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I'm a gifting expert — here are the best presents to buy during Prime Day

I sorted through thousands of Amazon deals to help you find gifts worth giving, like a No. 1 bestselling DNA kit for 60% off.

Lifestraw, Aura digital picture frame, Grace and Stella eye masks
Get a jumpstart on giving season this Prime Day! Save on LifeStraw, AeroPress and other top brands. (Amazon)

Maybe you plan to use October's Amazon Prime Day to stock up on everyday essentials. Or maybe you're going to splash out on those big-ticket items you've had on your wishlist (now's a great time to buy an iPad). But if you really want to make the most of the sale, then take my advice: Start your holiday shopping a tad early.

Now I may be a bit biased here, but I'm all for spreading out the spending and shipments so you're not getting all of your presents in one fell swoop. Not exactly sure who or what you're shopping for? Keep scrolling for some of the go-to gifts that I like to give and receive, along with the top products that our editors tested (and loved!) in the last year.

In the spirit of giving, I scouted out the best deals for you, including a six-pack of eye masks that comes in at just $7 and a bestselling DNA kit for 60% off. Pick 'em up now and hide them somewhere safe to ensure that no one catches a glimpse between now and the holidays.

I think bubble baths are a tad overrated. There, I said it. A long, hot shower is way more my speed. When I want to turn my shower into a spa-like experience, I reach for these aromatherapy-packed steamers. Just stick a tab in the corner of the shower and it'll emit calming scents like lavender, chamomile or jasmine. 

I always stock up when they're on sale (they're 25% off right now) since they make great gifts for the impossible-to-shop for. You can crack open the tube to divvy up the steamers between gift baskets and stockings. 

$16 at Amazon

The best gift you can give the people you love most? The guarantee that they'll have clean drinking water, whether they're hitting the trails, camping in the mountains or jet-setting to other countries. Here's the deal: They probably won't pull it out on the day-to-day, but when they run into anything questionable, they'll be glad to have this portable water filter within reach. Just stick the straw in any body of water — no matter how murky — and it'll remove sand, silt, cloudiness and unwanted germs as they sip. 

It's on sale for $10 this Prime Day, making it the lowest price we've seen all year. Peace of mind is priceless, don't ya think?

Save $10 | Lowest price of the year
$10 at Amazon

Help a loved one dig even deeper into their story. All they need to do is send in a saliva sample with the prepaid label, and they'll get an in-depth report outlining their family history, ethnicity and DNA matches in as little as six weeks. 

Get it for just $39 (that's 60% off)— and since it's such an unbeatable deal, pick up a couple of extras to give to your parents, siblings or grandparents during future holidays. 

$39 at Amazon

Why? Because one picture is never enough. Upload photos or videos directly from your phone (or theirs) to this Wi-Fi-powered frame through the accompanying app or by sending them to the dedicated email address. It has free, unlimited storage, so they can look back on as many moments as they wish, plus they can invite family and friends to add new memories to the rotation. And if you're giving it to your grandma, grandpa or another loved one who's hesitant about tech, you can set it up in advance so their only task is to turn it on and enjoy the show. 

Aura's pricier model, The Walden, topped Senior Tech Writer Rick Broida's list of the best digital picture frames, but this budget-friendly pick has all the same bells and whistles. The main difference is that this one's about 5 inches smaller — but that's a small price to pay, especially since you can get it for 20% off right now. 

$141 at Amazon

You can easily spend a pretty penny on eye masks, but this six-pack of bestselling pink beauties is just $7 right now — roughly $1 a pop! We tested dozens of popular eye masks a few months back, and our contributing beauty writer Marie Lodi raved about the "simple eye mask that cools my eye bags without any drama." 

Ingredients like fructose and hyaluronic acid give delicate skin a much-needed hydration boost, but they also work to brighten, depuff and smooth out fine lines. They'll work their magic in as little as 20 minutes — leave 'em on for even longer, then pat the remaining essence into the skin for added moisture. 

$7 at Amazon

I love my Nespresso machine as much as the next person, but I can't exactly throw it in my bag and brew a cup of coffee on the go. AeroPress is one of my favorite discoveries of 2024. Admittedly, I'm a little late to the game, but better late than never, right? It's easy to use even when I'm away from the comforts of home — fill the press with fresh grounds, pour hot water over the top and let it steep. It combines the methods of an espresso machine, pour-over coffee maker and French press. The result? Perfectly balanced coffee without the unwanted (but seemingly inevitable) gritty texture. 

You'd easily spend a couple bucks on a quality cup of joe. Well, you can snag this three-in-one coffee maker for only $35 (30% off), which a way better deal in the long run. 

with Prime
$50 at Amazon
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$50 at Wayfair$50 at Target

Cut the cords: Stick this nifty transmitter into the headphone jack of any plane seat to listen to movies, TV shows and music with any pair of Bluetooth headphones. This high-flying gadget earned Broida's stamp of approval (which is quite the honor, I might add), and his glowing review was all the convincing I needed to pick up one before my trip to Italy. Since then, I've bought one for my dad and boyfriend, so they can use their AirPods during future flights. 

If you're going to get one, splash out on the Pro model (currently 20% off) so two people can connect their headphones simultaneously. It's kind of like you're getting two for the price of one.

$52 at Amazon

The latest beauty buzz? Snail mucin is the secret to "glass skin." Our beauty expert Jennifer Romolini joined a legion of Amazon shoppers and gave this slimy, skin-soothing serum a rave review. After just two weeks, it improved the appearance of her fine lines and evened out her complexion. I wholeheartedly trust her, which is why I'm finally taking the plunge and picking up a bottle during the sale. 

I tend to steer clear of skin care when it comes to gifting, but this No. 1 bestseller works on most sensitive skin types. My advice: Pick up a bottle for yourself and give it a whirl, then gift it to someone based on your firsthand experience. It works out since you can grab a bottle for just over half off — get two for the price of one!

$13 at Amazon

Deals writer Britt Ross called this the "smartest invention ever" — and I agree. Stick any candle underneath the light, then choose the brightness, set a timer and take in its aroma — no flames, no soot, no fear of forgetting to blow it out. 

I'm not a fan of giving candles as gifts. They're boring, overdone and just a bit thoughtless (unless the recipient constantly has something burning, of course). This is a more creative way in — and right now, you can save over 20%. 

$27 at Amazon

Lightweight jackets from a retailer who shall not be named (alright, J. Crew) come in close to $100. This one? It's practically a third of that price. Amazon fashion can be a hit or miss, but let me be the first to tell you that this sweater-jacket hybrid is as chic as the competitors. It's the perfect layering piece — wear it open over a basic t-shirt or button it up for a more elevated look. 

"My husband said I looked like a college girl! Who wouldn’t love compliments like this? Just enough thickness to give it shape," one five-star fashionista wrote. Snatch it up for $30 (down from $60) and prepare to be showered with compliments.  

$30 at Amazon

If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

Your October Prime Day Shopping Guide: See all of our Prime Day coverage. Shop the best Prime Day deals on Yahoo Life. Follow Engadget for Prime Day tech deals. And find Prime Day sales to shop on AOL, handpicked just for you.