Best Deals Under $25

Aside from serving as a stimulating activity for pets, puzzle treat dispensers can be a great way to encourage slow(ish) snacking. Nicky Besuden, CR’s associate director of new ventures, recommends this dynamic treat dispenser: “My dog loves all the treat puzzles.”

Pair this lickable food mat with a delectable treat to keep your kitty content and happily occupied. Mary Beth Quirk, one of CR’s shopping editors, spreads Churu purée treats on the mat with the spatula provided and attaches them to her cat Frannie’s food tray with the suction cups on the bottom. “She’ll spend minutes on end cleaning out every nook and cranny, leaving me to work in peace,” she says. 

CR’s digital product manager, Merideth Mergel says her cat loves Kong’s ZoomGroom brush, which can also be used for dogs. “She wakes me up in the morning not for food, but to brush her,” she says. “And if I’m not moving the brush the way that she likes, she will brush herself against it. I’ve bought this for a few friends with cats, and they all love it.”

This is a great, budget-friendly option if you’re not sure your pets will adapt from a bowl to a fountain. You can try it out without investing too much (and you can always invest more in an upgrade later on if you want). The Veken water fountain, consisting of five parts, was intuitive for our tester to assemble, and the carbon and foam filter replacements are low-cost as well, at $10 for a four-pack or $24 for 16. It was the noisiest option, but that didn’t deter the tester’s pets. And the flower can be removed for a low-profile bubbler effect rather than a raised fountain.

The Whatafit Resistance Bands did extremely well in our tests, with consistent performance across a wide range of exercises. They also do a solid job of maintaining uniformity. The set has five training bands (10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, and 50-pound bands) for up to 150 pounds of total resistance when stacked. The Whatafit resistance bands are made from latex with steel carabiner clips, and the set includes two cushioned handles, two ankle straps, one door anchor, a carrying bag, and an exercise guidance booklet.

The Veick Resistance Bands are a great price right now. They receive top marks in our consistency and exercise range tests, and they’re very good for uniformity. Like the Whatafit Resistance Bands, the Veick set provides a total resistance of 150 pounds when the 10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, and 50-pound bands are combined. The bands are made of latex, and the set includes two cushioned handles, two ankle straps, one door anchor, a carrying bag, and an instruction manual.

The Kakuje Resistance Bands Set is first-rate for consistency and uniformity. Its exercise range is respectable, too. The set comes with five training bands (10-, 15-, 20-, 30-, and 40-pound bands) for up to 115 pounds of total resistance. The Kakuje resistance bands are made from silicone, and the set includes a carrying bag.

This is a basic, no-frills portable coffee press. It didn’t wow our testers, but it did the job without letting coffee grounds seep through the filter. Plus, the plastic is insulated, helping keep the coffee warm for longer. It has no discernible flaws, so if you’re looking for a low-cost, small coffee press, this could be the answer.

The ThermoPro TP19H instant-read meat thermometer offers handheld temperature readings with a single stowable probe. There’s a built-in LED and rotation lock for the display, and a magnetic backing allows you to store it on your refrigerator between meals. Perfect for checking meats, this simple thermometer delivers reliably accurate readings within seconds.

Minimalists at heart will swoon at this unassuming diary that forgoes bright colors and busy pages for a simpler design that consists of monthly calendars, ruled note pages, and an unruled note page. CR’s program manager of operations, Houman Saberi, had this to share about it:

“I’m so excited to share my fave planner. For the past four years in a row, I’ve been using the Midori MD Diary A5. In general, Japanese stationery products are elegant, simple, and thoughtfully designed. This one is no exception! It consists of three parts: a monthly calendar with ample space for note-taking, a lined section that doubles as a diary, and blank pages at the end for drawing or sketching. I love the fact that the planner is flexible enough to cover the gamut from unstructured creativity to ordered planning.”

We found the Onlyone Water Flosser 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. It’s a few dollars cheaper than its previous sale price.

This Neutrogena spray is very good in overall performance across the board, with excellent UVA protection and very good protection from sunburn-producing rays. It does not meet its labeled SPF 50 in CR’s tests, but the protection is still adequate. It has a moderately strong tropical, fruity aroma and leaves a slightly greasy film and a notable sheen on the skin.

This Eucerin Advanced Hydration SPF 50 spray is a solid performer with broad-spectrum protection. Its tested SPF comes close to its labeled SPF 50. Like the sunscreen above, it also has that plastic fragrance-free aroma, and it left a slight draggy film on testers’ skin.

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.

This lightly scented micellar water from a popular French brand landed in the middle of every evaluator’s ranking. “It gets the job done,” said one evaluator. Another said it required a few swipes with a cotton pad to remove tubing mascara, “but nothing too strenuous.”

Although the company claims that its product is designed for sensitive skin, the inclusion of fragrance means it might not be right for everyone.

I’ve been using Garnier’s micellar water for years and love that it’s gentle on my more sensitive skin. One tester liked this budget-friendly micellar water, which was gentle and removed all highlighter in her test. Other evaluators were lukewarm about it. Lisa noted that it remained wetter on her face after use rather than soaking in or evaporating immediately, which she found unpleasant. Jennifer mentioned something similar, but said the feeling quickly faded. And Mary Beth had “no major qualms besides having to use a little bit more to get the tubing mascara off my face.” 

This has a SkinSafe 100 score. But according to SkinSafe, it contains coconut in the form of disodium cocoamphodiacetate, a surfactant made from coconut oil fatty acids.

This edge control gel was our evaluators’ top choice for coarse and coily hair. The Cantu Shea Butter Extra Hold Edge Stay Gel glides on smoothly and gives a medium hold. There is a slight, sweet scent, and when applying, one reviewer noticed a greasy feel, but the greasiness evaporated quickly. 

The Flamingo razor has an exceptionally comfortable grip. “This razor is very comfortable to hold; I like the textured waves on the front of it because I can grip it well,” Lisa Fogarty, a writer at Consumer Reports, said. The five blades didn’t tug, and while the large head didn’t get in the way of a close shave as much as I feared, it did make it a bit difficult to manage around curved areas of the body (for example, the knees). 

The Flamingo razor comes with a wall holder that attaches via a suction cup. It doesn’t have a blade cover. You can, however, buy razor covers elsewhere if this is a deal breaker, but we didn’t test any. 

The Onyx nail polish remover removed stubborn glitter nail polish faster than the other picks, and it held its own against traditional polish, coming in second place behind Cutex Ultra Powerful Gel Nail Polish Remover, but only by 48 milliseconds. 

It wasn’t the best for removing gel polish, but it was also far from being the worst. A few things tipped it over the edge, though, making it our Top Pick: Some acetone polish removers are extremely dry, and this one was not. It didn’t make the skin around my fingers white, like some removers. 

It also earned a 100 percent top-allergen-free rating from SkinSafe, which earned it a “best for sensitive skin” distinction, but it does contain a potential irritant, balsam of Peru. The kicker is that an 8-ounce bottle costs less than many others we tested, and it comes with a nail file.

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 online.

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. 

It’s hard to contend with the value offered by the Gigalumi Grid Solar Pathway Lights, especially at this new low price. Their cost is lower (on a per-light basis) than just about any other path light we’ve seen, and yet they earn solid marks for both light duration and ease of use. The light cast comes from a single LED in each of the lights—casting a dimmer glow than the other products we tested.

That may not be a dealbreaker if you’ve got supplemental lighting elsewhere or if you’re using these strictly to create ambience. There’s a single setting, an on/off button, and a removable battery, but the lights can’t be charged or angled.

The Lerekam Solar Spot Lights are among the priciest outdoor ones, but you get unrivaled performance. In our tests, they earned top marks for light duration and ease of use. They can be angled, installed with ground spikes (included), or screwed to other surfaces. They have an on/off button and can be recharged with a USB cable (also included). Each of the lights in the six-pack has 40 LEDs, resulting in intense white light that shines wide over an area, not unlike a flashlight. That makes them ideal as spotlights. They’d be great for drawing attention to a water feature or an ornamental tree, but they can also be pointed down to illuminate a path or walkway.

We tested the Ephesus Turkish Beach Towel for sand resistance in four different assessments—two times with dry sand while the towel was dry and two times with dry sand while the towel was wet. This towel impressed us each and every time with its superior ability to repel sand. Our scale detected either 0 ounces of sand left on the towel or 0.1 ounces—and when our testers ran their hand across the towel, they couldn’t feel or see any leftover sand. 

During the water test, two interesting things happened. The first: Its Turkish cotton material seemed desperate to repel water—droplets stayed suspended on the areas of the towel where the evaluator poured ocean water and the towel didn’t readily absorb the water. They made the second discovery after submerging the towel in a tub of water: It was the first of the eight towels we evaluated to dry completely, in about four hours.

If you’re looking for a small fan to keep things cool at your desk or on a bedside table, this little Vornado model could fit the bill. It’s quiet and fairly versatile, with a 180-degree tilt and two speed settings.

This waterproof lighter is perfect to use when you’re on a camping trip or while hiking. It features a USB charger and can withstand wind as well as rain. It comes with a thick paracord lanyard so that carrying it is convenient. 

NYC Plant Doctor Christopher Satch, who’s a professor of plant biology and pathology at The New York Botanical Garden, always starts with insecticidal soap when faced with unwelcome visitors in his garden. “It’s superior to neem [oil] in that it not only has a greater efficacy at killing insects due to its mode of action but also doesn’t hurt the plant like neem oil can,” Satch says. “Neem oil suffocates the plant over time by the oil clogging the plant pores.”

Satch recommends this insecticidal soap from Bonide, which can be used on shrubs, trees, flowers, ornamental greens, and garden vegetables.

Jenn Frymark, the chief greenhouse officer of Gotham Greens, an urban agriculture brand that specializes in local produce, is an avid reader and recommends her favorites to plant enthusiasts. “The Nature Fix” (W. W. Norton & Company, 2018) by Florence Williams looks at the positive impact of nature on our health, happiness, and creativity. And “Braiding Sweetgrass” (Milkweed Editions, 2015) by Robin Wall Kimmerer (from $13 at Amazon) explores our reciprocal relationship with nature. “These would make for wonderful winter reading snuggled up while thinking about plants and nature,” Frymark says.

Protecting yourself from the elements is just as important as anything else when it comes to caring for your lawn or garden. “For people who live in areas where black-legged ticks [the ones that cause Lyme disease] are common, it’s super-important to use insect repellent whenever you’re doing yardwork,” says Catherine Roberts, a CR senior health editor who has reported extensively on identifying common tick species and protecting ourselves against them. 

This 30 percent deet insect repellent from Off is one of the top-performing aerosol spray options from CR’s tests. It offers excellent protection against mosquitoes and ticks. It does tend to damage fabrics and other materials, however, so apply with care.

Although hard to close, these are very sturdy bags, and make a great option for parents with toddlers who have a penchant for throwing their snacks.

This classic, bright, concentrated cleaner can be used on most home surfaces. In our tests, it was especially good at lifting dirt from floors. It’s strongly scented, but if you’re looking for a bargain, it’s a solid buy, especially at 17 percent off.

The long-lasting suds produced by this dish soap left all our dishes clean with little effort. It’s mildly scented, easy to dispense, and doesn’t leave dishes smelling like the dish soap post-wash. The formula left our hands feeling a little bit dry.