buzzfeed Press
31 Things That Must Have Been Designed By Geniuses
Images
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. A measuring bowl that's *also* a kitchen scale, a ridiculously cozy Ugg faux-fur blanket, a powerful nail strengthening cream, and other products that truly go above and beyond. Promising review: "Got this set of two and gave one to a coworker. We attached them to the tops of our screens and hung the headsets. Can’t tell you how many compliments we get on them. Very convenient, stylish, and cute!" —PA Mom Get it from Amazon for $12.90+ (available in a cat or dog design, three colors, and a two-pack). Promising review: "We're going on three years now with this lil' guy, and he's still functioning like he's straight out of the box. It's small and light enough to take on trips to the cafe and super easy to set up. It works wonderfully and looks cute, too. If you use it in public, you will definitely get a few compliments your way." —C Get it from Amazon for $16.35+ (available in six colors). Promising review: "Great light. It is so cute and gives out an amazing amount of light. Nice touch in small spaces. Easy to set up. It came fully charged as well." —Sue Langston Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in eight colors and packs of two). Promising reviews: "Great idea and well made. I have a smaller digital scale that I barely use now. When you’re baking, this saves so many steps by allowing you to weigh everything in one bowl." —OhioLadyBug "I like that you can put one item in the bowl, then tare, zero it out, and put another in the bowl. It will give grams, ounces, and pounds. I also like that the bowl comes off for easy cleaning. Cleans with soap and water. So far, there is nothing I do not like about it." —Donna Martucci Get it from Amazon for $43.99 (available in two colors). Promising review: "Even though I drink filtered water, I still have bottles that smell after a lot of use and cleaning. I love this bottle because it automatically cleans itself every few hours. If I have questionable water in it, I can also use that mode. It smells great inside, the water tastes very good, and it stays very cold." —amazongroupie Get it from Amazon for $99+ (available in two sizes and seven colors). Promising review: "This first caught my eye when I saw how chic and cute it is. Then I found out it actually helps sanitize makeup brushes! I wear makeup regularly, but to be honest, I don't clean my brushes frequently enough. I found it kind of frustrating to clean my brushes. Not sure why, but it always takes a REALLY LONG TIME for my brushes to dry. This is such a lifesaver, as I know I can sanitize my brushes every time I use them with just one click! I no longer have to worry about skin issues caused by dirty brushes! It also makes a great and cute gift. Very happy with this purchase." —Cyn Promising review: “Roommate got it after looking at a YouTube review. I am impressed! The first paninis came out better than the ones from my toaster: crunchy, but much faster and easier to clean. The best thing is that the time it takes for my morning grilled cheese (I use four minutes) is the same as it takes me to make coffee, so they pair together. Also used to heat bacon, chicken, fish fillet, and to reheat hamburgers. Whoever invented this deserves the Nobel Prize. I strongly recommend." —Shadow133 Promising review: "I was amazed how real this looks, even side by side with the real thing. Of course, when you turn it over, you can see the compartment, and you will have to add weight if you want it to feel real, but just sitting in the pantry, it looks real!" —Brenda Get it from Amazon for $8.59+ (available in seven styles). Promising review: "This product is just AMAZING!!! I waited a few months before writing this review because I wanted to test the product first. I am just AMAZED! I have to say...depending on the season and the place on the spike where you apply it, you either get a keiki or a new flower spike (which is awesome!). Based on my experiments, the lower the spike, the more chances to get a keiki. The higher the spike, the more chances to get a new flower spike. If you apply it during winter (tropical area winter), you will more likely get flower spikes. If you apply it during summer (tropical areas), you will more likely get a keiki — at least that's what I observed!" —Anne-Isabelle Bonifassi Get it from Amazon for $18.99 (also available in a three-pack). Promising review: "I bought this to specifically cut cheese. I love how easy this is to use. The cheese sticks a bit, but it is really easy to knock off the already cut cheese. I love it! Price is basically free if you want nice-looking cut cheese!!! The cut cheese really does look fantastic!!! You could easily cut other things like carrots and cucumbers. So simple to use, and cheap!" —T. Miller Get it from Amazon for $4.99 (available in three colors and a pack of two). Promising review: "It works as advertised. I have placed it on my office desk, and since then, compliments have not stopped flowing in!!" —Jain Tushar Get it from Amazon for $65.99+ (available in two finishes). Promising review: "I love the convenience of having water in my room at all times during the day and night. The unit is quiet, and I love that you can specify the desired water level in your cup. Honestly, this is by far my best Amazon order. I absolutely love it!!!" —Ricki Promising review: "This is such a cool gift. Not only looks very cool, but it also sounds pretty incredible. Thank you for making this! What a simple yet beautiful idea." —Dee "Good quality and sound, sleek design, easy to use, no wires, no recharging. An excellent product. I love it." —Zaf Promising review: "This was a gift for my daughter. I looked at it before wrapping, and I must admit that I thought I had wasted my money. She was so excited when she opened it (it was on her 'want' list). She fell in love with the frog and even more when she placed her phone in it. I was amazed at how well it amplified the sound from her phone. The cuteness of the frog, the way it worked, and how well it was made all exceeded my expectations. We're both pleased and would definitely purchase again." —SouthernSandy Promising review: "This product is amazing and very comfortable. You can use it lying flat or even in a chair, as it is narrow enough to fit between the arms. The cup holder is sturdy, and I can fit my large Stanley cup without it tipping over. The product is soft but sturdy, I love the material!" —rebecca mason Promising review: "My partner was THRILLED with this chess set. We took it on a recent camping trip and loved how compact and easy to keep track of it was." —Bekah Smith Get it from Fine3D on Etsy for $34 (custom engraving available). Heads up: The brand recommends buying the Oura sizing kit for $10 first to find the best size — so you might want to gift the kit now to get the sizing right! Either way, you'll get a $10 credit on your purchase of an Oura ring! Promising reviews: "Prepare to know everything. I ordered the kit first to make sure I sized it correctly and have zero regrets. It fits nicely, and the insights it gives have helped me to make small adjustments in my daily life. Improved sleep patterns from the insights it has provided, stress and heart rate monitoring, and I was even able to connect it to my constant glucose meter for even more insights into how my activity and food are affecting my glucose levels. I scan my meals in the app for nutrition feedback, and the get up and start moving messages have been effective in getting me more active as well. I have raved so much about it that two coworkers have bought one and love it too." —Nisha "Even though it’s a bit bulky, I honestly don’t notice it once it’s on. The data is very impressive. What stood out to me most was the early warning aspect. For about two days before I had any obvious symptoms, the ring kept showing messages about something straining my body. At the time, I felt mostly fine, but the data clearly showed my body wasn’t recovering the way it normally does. A couple of days later, symptoms surfaced, and I ended up in the ER. Looking back, it was surprisingly accurate and eye-opening. It’s also compatible with the glucose tracker Stelo, which you can order directly through the Oura app. The integration is straightforward. I definitely recommend sizing before you buy, as comfort really matters with a ring you wear 24/7." —Elena B Get it from Amazon for $349+ (available in sizes 4-15 and six colors). Reviewers note it does tend to shed a little but...don't we all? Promising review: "It's ridiculously soft and double-layered, which makes it warm and snuggly for the cat and me. But it's not too warm. It's like the Goldilocks of blankets. The fabric texture is gorgeous, and it's extremely well-made. The color is a nice creamy white. I have a much cheaper mink-like blanket that I love, and that is no longer available on Amazon. I didn't think I'd be able to find a comparable blanket, but I took a chance on this one from Ugg. I was wrong. It's worth every penny!" —KDH Get it from Amazon for $100+ (in four sizes and three colors). Max'is Creations is a small family biz created by a kid entrepreneur to make mealtime more fun! Promising review: "My nephew loves sports, but has trouble eating. This was the perfect gift for him! He instantly started grabbing food to shoot and munch away! I've never seen him eat grapes with so much pleasure. My husband was a little jealous of it. I might need to get one for him as well. Great gift for all ages!" —awadOfThings Get it from Amazon for $26.91 (available in five other styles) or Uncommon Goods for $30 (available in three other styles). Promising review: "My favorite utensil. After the first use, I fell in love with them. I use them basically every time I cook. They are so versatile and replace several utensils while cooking, which means less items to wash. Get them, you won't be disappointed." —Carrie Get a set of three from Amazon for $12.97 (available in three color combos). Check out a TikTok of the SneakErasers in action at 22 seconds in. Promising review: "I have a couple of pairs of sneakers I stopped wearing because they started looking a bit grungy. Just couldn't justify throwing them away, though, because they were still in great shape and not very old. I came across these sponges and took a chance. They work like a charm. I cleaned two pairs of shoes and could not believe the results! Awesome." —Spencer Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $11.99 (also available in a pack of 20). Clean Skin Club is a US-based small business specializing in hygienic, vegan, and cruelty-free skincare products. Promising review: "I absolutely love these. I saw these on TikTok and bought them. I will be buying more. They are great for my face. Really soft and VERY durable and strong, even when wet. You can wash your face with it or just dry your face, either way, it’s the best option." —Sahara Get a pack of 50 from Amazon for $17.95 (available in other pack sizes). Promising review: "The best candles ever! They smell amazing and are the cutest decorations! You can even use the glass when the candle is all finished. So happy with how shipping went, and the customer service is top-notch. Will 100% be placing future orders from this company! I highly recommend. :)" —JR Get it from Amazon for $34.95+ (available in six scents/shapes and in classic jar candle styles). Promising review: "I was struggling to open a jar for three days. After all those failed tries, I decided to buy this one. It opened the jar in a couple of seconds. All I had to do was press the button. It automatically holds its grip on the jar and opens the lid. I am glad I bought this." —Rashel Get it from Amazon for $35.99 (available in two colors). Promising review: "My natural nails have always been so thin and weak that they would bend at the slightest pressure. I’ve tried so many hardeners, strengtheners, and cuticle oils, but nothing worked. I gave up trying to grow my nails altogether. I saw someone from TikTok recommend this product, and within a week and a half, my nails were so much tougher! Directions say to use it many times a day, and I might use it once a day or a few times a week and still get amazing results. My nails are THE STRONGEST they have ever been. I recommend this product to everyone." —U S Man of Steel Get it from Amazon for $8.88+ (available in three scents and unscented). One genius reviewer used this to block the gap under their stove so their kitty couldn't bat all their toys under the oven. Promising review: "I actually bought this because I ripped out carpet and installed wood flooring. My bedroom doors now have a large gap at the bottom. I use this to block out the noise and light that comes in or out of my room. Works perfectly, it’s cute and nostalgic." —Christina Get it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in six sizes and eight styles). Promising review: "This little AI robot is absolutely adorable! The design is sleek and looks great on my desk. Voice interaction works smoothly, and it’s surprisingly smart and responsive. I love the personality and expressions — it really feels like a cute desktop companion. The wireless charging feature is a nice bonus, too. Perfect gift for tech lovers." —Maggie Get it from Amazon for $169+ (available in two colors). This comes with tethers, yard stakes, a built-in professional air blower, and a handy carrying bag. Promising review: "I never write reviews, but I had to with this product, and I'm going to be very honest. I did so much homework on this product, and I'm so glad I did because it was everything I wanted. The fan isn't loud at all. I forgot there was even a fan; that's how good it was. It was very quiet. I will say invest in a speaker and use it for your sound; it's much better. Also, the clarity of the picture was great!!! Very crisp and clear. The setup was easy, I live in a windy area, but if you use the stakes properly, it won't blow at all." —Dre Get it from Amazon for $149.99+ (available in five sizes). Promising review: "This is such a comfortable chair or bed! I was very happy with my purchase. You won’t go wrong if you are looking for comfort or if you need to save space. I highly recommend this." —danny Get it from Amazon for $124.99+ (available in two sizes and seven colors). Promising reviews: "Great educational fun for the young scientist! I bought one for myself and one as a birthday present for a friend's 6-year-old son. I found it very easy to use and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the images it captures. It's also very easy to use with my computer (Nice to have the big screen!), and transferring photos captured on the microscope to my PC via the USB cable was very easy. My grandkids (ages 3 and 5) love mine, and it is easy for the five-year-old to operate. She seems fascinated by it! Nice that the light is adjustable, too. This makes it easy to adapt to the ambient light conditions when taking photos. The base and elevator are sturdy and move smoothly when the knobs are turned. Overall, I think it's a great value for the price. I recommend watching the video for information on the controls, as the manual is a bit sparse on details." —Barbara "My 9-year-old son was absolutely thrilled to open this on Christmas morning. The picture is clear, and there are some really great functions. Best of all, it’s easy to use for kids! This will be a staple toy for years." —Kristina Promising review: "I'm so amazed by Opalex No 3! Literally in just one treatment, I noticed a huge difference in my hair. My 3c hair had gotten very dry and damaged and was looking horrible. I can't believe the difference already in just one treatment. The number of compliments I got this week about how healthy my hair looked was amazing! I'm planning on continuing to do a weekly treatment for the next few weeks. It's expensive and I used a third of the bottle for one treatment, but it's absolutely worth it! Nothing else has ever worked this well for me." —Michelle The reviews for this post have been edited for length and 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. Jonathan Mazzei is a freelancer and former full-time market writer who’s been hunting down the internet’s best buys for BuzzFeed for more than five years, and has personally tested a wide range of products and sifted through countless consumer reviews to make sure his recommendations actually deliver.