We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

    21 Things We Bought That Basically Got Us Through 2020

    Who knew a toastie maker would be the best investment ever?

    Jasmin Nahar
    by Jasmin Nahar

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. After enduring countless home workouts in 2020, this highly-rated exercise mat is still going strong! It's thick enough to use for a variety of moves.

    Jasmin Nahar / BuzzFeed

    "When the gyms shut earlier this year I immediately sought out a good exercise mat so I could still train at home, and this one hasn't let me down! It's quite thick which makes it ideal for exercises where you need to lay on your back, and it's still in excellent shape (bar a bit of puckering on some parts of the fabric) after being used six times a week for every week since April. It also doesn't slip or curl up like some mats can, which makes it perfect for everything from yoga to HIIT."

    – Jasmin Nahar

    Price: £21.97

    2. These lavender-infused Epsom bath salts from Dr Teal's relieve aches and get you into a relaxed mood for bed.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    "I use around three tablespoons in the bath while the water is running and find it has made a real difference to both soreness and sleep! Using it in the evening on a weight training day has helped to stop that 'it hurts to walk up the stairs' sensation the morning after, and I'm pretty much ready for bed after using it too."

    – Jasmin Nahar

    Price: £6.39

    3. This lash lift kit delivers impressive results at home and has thorough, easy-to-follow instructions.

    Valeza Bakolli / BuzzFeed

    "As a lover of the ol’ professional lash lift, I decided to try a DIY treatment on myself while the beauty salons were closed. This kit was surprisingly easy to use and although I haven’t had many places to show off my beautifully lifted lashes, it does make me feel better about not wearing mascara 99.9% of the time these days."

    – Valeza Bakolli

    Price: £18.99

    4. The Fire TV Stick lets you access all your streaming services from your TV, which has made it perfect for a year full of binge-watching.

    Jasmin Nahar / BuzzFeed

    "I got this in the Prime Day sale so that I could watch Disney+ or Prime Video on the actual TV with my family rather than trying to hunch over a laptop together to watch a film. It was really easy to set up!"

    – Jasmin Nahar

    Price: £39.99

    5. It's not even an exaggeration to say this deep-fill Brevile toastie maker has totally transformed working-from-home lunches in 2020.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk, Jasmin Nahar / BuzzFeed

    "This Brevile toastie maker has been used every single week since the first lockdown. I've never been a fan of cold lunches, but alongside making dinner from scratch every night the idea of also cooking lunch felt like 1) a bit of a slog and 2) a waste of my precious lunch hour. Enter: this toastie maker. Once heated up it takes literal minutes to make perfect toasties with crispy edges, and it lives up to the deep-fill part of its name as you can pack quite a lot of fillings in. On top of all that, the non-stick plates are easy and quick to clean so there's minimal washing up involved!"

    – Jasmin Nahar

    Price: £22

    6. This set of deeply hydrating sheet masks are a go-to for any and every pampering session.

    Valeza Bakolli / BuzzFeed

    "I think we can all agree that self care and pampering sessions became a whole lot more important in 2020. I like to use these nourishing sheet masks whenever I need some ~me~ time. Oh, and the cooling eye masks included in the set are great for soothing screen-induced headaches."

    – Valeza Bakolli

    Price: £8.99 for five masks.

    7. This highly-rated umbrella has come in very handy considering how much of our socialising has happened outdoors this year.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    "This sturdy umbrella is durable enough to not turn inside out on windy days, and it opens and closes at the touch of a button so you're not having to faff around when you're caught in a downpour. The material of the umbrella is super quick-drying, and it comes with a water-absorbing bag that'll ensure you're not dripping rainwater all over your hallway when you get home."

    – Jasmin Nahar

    Price: £10.99

    8. These pimple patches absorb the gunk from spots to help heal them overnight, making them ideal for any sufferers of mascne.

    Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

    "I've noticed I've been getting more chin spots and these have come in seriously handy! I apply one of these on top of my spot and overnight it starts to draw the excess moisture and gunk out from my skin, drying out the spot and helping to minimise the appearance of it."

    – Amy Glover

    Price: £5.99 for 24 patches.

    9. This deeply nourishing hand cream works wonders on hands that are cracked and dry from frequent washing.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    "I've suffered from dry hands for years that often get so bad they start to crack and bleed. This was definitely exacerbated this year by washing my hands so much more and using hand sanitiser regularly. This hand cream has been by far one of the most effective ones I've ever tried. It keeps my hands moisturised for ages and doesn't cause any redness or burning like other ones have in the past. The thick texture of it looks a bit unusual, but it actually feels much lighter on the skin and less greasy that those with a 'lotion' consistency."

    – Jasmin Nahar

    Price: £10.12

    10. The Mindfulness Puzzle Book is a screen-free way to relax during a time when, well, we could all use some relaxation.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    "After doing a great job of reducing my screen time at the start of this year, that seemed to take a turn in March (who could imagine why!). This puzzle book was really handy for unwinding after work or at lunch as an alternative to scrolling through Twitter for hours, something that often just made me more stressed. The puzzles are challenging enough to give your brain a bit of a workout, but not so hard to make you give up and defeat the 'relaxing' element altogether."

    – Jasmin Nahar

    Price: £6.35

    11. This comforting wheat-filled pack can be heated up in the microwave to soothe any cramps and aches.

    Valeza Bakolli / BuzzFeed

    "I can no longer imagine what that time of the month was like before I invested in this lil’ heat pack. Not only does it soothe period pains like a dream, it’s also quicker, safer, and more flexible than a hot water bottle for any cold toes or aching muscles you may encounter."

    – Valeza Bakolli

    Price: £7.99

    12. This 4.6-star rated travel mug keeps hot drinks hot for hours and got a lot of use during the many park walks of this year.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk°DGREE-PleasureToGo-Leakproof-Stainless-Insulated/dp/B0735JT5DR

    "This travel mug has allowed me to still be able to catch up with a friend over tea, even when I'm having to drink my tea outdoors from a few metres away! It really does keep hot drinks hot for hours (I've drunk from it three hours later and actually been surprised that it's maybe too hot), hasn't leaked from my experience, and has a clever 360-degree design that means you can drink from any part of the lid."

    – Jasmin Nahar

    Price: £19.97

    13. This leave-in argan oil hair treatment protects against heat damage and improves the appearance of split ends (perfect for when it's been hard to book in a trim).

    Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

    "Where I've not been able to get my hair cut as frequently, this stuff has worked wonders on the look of my split ends! It makes my hair look smoother and shinier, plus it's under £4!"

    – Amy Glover

    Price: £3.52

    14. This serum has glow-inducing effects and is excellent value for money.

    Valeza Bakolli / BuzzFeed

    "I am obsessed with this serum. I use it under my SPF in the morning and although it looks and feels like water, it makes me look about 300% more awake as soon as I’ve applied it. I bought this at the start of lockdown and trust me when I say – the skin-plumping effect was needed. I’m still not even halfway through the bottle so I think it’s safe to say you get a LOT for your money."

    –Valeza Bakolli

    Price: £12.95

    15. These seriously strong Command strips help with lockdown DIY projects without the need for tools or the risk of annoying the landlord.

    Amy Glover / BuzzFeed

    "These Command strips got me through the DIY stage of lockdown! They're really easy to use and a pair of them can hold up to 5.4kg. I rent so these have been the perfect way to decorate without the risk of ruining the walls – they don't require any tools or leave any residue behind!"

    – Amy Glover

    Price: £3 for four pairs.

    16. The clever design of this running belt holds your stuff securely and doesn't thwack against your hip while you do your 5K.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    "2020 was the year I made the switch from the gym treadmill to running outdoors, and invested in this genius running belt after doing some research. I find the regular ones can hit against you as you move which is super distracting, and it can be hard to get a perfect fit too. This one is great as it's available in a range of sizes for a close-to-the-body fit, and it as a continuous tubing inside that securely stores your essentials but makes it easy to access things like your phone when you need to."

    – Jasmin Nahar

    Price: £20.49-£21.49 depending on size – it's available in sizes XS-XL.

    17. This phone tripod and Bluetooth clicker makes it easy to take pictures of yourself and discover your ~angles~.

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk, Jasmin Nahar / BuzzFeed

    "One of my resolutions for 2020 had been to get more comfortable with having my picture taken but there's unsurprisingly been very few opportunities for that this year. This tripod and clicker has come in handy as it offers more range than just taking selfies with your arm, and allowed me to share the various boredom-induced clothes purchases I made."

    – Jasmin Nahar

    Price: £16.99

    18. This powerful topcoat gives long-lasting home manicures for those times where getting them done at the salon hasn't been an option.

    Valeza Bakolli / BuzzFeed

    "With salons closed and the Shellac manicure option out of the window, I turned to this fast-drying nail polish top coat to maintain my manis. The impressive chip-resistant formula makes my manicures last for up to 14 days!"

    – Valeza Bakolli

    Price: £6.90

    19. Alongside having a deliciously seasonal apple and cinnamon flavour, this Teapigs tea is also caffeine free!

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    "I have been drinking more cuppas than ever while working from home, because what else is there to do? I was aware I was probably overdoing it on the caffeine though (and I think decaf versions of regular tea a bit rank). I've started drinking this apple and cinnamon one in the evenings and as well as tasting delicious, it doesn't keep me awake! There's chunks of apple in the teabag so it doesn't have a powdery synthetic flavour like some teas do."

    – Jasmin Nahar

    Price: £3

    20. This memory foam cushion makes sitting on a dining chair for hours on end more comfortable.

    Jasmin Nahar / BuzzFeed

    "On days where I've worked from the dining table, I found myself feeling really sore and getting lower back pain from sitting on a chair that was definitely not designed to be worked from. This memory foam cushion was the perfect solution! It really does mould to you while still remaining quite firm, and has made a different to my sitting posture too."

    – Jasmin Nahar

    Price: £21.59

    21. This set of dermaplaning razors can remove facial hair, tidy up brows, and scrape away dead skin – they're perfect to use in-between (or instead of) waxing or threading appointments!

    Amazon / Via amazon.co.uk

    "When it was no longer possible to get threading or waxing done, I was very aware (as a woman with a lot of hair) that I'd need to find an alternative. I've never been a fan of cold wax strips and have not mastered threading on myself despite numerous attempts. I was a bit worried about using these initially has my hair is pretty thick and dark and I wondered if this would give me a five o clock shadow that I definitely didn't want on Zoom calls. These are super effective at removing even fine, downy hairs, and they scrape away dead skin too which is grossly satisfying. On top of all that, my hair isn't any thicker or darker than before!"

    – Jasmin Nahar

    Price: £9.99 for three.