I Spent $300 on Amazon Last Month, but This $24 Vitamin C Serum Was My Favorite Find

After all the holiday spending, I expected to slow down my purchases in January, but I ended up ramping them up because all the discounted finds on Amazon were just too good to resist. We all know what a gold mine Amazon can be for fashion and beauty items, whether it be an inexpensive yet effective overnight exfoliating treatment or a tennis necklace that looks like the real thing. 

After spending $300 for the month on fashion and beauty products alone (apologies to my credit card), I’m fairly confident I can say that these are some of the best Amazon products I’ve tried. Whether you’re looking for a vitamin C serum at a killer price or a two-piece sweater and dress set to give you a little pep in your step, here are my January Amazon recommendations.

Editor-Approved Amazon Products

• CeraVe Vitamin C Serum, $24 (Originally $28)
• Canopy Bedside Humidifier, $150 (Originally $172)
• Anrabess Ribbed Knit Top and Midi Dress Set, $57
• Londontown Glass Nail File, $12
• Herbatint Permanent Hair Color Gel, $16

CeraVe Vitamin C Serum

For the past few months, I’ve been using a pricey vitamin C serum that hasn’t given me great results. When I finished that bottle, I immediately went back to my trusty old CeraVe Vitamin C serum. It contains 10 percent L-ascorbic acid, the purest form of vitamin C, which can help with skin tone and texture. It’s also formulated with hyaluronic acid and ceramides that moisturize and help repair my skin barrier, which is super important for my dry and aging skin. It’s great for sensitive skin as it’s fragrance- and paraben-free and won’t clog pores. The price point is unbeatable: at $24 now, it’s an affordable option that provides results. I’m not alone in my love — more than 27,000 people have left it a five-star rating on Amazon. I like to pair it with my favorite glow-inducing SPF serum. 

Canopy Beside Humidifier

I originally purchased this humidifier for my daughter’s room, and then I got one for myself because I often wake up with a dry mouth due to allergies. A pleasant side effect has been on my skin, as the Canopy Bedside Humidifier has helped my face feel more hydrated in the mornings and has kept me from middle of the night parched wakings, contributing to more solid beauty sleep. It has a run-time of 36 hours and dishwasher-safe parts, plus it doesn’t require the use of distilled water. It doesn’t leak or drip and hasn’t molded while I’ve used it every day for a month. There’s even an included aromatherapy diffuser disc that makes the room smell amazing. One Amazon shopper put it succinctly: after trying “dozens of gross humidifiers” this one is “attractive,” “convenient” and “easy to clean.” 

Anrabess Ribbed Knit Top and Midi Dress Set

I was surprised at how flattering the Anrabess Ribbed Knit Top and Midi Dress Set was, especially since I’m usually not the type to go for anything cropped. This two-piece set is the perfect outfit to get you through the transition from winter to spring. Available in sizes S to XL and 10 colors, it has two detached pieces, a long-sleeve, cropped crew neck top and a ribbed tank midi dress. The knitted, ribbed fabric is super sturdy and has great stretch. I have been wearing the pieces together because my millennial heart lives for a good set, but I love that I can also pull them apart and wear them separately, such as the dress with a blazer or the crop top with high-waisted jeans. 

Londontown Glass Nail File

Londontown’s Glass Nail File has been a game changer in doing my nails at home. It glides easily over my nails and makes filling them a quick and simple job without any breaking or splitting. The pointed tip is great for getting under my nails without being too sharp, and I love that it comes with a little protective sleeve. A shopper who gave it a five-star rating on Amazon summed it up nicely, saying it’s “fantastic,” “easy to use” and “so much better than emery boards or metal nail files” because it’s “easy on the fingernails and leaves the tips smooth.” 

Herbatint Permanent Hair Color Gel

I dye my hair at home because I have gray roots that grow like wildfire, and the best dye I’ve found (and reordered over and over again) is Herbatint’s Permanent Hair Color Gel. The formula is free from ammonia, parabens, alcohol, and fragrance, and contains eight organic herbal extracts to give me shine, coverage, and natural-looking hair color. Each $16 box contains enough dye for more than one application and the brand has over 35 hair colors to choose from. My favorite part about it is that the cleanup is much better than other permanent dyes. I’ve been able to wipe it clean from my bathtub, counter, and forehead with just warm water —  no scrubbing required.