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12 Things We’ve Tried, Loved, And Think You Will, Too
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BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. Read More Spoiler alert — laundry day is about to get so much less annoying. I'm a Shopping Editor who uses my passion for hitting "add to cart" (and my 8+ years in media) to curate the best products on the web — I'm particularly passionate about finding the best beauty products, which probably stems from my days of working at Lush Cosmetics, where I learned about effective skincare ingredients while getting covered in bath bomb dust every day. Every month, we round up recommendations from writers and editors across BuzzFeed for products they've tried and love, to help you discover vetted things you might also love. Yes, these are our personal reviews! In our August 2026 edition, we're loving all kinds of smart finds, including a K-beauty lip serum, some splurge-worthy sandals that'll elevate your late-summer/early-fall looks, and the secret to keeping your wine fresh for longer. "I was never a huge fan of tumblers with exposed straws because I worried about the straw collecting dust or germs, and the drink spilling easily. I know you can buy cute caps to cover the straw, but I've never really liked using them either. This particular tumbler caught my eye because the straw retracts into the bottle when you're not drinking. I love that it keeps the straw protected from dust, dirt, and anything else it might come into contact with while I'm out and about. It also feels much more hygienic, especially when I leave it sitting on my desk throughout the day. Another feature I really love is that it's completely leakproof. I've turned it upside down many times, and nothing leaks, which gives me peace of mind whenever I toss it into my bag without worrying about water spilling everywhere. On top of that, this design is so cute! I'm planning on adding a little Appa sticker from Avatar: The Last Airbender so it looks like he's flying through the sky around the bottle." —Brittney Trinh Get it from Amazon for $30.99 (available in 15 colors and also in a 26-ounce size). "This has been popping up ALL OVER my TikTok FYP, so I finally decided to add it to my cart when I ran out of my beloved Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment. This formula from Dr.Reju intrigued me due to the exfoliating ingredients, which I figured could help when those annoying crusty lip flakes appear. I applied it one night when my lips were particularly flaky, and I was shocked that my lips were silky smooth and hydrated the next morning. I was nervous that a chemical exfoliant would be too intense for the lips, but I haven't experienced any irritation or sensitivity so far. That said, I do use this every other night and opt for the super affordable Essence The Super Balm on other nights. I also surprisingly love that it's completely unscented (I usually want everything in my life to be scented), but that makes it a perfect nighttime treatment, because sometimes the smell of vanilla cupcakes or strawberry-guava can be a bit too intense before bed." —Daniel Boan "I must confess: I wear these even when it isn't sunny. They're that cute. Plus, I have a shorter nose that most sunglasses don't really work with, but these stay on my face all day without me having to annoyingly push them back up every five seconds. They're also *really* sturdy. I toss them in my bag constantly, where they get banged up by my phone, keys, chafing stick, makeup, personal fan, and all of the other crap in my purse — and they haven't broken yet!" —Karly Jacklin Get them from Amazon for $14.99 (available in seven colors). "I live in New York City, so hauling groceries for several blocks back to my apartment is an unavoidable part of life. When I recently got the chance to try out the large-size Hulken bag, I jumped at the opportunity, hoping it would make those trips a bit easier. Reader, I'm pleased to tell you my hopes came true. Not only has it been helpful for hauling cases of water bottles and heavier items, but it also came in handy when I needed to lug my laundry to a nearby laundromat when my washer was having issues. Even if you don't live in a big city, I could see this being extremely helpful for anyone who needs to carry bulky items to and from work, parents who need to lug around heavy items all day, or even anyone who is in the process of a move!" —Daniel Boan Get it from Amazon for $121+ (available in two sizes and three colors). "These heels are perfect for nights when I want a little extra height without wearing anything too tall. They're pretty comfortable, and I love that the ankle strap is completely removable. Taking it off makes the shoes feel even more comfortable, and they still look cute and complete without it. In the past, I usually stuck with black or white heels because they were easy to match with different outfits. Recently, though, I've started loving the cognac color because it adds a warmer touch to the outfit while still being neutral enough to pair with a variety of looks. I've also owned a few pairs of heels from this brand, and they've all been of great quality. They've lasted me for years and are still part of my regular rotation whenever I go out." —Brittney Trinh Get it from Alterre for $275 (available in women's sizes 6–10). "I own them in white and have been LIVING in them thanks to the no break-in period and the incredibly supportive cork footbed. Maybe I should just buy some in a few more colors... One of my fave features about these shoes is the *very* convincing faux buckle that's actually a Velcro strap. I own and love other Mary Jane shoes with actual buckles, and now I'm realizing that buckling does slow me down a bit." —Elizabeth Lily Get them from Vionic for $155 (available in women's 5–13 and three colors) or Amazon for $155 (available in sizes 5–13 and five colors). You do not need a subscription to record and download EKG results. However, if you want to send it to Kardia's team of board-certified cardiologists, a KardiaCare membership is required (starting at $99 per year). Be sure to talk to your doctor before incorporating this device into your care routine. The device is FDA-cleared to detect atrial fibrillation (AFib), bradycardia, tachycardia, and normal sinus rhythm. If paired with a KardiaCare membership, it can also detect sinus rhythm with PVCs, sinus rhythm with SVE, and sinus rhythm with wide QRS. Kardia says that this doesn't check for heart attack or replace your regularly scheduled doctor's visits, and that you still need to seek medical care if you have concerning symptoms or experience an emergency. Kardia also says the device is not recommended for pacemakers or ICDs. Read more from Cleveland Clinic, The Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, and Mayo Clinic. "I have a family member with a heart condition, so when I got an email about a new personal EKG device, I was immediately intrigued. Kardia sent me a sample, and I gave it to my family member to try. You hold it in your hands (or, hold it and also press it to your ankle for an even more in-depth scan), and it will read your heartbeat, similarly to how a real EKG would. Then, if you subscribe to their service, you can send the readout for analysis by a real doctor. In our case, the doctor responded within a few hours, which was a really fast turnaround! Of course, this isn’t a substitute for a full doctor visit, but it’s great for relieving anxiety when my family member’s heart issue starts acting up. We can get a quick 'all clear' and know that we don’t need to seek more care." —Andy Golder Get it from Kardia for $79, and see more about their yearly subscription plans here. If you want extra stability beyond its grippy base, it comes with adhesive strips to attach it to whatever surface you're using. "We've had this for nearly two years, and despite what feels like thousands of diaper changes — including many that got kinda messy — it still looks brand new. I *heart* the versatility too; after we moved and needed a different furniture arrangement, it made it easy to adapt to the new setup. I typically wipe clean with a baby wipe, then occasionally sanitize. The foam feels cushion-y enough that I've never worried about my baby's comfort, and the mobile's collapsible. It's long enough that our 99th-percentile-height kiddo still fits on it fine!" —Natalie Brown Get it from Amazon for $89.99 (available in three colors). How it works: Its needle effortlessly punctures the cork (or their special screw-top attachment), then, at the press of a button, the device pumps the wine-preserving argon gas into the bottle and releases the wine into your glass. When you remove the device, the cork/attachment re-seals itself, allowing no oxygen in to spoil the rest. It's perfect for having a glass or two every once in a while! What each version comes with: The 3+ includes the system, three argon gas capsules, an aerator, and three caps for screw-top wines. The 6+ includes all of that, plus three more caps for screw-top wines, and a case. You can use either version for as many bottles of natural-cork wine as you want. "I had my doubts about this until a bartender at a fancy wine bar told me it's industry standard — so I treated myself for my birthday this year! It works exactly the way it claims to; I have a bottle of red and a bottle of white that I've been using it with for four months, and every time I get another glass, it tastes perfectly fresh. It's perfect for where I am in life: my partner's not a wine drinker, and now that I have a kiddo, I only like to drink like, one glass every other Friday. Now, I don't have to open a $20 bottle to drink just one glass! And I can justify buying fancier bottles of wine, knowing I'll be able to make them last. If you want to see more, watch my video on the BuzzFeed Shopping Instagram!" —Natalie Brown Get the three-bottle version from Amazon for $279 and the six-bottle version for $379 (available in five colors). "I bought these to wear under my wedding dress back in 2023, and have worn them consistently under all kinds of dresses every summer since. They work exactly the way they claim to: they're super stretchy for comfort, prevent chafing even on the sweatiest of days, and never feel too hot. I machine wash 'em in a protective bag and air-dry them, and they still look basically brand new." —Natalie Brown Get it from Thigh Society for $39+ (available in women's sizes XS–2XL, three lengths, and in 12 colors). "I'm thrilled to confirm that these make putting sunscreen on a wiggly, excited toddler significantly simpler! To get sufficient coverage that satisfies my favorite SpotMyUV stickers, I've found I need to apply with a circular motion and go over each area twice, but that's still *much* easier than the alternative. No more attempting to rub in a gloopy mess of sunscreen poured directly from the bottle while my almost-two-year-old eats it and rubs it in my hair. With this, when he inevitably gets up to play with his blocks, I can easily follow and continue applying. And when he gets older, it should make it easier for him to apply sunscreen all by himself. The smart design goes beyond the sponge-and-roller-ball applicator: Squirt more sunscreen into the screw-on handle for a takes-seconds refill, and when you're done, cap the sponge end with its snap-on lid and toss it in your bag for reapplying later. When the sponge has run its course after several summers of regular use, you can buy a new spongehead from the brand instead of replacing the entire thing, saving you money and preventing waste." —Natalie Brown Get them from Amazon: A single applicator for $12.97+ (available in 13 colors) or a pack of two applicators for $22.38+ (which comes to $11.19+ each; available in 11 color combos). It can fit detergent spouts that are 1.7 inches in diameter. "These detergent cup holders have been a godsend for me! I have two little kids and a husband who loves to garden (so he's always covered in dirt), so I'm constantly doing laundry. My Costco-sized detergent bottles are in the closet behind my washing machine, and these babies clip onto them perfectly. I love that they prevent the extra soap from dripping onto my closet floor! When the soap builds up on the bottom of the tray, I just give it a quick rinse in hot water and twist it back in place. Easy-peasy!" —Heather Braga 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 used in this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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