Gabriella DePinho is a writer on the discovery team. She has found cheap(ish) things for medicine cabinets, movie nights, and a good night’s sleep.
If your medicine cabinet looks anything like mine, you open it to find half-empty boxes of adhesive bandages that are never the size you need, an abundance of cough drops, a dangerously low supply of pimple patches, an extra tube of toothpaste, and definitely not the one thing you’re actually looking for. You might not only be in need of a reorg, but a restock as well.
Not all health, grooming, and medical items are things you use on a daily basis, so it’s easy to overlook them when you’re making a trip to the drugstore. Here, we’ve rounded up some Wirecutter-approved medicine cabinet essentials that you’ll be happy to have on hand when you need them most.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTAn accurate thermometer
Our pick
Fast, accurate, and reliable, this oral/rectal/axillary (armpit) thermometer has a backlit, easy-to-read display with a clear fever-alert feature.
A trustworthy thermometer is a medicine cabinet essential, regardless of whether you live alone or have an entire family to look after. The Vicks ComfortFlex, our top-pick thermometer, has a large, backlit display that was one of the easiest to read during our testing. Its color-coded fever alarm, which lights up green, yellow, or red, can help you interpret readings with ease. You might also want to stock up on the probe’s single-use covers (you can also use it without a cover and rely on an alcohol swab or soap and water to sanitize it between uses.)
Sharp tweezers
Our pick
Our favorite tweezers have supersharp tips and come from the only company offering a free service to keep them that way.
You deserve better than cheap, dull, drugstore tweezers that don’t grip hair. Our top pick, the Tweezerman Slant Tip, grips small and fine hairs really well. In testing, we found it was sharp but still didn’t pinch skin. The brand offers a free sharpening service, which can extend the life of your tweezers, but it may take a month or more for you to get them back.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTFacial sunscreen you’ll actually use
Our pick
This unique formula has a thin, feathery consistency that’s a step between gel and cream. It rubs in immediately and leaves no trace, save for a faint scent and a fresh feel on the skin.
Buying Options
If you prefer a smaller pump bottle, this combination sunscreen is a good option and protects your skin just as well as any non-moisturizer formula. But it’s a tad greasier than others we recommend.
Facial sunscreen should be part of everyone’s skincare routine, but you’ll want to find one you enjoy using daily.
The Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence SPF 50+ PA++++ is a lightweight sunscreen that rubs in almost immediately without leaving behind a white cast. It also has the highest possible protection grade of UVA (PA). Our testers found that the sunscreen felt almost cool against the skin and provided a bit of moisture as well.
If you’re looking for SPF with skincare benefits, we like the CeraVe AM Facial Moisturizing Lotion with Sunscreen SPF 30. It’s a good moisturizer that protects your skin just as effectively as any non-moisturizing sunscreens.
COVID-19 tests, just in case
Abbott’s BinaxNow COVID-19 Antigen Self Test comes with two tests.
Symptoms like a cough, runny nose, sore throat, and fatigue are common for COVID-19, but also for the flu, RSV, and the common cold. Using COVID-19 tests at home, such as the Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 Antigen Self Test, can help you determine the best course of action if you or anyone you live with starts to develop those symptoms. Even if your first test is negative, it doesn’t hurt to wear a mask while you’re around others, and we still recommend consulting with a doctor and testing yourself again a few days later while symptoms persist.
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SKIP ADVERTISEMENTTop-notch condoms
Our pick
Offering a skin-like sensation and great heat transfer, Skyn condoms are widely available and affordable, and safe for people with latex allergies.
Condoms are an effective way to protect yourself against many sexually transmitted infections, as well as an affordable, easily accessible birth control option. Keeping some in your medicine cabinet means you can practice safer sex at any time.
In our guide to condoms, we crowned LifeStyles Skyn as our top-pick average-fit condom. (We have recommendations for slim and generous-fit condoms, too.) LifeStyles Skyn condoms—which are available in a variety of styles—transmitted heat and sensation well during our testing. We also like that they are affordable and widely available.
Trusty tampons
Our pick
The Pearl tampon’s foolproof, non-compact plastic applicator, long braided string, and sturdy, reusable wrapper pleased our testers.
Having a stash of tampons on hand (whether or not you personally use them) is always a good idea, in case a guest unexpectedly needs one. We like Tampax Pearl because of their absorbency, as well as the easy-to-use applicators and wrappers that made disposal of used tampons a breeze.
This article was edited by Alexander Aciman and Catherine Kast.
Mentioned above
- Most fever thermometers will read your temperature accurately. But some are speedier and easier to use than others.The Best Thermometers for Kids and Adults
- We pitted our longtime favorite tweezers against models from five other brands. None outperformed our pick. Read on to learn which tweezers we recommend and why.The Best Tweezers
- Sunscreen is personal, and the one you choose to slather on your face is even more so. Here are 10 options to suit different preferences and budgets.The Best Sunscreens for Your Face
- At-home antigen test kits offer a quick and easy way to screen for COVID-19. Here’s where to find them, and what to know about rapid tests.At-Home COVID-19 Antigen Test Kits: Where to Buy and What You Should Know
- We’ve tested 37 of the best N95 masks, KN95 masks, and surgical masks and confirmed their filtration claims with expert government agencies or our own lab testing. Here’s what we recommend.Where to Buy N95s, KN95s, and Surgical-Style Masks
- After 40 hours of research on 54 best-selling condoms and testing 32 of them, we've found the best condoms for all sizes. Read to see what we recommend.The Best Condoms
Further reading
Upgrades We’d Make to Any Bathroom
by Harry Sawyers
There’s a limit to what you can do in a space you don’t own, but these bath upgrades make it feel a lot more like it’s yours.
50 Wirecutter Picks to Glow Up Your Bathroom for $50 or Less
by Wirecutter Staff
Your bathroom deserves to be the best room in your house—and with these under-$50 towels, tub trays, bidets, and more, you can make it happen on the cheap.
The Best Lockboxes to Safely Store Medication and Cannabis
by Elissa Sanci
Whether you want to stash cannabis and THC edibles away from pets and kids or keep medicine under lock and key, these are the best lockboxes available.
5 Potentially Lifesaving Items to Add to Any First Aid Kit
by Joshua Lyon
Most basic kits lack supplies that can be critical when waiting for paramedics to arrive.
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