I’m a Shopping Editor Who Tests Countless Products, All the Time — Here are the Products I’ve Used up This Year

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As a shopping editor, I’m testing products like my job depends on it (because it does). And due to that, a true sign for me that I love something is when I use it up to the very last drop, and immediately want to repurchase it. Here are 20 products I finished up in the first quarter of the year and why I love them.

A cream cleanser that I found an unexpected use for…

We tested out Dua Lipa’s collaboration with Augustinus Bader. While I was initially skeptical, I loved the feel of this cream cleanser on my dry skin. I was testing it out mainly throughout the winter months and found that I loved it most when I used it on my body. The skin on my body gets super dry and this left a nongreasy, hydrating finish all over.

The only eye drops that work on me…

An eye doctor recommended Systane Balance to me after I got diagnosed with chronic dry eye in college. I haven’t gone without these drops since, so I keep a bottle in every bag I own. I apply them both in the morning and at night, and sometimes I drop them directly into my contact lenses.

A cult-favorite buffing bar…

The hype behind Soft Service’s Buffing Bar is real. It provides the perfect amount of grit that isn’t too harsh on my sensitive skin. I mainly use it on my legs because I struggle with KP and general dry skin. The Green Banana scent is my favorite because it’s fresh yet not overpowering.

The pimple patches our entire team swears by…

Our Commerce Director and I live for a Mighty Patch pimple patch. They’re effective, indetectable, and can be used on the body, too. Make sure to buy them with your FSA/HSA dollars. I’ve already used up a few packs in the last few months, especially when traveling.

My new go-to eye patches…

Because I love Hero’s Mighty Patches so much, I decided to try out the brand’s eye patches on a whim back in December. Ever since, they’ve been a favorite, and I’ve gone through at least 10 pairs. I love them because they’re cooling and brightening, but they aren’t slimy like some eye masks can be. I also love that there’s a visual cue: Once they turn translucent, that’s when you know it’s time to remove them.

The only iron supplement that doesn’t hurt my stomach…

Fun fact: It turns out all of my period issues were due to the fact that I was iron-deficient. I’ve been taking Vitron-C ever since my doctor recommended that I should take a high-potency iron supplement. Because this one also contains vitamin C, it’ll improve absorption and be gentler on the stomach.

Some dissolvable teeth-whitening strips…

I tested Snow all throughout the winter for a review I was working on. These dissolvable whitening strips were easily the best product from the brand that I tested. Once you apply them, they’ll dissolve within 20 minutes. It’s not the quickest way to whiten your teeth; I found that I saw results slowly over time with consistent use.

The floss I can’t live without…

I notice a genuine difference in how clean my teeth feel when I use Cocofloss. It’s made of textured fiber that’s extra-grippy, so it makes your teeth and gums feel very clean. I went through a lot over the first few months of the year, and every time I run out, I buy more.

A hydrating shampoo that doesn’t weigh down fine hair…

I’m on my second bottle of Gisou’s Honey Gloss Ceramide Therapy Hydrating Shampoo. It’s made with honey from the founder’s family farm and every time I use it, my hair feels moisturized with a light shine. On extra-lazy days, I just use this and skip the conditioner. Plus, it has a fantastic lather.

A recovery cream that calms my eczema-prone skin…

I always get excited when Dieux launches a new product, so this new moisturizer from the brand is everything I needed this winter. It’s a soft, cushiony formula with colloidal oatmeal to soothe irritation and redness. I used it up quickly because I lathered it on my hands at night, too.

A pine-scented candle you can burn all year…

I love Nest’s candles. I got this pine one over the holidays, but it’s so fresh smelling, you really can burn it all year. The scent is clean and isn’t overly pine-forward, so I feel like it won’t seem Christmas-y.

My favorite skincare find of 2025…

Last year, I found a skincare staple that isn’t leaving my routine for the foreseeable future: Prequel’s Gleanser. The bestselling cleanser really is that good. The silky-soft texture leaves my skin feeling clean without being overly stripped, and the drugstore pricing is hard to beat (you get nearly 14 ounces of product for $18). If you have reactive, eczema-prone skin, you’ll love it. It’s fragrance-free and made with glycerin, inulin, oat, and aloe to soothe and hydrate. I can’t travel without it, and I even use it on my body.

Some laundry pods that don’t irritate my skin…

Yes, I do still use a laundry pod. I actually prefer them because I don’t want to get my clothes too sudsy. These ones from Dropps deposit the perfect amount of detergent, and because they’re made for sensitive skin, they’re dye- and fragrance-free.

A bodywash made for eczema flare-ups…

This Tower 28 bodywash is a godsend if you’re in the midst of an eczema flare-up. When I’m stressed, I tend to get patches all over my body, so I use this wash because it’s made with sodium hypochlorite to help calm the skin down. I also reach for it in-between flares as a preventative treatment.

A fragrance-free cleanser that’s man-approved…

This actually isn’t my empty, but my fiance’s. He’s picky about his skincare, and this Gel Baptism Cleanser from Dieux is the only one I can get him behind. I love it because it provides a deep clean, but leaves skin feeling hydrated.

A hair mask that’s extra-thick…

PSA: If you have extra-fine or oily hair, you might not love this mask. But for me, as someone with dry, frizzy ends, I loved it. A little goes a long way, so I use it instead of a conditioner.

An anti-dandruff shampoo that keeps itchiness at bay…

I use Nizoral as a first wash in my hair-care routine. My scalp is prone to dryness, tightness, and itchiness, but the one thing that’s helped is this. The ketoconazole-based shampoo controls the fungus that causes dandruff and is safe to use on color-treated hair. I apply it directly to my roots and scalp and let it sit for a minute or two, then rinse. I love that the scent is minimal, clean, and doesn’t linger.

The facial spray I always have backups of…

I’ve spoken at length about why I love Personal Day’s Trust Me on This Hypochlorous Acid Spray, but to keep it short, it feels so luxurious for the price. The mist is extra-fine and it really does calm my skin whenever I’m breaking out. Read our extensive thoughts on the brand here.

And lastly, a couple of travel minis…

Everyone in my life (including my mother) has been raving about Vanicream. I bought a travel-sized version of the brand’s cleanser for a couple of trips I had this past winter, and I used it up pretty quickly. It reminds me of Dieux’s cleanser. It’s mild, has a nice jelly texture, and effectively removes leftover residue on my skin. I will say, I preferred it as a second cleanse. 

I also used up a mini size of Dieux’s Instant Angel, which is a little bit lighter than Skin Mercy, but is a solid, basic moisturizer.