Hands Down, These Were Our Favorite Wellness Products of 2020

Who knew a set of weights would be one of the most sought-after items of 2020? I remember looking for a pair in early April and coming up short or finding that one pair of three-pound weights would set me back $50 on Amazon. The demand was and still is high, but at least the supply is somewhat okay now.

Theragun products were best sellers with our readers this year, which doesn't surprise us at all. These percussive therapy massage devices can help you soothe muscles after a recovery and can relieve other aches and pains, like tech neck. When you can't get a professional massage at a spa, it's the next best option.

A lot of fitness gear is not the most esthetically pleasing (nor does it really have to be), but Bala makes some really stylish items. Its Bangles are a favorite with editors and readers alike—we wouldn't mind wearing these out and about (although our legs and arms might say differently!).

With at-home workouts at an all-time high, a lot of us have had to invest in some gym basics. A yoga mat should be at the top of the list, even if you don't practice. You can still use it for other mat classes like Pilates or barre. Our readers loved this lightweight mat from Manduka, which is specially designed for hot yoga classes. No slipping on your own sweat here!

Another easy at-home workout that requires very minimal equipment? Jumping rope. Plus, a jump rope is easy to store if you're short on space. Tangram's option is a smart rope that tracks your progress and has an LED display.

In the self-care space, a lot of you really leaned into the healing powers of aromatherapy. A diffuser is probably one of the easiest ways to get those stress-relieving, calming, and sleep-inducing benefits. Vitruvi's porcelain version is a perennial favorite for us. It can run for seven hours and has an automatic shutoff function.

The air purifier was another hot-ticket item this year, and we're sure it's not going to lose any popularity in 2021. This one from Levoit has a three-stage filtration system and circulates air four times in an hour. It has a night-light function, too.

With more time spent at home, maybe you've used quarantine to redecorate or make your space a little bit cozier. What better way to freshen up a room than plants? Plant parenthood gave a lot of us some welcome distraction this year.

While there haven't been too many official scientific studies on the benefits of weighted blankets, anyone who owns one will tell you they really work. In fact, they'll go on and on about how comforting, relaxing, and sleep-inducing they are. This one from Baloo is sized like a throw blanket and is made of organic cotton and other eco-friendly materials.

If you went from working in an office to working from your home this year, you know what a privilege it is to be able to do that. But you probably also realized what a big change it was from office life, so you might have made some edits to your living space for productivity. A standing desk was at the top of many people's lists to avoid sitting all day. This best seller on Amazon converts any surface into a standing desk and can hold a monitor (or laptop), keyboard, and other tech accessories.

There's no doubt that restless nights were a norm in 2020. Many of us tried so many different tricks to fall asleep (and stay asleep). One trick that seems to work for a lot of people is aromatherapy, like unwinding with some calming scents. This popular spray is a big help—it's infused with lavender, chamomile, and vetiver oils for a restful sleep. Just spray it on your pillow before bed.

Hand sanitizer was another product in high demand this year. We fell in love with Megababe's Squeaky Clean Hand Sanitizer in 2020. The clean formula is made with plant-based alcohol, nourishing botanical oils, and orange and bergamot oil scents.

If you're big on baths as a form of self-care, you've got to have a pretty good inventory of calming bath salts. This favorite from Lord Jones contains CBD, Epsom and Himalayan pink salts, and essential oils for a tension-relieving treatment.

A lot of us turned to journaling as a form of self-care this year. There are so many pros to this practice, one being that it's relatively inexpensive. For those new to journaling or who are unsure where to start, we love Insight Editions' journals because they are filled with helpful prompts.

Sex toys saw an increase in sales in 2020, and if anything this year makes sense, it's that fact. The newest models are so sleek and stylish. Dame's Kip vibrator is a best seller with five different patterns at five different vibration levels. It's rechargeable via USB.

Count how many days you wore real "hard" pants this year. Now, count how many days you wore leggings or sweats or pajama bottoms in 2020. The divide is probably very real. This was the year of athleisure, and honestly, we're not mad about that. In fact, these lightweight knit joggers from Zella are what got a lot of you through these past couple of months. 

Bike shorts were just about everywhere this year. Girlfriend Collective's shorts topped our list of favorites—they're high-rise, made from 17 recycled water bottles, and the right amount of comfy and supportive.

Cozy was the name of the game in 2020, so we needed a lot of comforting sweatshirts to get us through it. Alo makes some of our favorite activewear, and its sweatshirts don't disappoint. This cropped version is both cozy and cool.

For at-home workouts, a good pair of leggings was a must-have. Sweaty Betty's Power Leggings never disappoint. They're sweat wicking and sculpting and have handy pockets.

These might look just like your average workout leggings, but they're a lot more than that. Designed with "tiny, moisturizing microspheres," these leggings will hydrate your skin on contact. How cool is that? And of course, they're made for any type of exercise, with four-way stretch, a high waist, and a built-in pocket.

Sakara's The Foundation tops my list of favorite supplements I tried this year, and I try quite a lot of them since it's kind of my job. The daily pill packs are just so easy to use because they have pretty much everything you need: two multivitamins, a probiotic, minerals, an omega, and a B complex. Plus, they're clean and vegan friendly.

Cult-favorite brand Moon Juice came out with a new supplement this year: SuperBeauty, which was formulated to prevent the signs of aging and promote collagen production and elasticity. Who What Wear's beauty editor Erin Jahns tried the supplement and said her skin looked and felt healthier and had a nice, dewy glow.

Chances are you've probably had to get some more vitamin D this year—I know I have! Hum Nutrition's Here Comes the Sun is one of my personal favorites. The softgels are plant based.

Golde's superfood blends are a great way to start your day because they're so easy to mix with water, milk, or smoothies and can put a little pep in your step. The Matcha Turmeric one is an editor favorite: It boosts your metabolism and energy.

Although not exactly a traditional supplement, this fragrance works as one. It not only leaves you with a nice, woodsy scent, but it's also designed to help you de-stress. It's formulated with scents like vetiver, cedarwood, benzoin, pine, patchouli, and bergamot to deliver the healing powers of the great outdoors.
Next up: 45 Wellness Products That Have a Cult Following