Favorite Purchases of 2021

Are you interested in learning about the favorite purchases of others? Do you enjoy discovering products that other people find useful and cool? I sure do!

The main goal of this blog is to help make your life easier and/or more enjoyable. So, I’m sharing 21 products I purchased this year that either helped solve a problem or added value to my life.

I’ve tried to break the products into categories, but some could fall under more than one category. The first category will cover my favorite book purchases for 2021.

Also, it’s important to note that I am not affiliated with any of these brands. The links provided are for your benefit alone. If you want to look at other pictures or read product details not provided here, you are able to do so.

First, I’m going to share the books I’ve loved this year.

Favorite Books

I’m a book nerd and love many genres. This year was a little different for me in that I read more self-help/educational books than fiction. That is not normal for me. I usually read tons of crime and mystery.

1. Atomic Habits by James Clear I listened to this audiobook in January (when most people decide to kick habits), and I enjoyed the author’s narration. It has riveting stories full of inspiration.

I learned a ton about habits and the systematic way to get rid of old habits and implement new ones. I plan to listen to this audiobook every January.

2. You’re a Badass by Jen Sincero Sometimes our self-confidence needs a kick in the pants, and this book is just that. I listened to the audiobook first. But I was disappointed that I didn’t have a hard copy to highlight the areas that I loved.

I bought the book, and I highlighted it like crazy. Read this book if you need to get hyped up to do something you’re lacking the confidence to do.

3. The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel I have to say that this is the best non-fiction (not including the biography genre) book I have ever read. I never thought I could be entertained by a financial book, but it was a very interesting read. Highly recommend! Definitely, one of my most favorite purchases of 2021.

4. New Morning Mercies by Paul David Tripp I must admit that I rarely read this in the morning. I’m a night owl.

This daily devotional makes God’s word easier to understand, no matter what time of day you read it. It also inspires daily gratitude, which is lacking in our world.

5. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah I’m not trying to say that I’d ever want to be in France during WWll, but I love a book that transports me to a different time and place.

This book is fiction, but you know that many of the events happened to real people during that time. If you enjoy historical fiction, this one is really good.

The next category will be the largest. It covers all my favorite health and beauty purchases.

Favorite Health and Beauty Purchases

6. Olaplex 3 When I go to my salon, the colorist puts this product on my hair. I don’t think it was available to the public years ago (salon only), but now you can buy it at Amazon or Sephora.

With my very dry hair, I need to use this once a week as a hair mask. I can truly see the difference in my color-treated locks.

7. Supergoop Glow Screen This product is a primer with built-in SPF 40, but I use it as a foundation. Most foundations feel very thick on my face, so I tend to use tinted moisturizers.

My go-to product used to be Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer, but when I found this product, I switched. It provides important sun protection and gives a little glow to your face.

8. Tata Harper Masque Resurfacant Let me say that I normally wouldn’t spend this much money on such a small amount of product. But I had heard great things and wanted to try it.

Some friends gave me a very generous Sephora gift card for my birthday, so I thought I’d give it a try. I HATE that I love it.

Because of the price, I wanted to dislike the product. Alas, when my skin seems dull-looking, I put on this mask for a noticeable glow.

9. OGX Quenching Coconut Curls Shampoo and Conditioner I have temperamental curls, and I’ve tried many products at many price points. I’m so excited about these products. They are inexpensive, which is rare.

They are the absolute best products I’ve found for my fine, curly hair. I use these products on the days I wear my hair natural (curly, not straightened). They give me nicely shaped soft curls.

10. Cle de Peau Concealer This is another product that I hate to love. This stuff is ridiculously expensive. But I have tried so many concealers in my life at all different price points.

I always struggle with dark circles around my eye area, and this concealer is like a second skin. I pray a dupe will come along, but until that happens, I will continue to repurchase this product.

11. Christian Dior Abricot Nail Cream I am not a nail person. My nails aren’t nicely shaped, and I don’t have the patience to sit still to have my nails done. I will get them done for vacations and special occasions, but that is the only time.

I’m always working on projects that destroy my nails and/or polish. So, I don’t buy a lot of nail products. My cuticles are always dry, cracked, and peeling, so I thought it was worth a try.

This cream is pretty thick, so I can only stand to have it on while sleeping. I lather it on my cuticles and put soft gloves on. When I wake up, my cuticles are softened and, on the way, to being repaired.

12. Hygiene Tool This product is an antimicrobial key that you keep on your keychain for opening doors when out in public. Even before the pandemic, I couldn’t stand opening doors and pushing elevator buttons with my bare hands.

I’m sure some would argue that once you put your keychain into your pocket or purse, you spread the germs, but I don’t care. It makes me feel better.

13. Kitsch Silk Pillowcase This product claims to prevent wrinkles and bedhead. I haven’t noticed a difference yet, but I still love this pillowcase. It feels luxurious on my skin, and it always feels cool to the touch.

14. Greenbelt Botanicals Delta 8 I know this product may be a little polarizing, but it really helps me. I have tried many varieties of pain meds, so I am more open to alternative possibilities.

Once I found the sweet spot (my dosage), my muscles could relax. The dosage will be different for everyone, and you should consult your Dr. (and your local laws) before taking it.

15. Copperfit Muscle Massager This purchase was late in the year, but I’m getting a lot of use out of it already. Heck…the whole family uses it even though I ordered it for myself.

It comes with a few different attachments, so you can match the attachment with the area of the body you need to work on. Heavenly!

16. Hey Dewy Humidifier I’ve always believed in the benefits of humidifiers, but the old humidifiers were hard to clean. If you don’t take the time to keep them clean, it can be very dangerous. The newer versions are smaller and much easier to keep clean.

It’s also worth mentioning that I had a small travel-sized humidifier that used a water bottle (like Dasani or Aquafina), and it was quite loud. It would make a glug glug noise as the water in the bottle was getting used. This one is quiet and doesn’t wake me in the middle of the night.

The next section will include four electronic products I’m loving right now.

Favorite Electronic Products

17. Cannon Selphy Some might think this product unnecessary in these technologically advanced times. Call me old-fashioned, but sometimes I like hard copies of pictures. The machine takes up very little space, and the print quality is quite good.

18. Sunrise Alarm Clock As stated earlier, I’m a night owl. I have a really hard time waking up in the morning. This alarm clock makes it a little less jarring to wake up.

It has a lot of settings I haven’t even experienced yet. But so far, I like the sunrise simulation, and soft bird sounds alarm. Much better than usual alarm clock sounds or the ones offered on my iPhone.

19. Feilifan Cube Timer I use this cube several times a day. I like to flip it to the time I need and then race to get whatever I need to get done before the timer goes off.

We also use it when we want our son to do things for a set amount of time, such as reading or cleaning up.

20. Etekcity Smart Scale I’m not exactly a fan of weighing myself every day, but I have found that it works for me. If I don’t do it, I tend to live in a fantasy world where I don’t gain weight. Then it’s too far gone, and I end up with a lot of work to do.

You can download the app and track your body fat, muscle mass, BMI, and much more. It even shows if you are under-hydrated!

The final category only covers one product. Socks didn’t fit into any other category. Ending 2021 on socks seems appropriately meh. But, we all need socks, so here we are!

Favorite Miscellaneous Purchases

21. INVISASOX No-Show Socks These socks are fantastic! Nothing worse than a pair of socks sliding down into your shoe. EW!

I’ve tried a few different brands, and these have been the best (so far). Past socks stuck to the heel ok, but they wore out very quickly.

Not only do they stay put, but they have lasted a lot longer than the others.

That’s it for 2021! Good riddance and on to the next. I look forward to testing new products in 2022. I hope you have a happy, healthy 2022!

What were your favorite purchases of 2021? Please share so we can all benefit!

Thanks for reading!