"Staying in a hotel is a nightmare for me. Almost every room features the fluffiest and thickest pillows, which is great for some people, but I always wake up with a neck ache the next day. Because I only like superflat pillows, the process of finding the perfect one usually consists of waiting two years for it to wear down and become my ideal thickness. This all changed when I discovered the Sleepgram Adjustable Hypoallergenic Pillow ($50) on Amazon.

The hypoallergenic pillow zips open and features two different-size inserts that you can remove or add, depending on what works best for you. The various inserts give you the opportunity to choose between three options: soft, medium, or firm support. So, you can choose what's best for you, depending on whether you sleep on your back, side, or stomach.

I have to admit I was hesitant to try this pillow because I'm so picky, but I was totally blown away. Since I normally wear down my already flat pillows, they always end up feeling old and lifeless; this pillow gave me a fluffy, soft, and supportive feeling I had never really experienced before. Not only did it give me the best night's sleep I've had in a while, but I could also give the thicker insert (which just feels like an actual pillow) to my boyfriend, and he loves it. Win-win." — Krista Jones, assistant editor, Shop

"Washing dishes and getting your hands all pruny in the sink after enjoying a satisfying meal is basically punishment, and don't even get me started on that cringe-filled moment when you touch an unidentified wet food particle. Yuck! If you ask me, though, the worst part is having to replace your sponge all. the. time. They get dirty and smelly so quickly, and it's even worse when you find little crumbs and bits of yesterday's dinner still stuck to the abrasive side. Thanks to this list of genius kitchen gadgets, I came across these Antibacterial Silicone Dishwashing Sponges ($13), and they've saved me loads of dishwashing frustration.

My mom mentioned something similar a few months earlier, insisting these sponges were better than the original, so I decided to take a chance. The results were pretty much instantaneous. Because they're made of silicone, the sponges don't tear or absorb any liquid, so they don't smell! Also, since they're so flexible, scrubbing the mouth of a water bottle or a narrow cup is no problem. Plus, any food particles that get caught in the little grooves can easily be rinsed away, and the sponges are dishwasher-safe, which makes them super easy to clean.

The sponges come in a pack of seven bright colours, so you'll have one for the counters, one for the dishes, one for the tables, and more. As one satisfied Amazon customer commented, 'By far, the best part about this product is that you are not having a breeding ground in your kitchen for bacteria using a sponge. Once you use these you will not go back!' I completely agree.

The catch? You do still need a regular abrasive sponge to do any heavy-duty pot scrubbing every now and then, but 90 percent of the time, I'm still able to skip the lingering smell and soggy feeling of an ordinary sponge in my hands." — Chanel Vargas, editorial assistant, Trending and Viral Features

"I have no idea why I get so many fruit flies at home. I don't even keep that much fruit around (yes, I know, I should probably eat more fruit) but they show up anyway, conspiring to float around my apartment and drive me completely crazy. My dog may look adorable swatting at them, but I do not — which is why I've tried nearly everything to keep them from killing my vibe by killing them instead.

After some trial, error, furious Googling, and a polite complaint to my landlord, I started looking for DIY ways to rid myself of them forever. While there are lots of fruit fly traps on the market, they're not very cute to look at — but I had faith that somewhere, someone had to be smart enough to design an aesthetically pleasing trap that could also lure fruit flies to their death. My search came to an end once I found the RSVP Endurance Fruit Fly Trap ($12) on Amazon, which is not only stylish, but also discreet: the white ceramic looks sleek, and the stainless steel cover matches the rest of my kitchen appliances (one friend actually thought it was a salt cellar, which, LOL).

It's incredibly easy to use; you fill it with about 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar and a small drop of regular dish soap, put the lid on, sit back, and watch those suckers take the bait. Have I gleefully sipped a glass of wine while watching a fruit fly navigate its way into a hole and ultimately meet its demise? Yes. And did I let out a hearty witch cackle? Also yes. (I really hate fruit flies, in case you were wondering.)" — Britt Stephens, content director, Celebrity and Entertainment

"I live in a rent-controlled apartment in San Francisco, which is basically the equivalent of winning the lottery, and while I want to say I'm lucky for finding the unit, sometimes my carpet makes me think otherwise. My landlord hasn't updated a single fixture or appliance since, like, the '90s (even the fridge), and the apartment is covered in dirty brown carpet that has become so matted throughout the years that I wouldn't dare walk on it without socks or slippers. In addition, all of my walls are a very nonappealing dark beige that hurts to look at. It's worth it because the rent is cheap.

This year, I've been on a mission to debrown my space and make it feel cleaner by investing in some new pieces. I purchased some cool wall art and covered my also brown sofa in fluffy blankets, but the one thing I spent forever looking for was the perfect area rug.

I searched numerous places both in person and online. I felt like all the colours and patterns I saw would make my space look even darker or more cluttered. I always caught myself eyeing white rugs, but thought, 'No, that's crazy — I can't have a white rug.'

Once day while browsing on Amazon, I came across this ivory Safavieh California Shag ($81) and it caught my eye. I decided to give it a try because it was affordable and I knew I could return it if I had to.

After getting it delivered to my front door within just a few days, I was instantly impressed by the quality. It's thick, fluffy, soft, and, most importantly, bright. Within seconds, my living room felt like a whole new space. The light from my bay windows reflected perfectly onto the fuzzy surface to create a fresh new feel.

The upkeep has been much easier than I thought, too. I have a shoe-free home, which helps keep dirt at bay, and the rug's material is easy to vacuum. The real seller is the price tag, because at the end of the day, if it gets ruined, I know it didn't cost me a fortune." — KJ

"Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay ($11) has a tried-and-true formula that has worked for countless people with acne-prone skin. The mask is made with 100 percent natural calcium bentonite, which is a green clay that's incredibly absorbent. More than 15,000 customers have reviewed the product, and 70 percent of users give it five stars. That's a pretty spectacular reputation.

I tried the mask myself and was very pleased with the results. When you open the jar, you will find a powdered clay that you mix with equal parts apple cider vinegar or water — it's up to you. Many customers claim that the vinegar will give you more effective results. You stir until you get a thick yet smooth paste that you can put on your face with your fingers or a brush. Allow the mask to dry. Here's the important part: if you have sensitive skin, only leave it on for five minutes. Any longer and you may experience irritation. If you have normal skin, you can leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. As it dries, you will feel your skin tightening — that's a good thing. Wash it off with warm water once you're finished. You may look a little red after you take the mask off, but that should go away in 15 minutes or so.

I used the mask three times in one week, and I didn't get a single zit. My skin felt baby soft, and it was the clearest it had been in months. Many fans of the product claim that it has been a miracle worker for their severe acne." — MCW

"My boyfriend and I have been sleeping in a double bed together for a few years now, and while I want to say it's nice that we get the chance to be close at night, it's really just a nightmare. We are both 'sideways' sleepers and move around a lot, and a double bed does not give us enough room. At last, we just finally moved into an apartment that has a large enough bedroom for us to upgrade to a king-size bed. I had been waiting so long for this that I was beyond excited.

When I started shopping for beds and mattresses, I was shocked at the prices. Considering the only bed set I had ever owned was purchased by my parents, I didn't know how much it was going to cost me. I decided to splurge on a nicer mattress in the hopes I would have it for a long time, so I wanted to save on my headboard and box spring set. Little did I know that was going to cost me another $500 or so, at the cheapest.

A friend has recently turned me on to shopping for furniture on Amazon, so I decided to take a gamble and check the site. Lo and behold, I found this Zinus Upholstered Platform Bed ($282). The reviews helped me make my decision — it has over 2,100 reviews and a 4.6-star rating. As I was reading the reviews, I noticed people said because of the wooden slats on this frame that I didn't need to purchase a box spring. The mattress could get the same amount of support by the platform bed's wooden slats. This was another money-saving win that finally convinced me to purchase the bed. An added bonus: I live in a city and didn't want to deal with the burden of a delivery. Ordering on Amazon Prime, it was simply delivered to my door within two days.

The bed arrived in a thin box and all the parts (there surprisingly weren't many) showed up in an efficiently packed set. We were able to quickly put together the bed within 15 minutes and I was shocked by how easy it was. It made me realise that not all cheap furniture has to be a disaster to assemble.

I've had the bed for about four months now, and I love it. It works in perfect harmony with my mattress, and by not having to purchase a box spring, I actually saved money." — KJ

"I make eggs for my family weekly. My husband loves them, I love them, and my daughter loves them. And even though I use what I consider to be the best nonstick pan out there, at some point, things just start sticking — eggs in particular. I've had some success using these silicone dishwashing gloves, but they only get so much off.

After hearing people rave about this Lodge Pan Scraper ($3, originally $10) and reading through reviews, I was sold. You have to wait until the pan cools off before using it (the scraper is likely to melt otherwise), but then you're free to flick off those reluctant pieces that seem to just want to hold on for dear life. The scrapers are intentionally rounded in four different ways so you can get the angle you want. And those of you who spend the Summer flipping burgers for the kids on the grill might find this handy scraper useful, too! It really gets in all of those nooks and crannies." — RB

"One of my goals in 2019 was to get a camera for my house. This Blink XT Home Security Camera System ($130) has been great. It connects to my phone so when I'm away I can check up on my house, and it send me alerts if there is unwanted movement." — KJ

"These bestselling Adidas Cloudfoam Advantage Clean Fashion Sneakers ($30-$60) are, hands-down, one of my favourite picks. I have worn them plenty of times, and the Cloudfoam that makes them comfy is as great as the day I bought them. I like that the design of the shoe works with a variety of outfits; they look good with jeans, dresses, and sweats. I can throw them on with almost everything hanging in my closet." — MCW