Whether it’s beauty products or home decor items, I want to share with you my favorite products of 2020 and why I love them. These aren’t necessarily items that were born in 2020, but they were new to me this year. I also have a list of items I want to try in 2021 that seem too good to pass up!
I think everyone can agree that 2020 has certainly been a whirlwind of a year. There has been a lot of growth within people as we have had to face really tough challenges.
Like so many others, I took this year to work on myself as a person and really work on self-care. For me, that means finding products that I love and are better for me and my home. Part of that has included switching to more natural products.
I truly love each product that I share and I am going to give you my honest review of them. I am not sponsored by these products nor am I getting paid to share my thoughts on these products. However, using my links to purchase any of these items may give me a small commission at no extra expense to you. If you do choose to use my links, I really appreciate it as every little bit helps me and my family. For more information, click HERE.
My Favorite Products of 2020
Each of these products I have personally used myself and paid for with my own money. These are honest reviews of why I like them.
Home Decor
Hearth & Hand Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is one of those plants that looks gorgeous with everything. The faux eucalyptus stems from Hearth & Hand are gorgeous. I have mine in a vase, but you can also lay them on their side on a table to bring a little more volume to your decor set.
Studio McGee Picture Frame
Studio McGee is taking over in my decorating heart. I absolutely love their pieces; I just wish I needed them all. I did however snag a gorgeous picture frame I felt I couldn’t pass up. The frame is a beautiful, light, natural wood color and it has a scenic picture inside. I believe it’s intended for the scenic picture to remain inside, but I probably won’t keep it in. It’s beautiful either way, but I am planning on switching it out for my own picture eventually. I just have to figure out what the perfect picture for it is. Right now it hangs in my kitchen and the wood frame matches all the other natural wood touches I’ve added in there.
Modern Farmhouse Serving Dishes
I snagged this amazing deal on Black Friday from Bed, Bath & Beyond for some white serving dishes. I absolutely adore this set and the small detail they have on them. It’s just enough to add a little beauty into the room. I’m kind of a collector of white serving dishes so I felt I couldn’t pass up the deal. However, even without the Black Friday deal, they are still priced very reasonably.
DIY Products
Premixed Mortar and Grout
When I added my backsplash in my kitchen, I used a premixed mortar and premixed grout and they were a lifesaver during this project. They come ready to use in a bucket that you can seal up in between uses. With dry mortar and grout, you have to mix the dry product with water to get the right consistency, then you only have a limited amount of time to use it before it dries up. The premixed is a little more expensive, but in my opinion completely worth it for the amount of hassle and time you save.
Contact Paper
I started off trying contact paper on my countertops, not knowing how it would turn out. I fell in love and I’m putting contact paper on everything now, including my fridge! It’s obviously still paper so it’s not upgrading your appliances to add it to them, but it’s definitely a great budget-friendly option to make something look more beautiful if you can’t afford to buy new. Find out all you need to know about contact paper HERE.
Edger Painter
This is a game changer when painting a room. This summer I painted our kitchen, bathroom, two hallways, and our master bedroom and I am so glad I found this little gadget. It easily helps you get all the edges of the room, between walls, and around doorways and windows with a perfect straight line. I didn’t have to tape off any room because of this tool so it saved me so much time! All you do is dip it in the paint and glide it against the edge you want to paint. I talk more about it in this post.
Behr Marquee Paint
As you can see, I did a lot of painting this year and I tested out a few different paints. My favorite paint to use is Behr Marquee. It’s an extension on the Behr paint brand, but you only have to paint one coat. I’m kind of a lazy painter so I don’t want to spend time painting two or three coats. This is my go-to.
Related: Best DIY Projects of 2020
Beauty
Tarte Shape Tape
In 2020 I tried a lot of new makeup. I have been buying drugstore makeup for YEARS and I wasn’t getting the results that I wanted from any of the products I was using (obviously). Tarte was running a sale on their Shape Tape concealer and I had heard a TON of good reviews on it so it was my first non-drugstore makeup purchase for me.
GAME CHANGER. All my other concealers caked under my eye (making those small wrinkles look WAY worse), didn’t actually conceal well and just make my face look dry and cakey. This concealer fixed all those problems!
I actually fell in love with the brand and am almost exclusively using their products. They can be pricier, but if you follow deals and stock up when they have a good sale, you can get great steals. I actually probably pay less now than I did when I was buying drugstore makeup because of shopping their deals. They do sell this brand at Sephora and Ulta, but I buy straight from the Tarte website.
They are a vegan and cruelty free makeup and skincare brand and they don’t include ingredients like Parabens, Mineral Oil, Phthalates, Triclosan, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or Gluten in their products.
Makeup Eraser
Another big win the in makeup world. This is a soft cloth that easily wipes away your makeup including waterproof mascara. All you do is get it wet with warm water and it gently wipes it away. I can usually use it for a few days before I throw it in the wash and it comes out looking brand new. I have tried so many makeup remover wipes and I am PICKY. I don’t like when they’re scratchy or don’t take all my makeup off. My favorite brand I’ve used for disposable wipes is Aveeno, but this makeup eraser cloth does an even better job. Plus, it’s a one-time purchase.
Billie Razor
Have you heard almost everyone talking about the Billie razor? Well, I’m here to tell you; they aren’t lying. It definitely does live up to the hype. It’s actually been called 2020’s razor of the year. And for good reason!
I have sensitive skin and I’m pretty sure I have tried EVERY razor there is to try from disposables to the most expensive ones and they all gave me bad razor burn. Billie razors give me a finer cut, WAY less razor burn, I don’t have to change the blade as often and I’ve noticed that my hair doesn’t grow back as quickly.
My favorite thing is that it’s so inexpensive and it comes directly to my door! You purchase the razor and then set up how often you want to receive new blades. It’s completely customizable and you can cancel at any time. I did the math and I am saving so much more money using this better razor. Does it get any better?
If you try this razor, which I kind of think you’re crazy if you don’t, definitely try the shave cream too. You won’t be disappointed.
Maui Shampoo/ Conditioner/ Body Wash
I’ve been trying to switch to more natural items this year including with my shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Recently I started using the brand Maui for my shower products. They are sulfate-free and smell insanely good. I buy mine at Target and I highly recommend.
Clothing
Romper
I’m pretty simple when it comes to clothes and I’m kind of sensitive to how clothes fit. I have loved how most girls look in rompers but I’ve never found one that fit me right or that was very comfortable. Until this romper. I got this over the summer and I probably wore this too often. For months it didn’t even have an official hanger in my closet because I would wear it again as soon as it was out of the wash.
It is so comfortable and flattering for many different shaped bodies. It’s easy to dress up or wear casual. It’s a great summer staple. HIGLY recommend.
Blowfish Sneakers
These sneakers were worn so much this summer. You can get so many styles and designs, but I got some that had a floral design. I put them with almost every outfit and hardly wore any other shoes. Dress down a dress or throw them on with shorts or a romper. They are comfortable and cute. Win, win.
Cleaning Products
Meyers All-purpose Cleaner
I mentioned earlier how I was switching over to more natural products. That means I’m also trying out new cleaning products. I’ve wanted to do this for years, but I’m also a bit of a germaphobe and tend to love chemically products that seem to get the job done. So I’ve tried out a few more natural products and when I feel they do as well as my old products then I’ll make the official switch. Mrs. Meyers All-purpose cleaner has impressed me enough to convert me. I have a few other products I’m trying out, but until I really feel like I can recommend them I will refrain from mentioning them.
Meyers Hand Soap
I’m also impressed with the Mrs. Meyers hand soap. I like they scents and it feel like it does a good job. I swear it’s not just the brand that I like. I tried Mrs. Meyers dish soap and wasn’t completely impressed. I have yet to find a natural dish soap that beats Dawn. I’ve tried a few, but I haven’t liked them enough to make the switch.
Items I Want to Try in 2021
I have not tried any of these items, but have heard amazing reviews and am hoping to try them myself this year.
Home Decor
Ruggable Rugs
If you have kids or dogs this might be the brand of rugs you want to try this coming year as well. These are stylish rugs that you can throw in the washing machine. Yes, you can throw them in the washing machine. They have good reviews, but for that reason alone I am dying to try them out. We have two large, hairy dogs who love to make our rugs their go-to spots in the house. These washable rugs would be a life saver.
Boutique Rugs
These are not washable rugs, but I absolutely love their patterns. They have a wide variety of rug designs and I hear people recommend these rugs more than any others. They also have other home decor besides rugs and they run good sales every now and then where you can get 60% off.
Paw Original
Apparently 2021 will be my year for trying out new rugs. This is a dog bed that looks like a rug. It’s memory foam, plush, waterproof and washable. I am all about ordinary products looking like cute home decor. Right now the dog bed we have is blue and doesn’t match anything so I make sure to hide it when people come over. Paw Original also makes blankets that are also waterproof and would be great for on the bed or couch.
Beauty
Tula
Another skincare brand that comes highly reviewed. I have one product of theirs but would love to keep trying more of their products.
Clothing
Spanx Faux Leather Leggings
These are one of the best sellers on LIKEtoKNOW.it (an app similar to Pinterest, but you can shop the items shared in the pictures. Follow me: it/theresourcefulhomemaker ). They are an investment, but from the sounds of it they are worth it.
Cleaning Products
Roomba or Eufy
Any type of vacuum that does the work for me sounds perfect! Our two dogs shed like crazy. I feel like I could vacuum all day and it wouldn’t be enough. Having one of these robot vacuums would be a life saver. You can connect them to your phone and at a press of a button they vacuum your house and then go back to their little home when done. Sound perfect to me!
Cordless Vacuum
If I can’t have a robot vacuum, getting a cordless vacuum might be a good alternative. They’re lightweight and you don’t have to keep tripping over or re-plugging the cord in as you move throughout the house. I’d do more research before buying one because they can get pretty pricey.
Conclusion
I truly shared my favorite products. These are the products I show my friends and tell them they have to get when they come over to my house. If you’re reading this and hanging out with me, then I consider you a friend. So friend, I hope you found these reviews helpful.
Have you tried any of these products or do any sound like something you might have to try?
