We see thousands of products come through our office, but these 36 stand out the most
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
So what that really means is that quite a few products shuffle through our office in a day, week, month, and year. We see — and test — a lot of stuff.
And while we cover a lot of great things that we love, there are some that have really stood out — either for how different they are, how well they work/look, or how well they’ve stood the test of time.
For me personally, if I know of people who see hundreds of products and regularly test them for quality comparison, my first question is "in your opinion, which ones were best?" So I asked my Insider Picks colleagues which products, of all the ones they’ve seen and tested, have been their all-time favorites.
We know it’s subjective, but these are some of the things we've loved covering the most.
Ellen Hoffman, commerce editor
BI Graphics / Anaele Pelisson
1. Dagne Dover Classic Tote, $245
The more pockets my work bag has, the better. I’m not exaggerating when I say that Dagne Dover’s Classic Tote, which is big enough to hold my 13” MacBook and a lot of other everyday essentials, has made my commute to and from the office a lot more convenient. My favorite feature is the tote's included key leash that makes locating my house keys a total breeze — I no longer have to fumble outside my apartment building and dig them out of the depths of my bag. This tote is pretty much the MVP of work bags.
_______________________________________________________________
2. Away Carry-On Suitcase, $225
I’m no international jet-setter, but I’m lucky in that I do get to take a few trips a year. I reviewed Away’s smart carry-on in June 2016, and I have not flown without it since then. It comes with a removable interior 10,000 mAh battery and two USB ports, so I can easily charge up my phone and other devices before a long flight. There’s nothing worse than being caught with a dead phone, and this suitcase has saved me from that fate more than a few times.
_______________________________________________________________
3. Brooklinen Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle in Queen, $228
Brooklinen’s sheets are the ones I sleep on every night. It’s been two years since I first tried them for the purposes of a review, and even though I’ve since reviewed many other companies’ sheets, I continue to recommend Brooklinen's luxe sheet sets to friends, family, and Insider Picks readers who email me for their affordable price, sophisticated look, and unbelievable comfort. (I also like their mid-plush down pillows).
_______________________________________________________________
4. Soludos Platform Smoking Slipper in Leather Zebra Jute, $75
There are few pairs of shoes that have impressed me as much as Soludos' espadrilles right off the bat. They’re lightweight and amazingly comfortable — my pair had no break-in period at all (and the first time I wore them I really put them to the test, rushing around JFK airport). They’ve quickly and deservedly become my go-to summer shoes.
Soludos also has so many fun designs that you’ll probably have trouble deciding on just one pair. My pair is on sale right now, and I’m seriously debating whether to buy a second pair so I have it on hand when I eventually need to replace my current one.
_______________________________________________________________
5. Book of the Month Membership, 3 months, $44.97
If you love to read and aren’t ready to go 100% digital, I can't recommend a Book of the Month membership highly enough. Each month’s book selections are chosen by recurring and celebrity guest judges who are passionate about books, like Ellie Kemper from "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" and Josh Radnor from "How I Met Your Mother." The judges curate and select the best new hardcover titles for members from a broad range of genres and offer a mix of both fiction and nonfiction titles, sure to impress even the pickiest bibliophiles.
Malarie Gokey, guides editor
BI Graphics / Anaele Pelisson
1. Krups Savoy Adjustable Temperature Kettle, $59
I'm so obsessed with tea I have an entire cabinet full of different types of loose leaf tea. Nothing gives me greater pleasure than to turn on the Krups Savoy Electric Kettle every night to make a nice pot of tea. It's a gorgeous stainless steel kettle with a high-tech base that has a small display on it to show you the temperature of the water as it boils. You can also adjust the temperature to the perfect spot for every kind of tea, whether you want black tea or white tea. Tea leaves are very delicate, so if you want to bring out the best flavors, you have to brew them at the right temperature.
I can really taste the difference since I've started using the Krups Savoy. My green and white teas taste richer and cleaner. It's the best kettle I've ever used, and it holds the top spot in our buying guide for the best electric kettles.
_______________________________________________________________
2. S'well Stainless Steel Water Bottle, $35
S'well makes some of the prettiest water bottles around. Most water bottles are big and sporty, which is fine, but when it comes to carrying a water bottle every day or setting one down at your desk, S'well's attractive stainless steel bottles are the way to go. I refill mine frequently over the course of each work day to stay hydrated. In a way, it's nice to have a smaller bottle so I have to get up every now and then for a refill. I also take it out to lunch with me when I go to a nearby park each day.
It keeps my water nice and cold even as the summer sun sears the outside of the bottle. I can't recommend it enough. It's also one of our top five water bottle picks.
_______________________________________________________________
3. Native Union Lightning Night Cable $39.99 and Native Union Micro SUB Night Cable $39.99
There's nothing more annoying than short cords. My favorite charging cable of all time is Native Union's Night Cable. It's 10-feet long and it has an adjustable weight on it, so it will never fall off the table while charging. I've had this cable for more than two years, and it's still in perfect condition. Native Union makes the cable in fun colors, and you can get it for your iPhone or MicroUSB Android device. It's our favorite long charging cable in both our lighting cable guide and our Micro USB cable guide.
______________________________________________________________
4. Ringly Smart Bracelet, $165
I'm a bit of a tech geek — okay, fine, I'm a total tech geek. I have a thing for wearables, and smart jewelry is my jam. The Ringly smart bracelet is one of my favorite pieces of tech. I wear it every day to get notifications from texts, calls, and other important apps. I love how customizable the alerts are and the fact that you can choose the number of vibrations and the color to match a specific app or contact. Ringly also tracks activity and provides meditation sequences, which are really nice. The best thing, though, is the design. Ringly's smart bracelet looks like a high-end bangle. Mine is the rose gold plated one with a moonstone in the center. Ringly has tons of gorgeous styles. All that and more is why it's our favorite smart bracelet.
Mara Leighton, commerce reporter
BI Graphics / Anaele Pelisson
1. FOREO Luna 2 for Normal Skin, $177.11
I’ve used the Clarisonic in the past, and while I liked how thorough cleaning my skin was that way in comparison to a wash cloth, it often left my skin feeling raw. The FOREO cleans gently, but really, really deeply. It’s basically the only thing I trust to get all the makeup out from my pores when I come home tired from a Saturday night out or a long day. I’ve waxed poetic on it before, but it’ll suffice to say that I love it.
_______________________________________________________________
2. Boie USA Antimicrobial Toothbrush, $12
It’s not exactly a high-ticket item, but the Boie toothbrush is nonetheless one of my all-time favorites that I've tried here. I’ve used $100+ electric toothbrushes, but I prefer this. The rubber-like material cleans my teeth to squeaky perfection, it’s insanely gentle on my gums, and the silver embedded into the bristles means that when I take it out of my mouth and put it into my cupboard, gross bacteria isn’t thriving on it. I actually got one for my boyfriend, who’s typically a hard sell on new things, and he’s just as enthusiastic about the thing. We actually talk about it more than we probably should. I recently lost mine on a trip and bought a new one the next day.
_______________________________________________________________
3. Cuyana Small Carryall Tote, $185
This leather bag from Cuyana is one of the best value-buys for good leather. I love the light buttercup yellow shade for the summer and the size is perfect for a full day in the city without being too big for the subway. It can also hold a surprising amount. The bag is less than $200, which is considerably less than what I’ve paid for similar bags from legacy brand names — and I actually like this one more.
_______________________________________________________________
4. Citizen's Mark ZHR Slim Fit Blazer, $450
The Citizen’s Mark Zurich Slim Fit is easily the nicest thing I own, and I'm glad it is since the blazer is one of the most valuable pieces a working woman has based on wear and versatility alone. The thing I love about Citizen's Mark products, besides for their sustainable, responsible supply chain, is the completely revolutionary understanding of women’s needs and careers in the fashion industry. Salim, the founder, uses "men’s" fabrics and "men’s" factories (yes, there are male fabrics and factories where suits are concerned) to make sure her customers get as nice of blazers as the men they work with.
The blazers are not only made from entirely superior materials, but their shape and cut are especially flattering. Oddly enough, thanks to them I’ve probably gotten more compliments wearing a blazer than anything else. It's expensive, but I'd rather have one of these than four or five inferior ones.
_______________________________________________________________
5. Glossier Boy Brow, $16
I’ve tried my fair share of makeup as a 22-year-old woman, but my personal preference is for things that accentuate what you've got already. My mom used to put it like this: You want people to be looking at you, not at your makeup. Everyone has their preferences, but I happen to have successfully inherited that one. Glossier is one brand that takes the natural makeup look to another (very dewy) level and while their products might not be realistic (see: enough coverage) for everyone, their Boy Brow product might be the magnum opus.
It's great. It’s the best brow filler I’ve tried, even though I love pencils like this one from Anastasia. Boy Brow is a gel that doesn’t transfer to your skin like you might think it will, and it fills in gaps and defines each strand in a very natural (and trendy) way. It also feels lightweight, and it doesn’t smudge. If I’m keeping things light, I’ll throw this and a nice lip color in my purse for the day.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
No comments: