Hey you! Yeah you, lover of online shopping, discovering new small businesses and — of course — BuzzFeed! Did you know that the BuzzFeed Shopping Team has a weekly newsletter where our editors take turns sending their favorite product picks directly to your inbox?
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Well, we do! It’s called “Want This” and in my completely biased but nevertheless valid opinion, it’s fantastic! You can sign up below:
But *gasp* if you haven’t been subscribed, you may have missed some of our editors’ fabulous product recommendations. Let’s catch you up!
First up are some product picks from Kayla Suazo whose style is always on-point, jokes in video meetings always land, and opinions on nail polish I would trust with me life, so I would take her first review below very seriously if I were you!
Kayla Suazo / BuzzFeed
In her own words: “Greetings from a shopping editor here at BuzzFeed. I am from the Land of Enchantment, aka New Mexico! I grew up on a huge ranch with tons of animals — yes, this was a dream for me as I looooove dogs, big gardens, and fresh veggies. I now reside in Brooklyn, which is just a tad different than spending all day roaming fields with cows. I am a guilty sucker for horrible reality TV (I will not deny my passion for Love Island), but when it comes to products, beauty goods, cozy sweaters, and anything that comes in pretty packaging, is what gets an ‘add to cart’ from me.”
1.
A gel nail polish kit by Gellen so you can get all the un-chip-able strength of a salon mani from the comfort of your own home.
Kayla Suazo / BuzzFeed
The set comes with a base coat, 16 colors, and a top coat. This only comes with the polishes, so you will need a UV lamp — try this one for $33.99 on Amazon!
Kayla says: “Long before quarantine days I was a nail salon regular. Once lockdown really hit, I realized I needed to take my manicure ~into my own hands~. These Gellen gel polishes give salon-quality results at home. Truly, I can get a full two weeks without peeling/chipping/breaking. The amount of $$$ I have saved…”
Get it from Amazon for $24.99+ (available in two color sets).
Each month you’ll be treated to freshly ground, small batch spice blends from a different region that come with recipe cards!
Kayla says: “This monthly spice subscription has sparked a fire deep down in my cooking soul. The spice blend combinations are incredible, and each spice comes with a corresponding recipe. I just made this cauliflower curry and my life will never be the same. I want to cook anything and everything with these spices.”
Get it from Piquant Post for $9.99/month+ (available in one-, six-, or twelve-month subscriptions).
3.
An abstract print from Poster Store that’ll give your startlingly blank walls a touch of class (at a super affordable price-point).
Kayla Suazo / BuzzFeed
Kayla says: “I recently stumbled upon the Poster Store and after dedicating hours of my life to perusing its site, I can’t imagine buying art from another place for a while. I added some abstract prints to my home, and the quality makes me feel like I am some rich millionaire that can afford to buy expensive paintings. Poster Store forever.”
Get it from Poster Store for $13.95+ (available in three sizes).
Now for some picks from Elizabeth Lilly, our resident expert on all things spooky and macabre, and whose love of emo music shows no sign of fading. Same, Elizabeth. Same.
Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed
In her own words: “I’m a Senior Editor here at BuzzFeed where I make a living out of telling strangers (ahem, I mean Internet friends!) what to buy. I always joked that should be my job; well, now it is! I hail from North Carolina, so naturally I have strong opinions about barbecue (Lexington-style or die) and college basketball (go Heels!). I’ve been in NYC for nearly a decade where I love to people/dog/book watch on the train and am a total sucker for learning the history of things I walk by every day (shout out to The Bowery Boys podcast). Even better if it’s about something macabre! Go ahead, chat with me about how Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr were on the defense together in NYC’s first murder trial (The Bowery Boy’s ‘Murder Well’ ep #239). If you don’t have anything nice to say about Ranch dressing or pants, come sit by me!”
4.
A Gnocchi tee from Hit and Run to publicly advertise your love of those perfect clouds of flour and potato right on your person.
Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed
Elizabeth says: “This is from a collection of pasta-theme shirts designed by artists (this one’s by Mickey J. Ellis) to raise money for the employee fund that helps out hourly-wage workers at Pastaio restaurants (who, like many, have been affected by closings as part of COVID-19 precautions). I saw this and HAD to have it for myself. It’s made of super soft fabric that’s thick enough so you won’t have to worry about your bra showing through (in case that’s a concern) and the printing is great quality. FYI, this is printed to order (yay to less waste!) in London so you won’t get it in 48 hours, so just be patient! Brb, putting all the money I didn’t spend on a Gucci T-shirt on gnocchi.”
Get it from Hit and Run for $37.52 (available in sizes S–XXL).
5.
A BBQ subscription from Pig of the Month for anyone who can’t get enough smoky, meaty goodness in their life. Looking forward to a monthly box of BBQ is a little daily joy you totally deserve.
Elizabeth Lilly / BuzzFeed
Each month, you’ll be sent a selection of meats, sauces, and other BBQ-adjacent treats! They have a full description broken down month-by-month here.
Elizabeth says: “OK remember what I said up there about Lexington-style barbecue? I’ll make the occasional exception for other styles of what folks call ‘barbecue.’ Yes, I will deign to eat Texas barbecue occasionally. On that note, this subscription box from a woman-owned brand comes with lots o’ meaty options that are all but ready for ya’ because someone else has done the prep work. I recently gave this behemoth of a delivery a spin with my meat-eating family chock full of food opinions, and they loved it! Even my dad, who can be a hard sell for any food things I get sent. (‘This is weird’ is something I hear often.) We quickly went through the included Tangy Memphis BBQ Sauce (which you can buy separately here) after pouring it all over pork chops, chicken, and most everything else.”
Get a three month subscription from Pig of the Month for $255.
6.
A subscription to Shudder — a streaming service for all things spooktacular. You can find all the best horror movies, TV shows, podcasts and more all in this one delightfully petrifying place.
Shudder
Elizabeth says: “Say it with me: Horror on Netflix sucks! After much hemming and hawing about “Do I need another streaming service?!” I ditched Disney+ and finally got Shudder. Now I’m hooked! I’m a huge horror fan and seek it out year-round. So, TBH, I’m shocked I waited this long! It has lots of exclusive movies (like Color Out of Space with Nic Cage, a Shudder original) and TV shows (like Channel Zero, which you’ve likely heard about), along with stuff you need in your life. Plus the Collections part of the app, helps you narrow down new films to watch in categories like ‘Foundations of Horror’ or ‘Slashics.'”
Next up, some picks from Kit Stone whose GIF selection on Slack is always A+ and pop culture knowledge is VAST. We made a team playlist and every time I listen, hear a great song, and see who added it? Nine out of ten times it was Kit.
Kit Stone / BuzzFeed
In her own words: “I’m a writer on the BuzzFeed Shopping team, and a self-proclaimed blerd born and raised in the Yay Area (Bay Area, California) with an affinity for all things film, television and of course SHOPPING! But, as much as I love those things, music also plays a pretty big role in my life, too. I’ve been known to create many original bangers about random household objects. When I’m not writing for BF or being the life of the party at a social event, you can find me living my other best life in SIMS (and yes, I use cheat codes *don’t look at me*), curled up watching the latest horror film or re-binging one of my favorite ‘90s classics (because I’m still Living Single). I love writing gift guides, toy roundups, gadget and gizmo reviews, and pretty much anything else that makes adulting that much easier. If you’re trying to figure out what to buy a 7-year-old or you can’t seem to find any Lovecraft Country merch, look for me, I got you covered. I’m still learning how to use TikTok but in the meantime, let’s connect on Insta @bykitstone.”
7.
A Mansour Marrakech candle from L’or de Seraphine whose complex scent has notes of bergamot, citrus, jasmine, and tobacco, and whose eye-catching container is just too cute to be true.
Kit Stone / BuzzFeed
Kit says: “I have more candles than I can light. I LOVE candles. I love pretty much anything that’ll fill my house with smelly goodness, but I digress. This candle from L’or de Seraphine fills the room before you even light it. The second you open the box you can smell subtle hints of bergamot, citrus, and jasmine. Plus, it doubles as a super cute piece of decor and I’m all about that presentation.”
Kit says: “Headbands are my jam because I rarely have time (or want) to comb my hair but it’s also hard to find some that will stay on my large head (serious noggin here). I was sent this super cute headband and not only did it fit my head, it didn’t slide the entire day. #winning”
Kit says: “If you haven’t taken the time to be swept up by the sci-fi horror that is Lovecraft Country, it’s time to get on it. It’s like The X-Files mixed with Indiana Jones drenched in Black history excellence. But, after any good show, you wanna find merch to rep your fave characters. This vinyl sticker of the main characters, Atticus and Leti, was a godsend and will definitely hold me over until the official merch drops.”
Theebouffants is the shop of artist Kendra Dandy whose illustrated art prints are simply divine. Highly recommend following @theebouffants on Instagram as well!
Kit says: “My 2020 goal that I’m still holding onto is to finish the walls in my bedroom. I love bright colors and I have a poppin’ wall color and now I need art to throw a few other colors in there. I love supporting Black artists and when I saw these sassy oranges, I knew they needed to come home with me. It’s the orange peel bayang for me.”
Get it from Society6 for $40.49+ (originally $44.49+, available in four sizes).
And last but not least some picks from Natalie Brown (who happens to be my brilliant editor 👋)! Sure we talk about work some, but really we’re just trying to get one another to invest in each others’ favorite comfy shoes (I’m team Danskos and she’s team Birkenstocks) and favorite games (I think she’ll dig Breath of the Wild and she thinks I’ll love Catan).
Natalie Brown / BuzzFeed
In her own words: “When I’m not busy reading and writing all things online shopping as an editor here at BuzzFeed, I’m a woman of many hobbies; here are just a few: taking long walks and hikes, reading all kinds of books but especially some good Sci-Fi/Fantasy (keep reading for a rec), baking something tasty and different (like this 200-year-old cake), working on new embroidery stitches, and watching horror movies (/obvs whatever’s good to binge-watch). Once upon a time I also loved trying new restaurants in NYC! TBH these days, you can prooobably find me on the Switch, either plotting gifts to give to my Animal Crossing neighbors or working on raising my Kubfu on Pokémon Sword.”
11.
Gideon the Ninth and Harrow the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir — the first two books of the Locked Tomb trilogy (whose third book hasn’t come out yet) for anyone in need of a new fantasy-infused sci-fi series to dive into headfirst.
Natalie Brown / BuzzFeed
Natalie says: “In Gideon, two not-quite-friends with undeniable queer energy, along with a cast of eight other necromancers and their sword-bearing cavaliers, descend on a decaying palace riddled with dangerous secrets after being summoned by the Emporer to take on the challenge. I inhaled the first two books of the trilogy, which are packed with emotion, humor, adventure, mystery, and a unique brand of gore, in about three day’s worth of spare time each. They’re the first books since Harry Potter that so many of my friends have read and love to talk about, and we can’t wait for book three.”
Get Gideon the Ninth from Amazon for $15 or Bookshop for $16.55 and Harrow the Ninth from Amazon for $13.99 or Bookshop for $18.38.
12.
A pair of classic flats from Rothy’s that are a cult-fave for their comfort and washability. That’s right, you can throw these babies in the washing machine (or hand wash them) to get them looking and smelling their best again!
Natalie Brown / BuzzFeed
Natalie says: “I got this pair of flats in 2017 and reviewed ‘em back then, but I recommend them any chance I get. Name any OTHER brand of flats that you can wear up and down the streets of NYC for three years and have them look (and smell) basically the same as they did on day one. They’re comfortable, breathable, machine and hand washable, and while they have basically no arch support, I’ve used ‘em with these inserts with no problems.”
Get them from Rothy’s for $125 (available in sizes 5–13 and 17 colors and patterns).
Natalie says: “My WFH outfits vary: some days I wear dresses, others I go for jogger pants, while still others I happily slip on a pair of jeans because they help me feel like life’s a little more normal. But one key component of any outfit? Socks to keep my toes warm! And while I only have a couple of pairs from Conscious Step, they’re super soft, cozy, fair trade certified, have extra cushion in the toes and heels, come in cute prints, and each pair benefits a different cause!”
A bottle of Poo-Pourri for anyone out there quarantining with someone and after a full year is ready to not smell the intensity of their BMs every time they have one. Enough is enough!
Natalie Brown / BuzzFeed
Natalie says: “Okay, yes, this has been a long time favorite product at BuzzFeed. But in quarantine, my S.O. and I have moved in together, which means we’ve also started sharing a bathroom on a much more regular basis than before. After a couple of months, it became clear that we needed something that would actually work to cover up poop odor, and STAT. So I turned to this spray-before-you-go essential oil concoction. And yes! It does exactly what is says it does. Thank goodness.“
Get it from Amazon for $14.39 (available in three sizes and six scents).
Loving these finds? To hear about more fantastic products personally loved and recommended by the BuzzFeed Shopping Team, subscribe to the Want This newsletter in the box below!
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