We may earn income from products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Find out more >
In a market saturated with wellness products that promise to fix your entire life but rarely deliver any benefit, this year's self-care winners stand out for actually solving real problems. The Class of 2025 represents true inclusivity and thoughtful design—from a breast pump made obsolete to improve wearability, to world-class headphones that double as hearing aids and workout coaches. These products aren't just chasing trends or throwing around pseudoscientific buzzwords. Instead, they're solving overlooked problems with smart technology: making scent bottles easier to grip, transforming sleep programs for stressed-out parents and reimagining recovery tools so athletes can soothe tense muscles while moving. Each winner proves that meaningful innovation comes when companies take real user needs into account and use that knowledge to make good products great.
(Editor's note: This is an excerpt from Popular Science's 38th Annual “Best of New” Awards. Be sure to read complete list of the 50 greatest innovations of 2025.)
Grand Prix Winner in the “Personal Hygiene” category
Willow Wave manual breast pump from Willow: modern mobility and manual expression
Find out more
The market for wearable breast pumps has exploded in recent years, allowing parents to express milk without being tethered to a connected device or getting tangled in tubing. Some options now put the entire pumping mechanism into a mold that can fit into your bra, promising a level of privacy that was unthinkable just a decade ago. But most of them come with a major caveat: they're loud. Motor noise can make it nearly impossible to pump, which might otherwise go unnoticed during a video call or in a quiet office. The Willow Wave solves this problem by replacing the whining motor with an old-fashioned hand pump mechanism, but without sacrificing the portability that makes portable pumps so appealing in the first place. Building on the company's experience creating the first electric pump to be worn in a bra, Willow reimagined what a manual pump could be. The Wave fits completely into a standard nursing bra. Its ergonomic handle prevents hand fatigue while pumping and connects via a 34-inch adjustable tube, giving users true freedom of movement and complete control over the device's hospital-grade suction. The result is a portable pump that is finally quiet enough to use anywhere—even during a morning video conference.
Nike Hyperboot × Hyperice: Recovery that keeps pace with you
Find out more
Compression boots have rightfully become a fashionable recovery aid, but most of them require you to sit still during treatment. Hyperboot offers a portable alternative in the form of battery-powered shoes. It combines Hyperice's Normatec dynamic air compression with targeted thermotherapy, all in a portable form that allows you to recover while standing, walking, sitting or traveling. Compressing the air directs heat deeper into the ankle and Achilles tendon tissues for more effective healing. Whether you're taking a walk between meetings or traveling from marathon to marathon, Hyperboot delivers pro-level recovery without forcing you to stop and sit. It's the kind of multi-tasking recovery tool that busy athletes and weekend warriors have been waiting for.
Rare Eau de Parfum from Rare Beauty: a fragrance created for everyone
Find out more
Most perfume bottles prioritize aesthetics over accessibility, leaving those with limited hand dexterity to contend with flimsy caps and rigid spray mechanisms. Rare Beauty founder Selena Gomez, who suffers from lupus-related arthritis, wanted her brand's first foray into fragrance to go better. The bottle has a convenient shape and a low-force spray mechanism, making application easy for people with limited mobility or strength. The oversized pump can be pressed with any part of the hand or even with the hand, eliminating the need for precise finger pressure. Aside from its affordability, the fragrance itself offers unusual versatility: wear it alone or pair it with Fragrance Layering Balms to customize the scent to suit your mood or occasion.
Apple's AirPods Pro 3: The world's most powerful headphones will help you feel better
Find out more
Apple's latest AirPods Pro are likely to get a spot somewhere on the BOWN list only for its upgraded active noise cancellation and improved acoustic isolation. But the health and wellness features of the headphones make them an ideal choice for self-care. Apple's smallest-ever heart rate sensor emits invisible light into the ear at 256 times per second, providing accurate workout readings without a chest strap. Workout Buddy, powered by Apple Intelligence, sends personalized motivational messages mid-workout, while a combination of built-in accelerometers, gyroscope and dedicated photoplethysmography sensor tracks heart rate, calories burned and progress across up to 50 workout types. AirPods Pro 3 also offers comprehensive hearing health capabilities. Users can take a science-based hearing test and then use the hearing aid feature to adjust mild to moderate hearing loss. Meanwhile, Hearing Protection uses machine learning to prevent further hearing damage by reducing environmental noise 48,000 times per second. These aren't just exceptional headphones; They are a complete health companion that also provides impeccable sound quality.
Ozlo Sleepbuds from Ozlo: a sleep tracker that actually helps you fall asleep
Find out more
Sleep tracking devices are everywhere, but most of them just give you data. Ozlo Sleepbuds take a different approach, combining comfortable equipment with advanced noise-canceling technology and truly useful knowledge. Designed to keep you comfortable all night (even for side sleepers), the tiny headphones let you stream soothing content, audiobooks, meditations, or your favorite playlist as you drift off to sleep. Using built-in biometric sensors to detect when you've fallen asleep, they automatically switch to noise-canceling sound that blocks out snoring, traffic and other disturbances. The charging case also acts as an environmental sensor.
PopSci Gift Guide for 2025
