The 25 most popular things our readers bought in April

It seems like almost every week, you hear about a new, trendy product that is making its way into the headlines and is labeled a must-have, simply because celebrities or influencers are loving it or it somehow went viral. Our goal at Reviewed is to make it easier for you to decipher which items are actually worth your money, versus ones that may be a silly fad or cheap gimmick.

We consider it a big part of our mission to keep our audience constantly informed and updated on the products they’re searching for and using, so they can stay on top of what’s popular, what’s on sale, and most importantly, what we recommend based on our testing. When these things coincide, that’s when the magic happens.

During the month of April, a lot of our readers were purchasing some of the tried and true cooking appliances we’ve tested like the Instant Pot and Calphalon fry pan (perhaps to ensure their pork roasts and breakfast omelettes were a hit for Easter), while others wanted to up their beauty and wellness game with crowd-pleasers such as the Nidra sleep mask and LilyAna retinol cream.

To delve further into all of our readers’ faves from last month, check out the list below. Did you happen to buy any of these products recently? If so, let us know your thoughts in the comments.

1. The trusty Instant Pot to the rescue

To literally nobody’s surprise, the Instant Pot is once again the number one thing our readers bought in April. Just like Beyonce, the Instant Pot can do it all. From tender pulled pork to creamy cheesecake, you can make just about anything you set your mind to when you have an Instant Pot. And compared to cooking in an oven or stovetop, most meals will only take a fraction of the cooking time due to the pressure cooking process.

While the Instant Pot Smart Wifi version was the best we’ve tested in our labs and kitchens, our readers always love the standard 6-quart version, which more than holds its own as the number one best seller on Amazon with a near-perfect 4.5 star rating. Best of all, it’s still down to one of the lowest prices we’ve ever seen for this make and model, a sale that started in April and helped many of our readers score a great discount on the beloved Instant Pot.

Get the Instant Pot DUO60 7-in-1 Multi-Use Programmable Pressure Cooker on Amazon for $69.99

2. A luggage scale to prevent pesky overweight fees

I recently saw a meme on Reddit of a guy using his foot to slyly prop up his suitcase that was being weighed at the airport. Don’t be that guy. Digital, portable luggage scales can be incredibly handy if you want to get an accurate reading of your luggage weight and avoid a potential headache at the ticket counter. This $10 gadget is simple to use and will practically pay for itself by helping you avoid hefty baggage fees each time you fly. It’s also the best luggage scale we’ve ever tested because it works well while still being super affordable, so we’re not surprised so many of our readers picked one up ahead of their spring vacations.

Get the Dr. Meter LCD Display Luggage Hanging Scale on Amazon for $9.79

3. Our favorite robot vacuum (shocking, we know...)

Would it truly be a list of Reviewed reader favorites without including the Eufy Robovac? This super popular robot vacuum is like the little engine that could, picking up leftover crumbs and debris while you relax on the couch and watch it for entertainment. I almost consider mine like a pet now, a la Tom Haverford and DJ Roomba in Parks and Rec.

We’ve tried out many robot vacuums over the years and even have a special obstacle course in the office to test their efficiency and capabilities; it’s very cute to watch them maneuver around stools and avoid pitfalls. The eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S is our favorite affordable vacuum because of its excellent suction and quiet operation, and it only costs $224—a relatively small price to pay for a robot to clean for you.

Get the Eufy Boost IQ RoboVac 11S on Amazon for $224

4. A hydrating retinol cream to keep fine lines and flaky patches at bay

If you used to a) watch One Saturday Morning on ABC, b) wear those black Steve Madden platform sandals, or c) listen to Lil’ Bow Wow and Aaron Carter back when they were cool, it might be time to incorporate an anti-wrinkle moisturizer into your daily skincare routine. If you already use one, consider me jealous of your foresight because I recently noticed that I’m starting to develop crow’s feet and am not okay with it. This retinol cream can be used on the face, under the eyes, and on the decolletage, and contains natural anti-aging ingredients like hyaluronic acid, vitamin E, and jojoba oil. It has a dedicated fanbase too (our readers included), with many swearing that their skin was looking more taut and firm within weeks.

Get the LilyAna Naturals Retinol Cream Moisturizer on Amazon for $19.99

5. Both electric AND manual can openers (in case you want to burn an extra five calories)

Opening a can of soup or tuna seems like such a simple task, until you have to do it with a shoddy can opener that turns what should be a 30-second process into a five-minute struggle fest. Our readers can definitely relate, because our best manual can opener and best electric can opener were both top sellers last month. Each option is extremely affordable and a worthy upgrade as far as kitchen gadgets go.

• Get the EZ-DUZ-IT Deluxe Can Opener on Amazon for $10.50
  
• Get the Cuisinart CCO-50BKN Deluxe Electric Can Opener on Amazon for $16.49

6. This sleep mask fit for royalty

Sleep masks are one of those items that you will never regret having on hand, and thanks to a price drop earlier in the month, our readers did the smart thing and picked up their own. Whether you’re on a long flight and the lights aren’t dimmed enough, or your partner is watching late night talk shows in bed while you’re trying to get some shut eye, they can make a huge difference in helping you fall asleep and get a full eight hours of uninterrupted slumber. This one by Nidra is the best contoured eye mask we’ve tested. We loved that it has an adjustable strap so it didn’t budge while our tester slept, and that its outwardly curved shape provided ultimate comfort for the eyes.

Get the Nidra Deep Rest Eye Mask on Amazon for $11.95

7. Charging accessories to keep your mobile device fully charged

For those of you who still have an iPhone 6S like me (sad, I know), your phone probably loses battery pretty quickly. I mean, I basically live on low power mode at this point, so having a good car charger and portable charger is a necessity for me. It’s super easy to just carry a charging cable with me wherever I go and plug it into my various chargers when need be, so my phone never dips into the dreaded red battery percentage territory.

Out of all our favorites for car USB chargers, this Maxboost one is a top tier option that we found to have an optimal charging time and great durability while still being super affordable. For portable chargers, this Anker battery pack came in second in our Best Right Now Series, also for its speediness and charging capacity. If you aren’t living in the Stone Age like me and have newer devices, there’s a good chance you use a USB-C cable (for your Nintendo Switch, 3rd generation iPads, etc.), so we also recommend this USB-C charging cable, which is only $12.99.

• Get the Maxboost Car Charger on Amazon for $7.99
• Get the Anker PowerCore Ultra-Portable Phone Charger on Amazon for $39.99
• Get the Anker Powerline+ USB-C Charging Cable on Amazon for $12.99

8. Airpods so you can stop untangling your headphones

So the internet has decided that Airpods are the coolest gadget to own these days, and we have to say, after testing them and naming them the “best truly wireless earbuds,” we agree. There’s nothing like joining the elite club of Airpod owners and soaking in the luxury of listening to music wirelessly on your commute or jog.

Many of our readers scored them on sale via our last deal post, but if you missed it, they’re still in stock on Amazon and are currently going for $159. With the increasing lack of headphone jacks these days, true wireless earbuds are an inevitable upgrade to your tech collection, and Airpods are honestly the best option out there.

Get Apple Airpods on Amazon for $159

9. Nonstick cookware that will help you create the perfect omelette

Every time I try to watch a Jamie Oliver tutorial and copy his beautiful omelette, I give up halfway through and turn it into scrambled eggs. I usually blame this on my cookware—often a combination of the omelette getting stuck to the bottom and it not flipping well due to the shape of the pan. In order to find out how to make a truly EGGstraordinary omelette (apologizing in advance for that pun), we tested out the best nonstick pans this year and named the Calphalon nonstick pan as our number one pick for its sturdiness and elegance, which made egg flipping easy as pie for a bunch of or readers in April. Jamie Oliver, eat your heart out.

Get the Calphalon Aluminum Nonstick Fry Pan on Amazon for $27.49

10. Home Depot’s appliances and home furnishings from their ‘Spring Black Friday’ sale

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t fantasize about redoing my kitchen from time to time, and then I bitterly remember my budget doesn’t exactly allow for it. I mean, it’s not like I need to have a smart fridge to text my friends and tell me the weather, or the newest KitchenAid attachments, but I'd sure love to have them. That’s why I bide my time and patiently wait for sales like the one Home Depot had last month, where you can get shiny, new appliances (big and small) at a majorly discounted price. Their Spring Black Friday sale was a hit among Reviewed’s readers, with furniture, outdoor equipment, and kitchen appliances all up to 40% off, like this propane gas grill and this patio furniture set. Though it’s over now, sadly, there’s still plenty of saving to do in their clearance section.

Explore the Home Depot sale section to find more great deals

11. Tablets that sanitize your washing machine

You know that scene from Friends were Monica is using a handheld vacuum to clean her actual vacuum cleaner? It turns out a lot of our readers are just as obsessed with keeping their homes and cleaning devices just as squeaky clean as her! These super popular Affresh tablets will get rid of any smell in your washer by removing soap scum and odor-causing residue that builds up over many cycles. Washing machines are especially important to clean at least from time to time because they can transfer smells to your towels, sheets, and clothing, and though there are other options (like vinegar for certain machines), these tablets have earned cult status because they’re completely effortless.

Get the Affresh Washer Machine Cleaner Tablets on Amazon for $11.99

12. Home decor and furniture from Wayfair’s annual sale

If you haven’t heard, last year Wayfair launched “Way Day,” a huge sitewide sale that is the equivalent of Black Friday for your home, and this year’s event was a hit. The discounts they offered this year were seriously impressive, and it’s fast becoming one of a handful of annual sales that gets us truly excited about redecorating our living room and feng shui-ing our bedroom. Our readers chose some statement pieces like this new rug and this accent chair and scored great discounts on them. Though we’ll have to wait ‘til 2020 for the next Way Day, don’t fret, as Wayfair is always running sales in various categories on their site.

Shop on Wayfair for budget-friendly home furnishings

13. Meal kits with ready-to-cook mise en place

Returning home after work shouldn’t feel stressful, but it oftentimes can when you have to cook dinner for yourself and your family, and you either don’t have the right ingredients in the fridge, or you ran out of all your frozen Trader Joe’s chicken tikka masala. Many of our readers have avoided this dreaded problem by subscribing to a meal kit service, thus removing a lot of the prep work out of their nightly dinners. And before you ask, yes, we tested all the meal kit services out there, and picked Home Chef as the best option, because of the ultra fresh ingredients and unique recipes in each box.

Try out Home Chef

14. Marie Kondo’s book that ‘sparked joy’ for our readers

Does your home’s current organizational setup spark joy for you? If not, you should definitely consider checking out Marie Kondo, whose novel and subsequent Netflix series made her a household name. Our readers have been digging the KonMari method and were very excited when The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up was a Kindle Deal of the Day this past weekend. I recently Marie Kondo’ed my closet, aka re-folded all of my clothes and placed them side-by-side in my drawers so I can see everything I own. It was, and I cannot stress this enough, life-changing.

Get Marie Kondo’s The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up on Amazon for $9.99

15. The cutest clothes, shoes, and decor from Anthropologie’s sale section

One day I aspire to shop on Anthropologie.com using the highest to lowest price filter, but until that day comes, I settle for only shopping Anthro’s clearance section or when they have a sale. It’s possible they know this is a weakness of mine, because they usually have sales every month or so, which mysteriously coincide with my paycheck hitting my bank account. For instance, last month they had a 50% off sale on sale on all sorts of trendy items. Even though that sale is over, there are still great finds like chic jumpsuits and adorable dresses in their sale section.

Shop the Anthropologie sale section for amazing clothing and accessory deals

16. This paring knife to make chopping fruits and veggies a breeze

Is there anything more satisfying than using a perfectly sharp knife in the kitchen? Not to sound like a Top Chef contestant, but knives are one of the most important items in any self-proclaimed chef’s arsenal (and by self-proclaimed I’m referring to myself ’cause I make overnight oats).

While most common kitchen tasks can be solved with a chef’s knife, some things like peeling apples (which is a required step for my stewed apple oatmeal) are much easier with a paring knife. A recent sale on our favorite paring knife gave our culinary readers a great reason to shop. We take our knife testing pretty seriously at Reviewed, doing everything short of having knife fights in the office to assess their precision and durability. We chose this knife by Wusthof as our favorite pairing knife for its sharpness and ease of use, and thanks to a sale last month, our readers are chopping their produce effortlessly.

Get the Wusthof Classic High Carbon Steel Knife Paring Knife on Amazon for $39.95

17. The most fashionable clothes, shoes, and accessories from Nordstrom’s spring sale

Nordstrom is like the Target for more high-end items, if that makes sense. You can buy anything from designer clothing to trendy home decor to awesome tech accessories, and generally speaking, the products they sell are usually high-quality and well-made. That’s why we love when Nordstrom has big sales like their huge spring sale a couple weeks ago, as department store discounts are somewhat rarer to come by than those at your typical online retailer. Our readers always love this Spring Sale, and this year they went for trendy things like these versatile boots from BP, as well as home accents, like this fuzzy blanket that we bet they’re curling up under every night.

Check out the sales on Nordstrom for great savings on your favorite styles

18. A smart water leak detector for cautious homeowners

If you’re a new homeowner, or even have owned your home for a while but are still looking for ways to make improvements, you might want to consider getting a leak detector. I actually didn’t know this device—which will send you a text if it senses moisture or any unusual changes in humidity or temperature—existed until recently. Now that I’m aware that it could save my apartment from a potential leak or flood that could ruin all my prized possessions (read: my Marc Jacobs handbag), I’m installing one ASAP. It happens to be the best water leak detector we’ve tested, and since it’s also been at its lowest price for a little while now, I’m not surprised so many of our readers bought these handy devices last month too.

Get the Honeywell Lyric Wi-Fi Water Leak & Freeze Detector on Amazon for $49.99

19. This spill-proof sippy cup for your little one

Any product that makes parents’ lives a little easier is a winner in our book, which is why we voted this sippy cup as our favorite on the market right now. My 1-year-old nephew, for instance, recently transitioned from bottles to sippy cups, and unfortunately enjoys batting things off tables onto my sister’s carpet, and as you can imagine, those two don’t pair well together. I sent her this spill-proof sippy cup in the mail last month and she hasn’t stopped thanking me since. I like to think my nephew will thank me too... once he learns how to talk.

Get the OXO Tot Transitions Straw Cup on Amazon for $9.99

20. Memory cards for a ton of extra storage

One of the worst feelings in the world is when you get the “not enough storage” notification, which always seems to pop up at the worst possible times. Investing in external memory cards for your smartphone, tablet, camera, and Nintendo Switch is actually a super smart option for avoiding this, as they are small and easily portable in case you ever need to access what’s on them. This one by SanDisk was a hit amongst our readers last month because it went on sale a few times for really great prices. It's also exceptionally fast, allowing you to take photos and transfer files at lighting speed.

Get the SanDisk 32GB Ultra Class 10 Memory Card Up on Amazon for $6.79

21. The best oil diffuser to keep your room smelling like spring

While oil diffusers can be placed in any room of the house you want a lasting fragrance in, I like using my oil diffuser in my bedroom as a calming distraction from the clothes on my floor. I’ve even started using it more than candles because I have a rational fear of falling asleep without blowing them out, which you don’t have to worry about with diffusers. This one by InnoGear is basically flawless, with a 4.5 rating and over 15,000 reviews. We even tested it against the competition and it came out on top thanks to an extra large water reservoir that lets you run it longer. It has 7 different lighting options and three mist modes, and also doubles as a humidifier to help you breathe easier.

Get the InnoGear Aromatherapy Essential Oil Diffuser on Amazon for $14.99

22. This sleek set of measuring spoons

Let’s be real, none of us are on Rachel Ray’s level when it comes to eyeballing “EVOO” (as she would call it) for a recipe. As much as I’d like to skip the measurements and just throw a dash of ingredients into the pan, I’m way too worried about ruining my meal prep for the week, so I use measuring spoons to make sure whatever I’m making tastes just right. These stainless-steel measuring spoons are our top choice because of their heavy-duty yet polished feel, and the fact that they fit great in most spice jars due to their oval shape and curved handles, especially compared to clunkier, rounded teaspoons. And thanks to a sale in April that brought the price down below $10, a ton of our readers scooped these spoons up.

Get the Cuisipro Stainless Steel Measuring Spoon Set on Amazon for $14

23. This mandoline for effortless slicing

This is the best kitchen mandoline we’ve tested, and when it went on sale a couple weeks ago, our readers jumped at the opportunity to get their own. One of my favorite family recipes is my mom’s potatoes au gratin with thinly sliced Yukon golds. We eat this indulgent recipe around the holidays, but I know this Thanksgiving it’s going to be a game-changing gratin all because of this mandolin slicer, which can cut through potatoes, onions, and cheese in record time. It goes on sale fairly often, so grab one soon and trust me, your family isn’t gonna know what hit ‘em either.

Get the KitchenAid Hand-Held Mandoline Slicer on Amazon for $17.75

24. Mattresses for an amazing siesta

Did you know you’re supposed to replace your mattress at least every 10 years? An old, worn mattress can literally interfere with your sleep cycle, leaving you feeling unrested and stressed every time you wake up. Though mattresses can be a very personal preference based on firmness, material, and many other factors, we’ve tested some of the best here at Reviewed, and are firm (ha!) believers in the Tuft & Needle brand of mattresses for their overall comfort, back support, and fair pricing. So when they went on sale last week, we weren’t surprised to see so many of our readers upgrading their bedrooms, and we bet they’re feeling much better-rested now.

• Get the Tuft & Needle Queen Mattress-in-a-Box on Amazon for $535

• Get the Tuft & Needle Full Mattress-in-a-Box on Amazon for $445

• Get the Tuft & Needle King Mattress-in-a-Box on Amazon for $675

25. This smart toaster for a perfect bagel every morning

One of the most frustrating things about my toaster is the 1-10 number setting on it. I never know if it’s measuring time or degree of toastiness, and when I twist the knob all the way to 10, my bagel or toast often comes out burnt, yet any number less than that and it’s never crispy enough. Maddening! This smart toaster, which we recently named our top pick among the best pop-up toasters, is a great solution. Clearly our readers recognize that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, because this toaster has been really popular lately. It has an auto-lowering function to sense when your bread is at that perfectly browned level, and has five different settings for things like bagels and defrosting.

Get the Breville 2-Slice Smart Toaster on Amazon for $124