11 Health Products Our Editors Can’t Life Without

Christy Snyder called this intense pulsed light (IPL) hair removal device a huge time saver. It uses light to remove hair and prevent it from growing back.

“Sick of shaving and other hair removal methods (waxing, using an epilator), using an at-home laser to remove unwanted hair has been a game-changer in my self-care routine,” she said. “I get less ingrown hair and itchy skin.”

According to the brand, it takes three to four treatments a week for the first month to start seeing results. After that, you can switch to just one or two treatments per month for maintenance. Still, keep in mind that it may not work well on dark skin or light hair.

Although Christy has sensitive skin, she’s found that this device doesn’t bother her skin. “It does take a bit of patience,” she warned, “but it’s been worth it for me.”

Veronica Zambon said having access to a food scale helps her with portion control and is much more accurate than measuring food by volume.

“I grew up with an Italian nonna, so mealtimes were literally enough to feed an army — my brother, who is in the navy and needs all that energy he can, struggles to finish her meals! With that as my baseline, I always battled with knowing what a ‘proper’ portion is, an issue compounded by the trend of larger plates.”

She shared that she relies on Google to figure out calories per gram of different foods as she seeks to lose weight to help her manage polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). She credits her scale to helping her lose over 6 pounds.

Having tried several different scales, she likes her current one by Salter, a UK brand. Other brands, like Taylor or Amazon Basics, offer good entry-level options for customers in the United States.

Veronica’s second pick is also kitchen-related.

After moving into a small house without much kitchen space, she decided to ditch her wok and oversized tall pot and buy a set of stackable pans. The set comes with a detachable handle that you can use for the whole set.

“I ended up buying these on a whim and they’re fantastic,” she said, adding that they only take up about as much cupboard space as a set of plates.

“Plus, these are oven safe! I can cook stuff on the [stovetop] and then place the pan in the oven and remove the handle. Minimal washing up, minimal equipment, and I can make delicious food in suitable pots and pans.”

Morgan Mandriota received these headphones as a gift a couple of years ago. She called them “magic” because they helped her manage sensory issues.

“I’m easily distracted, overstimulated, and frustrated by the everyday sounds that my brain can’t filter out that other people wouldn’t even notice,” she explained.

“I actually cried the first time I wore them because the noise-cancelling functionality was so powerful that I was overcome with a sense of peace and quiet for the first time in a while.”

While Morgan noted that they’re great for helping her focus while working from home, she added, “Sometimes I just sit on my couch and close my eyes while listening to music through them because the sound is so good, too.”

Keep in mind that while these worked great for Morgan, it’s important not to consider these a replacement for professional treatment for people with sensory processing disorders.

Naomi Wilde made the switch from liquid shampoo to shampoo bars more than 2 years ago and doesn’t think she’ll ever go back. Compared to traditional shampoo, a bar lathers great, cleans her hair well, and doesn’t leave any residue.

“It takes up less space on my shower shelf, and as far as waste? I’ve probably avoided using a dozen plastic shampoo bottles so far,” she said. “All I have to do is recycle a little piece of paper from each bar.”

Naomi uses these bars from J.R. Liggett, which are locally made in her state. However, you can also find brands like Ethique and HiBAR at natural grocers and even large chains like Target.

Catherine Conelly called the humble lacrosse ball “cheap and indispensable” for tight muscles. She noted that it’s easy to travel with or use at home.

“It’s denser than a tennis ball, so it’s great for rolling on sore muscles (for me, it’s my neck and shoulders that chronically act up). It’s like a mini deep tissue massage,” she explained.

Rita Mauceri agreed, calling this set of lacrosse balls “the best $7.99 I spent in recent memory.” She uses them to roll out her feet, relieving tension and cramps.

“I roll for less than 5 minutes a day, and it’s made such a difference,” Rita added.

One of Rita’s other top products is a silk or satin pillowcase.

“After reading endlessly about the beauty benefits of silk pillowcases for both hair and skin, I finally decided to try the trend… and was not disappointed,” she said.

While real silk pillowcases can run $100 or more, satin is a cruelty-free, less expensive alternative. These ones from Bedsure are less than $10 for a set and come highly recommended by Rita.

“They protect my hair from tugging and stress while I sleep, and pamper my skin as well (I’m a side sleeper who tosses and turns with a minimum of three pillows),” she added. “I’ve also found they’re cooler at night, which is a bonus for anyone who is a hot sleeper.”

Rita also recommends a sous vide — something she was initially hesitant about.

“I gave my husband a lot of grief when he announced 2 years ago that he had bought a sous vide. I think my exact words were, ‘Do we really need another kitchen gadget?’” she said. “I ended up eating my words, literally.”

Rita said she now relies on the tool daily, especially when cooking meat.

“It cooks things to perfection, every single time. Meat is unbelievably tender and juicy — and we’ve cooked everything from chicken breasts to T-bone steaks to BBQ pork to tri-tip. Not only that, but this is a set-it-and-forget-it device, so you can set it up to start and keep the food warm until you’re ready to eat.”

While Rita initially had a lower cost model, she recently upgraded to this one from Breville.

Though a reusable water bottle might seem like a basic product at this point, Alice Porter-McLaughlin recommends upgrading to an insulated stainless steel one.

“Mine’s lasted forever despite being through some ordeals. I take it with me everywhere and keep it beside my bed at night,” she said.

This one from Hydro Flask holds its temperature for hours, and the wide mouth can support a variety of cap styles.

Alice also recommends a dedicated white noise machine as a worthwhile upgrade to using a white noise app.

“It means one less reason to use my phone at night,” she explained.

Plus, she said it’s helped both her and her husband sleep much better at night. “With time, we almost trained ourselves to fall asleep quicker/more deeply when it’s on.”

Lois Zoppi acknowledges that automatic pill dispensers aren’t cheap, but she still finds it worthwhile for reducing mental load and staying on top of medications and supplements.

“I have a blood condition that means I am chronically anemic, and it’s super important I regularly take high dose iron. I’m also vegetarian, so I take a few supplements to make up for gaps in my diet,” she explained. “But, I really struggle to keep a routine and make habits, and setting alarms on my phone wasn’t working to keep me regularly taking what I needed to and when.”

Lois likes the dispenser’s ability to set multiple alarms, noting that it goes off only when the pills are actually removed from the tray.

“It forces me to actually follow through instead of turning off my phone alarm and inevitably forgetting to take the pills. For the first time, I’ve actually been on top of a supplement schedule, and I’m definitely feeling the benefits in my day-to-day health,” she said.