More than ever, we’re looking for longevity in our purchases. Accordingly, I asked my colleagues for reviews of items that they’ve used for over half a decade from the retailer we pretty much all have in common (Amazon). I have to admit, I got some compelling answers. Some called out a single product with surprising longevity: the sandals that you can wear for years and years that somehow don’t look worn. The $3 breath freshener device that you might as well bequeath to your children, because it’s going to look brand new forever. The perfect bra thatactually lives up to the highly-hyped hype. Others mentioned products that converted them to complete loyalty for five plus years, such as the lotion that made the little bumps on one editor’s upper arms basically disappear. Basically, there’s a lot of great products in this story, so I’ll let you get to discovering your next great buy.
"I can't remember how I found these weirdly cute martial arts slash parkour sneakers on Amazon, but I've got the receipts in the form of an Instagram post of me wearing them starting all the way back in 2014! I definitely got many of my friends to purchase them as well. At $24, how can you resist? Plus, it's always best to be prepared lest you need to do some casual parkour on the fly." — Kat Collings "I purchased these in a now discontinued gray color years ago, and to this day, they're still my most-worn summer shoes. I guess you could say their trend status comes and goes, but I've always seen them as a staple summer shoe. And shockingly, they don't look like I've worn them a million times." — Allyson Payer"According to my Amazon account, I first bought these Ugg slippers in December 2013. Since then, I've repurchased them several times because they're exceedingly comfortable, and I get a ton of use out of them. I truly wear them at home every single day. I tend to get cold easily, and these slippers keep me super cozy, but not overheated during the summer. I am a germaphobe so I never set foot outside in my house slippers—instead, I slide on some sandals for even the quickest trip outside." — Erin Fitzpatrick"I finally had to force myself to get rid of this bra last year because I wore it so much it died. It really is the perfect bra and lives up to the hype. It's not often that everyday bras are this pretty. Just look at the many stellar reviews if you want more evidence of its bra success." — Allyson Payer"I can't remember exactly which beauty guru first turned me on to the famed Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè, but this makeup artist staple was one of my very first Amazon purchases. I vividly remember making the case to my mom that the cream (a major splurge at the time on my $0 annual income) would be essential for preserving my young skin through college woes of sleep deprivation and stress. Ever the beauty enthusiast, herself, she conceded! I've kept this stuff stocked on my vanity ever since." — Courtney Higgs"Behold: my most-purchased Amazon item ever! I buy this every couple of years, because it is the best at home bikini wax in the world. I'm certain of it. You just pop it in the microwave to melt it, and the wax self-hardens, so you don't have to mess with any strips. My advice is to exhale just as you quickly pull the hardened wax off your skin. I know most are frightened by a DIY wax job, but trust me, it's very doable, and you can't beat the price considering one jar will last at least a handful of applications." — Kat Collings"This is one of the first items I ever ordered from Amazon, way back in 2012. To this day, I still swear by it and continue to order it from Amazon. It feels a lot more like a lightweight moisturizer than sunscreen and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin." — Allyson Payer"If there’s one item I’ve ordered on repeat from Amazon for the past decade, it’s Nivea Soft Cream. It was my go-to daily face moisturizer back in the day when I couldn't treat myself to a luxury cream. I also loved using it all over my body when I was pregnant a few years ago. I still always carry a tube in my handbag and keep my bathroom cabinet stocked with the stuff. It hydrates my skin, feels luxurious, and there’s something about the subtle scent that I can’t get enough of." — Judith Jones"My colleague turned me on to Tend Skin, and it is a straight up savior for ingrown hairs and any shaving-related rash. I'm not sure what kind of magic is in this bottle, but it soothes irritated skin instantly. With summer season upon us, I'd call it an essential." — Kat Collings "Good ol' Baby Foot. You've probably heard of this popular Japanese product, but have you tried it yet? This is another item that is perfect to test in quarantine. Why? It will make your feet molt like a snake skin over a period of a couple weeks. Yes, you will leave little bits of foot skin around the house as you walk between rooms. But post-molt you will be left with, as the name implies, baby-like feet. Bye calluses, rough skin, and cracked heels! My tip to really get the peeling going is to soak your feet in a bath for fifteen to thirty minutes post treatment. You'll be on your way to newborn feet in no time." — Kat Collings "This finishing powder has been a favorite for years, but I didn't realize just how long I've been using it until I found an order I placed for it on Amazon back in 2011. This finely milled powder is light and weightless, so it has a barely there feel but a flawless finish that blurs skin imperfection and keeps makeup in place. This is my holy grail makeup essential that I still can't live without now." — Kristen Nichols"This purchase is far more functional than fun, but much of what's on Amazon is, so here we go. I used to have those little bumps on my upper arms but when I started using this, they pretty much disappeared. I've used it every single day since 2013 and can't imagine I'll ever stop." — Allyson Payer"I thought everyone scraped their tongues with a metal tongue scraper, but it turns out I just grew up in a tongue scraping household! If you're uninitiated, let me introduce you. For less than $3, you can help eliminate bad breath and improve your oral hygiene. Or, as the Amazon listing promises, this product, 'will scrape away anxiety, low-self esteem, and steel the spotlight from others.' Wow. Plus they last for years and years and never rust. I've had my current one since 2011. And yes, they are easy to sterilize, and in my opinion, way more effective than just using your toothbrush. They don't call it a tonguebrush for a reason, right?" — Kat Collings"I've been buying this PCA sunscreen since August 2014. Since then, I have rotated in some newer sunscreens, but I keep going back to this one because it's never failed me in the past. Anyone who's read my skin cancer story knows that I take sunscreen very seriously, so a high SPF is a must every single day. This sunscreen is very easy to spread and doesn't feel heavy or sticky. I am acne-prone, and this formula hasn't made me break out more than normal. As a bonus, it's reef-safe and is made with caffeine to reduce free radical damage." — Erin Fitzpatrick"I bought this set of hair pins and elastics a few years back, and it's honestly one of the best purchases I've ever made. As someone who relies heavily on hair pins daily, this kit has come in so handy. It's super easy to transport, whether tossing it in my purse or packing it in my luggage for an extended trip, and best of all, the convenient case helps me keep track of my bobby pins so I haven't had to replenish them nearly as often as I used to. 10/10 would buy this again." — Courtney Higgs"An old co-worker wouldn't stop praising this, so I obviously caved and ordered my first bottle of it seven years ago, and continue to restock it when I'm low. It's an alcohol-free toner made from witch hazel, aloe vera, and rosewater, and I use it after cleansing to remove any excess oil, makeup, or grime, but before moisturizing. It's very gentle, just under $11, helps skin absorb the rest of your products, and minimizes the appearance of pores. It has never left my skin feeling stripped or tight, and I can't recommend it enough!" — Caitie Schlisserman"Zojirushi is like the Rolls Royce (or Ferrari or whatever—I know nothing about cars…) of kitchen equipment. What I do I know is this thermos is good—sometimes too good—at its job. (I've burnt my tongue many times since purchasing it in 2014.) It can keep a cup of coffee piping hot for five hours, and probably even longer, but five hours is what I know from personal experience. Also, I love the petite size! Don't you think thermoses are usually way too big?" — Aralyn Beaumont"I used to be so obsessed with making smoothies after ordering the Magic Bullet on Amazon nearly 8 years ago. It was my favorite kitchen appliance, hands down! I still use the blender daily—I especially love making sauces, dips, and hummus with it." — Judith Jones"When I first moved to New York, I spent copious amounts of hours searching for the perfect solution for storing my jewelry that wasn't oversized, dated, or overpriced. I landed on this chic, clear acrylic case from Amazon. I love this piece, because it allows me to see the pieces I already own (so I'm not buying the same styles, over and over again), it's small enough to fit anywhere, and should I decide to redecorate, it can match any aesthetic." — Jasmine Fox-Suliaman"I joined the e-reader revolution in 2014 and haven't looked back since. Okay, yes, occasionally I read a physical book, but I'm pretty attached to my Kindle. It's compact and lightweight so I can take it with me anywhere. Plus, it's so easy to get e-books from the library delivered to the device instantly, which has been so helpful in recent months! Anyways, when I joined the Kindle club I knew I needed to get a case for it, and the one I got from Amazon has held up through so much wear and tear (international trips, multiple drops, baking in the sun at the beach). The exact case is discontinued, but this one is very similar to it!"— Sarah Yang"I swapped out my mismatched hangers years ago for these slim, velvet, non-slip hangers in an effort to maximize the space in my closet. I was also into the idea of keeping everything in my wardrobe unified for a cleaner, not-so-chaotic-feeling look. I loved that you could buy a large pack at a pretty inexpensive price—talking 100 hangers at under $40 here." — Bobby Schuessler"This little steamer has served me so well over the years. Not only is it effective in smoothing out wrinkles for those of us who lack a proficiency in ironing, but it’s small enough to fit in any drawer when not in use, as well as the perfect size (light) weight for traveling with. I've made so many friends and relatives buy it, and truly don’t know what I’d do without it." — Nicole Eshaghpour"This soap is straight up heavenly. I discovered it many years ago in my boss's powder room. She has exceptional taste, so I wasn't surprised she had enviable soap, too. It smells slightly masculine, which I love, and isn't overpowering like some scented hand soaps. When we're all washing our hands nonstop, why not make the experience a little bit special?" — Kat Collings "For years I kept all of my jewelry pieces in their individual original boxes. Crazy, I know. This method made no sense and was unreasonably time consuming. I woke up from my disorganized way of life one day and bought this pretty little stand on Amazon. I can finally see everything I own, all while avoiding any dreaded chain tangling situations. Plus, it looks cute on my dresser, so it's really a win all around." — Michaela Bushkin"I've been using these Spacesaver vacuum bags forever. They hook up to almost any vacuum. I think I first discovered them when I was moving apartments back in 2012 and had a space limit (but not a weight limit!) to contend with. Sly, I know. They are definitely the most durable I've found, and they really get so much in them. Now, sharing a closet my partner—and his sneaker collection—means I've given in to swapping my wardrobe over twice a year to keep things organized in a way that means I don't just wear the same things over and over again. They also fit perfectly in my Away suitcases, which, thanks to the pandemic, are now really just the containers in which I store my winter things. Sigh." — Natalie Cantell"I've had this nut milk bag since 2013, and it has yet to let me down. After soaking your almonds, or nut of choice, you just pop them in the blender for a beat, and then strain the mixture through this bag. As the listing notes, a bag is preferable to a mesh screen, because you can squeeze it, thus maximizing your milk results. If there's any time to start experimenting with milking nuts, I feel like it's now? Also you can use the leftover nut pulp for scones, pastries, and focaccia bread. You were tired of making banana bread anyway, right?" — Kat Collings . Next up, I Found 2020's Biggest Swimsuit Trends Hiding on Amazon.
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