The gadgets that end up in the drawer by spring

The pitch finds you at 10:40 p.m., phone in hand, with a before-and-after photo and a countdown clock. Or it finds you at a demo table, where a woman in an apron makes the thing look effortless in ninety seconds. If the late-night scroll is where most of these get you, getting your evenings back from a phone built to keep them is worth ten minutes.

Do the math before you buy. Say a gadget costs $120. That's an example, not a quote. Use it twice and each use cost you $60. Use it a hundred times and each cost $1.20. Nearly everything below lands closer to the first number.

Facial cleansing brushes

The promise: a deeper clean than your hands can give.

Your hands are fine. The spinning head can over-scrub, and many dermatologists warn against scrubbing skin that's already irritated. The bristle heads also sit wet in a warm bathroom, and the maker publishes a replacement schedule you'll need to follow. Most people don't, and the brush becomes the dirtiest thing on the sink.

Do this instead: a gentle cleanser, lukewarm water, and a clean washcloth. Sixty seconds.

Worth it if: arthritis or limited grip makes washing your face hard. Then a powered brush is a real help. Look for soft bristles and heads that are easy to replace.

LED light masks

The promise: clearer, younger-looking skin while you watch TV.

The ads imply a lot. Check the listing for the exact claim the device is cleared or registered for, and read it word for word. It's usually narrower than the ad. Then check the return window before you open the box, because a mask that's uncomfortable to wear will stay in its case.

Do this instead: a basic routine you'll actually keep. If you've got a real skin concern, a visit to a dermatologist costs less than most of these masks and gets you an answer instead of a hope.

Worth it if: your dermatologist recommends one for a specific condition and tells you which kind.

Jade rollers, gua sha stones and ice globes

The promise: a lifted, depuffed face.

Morning puffiness tends to fade on its own once you've been upright a while. What these tools mostly offer is a pleasant five minutes and a pretty object on the vanity. That's not nothing. It's just not a treatment.

Do this instead: a washcloth run under cold water, or a spoon from the freezer, held against the puffy spot for a minute. Cost: zero.

Worth it if: you enjoy the ritual and you're not paying for the idea that it's doing something clinical. Buy the plain stone, not the one with the story.

The twelve-attachment hair styler

The promise: one tool, every style, no more clutter.

The clutter is the tool. You'll find the one barrel you like in week one, and the other attachments will live in the box for the rest of its life. Heat tools also get used daily, which is the only reason to spend on one, and a daily tool should be good at one job.

Do this instead: a decent dryer and the one styling tool you already know how to use. Check the warranty for what it covers and who pays shipping.

Worth it if: you've borrowed a multi-styler and used most of the attachments more than once. Test the claim on yourself before you pay for it.

Single-purpose kitchen gadgets

The promise: the avocado slicer, the egg cooker, the strawberry huller, the banana slicer. Each one fixes a problem you didn't know you had.

You did know. The problem was a knife and a spoon, and you've been solving it since you were twelve. These live in the drawer, take up the space where the good tongs should be, and every one needs washing after one use.

Do this instead: a sharp paring knife and a sturdy spoon. Learn the five-second version of anything these claim to improve.

Worth it if: the gadget solves a problem you've had at least three times. Or if you've got weak hands, in which case a jar opener or an easy-grip peeler is simply good design.

The trendy countertop appliance

The promise: homemade everything. Ice cream, juice, bread, whatever's trending this month.

The rule is simple. If you wouldn't keep it on the counter, you won't use it. If it lives in a high cabinet, it's already dead. Then add the cleanup, because every one of these has parts, and the parts are the reason it never comes out.

Do this instead: a pot, a sheet pan and a skillet will cook nearly everything your family eats. Before you buy anything new, ask where it'll live and what you'll make with it next week.

Worth it if: a slow cooker or multicooker would cover your weeknights. Think ball practice, a 6 p.m. dinner and a house that needs to eat anyway. That category earns its space when it's used weekly. Read the one-year-later owner reviews and look for complaints about lids, seals and the switch before you pick one.

The knife block set

The promise: every knife you'll ever need, in a tidy wooden block.

You'll use three. The other eleven are filler, and the block's slots hide whatever the steel is doing underneath. You'd get better knives for the same money by buying the three separately.

Do this instead: a chef's knife, a paring knife and a serrated bread knife, plus a way to keep them sharp. A sharp cheap knife beats a dull expensive one, and it's safer too. Hold it in your hand before you buy. Check whether the handle fits your grip.

Worth it if: the block was a gift, or it's a clear bargain and you've confirmed the three you need are actually good. Otherwise skip.

How to say no at the counter

Sales help is polite, so you can be too. Three lines that work:

• "I'll think about it." Then leave.
• "I'll start with the basic one." You can always go back.
• "No thanks, I'm all set." Say it warmly and don't explain.

Use the 48-hour rule. If you still want it two days later and can name the exact spot where it'll live, buy it. Check the return policy first. The same habit works on the supplement aisle, where which supplements aimed at women actually earn the money lays out how to sort the useful from the shiny.

The drawer's already full. Let the next thing earn its place.