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22 Affordable Personal Care Products To Transform How You Take Care Of Yourself
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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. Here's to being a firm believer that taking care of ourselves shouldn't be time-consuming or cost an arm and a leg. Promising review: "More than six years with a large, sometimes painful plantar wart on the bottom of my foot. The doctor tried freezing. I tried apple cider vinegar, aspirin, freezing at home, over and over again...nothing worked. Never showing the bottom of my feet, refusing to get a pedicure with the girls, and so, so embarrassed. It felt as if I was doomed to have it for forever; it was resistant to everything. Literally six years of fighting it, and on a whim, I tried these because of the good reviews. ONE APPLICATION. I wore the bandage overnight. I didn’t think it did anything, but a few days later, the wart just came off. I know it’s silly to be so emotional over a wart, but I’m telling you, I nearly cried. I’ve never been so happy with a product in my life. Highly, highly recommend giving these a try if you’ve got stubborn plantar warts." —Liz Dube Get a pack of 14 from Amazon for $5.89 (also available in an invisible style and in larger packs). After brushing and flossing, you paint your teeth with the pen (each pen contains about 20 uses), wait for 30 minutes, then rinse! Promising review: "I have to say, I was skeptical about this product from all the TikTok hype about it, but after trying it out, it really does work. This was super easy, didn’t hurt my teeth at all, and didn’t taste much different than my regular toothpaste since I got the mint-flavored one. I used it for a few weeks before my brother’s wedding, and it worked like a charm. I noticed visible results in only a couple of days and was able to keep using it until I reached my desired shade of white. 10/10 would recommend for anyone with sensitive teeth and tastes!" —Victoria Bravo Promising review: "This product actually works! I’ve smoked for over 30 years and my teeth have never been more white! I think I’ve tried everything out there. I have finally found something that works! I will be sticking with this one!!!!" —MattK Get a pack of two from Amazon for $15.25. This product does not promise to work overnight. Apply this daily 2–3 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: "I've struggled with a stubborn bump on my nose piercing for weeks and tried everything—sea salt soaks, tea tree oil, you name it. This solution was my last hope, and I'm so glad I gave it a shot. Within a few days, I noticed the bump shrinking, and after about two weeks, it was completely gone. It’s gentle, non-irritating, and didn’t dry out my skin like other treatments. Highly recommend it to anyone dealing with piercing bumps!" —Adou 😘 Get it from Amazon for $12.85 (also available in multipacks). Promising review: "Okay, so I know there’s a ton of reviews for how amazing this thing is, and I really thought it was going to be super overhyped. But seriously — THIS THING IS AMAZING! Usually, I have to really scrub to get my mascara off, and I’ll typically lose an eyelash or two in the process, but I wet this down and wiped my face once, and everything was off my face and on the towel. And I mean wipe, there was no scrubbing. I literally did a quick wipe expecting it to be just an initial pass, then looked up into the mirror and was like, holy hell, I think it’s all off. I’m in total shock. I have literally never once had a cream, oil, cloth, or otherwise that so effortlessly wiped off my mascara before. There’s got to be some magic going on here...my face thanks you." —anonymous Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in six colors and multipacks). Reviewers say it's especially effective for sensitive, acne-prone skin and oily/combination skin types (though reviewers with dry skin report great results too). Like with any other product containing retinol, it's best to slowly implement it into your routine. Promising review: "I am a licensed esthetician who deals with hormonal cystic acne that leaves scarring on my sensitive skin. My skin has improved so much since I started using this product!!! For the first couple of weeks, my skin purged out any underlying blemishes, but afterward was clearer + smoother than I’ve seen it in YEARS! I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!! I love that it not only targets my acne scarring with the vitamin C but also soothes the redness with the niacinimide, has retinol, AND helps minimize my blackheads and pore size with the salicylic acid 😭 It is the perfect product for my sensitive oily acne prone skin!" —Jackie Check out a TikTok of the SoCozy Curl Spray in action. BTW, the spray is free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates, synthetic colors or dyes, propylene glycol, gluten, wheat, and nuts! And according to reviewers, it has worked well for 2a to 4c curls! Promising review: "I feel like I have tried every product in the market for detangling curly hair on my 2-year-old daughter. This is the BEST purchase and product ever!! I spray to detangle after a bath at night and then re-spray the next morning before school after getting dressed. It reworks its magic the second time around, and she arrives home with her hair so bouncy, and the curls are so tame!!" —BK Promising review: "Alright, folks, gather 'round for the comedy show starring the Leave-In Hair Detangler for Curly Hair! And just to clarify, I'm not being bribed to say this – this is an unpaid review. So picture this: my hair, usually a nest of rebellious curls, meets this detangler, and it's like they're at a peace conference. No more morning showdowns, no more tangled drama. It's like the hair angels sprinkled magic dust on my locks. I don't know what's in this stuff, but I suspect it's a mix of wizardry and unicorn tears. I mean, it makes combing through my curly jungle a breeze – a hair-raising experience in all the right ways! Now, I've tried some wild hair products in my time, but this one? It's the real deal, folks. If you've got curly chaos up top, give this detangler a spin. It'll turn your daily hair routine into a comedy show with a happy ending – no bad hair days here! 💁♀️🪄"—SKrebs Get it from Amazon for $9.97 (available in two sizes and a two-pack). Promising review: "ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS OOOOMMMMGGG!!! I was skeptical at first, but given the reviews I figured I’d give it a try. I’m African American and have curly, kinky, coils... in between the realm of type 3/4 idk to be honest. All I know, is that when I went to detangle my fro after a long day, this brush easily slid through. I had to double take! I didn’t have to pretangle with a wide tooth comb I just dove right in. My hair is THICK! After each stroke I kept looking at the brush like, “what type of sorcery is this!? And to top it off ZERO BREAKAGE!!! Buy this brush!!!!!" —Amazon Customer Promising review: "I absolutely love this brush. I have fine, thin, flyaway hair. Every other brush or even wide toothed comb seems to yank in my hair. This brush is so much more gentle. It works best when I brush from the bottom up first when I have tangles. But even when I don't do that, this brush isn't pulling my hair out and causing a lot of breakage. I've used it with wet hair after shampooing, dry hair at all times (waking up, after a walk, after working out etc) and it's the same every time. I read the reviews and decided to give this brush a try. I'm so happy I did!" —Frizabeth Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in two sizes, 10 colors, and as a multipack). Simply massage it into dry skin, emulsify with water, and follow up with a water-based cleanser (like Anua's deep-cleansing foam). As with all skincare products, your results may vary depending on the cause of your acne. Promising review: "This product is incredible. After one use, I noticed a difference. I am so impressed with it. I don’t know what kind of sorcery this is, but I am happy it exists. If you’ve been buying products to get rid of blackheads and nothing is working, this will make you very happy." —A Promising review: "I can't live without this cleansing oil; it's magic in a bottle. This is the only thing that's been able to clear the sebaceous filaments on my nose after consistent daily use!! It also helps the milia/filaments under my eyes! LOVE ITTTTT WHO LET ME LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT DOUBLE CLEANSING AT NIGHT" —Sarah Coleman And if you know your skin will be dry dry dry, this brand also makes the cult-fave Working Hand and Healthy Feet creams! Promising review: "I’ve had a horrible crack/tear in the corner of my mouth for weeks and was feeling desperate. I was using Vaseline 24/7, and while it would heal overnight, it would immediately split again when eating. I also tried the Burt’s Bees night treatment, but wasn’t having any better results than the Vaseline. I saw a TV ad for the O’Keeffe’s lip night treatment and figured with their reputation on their hand cream, it was worth a shot! I was shocked when it worked within two days. I’ve continued to use it at night to moisturize, and I love it. Would recommend to anyone that’s having painful cracks from cold weather or anyone looking for a really good lip moisturizer!" —Cori Get it from Amazon for $11.48 (also available in a two-pack). If you have any concerns about using this, make sure to talk to your dentist! Mouthwatchers is a dentist-founded small business that specializes in creating toothbrushes to help patients get a truly deep clean. BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord uses these, and here's her take: "I personally bought this a few months ago and love it! I use an electric toothbrush usually, but I feel like I'm getting a much more satisfying clean from these?? Especially because I tend to get yellow stains between my teeth no matter *how* much I floss, and these bristles seem to actually target that a lot more effectively. I've switched to using this in the morning and the electric one at night and definitely see a difference in that area in particular." Promising review: "This was another one of my TikTok purchases! I was skeptical, but my kids hate flossing their teeth, so I thought this might help in between making them floss. They work amazingly! My kids said they could see and feel a difference on the first use, and I agree! They are definitely worth a try! I would suggest not pushing too hard, those tiny bristles really get in there, and if you push too hard, you might be sore like I was. It felt like after going to a dental cleaning." —AN BuzzFeed Shopping editor Maitland Quitmeyer loves these: This is my go-to satin pillowcase. I have two Slip pillowcases, and several of these, and actually the Bedsure ones wash up much nicer and retain an incredibly silky smooth feel after dozens of trips through the laundry. They're the only ones I'll buy going forward. Promising review: "These are extremely smooth, which is perfect for preventing my hair from getting wild and messed up when I sleep. I have curly hair and have to put oils and whatnot in it, and this doesn't soak up all the oils from my hair and cause acne on my face like cotton pillowcases do. I'm not saying I never have pimples anymore, but it has really helped reduce the amount that I get. Most mornings, I wake up with none now. I also love that the opening of the pillowcase is wider than my previous satin pillowcases. I don't have to worry about squeezing the sides of my pillow and stuffing it in or trying to shake it out when I'm taking it off. I'm actually about to buy a couple more since I like these ones so much." —Ariel Thompson Get a set of two from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in standard, queen, king, and body pillow sizes and dozens of colors). Here's why BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord loves these: "Hello, my toenails are problem children for two reasons: One is that they're kinda thick, the other is that I'm a long-distance runner, which doesn't play nice with toenails. I bought this recently, and the difference it made immediately was ENORMOUS. Like, I usually dread approaching my big toenails because they are so thick, but these painlessly and seamlessly lobbed the tops right off; I was also able to ~gently correct~ a toenail that was starting to get ingrown and help cut down a dead toenail that needed trimming but would have been painful to approach with a regular clipper." Promising review: "I usually go to a nail salon to get my pedicure and get my ingrown toenails cared for…sometimes it hurts so bad it takes a few days to heal. But since I got this trimmer, I have successfully eliminated my own ingrown toenails with ease and less pain. I am happy with this purchase and I can highly recommend others to try." —Stella BuzzFeed Shopping writer Negesti Kaudo uses this: "I got a facial a couple of years ago and I could tell something was different about my extractions, so I asked the aesthetician to write down the name of the product. I went home and immediately bought this! I LOVE IT. I love it more than any other skincare tool that I own. This thing gets gunk out like nothing I've ever tried before, and the first time I used it, I was absolutely disgusted. But I kept on using it. I don't have much acne, but I do have oily combination skin and visibly clogged pores, so this has been a lifesaver when I don't have time to visit an aesthetician. You have to use it while your face is still wet, so after washing your face or even using toner, and you just start scraping. Make sure you have a paper towel near (and maybe a camera) because you will be amazed and disgusted all at once, but you will literally never stop using. I use mine every other day to once a week if I'm having skincare issues, but it also does a great job with monthly use (it's just much grosser)! I follow mine up with Clinique's Clarifying Lotion 3 and Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel!" Promising review: "Don't doubt it, a staple in skincare. I got this little device from a TikTok and decided to give it a try. I never knew I needed it until the first time I tried it. The vibrations magically bring up all the stubborn blackheads you can’t reach with just your fingers, especially if you have acrylics like me." —Paige Chaney Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in three colors). Several reviewers say they just throw theirs right in the washing machine to clean it! They also make a smaller one designed for the bikini area and a long, narrow back scrubber for hard-to-reach areas. Promising review: "I exfoliate my skin on a regular basis and using two different types of exfoliation (chemical and mechanical), had always THOUGHT I did a good and thorough job. Except for the KP on my arms, I didn’t think there was any real need or way to improve upon what I was already doing. That was before I bought these mitts. Boy was I wrong! OMG, with one mitt and much less elbow grease than you’d think, I get THE BEST EXFOLIATION hands down. Every. Single. Time. Easily better than previous chemical exfoliation experiences. Most definitely better than previous mechanical/manual exfoliation experiences. The KP on my arms is improving and is almost gone. I can still see it a bit on both arms but my left arm is almost as smooth as a baby’s bottom with only a tiny bit left to ‘feel’ on my right arm (the worse arm). Without making my skin feel raw, tender or even slightly red, it’s both really gross and deeply satisfying to see the copious amounts of “skin pills” that come off on the mitt before they wash down the drain. Seriously satisfying. The mitt does all the work. They’re easy to clean and dry fast. So very glad I made this impulse purchase 😆 and will definitely buy them again." —Trinigal03 Get it from Amazon for $9.33+ (available with one or two mittens and in three styles). Promising review: "The First Aid Beauty bump eraser is truly magic. I have had tiny, dry-skin bumps on my arms and thighs since I was a child and have never been able to get rid of them. I have tried so many scrubs and moisturizers that failed. I came across this product, and it's now on my subscribe and save list. There are TONS of exfoliants in the scrub, so it's super effective. Skin feels so soft after using it because it gets ALL of the dry and dead skin cells completely off. I have bought this for friends as a gift and would highly recommend it to anyone." —Doug Kohlenstein Get it from Amazon for $12 (available in three scents in a travel size). Promising review: "Such a reasonably priced, simple, well-made device. Noticed a difference immediately! I was dealing with some bad breath despite regular brushing, flossing, and mouthwash. I thought it was maybe from dry mouth (been using room fans more at night), but nothing seemed to be helping, and I didn’t have any symptoms indicating anything medical. I brush my tongue too, but I can barely stand it with my gag reflex, and my brush only covers a small area. After just two to three passes using this device, I can feel the difference and have had zero issues with my breath, and my tongue has felt super clean! I was nervous that the metal would feel sharp or be incorrectly sized (small mouth), but it was incredibly comfortable. Add this to your dental hygiene routine!" —Diana G. Get it from Amazon for $5.49 (available in three styles and larger packs). And remember, like with any retinol, it's not meant to be used every day. Start slow and work yourself up if needed, paying attention to your skin. Promising review: "I've been using Retin-A as prescribed by a dermatologist for skin renewal and pimples for about 20 years. Recently I moved and have been having hella time finding a new dermatologist, and I'm out of Retin-A, so I decided to try an over-the-counter retinol. I've always had a great experience with Cera-Ve, especially their cost-to-value, so I ordered a tube. It's been about two weeks and I'm really impressed! In fact, I find I like the Cera-Ve even better than the prescription Retin-A, which ALWAYS dried my skin no matter what I did. I guess bc the concentration of retinol is less in Cera-Ve. I also notice a better texture to my skin, as well as some existing acne scars fading; perhaps because of the niacinamide. So happy to continue to support a brand that I love that doesn't ever break the bank!" —Robin Gallant Megababe is a woman-owned small business from entrepreneur, body acceptance advocate, and influencer Katie Sturino. When I studied abroad, I knew I would be walking long hours in Rome and was horrified that my roommates would suffer the consequences. I had never heard of foot deodorant, but I am forever grateful it exists. This one has a refreshing lavender smell, and with a quick spritz to my feet, shoes, and sometimes socks for that extra layer of defense, my feet remained completely stank-free! I only had two pairs of shoes, a leather pair of sandals and a pair of sneakers, and even when I wore them back-to-back, this spray kept them from ever retaining any odor (and yes, I gave them a proper whiff to check). I was seriously amazed it works so well (and that I still had some after eight weeks), and it has become a staple for me. Promising review: "LOVE IT!! Smells SO good! Works great! It sprays a fine mist and dries quickly. Love that it doesn’t leave feet feeling greasy or sticky, and doesn’t leave a white powdery finish like some of the others that are zinc-based. I spray it inside my sneakers and my kids' tennis shoes, softball cleats, and track spikes. My mom is using it while having to wear an air cast on her foot from a leg surgery. Will definitely be purchasing a few more bottles and buying it regularly!" —Jamie Layne Fields Avarelle is a small business that aims to make the best skincare that's also honest and affordable. All their products are vegan and cruelty-free! HuffPost Shopping writer Haley Zovickian tried these pimple patches, and here's her review: "I recently tried Avarelle pimple patches, because *yes* I love a good hydrocolloid patch like little else. I wasn't sure whether these would be any different from the patches I already had from another brand, but I was so wrong. The Avarelle patches drew out gunk more effectively from my blemishes and gently sped up the healing process (I think because of the calendula, tea tree, and cica). My sensitive, reactive skin loves this stuff. I also could tell immediately that the patches were in fact thinner and more transparent than others I've had, which, especially given how well they work, is quite a feat. Will be a repurchase for me for sure." Promising review: "Ever since I discovered acne stickers, I've tried many different brands. Avarelle is the best all-around winner. I love that there is a variety of sizes to suit the size and location of the acne spots. These definitely stay on better than other brands — and if they don't stay on, they can't possibly do their job, so this is a very important feature! Finally, the ingredients are perfect for working at healing all types of acne; I use them on everything from blackheads to cystic acne to pus-filled pimples (I have the works depending on hormones, diet, weather...). These stickers do the job!" —AmazonCustomer Get a 40-pack of the small patches from Amazon for $8.49+ (also available as a pack of 24, 80, 200, and 300). And if you want to target a larger area, check out these extra-large patches from the same company. If you have any concerns about using this, make sure to talk to your ENT! Doctor Easy started 20 years ago with the invention of the Elephant Ear Washer by a doctor who saw the need for a better method of treating patients’ earwax impactions. Promising review: "I am a medical doctor and I love this product. I have used more ear cleaning products than you can even imagine over the years and this is by far my favorite. I was a little reluctant to use it because it is a consumer product after all but I couldn't have been more wrong. I regularly use this in the office to clean patients' ears. Unless they have something more going on, I prefer to use this product. It is so easy to use, I made my own parents get one. The biggest upside to this product is that it is very hard to physically damage your tympanic membrane while using it. The average person would find this very easy to use. It is much safer than jamming Q-tips or curettes in your ears and much more effective than other solutions or ear drops. I'm a big fan" —Alexander Underwood Promising review: "Where do I even begin. My wife has had cracked, dry feet for as long as I have known her. She spends so much money on pedicures, only for me to have to rasp or sand her feet a week later. No matter what I do, nothing seems to help. Enter this product. I wore gloves like it said, and after reading the reviews, I didn't want to get burns. We soaked her feet in hot, hot water for about 10 minutes. We put the gel on and set a timer for seven minutes. After that. we rinsed her feet off, and she said, "I can't get the gel off my heel." I went to help her wash and said, "That's not the gel, that's slimy, dead skin. So I grabbed the rasp and started scraping. It came off like butter. We are planning to do it one or two more times because she still has cracks with dead skin in them. But the difference has been night and day. She feels so much better. She actually said it was kind of sensitive to walk, not due to the product but due to not having a thick layer of dead skin on her heels anymore. We are both so much happier. 10/10. A+." —Ladoktor Get it from Amazon for $7.99 (available in three scents and also available in a two-pack). And if you don't mind waiting for results and want something that's a little gentler on skin (and feels more like a spa day!) check out the reviewer-beloved Baby Foot! The formula is lavender-scented, but reviewers say it leaves no noticeable smell on their hair. Promising review: "I’m that girl who goes days without washing her hair (mostly to preserve my pink hair since I use temporary color), so I’ve tried just about every dry shampoo there is — aerosol and non-aerosol, and this one takes the cake! It works like a charm, and most of all, it’s affordable. I HATEEEEE that aerosol dry shampoos leave white powder everywhere, they run out fast, and you’re forced to inhale them. 😣 The fact that you just powder this onto your oily roots solves all those problems. The other thing I appreciate is its longevity — normally I would apply dry shampoo as I’m styling, layer by layer as I have very thick hair, and the next day my hair would be oily again and I’d have to reapply all over. I used this stuff yesterday, and imagine my surprise when I barely needed to touch my hair up today! It still had all its absorbing power, and I only reapplied it on my crown, where I had been handling my hair a lot for a style I was doing. Lastly, I love that this actually makes my hair look freshly washed - volume and everything. I can’t say I don’t feel it in my hair, so it’s not EXACTLY like freshly washed hair, but at least it looks like it! and the feeling it leaves isn’t gross or gritty, and it doesn’t make my scalp feel itchy or dry like others do. Anyway, buy this stuff right now if you are looking for the best dry shampoo ever 🤩." —Halley Cleary Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity. 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.