11 Prime Day deals our shopping experts added to their carts this year

My wife has been wanting an Apple Watch all year so as an early birthday present, I scooped up this incredible Apple Watch Series 8 Prime Day deal today. At just $280, it's the lowest price we've ever seen, which made me feel confident I was getting a solid discount. Plus, after seeing that our buying guide to the best Apple Watches ranks the Series 8 in the top spot, I knew it was the right model vs. the SE 2nd Gen (which is also on sale). If you're considering it, don't wait until tomorrow since Apple products often go back to full price after the first day of Prime Day. —Sally Kaplan, executive editor, Insider Reviews

I've been a big vitamin C serum connoisseur ever since I edited an article on the benefits of vitamin C for skin that convinced me I needed to be using it every day. I feel like I tried everything, from budget buys to big splurges, and nothing ever worked as well as this serum from Sunday Riley. It's an oil, so it really sinks into your skin but won't leave you feeling greasy. When I use it at night, I wake up in the morning with my skin looking visibly brighter and more hydrated. —Samantha Crozier, style & beauty editor, Insider Reviews

I've been looking for a highly portable carpet cleaner for small pet messes and human spills, and the Little Green fits the bill. We recommend Bissell's Big Green Professional in our guide to the best carpet cleaners, so I'm excited to try out this mini version on my rugs and car upholstery. I like that the cleaner weighs in at just under 10 pounds and, at 17.25-inches wide, it's compact enough to tuck away in the corner of my closet. —Lisa Sabatini, senior pets editor, Insider Reviews

We've been renovating our kitchen, and aside from structural changes, I've decided to upgrade our tiny little dish-drying rack. I chose this one because it's larger, stainless, and equipped with several different ways to store dishes, pots, pans, and tools. The fact that it's on sale for an all-time low just sweetened the deal. —Sarah Saril, associate editor

This year, I took a leap of faith and signed up for cycling classes. It's a fun and motivating way for me to work out, but the free rental shoes offered by my branch are so uncomfortable. I saw my instructor and several other students using Tiem Slipstream Shoes, so I finally splurged when I saw they were on sale. They rarely ever see price drops, so it was an easy decision to make. The cleats required to clip into the bike aren't included. —Sarah Saril, associate editor

If you have dogs, especially ones that shed a lot, rugs and carpets can be a real nightmare. I have three and they love to rain fur. I've been waiting to catch a Ruggable sale so I could invest in a washable area rug like this one. I fell in love after experiencing one at a friend's house. As soon as I saw that the exact rug I wanted was $100 off from Amazon, I didn't hesitate to buy. —Sarah Saril, associate editor

I've been looking to upgrade my turntable for some time. What attracted me to this model from Audio-Technica is the ability to stream to my sound system via Bluetooth. Another plus is that I can digitize my records with my computer by using a USB connection. With the Prime Day discount, it brought it under $300, which was more appealing to my budget. —Les Shu, deputy editor

I knew I wanted to upgrade my kitchen this Prime Day, and with separate old, inherited air fryers and toaster ovens, I've specifically been thinking about getting a state-of-the-art combination. The Oster Digital Air Fryer Oven is one of the best air fryer toaster ovens our team has tested this year, and it's the top pick in our guide. With a Prime Day discount of 25% off bringing the price down to $150, it's going to push me over the edge to buy. —Will Fischer, senior editor

SSD hard drives, the kind that don't have moving parts and are much faster than traditional models, used to be pricey. But they have come down in price, making them more accessible. While an older type of SSD, this Lexar drive is perfect for upgrading an old computer. At less than $40 for 1TB of storage, it's a steal. —Les Shu, deputy editor

We are big fans of chili crisp in my home and fell in love with Fly By Jing shortly after their launch to mainstream popularity. I've tried many brands, but their Sichuan Chili Crisp is my go-to. It has a slight numbing heat from the Sichuan peppercorns and a savory bite thanks to the preserved black beans and crunchy garlic. The jars are a little pricey at $17 each, but for Amazon Prime Day, you can score a 2-pack for just $17.99. —Maiya Pascouche, story producer

Funnily enough, I'm buying a Ring Video Doorbell for the express purpose of thwarting Amazon package thieves. I recently bought a case of my favorite flavored water (Sparkling Ice) from the retailer and received photo evidence of delivery well ahead of schedule at 10 p.m. I checked the door at 1 a.m., and it was gone. It was a temporary loss (Amazon replaced it promptly), but it extended my agonizing cravings for an ice-cold fizzy drink to counter the sweltering Texas summer heat. At $54.99 for Prime Day — the lowest we've seen — I'm hopeful this battery-powered Ring doorbell will deter and detect sticky fingers in the future. —Quentyn Kennemer, deals fellow