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31 Very Small But Immensely Useful Things You May Want To Carry Around With You
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We hope you love our recommendations! While every product is independently chosen by our editors, BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. You can read more about how our affiliate partnerships work in our Editorial Standards & Ethics Guide. You are about to be everyone’s BFF on outings when you whip out the mouthwash tablets and this migraine-soothing rollerball. Promising review: "Perfect for travel. I have one in my carry-on and the second in my computer bag. You can easily coil them up and tuck them into a side pocket. So far, they work very well and seem durable. I love the fact that you have all your bases covered with the USB-C, Lightning, and Apple Watch charger." —Jane Get it from Amazon for $12.99 (available in nine colors and packs of two). Check out a TikTok of the marshmallow lip treatment in action. Promising review: "My new must-have! My number one go-to for healing lips was Carmex. This beat it. I love the consistency (very creamy/smooth), it’s not heavily flavored or goopy, and it obviously smells amazing. It isn’t overbearing and also doesn’t keep coating your mouth like the Eos stick balms (still great, but more wax)." —Breanah Shirazi Get it from Amazon for $4.97 (also available in Strawberry Acai and Brown Sugar Boba). Promising review: "This Kitsch French hairpin is both beautiful and functional. The gold finish is sleek and adds a touch of elegance, whether I'm dressing up or going casual. It holds my thick hair in place all day without slipping and is much more comfortable than hair ties. Great for buns, twists, or quick updos. Super easy to use once you get the hang of it. Definitely a staple in my hair routine now!" —J. Lee Hall Get it from Amazon for $9.93+ (available in four colors and in two-packs). Check out a TikTok of the nausea relief inhaler in action. Promising review: "Took this on my first cruise. Anytime that I started to feel woozy, I’d reach for it. I’m sure the required act of deep breathing helped a lot — and breathing in the fragrance of the essential oil is very calming and effective. Worked for me! Wonderful!" —Willy&Lilly Get a pack of two from Amazon for $12.99 (also available in a pack of three or four). Fomin is a small business that specializes in travel soaps and wipes. Promising review: "Best thing ever. I work outdoors and I use this for my job. Doesn’t require lots of water either, but gets the job done. I actually bought it for my fishing trip and can’t wait to see how well it does." —Amazon Customer Get a set of three from Amazon for $9.99 (available in single-scent packs, unscented, and larger packs). 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 Braswell Read BuzzFeed's review of the migraine stick for more deets! Get it from Amazon for $12.95 (also available in a three-pack). 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 several years 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. Brown Get it from Amazon for $5.99 (available in two colors and a two-pack). Promising review: "I love Boka products, especially these chewable mouthwash tablets. I keep a few in my bag and work lockets when I want a clean mouth feel and fresh breath feel. Great for long travel days too!" —Tawny Get a 90-piece container from Amazon for $19.99 (available in mint and citrus mint and in larger packs). Promising review: "These earplugs are so good!! I had originally bought a completely different brand (because I was being cheap), and let me tell you, you get what you pay for. I found these Loop earplugs and decided to give them a try and I’m so glad that I did! They are so comfortable! Made from silicone, so they are flexible and fit great. I’ve slept with them in all night without issues. The noise cancelling is fantastic! Now, does it block everything? No, but I think that’s a good thing for safety reasons. They do block my husband’s chainsaw snoring and that is exactly what I needed them to do." —melanie98837 Get it from Amazon for $24.95 (available in four colors; check out Loop's Amazon Storefront for more options related to concerts, offices, and parenting!). 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 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_Baker Get it from Amazon for $14.70+ (available in four styles and in multipacks and bundles). Promising review: "I have seasonal allergies and live in a dry home. I purchased this to help relieve scabs and pain from dry sinuses and frequent small nose bleeds. The gel stays put and does not drip. I was worried about that. The smell is very pleasant. I was busy with work, and a little over half an hour after the application, I realized my nose wasn't hurting! The scab had softened, and I could move my nose without pain. I had to apply it again after about three hours as my nose started to dry out. This really works and there is no burning, dripping, or habit-forming medications." —Peggy Clo 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." —Earendil Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in seven colors and in two-packs). 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. Read more about how menthol can help with temporary pain relief at Cleveland Clinic. Promising review: "Biofreeze's Dry Stick has been a game changer format for me!! I really love this convenient little version I can take on the go, and fits in the palm of my hand. The product does not feel greasy after it dries and gives the cooling relief I love from Biofreeze menthol products. It has been super easy to apply and mess-free for me. Will be buying again for sure." —Lisa M. Get it from Amazon for $12.98 (also available in a three-pack). 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." —Camille Get a 100-pack (!!) from Amazon for $14.27 (available in other pack sizes). 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 Customer Get it from Amazon for $9.38+ (available in two kit sizes/styles). 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 Salas Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two sizes, 12 colors, and in two-packs). 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!" —Ella Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in four colors and in two packs). Promising review: "Love these! Stylish, easy, comfortable, price is good, beautiful, and strong enough to hold all my hair!!!" —Emily Davis Get a set of three from Amazon for $5.89+ (available in various color sets and also in sets of five and six). Dae is a small business that specializes in haircare and styling products. Check out a TikTok of the taming wand in action. (It goes without saying that you don't need to lay your edges if you don't want to, but this is a handy option if you do.) Promising review: "I’ve tried numerous products for taming baby hairs, especially post-partum, and this is hands down the best thing I’ve tried. It also smells incredible! Love the size of the styling wand!" —Completely happy customer! "LOVE!!! It doesn't make hair greasy, it gets rid of my super frizzy hair, and smooths it down. Easily applied and the applicator is super functional. I love and will definitely buy again for the price! Super good look to it." —Devon Reid PureWine is a small business that specializes in wine accessories. Promising review: "What a difference these have made in my life. With my allergies, it was impossible to enjoy a glass or two of wine without nasty side effects: stuffy nose, red face, and headaches. Now, I can have a glass of wine and not have to dart to a package of antihistamines! Makes a great gift. Even thinking of splitting a box into stocking stuffers. Each wand is individually wrapped. Have purchased these several times and will continue to do so." —KellyH Get a set of three from Amazon for $11.99 (available in larger multipacks). Promising review: "I wanted a silicone band to wear at the gym and for travel, but wanted something different from the wide black bands that are so popular. This ring is cute, and it's so comfortable I'm not aware I'm wearing it. I may be back to get more colors!" —Lindajf Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in sizes 4–10, four colors, and a three-pack) 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. Give them a try!' —AmyLoo16 Get it from Amazon for $9 (check out the Stasher shop for more sizes, colors, and styles). 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." —Cathy Get a pack of three from Amazon for $7.87. 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 H Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in five colors and in multipacks). 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." —Hung Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in five colors and in two-packs). BodyGlide is a small business that specializes in chafe-preventing personal care products. Promising review: "Miracle worker. This stuff is seriously magic. I glide it along problem areas on my feet AND the shoes, and I hardly ever get blisters anymore. Cannot recommend this enough!" —Alexandra Promising review: "This little travel umbrella is a lifesaver! It’s so compact that it fits perfectly in my purse, but don’t let the size fool you — it holds up great in both rain and sun. The UV protection is a bonus for sunny days, and the sturdy design has handled unexpected gusts like a champ. Opening and closing are smooth and easy, and the cute design adds a bit of flair. Perfect for anyone on the go who needs reliable weather protection without the bulk!" —California girl Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 10 styles). Note: Each mint contains 40 mg of caffeine. According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 400 mg 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." —JetDriveSolutions Get a six-pack with 12 mints each from Amazon for $24.99 (available in three flavors). 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!!" —dj3biggs Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in five colors; also available in collections). Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity. BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. Emma Lord is a Senior Shopping Writer at BuzzFeed with 10 years of experience in lifestyle writing that specializes in a broad range of topics, including beauty, cleaning, fashion, personal care, home, fitness, and her beloved “TikTok made me buy it.” You can usually find her grilling her pals on their latest must-have products, giving a fake name at the local Taco Bell after eating there for the fourth day in a row, or talking everyone's ears off about the magic of New York City.