Best Deals on Health and Beauty Products
Step up your self-care without spending too much
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Here at Consumer Reports, we evaluate a number of everyday tools you might use in your beauty and health routines. Whether you need to replace your old hair dryer, you want to stock up on dry shampoo, or you’re ready to get a massage at home with a new neck massager, CR has your back.
Consumer Reports tests and evaluates plenty of these products in our homes and labs, and I keep track of all the prices to alert you when those that perform well are available at reasonable prices. Below you’ll find the best offers available right now.
If you’re looking for something else, we’ve got you covered there, too. Visit the CR Deals Hub to see the best deals on everything we test.
Hair Dryers
The Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex competes with the highly sought-after Dyson models, but at more than half the price. Like the Dyson models, our testers liked how easily the attachments snapped onto the hair dryer, and how you can rotate them without removing them. Its airflow is so strong that when turned on, it has a kickback.
It has another high-end feature: its IQ Speed Styling & Drying Suite automatically adjusts heat and speed depending on the attachment. The attachments are unique and feature-rich, including the Frizzfighter, which is helpful in making sleek bangs (and flyaways). The diffuser features different prong lengths depending on hair type, and its brush attachment includes boar bristles. Its highest temperature reading in our tests was 115° F.
This is the best price we’ve seen for this hair dryer in over a month. It has been as low as $170, so it may cost less in the future if you want to wait.
The T3 Featherweight Stylemax truly is maxed out. It has four attachments, including two concentrators—one that’s wide, for drying, and another that’s narrow, for styling—plus a diffuser and a comb.
It has a plethora of settings, which you can set to your hair texture (fine, medium, or coarse) and match to each attachment for optimal drying and styling. If you prefer to manage your own settings, the Stylemax has three speeds and five heat settings. We found them to be easy to reach while using the hair dryer, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally turning on the wrong setting or fumbling around trying to change the temperature.
The Featherweight Stylemax has one of the longest cords we tested—good news for those of us in old bathrooms without enough outlets. Its max heat was right in the middle of all the temps we calculated, hitting 119° F on high. And it’s one of the quieter models we tested, reaching 80 decibels.
Flat Irons
Hot Tools Pro Artist Black Gold Evolve Ionic Salon Hair Flat Iron
Hot Tools hair styling tools are a common sight at hair salons, and for good reason. Our evaluators found that this flat iron heated up fast and was easy to use. It has variable heat settings to give users more control, and the plates are slightly longer than most straighteners, a feature that could be useful for styling longer hair. It’s important to note that the temperature consistency isn’t reliable and could vary by as much as 20 degrees from the set temperature during use. It has a 2-hour window before it automatically shuts off, so you’ll want to remember to unplug it after every use.
This was $20 less two weeks ago; keep an eye on this one if you’re not ready to buy, as the price could fall again.
GHD Platinum+ Flat Iron
The GHD Platinum+ flat iron is about $10 more than its best price. It delivered great results for all three evaluators who tried it. It has only one heat setting of 365° F, but it takes only 21 seconds to heat up and then keeps that heat consistent. It comes with a silicone holder so that you can store it before it’s cooled down all the way, and the swivel cord and pivoting plates make it easy to handle. Best of all, the On button is on the inside of the handle, so you won’t accidentally switch it off while you’re using it.
Curling Irons
BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium Extended Barrel Curling Iron
The BaBylissPro’s extra-long titanium barrel delivered long-lasting Rapunzel-quality curls in our evaluations, and it’s now $10 less than two weeks ago. It has variable heat settings and begins to heat up the moment it’s plugged in. (It must be unplugged immediately after use to turn it off.) But the lack of a barrier between the heated barrel and the handle makes it easier to burn your hand.
Bonnets
Blissy Hair Bonnet
This chic, turban-style, mulberry silk bonnet can leave hair feeling nourished and moisturized. It has a snug fit and stays on well for shorter hair (including straight hair); however, it’s not as comfortable for those with long hair. Our evaluator saw a noticeable difference the morning after sleeping in this bonnet, noting that her hair had a little bounce and shine with absolutely no frizz. It managed to stay on all night, was the perfect fit for our evaluator, and it kept her rollers secured. Bonus: it left no forehead marks.
Toiletry Bags
Nishel Travel Toiletry Bag
The Nishel Travel Toiletry Bag is a hanging organizer, meaning you can hang it on the bathroom door with every compartment laid out in full view. This bag is an antidote to disorganization. It has several compartments, two of which have different-sized mesh pockets. Our evaluator also noted that it has a large capacity but still zips up easily, even when full. The low price is reflected in the quality of the material; however, if you don’t mind the fabric, it’s a great bag.
Detangling Brushes
FHI Heat Unbrush
Detangling brushes save not only time but also effort when tackling knots or an unruly mane. And for me, the FHI Heat Unbrush is the one to beat. It earned the distinction of being the best for curly hair in our evaluations of the best detangling brushes, and our testers liked its lightweight feel. I personally switched to it because my old brush had those beads at the end of the bristles, and they were snagging in my hair and ripping out my extensions. The Unbrush has smooth bristles, so it glides through my hair so smoothly and detangles without catching my extensions. It’s available in a variety of colors at different prices, but this is the lowest price you’ll find.
Bestool Detangling Brush
Razors
Gillette Venus Extra Smooth Sensitive Razor
The Gillette Venus was a clear winner in our evaluations of the best razors. The silver handle is pleasantly weighted, and it has a grippy spot for your thumb that makes it easier to hold in the shower, and the razor head has a large lubricating strip. Since the head is so bulky, you may need to angle it carefully while shaving difficult areas, such as the hollow of an underarm or an ankle.
Dermaplaning Tools
StackedSkincare Professional Dermaplaning Tool
The StackedSkincare Professional Dermaplaning Tool wowed our testers, and it’s reusable. This non-disposable dermaplaner features a smooth, lightweight aluminum handle and a stainless steel blade, with a built-in safety blade guard at the top to help keep your skin safer from nicks. When you are ready to change its blade, you pop off the blade and insert a new one. The aluminum handle is soft but provides enough texture to allow you to grip it, which is important when you’re working your way around your face, and the last thing you want is a razor to slip from your hand.
Neck and Back Massagers
Nektek Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager
This massager, made famous on TikTok, falls in the middle of the pack in terms of pricing, compared with the other models we evaluated. The reviewer found that the nodes pressed into their neck in an uncomfortable way, but two others who tried it loved it, so you might find the massager is just right or not right at all (but don’t worry—there’s a 30-day return window on Amazon). However, when it came to heat, this massager really shone. It reaches temperatures of 109° F. You can use this massager on various body parts, and it even comes with a car adapter, making it a boon for road trips.
Ice Baths
Pod Company Pro IcePod 2.0
This portable ice bath from Pod Company is now $20 less than I’ve ever seen, making it an even better deal than usual. It’s a great option if you’re thinking of investing in something like this to keep at home. In our evaluations, it was easy to set up and take apart. It is smaller than the comparable Cold Pod XL (which costs a bit more), but otherwise, the two are very similar. So it may be better suited for smaller individuals. For example, one of our evaluators was around 6 feet tall and about 200 pounds and found this one to be a bit cramped compared to the other model. That said, if you don’t mind close quarters and like the price to test out ice baths at home, this could be just what you’re looking for.
Water Flossers
We found the Onlyone Water quite easy to use and charge. Despite its smaller countertop footprint, it holds quite a lot of water, which means longer flossing sessions without needing a refill. The removable tank has a large opening, which facilitates easy filling.
Neck Fans
Panergy Bladeless Neck Fan
The Panergy bladeless neck fan is the same delightful shade of pink as its handheld fan (it also comes in white and black). Our tester found that it performs its basic function just fine, with the added perk of being super flexible: Its pliable silicone back allows it to be nearly as wide or as narrow as desired.
Arctic Air Neck Fan
We’ve never seen the price for this neck fan dip below $10 before. The Arctic Air neck fan has the best airflow angle of every model our evaluator tried (and it’s not even adjustable). It’s also on the louder side, so it may only be a good choice if you don’t mind a little extra noise near your ears.
Jisulife Portable Neck Fan
This neck fan may be a great tool to keep in your arsenal for hot days. For the price, you don’t get any bells and whistles like cooling or mist that you can find in pricier models. It simply blows air at three speeds. It’s also not adjustable, so you can’t aim the airflow, but the vents wrap all the way around the fan to cool your face and neck.
In-Ear Thermometers
The Alcedo digital thermometer earned top marks for accuracy and consistency, and despite its very reasonable price, it’s packed with features. This model can be used as an in-ear thermometer and, when an included cap is affixed over the probe, it can also be used as a forehead thermometer. It isn’t used with disposable plastic probe caps, so it needs to be thoroughly cleaned after every in-ear use. But our testers found that it was quite easy to clean. The memory recall on this thermometer stores up to 20 temperature readings. You can also use the forehead mode to measure the temperature of objects, such as bottles of formula.
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