It seems like the quest for healthy, glowing skin is never-ending. And while it’s fun (and certainly beneficial) to try countless new creams and masks, investing in one of the best humidifiers on the market is an effortless way to moisturize your skin while you sleep, do chores, or lounge around the house.
Besides keeping skin hydrated, there are tons of other benefits of a humidifier. They can help your breathing, the purity of your air, your hair health, and even your wood furniture, but here's the gist of it: almost everything in your body (like your your nasal cavities) needs moisture to function properly. A good humidifier puts moisture back into your home, which is especially important during fall and winter, since low temperatures mean low moisture.
Once you decide to get a humidifier (which, IMO, everyone should), there are a few more decisions to make. Which is best: warm, cool, or ultrasonic? Truthfully, it depends on your needs. Cool mist humidifiers are great for children and hard water, because they're safe and help to filter out minerals and build-up. Warm mist helps to get rid of bacteria by first boiling the water, but can be dangerous around kids and pets. Ultrasonic models are great for people who hate white noise, because rather than a loud fan, they use high frequency sound waves (ones we can't hear) to turn water into a fine mist.
So now that you know what your options are, it's time to look at the best humidifiers in each category.
1This Quiet Model That Consumer Reports Calls The "Best Buy"
Honeywell Mistmate Cool Mist Humidifier, $26, Amazon
Consumer Reports awards this Honeywell Mistmate cool mist humidifier the title of "best buy" because it offers low noise levels, efficiency, and convenience at a great price. It doesn't require any filters, and only needs weekly maintenance rather than daily. Its ultra-quiet operation makes it ideal for bedrooms, relaxation areas, or desktops, and it shuts off when the tank is empty for safety purposes.
2This Ultrasonic Humidifier That Puts Silence And Safety First
TaoTronics Cool Mist Humidifier, $55, Amazon
This super high-tech humidifier is called the TaoTronics Cool Mist, and it's got nearly 2,000 rave reviews and tons of features. It produces less than 38 decibels of noise for an output that reviewers call "completely silent." It's also got a microporous cartridge that thoroughly filters out microorganisms and odors, giving you better, safer air. The four-liter tank can run continuously for up to 15 hours, the nozzle rotates to direct humidity anywhere, and it has a built-in timer and sleep mode. Can't stand light while you sleep, either? The intuitive LED display can be turned off for almost total darkness.
3This Warm Mist Humidifier That Zaps Away Bacteria And Provides Comfort When You're Sick
Vicks Warm Mist Humidifier, $30, Amazon
While warm mist humidifiers are becoming increasingly rarer due to safety reasons, they do have their advantages. The Vicks warm mist humidifier heats the water in a boiling chamber to get rid of 95 percent of bacteria. It then mixes with cool air in the cooling chamber to ensure that it won't burn anyone. It's great for moisturizing the nasal cavity and throat during illness, and it even has a medicine cup so you can create a medicated vapor that soothes and comforts. Its quiet function, soft glow nightlight, and two output settings make it ideal for any room in the house.
4This Luxury Humidifier That Tackles Large Spaces And Requires Minimal Maintenance
Air Innovations Cool Mist Digital Humidifier, $60, Amazon
Ideal for large rooms, this Air Innovations humidifier can hydrate up to 600 square feet. Its permanent ceramic filter never needs to be replaced, and can hold enough water to run up to 96 hours on one fill. Consumer Reports rates it excellent in noise, efficiency, and output, and gives it an extremely high overall score of 90. With five mist settings, a rotating mist nozzle, and adjustable humidity levels, you can personalize almost everything about it. It's even got an antimicrobial tank and base to ensure that the air you're breathing is fresh and clean.
5This Two-In-One Humidifier Diffuser That Offers Both Warm And Cool Mist
hOmeLabs Cool Mist Humidifier Diffuser, $38, Amazon
The ceramic hOmeLabs humidifier diffuser has a ton of features that make it unique. In addition to both warm and cold steam options, this unit doubles as an aromatherapy diffuser to use with your favorite essential oils. It also has a fan in it for people who find white noise calming, and can run up to ten hours with its four-liter tank. It even shuts off when it reaches the bottom and comes with a free cleaning brush to keep its filterless portable design extra sanitary.
6This Genius Travel Humidifier That Uses Any Standard Sizes Water Bottle As A Tank
NexGadget Mini Cool Mist Humidifier, $20, Amazon
If you're looking for added moisture on the road, at the office, or in hotel rooms, there's the NexGadget mini cool mist humidifier. It's powered by AA batteries or any USB device, like your computer, wall charger, car charger, or power bank. Simply screw any standard sized water bottle into the device and experience two, four, or six hours of hydrating mist.
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