Finally, Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days are here, and so comes the season’s best time to stock up on the things that keep this full-time working mom above water.
There’s nothing I delight in more than finding that perfect product to solve a very niche need, then buying it over and over again. You might say, “Lauren, but you have children, a great job, a wonderful family, surely there are things that make you happier than this?” and I would say, “Can’t a girl have a hobby?”
Below is an account of the products that are always in my cart because I can’t get my life together enough to set up Subscribe and Save. I’m going to save over $100 on things I would buy anyway — and you probably will too.
Amazon Go-Tos in My Cart on Prime Day
- Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment, $18 (orig. $20)
- For Fall Allergies: Pataday Eye Drops, $24 (orig. $38)
- Baby Foot Exfoliant, $20 (orig. $25)
- Children’s Motrin Chewables, $7 with Prime (orig. $10)
- 49% Off: Calvin Klein Men’s Boxer Briefs, $45 with Prime (orig. $88)
- Vanicream Face Wash, $7 with Prime (orig. $13)
- Sunbum Sunscreen Stick for Faces, $10 (orig. $12)
- No Screens: Artistro Watercolor Set, $18 with Prime (orig. $30)
- Jumbo Size: Pureology Shampoo & Conditioner, $153 (orig. $180)
- Sojos Retro Polarized Sunglasses, $16 (orig. $20)
- $1 Deal: Amazon Basics Disposable Straws, $1 (orig. $2)
Amazon Basics Disposable Straws
I don’t like making a habit of buying plastic anything, let alone straws (we’ve all seen the turtle video), but somehow, my stainless steel straws keep disappearing. Plus, these double as supplies when my five-year-old asks me to make up an arts and crafts project. Splatter paints, stems for flowers, spitball fights! Straws are just another tool in the parent toolkit.
Aquaphor Baby Healing Ointment
After having kids, it becomes abundantly clear that Aquaphor is pretty much a cure-all for everybody. Diaper rash? Duh, Aquaphor. Dry skin under your eye? Aquaphor. Skinned knees? Aquaphor. New tattoo in honor of those kids? Aquaphor. Trying to tap the fountain of youth? Aquaphor. Is the baby on the label a marketing technique? Maybe, but I never said I wasn’t susceptible to advertising. I will repeat order till I turn into said baby!
Pataday Eye Drops
This is the G.O.A.T. of eye drops, and I won’t be hearing arguments at this time. As an allergy sufferer for over 30 years, I have tried almost every eye drop on the market and have never found one as effective as Pataday. Honestly, I was a little afraid when I saw how small the bottles are, because you know whatever is inside has to be seriously potent, but that’s the kind of power I need. These work on spring and fall allergies as well as dust, mold, et cetera, so I use them every day. It feels like my eyes are adjusting to new contacts just after putting them in, so don’t sign any legally binding documents or anything right after application.
Baby Foot Exfoliant
If I’ve met you for more than five minutes, I’ve probably told you how much I love Baby Foot. It is a desert island product, for sure. I apply the slippery booties at least twice a year: Once during tax time to prepare for open-toe season, and again when fall begins to recover from the damage open-toe season has wreaked — so this weekend would be a perfect time! In my opinion, the perfect application is a shower, scrubbing your feet with an emery board of some kind, slipping on the booties, putting on socks, and parking yourself in front of Netflix for an hour before removing. In five to seven days, summer will slide off your feet in the grossest way possible. You will need to wear socks to bed for about a week, but it’s a fair price to pay.
Children’s Motrin Chewables
Did I do a jig when I realized my kid actually liked taking these chewables? The battles we used to engage in when it was liquid would typically end with me bribing him to take it. These have always been more effective at fever management for us than that other brand, and it usually prevents midnight wake-ups. Praise be. This is a repurchase for the next decade in my house.
Calvin Klein Men’s Boxer Briefs
Finally throw those briefs your husband claims are totally fine — but in reality are barely hanging on by a thread of elastic — in the trash. These babies will be at your doorstep by sundown, and you won’t have to be embarrassed about your partner selection choices any longer.
C.O. Bigelow Bath Soak
My husband has become a real bath rat. As in, he takes baths two to three times a week, which is two to three times more than a normal adult. It’s his one self-care habit, so I refrain from making too much fun of him. He’s not yet at the level of luxury bath products, so this makes him feel a little fancy without breaking the bank.
Vanicream Face Wash
You already know that I am an allergy sufferer, which means I can’t use a ton of skincare with flowery things or fragrance in it. My allergist recommended Vanicream face wash seven years ago, and we’ve been together ever since. Not the allergist — we broke up, but I will think of her fondly as a result of this recommendation. The cleanser is super lightweight and effective, and it will never break you out.
Sunbum Sunscreen Stick for Faces
For the second year in a row, this is our favorite sunscreen for kids. They love putting it on themselves, and because it’s clear, they don’t look like maniacs afterwards. (Don’t worry, I always go over their work to make sure they’re actually covered.) I stash one in every beach bag, as well as the car for easy access during park trips.
Stomahesive Powder for Diaper Rash
This is the sleeper hit of this list if you have children still in diapers. When they inevitably get diaper rash, sprinkle a little of this on their poor tushy and then cover with your occlusive of choice. The powder will dry the rash in a way that wiping can’t do, shortening its life cycle. Hospitals and people with things like G-tubes use this to make sure their wounds are totally dry to prevent infection. Frankly, your pediatrician should be telling you about this, but you can settle for hearing it from me — I heard it from my sister-in-law.
LaSyl Natural Cooking Oil Solidifier
While fried foods are one of the world’s finest creations, making them at home is really a chore. The worst part is waiting for the hot oil to cool down, finding a container to pour it into, spilling gross oil all over your kitchen, cleaning it up, and throwing the container out, all so that you don’t clog your pipes by pouring it down the sink. (Do not do this!!) Enter this oil solidifier: I bring it out of the pantry when I start to cook and dump some particles in the pan as soon as I’m done. In a short time, it turns into a hardened disc that I can just dump into the trash. Science!
Malin + Goetz Candle
I’m not entirely sure why good candles have to be over $50, but a bad candle activates my gag reflex and can really ruin a room, so I guess it’s worth it? These are strategically placed throughout our home, and I also have a stash as hostess gifts. Stocking up just makes sense.
Debrox Earwax Drops
Earlier this year, we were stuck in an ear infection loop with our five-year-old that included an embarrassing appearance at the emergency room because he had so much earwax, his pediatrician couldn’t see past it to make a diagnosis. We promptly started dropping these bad boys in his ear at bedtime, and now those canals are as clean as a whistle. We will be making this a regular part of our winter routine to avoid that calamity again.
Artistro Watercolor Set
My children lose interest in crafts faster than a YouTube skip button can appear on an ad. But to my surprise, these watercolors have bucked the trend. They have a water pen that requires no rinsing (don’t ask me how, it just works) and lots of color options. And while I can’t get my two-year-old to stop painting on her hand instead of the coloring book, I can rely on this occupying my kids for the amount of time it takes me to shovel a mom meal down my throat.
Pureology Shampoo & Conditioner
I only buy shampoo and conditioner in giant salon back bar sizes now. Who has time to reorder so frequently? These smell divine, are gentle on my color-treated strands, and leave them silky smooth. I’ll also pick up a couple of pumps, because I don’t have the energy to shake conditioner out of a bottle, and go to town for six months.
Owala 16-Ounce Water Bottle
Finding a water bottle for my kid that is easy to close, doesn’t have a silicone straw or mouthpiece, and doesn’t leak has been a journey. (I’m sorry, but if you don’t think these mouthpieces taste like soap after washing them multiple times, you’re delusional.) There are no perfect solutions to this problem, but the closest I’ve found is this Owala bottle. Yes, there is silicone in the lid, but not on the mouthpiece, and that’s the best I can hope for! The locking mechanism is also a good cue for a forgetful five-year-old so that we don’t have any backpack puddles by lunch.
Sojos Retro Polarized Sunglasses
“Sunglasses don’t really strike me as a repeat purchase kind of item,” you might be thinking. And if you are, I’m so happy you have your life together. The rest of us need to replace sunglasses constantly or make sure we leave pairs in every hotspot (car, junk drawer, bags) so we don’t damage our beautiful corneas. These are giving Loewe on a budget, which is kind of my personal brand. Snag ‘em to feel stylish and smart about your money and your eye health.
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