Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
It's almost time to stock up on these items again.
Shop & Tell is our shopping series, featuring thoughtfully curated home finds from House Beautiful editors. Every week we'll take you inside our carts and dish on what we're buying—and why you should be reaching for your wallet too.
As much as we love discovering new products, be it the latest viral cleaning device or a mattress that cures back pain, there's something to be said about the items we buy over and over again. That's the telltale sign that the product is not only good, but actually useful in your life. At House Beautiful, we have a few items in our homes that we rely on day in and out. The candles we burn until the wick won't light anymore, the soap we reach for every day.
We have picks for everything from the glassware that gets us through every dinner party to the gardening tools that prevent a mess. We know the importance of a great staple. "When I find a good towel, I stay loyal to it forever," Senior Digital Editor Melanie Yates says about her go-to Onsen face towels. "While I like typical terrycloth for toweling off after a shower, switching to waffle-weave face towels has been a game-changer. "You'll go through hand soap or towels much faster than you do a mattress or sofa, so we made sure to include our consumable favorites. For more products we buy time and time again, read on to shop our favorites.
"My foaming hand soap pumps from Amazon would break after a few months of using them, and I was fed up. I was on the hunt for a company that made refillable soap pouches and a good bottle, which is how I discovered Element Brooklyn. I liked that the brand offered soap pouches, so I wouldn't have to get a new hand soap bottle every time, and I liked the packaging. This soap doesn't dry out my hands, smells heavenly of Hinoki cypress, and most importantly, the pump hasn't broken yet after months of me pressing down on it! I'm actually running out of this soap right now, so I plan to buy another pouch ASAP."
—Marina Liao, Senior Commerce Editor
"These are my favorite wine glasses—they are lightweight like paper and feel so delicate as you sip your vino. The Universal works with all wine varieties. I have gifted this set to friends, bought another set for myself, and can't recommend them enough to anyone who likes to feel 'fancy' at home. I say fancy because some Michelin-star restaurants use these glasses to serve their customers! These glasses spoiled me because now when I have a heavier glass in my hand, the wine doesn't taste as good to me."
—Marina Liao, Senior Commerce Editor
"I have never loved a candle more than this Mahogany Teakwood one from Le Mae. It is so warm and so fragrant—if I light it in my bedroom, I can smell it from all the way down the hallway. That's what I want out of a single candle; I want to be able to smell it no matter where I am in my home. The wooden wick elevates it so much, as it creates the most subtle popping sound once it's lit. I can't speak highly enough of this candle. My fiancé accidentally knocked it off our table and shattered the top part of the holder, and I refused to let him throw it out because I wanted to get as much use out of it as possible. It's already in my cart for when it's finally over."
—Meghan Shouse, Digital Editor
"This goes in my Amazon cart whenever I make a purchase there; it's my little treat. While not decor per se, my toothpaste is always visible on my sink, so it might as well be pretty. I've tried multiple Marvis flavors over the years (obsessed with the Sweet and Sour Rhubarb flavor, not a fan of the Black Forest one), but the Jasmin Mint is the one I always return to. It's fresh and floral without any 'soapy' taste."
—Melanie Yates, Senior Digital Editor
"A seemingly non-everyday item, I can't imagine these chunky stem wine glasses not being a part of my weekly routine. Sure, they're meant for wine, but when I want to fun things up (yes, I said 'fun things up'), I love to use these for my morning iced coffee or a glass of juice. They bring a lightheartedness to my day, which makes me smile. The chunky stem makes it feel less precious than my other glasses, too, so I feel comfortable using them more. And when I have friends over for an actual glass of wine, these are always a crowd pleaser."
—Catherine DiPersico, Assistant Market Editor
"This may be called the ‘beer can glass’ but I’ve used it for pretty much every other kind of drink. It’s my go-to iced coffee cup every morning, but also works perfectly for water, a midday Diet Coke pick-me-up, and of course a light lager if you are a beer drinker. Best of all, I love that this glass is sold individually for just $4. I don’t have to find kitchen cabinet space for a whole set and I can easily buy a replacement in case one breaks (which hasn’t happened yet!)."
—Blair Donovan, Digital Director
"When I find a good towel, I stay loyal to it forever. While I like typical terrycloth for toweling off after a shower, switching to waffle-weave face towels has been a game changer. My first set of Onsen face towels were white—or at least they were when I bought them. Since I use these daily to gently remove stubborn eye makeup, I needed to re-up my supply in this darker charcoal shade that hides mascara stains. I love the soft material of these towels and how their smart, spongey design helps them quickly dry."
—Melanie Yates, Senior Digital Editor
"This isn't a very glamorous purchase, but man does it save me some headache. I first discovered these when my family was selling our home, and we didn't have it in us to re-do the tile. This grout pen can make the most dated tile look brand-new. Trust me, it's extra helpful in a landlord-neglected shower."
—Janae McKenzie, Associate Shopping Editor
"As I've gotten older and moved into my own place with my fiancé, it's the little things that really excite me when it comes to my home, such as hand soap. Native recently launched their new hand soap, and I can already tell you that the Cherry & Vanilla Macaron scent is going to the top of my 'buy again' list. It's sweet and fruity, with a great viscosity. Tell the Meghan of five years ago that she'd care about a soap's viscosity, and she wouldn't believe you. However, it just feels so nice and clean on my hands."
—Meghan Shouse, Digital Editor
"I love these dripless taper candles because they give me all the drama of candlelight without the chaos. In a restaurant, wax dripping down the sides of a taper might feel romantic, but at home it’s just a mess waiting to happen. These burn cleanly and evenly—no wax puddles, no ruined tabletops—so I can enjoy their warm glow in my drinking room and dining area night after night. With three sizes and endless color options, they’re as stylish as they are practical, instantly elevating everything from a casual dinner to a full-on celebration."
—Carisha Swanson, Director of Editorial Special Projects
"My roommate changed all the lights in our rental apartment to these smart light bulbs, that allow us to choose the lighting temperature and coloring for each space via an app on our phones. When we first got them went through the apartment and decided what lighting mood we wanted for each space—bright light for the bathroom, warm lighting for the living room, etc. We can always change them for parties or gatherings when needed but always have that default. They are a totally game changer and I can't imagine going back to a life without them."
—Catherine DiPersico, Assistant Market Editor
"My partner and I cook after work every night, and nothing beats an easy sheet pan dinner—chicken, veggies, potatoes roasted until golden. By the time we’re done eating, we just want to relax (wine may be partly to blame), not scrub pans or soak them overnight. That’s why these GreenPan sheet pans are our weeknight heroes. The ceramic nonstick surface makes food slide right off, and the sturdy cast aluminum design holds up to serious use. We’ve gone through plenty of bakeware over the years, but this is the one we always return to."
—Carisha Swanson, Director of Editorial Special Projects
"As a helicopter plant parent, I'm quick to repot my babies at the first sign of trouble with the soil. But if you've ever re-potted, you know it makes a mess. Instead of scrubbing down my sink and stove and vacuuming dirt for days, I invested in a repotting mat. Now, I can just shake any remaining dirt directly into the trash. There's plenty of space for my tools nearby, and I can make my own soil mix right on the mat!"
—Janae McKenzie, Associate Shopping Editor
"If it wasn't so dangerous, I'd leave a candle burning all hours of the day. This one has been my favorite and my go-to for at least a year. It doesn't just smell like coffee; it smells like the inside of a coffee shop in a ski town on a snowy day. I know that's weirdly specific, but that's what comes to mind. Whenever I run out of this candle, which takes about a month, I just go ahead and buy it again. It's one of my favorite small businesses on Amazon."
—Jessica Cherner, Associate Shopping Editor
"I requested this catchall tray as a birthday gift one year, and I truly believe I'll have it forever. Made of porcelain, the tray features a slithering serpent on a vibrant orange backdrop. The gold accents give it a touch of glam. I use it as a resting spot for my candle wick trimmer, which I keep on my bar cart."
—Kelly Allen, Associate Editor
"I can’t leave home without a fully charged phone or a way to charge it. I travel a lot and love to keep my devices ready to go at all times, so I need a portable charger that can keep up, but also won’t take up too much room in my tote or my clutch purse. I’m an Anker devotee, and this slim portable charger is so easy to place in my already overstuffed luggage. I recommend one of the thicker ones for charging larger devices like an iPad, but for headphones, cell phones, or smart watches, it’s an essential. Honestly, the reason it’s been a repeat purchase is whenever I go on a family vacation with it, one of my siblings or parents absconds with it by the end of the trip."
—Janae McKenzie, Associate Shopping Editor
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