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    30 Gifts To Give Your Friend Who Is Usually Feeling Overwhelmed

    Sometimes all anyone needs to de-stress is a solid snuggle with a plush blanket.

    1. SAEM Iceland Hydrating Eye Stick — it'll reduce under-eye circles and puffiness thanks to the glacial waters its formulated with. It's so freakin' cute!!! Who wouldn't want to improve their skin with the help of a lil' polar bear?

    The small polar bear shaped eye stick in a reviewer's hands
    Before and after pic of reviewer with dark under eyes that are gone in the second pic

    Promising reviews: "I have always had serious dark circles and bags under my eyes and this has really changed this for me. The results are incredible. The puffiness is gone. The dark circles are hardly noticeable. My sensitive skin has not broken out. I never write reviews, but this was so good that I had to write a review. This actually works." —Ben

    Get it from Amazon for $9.99

    2. A "Wreck This Journal" that'll encourage them to get more in touch with their artistic side, great if they've always been intimidated by trying to fill out the blank pages of boring old regular journals.

    a reviewer holding the wreck this journal
    some of the prompts within the journal

    Promising review: "I’m 17 and I loved this. In the intro it says the page instructions are all up to interpretation, so if it says 'spill your drink' or something you can take that literally or choose to paint on it with something such as tea or coffee that’ll look like brown watercolor. Which I love that it’s bizarre prompts but that you have wiggle room if you don’t want to do anything too crazy. I would recommend this if you’re just looking for something fun or if you’re going through some challenges this is really helpful to distract/express/push yourself!" —Marlee

    Get it from Amazon for $9.59+ (also available in a spiral-bound format).

    3. A Buddha Board for anyone who loves an activity that'll help them zen out and get in touch with their creative side.

    the buddha board
    a reviewer's buddha board with

    I gifted this to my mom and it's been such a hit! All you have to do is fill the stand with water, dip the bamboo brush in, and start creating! It's surprisingly super soothing and is great because you don't have to think long and hard about what to draw since it disappears anyways! It's a great practice in the "art of letting go" and is honestly a lovely way to spend an hour unwinding.

    Promising review: "I work at a college in an environment where I am stressed out a lot, but I also have a lot of stressed-out college students in my office! The Buddha Board is incredibly soothing to 'paint' on (only requires water and helps remind me that tough days will fade away just like my artwork does. Several of my coworkers have this in their office too. And, of course, it's great when you're not stressed out too — just fun to play with!" —Violet Kayjee

    Get it from Amazon for $37.

    4. A hydrating sweet candy-flavored Laneige lip mask to keep their lips nice 'n' soft (and encourage them not to pick at their pout when they're stressed).

    a laneige lip mask
    Sydney Sweeney applying a laneige lip mask
    Amazon

    Promising review: "If you suffer from chapped lips, or wake up to super dry lips, I highly recommend this product. It's very soft, a little goes a long way and lasts throughout the entire night. My lips always feel so soft and smooth. Been using it for a year, will never go back!" —Kelly

    Get it from Amazon for $24 (available in six scents).

    5. A wine glass holder for the shower so your bestie can unwind after a long stressful day, sip on their favorite vino, and wash their hair at the same time.

    a model using the silicone holder to put their wine glass in the shower
    Amazon

    30 Watt is a small business that sells a variety of giftable products.

    Promising review: "Bought this as a birthday present for my best friend. We often drink wine together and I know she often drinks wine in the bathtub. She loved this gift and thought it was quite entertaining and the perfect invention for her. If I had a bathtub I would be buying a second one for myself." —Ally Stage

    Get it from Amazon for $12.49+ (available in four colors).

    6. A selfie-worthy carbonated clay mask that detoxifies and exfoliates blackheads along with other skin impurities while it bubbles up and looks downright hilarious.

    Promising review: "Wow! I purchased this on a whim after seeing one of my favorite YouTubers try it out. I didn't expect a lot from it. I tried it out and was shocked!!! The mask was simple (and fun) to use. I wasn't sure I felt a lot happening while it was on, but it was pretty cool how the bubbles started to grow off of my face. Upon inspection after using this mask I was completely amazed. My face felt cleaner than it has in a very long time AND my pores looked amazing! I don't remember a time when I felt like my pores looked great before using this mask. I would highly recommend this mask to anyone. It's also so much cheaper than the GlamGlow ones I have been using (and didn't see near these results from)." —Phil Textor

    Get it from Amazon for $8.87+ (available in multipacks).

    7. A plush blanket reviewers swear is *just like* a Barefoot Dreams but without the extra dollar signs on the price tag — your pal can curl up in it, relax for a bit, and let some of the stress they've been carrying melt away.

    a reviewer with a white plush blanket
    a black and white checkered throw blank

    Promising review: "I saw this blanket on TikTok and I have to say I absolutely love it. I washed it several times now and it’s maintained its elasticity and softness after each wash. It’s warm enough but not too hot for a throw. Absolutely recommend this blanket!" —Amy

    Get it from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in 12 styles and two sizes). 

    8. An embroidery kit for beginners that won't test their patience but'll provide them with a happy distraction and a pretty piece of art at the end of it all!

    Promising review: "Love this design and it’s such a cute addition to my room. Great starter kit. Wish I ironed the cloth before embroidering. Would repurchase again or give as a gift (as a craft or the finished product)." –Shelby

    Get it from Amazon for $8.99.

    9. A set of matte hair clips to ensure that even on their messiest of hair days they'll still look fabulous. You're SUCH a good friend.

    an array of claw clips
    a reviewer with a pink claw clip in their hair

    BuzzFeed editor Ciera Velarde has these and loves 'em! She said:

    "I've owned this set for about a year, and I am reaching for them constantly! I used to be someone who would tie my hair up in a messy bun whenever I'm doing things around the house, but I noticed how that would really start damaging my hair after a while. Instead, I just clip my hair back with one of these, and my long, thick hair stays in place without the claw jamming into my head. I have some other clips lying around that I should probably get rid of because I only ever exclusively use these!"

    Promising review: "I will admit I bought these from seeing them on TikTok and I needed new clips for my thick hair. I am not disappointed and beyond glad I got them. The colors are gorgeous and they stay put without hurting my head. I'm very impressed." —Jessica

    Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in 14 sets).

    10. I Dew Care's "Tap Secret" mattifying powder shampoo because who has time to wash their hair these days anyways? This lovely lil’ product will keep their locks looking fabulous even when they haven’t found a spare moment to indulge in an “everything shower.”

    a model applying the powder to their roots
    the powder container and poof applicator
    Amazon

    The powder-based dry shampoo works just like spray formulas — apply to the area you're looking to refresh and then shake out excess powder with your fingertips or a brush. 

    Promising review: "I never understood how people could go more than two days without washing their hair and now I know. This has been a life saver! I was looking for an alternative to my spray dry shampoo and this is even better. It literally dries up the oil and makes hair look freshly washed. I used to have to wash my hair every other day and now I can stretch it, which is amazing for a busy mom who barely has any time. I’m stocking up!" —Mandy

    Get it from Amazon for $16

    11. shampoo scalp massager so even if they only have the time and energy for a quick rinse they'll still be able to indulge in a relaxing scalp massage. 

    BuzzFeed editor holding pink scalp massager with silicone bristles
    editor showing other side where there's a gripper for fingers
    Emma Lord/BuzzFeed

    BuzzFeed writer Emma Lord is a big fan of this product:

    "I have one of these and WOWZA, it really helps you get extra mileage out of your shampoo. I have a whole lot of hair on my head so sometimes it's a struggle to feel like I've soaped up my whole scalp thorough, but this is a very effective way to spread out the suds and really get them to the roots. I was worried it might tangle in my hair, but it was totally fine on that front, too. I've noticed that my hair has been a little less greasy at the roots since I started using it. And I'm echoing a ton of reviewers here when I say it just feels reeeeeally, really nice."

    Get it from Amazon for $6.98+ (available in three colors).

    12. A Petcube, which is a reliable pet monitoring camera with a wide angle and night vision. Delightful if they're out and about but still want to keep an eye on their precious pup.

    A small camera mounted to the bottom of a kitchen shelf
    Amazon

    Petcube is a Ukrainian-based small business that specializes in interactive HD pet camera products. It can send you instant notifications via its app and sync with Amazon Alexa.

    Promising review: "We have had the original Petcube for some time and have loved being able to see our furry friend (cat) when we are away. We had always talked about getting another one so that we could see more of her while we are traveling. Enter the new Petcube...a petite footprint with a wide-angle lens. Easy to set up and easy to use. Absolutely perfect." —NLVG

    Get it from Amazon for $34.99.

    13. A set of Monkey Noodles that stretch up to 8 feet (!?!??) and will provide anyone with a non-disruptive way to scratch their fidgety itch. Perfect for anyone looking to relieve some pent up anxiety without leaving their desk.

    Promising review: "This is my absolute favorite fidget! I’m an adult with autism and ADHD. I carry one around with me everywhere I go. It definitely assists me in staying calm/still while I’m at work. I’ve recommended it to several friends!" —KaelynnVP

    Get a set of five from Amazon for $12.99.

    14. A "Liquipen" for anyone who grew up with a lava lamp but knows setting one up at their desk probably isn't *ideal*. Watching the little blobs float up and down will ease their mind and give them a chance to regroup before diving back into a project.

    A clear thick pen with orange gel dripping like lava inside of it, writing with orange ink
    The green version of the pen showing the gel drip down

    Promising review: "I broke up the three-pack and gave one pen as a gift for a class gift exchange and put the other two in stockings for Christmas. Good quality and approved by both the 8-year-old and 49-year-old husband who is a kid at heart! Definitely recommend." —Kindle Customer

    Get a set of three from Amazon for $19.99

    15. heated eye massager complete with five different massage modes and Bluetooth music so they can fully indulge and relax while relieving pain from eye strain and headaches.

    a reviewer wearing a massaging eye mask
    a reviewer wearing a massaging eye mask

    Promising review: "I saw this product on one of Amazon’s must-have TikTok videos and I knew I had to get it. It was so worth it — even though the price may seem higher compared to other sellers, this is for sure a good investment piece. The quality is top notch, the strap that goes around your head is comfortable, and most importantly, the duration of each mode is long enough that it doesn’t interrupt your rest. I work a 12-hour night shift as a nurse and this technology has helped me get through the night easily.👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽" —Amazon Customer

    Get it from Amazon for $69.99 (available in three colors).

    16. An activity book that has been specifically designed for the writer to destroy once they've finished it — they'll get the chance to dig deep into their past, present, and future without any pressure to commit to daily journaling.

    a copy of
    a reviewer burning the burn after writing journal

    ...and the celestial design on the front is stunning, if I do say so myself.

    Promising review: "This book helps you understand that it’s okay to be completely honest with yourself. The book itself was in great condition with clean pages. I can’t wait to venture more into this lil' journey with myself ♥️" —Molls

    Get it from Amazon for $7.32.

    17. luggage drink caddy to attach to their wheeled luggage — it'll become their saving grace when traveling during the busiest times of year. They can use it to hold their Starbies, phone, ID, etc and prevent them from fumbling around for all those items while heading to the gate at the airport.

    Promising review: "This cup holder is perfect! It helps me a lot! Last time I took a plane with a suitcase and a cup of coffee, when it’s my turn to check my passport and ticket, the coffee cup fell to the ground and coffee sprinkled. It was a nightmare! This time I bought this cup holder, it did do me a favor! I don't have to worry about where my cup and phone are! I can free my hands to do other things. I love it so much! Hope you love it too." —Philip

    Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in 32 colors).

    18. magnetic meal planner that'll ideally take the stress right out of trying to figure out what on earth to eat this week. And they can use the shopping list as they finish up staple items —  no more realizing they're out of flour when they had their heart set on baking cookies.

    A person writing on the notepad stuck to the fridge
    Amazon

    This handy dandy notepad is from Bloom Daily Planners, a woman-owned small business. It features the meal plan on one side and a perforated "shopping list" you can tear off on the other!

    Promising review: "I’ve been starting to get into meal prepping and this planner really helps! I like being able to look up recipes on my phone, then write down whatever ingredients I still need on the grocery list section of this planner. Its being magnetic is cool because you can hang it on the fridge. I love how the grocery list section can be ripped off so you can take it to the store, but the daily meal plans remain on the fridge so you can stay organized. This is a very simple idea, but it’s cute and helps keep me organized and motivated to plan out my meals." —Samantha M.

    Get it from Amazon for $9.95+ (available in five designs).

    19. An adorable Echo Pop speaker they can use to pump their favorite playlist into any room (immediate mood booster!) and ask Alexa to help them make a to-do list at any given time.

    a purple echo pop
    Amazon

    Promising review: "I purchased the Echo Pop to replace my Echo Dot. I like that the Pop has a variety of colors to choose from. Also, the sound quality is so much better than the Dot. I don't have to repeat myself constantly, and it is great! I am so happy I got an Echo Pop!" —bibbygirl11

    Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in four colors).

    20. A copy of The Big Activity Book for Anxious People, perfect for distracting their brain for a while and forcing them to change their mindset by living in the moment. Definitely a great option to have in anyone's anxiety fighting tool kit.

    The cover of the activity book
    Tarcherperigee

    Promising review: "Love this book! I suffer from anxiety and even though I have the coping skills to 'deal' with it, when it rears its head I do get set back a little bit. So I got this book thinking 'okay, it will give me something to do so I can be in the moment' but it is so much more!!! It's funny (makes me laugh out loud), creative, interesting, and reminds me that I am not the only person to feel anxiety and how horrible it can make you feel. So all I have to ask the authors is 'Can you make a book for depression?'" —Catmom

    Get it from Amazon for $14.49.

    21. A honey lavender tea complete with a comforting lil' note on the tea bag to help ease their mind as they sip and enjoy that warm cozy feeling you can only get from a fresh cup of tea.

    honey lavender stress relief yogi tea
    Amazon

    I've been drinking Yogi tea for years and I've never been disappointed! I love that each tea bag has a motivational message on it — not a necessity, but it's the little things in life, right? The tea itself is delicious and I love sipping on this one when I'm having a particularly stressful day or want to unwind before bed.

    Promising review: "This tea has a mild flavor that I enjoy very much. When I want to relax, or have trouble sleeping, I drink a cup of it and it seems to have a calming effect." —C. J. Benedict

    Get it from Amazon for $16.48.

    22. self-stirring mug they can count on to flawlessly blend their sugar and creamer into their freshly brewed coffee.

    A white mug with coffee swirling in it
    A pale pink mug with a handle and a stainless steel rim

    Check out a TikTok of the self-stirring mug in action. 

    Promising review: "I'm a huge fan of coffee and I need it in daily life. Absolutely loving this new cup! Easy and quick to mix your coffee and milk, pretty handy! Cleaning the cup couldn't be easier with the self stirring function, just put a little dab of soap, fill the mug half way with water, turn it on and let it do its own thing." —Lina 

    Get it from Amazon for $28.99 (available in five colors). 

    23. A set of energy-restoring shower steamers they can add into their morning or nightly rinse to transform a typically quick core into a spa-like experience. 

    Promising review: "I kept seeing this product pop up on TikTok so I decided to buy a pack and I'm SO GLAD I DID! These smell so good and are a perfect way to relax while in the shower. I now recommend them to everyone I know!" —Merry

    Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in four scents). 

    24. A colorful pin that'll help take the guesswork over what they should order for dinner — no more endless debating while hungrily scrolling through the Seamless app.

    an enamel pin of a colorful wheel with various food options on it and
    a gif of an enamel pin of a colorful wheel with various food options on it and
    Occasionalish / Etsy

    Occasionalish is a small business based out of San Francisco, California that sells gorgeous pins, stickers, keychains, stationery and more.

    Get it from Occasionalish on Etsy for $18.

    25. An instant-read digital thermometer, so they'll never have to guess "is my steak cooked?" again. They can grill with confidence!

    the instant-read digital thermometer
    Amazon

    Promising review: "As a working chef for over 30 years, I've gone through dozens of thermometers, and this one stands out. I actually purchased this by accident while buying several thermometers to try with the intent of buying a dozen for my crew. I was looking for thermometers that can be field-calibrated and as far as I can tell, this one can't. But I intend to buy more of these because they are accurate, easy to read, and just more pleasant to use. They are tough, and I love the ring on the end; I keep this one hanging on a hook near our ranges so I don't have to hunt it down. It does not ride easily in my chef's coat, but that is due to the longer probe. Which I LOVE. In two weeks I have used this one thermometer over 130 times, all with pleasure." —Cetaceous Dave

    Get it from Amazon for $10.99.

    26. A huggable knot pillow unlike anything they've probably seen before — it was designed to delight the senses and help stress dissipate. It'll also just look super cute as decor in their home!

    a variety of knotted pillows arranged on a wood floor
    a lavender knotted pillow
    Bearaby

    Promising review: "I am really enjoying my Hugget! I got it to play with when I’m anxious or fidgety, and it’s been a nice and calm way to distract myself. It seems pretty durable (the knots haven’t loosened yet) and I love how soft it is. I hope to get the large Hugget too someday!" —Minjoo K.

    Get it from Bearaby for $29+ (available in 3 sizes and 12 colors).

    27. A portable lock box designed to be secured around two beach chairs, so they can stow their wallet/phone/keys away safely and enjoy a long swim without constantly having to poke their head up to check that their items are still there. 

    reviewer image of the portable lock box in white
    reviewer showing the inside of the lock box and how a wallet easily fits inside

    You can also use this in your room to keep valuables protected. Additionally, SafeGo is a small business!

    Promising review: "I bought this to take on a vacation to the Virgin Islands because my husband is super paranoid about leaving valuables unattended on the beach. At first, he scoffed that this little plastic thing wasn’t going to stop a thief, and I had wasted my money. Then he admitted that the plastic was pretty sturdy, and it was cool that we could secure the cable to our beach chairs, a fence, or a tree (most petty thieves don’t carry around cable cutters). Next thing I know, he’s storing his wallet, phone, and room keys in it along with mine. He laced the cable through other things he didn’t want stolen, like the bags containing our snorkel gear. Neighboring beachgoers asked about it and where they could get one, and he was quick to demonstrate its features. And when we got home, I overheard him showing it to his friends, with as much approval as he could muster. Hate to say I told you so...OK, no I don’t." —Patsy

    Get it from Amazon for $44.95 (available in five colors).

    28. An aromatherapy balm scented with lavender and ylang ylang — they can add it into their nightly routine to encourage some more soothing, restful sleep 😴.

    a model putting an aromatherapy balm on their wrist
    Goodful

    Get it from our Goodful shop for $25.

    29. A plush bath pillow, so they can happily lounge and read the novel they've been dying to crack open from cover to cover comfortably.

    Promising review: "This has a lot of cushion for your back and neck. I had no issues with sticking it to the tub. The best part is the hook which allows it to dry out well. In this time of working at home, I need a nice tub to help relax." —Danielle Piacentini

    Get it from Amazon for $29.99.

    30. And a Renpho percussion massager — a must-have if they're forever complaining about the knots in their back and wishing they could take a daily trip to the spa.

    Check out a TikTok of the massager in action. 

    Promising review: "I have tried EVERYTHING for my feet, nothing works and I am always in pain. It came, I tried it out, and I thought wow, that feels AWESOME. But the true test is how do you feel the next day right? You cannot always walk around with a massage gun in your hand. The next day, I felt AMAZING. AMAZING. I used it on my hubby's back too, and he said he felt so much better today as well! In addition, this one is way QUIETER than my original massage gun. It's just really a quality piece. You won't be disappointed in this one. It really is what it says. I know it is hard to choose from all the models on the internet, but this one is the real deal. It's worth the money if you have pain." —L Johnson

    Get it from Amazon for $59.99+ (available in four colors).

    Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.