The Very Best Products of 2023, According to the Good Housekeeping Institute Pros

Nothing beats curling into a cozy blanket once temperatures drop. Consider the quintessential sherpa throw blanket — that's right, our experts even gave it a 2023 GH Bedding Award. We enjoyed snuggling under the soft, lightweight fabric, which is very easy to launder. Best of all, you can get one for your couch and one for your bed thanks to its different sizes (available in twin to king). Psst: Your co-worker probably wouldn't be mad about getting this as a Secret Santa gift.

From birthdays to holidays, special events always spring up, so when the occasion calls, it's smart to have an option on hand. Among the dozens of flower delivery services, The Bouqs Co. takes special care in packaging thoughtful, stylish bouquets. GH experts and readers couldn't get enough of this unique service that sends you everything needed to make arrangements your own. "The flowers always arrive fresh and come really secure in the box," says Nutrition Lab Director Stefani Sassos. "The arrangements are absolutely stunning, even the vases are high quality." In tests, even after a week, flowers kept cheery and bright.

Brooklinen's Super Plus Bath Towels blew us away, then wrapped us up in top-tier coziness. Rated as one of the best bath towels we've tried, the set stood above others for its superior softness scores. Senior Textiles Analyst Emma Seymour even stocked her linen closet with them: "They have a super plush, cozy feel that is perfect when jumping out of the shower," she says. If you fall in love with the towels, there's also a matching bathrobe made of the same material.

Your candle deserves some TLC, too. Candle warmers extend their life by warming and melting candle wax evenly. Our pros raved about it — not to mention that it's one of the most-searched gifts of 2023, per Google. "It immediately creates such a cozy environment in my apartment," says Seymour. "While I used to go through about a candle a week, my candles now last multiple months." Doubling as a mini table lamp, the candle melter fits most sizes (even large) and comes in black, white and pink.

Schlepping laundry or hauling groceries? The HULKEN bag can bear it all. Calling it a "game-changer" when running errands, Seymour relies on this roller bag that deceptively totes a lot, like large loads of clothing and heavy packages. "I constantly get stopped and asked where I got this bag!" she adds. "It goes flat for easy storage, too."

The perfect sleep mask doesn't exis-- Drowsy's silk eye mask gives you complete coverage by taking up more facial real estate. Its puffy padding rests comfortably against the eyelids, while its luxurious silk fabric means you can get some shut-eye without waking up with hair and skin creases. Make it snug to your preferences thanks to its velcro closure. A GH editor who is a notoriously light sleeper cannot get a good night's rest without it.

It's rare to find top-notch bedding at an affordable price — nonetheless for under $40. California Design Den's cotton sheets check both boxes. When testing for the best sheets, our pros found that this set struck an impressive balance of softness and crispness, earning it a 2023 GH Bedding Award. In fact, our testers rated it higher than pricier styles.

Crossbody bags like the Luluelmon Belt Bag and Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag have held a strong grip on our staffers this year. Notably, Uniqlo's gender neutral design comes in a variety of colors and a curved shape that makes it more comfortable to carry around your body when out adventuring. "I love how lightweight yet spacious this bag is," says Textiles Product Analyst Grace Wu. "I can always fit so much in it (once, I even fit a pair of jeans)."

One can never own too many pairs of sweatpants, and both Seymour and Wu swear by these. Known for making some of our favorite athletic wear, Alo Yoga elevates a classic jogger with stylish ribbed fabric that keeps you soft and cozy, sans overheating. Seymour adds: "I have probably washed these pants over 25 times, and they have held up beautifully, while most of my other sweats have shrunk or pilled."

We wouldn't mind finding these pajamas wrapped up under our Christmas tree. A winner in our GH Bedding Awards, Printfresh converted even the most vehement anti-cotton PJ staffers. That's all thanks to its crisp, breathable material that got "softer with each wash." Home & Apparel Reviews Analyst Amanda Constantine wears them year-round and says, "The print options are gorgeous and bold — a maximalist's dream!" Plus, they come in petite and tall sizes and XXS to 6X.

Thanks to period underwear and period swimwear, you can simply go with the flow without it hindering your plans. "Period swimwear is an emerging category, but Black-owned brand Ruby Love stands out for offering a variety of different silhouettes with a built-in absorbent core, ideal to keep you protected during your period," says Seymour. The female-owned brand even sells plain black bottoms separately if you'd like to mix and match them with your normal rotation of swim tops.

A fast favorite when searching for the best tote bags, Madewell's leather tote is incredibly "versatile," per Executive Director Lexie Sachs. She recommends it for those in need of a trusty work bag or an everyday errand bag. And while leather totes can skimp on structure, this one marries sturdiness and spaciousness. "I am pretty rough on my bags, and it has held up exceptionally well," Sachs says. "And [it] has a wide opening, so I can easily find everything I need."

It's no easy feat finding the right bra for you. But of all the 200+ bras we've tested, Natori earned a love letter from our staffers this year, and it was the most popular bra purchased among our readers. Wu sings its praise as the best bra she's ever owned. "'Drapey' and 'silky' feel inadequate in describing just how soft it feels on my body," she says. Its fabric is equal parts soft and silky, designed with straps that don't dig but give you the right amount of lift.

Many runners swear by the French running shoe brand, and we must admit that it impressed us in equal measure. "Chunky sneakers like HOKA have been extremely popular this year with this pair being our favorite from testing," says Seymour. Among the entire HOKA shoes lineup, the Clifton 9 is "a great compromise with thick cushioning that's still lightweight and easy to maneuver in," she adds.

Calling all yogis, Pilates enthusiasts and all those in-between: Athleta's Conscious Crop was tester and staffer loved this year. "I started wearing this after Emma's recommendation, and it's a current favorite," says Sachs. The cropped sports bra tank hybrid features a built-in bra with removable cups and a higher neckline for more coverage. Complete the buttery soft set with its matching leggings.

It was the year of the emotional support water bottle. And along with the viral Stanley cup, Owala garnered cult status for its funky colorways. For GH's Kitchen Appliances Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou, this one beat out others for its versatility: "Sip out of it like you would a straw or tilt it back to drink out of it like a cup," she explains. No need to dread cleanups, either. Our experts found it both easy to clean and able to withstand drops.

Pickleball recently rocketed into the mainstream, and our pros found themselves just as fixated on the wildly popular pastime. Sport this statement pickleball paddle on the court. Sassos, who is also a NASM-Certified Personal Trainer, loves its matching tote bag that "neatly stores everything you need for your pickleball session."