Shopify Bazaar

As someone who tests cleaning and organizing products for a living, I’m surprisingly averse to buying items that claim to be the thing that will fix storage woes once and for all. I’m very skeptical about the overconsumption that’s running rampant in the organizing world (see: decorating the inside of your fridge ), so it takes a lot for me to even get to the point where a product is sitting in my cart, never mind me actually double-clicking to Apple Pay (easy as it is). That’s because it’s exceedingly rare when a hunk of plastic that promises to change my life actually does change my life. Example: Several years ago, it seemed like everyone on social media was decanting all of their dry goods into aesthetic containers, and I’ll admit, I joined in. I marched over to TJ Maxx and returned home with an armful of mismatched jars and containers, excited to transfer my flour and pasta into their chic new homes. Spoiler alert: It wasn’t helpful at all. Instead of a beautifully curated se...

There’s almost nothing that topical vitamin C doesn’t claim to do—from alleviating acne and lightening dark spots to improving overall skin tone and texture (and stopping just short of making 401(k) contributions). In our five months of reporting for this guide, we found the research to be far more measured. Topical vitamin C is actually better at preventing discoloration, dullness, and lines than it is at reversing them: It’s a powerful antioxidant that can deactivate pesky free radicals, which can contribute to signs of aging. To find the best options, we considered dozens of formulas—serums, lotions, and drops—and we tried 34 of them over several months. Then we sent 20 strong contenders (with their labels hidden) to three testing panels, which included people of different ages and with diverse skin types. In the end, we arrived at six standouts, including a splurge-y, category-launching classic , a plush, moisturizing formula , an impressive budget option , and more. We’re confi...

If muddy paw prints, spilled cereal and milk, scattered flour, coffee splatters, and other wet and dry messes regularly cover your floors, a mop-vacuum combo may do you some good. Able to simultaneously clean liquids and solids, these contraptions aim to do the job of a standalone vacuum and an old-fashioned mop a little faster. However, given their issues (difficult to clean tanks, average suction power), we don’t think everyone needs one of these machines (unless you really do live in a household that resembles an infomercial). But if their all-in-one approach to cleaning appeals, we think the Bissell CrossWave Edge offers the best combination of value and performance. The Tineco iFloor 3 Breeze is our pick for a cordless model, and the pricey, feature-packed Narwal S20 Pro Vacuum Mop is our upgrade pick. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/KGNwJYE via IFTTT

Only a year ago, I would’ve positioned CDs alongside phone books, slide projectors, and wine coolers as items I’d never expected to reenter popular discourse. But as some trust in music-streaming services has waned , the CD format is seeing a revival . I wouldn’t go so far as to declare that CDs are “back,” but they’ve certainly become a bigger part of my life recently. I started buying CDs again so that the artists I like can make a few bucks off their music. I buy CDs because I’ve found that I prefer discovering new music in a record store rather than trusting a streaming service’s recommendations. And I buy CDs because they take me back to the days when scouring the used section of St. Mark’s Sounds , in Manhattan, was my only affordable means of accessing new music. After I substantially increased the size of my collection with a recent spending spree at New York’s CD-centric Downtown Music Gallery , I needed an easier way to play my discs at home. I no longer own a dedicated di...

In this edition of Clean Everything, we share some expert tips for cleaning up after an emergency. Plus, a light bulb that stays on even during a blackout and the shop vacuum we recommend. A major part of  preparing for a natural disaster  is keeping your home well-stocked with the right supplies, so you can stay safe during the event — whether you’re sheltering in place or evacuating  with a go bag . But after the emergency has passed, cleaning your space the right way is another critical — and often overwhelming — part of the recovery process. Getting the right supplies and having a plan before disaster strikes can go a long way toward a quicker recovery. Here are a few things to consider, grounded in the rigorous testing and advice of our emergency preparedness experts: from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/XoSdvNh via IFTTT

One of my favorite pastimes is going to bed. My ideal bedtime is between 9:30 p.m. and 10:15 p.m., and I strive to get at least eight hours of uninterrupted sleep every night. The key word there is “uninterrupted.” For over a decade, I lived in New York City — a place that famously never sleeps — and my last apartment in Williamsburg had a straight-on view of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, meaning I could watch headlights zoom past from the comfort of my bed. If it wasn’t the oncoming traffic keeping me awake, it was my husband, whose natural sleep schedule is closer to that of a vampire. Despite his best efforts to sneak around me at night, he’d sometimes wake me on his way to bed (usually several hours after I had already dozed off) simply by opening the door and letting the light from the hallway in. After years of trial and error, I eventually discovered that the best solution to staying asleep was also the most lo-fi. I’d throw on an eye mask, and I’d be protected from most,...

Just because you aren’t buying a huge TV doesn’t mean you should settle for less than great picture quality. If a model measuring 40 to 49 inches is the proverbial “just right” for your space, we recommend looking first at LG’s C4 Series . The 42- and 48-inch C4 OLED TVs are every bit as good as their larger counterparts, delivering wonderful picture quality for movies, TV shows, and games. But if you’d prefer an LCD TV for a brighter room, if you want to spend less, or if you want a more decor-conscious, lifestyle-oriented TV, we have other recommendations in this size range, too. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/UP0wiMs via IFTTT

From the ages of 6 through 8, my favorite seat in the house was a cherry-red pleather bean bag that left a trail of tiny white beads everywhere I dragged it. My Tennessee bedroom lacked air conditioning, and I can still feel the seat’s surface peeling away from the backs of my thighs, like a Fruit Roll-Up, every time I stood. I would lounge in the bag next to a window, sunlight streaming in and illuminating all of the dust particles floating through the air around me. I spent who knows how long pretending that each mote was a tiny planet as I drifted through outer space in my ship. Considering that some adults are now willing to pay more than $2,000 for a luxury bean bag , I don’t think I’m the only one with an emotional attachment to these squishy seats that create an ideal spot for reading, scrolling, or simply daydreaming. There are plenty of inexpensive options out there, but after our testing we learned that price often matters greatly when it comes to bean bags, especially for...

After considering dozens of colored-pencil sets and spending six hours testing 13 popular sets, including one marathon two-hour session with about 60 kids and parents, we’ve decided that our top pick for someone shopping for their first colored-pencil set is Prismacolor’s Premier Colored Pencils ( 24-count or 72-count ). In our tests, these pencils were among the best at color application, blending, and durability. They lay down rich, vibrant color and are as fun to draw with as pencils from sets twice the price. We recommend these pencils for any beginning colored-pencil artist or coloring-book enthusiast, or even for a serious child artist. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/Gy2gbDX via IFTTT

When my daughter was about 3, she started asking for ice pops at every meal. I’m not sure how I did it, but I’d created a pop-ster. And though it’s probably not a good parenting practice to simply hand your kid what they’re asking for all the time, it was easy enough to do. I started with one of Wirecutter’s pop-mold picks , the Zoku Fish Pop Molds , in 2022. (She was in a sea-creature phase, and these molds give you six different oceanic shapes to choose from.) I filled the molds with cranberry-apple juice, and she was thrilled. But I wanted to be able to bring pops on the go, and the fish pops couldn’t really leave our home without melting everywhere. After quickly burning through several big boxes of the “healthy” version of my childhood favorite, Otter Pops , which are more self-contained than the pop molds I’d been using, I realized that all I needed was a portable mold to replace that little plastic bag. And though I don’t remember exactly how I stumbled upon them, I’ve turne...

You can find plenty of expensive tank tops out there, but few are as divisive and buzzy as the Tank Air Studio Tank — a simple-looking and slim-fitting spaghetti-strap tank top sold for $75. Those who love the tank praise its high-quality feel and longevity, while others critique it for its simple, replicable silhouette and high price. We, like many people online, wondered if such a basic item would ever warrant a $75 investment. Curious, we tested two of Tank Air’s $75 offerings — the famous Studio Tank and another, similar style, the Half Moon Halter — with a group of body-diverse testers ranging from sizes 2 to 18 and cup sizes A to F. Our testers wore the tops relentlessly for at least two weeks (some for even longer), washed them multiple times, and styled them with a wide range of clothes in their closet to see just how versatile they were. After sifting through responses from those testers, I wore the tops myself for seven weeks and spoke with a textile expert. And here’s w...

The best headphones not only sound great but also do everything else you need, whether that means fitting in your pocket, blocking out noise on your subway commute, or remaining secure in your ears during workouts. We’ve tested hundreds of headphones for a variety of uses and at a variety of prices. This article provides some shopping guidance, as well as an overview of all our top headphone and earbud picks, with links to the full guides. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/0oqGndQ via IFTTT

You and your sleep partner may not be the only ones in your bed. Under the sheets and past the mattress cover, there’s a thriving ecosystem of dust mites, along with dead skin cells and sweat (which you serve up for those mites every time you sleep). Cleaning your mattress not only keeps out mites and helps prevent stains and odors, but it can also help your mattress last longer. We’ll show you how to maintain a sparkling mattress as well as how to clean up after accidental messes. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/smePxGg via IFTTT

From serving up lots more food at a backyard barbecue to seating more guests at a holiday dinner, folding tables help make large gatherings possible. And yet, many are bought as an afterthought. Worse, many are poorly made, wobbly, and more trouble than they’re worth. So we put 12 contenders to the test. Here’s what came out on top. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/tmrHlzi via IFTTT

When I’m faced with any task that I suspect will take me longer than a few minutes to complete — folding the laundry, emptying the dishwasher, writing this very lede — I have a hard time getting started. Drumming up the motivation to propel myself into motion is often the hardest part. Rationally, I know that whatever it is I have to do won’t actually take that long, but the part of my brain responsible for my executive functioning skills doesn’t always get the memo. So when a deadline is looming, but beginning a task feels insurmountable, I reach for my visual timer. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/3Obh4U7 via IFTTT

By the time I moved to Europe, I’d already traveled the globe. I knew European outlets were different from American ones. I knew to pack a travel adapter. I even knew not to bother bringing my hair dryer from the US — I’d heard the horror stories of their blowing fuses overseas. As with all moments of hubris, I was quickly humbled. As soon as I arrived at my destination, jet-lagged and suffering from fuzzy teeth, I plugged the tiny, palm-sized charging base for my electric toothbrush into my travel adapter, where it was immediately obliterated by the mysterious gods of international voltage. For weeks, I was deprived — no, I had deprived myself! — of the pleasures of vibrating teeth. If you’d like to avoid my fate, or if you are just confused about what to bring to keep your electronics working on the road, I have the lowdown on the best way to use (or definitely not use) your favorite devices while traveling. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/iVtQkDg v...

In this edition of The Recommendation, our appliance experts share the tips they swear by. Plus: how to master your microwave. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/I4TrFuk via IFTTT

If you’re on your computer only once or twice a day to check email and read the news, you don’t need to buy any of the monitors in this guide—our budget monitor picks are great for the basics and cost half as much. But if you spend hours every day staring at a screen for work (or for fun), a 27-inch monitor’s extra size and usable space are worth the money. The Asus ProArt Display PA278CGV  offers the best all-around combination of picture quality, ports, and price, along with a fully adjustable stand and a great three-year warranty. For more contrast and a sharper screen, we recommend the Dell UltraSharp U2725QE . And if you use more than one computer, the monitor that’s best at switching between them— and swapping your mouse and keyboard to the right computer in the process— is the BenQ PD2706U . from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/gBGPfwh via IFTTT

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 — the biggest climate bill in US history — set aside at least $4.5 billion for the first-ever federal consumer rebates on Energy Star–approved electric ranges , ovens , cooktops , heat pumps , and heat pump water heaters or dryers . from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/RtOiHTd via IFTTT

The best kids water bottle doesn’t leak, is easy to clean, and is designed so that even a toddler can use it independently. Since 2018, we’ve tested 30 popular water bottles with kids in a range of ages, from toddlers to teens. And we found that the best stainless steel option is the 12-ounce Thermos Funtainer Stainless Steel Water Bottle With Straw , and the best plastic model is the 14-ounce CamelBak Eddy+ Kids . The 14-ounce Takeya Actives Kids Insulated Water Bottle With Straw Lid , which also works with a spout lid , is a great steel option for older kids. As long-term owners of these bottles ourselves, we know how often parts get damaged or go missing, so this guide includes a section dedicated to replacement parts for all of our picks. We also address care and maintenance , and we highlight one accessory that has proved to be an essential companion for any bottle owned over the long run: the OXO Good Grips Water Bottle Cleaning Set . Top pick The best steel water...