16 Very Cheap Things We Bought That Changed Our Literal Adult Lives
We look/ feel/ smell better because of them.
by The Candidly Team
We’re not total penny pinchers. In fact, we believe in a good, smart, life-improving splurge now and again.
Our point in telling you this is not to toot our own horn. It’s really just to say that even when we make a list of items that are by all means a steal, we’re still sort of snobby about those items.
We just don’t believe in wasting even $7 of our hard-earned dollars on something useless and ineffective. If we’re buying it, much less writing about it, it has to be good.
Thoroughly good.
Thrillingly good.
In some, even small way, it must change our lives. And every single thing on this list has done exactly that. And the most expensive one is $34.
Ok, so maybe we’re tooting our horn a little bit. But let’s see if you agree, shall we?
1. This French Moisturizer That’s A Spot-On Dupe For That $300 Cream You’ll Never Buy
Eau Thermale Avène XeraCalm A.D Lipid-Replenishing Balm
The dupe of all dupes. In addition to its calming, redness-reducing powers, the quenching effects of this cream are only paralleled by our beloved Rich Cream from Augustinus Bader, which costs *cough* $300. Long story short, we are never without this cream. You can hear us get into ALL our reasons HERE.
Price: $36
2. This Incredibly Flattering $19 Tank
Artfish Women's Sleeveless Tank
Can a tank top really change your life? We argue that yes, yes it can. Here’s how. A perfect-fitting tank is one of the most flattering pieces in our closet, in part because it balances all our outfits, tucking just so into our jeans, nipping our waists with floaty maxi skirts. You can layer it under an open button-down or a jean jacket, so you have a little coverage and still look like you have some shape. This tank ticks every single box: scooped neckline, sculpting ribbing, skinny straps. We own it in 7 colors, so we have one that matches every single bottom we wear.
Price: $19
3. This Truly Time-Saving Key Tracker
Over-40 brain fog is all-too real, and how convenient that it arrives right at the moment in life when our responsibilities (and general frazzledness) peak. Needless to say, we’re tired of wasting time looking for our keys. Attaching this sleek little Bluetooth device to our keychain has already saved us our annual average of 437 hours of searching. At least, that’s what it feels like.
Price: $25
4. These Pimple Patches For Our Hormonal Breakouts
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch Micropoint™ for Blemishes
Sadly, our mad dash into the world of “anti-aging” hasn’t stopped us from needing really good, fast treatment for our breakouts. And now that our pimples are deeper and more hormonal, we keep these powerful little micropointed patches on hand at all times. They not only flatten our zits overnight, they also keep us from touching them every 22 seconds and making them much worse.
Price: $12
5. This $40 Dupe For That Hair $400 Dryer
Slopehill Professional Ionic Hair Dryer
Ok, admittedly the one that rhymes with Shmyson is very, very good. And if you’re going to invest once in a life-altering hair tool, we commend you. But if you’re not ready to make the dive, this hair dryer is the next best thing. And a tiny fraction of the price!
Price: $40
6. This Body Cream With A Scent That Will Make You Gasp
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Fluide+ Multi-Purpose Nourishing Moisturizer
If you’ve ever stepped inside a French Pharmacy and caught a whiff of something that somehow smells like elegance itself, it’s probably this cream. It evaporates into your skin leaving behind just a soft dewiness, and, of course, that magical smell.
Price: $36
7. These Chic, Wide-Leg Trousers
Tronjori High-Waist, Wide Leg Palazzo Pants
We’ve been going on about these pants for a long time, and it’s because finding a drapey, wide-leg trouser that fits this well for $34 is just not something you keep to yourself. Plus, the size range is amazing.
Price: $34
8. This Cashmere Comb For Your Pilling Sweaters
Naked Cashmere Travel Deluxe Cashmere Comb
There’s a very particular heartbreak to finnnnally investing in that divine cashmere sweater only to watch every inch of it pill after only a handful of wears. Who knew the solution was simply to own this little combing and smoothing contraption? Makes knits look new.
Price: $15
9. This Simple Kitchen Accessory That Makes You A Better Chef
We started buying “the good salt” a few years ago and were slightly floored by the degree to which it improved the taste of every dish we make. Having a cute little countertop salt cellar makes it easy to toss in that chefy little pinch of seasoning that makes our salads and eggs and avocado toasts sing but it also makes us feel like we’re the glorious heroine in a Nancy Meyers movie. So win-win.
Price: $38
10. The Most Marvelously Scented Dry Oil You Didn’t Know You Needed
NUXE Huile Prodigieuse Multi-Purpose Dry Oil
Does anyone actually know the purpose of a dry oil? Well, we learned, and we did so pretty much because of this oil. Again, it’s a staple French toiletry (we know, we might have a problem). It smells like summery warm skin and we’ve never ever ever had more people approach us than when we’re wearing it. And instead of leaving us greasy and wet all day, it just gives us an instant glow and hydration that absorbs into the skin immediately. Kind of the dream.
Price: $25
11. This Wet and Dry Brush Used By Jen An Herself
We did a lot of research on what brush is best. Then it occurred to us, why not just choose the one used by the woman we know to have the best head of hair? And here it is.
Price: $17
12. This Pedicure-Replacing Foot Peel
Baby Foot Original Exfoliation Foot Peel
Nothing makes us cringe quite like the feeling of our desert-dry footbeds and cracked ankles rubbing against a starched pair of sheets. Putting in almost zero time and effort to restore our precious feet back into their soft, supple, hydrated selves with this peel thus feels like a tiny act of triumph. Lazy luxury at its best.
Price: $25
13. This Nothing-like Bra
Floatley Cozy Adjustable Bra Comfort Wirefree Seamless Bra
We seriously wrote a whole article about this bra after trying it. It gives us that full, round, natural support but feels like air itself. No wires. No restriction. No weird bulges. More people need to know about this bra.
Price: $35
14. These Face Wash Cuffs
Crosize Microfiber Spa Wrist Bands
This is one of those things that sounds dumb, then you try it, then you wonder how you ever lived without it. No more soaked pajama sleeves every time you wash your face. They’re super absorbent, come in sets of 4, and dry super fast.
Price: $7
15. This Inexplicably Life-Changing French Pharmacy Product
Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Spring Water,
Are you asking yourself what this even is? Well, we are thrilled to explain. This thermal water spray has been so healing and miraculous in our own lives, we couldn’t wait to share. We spritz it on when our skin feels red and irritated, aprés sun, or at night whenever we feel a breakout coming on, and come morning, the pimple never forms. It’s also an amazing thing to use right before moisturizer so that the hydration locks in more deeply, banishing any blotchiness along the way.
Price: $15
16. These Glorious Compression Socks
Bombas Women's Everyday Compression Socks
Our feet get sore and tired wherever we take them. At our desks. On flights. Compression socks are a huge game changer. These incredibly comfy ones from Bombas give us sporty varsity vibes that don’t make us feel 100 when we wear them.
Price: $28
At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
We have to eat.
