What to Subscribe to on Amazon
Amazon is my go-to. I love the convenience of Prime delivery, the prices are pretty much always cheaper than what you find in-store, and they have just about every brand available to shop in all categories. I’ve never liked the crowds at Costco, and with grocery store pricing getting out of control, I’ve turned to Amazon’s subscribe and save feature to keep my house stocked on all the essentials.
Subscriptions have always made me hesitant - I don’t want to be locked into anything, worry about forgetting to make adjustments and getting overcharged, and figuring out how to time things seemed overwhelming. Slowly over time, I’ve added new products to my Amazon subscribe and save and have not only found it to be really easy, but I’ve also somehow managed to save $894 over the last seven years without a single problem.
Below are all of the products that I subscribe to. Some I only get 2x a year, and some I get monthly without fail. This has added lots of convenience to my life, and I hope it helps you, too.
benefits of amazon subscribe and save
You can cancel or skip a delivery at any time without penalty (even if you only have something delivered once).
Amazon is really flexible with delivery timelines, with options ranging from weekly to 6+ months.
Products are delivered for free - no time or gas spent driving to the store.
There’s a wider range of products and brands available than you get at warehouse stores, like Costco or Sam’s Club.
Everything is in one place. Lots of stores and brands have adapted a subscription model, but Amazon is more central. You don’t have to keep track of different accounts or delivery dates.
Amazon sends you a reminder email before placing the order, so you have time to adjust before being charged. No sneakiness.
the best subscribe and save products on amazon
home cleaning products
Seventh Generation Disinfecting Multi Surface Wipes, 70 Count, Pack of 6 - I have these delivered monthly, which may seem extreme, but I use them daily and wipe down every surface with them. They clean well, don’t leave a film or burn your hands, and the scent is very light yet fresh. I find the Lemongrass Citrus scent tears a little easier than the Mint, or else I’d get those.
Koala Eco Natural Hand Wash - My favorite hand soap; it’s gentle and doesn’t dry out your hands, and the bottle lasts a long time. If Amazon is ever out of stock, I replace it with the Method Foaming Hand Soap.
Cascade Platinum Dishwasher Pods - I want to switch to a cleaner alternative, but the ones I’ve tried leave a film on your dishes. Right now we have these delivered every 3 months, but sometimes have to adjust, which is easy to do.
office supplies
As much as I love back to school shopping at Target, the prices on Amazon are just so much better. I take notes and make lists daily, so I go through a lot of office supplies. Here’s what I have delivered once or twice a year:
PILOT Acroball PureWhite pens - I wouldn’t have to subscribe to these if people didn’t steal them, but they write really well and are lightweight, so I understand.
Pentel RSVP Ballpoint Pens - My favorite pens for color-coding notes; they don’t bleed and last a really long time.
Sharpie Permanent Markers - I like this set because you get thin and thick options. I probably get these closer to 4x a year, since we use them throughout the house and keep an extra set in our cars.
Sharpie Tank Highlighters - The thick, old-school neon highlighters that take forever to dry out, these will forever be a staple.
NatureTouch Sticky Notes - I like that these are neutral colored as opposed to neon, and they’re thick, so markers won’t bleed through.
DesignWorks Ink Standard Issue Ledger No. 7 Black To Do List Notepad - This looks way fancier than it is, and it’s the perfect size for making lists on the go. I’d probably buy them in bulk if it weren’t for the subscribe feature.
beauty
hair
Amika the kure Bond Repair Shampoo - The best smelling shampoo; my boyfriend uses it and loves it, too. It’s hydrating without weighing your hair down, easy to wash out, and leaves your hair really soft and shiny.
Hair Chemist Macadamia Deep Repair Masque - The first item I ever subscribed to on Amazon; I’ve gone through 20+ containers of this over the years. This is the best hair mask if you’re on a budget; it’s under $9 if you subscribe. It makes your hair so soft and tames frizz, yet it’s lightweight and easy to wash out.
Ouai Fine to Medium Hair Treatment Masque - I use this as my conditioner. You can get it at Ulta or Target, but the subscription consistently saves me money instead of having to wait around for a sale.
Amika soulfood Nourishng Mask - My go-to hair mask, this is hydrating, lightweight, and doesn’t have to be left in for long in order to see results. Hair masks can be pricey because they’re not really an item you can buy in bulk or bundle with other products, so I like that the Amazon subscription discounts it just as it is.
UNITE Hair 7SECONDS Detangler Leave-In Conditioner - This is a leave-in as well as a heat protectant; it’s also clean-beauty certified. It saves my hair from the heat and salt water in the summer, and adds hydration back in while eliminating frizz and static in the winter. A little goes a long way, so I only need this delivered every 4-5 months.
skincare
SkinMedica AHA/ BHA Exfoliating Cleanser - My favorite cleanser; this is a gel but lathers well and doesn’t dry me out. The only downside is that local stores don’t sell it in person, so Amazon is really helpful for ordering anything by this brand.
Dr Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily Peel - I reserve these for when I’m breaking out, wearing makeup more frequently, traveling, or have a special event coming up. Amazon’s subscribe feature really helps you save, especially if you buy the 75-count.
Obagi Medical Hydrate Facial Moisturizer - The most straightforward moisturizer you can get, and I love that this works on all skin types. It doesn’t leave you greasy, doesn’t leave a white cast or wierd residue, and you can use it day or night. There’s also a luxe version, which I use during the colder months. Another item you can’t get in stores, so I really appreciate the convenience of Amazon when it comes to this as opposed to online beauty stores, which take a lot longer to ship.
LanoLips 101 Ointment Multi-Balm - The best lip mask, and the only one that lasts all night. I’ve tried absolutely everything (Summer Fridays, Bite, Laneige) and this is the best, and way cheaper than what you can find at Sephora. If i have any dry spots on my face, i’ll also apply this as a spot treatment and it heals them overnight. My boyfriend uses this overnight, too.
PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50 - More often than not, I use this sunscreen on my face even though I think it’s marketed for body, and the brand has face-specific formulations. Living in southern California and spending time outside, I need a higher SPF, and this doesn’t need to be reapplied as often as the products they make specifically for your face. This is a clean brand and it doesn't clog pores or cause breakouts.
Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF 40 Sunscreen with Hyaluronic Acid + Niacinamide - When i want extra glow, I like this shimmery sunscreen in the shade Sunrise. It gives you a good glow without any chunky glitter, and doesn’t break up or cause your makeup to separate throughout the day. I don’t use this as often, so I only have it delivered twice a year.
makeup
beautyblender 2-piece Bundle - I like to get the duo and keep one in my makeup/ travel bag, as well as one at home. I do clean them regularly, but my skin is so sensitive that I still find it best to replace them every couple months.
L’Oreal Paris Makeup Voluminous Million Lashes Mascara - The mascara I’ve used for years and years, it’s waterproof but not hard to remove. I find this holds a curl better than anything else, and I’ll layer it with the Milk mascara for volume.
MILK Makeup RISE Waterproof Mascara - My other favorite mascara. It adds volume without clumping, and is really lightweight. It’s a drier formula but doesn’t dry out your eyes. This is also available at Sephora and the MILK website, but I subscribe on Amazon to stay mindful of the expiration date and save money.
Tweezerman Classic Lash Curler (Rose Gold) - I am very tough on my eyelash curlers, and always lose them, too. Replacing the pads and the eyelash curler itself prevents breakage/ eyelash loss, and is really worth it because mascara is the one makeup item I wear daily. I like this specific curler for my almond eyes, as opposed to their other models. I get a new one delivered every 6 months.
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz - Another beauty staple you don’t realize how much you need until it runs out, I need a new one every 4 months but don’t want to wait for a sale at Sephora or Macy’s.
self-tanning
Loving Tan 2H Express Mousse in Dark - if you follow my blog, you know I’m always testing out different self-tanners, but this is the best and I go through it pretty quickly. You can find this at Ulta or Target, but Amazon is the only way I’ve found to save money on it year-round.
Loving Tan Self Tanning Applicator Mitt - To be honest, pretty much all self-tanning mitts are the same so you could subscribe to any of them. This one is slightly thicker, so you don’t have to worry about the tan soaking through, and it’s priced fairly.
Loving Tan Removing & Skin Polishing Glove - Obsessed with this. It works better than a loofah, and I can use it more frequently on my sensitive skin than I can with scrubs (3x a week vs 1x a week). They do lose their abrasiveness over time (or maybe I scrub too hard), so I get a new one every six months.
Lux Unfiltered N12 Fake Tan Face Drops - The only tanning product I’ll use on my face, as they’re made with skincare in mind and fragrance-free. The downside is they expire really quickly if you don’t store them in a dark, cool place. I get these delivered 2x a year.
food and groceries
Grocery store prices seem to rise weekly, no matter how many coupons you use. Whenever possible, I try to get all pantry staples that don’t require the fridge or freezer on Amazon. Some of our essentials are:
I also have this almond milk delivered 1x a year, since it’s shelf-stable and lasts forever. This is a huge discount, since Califa is typically only found at health-food stores.
As far as snacks go, I try to keep a stock of:
Tate’s Bake Shop Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies (we are not gluten-free; I just think these taste better than the regular)
I also use Amazon for a lot of organic baking staples, like:
Vanilla beans, to make our own vanilla extract (check out the recipe here)
fitness and personal wellness
Ascent 100% Whey Protein Powder - We like Chocolate or Vanilla, and switch between the flavors each delivery. They do have this brand of protein at Costco, but the auto-delivery is much more convenient than planning a Costco trip.
Active Stacks Collagen Peptides Protein Powder - Another protein favorite, this one is pricey so the subscription discount really helps. It’s one of the cleanest proteins on the market and tastes almost like brownie batter because it’s so rich. We only get Chocolate.
Sports Research Collagen Peptides - I’ve noticed less soreness in my joints (and shinier hair) since I started taking this. There’s a lot of different collagen powder supplements on the market, but my doctor recommended Sports Research over the Vital brand because it’s higher quality. This mixes well; I either add it to a protein shake or a glass of tea.
Vitamins and supplements - Everyone has different needs, so I’d recommend talking to your doctor or running a blood test to see if you’re deficient in anything. The vitamins in my daily rotation right now are L-Theanine, Magnesium Glycinate (which has really helped with my migraines), and Vegan Omega-3.
pet
Blue Buffalo True Solutions Perfect Skin & Coat Natural Dry Food - Our dogs get a homemade breakfast every morning, but Blue (the pitbull) prefers to snack on dry dog food at the end. Ask your vet for recommendations; Blue is just so picky that this is the only thing that works.
The Missing Link Skin & Coat + Probiotics Supplement - A little bit of this gets drizzled onto the dogs’ homemade breakfasts. They don’t mind the taste, and it’s really helped keep Blue’s coat healthy. This is delivered monthly.
Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil - Another monthly delivery that helps with their coats, this is safe for cats, too.
Dog toys - The squeakers break so easily, yet dog toys can be expensive! These are tiny for small dogs, but there are options for larger dogs, too. I like that the subscription means they get a toy regularly, and I will switch out the kind so they don’t end up with 100 little squirrels (although they wouldn’t be mad at that).
