Our eyeballs have seen a lot this year. We have scrolled through a digital universe of products so vast, it has its own gravitational pull. Most of it is just... stuff. The background noise of online shopping, the fleeting trends, the things that are interesting for a second and then completely forgotten. But every so often, a product breaks through the static. It's the one you can't stop thinking about.
The one you immediately send to the group chat with a string of all-caps expletives. The one that actually, genuinely, lives up to the five-star hype. This is that list. After a full year of searching, scrolling, and obsessing, we've gathered the legends. The main characters. The absolute best of the best. This is the highlight reel. The grand finale. The final boss of gift guides.
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#1 Seasick? Carsick? Just Sick Of Feeling Sick? Try Motion Sickness Glasses!
Review: "I have very bad motion sickness especially in the car. On the first day I used them I was in the car (as a passenger) on my phone in stop and go traffic for 45min and didn’t feel sick at all. As well as when we drove down the same street that always gets me sick without fail, with these on I was able to be on my phone the whole time and was fine. The material of the glasses might be questionable for such and expensive price but they work. I’m pretty sure a duped version of these would work just fine." - MPMG
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95points
#2 A Flying Orb Ball Toy Is A Glorious, Gravity-Defying, And Slightly Chaotic Little UFO That Will Make You Feel Less Like A Bored, Restless Adult And More Like A Wizard
Review: "I love the the toy itself and what it does. I dislike the playing time which is only about 15-20minutes after being charged. Need more time because kids love playing with it." - Nicole Gensel
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51points
#3 For The Astronomer With A Sense Of Humor: The Unemployed Philosophers Guild Ptolemaic Universe Model Astronomy Watch
Review: "Everyone loves this watch. It makes for a fun conversation starter. The box and guide booklet are also laugh out loud clever and worth keeping. I am a woman with small wrists and have to wear it on the smallest setting, but it looks great on me." - thetiger
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47points
#4 Bad Day? No Problem. Just Grab A Dammit Doll And Let It All Out!
Review: "You will be remembered, appreciated, maybe even promoted. In my opinion DD is better than your favorite stuffed animal you had as a kid. My cat loves it, you will too. If you haven't discovered these yet - read my review: Last minute gift for humans and animals, a conversation starter, an ice breaker. This doll won't get you a hot date but it will make an impression, it might even get you some sympathy, worst case - it'll get you a smirk and double take. It's funny and soft plus you can easily hide in in a drawer if sense of humor is not your thing. Pack of 3 comes in surprise colors - which are all great." - llellie
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47points
#5 An Aztec Death Whistle Lets You Experience The Bone-Chilling Sound Of Ancient Warfare
Review: "I read the reviews for this Aztec death whistle and so many people were raving about it that I began to wonder if they were real reviews! I picked one up and thought "Eh, I can return it if it doesn't hold up to the hype." As it turns out, the hype is more than justified! [...]Second - the sound? It sounds like someone screaming and dying in the most terrifying way. I decided to prank my wife and kids at night with it and it was waaaaaay too effective. If you have friends who've never heard this sound before, they will jump straight out of their shoes if they don't know where it's coming from. Play it late at night outside and you'll have people calling the police. It can be played at a low-ish volume, but it doesn't take much effort for this thing to get LOUD." - Aoxide
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42points
#6 Your Walls Can Now Feature A A Deeply Impressive, Three-Dimensional, And Slightly Blocky Masterpiece That You Built Yourself With The LEGO Vincent Van Gogh The Starry Night Set
Review: "Wonderful piece of art. Took my daughter a while to finish it, but it came out great. As usual, Lego is the best." - Marmeena Beniamin
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39points
#7 A Macrame Cat Hammock Will Finally Give Your Cat The Bohemian And Very Nap-Able Lifestyle It Has Always Dreamed Of
Review: "Cat's like it, just unsure of it due to it spinning as they either get into it or out of it, but if just set inside they stay and chill." - S Cherry
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37points
#8 Let The Good Vibes Flow With A Relaxing Lava Lamp
Review: "This lava lamp is beautiful and it works great. The problem some people don’t understand is that they do take time to warm up and get working. Don’t worry about it, just be patient, it will be beautiful!" - Patty S
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33points
#9 The Soul-Crushing, Existential Dread Of A Blank Page Can Now Be Conquered With The Low-Stakes Challenge Of Drawing A Tiny, Slightly Lopsided, And Deeply Charming Picture Of A Paperclip In The 642 Tiny Things To Draw Book
Review: "This tiny book is perfect to alleviate artists block for illustrators or boredom during large periods of time." - Amazon Customer
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31points
#10 Originals Funny Ugly Monster: Your New Best Friend, Nightmares And All
Review: "I love it so cute…. Anyways made a joke about my bear being on crack" - Isla
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30points
#11 Embrace Your Inner Rebel With Temporary Tattoo Markers For Skin, A Safe And Fun Way To Show Off Your Personality
Review: "These were really fun for our kids that love to doodle! The ink took a good scrubbing in the bath to wash off but definitely worth the fun. Didn’t cause any kind of skin irritation which was a huge plus! Just good fun! We loved making cute little tattoo art with them." - Chris Gogue
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28points
#12 Don't Just Shake It Up, Make It Slushy With The Slush And Shake Maker
Review: "This is the best smoothie maker we have tried. It is easy to use and is easy to clean. It is exactly as advertised" - Charles Abell
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28points
#13 A Metal Butterfly Claw Clip Will Make Your Lazy, "I-Haven't-Washed-My-Hair-In-Three-Days" Bun Look Less Like A Cry For Help And More Like An Intentional, Y2k-Inspired Fashion Statement
Review: "I can't explain how much I love these butterfly clips they are so pretty and feminine." - AC
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27points
#14 Find Your Zen With The Soothing Sounds Of The Kalimba Thumb Piano, The Perfect Instrument For Relaxation And Mindfulness
Review: "I gave this to my 25 year old daughter for her birthday. Her two brothers each wanted to try it and wouldn't give it back. Then her mother got a hold of it and wouldn't give it back! When they finally did, she started learning some songs and they all love it. I compare it to a fidget box. It produces very calming sounds and my family seems to go into a Zen mode very fast when they play it. I think I'll have to get 3 more for Christmas..." - K. Meyer
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25points
#15 A Spritz Of Sol De Janeiro Hair & Body Perfume Mist Will Make You Smell Less Like A Person Who Just Rolled Out Of Bed And More Like A Glorious, Sun-Drenched, And Irresistible Brazilian Goddess
Review: "I love this body mist. I was looking for something to wear around the house or after working out vs having to wear/waste perfume and this was the perfect option. I actually went into to try/smell the different scents before purchasing but this one smells so good you really can’t go wrong. It’s a bit pricey for a body mist BUT the other cheap ones just do not smell as good." - Liz Rob
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24points
This list isn't just a random assortment of nice things. This is the final exam. These are the valedictorians of our shopping carts, the items that survived countless rounds of "do I really need this?" and emerged victorious. You're basically looking at a highlight reel of pure, unadulterated "add to cart" satisfaction.
#16 The Swarovski Emily Tennis Bracelet Offers All The Glamorous, Old-Money Vibes Without Requiring The Athletic Ability Or A Trust Fund
Review: "Bought this Swarovski bracelet for layering, and it’s absolutely beautiful! The sparkle is stunning in person. It looks elegant on its own and even more sophisticated when paired with other bracelets. I’m in love with it!" - Mandy ko
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23points
#17 Groove Into Retro Vibes With This Eye-Catching Drippy Disco Ball Decor, A Funky And Unique Addition To Any Space
Review: "This is the cutest little addition to my coffee corner. It’s very well crafted , light and so easy to hang! I love how it adds a little pizazz to the room. During the day the sunlight hits it and the room is all lit up with its reflection. It does its job… super cute, waiting for more from the collection." - Juno
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19points
#18 Pour Like A Sith Lord With A Darth Vader Whiskey Decanter
Review: "I got this because me and my fiancé are HUGE Star Wars fans and I thought it'd make a great addition to our bar. I wasn't wrong! This thing is super cool, it's almost like two cups in one lol. The bottom part is open around the edges and the top part is open in the middle. I love the history around the design as well and it came very well protected in its box. Couldn't be happier!!" - Mars
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19points
#19 Tabletop Indoor Electric S'mores Maker: Gooey Goodness, Indoors & Anytime!
Review: "I have wanted a fire pit for a long time to roast marshmallows but never have gotten one. This is such a great indoor alternative. Plus I don't worry about my kids and an open flame. Took a little bit of time but the marshmallows roated perfectly." - Jen W
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18points
#20 Sun, Surf, And No Sand In Your Shorts Thanks To A Sandproof Beach Blanket
Review: "I bought this for our trip to hawaii, and its been the best beach purchase ever! It’s light, durable, sand & water resistant, huge, and affordable! The metal hooks also helped kept it from blowing away as it did get windy by the beach. We were able to fit 4 people laying down." - Denz Evangelista
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18points
