Best Early Black Friday Deals Under $25

CR writer Jodhaira Rodriguez sprang for a lick mat as a means of feeding her cat, Frank, his wet food, while making sure he doesn’t munch his meals away too quickly. For his dry food, she opted for this puzzle, which he loves. “It really slows him down and keeps him busy for a while,” she says.

The Casfuy Dog Nail Grinder is a two-speed grinder with three grinding ports that are designed to suit the size of your dog’s nails. Because it was less powerful than the Dremel, it took longer to get a nail down to the same length. However, it was also quieter, which made it a better choice for the more anxious dog in our evaluations. It does lack a safety guard, but because it operates more slowly, it’s easier to watch your progress and stop before you reach the quick.

Need a litter box and don’t want to spend a lot? This is a great option, especially with the extra savings (even if it’s just a small discount). It could be the perfect way to keep your pets happy if you have a multi-cat home and need a multi-box solution. We tested this box with five different cats, and they all used it without any issues. In fact, the lower entrance made it easy for them to get in and out to do their business. And the snap-on lid offers a lot of privacy and helps keep litter in. But the latch isn’t super secure, so it may not be ideal if your cat is especially active in the litter box.

Aside from serving as a stimulating activity for pets, puzzle treat dispensers can be a great way to encourage slow(ish) snacking. Nicky Besuden, CR’s associate director of new ventures, recommends this dynamic treat dispenser: “My dog loves all the treat puzzles.”

This has been $12 for some time now, but treat puzzles can get pretty pricey, so we like to keep it on the list as another affordable option to delight your pets.

Melissa Garber, a UX researcher at CR, swears by these magnetic clips from Oxo. “They don’t break, and they serve the dual purpose of keeping chips fresh and kids’ art securely hung on the fridge,” she says. “I use them on bags of pretzels and Extra Toasty Cheez-Its.”

The ThermoPro TP19H instant-read meat thermometer offers handheld temperature readings with a single stowable probe. There’s a built-in LED and rotation lock for the display, and a magnetic backing allows you to store it on your refrigerator between meals. Perfect for checking meats, this simple thermometer delivers reliably accurate readings within seconds.

We found the Onlyone Water Flosser quite easy to use and charge. Despite its smaller countertop footprint, it holds quite a lot of water, which means longer flossing sessions without needing a refill. The removable tank has a large opening, which facilitates easy filling.

The 400-pound-capacity Wyze Scale S is accurate and consistent, with an easy-to-use app and plenty of extra features. The scale displays weight and body fat percentage (though we don’t test the latter’s accuracy). This model is compatible with Apple Health, Google Fit, Fitbit, and the Wyze app—though it doesn’t sync with Samsung Health.

The Etekcity ESF-551 is a smart scale that performs well in most of our tests. It’s very easy to use, and it has an easy-to-use app with a variety of features. The ESF-551 connects to WiFi and Bluetooth, has a backlit display, and offers automatic weight tracking, body-fat percentage, and BMI.

The Gillette Venus was a clear winner in our evaluations of the best razors. The silver handle is pleasantly weighted, and it has a grippy spot for your thumb that makes it easier to hold in the shower. The razor head has a large lubricating strip. Since the head is so bulky, you may need to angle it carefully while shaving difficult areas, such as the hollow of an underarm or an ankle. 

The Whatafit Resistance Bands offer consistent and uniform performance across a wide range of exercises in our resistance band tests. The set includes five training bands (10-, 20-, 30-, 40-, and 50-pound) for up to 150 pounds of total resistance when stacked. The Whatafit resistance bands are made from latex with steel carabiner clips, and the set includes two cushioned handles, two ankle straps, one door anchor, a carrying bag, and an exercise guidance booklet.

The Theraband Therapy Resistance Bands are a consistent and uniform set of flat resistance bands, with a wide range of exercises, though the set is much lighter than anything else we tested. It comes with three training bands (4.3-, 5.5-, and 6.7-pound bands) for up to 16.5 pounds of resistance. The TheraBand Therapy Resistance Bands are made from latex.

Few things in life feel as great and refreshing as a spritz of Caudalie’s iconic Beauty Elixir—especially after a long-haul flight or a workout. This versatile mist hasn’t gone on sale in since last fall, but now, thanks to the coupon code FRIEND, is on sale for 15 percent off. Made from grape extract and a variety of essential oils such as rose, peppermint, and rosemary, it can be used as a setting spray for makeup or a little pick-me-up whenever you need it.

This lightly scented micellar water from a popular French brand landed in the middle of every evaluator’s ranking. “It gets the job done,” said one evaluator. Another said it required a few swipes with a cotton pad to remove tubing mascara, “but nothing too strenuous.”

Although the company claims its product is designed for sensitive skin, the inclusion of fragrance may mean it isn’t right for everyone.

This Eucerin Advanced Hydration SPF 50 spray is a solid performer with broad-spectrum protection. Its tested SPF comes close to its labeled SPF 50. Like the sunscreen above, it also has that plastic fragrance-free aroma, and it left a slight draggy film on testers’ skin.

Swisspers came through in our tests with above-average strength and respectable durability and functionality. Their texture was what truly won us over, with a few of our testers lauding the exfoliating properties of the textured side. However, one of the testers didn’t like that quality about them. This wipe is noticeably smaller than those from our other top picks, but that trade-off allows for the most compact, easy-to-store packaging of the bunch. The box features a lid that tucks neatly inside to create a secure closure, and the wipes dispense from an opening at the top.

This spray aced our static test. It did a good job at removing static electricity from toddler socks and microfiber cloths. Note, however, that the scent is quite strong.

These wipes required an extra swipe to remove jam from a stovetop, and their smell is very strong. That being said, they cleaned up sriracha well, and were easy to remove from their packaging.

This classic, bright, concentrated cleaner can be used on most home surfaces. In our tests, it was especially good at lifting dirt from floors. It’s strongly scented, but if you’re looking for a bargain, it’s a solid buy, especially at 17 percent off.

The best feature about this caulk is that it does not require a caulk gun to dispense. In our tests, it had the second-best adhesion on painted wood and worked just as well after being exposed to extreme cold and hot temperatures.