31 Very Small But Immensely Useful Things You Should Definitely Be Carrying Around With You – BuzzFeed

The best of the internet, delivered straight to your inbox!Gift GuideBeauty + Personal CareFashionHomeSports + FitnessStoresTechKidsPetsSex ToysView All 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.Even if you don’t end up needing this tiny hands-free phone charger, it might make you a hero for someone who does.BuzzFeed StaffPromising review: “I used these several times for the past year, traveling for business and leisure. It is always a challenge to find an outlet at the airport since some airports do not offer a charging station. Using those types can also be a security risk. That’s why I love using these portable chargers. They are lightweight and fit in my travel handbag/or small backpack pocket. The portable chargers take about 30–35 minutes to fully charge if dead. Once charged, they charge fast and hold a charge for many hours.” —JGet it from Amazon for $11.89+ (available in four colors). Mouthwatchers is a small business established by Ronald Plotka, DDS, that specializes in antimicrobial toothbrushes designed to get deeper cleans even patients with “great” dental hygiene might miss with traditional brush and floss routines. I’ve been using the regular-sized version of this for over a year now and I LOVE it! I used to use an electric toothbrush, but I feel like I’m getting a much more satisfying clean from these — especially because I tend to get yellow stains between my teeth no matter *how* much I floss, and these bristles seem to actually target that a lot more effectively. My teeth feel genuinely ~squeaky clean~ after I use this, too. Promising review: “This toothbrush is a new staple item for my on the go Invisalign bag. When I need to brush my teeth and don’t have time to floss before putting my aligners back in, this brush makes sure my teeth and mouth feel clean and removes debris in-between my teeth. The bristles are soft, this toothbrush is sturdy and the different lengths of bristles help remove debris or help floss your teeth on the go. This brush also dries very fast in-between uses as well.” —V. BrownGet it from Amazon for $6.12. Perilogics is a small business creating hyper-functional tool holsters and bags for carrying your stuff on the go. Promising review: “I bought this nifty gadget about six months ago for a multi-leg, ultra-long-haul trip, and it more than held up the entire duration. I was able to finagle it to fit the tray tables on different planes, and like others, I find the height just nice when clamped onto a stowed tray table. It also works on my roller carry-on handle during layovers.” —EarendilGet it from Amazon for $13.47+ (available in five colors and multipacks).Basic Vigor is a US-based small business specializing in all-natural migraine relief products. Promising review: “I’ve had migraines all my life — I’m 31 now. I’ve been on all kinds of prescriptions that work, but make me so sleepy… I’ve been using this stick for one week now, and it’s amazing! I rubbed it on at the first hint of a headache/migraine and it takes care of it fast. I haven’t taken a prescription migraine since I started using it.” —Amanda BraswellRead BuzzFeed’s review of the migraine stick for more deets! Get it from Amazon for $12.95.These come with a wireless charging case that provides up to 14 hours of charge (with the earbuds able to play for four-plus hours with each full charge). The earbuds are also sweatproof and waterproof so you can use them during workouts or runs or even in the shower, and have a built-in mic so you can chat on the phone. Promising review: “So many things to rave about with these! Quality of the design and feel of these is amazing. I could literally wear these all night while on vacation with a roommate who snored, they were that comfortable and good at noise cancelling. I use these most often to listen to music and the sound quality is superb. I have a pair of AirPods that I was *thankfully* gifted and I hardly ever use them because they just aren’t as good as my Tozos!”  —Alexis ArnoldGet it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in five colors).Check out a TikTok of the Portawipes in action. Portawipes is a small business that specializes in personal care products for travel. Promising review: “I kept some of these in my fanny pack and backpack while traveling. I used them when bathrooms didn’t have any toilet paper and also for cleaning spills or washing my hands when out and about. Really nice peace of mind to have them around. Easy to use with just a few drops of water to make them expand, or add more for cleaning.” —CamilleGet a 100-pack (!!) from Amazon for $14.27. Promising review: “First off, if you have extremely oily skin, this. is. it. I was so tired of getting blotting powder/wipes. It felt wasteful and always left residue on my face. I saw this on TikTok and NEEDED it. It was backordered but then I got an email saying it was in stock and I was SO excited. Not only is it affordable, but it’s washable, which helps you save money and be less wasteful.” —Kelsey B.Get it from Amazon for $9.62.  Read more about acupressure and nausea at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.Promising review: “These were awesome! My entire family suffers from motion sickness, especially carsickness. My little one gets sick in the car on a regular car ride through the city. So, I knew that a long road trip was going to be a disaster. I was amazed at how well these bands worked for everyone! Not one single person complained about being sick for 12 hours in the car. I have suffered for decades, and now I know better. I will never travel without mine again!” —1SmartCookieGet a set of two from Amazon for $8.05. I love love love this lip balm. I compare it to the $24 version from Summer Fridays, which I’ve been splurging on — I love that brand because it lasts so long and is so high quality, but this $4 E.l.f. version feels comparable and, more excitingly, comes in smaller versions so I can stock my totes and bathroom with them whether I’m at home or on the go. It’s hydrating, lightweight, doesn’t get sticky, and adds a perfect ~subtle~ gloss whether I’m using it alone or on top of a lip color. I love the vanilla flavor so much, it’s got a similar vibe to the birthday cake flavor that Glossier sometimes carries. Promising review: “I have one in my car, one in my purse, and one at home. These just feel so good on your lips! The flavors are very true to their name. They are pretty small though, so if you use it often it won’t last long (which is another reason I have three of them), but for $4 each it is worth it. I sometimes like using this before putting on the E.l.f. Lip Reviver Oil. Such a great base to an awesome lip oil!” —JaxGet it from Amazon for $4 (available in five flavors). Promising review: “Recently took this to Bali just to have in case of an emergency, and thank goodness we did, because my partner and I got hurt and this came in handy until we were able get to a pharmacy. Nice and compact and has a lot inside. Great for emergencies.” —Amazon CustomerGet it from Amazon for $13.88.Promising review: “I purchased this because I saw them all over TikTok. As someone with chronic illness I honestly carry around like 10 different pill bottles for ‘just in case’ situations. This little pill box is a great size, I love that it’s magnetic and each little compartment fits a good amount of pills. It won’t fit a ton of Tums if that’s what you’re looking for, but the amount of space this has saved in my bag is amazing!” —Jasmin SalasGet it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in multiple colors). I started using this myself a few years back (although this is former BuzzFeeder Kayla Suazo’s lovely human face above), and I am mad that I wasted time with other concealers for so long. I am a deeply impatient person who likes to look good and does not like to put in effort in any way, shape, or form, and Maybelline created this so that people like me could gracelessly slap it on in the morning and be like “OK, REFLECTION, YOU GOT THIS” before being on their merry way. It never cakes, I look way more awake than I have any right to, and I never struggle to blend it the way I do with other concealers. 11/10 subscribe. Check out BuzzFeed’s full review of Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind Concealer for more deets.Get it from Amazon for $8.80 (available in 17 shades).Promising review: “I bought two straps to use for my trip. It was so worth it! It held my family’s light jackets and kids travel neck pillow. We also used it to hold our water bottles on our hikes. I wish I knew about these sooner!” —Lisa HGet it from Amazon for $8.49+ (available in nine colors). Click & Carry is a Shark Tank and QVC-featured small business that specializes in easy carry accessories. Promising review: “TikTok made me buy it. This is great when you have a few bags and a box — for example, if you balance the bags, you can throw it over your shoulder and walk inside and have two free hands to carry the box, which is great. Product seems well built, and is comfortable on your shoulder or hand because of the padding.” —HungGet it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in seven colors). Note: Each mint contains 40mg of caffeine. According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 400mg of caffeine is safe for most healthy adults. NeuroGum is a small business that specializes in caffeinated gum and mints. Promising review: “I’ve been using these NeuroMints for the past four years now, and absolutely love them. They have completely transformed my productivity — I’m not exaggerating. Coffee is great, but it gives me this high for like an hour or two followed by a horrible energy crash. These NeuroMints are on a whole different level. The level of focus and concentration I get from these is incredible. I guess their caffeine/l-theanine ratio is ideal because I am able to code for hours with these. They first got me through college, helping me focus on my studies. Now that I work in software, they keep my brain running.” —JetDriveSolutionsGet a six-pack with 12 mints each from Amazon for $24.99. Promising review: “Perfect, affordable, useful. Comes in attractive, carrying case. Has a protective sleeve. Opens to a good size.” —Holly WestGet it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in 14 colors). Promising review: “I saw this on TikTok a bunch of times and finally decided to get it. I hate the paper lint rollers, they never seem to work that well and I hate that I have to throw them away. This is awesome because it fits right in my bag, and I’m able to reuse it over and over. It’s super sticky and works great!” —EllaGet it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four colors and multipacks). Signora Ware is a small business that specializes in portable food packaging and containers. Promising review: “These salt and pepper shakers are the perfect size for traveling, camping or going to work in my backpack! No leaks, and they work great. Very happy with this purchase.” —Mark PaveyGet it from Amazon for $6.49 (available in three other styles). Promising review: “These fun little jars are just the perfect size to put in a lunch or picnic, or a great addition to a bloody Mary or taco bar. They always get a great response, and that way, everybody can add their own level of heat. So cute.” —Tracy AdamsGet a set of six from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in other sizes). Check out a TikTok of the dry shampoo in action. Promising review: “Will be buying again!! This is a fantastic product. I have incredibly thin hair that gets very oily very easily. This is the first product that I’ve tried that actually works! I am so very happy!” —Katie_0_BakerGet it from Amazon for $18 (available in different styles and packs). Promising review: “This little ball is genius!! Rolls around in my purse, which I live out of. It picks up a lot of lint, debris, or even crumbs. Easy to find with the bright pink. Just remove and wash and it’s ready to go again. The price was great and something I can use for years. If you live out of your purse this a must-have!!” —dj3biggsGet it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in five colors). Wallet Ninja is a small business that specializes in card-size, slim-profile tools and accessories. Each card includes (DEEP BREATH): several screwdrivers, a letter opener, nail puller, ruler, bottle opener, can opener, box opener, cellphone stand, hex-head nut and bolts, and a fruit peeler. Promising review: “This is definitely helpful to have on hand! The Ninja is small and slim but punches above its weight class in terms of usefulness. The tools are all things you might find yourself searching through a drawer for and are useful in a pinch. It fits comfortably in your wallet and will help you open a beer or tighten a screw. The coolest feature that I couldn’t find on most other similar products was the credit card phone stand. It is great for planes and other travel applications (I haven’t had trouble bringing this on a plane anywhere I have traveled, FYI).”—MaryGet it from Amazon for $14.98 (also available in packs of two, three, and five).Alpine Start is a small business that specializes in instant coffee, lattes, matcha, and creamers. I’m picky about coffee, but I love these. I picked them up at the recommendation of a friend because the BuzzFeed Shopping Team wakes up long before dawn on Prime Days, and I knew I was going to want something quick and fast to guzzle to wake myself up. I wasn’t expecting it to also be DELICIOUS?? I have made sure my pantry is stocked with it ever since, and I always take one traveling when I’m in hotels and don’t know the lay of the land. Going out to get my coffee every morning is my favorite “treat” of the day, but this is so delicious that it cushions the blow on days I can’t. Promising review: “Great product! Had both hot and with slightly coolish water, and both times it tasted great. Having a cup of coffee on the summit of a mountain was great, and adding in coffee that tastes good is even better! Will buy for future backpacking trips for sure.” —Kelley HemmingerGet a pack of eight from Amazon for $9.99. BodyGlide is a small business that specializes in chafe-preventing personal care products. Promising review: “Wow. I took this on vacation, during which we walked about 20,000 steps daily. And of course my shoes begin to rub against parts of my feet, terribly. But I smeared this on and it was amazing. I did have to reapply a few times a day, in public, but I highly recommend this!! I used it on my toes, ankle area, etc., and my feet felt great (normal).” —Y.Get it from Amazon for $8.99.Check out a TikTok of the protein bars in action. I love these so much that I’m literally eating one as I type this. I’m on an eternal quest to only ever eat protein bars that taste like candy, because life is too short not to only eat delicious things, and these pass the test with FLYING colors. The Karamell Chocolate one tastes like a Samoa Girl Scout cookie and the Choklad Peanut tastes like a Snickers. I can go from feral and hangry to a perfect ray of chocolate sunshine after eating one of these. I should do a better job of gatekeeping them now that my beloved Barebells are also selling out online right and left, but I’m a yapper, so. ENJOY. Promising review: “These are akin to Mars bars, and actually are much better than the current ‘real’ candy bars I’ve tasted in the USA. There are whole, crunchy almonds, caramel and creamy chocolate. Sometimes they arrived a bit squished and are messy to eat, but they’re still scrumptious and by FAR the best keto/low carb protein/candy bars I’ve had!” —Samantha S. Get a 12-pack from Amazon for $20.97+ (available in eight styles). VIS Paradise Goods is a Florida-based Etsy stop established in 2021 that specializes in personalized and sustainable goods. Promising review: “This is perfect! I constantly have my hands full and now I can comfortably carry my coffee with me everywhere I go. I will be purchasing more!” —ErinPsst — I own one of these myself and love it for the convenience of texting on the go! These even have a holder for a straw if you happen to get iced coffee or bubble tea and don’t want to stick the straw into the drink just yet. I’ve found this to be very sturdy and easy to use, plus they’re a fun conversation starter — people always want to know where I got it! Get it from VIS Paradise Goods on Etsy for $12.98+ (originally $16.99+; available in five colors and 10 option designs). Check out a TikTok of the insect spray. Stay Away is a small business that specializes in pest-removing and repelling products. Promising review: “Deet doesn’t work for me, but this does! I’m the person who gets bitten while everyone else is fine. They follow me, and most repellent isn’t very helpful. This worked great! They came near but didn’t bite. The smell isn’t bad either! I didn’t mind it, and my sister has requested some also (she gets bitten even more than I do). I would have preferred a continuous spray nozzle, but I’m very impressed with how well it kept those dang mosquitoes away in Texas! I did sweat a little, and it didn’t change how well it worked.” —eveGet a four-pack from Amazon for $26.99 (also available in other packs). Promising review: “A friend of mine told me about these. Brilliant, I can’t believe I lived without them for so long! I’ve been wearing all black on business trips forever because I got tired of stained white top syndrome. The three-pack is perfect: one at home, one in the office, one in my travel bag.” —CathyGet a pack of three from Amazon for $7.88.Bonus: these are safe for the microwave and the dishwasher! Promising review: “I’ve been wanting to switch back to reusable bags and drop plastic for some time now. Ages ago I bought lesser quality bags, but the Stasher products are superb in comparison. The bag is just the right size and so easy to clean. I just wash it out with soap, rinse and turn inside out to dry. Give them a try!’ —AmyLoo16Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 12 colors — check out the Stasher shop for more sizes, colors, and styles).Alleyoop is a woman-owned small business that specializes in functional makeup products. Here’s what former BuzzFeeder Jasmin Sandal has to say about it: “I gotta say, I love the concept of the Pen Pal from Alleyoop! After using all of the functions (eyeliner, highlighter, lip liner, eyebrow pencil) and as someone who LOVES makeup but was applying as little as humanly possible during lockdown, I think it’s a great tool for anyone looking to streamline their routine. It’s ideal to use for touchups come the end of the work day, or a subtle, minimalist way to apply makeup in the a.m. The brow pencil is particularly soft and pigmented, and filled in my eyebrows quickly. I just adore the ease of application of each product, and appreciate the universal, does-it-all-for-you concept. Plus, it saves me so much room in my already-overflowing makeup bag!”Get it from Amazon for $20 (available in three shades).Promising review: “RUN to buy this, I repeat… RUN. I bought one of these about two years ago, and it’s STILL going strong. Aquaphor is amazing. We all know that. Buuut the convenience of having it in a tube is life-changing. It truly is as easy as one, two, three. It can easily be applied to anything you could possibly need. I’ve used it on brand new tattoos, dry/chapped skin (hands, feet, legs, lips etc.), and the edge of my hairline to protect my skin from hair dye!” —Tara Fossa Get it from Amazon for $10.39. Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.

Source: https://www.buzzfeed.com/emmalord9/small-products-carry-around-you-an