33 Tips For Looking More Polished Without A Lot Of Effort

Oct 27, 2023

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

Step one: Find clothes that only *feel* like pajamas.

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And in the same vein, turn off Slack and email notifications when your hours are done. It becomes too tempting to just "answer one more email," which makes separation between work and leisure time extra impossible.

Plus, this hack is applicable for any task — whether it's for allotting screen time or reminding yourself that the laundry needs to be folded.

Promising review: "Don’t hesitate, just buy it. I bought it in one color and as soon as I tried it on I purchased three more. The material is like butter. It doesn’t have a built-in bra, but it’s lined. You could put on a bra with this if you’d like but there’s no need. It’s cropped but still long enough that it doesn’t roll up weirdly at the bottom. Can dress this up or down! I’ll probably end up buying every color by the end of the year, it’s just that incredible." —Danijtate

Get it from Amazon for $22.99 (available in sizes S–XXL and 23 colors).

Pro tip: Apply just a bit of product, brush it out, and repeat. Putting too much product at once may lead to a sheen of white residue.

Promising review: "I was looking for a dry shampoo that would be easy to use on the go for a trip I was taking. I had no issues taking this through TSA, and it was so easy to use on the go. You literally just pat the poof on your scalp and then rub the powder in. I do have black hair, so dry shampoo is usually very visible in my hair, but I didn't have any harder time than usual rubbing this powder in. It did a really good job of soaking up all the oil and giving my hair volume. I'm not a fan of the price for the amount that you get, but it is lasting longer than I thought it would. I would definitely recommend and will purchase again." —Teresa

Get it from Amazon for $19.99.

Promising review: "I am beyond thrilled with this little gizmo. It has worked wonders on everything in my closet from delicate chiffon and poly-blends, to heavier cotton and wool-blends. I have even steamed stubborn wrinkles from blazers and purses and linen. I considered purchasing a larger steamer, but they tend to be clumsy, heavy and difficult to maneuver. This steamer is perfect. And for frequent refills, I simply keep a pitcher of water nearby. For the price, you can't beat it." —Savvy Shopper

Get it from Amazon for $29.97.

Promising review: "This product is so amazing I bought one for all the people in my family! You clip the soft roll onto the top of your head and then continue to wrap strands of damp wet hair in a spiral formation, wrapping away from your face. Secure the bottoms with soft scrunchies and you'll have gorgeous curls for days, LITERALLY. Takes a whopping five minutes if you have thick hair like me. Sleep with it overnight (not uncomfortable at all) and your curls will actually last for days. So simple, so awesome, so much time saved. Can't recommend enough!" —Kaitlin

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 8 colors).

And don't panic! This tool is super gentle, so you don't have to worry about accidental nicks and scrapes.

Promising review: "This is a 100% painless and incredibly easy alternative to waxing or plucking. A few quick swipes gets rid of peach fuzz and I never have to worry about breaking out because of it. Also, it doesn't make hair grow back coarser or darker." —Ellen R.

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $4.99.

Promising review: "I'm a nursing student and have to wear my hair in a bun every day. I've tried all the bun makers, watched YouTube videos, and spend way too much time on getting my hair into a bun. I was able to make a pretty bun that was secure in under 30 seconds. I thought it was a fluke so I did it again, and then again. I just ordered two more packs because I know if I lose one of these, I'd have to tear the house down looking for it. I have hair to my mid back, and three of these worked perfectly for me. If I can get my hair in bun in under 30 seconds, trust me...anyone can." —Tina

Get a pack of three from Amazon for $5.89.

Promising review: "So incredibly happy with this. It's incredibly easy to apply (I have to really wipe my wand first, though, or else it's too thick) and the color blends in SO well with my natural color. It gives my eyebrows JUST the right amount of attention; not too much, not too little. Just killer, natural, beautiful brows!" —Monique French

Get it from Amazon for $15 (available in five shades).

Promising review: "This stuff is excellent. It performs as promised, it has a very nice scent, no fumes, and leaves shower clean with no scrubbing actually necessary. It is very easy to apply and rinse off. It is designed very well, with squirting spout separate from the large container and attached by a longish tube, so you don't have to hold the heavy container while applying the product. I've been using it for quite a while now, and I love it. I highly recommend it." —Stephanie Martin

Get it from Amazon for $16.89.

Promising review: "I bought this treadmill to use under my stand up desk when I’m working from home, and it’s been wonderful. It’s easy to maneuver when I want to use it and put it away, though admittedly a little heavy and awkward to slide sideways when putting it away. But nothing I can’t do on my own! I also started rolling it out to the living room in the evenings if I’m just sitting and watching TV to get more movement in my day. It’s not too loud at all, and I’d recommend this product to anyone looking for a portable treadmill!" —Alison L. Carrico

Get it from Amazon for $338.22+ (available in three colors).

Promising review: "This is the cutest workout set in the world. Seriously. I haven’t worn it to the gym so I don’t know how it would hold up there, but this is a must for daily activewear. This is a must!!" —Kendall Musick

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in sizes XS–L and in 12 colors).

Promising review: "I love this stuff! It was recommended to me in a Facebook group when I asked for a one-and-done face cream for someone who doesn't really wear makeup. I wanted dewy, I wanted some light refraction, I wanted sun protection, and I didn't want heavy color. This is all those things. It works really well in the Florida sun. I'm covered in freckles and it doesn't dull or smudge them, it just brightens everything. I don't wear face makeup, other than the occasional swipe of bronzer, and this works great with that. Love it love it love it." —KristenB

Get it from Amazon for $18+ (available in three sizes/quantities).

Promising review: "I'm an art teacher, and working from home during the coronavirus outbreak was going to put a lot of strain on my wood desk (which I keep mostly for show but now am forced to use for work). I ordered this desk pad because mint green is my favorite color, and I wanted something to protect my desk from paint and other art supplies. It arrived today, and it was so cute! It's exactly what I wanted. It's thin enough not to add too much bulk to the desk, the color is so fun, and it wipes off easily. I love that it's reversible, too, so I'll probably use one side for making tutorial videos for my classes and the other for when I'm painting. I was worried that it wouldn't lie flat because it came rolled up, but it lay flat immediately. And it came with a cute little belt in case I need to roll it back up again and store it!" —Jill S

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in three sizes and five colors).

Promising review: "These pants as so comfortable and flowy! I stepped outside of my usual skinny jean outfit to try this style and I never want to take them off! They are great casual pants for work, and can be dressed up for the evening with a fancy shirt and heels. They are as comfortable as pajamas, without looking like it :)" —Nash

Get them from Amazon for $23.18+ (available in sizes XS–2XL and 32 colors).

Promising review: "Where has this been all my crazy cat-loving life? Sticky rollers work fine for clothes but this is the only product that has ever COMPLETELY removed all the cat hair from my bed. I have a long-haired 20-lb tabby and if you run your hands up his back a few times and fling the hair everywhere, it looks like it's snowing – he never stops shedding no matter what I do. After using this, I can put on a black dress and roll around on my bed and not get a single hair on me. It's absolutely amazing. Everyone is getting one for Christmas, even if they don't have a pet. I don't care, it's THAT good." —Stephanie

Get it from Amazon for $26.95.

Get them from Amazon for $77.40+ (available in sizes 5–12 and in five colors).

Promising review: "This was a major win. The fabric alone is worth it. It’s soft and lightweight, so perfect for summer. It fits well with plenty of room to spare." —Annie Clark

Get it from Amazon for $29.98 (available in sizes XS–XL and in 16 colors).

Promising review: "I've been needing a container to hold my prepped smoothies in the freezer and this is the perfect solution. I avoid plastic, so this is a great substitution. My fruit doesn't stick to the sides of the pouch and it can hold the perfect amount of fruit for one large smoothie. Happy with this purchase." —Anna Young

Get the Stasher bags from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in multiple colors and sizes).

To learn more, check out "12 Ways To Make Healthy Smoothies."

Promising review: "I am slowly buying all the DASH products. They are the perfect size for a single person in a small apartment. They are good looking and do the job perfectly." —SeattleReign

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "I can't remember who first told me about this lip oil, but it seemed like the perfect solution to my multi-year search of trying to find a lip product that enhanced my natural lip color while keeping my lips moisturized. It's not too sticky and lasts longer than a typical "gloss." It's a fairly small bottle, but that also makes it great to keep in a wristlet. The appleberry is also sheer enough to pair over a lip crayon or lip liner." —Sammi Cone

Get it from Amazon for $12.

To learn more, check out "9 Quick Total-Body Workouts, No Equipment Needed."

To learn more, check out "I Tested 10 TikTok Fashion Hacks".

To learn more, check out "I Tested 10 TikTok Fashion Hacks".

This brush has a welt surface, nylon bristles, an arched half circle brush, and a protruding brush that lets you clean different kinds of suede with no harsh rubbing or scrubbing required.

Promising review: "I was amazed. After spending about five minutes cleaning suede boots with fairly significant smudges, they came out almost completely clean and are looking really good." —Beth Perkins

Get it from Amazon for $6.99.

It'll be so much easier to focus on work when you don't have these annoying to-dos hanging over your head!

To learn more, check out "I Lived By The One-Minute Rule For An Entire Week".

Use this only once a week (for about three minutes at a time) to prevent your hair from turning a slightly lavender shade.

Promising review: "Finally! A purple shampoo that actually does something to my brassy hair! I have silver-white hair that is exceptionally hard to maintain due to how easily my hair gains brassy tones and how stubborn they are to remove. I've tried a ton of other brands, and none of their toning shampoos will do a damn thing to my hair even if I leave them on for an hour. I normally have to dilute violet direct dyes to make a dent in my brass. It's nice to not have to schedule a chunk of time to mix a batch of custom toner, painstakingly apply it, and then sit around for an hour while it does its stuff. This shampoo actually works really well and can cut a lot of time out of my bi-weekly color maintenance." —Audrey

Get it from Amazon for $9.45.

To learn more, check out "9 Stylish Ways To Organize Your Bookshelf".

Promising review: "Dang, these are great socks. I wear them with sneakers where I don't want my socks peeking out of my shoes! The secret sauce is the tiny rubber band at the back of the heel. Without it, the socks would continually fall down, ending up in an uncomfortable bunch around my toes. But with the rubber bit, they stay put all day!" —CK

Get them from Amazon for $12.95+ (available in packs of three, six, and nine).

Promising review: "This is the most reasonably priced curly hair product I've found. I originally got a little tube from my Ipsy order, and I liked it so much, I came to Amazon to order a full-sized bottle. It doesn't make my hair crunchy or greasy, even if I accidentally put too much on. My curls look natural and bouncy after using my diffuser, and even when I let hair air dry, this gives my curls a little extra form and structure to look like I actually did something to my hair." —sbgoodgirl

Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

Promising review: "My bra straps spend more time off my shoulders than on — but NOT ANYMORE. I was hoping something like this existed and when I found it, I was so happy. They're as glorious as I expected them to be. These are life-changing." —Amanda

Get a set of three from Amazon for $6.97 (available in nine color combinations).

Promising review: "Love this shirt collar! I can wear it under tunic tops or long sweaters when at work or for dressier occasions. What a great find and a perfect addition to any outfit!" —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $12.95.

Promising review: "I have super fine hair with lots of breakage and no matter how I put my hair up, I have bad fly aways. This stuff is great! So easy and it stays better and looks smoother than stiff hair spray." —Jill Stilfield

Get it from Amazon for $7.99.

BUT we want to add that no one should feel pressure to lay their edges, unless they way want to! Check out, "Just A Friendly PSA That You Don't HAVE To Lay Your Edges Down If You Don't Wanna."

Promising review: "Hands-down! The best edge control I have ever used and I have used a lot of them. Stayed all day! No flakes and nongreasy! And this one is not even the strongest in the line. Love this product!" —Seabea2013

Get it from Amazon for $5+ (available in seven sizes).