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The Best Products We Discovered That Improved Our Lives in 2024 ArticlePure
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The Best Products We Discovered That Improved Our Lives in 2024 ArticlePure

Out with the old and in with the new! If you haven’t set your New Year’s resolutions just yet, feel free to borrow one of ours.

In the spirit of a fresh year, PEOPLE Shopping writers and editors are sharing the smartest product swaps we discovered in 2024 — and will be taking into 2025. From money-saving press-on nail kits to time-cutting cordless vacuum cleaners, these items made our lives better this year, including Eyebuydirect frames, Spanx leggings, Kizik sneakers, Cetaphil face wash, and Caraway storage.  

Best Product Swaps of 2024

Grapenet Wide-Leg Sweater Pants

Amazon


“I love warm sweater pants in the winter, but my fancy cashmere pair was always pilling, attracting pet fur, and bagging out at the knees. I picked up this under-$30 style from Amazon at the beginning of October and have been wearing them nonstop — and recommending them to everyone.” —Nicola Fumo, senior shopping editor

Vivaia Margot Mary Jane Shoes with Arch Support

Amazon


“I can’t deal with uncomfortable shoes anymore — I don’t care how cute they are. So this year, every toe-pinching, blister-causing pair of shoes moved to the back of my closet and was replaced with one comfortable pair of shoes: the Vivaia Mary Jane ballet flats. I can walk for miles in them without an ounce of discomfort. I dress them up with tights and a nice dress or dress them down with baggy jeans and a sweater.” —Cai Cramer, shopping writer

Chillhouse Chill Tips Press On Nails

Amazon


“Acrylic nails have forever ruined me! Since getting my first set six-something years ago, I can’t part with them — but it’s becoming financially irresponsible, to say the least. Thankfully, my colleague and name twin, Alyssa Brascia, is the reason I’m going to try out these Oprah-approved press-on nails.” —Alyssa Grabinski, celebrity shopping writer

Essie Gel Couture Polish Kit

Amazon


“I cut out bi-weekly nail salon visits to save time and money this year, and the sacrifice was surprisingly easy thanks to this Essie Gel Nail Polish Kit. Now I enjoy salon-quality manicures that last for weeks for a fraction of the price.” —Maggie Horton, shopping writer

Caraway Small Storage Container

Caraway


“I gave up Ziploc bags and plastic storage containers after testing glass food storage containers this year. My refrigerator and cabinets are so much more organized now that I have nice, stackable Caraway containers, and I feel like I’m doing my part in reducing plastic waste.” —Erin Johnson, associate shopping director

Simplehuman Touch-Free Soap Pump

Amazon


“I gave up pumping my own hand soap at home! Why is that luxury reserved for public bathrooms, anyway? Simplehuman gave me this hand soap dispenser to test in October, and on Cyber Monday, I bought four to give as Christmas gifts to my siblings and their partners. Now, I’m kicking myself for not buying the one for dish soap while it was on sale.” —Laura Gurfein, shopping director

Eyebuydirect Kat Glasses

Eyebuydirect


“I gave up dry eyes this year after constantly being plagued by splotchy contacts and headaches induced by screens, largely due to these blue light glasses. Though the science behind these isn’t concrete, wearing these blue light-filtering glasses from EyeBuyDirect has made a significant change in my comfort during the workday. Plus, this red shade makes any outfit pop.” —Alyssa Brascia, shopping writer

Bagail Compression Packing Cubes Set, $20 with Prime

Amazon


“I switched from regular packing cubes to compressive packing cubes, and my only regret is not making the switch sooner. Thanks to a zipper that snakes around the exterior, the cube’s contents are gently compressed to about half the thickness, so you can fit more in your suitcase or travel with a smaller bag.” —Nicola Fumo, senior shopping editor

Shark IZ662H Cordless Vacuum

Amazon


“I gave up my old vacuum in place of a cordless model, and I am never going back. My home is cleaner than ever now that I can handle household messes in mere seconds.” —Genevieve Cepeda, shopping writer

Boody Seamless Bralette

Amazon


“I decided I was over-wearing uncomfortable clothing this year, so I swapped almost all my bras for wireless ones. I own these Boody shaper bras in multiple colors and wear them throughout the week, but if I want something a little more supportive, I’ll opt for this top-rated Warner’s bra.” —Lindsey Greenfeld, senior shopping editor

Brita Metro Water Filter Pitcher

Amazon


“Once I added this Brita pitcher to my fridge, I’ve rarely gone for tap water. I love how I always have access to cold water now and appreciate how clean it tastes.” —Lindsey Greenfeld, senior shopping editor

Kizik Athens Sneakers

Kizik


“This year, I stopped forcing my feet into uncomfortable shoes just because they’re cute. I tested nearly a dozen shoes over the year deemed ‘comfortable’ and now have three pairs I regularly rotate, including these. I love that I can slide my foot in without bending down to tie laces when I’m running out the door and that they can be dressed up or down, so I’m never compromising comfort for style. My dad even put the men’s version on his holiday wish list.” —Kayla Kitts, shopping editor

1822 Denim Pleated High Waist Super Wide Leg Jeans

Nordstrom


“For over five years now, I’ve been a strictly skinny jeans wearer because I’m hard to fit. But after months of reading countless pieces in which Jennifer Lopez wore various baggy jeans styles, I decided they were too cute to pass on. I’ve found some options that didn’t make me look like I was drowning in them, including baggy wide-legs, and this is now my go-to denim look.” —Toni Sutton, shopping writer

SpanxShape Booty Boost Flare Pants

Spanx


“I used to work out in anything I didn’t mind sweating in, but this year, I focused on investing in quality fitness apparel that makes me look and feel good before, during, and after a workout. I recently raved about these Spanx Booty Boost yoga pants for that reason, and now I’m never going back to cheap bike shorts and cut-off tanks.” —Erin Johnson, associate shopping director

Cetaphil Face Wash

Amazon


“I’ve rotated between a few celebrity-loved face washes over the years, but this year, I went back to basics — Cetaphil, one of our best overall face washes we tested. It soon became a regular in my rotation, and my skin has never been happier.” —Madison Yauger, shopping editor

PrepNatural 5-Pack Glass Food Storage Containers

Amazon


“I’ve had old plastic storage containers plagued with dreaded orange sauce stains for quite some time, and I finally decided to switch to a glass set. These containers are sturdy, and while they’re a bit on the smaller side, that’s a bonus for me since they’re easy to transport when I head into the office.” —Jennifer Maldonado, associate shopping director

Mr. Siga Pack of 2 Dish Scrubber with Ergonomic Grip

Amazon


“I swapped traditional kitchen sponges for these scrub brushes. Now that I can hold a comfortable plastic handle instead of a dense, soapy sponge, doing the dishes feels like less of a chore.” —Isabel Garcia, senior shopping writer

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