9 Products We Were Influenced to Buy on Amazon That We Actually Love

"A few years ago, I came across Katie Staples from Halfway Wholeistic's living room update on Pinterest. When I saw her new rug (the Loloi Teagan in Ivory/Sand) in her space, I knew I had to have it. It's the perfect neutral-hued rug, with the majority of the rug being ivory with touches of soft browns and blues. This rug has been through two moves with me and has had tons of dog hair vacuumed off of it, and it still looks and feels like it did on day one." — Morgan Faulkner, Editorial Assistant

"Athena Calderone, interior designer, author and creator of lifestyle brand EyeSwoon, has never steered me wrong. I own and love both her cookbook Cook Beautiful and her interior design book Live Beautiful and have drawn so much inspiration from her Instagram account (which just hit 1 miliion!) over the years, so when she recommended this sleek-looking mandoline slicer awhile back, I knew I needed it. It comes with three different blades and can be adjusted to slice fruits and vegetables of different thicknesses. It cuts down on prep time and lays flat in a utensil drawer, unlike other bulkier mandolines on the market." — Laura James, Editor

"I was influenced by Mallory Fletchall of Reserve Home to buy the ChomChom Pet Hair Remover. I'm obsessed with her home, and I'm always so impressed by how clean it looks considering she has multiple cats. After trying it in my own multi-pet home, I think I prefer it to the pet hair attachment on my vacuum. It picks up just as much hair (if not more) and it's so much easier to maneuver." — Noelle Paredes, HGTV Magazine Online Editor

"I guess I am impressionable because Olivia Wilde (who has lovely, pale skin BTW) hawking this facial oil definitely got to me, and I ran out (not literally, but "ran out" in the online purchase sense) and bought a bottle. It's super hydrating, doesn't cause breakouts and made by skin glowy, so I guess I'm a happy customer." — Felicia Feaster, Managing Editor

"I know, how can someone be influenced to buy a box cutter of all things? That’s just the power of Things I Bought and Liked. She recommended this Slice box cutter, and facing the holiday season and an inevitable mountain of cardboard, I snapped one up. This thing is great — the blade is activated when you squeeze the handle and automatically retracts once it no longer has contact with the material you are cutting — magic! Recycling day just got a little easier." — Marianne Canada, Senior Director + Executive Producer

"I think I saw someone using one on a YouTube video, joking that it was chain mail for your cast iron skillet. And everyone who sees it in your house will say the same thing. The joke pays off, because it works really well. I pour off any remaining oil and wipe the cast iron as clean as possible with a paper towel, then run the cast iron under hot water and use the ringer to scrub off any stuck-on bits before giving it a final rinse and dry. You don't really need to use much pressure, and I've never noticed The Ringer taking off any of the seasoning. And since it's made from stainless steel, it's really easy to clean: I just pour some dish soap directly on it and scrub it between my hands, and it comes clean instantly. I've had it for years and it still looks exactly the same as when I bought it." — Jessica Yonker, Online Editor

"This popped up on my Instagram feed one day, and I was immediately sold. As a female living in a major metropolitan city, I knew I needed something to ease my anxiety when I find myself alone. This is it! This personal safety alarm lives on your car keys and can be triggered by pulling out the top pin, eliciting a loud siren and flashing strobe light. (I have tested it out and it. is. LOUD.) It's not only great for everyday situations but also for women who run or travel solo. And not that it matters, but it comes in cute aesthetic hues like aqua, blossom and lemon." — Kayla Kitts, Managing Editor

"I'm an avid AirPods user. What I'm not a fan of is trying to clean them — until now. I was influenced to buy the OXO Good Grips Electronics Cleaning Brush featured in the Clever Cleaning Brushes article here on HGTV.com and haven't looked back! The dual-sided brush has a silicone wiper on one end that's great for all the tiny crevices in the AirPods themselves, and the other end has a retractable soft-bristled brush for dusting out the case." — Morgan Faulkner, Editorial Assistant

"I fully blame/thank Things I Bought and Liked for my absolute obsession with Built Bar Puffs. She's die-hard for the Churro flavor, but my favorites are the Coconut Marshmallow and the Brownie Batter and I am a notorious protein bar hater. They are coated in real chocolate and taste like a marshmallow, all while clocking in at 140 calories and 17 grams of protein — my afternoon snack game has never been stronger." — Marianne Canada, Senior Director + Executive Producer