110 items from small businesses owned by women and people of color

It’s that special time of year when the Black Friday savings have started and gift shopping has begun. If you want to get a jump on your holiday to-do list, but are experiencing a bit of choice paralysis, don’t fear: Oprah has got you covered, with her annual Favorite Things gift guide. And 2021 is a little extra special, marking 25 years of holiday recs from our favorite multi-hyphenate.

“In honor of this milestone,” Oprah shared in the Amazon Live announcement, “We’re going to go big by focusing small.”

That’s why this year, her 110 picks show that she’s loving the things from small businesses. Specifically, many small businesses run by women and people of color. You’ll find everything from fashion to food (like this literal cheese soufflé), as well as art and goodies for your home.

As always, Oprah’s picks are here to give you all sorts of gift ideas, whether you’re shopping for your best friend or your next-door neighbor. Overall, this list is relatively affordable (and again, mostly supports small businesses), but in typical Favorite Things fashion, you’ll still find some decent variety in the price offerings. The lowest-priced item, for instance, is an eyeshadow palette that goes for $12.50, and the highest is a $1,795 rower. Oprah has nothing if not the range.

We definitely recommend taking a look at the full list, but for your convenience, we’ve pulled some of our favorite small business picks to get the perusing started — check them out below.

A bold pair of square glasses is maybe the most recognizably Oprah-inspired gift on her entire list, and this peepers pick comes in four different fun colors. Since we’ve all been getting plenty of screen time this past year and half, these glasses are a great way to emulate the talk show host’s iconic look and give your eyes a little much-needed protection.

With the world finally starting to reopen somewhat, we once again have a need for backpacks. These Dare to Roam ones come in eight different cute colors, come with a padded compartment to fit a 15-inch laptop, and are made with a water-resistant and antimicrobial material to fight bacteria growth. It’s a great choice for any student, young professional, or person who lives a little on-the-go.

Let’s be honest — who couldn’t use a little extra comfort these days? Whether you’re a kid or a grown-up, having a stuffed animal to give a squeeze to just helps. Plus, this one smells like lavender and can be heated in the microwave or dryer to provide the coziest vibes possible. Choose between Freddy the Frog, Kalee the Koala, Lucky the Puppy, and Spunky the Monkey.

In my opinion, hot sauce belongs on basically everything. Even if you’re not a super fan of spice, this three-pack comes with a mild, medium, and truly hot sauce, so you can adjust your dishes accordingly. These African-inspired sauces make for a more unique gift that Oprah says “elevates even the simplest meal.”

Cold weather means dry lips, and no one likes dry lips. These Poppy & Pout cruelty-free balms bring a little something to this winter-essential product, with 10 different flavors and adorable recyclable packaging. All the balms are hand-poured in the Poppy & Pout Idaho HQ and come with a bit more product than you’d usually find in the drugstore.

Puzzles are arguably one of the best ways to slow down, focus on a fun challenge, and create a beautiful image on your dining room table. This thousand-piece Galison puzzle will definitely take you at least a few afternoons, but still won’t be impossible to solve. You’ll also find that its image features eight powerful Black women from history, including Sojourner Truth and Harriet Tubman.

If you’re a fan of practical gifts, these face masks are the way to go. Thanks to their unique shape, they don’t rub up against your lips all day, making them ideal for any lipstick or lip balm wearers. You can adjust the straps in three different ways, and for every mask you buy, one goes to a person in need.

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