The Filter is two! 31 things we loved this year, from cloud-like duvets to the perfect running shoe

Illustration: Cynthia KittlerThe Filter is two! 31 things we loved this year, from cloud-like duvets to the perfect running shoeWhether it’s a super-glowy serum or a cult gardening tool, here are our writers’ favourite buys from the past year

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The Filter is turning two! To celebrate, we asked our contributors for their favourite products from the past year, and rounded up the team’s picks too.

From handbag-sized umbrellas and stylish yet practical wellies to reading lights and luxurious duvets, these are the products that stood out.

View image in fullscreenRevamp Straight & Go cordless hot brush

£90 at ArgosOne of the best tools I’ve tested this year is Revamp’s Straight & Go cordless for my review of the best hot brushes. It’s compact, so easily fits into hand luggage, a work backpack or even a decent-size handbag. It’s my hot brush of choice when I’m away from home (and at home: it’s cordless so I can use it in the bathroom without trailing cables all over the hallway). Lise Smith

View image in fullscreenIlliyoon ceramide ato concentrate cream, 75ml

£9.99 at AmazonThe best product I’ve bought on another writer’s recommendation is the Illiyoon ceramide ato concentrate cream, which Sarah Matthews wrote about in her best facial moisturisers roundup. It’s rich but gentle and leaves my rather dry skin soft, smooth and plump. LS

I wrote about Brick, a device that helps reduce screen time, for my phone addiction piece. I didn’t view myself as having a problem, but after finding that Brick really improved my wellbeing, I became the first person in history for whom admitting you have a problem is the last step on the road to recovery. Alan Martin

£349.99 at John LewisI’m continuing to cook with the Gozney Arc Lite, which I reviewed for our guide to the best pizza ovens, and starting to relax more and enjoy it. Slowly, my hand-stretched bases are getting better, though I think I would still be laughed out of any self-respecting pizzeria: “Don’t quit the day job.” Rachel Ogden

View image in fullscreenSaie the Base Brush

£26 at SephoraI trust all beauty recommendations from my beloved colleague Sali Hughes implicitly, so after reading her guide to makeup brushes, I thought it was perhaps time I stopped slapping foundation on by hand and invested in this Saie brush. It makes foundation sit more lightly on your skin and makes blending at the neck and hairline foolproof. Jess Cartner-Morley

View image in fullscreenTown & Country square flexi-tub, 25l

£13.93 at AmazonFor my rundown of items that make camping with kids easier, I tested a pair of square flexi-tubs during a trip with my six-year-old. They were a godsend then – helping keep everything organised and tidy – but they’ve since found a place in home life as indispensable declutterers. Kids’ toys everywhere? Throw them in the flexi-tub. Doing some DIY? Tools in the tub! Too many tubs? Stack them! You get the picture. Matt Collins

View image in fullscreenBarbour Bede wellington boots Men’s

£79.95 at BarbourIn the past I’ve opted for more fashion-led wellies, but these days I use them more for dog walking than festivals. So I took Danielle Wilkins’ recommendation in her roundup of the best wellies and bought her top pick of Barbour boots. With a classic look and excellent grip (even across muddy fields), I get to balance style and practicality. Sabine Wiesel

View image in fullscreenDavek mini umbrella

When I needed an umbrella this year, I turned to Pete Wise’s umbrella test. I’m terrible for not carrying a brolly and getting caught out by rain, so I wanted something small I could leave in my handbag. I picked the Davek Mini. It has saved my veggie bacon many times already and its lifetime guarantee is reassuring. Caramel Quin

View image in fullscreenUrevo SpaceWalk 5L walking pad

£349.99 at AmazonHaving tested lots of walking pads and under-desk treadmills for the Filter, I have become quite attached to the Urevo SpaceWalk 5L model (a review for which is on the way). I walk on it most days in an attempt to rack up at least 10,000 steps. It’s an easy way to burn extra calories when I’d otherwise be glued to my desktop, and I’ve found this model exceptionally quiet, while the automatic incline is great for varying the terrain without lifting a finger. Leon Poultney

View image in fullscreenPrimus Lite Plus stove

£130 at PrimusI tested the Primus Lite Plus for our guide to best camping stoves. I recently took it on a three-day trek in the Lake District and found it simple to use and clean, and great for boiling water. Sian Lewis

Jess Cartner-Morley also inspired me to buy a jazzy cashmere bandana from Rise&Fall. SL

View image in fullscreenPanda the Cloud duvet, double

£129.95 at AmazonMy Panda duvet from my test of the best duvets has been a real bedding upgrade. When you go from a cheap polyester duvet (which was perfectly fine, I thought) to this cloud-like breathable bamboo hug, there’s no going back. I always look forward to wrapping myself in it at night. I now have two versions – the winter 10.5-tog one I tested for best duvets, and the 4.5-tog summer version. Jane Hoskyn

View image in fullscreenBeauty of Joseon relief sun rice + Probiotics SPF50+, 50ml

£11.62 at AmazonI bought a double pack of Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics SPF50+, which not only took the top spot in Sarah Matthews’ best face SPF guide but was also raved about by Sali Hughes in her hero skincare 2025 roundup. I’ve got fair skin, so I need a good daily SPF, ideally one I can slap on without looking like I’ve fallen face-first into my cereal, but my skin is also greasy and spotty, so the light texture of this is such a lovely relief after the thick sun creams I’ve been used to. JH

View image in fullscreenNinja Double Stack XL SL400UK air fryer

£269.99 at NinjaI’ve been tempted to buy an air fryer for ages but didn’t think I had the counter space. So, when Rachel Ogden highlighted the Ninja Double Stack as the best compact air fryer (with a smaller footprint than most) in her roundup, I decided to go for it. As someone who mainly cooks for one, I’ve found it makes mealtimes far more convenient (and saves energy because I no longer need to heat up a whole oven for just me). It also produces the crispest, most delicious jacket potato skin I’ve ever had. Lily Smith, researcher

View image in fullscreenStihl SHA 56 garden vacuum

The Stihl SHA 56 leaf blower and garden vacuum, which I tested for our guide to the best leaf blowers and vacuums, has been an absolute hit in my garden this year, not just for collecting leaves but for doing any of the work I’d normally use a broom for. Its added superpower of collecting whatever it’s been blowing about at the end of the job is the icing on the cake. Andy Shaw

View image in fullscreenE45 repairing hand cream, 50ml

£5.65 at AmazonI’ve taken up pottery this year, and my hands have paid the price. There’s nothing like handling wet clay to extract all the moisture from your skin. So, as soon as I’m done wiping down my station and labelling my wonky creations, I’m in need of urgent relief. I opted for the E45 repairing hand cream from Sarah Matthews’ best hand cream guide for two reasons: it’s cheap enough to share around the studio, and (as promised) it has a thick, nourishing texture. Sarah described it as a “refreshing drink of water for the hands”, and I couldn’t agree more – my mitts absolutely slurp the stuff up. Millie Fender, commissioning editor

View image in fullscreenJuly packing cells

£86 for eight at RevolveThe best thing I’ve tested is this set of July packing cubes, which came out on top in my roundup. For a disorganised person like me, packing cubes are a revelation. The July set did a particularly good job of preserving the crispness of shirts and trousers during a chaotic cross-country journey this summer. Pete Wise

View image in fullscreenCeraVe skin renewing vitamin C serum, 30ml

£22.50 at BootsI bought the CeraVe vitamin C serum on Danielle Wilkins’ recommendation. I was astounded when, after a week of using it, people started commenting on how “glowy” my face looked. I’m hoping it keeps me looking alive all the way through the grey winter months! Zoë Phillimore

View image in fullscreenThunderX3 Solo 360 gaming chair

We were switching my son’s and daughter’s rooms over and we needed extra incentive for him (Iggy) to accept the deal – he was moving into the smaller bedroom – and this chair from our best gaming chairs guide swung it. Iggy now has his own “gaming nook” (doubling up as my workspace), and the chair is saving my working-from-home slouching. Alex Jones, picture editor

View image in fullscreenSaucony Endorphin Azura running shoes Men’s

£112 at SauconyI’ve logged thousands of miles this year searching for the best running shoes. One of the standout all-rounders that can cope with almost anything is the Saucony Endorphin Azura. Go fast, go slow. No trouble. The perfect suitcase shoe at a pretty competitive price. Kieran Alger

View image in fullscreenNobody’s Child floral starlight midi dress

This isn’t so much something I’ve bought as something I’ve bought into. The vast majority of the clothing I’ve bought this year has been secondhand, thanks to Jane Hoskyn’s money-saving tips. My favourite find is a long cream dress (with pockets!) from Nobody’s Child, which I snagged for £15, down from a usual £85. Sarah Matthews

View image in fullscreenVonHaus Smart dehumidifier with laundry mode

£144.99 at ArgosAfter reading Caramel Quin’s roundup of the best dehumidifiers, I was convinced the budget VonHaus Smart dehumidifier was exactly what our damp house was crying out for. Not only is it incredibly satisfying to see so much water sucked out of the air, but it’s also become my new favourite (and fastest) way to dry laundry. Ella Jinadu, audience editor

View image in fullscreenGritin rechargeable book light

£8.59 at AmazonMy partner and I each have a clip-on reading light, recommended in our guide to the everyday items that could improve your life, and can fully vouch for how the disturbance-free glow has transformed our reading routines – both at bedtime and in the dark early mornings. They also came in handy on a recent camping trip when the wind made it impossible to sleep. EJ

View image in fullscreenGreenPan Frost ice-cream maker and slushie machine

£399.90 at BootsI love a kitchen gadget and became obsessed with the GreenPan soft-serve and slushie maker while I was testing it for best ice-cream makers. While I enjoyed the ice-cream, I loved making frozen cocktails even more – it was a real crowd-pleaser at parties too. Danielle Amato

View image in fullscreenJo Vodka 101 the Purist, 70cl

£50 at John LewisView image in fullscreenChopin potato vodka, 70cl

£39.75 at the Whisky ExchangeWhen I am tasked with testing a specific category, it ends up reigniting my love and interest in it. So, since testing vodka, I’m still fully into mixing myself ice-cold martinis (dry, with a twist, please) and variations on the theme. The top vodkas I’m still reaching for are the Jo Vodka and the Chopin, though I also made a fab lychee martini recently using Sapling raspberry. Joanne Gould

I’m also a new customer of Scilly Flowers after reading Zoë Phillimore’s piece on the best flower delivery services. I like that it tends to do arrangements of just one type of flower, which I find elegant, and it has varieties you don’t usually find with online florists; plus it can be amazing value. I sent someone 40 narcissus, which looked stunning, and sent my friend a sweet arrangement of scented pinks for a post-op cheer-up. JG

View image in fullscreenMerz b Schwanen 215 classic fit T-shirt

£95 at Merz b SchwanenTesting white T-shirts was my highlight, particularly Merz b Schwanen’s – the one Carmy wears in The Bear. After all, who doesn’t want to channel Jeremy Allen White sweating it out in a hot kitchen? At the risk of sounding like a true fashion nerd, there’s something fascinating about trying a dozen pieces that look identical but wear completely differently – and then deciding which takes the top spot. My partner now gets to hear all about 150gsm versus 220gsm and why Supima is the gold standard. Riveting stuff, I’m told. Peter Bevan

View image in fullscreenNiwaki hori hori pro

£42.99 at CrocusNiwaki’s hori hori tool has quite a cult following among professional gardeners (in tools pros can’t live without), but I could never see why I’d have much need for a knife in the garden. Now I realise it’s more of a sharp trowel – a very nifty garden tool – which has quickly replaced the old butter knife I previously used for all the same jobs. Kate Jacobs

View image in fullscreenPoon’s premium first extract soy sauce, 250ml

£18.99 at Selfridges I’ve tasted so many good things this year, but it’s the simplest one-ingredient products that have stood out for their incredible quality. The best thing I tried was Poon’s premium first-extract soy sauce (best overall from my soy sauce taste test). It’s wildly complex and fruity, made from non-GMO soya beans grown in Kaohsiung, southern Taiwan, pressed only once and naturally fermented in earthenware jars. Tom Hunt

£749 at John LewisThere are times when I wish the steady flow of big, brown boxes entering my home would slow to a drip, but KitchenAid’s recent deliveries have earned their keep. The standouts were from its new trio of slightly – just slightly, mind you – more affordable coffee machines.

The range-topping £899 KF4 (featured in our guide to the best coffee machines) is a delight, but it’s the fully automatic £749 KF3 that I think is the best value of the bunch. The coffee quality is superb, the milk froth is a delightfully dense, creamy microfoam, and given the performance, the price is fair. The slimline build is perfect for cramped kitchen worktops, too. A full review is on the way. Sasha Muller

View image in fullscreenTwinkle Tongue saliva enhancer gel

One of the most original and unexpectedly fun products I’ve tested this year was for my sexy gifts for Valentine’s Day guide. Twinkle Tongue is an all-natural, sour cherry-flavoured liquid that instantly provokes your salivary glands.

What’s the point of a product that makes you slaver and slobber? If you suffer from dry mouth caused by smoking, menopause, or as a side-effect of certain medications, then Twinkle Tongue can help make all sorts of intimate oral activities easier and more comfortable.

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