When we were younger and dreaming about growing up, most of us focused more on the fun aspects, like getting to eat ice cream cake whenever we wanted. We didn’t really factor in bills or the fact that we were responsible for things like draining what looks like the Grudge’s hair out of the bathtub on a regular basis.
Turns out, though, putting on your adulting pants isn’t half bad. When you do things like purchase functional items that you actually need, you get to experience the joy of being prepared. Want to experience the fun, too? Start with this list of the 18 best practical items on Amazon that are smart to buy when you’re #AdultingAF.
1. These packing cubes to make packing less of a chore Credit: Shacke Pak
Travel and stay organized in the process.
Love travelling but don’t like packing? We’ve got you covered with this set of packing cubes. It comes with a set of four, which come in various sizes and color options. Since they are compact in size, they’re perfect for keeping some of your smaller items organized, such as underwear, socks, bathing suits, t-shirts and toiletries.
Shacke Pak is one of the best packing cube sets we tested since they’re durable and super-affordable. They also come with a laundry bag to help keep your dirty clothes separate, which is really handy.
Get the Shacke Pak 4 Set Packing Cubes for $24.99
2. A foot peel that makes your feet really soft Credit: Betsey Goldwasser / Reviewed
This foot peel will make your feet gross—in a good way.
Summer might be almost over, but chances are you still want your feet to stay in tip-top condition. Skip the expensive salon pedicure and opt for this foot peel instead. While one of our writers had a less-than-stellar experience with Baby Foot, there are plenty of other top-rated peels to choose from on Amazon, like this two-pack that has more than 1,500 positive reviews. Sure, the after pictures are pretty (read: very) gross, but it will be worth it when your feet are as smooth as can be. Reviewers definitely dig it as one person even called it “cool” and “satisfying.”
Get the Foot Peel Mask 2 Pack for $16.95
3. This water bottle that makes it easier to reach your hydration goals Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
The Cadillac of water bottles.
If you’ve had “drink more water” on your to-do list forever and still haven’t managed to make the habit stick, don’t blame yourself; blame your water bottle. You need one that keeps water cool and makes it easy to sip, like this Hydro Flask, which we named the best overall water bottle in our list of the best water bottles of 2019.
Made with double-walled vacuum insulation, this BPA-free water bottle can keep drinks hot for up to six hours and cold for up to 24 hours at a time. Easy to sip on, the Hydro Flask is available in a variety of colors, so you have accessorize in style with it.
Get the Hydro Flask 18oz Standard Mouth with Flex Cap for $29.95
4. A charging cable that’s lightning fast Credit: Reviewed.com / TJ Donegan
You can never have too many spare lightning cables.
It’s always a stressful situation when you’re about to head out for the night and your smartphone battery is barely charged. Instead of just hoping for the best with that 20 %, try a lightning cable that promises a fast charge.
This braided-nylon one from AmazonBasics is our favorite lightning cable since it works with most iPhone models and can even be used to charge other compatible Apple products, such as the iPad mini.
Get the AmazonBasics Nylon Braided Lightning Cable (6 feet) for $12.99
5. This power bank that’s as portable as it is effective Credit: Reviewed.com / Michael Desjardin
The Turbo Series from RavPower is our choice for best overall USB battery pack.
Speaking of dead smartphones, if the party rages on for hours and yours is dead by the time you need to get home, you’ll be happy you had this power bank around. The RavPower Turbo Series 20100mAh is the best power bank we’ve ever tested, and it’s a reliable and ultra-portable option if you’re looking for a quick way to charge up your devices, since it’ll fully charge most devices within a few hours.
Get the RavPower Turbo Series 20100mAh for $49.99
6. A smart plug so you can get more out of your home technology Credit: TP-LINK
The name of this plug is a mouthful—but it's simple to use.
While smart home technology hasn’t quite figured out how to get Alexa to whip us up some tacos yet, we can still feel good about her wow-worthy technology. This is especially the case when you pair Alexa with a smart plug that lets you do things like schedule lights to turn on or off or to turn on a coffee machine—and it’s all at the sound of your voice with Alexa Echo or Google Assistant.
TP-Link’s mini smart plug is one of our favorite smart plugs of 2019 and sets up easily with iOs and Android, plus it works well with Alexa and Google Assistant. While the plug doesn’t offer energy monitoring like other smart plugs do, it’s more affordable than many other models available, which is definitely a perk in its favor.
Get the TP-Link Smart Wi-Fi Plug Mini for $21.98
7. This bath mat that prevents slippage Credit: Reviewed.com / Kori Perten
This mat is ultra-absorbent and comes in an array of colors.
Buying a bath mat for your home may not be the most exciting purchase you’ll ever make, but it is pretty essential. To help keep the most water off your floor, we recommend the best bath mat we’ve ever tested: the Gorilla Grip.
Super absorbent and machine washable, the Gorilla Grip comes in a variety of colors and can soak up a spilled cup of water in about ten seconds but still feel plush and comfy to step on. While you probably don’t want to spend too much time thinking about bath mats, with this one you’ll just be thinking about what a smart purchase you made.
Get the Gorilla Grip Original Luxury Chenille Bathroom Mat for $15.49
8. These bed sheets that feel more luxurious than they’re worth Credit: Reviewed / Camryn Rabideau
These sheets are affordable and still super comfortable.
Comfort meets affordability with these Mellanni sheets that currently have over 54,221 reviews on Amazon. They were our pick for best value bed sheets of 2019 and they really are seriously comfy. Even though they’re not cotton, reviewers still agree that these microfiber bed sheets are worth trying, and they’re incredibly breathable. Whether you need a new set or a spare, they’re cheap enough that you can really stock up.
Get the Mellanni Bed Sheet Set for $24.70
9. A bathroom spray that makes your guest feel right at home Credit: Betsey Goldwasser / Reviewed
That number 2 doesn't have to be the number 1 thing on everyone's mind when you leave the bathroom.
It’s not a fun reality, but bathroom emergencies can happen anywhere: at home, on a first date or—oh, dear god—in the middle of a crowded plane.
Say goodbye to the bathroom walk of shame as you can spritz yourself—and others—some peace of mind with Poo-Pourri. Use it before you go number 2 as a way to trap odors before they even begin. Even better? This spray doesn’t contain any harsh chemicals, either, and a single 4oz bottle is good for up to 200 uses and comes in a range of scents including one called “Sitting Pretty” and “Ship Happens.” Cheeky, right?
Get the Poo-Pourri Toilet Spray for $9.33
10. This daily planner for when life gets chaotic AF Credit: Panda Planner
This planner can help you stay on top of your goals.
One super practical item you definitely need in your life is a good planner, since it can help you to keep your head on straight during the super busy times. For this, we love the Panda Planner, which has over 4,000 glowing reviews on Amazon. People love it because it comes with daily, weekly and monthly planning pages, along with the spaces to do daily check-ins with yourself. If you want to check out other variations of the Panda Planner, we also love the Panda Planner Via, which we included in our list of our favorite planners for 2019.
Get the Panda Planner for $24.97
11. A kitchen scale to help you make smarter eating choices Credit: Reviewed.com / Kyle Looney
This cheap scale is a great option if you're on a budget.
Make meal prep that much easier with your very own kitchen scale. Using one can
make a big difference in recipes—especially baking—and is also perfect for those who are on a diet and need to ensure they’re not overeating.
One of our favorite best kitchen scales is this one by AmazonBasics. For only $10.99, it comes with a lot of useful features, like a wide LCD screen that makes it easy to see accurate numbers in ounces, grams and pounds. It can only weighs up to 11 pounds, so if you’re looking for a kitchen scale that handles more heavy-duty food items, you might want to explore other options on our list. Otherwise, it’s perfect for casual users.
Get the AmazonBasics Stainless Steel Digital Kitchen Scale with LCD Display for $10.99
12. These glass straws that are good for the environment Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Gorgeous, stylish, and perfect on Instagram.
With these Hummingbird Glass Straws, you can join the reusable straw revolution that has been taking the world by storm. These are the best reusable straws we’ve ever used, and this pack of four comes with a cleaning brush, so you can reuse them again and again. Because these are glass straws, just be careful when using them with children in case they break (although this is unlikely since they are made with durability in mind). They are also BPA- and lead-free so you can sip safely. If nothing else, they work well in matching the aesthetic of your artsy Instagram coffee picture.
Get the Hummingbird Glass Straws for $19.99
13. A drain protector that catches hair and other gunk Credit: TubShroom
It's the only one you'll ever need.
It’s hard to find a Reviewed list without a TubShroom on it because they’re just so dang practical. Seriously, no one likes cleaning out the bathtub drain, but this innovative little device can change all that, since it has over 17,000 reviews from folks who say it really works. We even put it to the test and found that this mushroom-shaped device does an incredible job of trapping hair. All you have to do is take it out of the drain and remove the hair with a quick wipe.
Get the TubShroom for $19.95
14. This adorable mini waffle maker Credit: Dash
This cute little waffle maker belongs in your kitchen.
The best kind of waffles are definitely any kind of waffles, but it also doesn’t hurt when they’re made in an adorable mini waffle maker. This one by Dash is a bestseller on Amazon since it’s compact, lightweight, and perfect to use in small spaces like dorm rooms, small apartments or during camping. It also comes in a range of cute colors.
Get the Dash Mini Waffle Maker for $9.99
15. This fan doesn’t just blow hot air Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
This affordable fan is one of our favorites.
If you’re looking for a fan that does more than just blow hot air around, then you will love the pretty cool (get it?) results from this Honeywell HT-900 Turbo Force Air Circulator Fan. It may be small, but this fan means serious business. With more than 3,000 positive reviews on Amazon, reviewers say this almost 5 star-rated product is an absolute lifesaver, especially during the summer when a heat wave strikes. It’s our favorite affordable, and gets the job done whether you’re working at a desk or trying to circulate air in a small room.
Get the Lasko 3300 20″ Wind Machine Fan for $31.34
16. This face mask that’s so raved about, it has a cult-following Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Skincare aficionados swear by this clay mask.
At this point, there’s nothing secret about how terrific Aztec Secret Indian Clay happens to be, unless you’ve never used it before. And if you haven’t, get ready to get happy. This cult-favorite has over 16,000 reviews on Amazon alone, and people love it because it’s helped treat their acne, blackheads, and oily skin. One of our contributors has been a long-term user of it and absolutely loves the results. All you have to do is mix the clay with equal parts apple cider vinegar or water. From there, it forms a thick paste that should be left on for five to 10 minutes and then rinsed off. Then boom, your skin is in healing clay heaven.
Get the Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay for $10.95
17. A smartphone accessory that gives your hands a rest Credit: Popsocket
Popsockets really do work on virtually any smartphone or tablet.
Since our days of scrolling, tweeting hilarious cat memes, and spending way too much time on Instagram isn’t about to end any time soon, you might want to at least give your hand some comfort while doing these things.
For this, we recommend the often imitated (but never replaceable) PopSocket. There’s bound to be a color or design that fits your personality and you will love the relief it gives your hands. My one gripe with this product is that my sparkle design did eventually fade away. But for under $10, it’s still a worthwhile purchase.
Get the PopSocket for $9.59
18. This facial toner that people love Credit: Thayers
This facial toner is a classic.
Despite its name, there’s no hocus pocus going on with this witch hazel, just straight-up claims that this “holy grail” beauty products does wonders for the skin. It helps clear up blemishes without being super drying to the skin, thanks to the alcohol-free formula. One reviewer wrote that they saw a “tremendous difference” in their dark skin marks and acne.
As a plus, the company says that the properties of rose petals work in tandem with the witch hazel to provide additional benefits, like tighter pores, a glowing complexion, and collagen production, too.
Get Thayers Witch Hazel for $8.32
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