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Skee-Ball for the beach? A pool float shaped like a stick of butter? A leave-in product that “laminates” your hair against humidity? Best summer ever is a lock this year.

As a BuzzFeed Shopping editor, my goal is to find all the products actually worth buying.

Summer is not without its obstacles: bugs, humidity, oppressive heat, etc. But armed with the right products — like fun outdoor games, a cooling body wash, and an adjustable at-home mister — you can not only survive, but thrive. 

There are two teams: green and blue. Adults hide the fireflies and then let the kids find them, like an Easter egg hunt. Whichever team collects all their fireflies first wins. 

Promising review: "Absolutely love this! So cute, works as described. Endless fun in the dark, both inside and outside. Would recommend. Hours of fun for the kids. Like an Easter egg hunt in the dark!!!!!!! Bought as a gift for a three-year-old who is just learning about and catching fireflies. She was very engaged in the game and wants to play it every night. Great gift and very age appropriate. Great quality, too." —Ryan

Promising review: "We have had this float for almost a year, and it is great quality. It is a big float, which makes it even more fun. The material seems high quality and thick, making it more durable. We have had this float in lakes, boats, and with dogs, and it has withstood all of it." —K

Promising review: This product is incredible — just WOW. In all my years of existence, I was never able to tame my naturally curly hair into a sleek, silky, frizz-free look, until now. I l don't know what kind of magical sorcery went into making this product, but this stuff is amazing. —Lillee45

Get it from Amazon for $14+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "These are so much fun for our 2-year-old little boy during bath time and outdoors at his water table. They’re incredibly durable considering several of them have been left outside in the HOT southern sun for weeks. None of the balloons has any sealing issues. I’ve been pleasantly surprised that you need some force to throw the balloons for them to 'pop,' much like a regular water balloon! They’re so easy to use that our son doesn’t even need help filling them up over and over. These have been such a great addition to our toys!" —Amazon Customer

Get them from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in three pack sizes). 

Promising review: "LOVE THESE TUMBLERS!!! Tried them out with a margarita. Worked just as they say. The top stays on nice and tight. It has slits all the way around so you can pick it up and drink from the top in any direction. I love the colors. They look exactly as shown." —ES

Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in 16 colors). 

Menthol can be a little drying, so spot check if you have sensitive skin!

Promising review: "​I'm officially obsessed with this body wash! It delivers a rich, creamy lather that cleanses deeply while keeping my skin's natural moisture intact. Unlike heavy formulas, it leaves behind a silky, breathable barrier that feels lightweight and fresh — never greasy. The 'Cool Mood' fragrance is a total game-changer; it’s crisp, invigorating, and perfectly matches the name. Between the convenient pump bottle and the incredible value, this is now a permanent staple in my shower." —Superwmn

Promising review: "I absolutely love this giant bubble solution. You can make huge, beautiful bubbles with it. I have a 6-year-old granddaughter and a 2-year-old grandson. We have so much fun with these. It's non-toxic, which is important if you've got little ones. We use Dawn dish soap, which is also safe, so we know it won't hurt the kids or the pets, because you know they're going to pop every last one, and they're going to be drenched in it because the bubbles are massive." —Kimberly

Promising review: "I love this ice chest! It’s the perfect size for two people, and you can roll/pull it when full. I like the basket inside so you can stay organized. Best of all, there is a drain in the bottom." —Donna L

Get it from Amazon for $129.99 (available in two colors and also available in two other styles). 

Promising review: "I have had this pool for about two weeks now, and I LOVE IT!!! Was simple to set up; I got a little electric pump, and it took about 10 minutes to inflate, then about half an hour to fill with water. Pay attention to make sure you set it up on level ground, or it will be lopsided. I live in South Carolina, so it is already hot and humid, and I use it about every afternoon. It is probably good for two adults, maybe one adult and a couple of kids. The built-in seat and headrest are really quite comfy and relaxing. I will definitely buy this same pool again if it springs a leak and can't be fixed. If I could give it 10 stars, I would. LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!!!" —kathryn j.

Promising review: "This is the BEST suncreen; I love how easy it is to apply and how it doesn't leave residue or make you look greasy." —Noxysbooksight

Check out a TikTok of the Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar in action. 

Promising review: "NO WHITE CAST! I've been looking for a stick sunscreen, and this was just exactly what was needed!! I'm a medium-toned black woman, and looking for something without a white cast is always a challenge. I have applied it on my bare skin, and there isn't a white cast at all! It's a 'soft matte' finish, for sure, and looks like natural skin. Like you're not wearing anything at all." —Martina

Get it from Amazon for $13.88 (available in two styles). 

It comes with 20 balls and two pumps. Players must work to throw balls into their teammates' pants faster than the other team. 

Promising review: "This game is so fun! I bought it for my teens who would rather be on screens all the time, and they LOVED it! Definitely got them outside, running around and laughing like crazy!" —Erica J.

Get it from Amazon for $22.99+ (available in sets of two or four).

This stuff is STRONG, so make sure you do a spot test first — especially if you have sensitive skin.

Promising review: "For anyone who might be skeptical, please allow me to put you at ease. If you have hyperhidrosis, meaning it can be 9 degrees outside and you're still sweating under your arms, this product has the potential to change your life. I would sweat THROUGH a sports coat before noon. Enter the Sweat Block product. I've had it for three weeks, and it is life-changing. I DO NOT sweat under my arms anymore. I'm still on the original box that I bought three weeks ago. I had to write a review after I was cleaning the garage today in 85-degree heat. I was sweating through my shirt on my back — BUT NOT MY UNDERARMS. It is amazing!" —Frosty McGee

Get a pack of eight from Amazon for $19.97.

I know this thing is spendy, but I regret to inform you it's absolutely worth it. It solves every annoying problem that comes with a traditional umbrella. First of all, it takes literally less than five minutes to set up and break down. You need two people to do it, but it's so easy, you don't even need the instructions. Once it's up, it provides A TON of shade but doesn't overly obscure the view of the people behind you. Even the tiniest hint of a breeze will get the fabric moving, and it flutters in the wind kind of like a flag — it's pretty relaxing to watch! Thanks to the front weight, there's no fear of it blowing away in the wind and impaling someone. If there's truly no breeze, there are additional weights you can attach to the back to create a tent-like structure. When you're done, you can just shove it back into the bag without any strategic folding. This thing is a game changer if you hate setting up beach umbrellas or tents! 

Get it from Amazon for $230+ (available in two sizes and five colors) or Shibumi for $215+ (available in two sizes and seven colors).

You can throw these in your watering can or any standing water in your backyard. They contain BTI, a bacterium toxic to mosquito larvae. The treatment lasts up to a month and treats 100 square feet of surface water. 

Promising review: "So far, this is the best method I have found to rid your houseplants of pesky flies, gnats, and other unwelcome guests. I keep half a dunk in my watering can at all times. When it dissolves (usually after a couple of months), I replace it with another. Works great on the houseplants. I tried a lot of other stuff first, and nothing compared." —private

This has a 1,200-watt motor, three blending programs (smoothie, ice crush, and blend), and auto iQ presets that'll blend for you. 

Promising review: "I absolutely LOVE this blender. I use it to make smoothies and they come out AWESOME. I had a smaller portable Ninja blender that was ok, but it would get jammed a lot with frozen products, so I decided to upgrade to this one, and I am so glad I did. This blender is a beast. It blends everything up perfectly. Frozen fruit is no problem at all. I love how it has suction cups on the bottom so that it grips the counter. It’s pretty loud, but since this blender works so well, I can handle the noise. I highly recommend this." —Unicornyankee

Get it from Amazon for $109.98+ (available in five colors). 

Funboy is a family-owned business run by Celeste Barrett and Raquel Barrett.

Promising review: "We never leave the pool! This is so cute! We used it for beers on Saturday and mimosas on Sunday." —Christi G.

Get it from Amazon for $58.65+ or Funboy for $69 (available in six colors).

Promising review: "Absolutely perfect for car camping. Just find a remote place off of a nature trail, hang the bag, and have the most satisfying shower of your life. It's made with high-quality material, and I have had no problems with leaking. The product works well heating up in the sun, but feel free to leave it on the heated seat of your car with the black side down for a warm shower in a pinch. The 2 1/2 gallons was perfect for a five-minute shower. The nozzle opens and closes easily, and the carrying and hanging strap works great!" —henry

Get it from Amazon for $35.98+ (available in three sizes and with a privacy tent).

Promising review: "Used this camping, and it got lots of comments. I like that it has rings for different sized wine bottles. Tray isn’t very large. For sure it will be great at concerts in the park." —retrotraveler

Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in three sizes).

You can easily mount this onto almost any tree by wrapping it around the trunk, hanging it from a branch, or a combination of the two. Also, reviewers note that it's easy to swap out the included rope toy with a new one if need be.  

Promising review: "My pitfall puppy has destroyed every 'tough' and 'durable' toy possible, but this little guy? Lasted us almost a full year. Our older pitbull/lab is incredibly strong, and it still hasn't broken under his weight. It tired them out, too, which is great. I also found it's great for training the dog to drop/leave it because they can't run away from the ball, which makes it easier to train." —Ashlyn

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in four colors). 

Dreamer Kids is a family-owned small biz that sells unique wooden toys for kids.

FYI: This kit requires some assembly and includes 10 plastic flowers.

Promising review: "We love it! We enjoyed the plastic flowers that came with the kit, but had the most fun when we started putting in natural objects —flower petals, tiny ferns. Lots of creative play ahead." —martharich3

Get it from Dreamer Kids on Etsy for $58.04 (available with custom text or with two quote options).

Promising review: "This works like magic! It's easy to use and makes a beautiful gift from the kids!" —Sj773

Promising review: "OK, I wasn’t expecting this to be as nice as it was!! This thing is definitely worth the buy. Very sturdy, plates and utensils were nice, and cups as well." —Massmann0504

Get it from Amazon for $42.68+ (available in two sizes and eight colors).

Reviewers note that this crayon can crumble, so press gently! Half Magic is owned by Donni (Doniella) Davy, who is known for her sparkly looks on HBO's Euphoria. 

Promising review: "I am not very hand eye coordinated or an eyeshadow maven by any means. I do not even know how to do a cut crease yet. But these crayons are so easy to use, and have allowed me to create amazing, multicolor looks with a swipe of the stick! The built-in primer also makes sure it stays all day." —D

Get it from Half Magic or Ulta for $26 (available in 10 colors).

Reviewers note that these don't have a ton of traction, so they're better for easy walks. 

Promising review: "So glad I got these for my trip to Hawaii. These shoes saved my feet getting into the coral-covered beaches of Kaua'i. Great on the hot sand, too. Much more comfortable than the ones I got for my daughter at Target." —jaspy106

Get it from Amazon for $6.26+ (available in women's sizes 4-13.5/men's 3-12 and 43 colors).

Promising review: "Just used this product on a recent trip to Florida. I made sure to wash my skin before application, and it lasted about two days on my skin without coming off. When out of the sun or behind UV glass, like in a car, the spot turns clear. As soon as you step into the sun, it turns purple. If you use sunblock, it starts to become clear or semi-clear. After being on the beach and having gone into the water a few times, the spot started seeing purple, and I applied sunblock again. In a minute, the spot was clear again. So this is very effective In alerting me when to reapply." —RGTorque

Get a pack of 16 from Amazon for $15.99.

There are probably thousands of cute baby swimsuits out there, but this is definitely the cutest option, IMO! My son wears the neon yellow salmon version, and he gets a ton of compliments. I'm going to be super sad when he grows out of it! It's a little bit of a splurge for something your LO can only wear for one season, but totally worth it for a first swimsuit. The fabric is stretchy and soft, plus it kind of glows, so people can find us at a distance. As far as I can tell, it doesn't have added UPF protection, but we keep the baby in the shade anyway. Snag the matching hat here!

Lewis is a children's boutique founded by Liz Libré and Lizzy Ott, who met in high school. As designers and new moms, they wanted to make nursery essentials and clothing that made both kids and adults happy ("childlike, not childish").

Get it from Lewis for $42 (available in sizes 0M–2T and three patterns). 

This starts green and blends into a "universal shade," which may not be a perfect match for fair or dark skin. 

Promising review: "I swear by this. Been using it for about a year now, it goes on every day and gets all the redness off my face, when I’m in a hurry I just top it off with a little powder, and I’m done, but it’s a perfect base layer for any makeup routine if you have a lot of redness like I do." –Andrea

Get it from Amazon for $10.97+ (available in other shades and in packs of two).

Promising review: "Best value for the money. Easy to apply and enough coverage — not cakey, which I liked the most. And it lasts a long time without creasing." —Vish

Get it from Amazon for $4 (available in five shades).

PSA: Make sure helmets are worn during bump-offs.

Promising review: "Great for the kids. The kids have been playing with this for hours. One of them even asked if they could sleep in it. It’s great for winter indoor fun. I highly recommend this product." —RyanAndFaith

Get it from Terrain for $20 (available in three colors). 

Check out a TikTok of the Laneige Neo Blurring Powder in action. 

Promising review: "I loved this setting powder, it blurred my pores and blended my makeup so well that even my husband noticed. Wow! I will be buying more before people find it and sell it all out, hehehe." —Charlotte Laim 

Get it from Amazon for $25 (refills and keychains available in the listing). 

The mister will cool the surrounding area by 20 degrees, and it comes with an interchangeable flower-shaped misting head for a fun, whimsy detail.

Promising review: "Works exactly how I want it to. Provides a fine, cool mist on the patio, allowing us to enjoy the backyard until sunset without breaking a sweat. Easy to set up. It was out of the box and cooling us off within minutes." —Debra L. Kusek

Get it from Amazon for $31.99+ (available in several quantities).

Because it's so portable, you'll likely find yourself bringing pool floats everywhere. The 2600 mAh battery is perfect for smaller items that don't need a ton of pressure, so no tires, balloons, or sports balls. 

Promising review: "I am very happy with this purchase. I took this on a backpacking trip, and it made inflating my sleeping mat a breeze because it is so light to carry. It offers great versatility with its attachments and a solid build, making it a reliable tool for field use. It does get loud during operation, but it was easy and doesn't get that hot. Fantastic addition to my kit." —Sean

Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in four colors). 

Promising review: "I love this brand of mascara. The waterproof formula does not budge. It stays on 'til you take it off. Best waterproof mascara I've ever used by far. The price is also incredible!" —Cindy P

Check out BuzzFeed Shopping editor Kayla Boyd's Essence Lash Princess mascara review to learn more!

It comes with a ramp, six balls, and two bags. 

Promising review: "I got absolutely FRIED at the beach this past weekend and tried everything under the sun (literally) to provide some relief for my sunburn. I was in so much pain, and every over-the-counter aloe gel, lidocaine, and cold shower was not helping. I found this wrap on my TikTok and immediately bought it. As soon as I put this on my burn, I was immediately relieved of any burning or irritation. I am wearing four patches right now, and I plan on wearing them all day, every day, until this burn heals. I will say the only downside is that they slip off when the aloe has worn off! And it is a little bit hard to maneuver to cut since it is so slippery. But overall, I love this product and will be a forever customer!" —Nick

This works best for wavy and curly hair. Check out its result on TikTok. 

Promising reviews: "I have tried many different types of foam and mousse, but this is my holy grail. I plop my hair in a microfiber wrap for about 10 min, scrunch out any excess water, section my hair into two sections, and apply four pumps of this mousse to each section, scrunching each time. Once it’s applied, I squeeze my hair once more with my microfiber and diffuse on low heat until it’s 80% dry, and I’m left with lovely curls. I apply no other products, just my shampoo, conditioner, and this mousse. :)" —Ashes

These come with a converter, so they work for Lightning and USB-C ports. 

Promising review: "I work in an area where the AC doesn't always work so well. I can fit this little gem in my pocket and use it whenever I need to cool down a bit. It just plugs into the charging port and starts right away. It gives nice airflow for such a little fan and connects to Android (C-port only) and iPhones. I loved these so much, I bought a bunch to give to co-workers and family." —K.B.

Get a pack of six from Amazon for $13.98.

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.

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.