The best things we bought in 2024 that make life just a little easier and more joyful

Ok, so I bought Lululemon’s crazy popular Align leggings for the first time years ago, but this year I decided they are unequivocally the best leggings out there. (Trust me, I’ve tested dozens.) They’re compressive without being squeezy, soft but still manage to smooth your backside and hold up like a dream. (I’m still wearing my three year old pairs.) The magic is in the fabric which is just the right thickness to be flattering, but not feel like a suffocating trash bag the second you start to move. I also love how easy they are to get on, even when I’m fresh out of the shower. (When you’ve got a 7:30am Pilates class, every second counts.)

–Sara Goldstein, Associate Director Commerce Editorial Strategy

I have to give my teenage daughter who spends too much time on TikTok credit for this one. The ELF lip balm is apparently considered a dupe for everything from Laneige to Summer Fridays and I have to agree. It’s thick and glossy and lasts an impressively long time. And at about $4 bucks a tube (granted they’re pretty small), I don’t feel bad stashing one in every single coat pocket and losing one or two along the way. 

–Sara Goldstein, Associate Director Commerce Editorial Strategy

A gloriously indulgent escape that feels part-futuristic, part-mom-hack genius. Imagine a portable infrared sauna that zips you into a cocoon of heat, forcing you to pause, sweat, and reclaim 30 minutes of uninterrupted me-time. Beyond the mental reset, it’s delivered glowier skin, deeper sleep, and post-workout muscle relief—all without leaving my house. Sure, cleanup isn’t glamorous, but it’s a small price for a mini spa day on demand. If you’re craving some elevated self-care, this is it: a little ridiculous, a lot amazing, and 100% worth it. P.S. It goes on sale a few times a year!

-Jordan Fink

Full disclosure, I did not buy this–it was a gift–but since my teenage daughter declared it “the best blanket in the whole world” which she intends to “take to college and literally everywhere I ever live,” I’d be remiss not to include. Also, she’s right. (I worm my way under it when she drags it to the couch and full on steal it when she’s at her dad’s.) It’s made of what I can only assume is the best faux chinchilla ever produced, incredibly plush and perhaps the softest thing I’ve ever felt aside from puppy ears. It’s not weighted but given the thickness and density, it’s actually quite heavy and gives that calming effect the second you slip under it. (I recently fell asleep under it so hard that I actually forgot where I was when I woke up.) It’s definitely a splurge but right now it’s on sale for 40% off!

–Sara Goldstein, Associate Director Commerce Editorial Strategy

I’m not sure how I lived my life before my Nespresso machine and I’m embarrassed at how many times I reordered these pods, but they’re a staple now and crucial to my daily routine.

-Julie Tozier

This is my absolute CC cream. The encapsulated pigments help to even my skin tone  better than foundation and because it’s super creamy, it doesn’t settle into fine lines the same way more full coverage make-up does. It’s great for dry skin and packs the one, two punch of SPF 25. 

-Julie Tozier

Saw this expandable compression backpack on TikTok and had to try it. It’s got this compartment that comes with a little pump you can vacuum seal to help shrink the size down–it’s amazing! And since literally every single flight for some reason unbeknownst to god and man can’t seem to accommodate everyone’s rollers (“We’re looking for 25 people to check their bags!”) I can always manage to squeeze this sucker under the seat.

-Julie Tozier

I must sit like a stressed out hunchback clenching every muscle in my entire body because my back was KILLING me sitting all day long. This chair helped a TON.

-Julie Tozier

For as long as I can remember, I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect grey vintage sweatshirt. One with that 70s gym class vibe that just happened to fit like a glove. One that felt soft and lived in but also didn’t have someone else’s pit stains. You know, basically the unicorn of sweatshirts. Then I watched Nobody Wants This, and lo and behold, there’s Kristen Bell rocking my white whale. So I did what any internet shopping sleuth would do, and tracked it down in minutes. The LA-based Hey Gang absolutely knocked it out of the park and checked every single one of my perfect sweatshirt bullet points. It’s not cheap, but it’s made in LA in small batches which is always my pref over fast fashion.

–Sara Goldstein, Associate Director Commerce Editorial Strategy

This is the same one they use at the spa I went to for a back massage when I thought I was literally dying. It’s amazing.

-Julie Tozier

I wanted to dabble in that “pajama set as an outfit” vibe that influencers seem to make look effortless these days. That said, I didn’t want to spend a ton on a look that’s just a bit more adventurous than my normal day-to-day. This set was close enough for me. They’re super soft and the pattern is really pretty.  

-Julie Tozier

Saw these on tiktok and fell in love with the effect. They’s SOO FREAKING SIMPLE and look like a million bucks. I used them for the steps to the front of my house and damn it looks fancy.

-Julie Tozier

Date night? These pants. A very important meeting? These pants. Brunch with the girls? These pants. Endless school events? These pants. Seriously, they slay. The wide-leg silhouette is super sophisticated but looks just as incredible with a sweater and heels as it does a vintage tee and sneakers. They hug your booty in the most flattering way with a high rise that doesn’t make you feel like a tube of biscuits and they don’t even have a button to contend with. (They also don’t have pockets, but given all their pluses, I’ll forgive it.) I would have them in every color if they ever come back in my size!

–Sara Goldstein, Associate Director Commerce Editorial Strategy

We were hosting a ton of outdoor parties this summer and wanted something decent to keep drinks cool outside. This cooler is on wheels and has interior compartments so you can keep drinks separated, plus it has a bottle top remover on the side.

-Julie Tozier

I bought these for myself, but they’re so good everyone around me keeps asking to borrow them—and I don’t even mind sharing! They check all the boxes: a lovely scent, easy application, and (most importantly) it doesn’t leave your hands sticky. Highly recommend buying these in bulk to keep one on your desk, in every bag, and maybe a backup for whoever is “borrowing” yours permanently. 

-Rita Bregolat

TikTok knows me a little better than I’d like to admit…and led me to these travel containers for skincare right when I was planning a holiday trip. They turned out great and I bring them with me everywhere I go now, so not complaining. No more mini cosmetics from the airport store is a game changer.

-Rita Bregolat

Because of my profession (and who I am as a person), I’ve tested an unholy amount of sex toys over the years. And let me just say, if the words that come out of my mouth when I use this one are any indication, it is the holiest thing I own. I swear I’ve seen colors that don’t exist elsewhere within time and space and the feeling after is nothing short of euphoric. The bonus? The included cover makes it super discreet and travel-ready and it’s perfectly sized for both solo and partnered seshes.

–Sara Goldstein, Associate Director Commerce Editorial Strategy