33 Things To Solve Your Summer Problems That Will Make You Say, “OK, That’s Genius”
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: "These playing cards are a HIT. I take them out with me for social events and when visiting people, even to the beach. We just play and play. So you can get them wet, and they won't soggy up and tear. It just becomes a little hard to shuffle. It is so cool that they look like you can see right straight through them, but you can't." —Tabs
Get them from Amazon for $5.99.
Amazon
Shakalo is a small business based in San Diego.
Promising reviews: "Magic. Must have for sand! Works quickly and easily. Stores easily. 100% did the job and worth the money." —Sara Wood
"We recently moved to a beach area, and we are constantly there. This item has changed our entire lives! It lasts decently long (depending on how much you use it), it smells super good (not at all like baby powder), and it's super effective. It has saved me from vacuuming my car at least 1–2 times a week. I even use it on my dog's paws and bellies to make sure they're taken care of, too. I will definitely be buying the refill & another baggie to have exclusively in the car." —Gabbs Uresti
Get it from Amazon for $24.99.
Amazon, www.amazon.com
You can also use a blow-dryer to increase the effects of the heat-activated spray.
Promising review: "I LOVE this product! I usually buy it at the beginning of the summer to help lighten my already natural blonde hair. It really helps get rid of the growth and darkness of winter. The summer sun and saltwater at the beach already naturally help lighten my hair, but this product really accelerates the process and give it that extra oomph. I spray it pretty liberally all over my hair and just use my fingers to distribute it. The key is making sure you spend a good amount of time out in the sun. It only takes a couple of sessions to really start seeing noticeable lightening. It still has hydrogen peroxide in it, but in small amounts, so it's not extremely damaging. Also, use a purple shampoo occasionally to help bring out the highlights and remove some of the brassiness." —Ninar
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
Promising review: "Absolutely LOVED this product. I purchased them as a gift for my brother when we were all using cell phones to see the grill one night. They are sturdy, provide sufficient lighting, and are high-temperature resistant. Be careful because when they are on the grill, they do get hot on the outside, so take them off with some protection (gloves, towel, etc). I loved them so much I ended up purchasing a pair for my grill as well." —MVega
Get a two-pack from Amazon for $12.99 (available in black or silver).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
This oil has over 17,000 5-star ratings!
BuzzFeed Shopping contributor Jasmin Sandal says, "My hair is the ~perfect~ combo of wavy, curly, and frizzy and this drugstore product has been a holy grail of mine for some time. I've found that it's the only formula that will give me soft, naturally curly waves come the a.m. and since I'm generally a nighttime hair washer, I have the perfect excuse to avoid blasting my hair with heat. Before hitting the pillow, I like to run my fingers through my towel-dried hair with a pea-sized amount of this, flip my mane over, and then give the ends a good scrunch. In the morn, my hair appears shiny with defined, wavy curls — we're not talking HD — but they have a nice, soft definition to them that doesn't require much styling."
Promising review: "Absolutely love this stuff! It's the one hair product I have to have. I rotate shampoos and conditioners but have never found anything to put on damp hair that I like as much as this. It says it's for curls, but works great on straight hair too. I have had super straight to very curly over the years and have loved this on all hair styles." —Bunco Queen of the Universe
Get it from Amazon for $7.97.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
FYI, depending on your situation, water may be enough to rehydrate you! Read more about electrolyte-enhanced drinks and hydration at Cleveland Clinic.
My sister has POTS and needs to stay hydrated to keep her blood pressure up. This is the only brand of electrolyte powder she uses because of its superior taste and salt levels.
Promising review: "Incredibly flavorful and tastes like you'd expect. I felt the effects within half an hour and was peppy while working in the Florida heat. Great price and super easy to use." —Joe
Get a 16-pack from Amazon for $23.99+ (available in 11 flavors).
Promising reviews: "These things are fabulous. It couldn’t be easier to put up, and once I trimmed the extra off the bottom, they’re a perfect fit. I put them in the master bedroom behind our nice-looking wood blinds AND in the kids' room. Our 7-year-old used to wake up with the sun even with good blinds...she now sleeps through the night and will sleep in later than us! I would pay for these time and time again to get the extra peace and quiet in the morning! Thank you for these inexpensive miracle workers! Parents, do yourself a favor and get these!" —Kate
"I love these so much that I just keep buying them. I think I've reviewed them like five times already but whatever. They are that awesome. If you are renting a home, traveling in hotels/at a family's house, moving to a new house, or just having kids — these are LIFE. I've used them for years under my kids' curtains since they were babies because they truly are blackout. We are military and move A LOT and the first thing I do is buy these before our trip because it's not always possible to hang curtains right away. They are literally just paper; they come extra wide, so you can cut them with scissors to fit your window, and they are peel-and-stick. Too easy." —esskay
Get a pack of six from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in two sizes).
Amazon, www.amazon.com
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 they slip off 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
Get it from Amazon for $19.99.
Promising review: "Whenever someone I know has a sunburn, I become that super annoying product-pusher friend. I tell everyone about the sun soother! Really, Burt’s Bees should pay me. It rubs into the skin like lotion, so you don’t feel greasy, and you can immediately put on clothes after application. A little goes a long way! It smells good without being overpowering(and I’m picky about scents!). Most importantly, it works! I’ve had everything from slight burn to looks-like-a-lobster-feels-like-fire, and this sun soother has eliminated the pain/itch and drastically reduced the eventual peel. Even if it does peel later on, it’s minimal compared to what it would be and look like if I had not used this sun soother. I don’t burn easily and love this product; my husband is as fair as they come and it’s his favorite sunburn solution as well. Highly recommend!" —Jessie Patterson
Get it from Amazon for $9.01.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
The tent offers 50+ UV protection and pops up in seconds.
Promising review: "Great buy! Brought my 3-month-old to the beach for the first time, and this was perfect! I placed a towel on the bottom and she was able to be out of the sun napping. With the flap open, the breeze kept her cool. I loved that it came with stakes and its own bag. It folds up and is easily carried." —Annemarie's wish list
Get it from Amazon for $32.95+ (available in five styles and with toys or a hat).
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 turning 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 $19.95.
Amazon
This is my all-time favorite sunscreen! It's completely clear, super lightweight, and absorbs quickly. It starts off sticky enough to use as a primer, but quickly dries matte. After about 5-ish minutes, it feels like I'm wearing nothing at all. I won't say it's completely non-greasy, but it's as close as it gets.
Promising review: "Love how silky smooth it applies. Once you get over the cost for the size, you’ll absolutely love it. The fact that it doesn’t leave a white mask is a plus, and it doesn't feel like it will clog my pores." —Cher
Get it from Amazon for $40.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Promising review: "Perfect hat for Disney World! I wore it every day for two weeks, and it held up beautifully! It also helped drastically in the Florida heat! Kept me shaded and was very lightweight to where my head didn’t feel all sweaty like normal hats. Highly recommend!!" —D. S. Hensen
Get it from Amazon for $25.99+ (available in two sizes and eight styles).
Promising review: "I'm not a hat person, but shading my face from the sun as I get older has become more important than being fashionable. I was shocked when I put the hat on and LOVED it immediately. I've never loved a hat on me before. I think it not only looks good with my hair up or down but is super comfortable with the adjustable Velcro closure AND shades my whole face, including my ears!! I couldn't ask for more. Absolutely would recommend this hat if you are looking for good face protection from the blazing sun." —Kelliar
Get it from Amazon for $19.99 (available in three colors).
Amazon
Warren London is a small biz making dog grooming products that help with all kinds of skin problems.
Promising review: “This product is so helpful. My poor pup has a white-spotted nose, and it gets sunburnt so easily, along with the inside of his ears. So I just spray a little of this when he decides to sunbathe, and he hasn’t been burnt since!” —Danielle Fender
Get it from Amazon for $13.99.
It comes in different sizes (depending on your make and model) with a money-back guarantee.
Promising review: "This is super easy to use. Open and put in in the window, can't get any easier than that. My GMC Denali sits outside in the Southeastern NC sun all day and this really made a difference. When I get into my truck I can actually sit on the leather seats without being burned. It also keeps the sun off my dash which is important down here in the Southeast. I would definitely recommend it.' —Sharon
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in 10 sizes).
Promising review: "The perfect razor for traveling! Easy to use and very practical, Totally recommend it; the razors might be a little expensive, but at least you don't have to change the whole razor every time." —Maria Claudia
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
Amazon
Eadem is a Black- and Asian-owned small business that sells skincare manufactured in the US.
Promising review: "I’ve been using Eadem since 2021, and it has changed my skin drastically. I love the milk serum and cloud moisturizer. I have PCOS and wax my face every 2–3 weeks. I had been experiencing breakouts and was so excited to try this. I just knew it was going to work based on the other products from the brand, and I was right!!! Typically, I break out with little bumps after a wax, but by using this serum, I have not experienced any!!!! I am Eadem girl for life; it’s worth the cost." —Ashley
Get it from Amazon for $36.
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
The plug-in comes with two glue traps, but you can buy refills here.
Promising review: "Sorcery. We travel in an RV full-time, and with camping comes bugs… After trying nearly every bug-catching product on the market over the past two years, I can confirm that this might be magic. I don’t see bugs flying around, but they do seem to be appearing at alarming rates on the sticky pad. Either they’re teleporting from outside directly onto the sticky pad, or this thing attracts them and catches them so fast that they didn’t have a chance to annoy me. After trying nearly every bug-catching product on the market over the past two years, I can confirm that this might be magic." —Justin Erny
Get it from Amazon for $14.47 (also available in a pack of two).
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Promising review: "These are so, so soft. I tuck them under my breasts and then ease my bra on top and they stay in place all day. At the end of the day they might be very damp, but my skin is comfy. Also, I'm able to rotate through them, letting them dry in between, and get a good three uses out of each before I wash them. Even then, they don't smell. Hand washing is best, but I've washed them with a mesh bag, and they were mostly OK. Easy to smooth out. I've also worn these without a bra. I needed to adjust them a bit, but I have never lost it. (My bra size is about 38 DDD)." —Leigh B
Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in sizes M–XXL and three colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
The tool-free installation is as simple as opening the unit and clamping it onto the umbrella pole. It requires four AA batteries to run, which are not included.
Promising review: "This light is great!!! It has three settings to adjust the amount of brightness you need. The lowest level is great for just sitting around your patio table and having a couple of drinks with friends. The brightest setting is PERFECT for playing cards! We play cards a few times a month. There are two 70+-year-olds who did not complain that they couldn’t see. So, works great in my book! 😁" —Mandie Jordan
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
Amazon
You can throw these in your watering can or any standing water in your backyard. They contain BTI, a bacteria 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." —Joshua J. Homemaker
Get a six-pack from Amazon for $7.75.
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 $12+ (available in two sizes).
Soak your hair in this elixir for 30ish minutes up to three times a week. It works for all hair types.
Promising review: "I just can't believe the difference in my hair!!! I'm in my '60s, and my hair was dry and dull because of my medications. I just hated my hair. I bought this not expecting too much, but was I wrong!!!! I left it on for 30 minutes because I wanted the best result possible. Wow!! My hair feels wonderful, it's fuller and thicker looking, body galore, and I just can't quit looking at my hair. I will NEVER quit using this!!!" —lucymae
Get it from Amazon for $27.99.
Amazon
Promising review: "I have a pair of black leather flats that stank so badly my husband would yell at me if I took them off anywhere near him. But I love the shoes! So I had to find something to make the stench go away without leaving me with an allergic reaction. Mini Moso was the answer. I honestly couldn’t believe it. A few days after placing them in my prized off shoes, I took a whiff from about a foot away. Nothing. I got closer. Nothing. I stuck my nose practically in the shoe. OK, maybe that’s pushing things, but I’ve got to tell you that 95% of the broken-in leather grossness was gone. So happy!" —Erin
Get a pair from Amazon for $10.95.
Amazon
Promising review: "I have a number of these. Perfect spray with no need for pre-pumping like other misters. I have separate ones for regular EVOO, higher-end EVOO, and a neutral oil. I find them perfect for dressing salads and lightly oiling pans for a sauté. Couldn't be more pleased!" —Lauren
Get them from Amazon for $17.21 (available in five colors).
It comes with a spatula for removing the cream. Just be sure to test a small area of your skin and make sure there are no adverse reactions for 24 hours. Avoid face, genitals, nipples, and other sensitive areas.
Promising review: "I have been looking for a good hair removal for my sensitive skin and this one is perfect. It has a great odor and leaves my skin feeling smooth and silky. It does not burn my skin at all, even when I leave it on for 15 minutes or more. This is definitely my new hair removal cream. I will recommend this one to everyone." —Crystal
Get it from Amazon for $9.47 (also available in a two-pack).
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Check out a TikTok of the fruit and veggie divider in action.
Promising review: "If you have toddlers, get it — especially if you're on the fence. I needed something for grapes, blueberries, blackberries, and other small fruits and veggies we go through so much. My breakfast was getting cold long before I was done cutting fruit for two toddlers. Most cutters only do one grape or berry, but this one can do several grapes and a small handful of blueberries. We will definitely be getting a lot of use out of it in this house." —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $8.44.
www.amazon.com, Amazon
Each bunch comes with 100 balloons.
Promising review: "Great product! Highly recommend! Where were these bad boys when I was a kid? I mean, really. We bought these for the 4th of July for our kids, and they were super easy and very worth the money! I will be buying these again in the future for sure." —Becky
Get three bunches from Amazon for $11.98 (available in two colors and also larger variety packs).
@trulybeauty / Via www.instagram.com, @trulybeauty / Via www.instagram.com
Promising review: "I give it 5+ stars! It absolutely leaves your butt so smooth, tight, and glowing! When I put my bikini on for the first time after using Buns Of Glowry, I couldn't believe the difference!! Purchase this if you haven't already!! You will not be disappointed!!" —Eduardo
Get it from Truly Beauty for $32.
Amazon
Promising review: "Took these bands on a cruise. They kept the towel secured to the lounge chair even with gusts of wind. Others had clips, and the clips kept popping off. People asked where I got these and were impressed [by] how sturdy they are." —KT
Get them from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in four colors).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Some reviewers said they struggled to get the powder out of the brush, so don't forget to read the instructions! Also, remember that powder is just supplemental/extra coverage and not a replacement for normal sunscreen. Learn more from our post on Sunscreen Myths.
Promising reviews: "Expensive but worth it. This is the only mineral powder that I've tried that actually works as advertised. It's great that it's not oily nor greasy — no breakouts!" —Kory
"The amount of compliments I have received with this brand of makeup is amazing. Girls look at me and ask me what it is, and when I tell them it is sunscreen and makeup in one, they are in awe! The best part is that it is FSA/HSA eligible, so use your benefits! I kid you not, I bought one for every woman in my family for Christmas, and they love it. I use it for boat rides, the pool, walks, bike rides, office work, and baseball games; it works great! Very light and easy to use." —Paulina
Get it from Amazon for $69 (available in six shades and also multipacks).
www.amazon.com, www.amazon.com
Just twist the ring to pop out the stone, then wash it with a mild soap/cleanser and let it air dry after every use. This roller has 38,000+ 5-star ratings!
Promising review: "This little miracle worker is a game-changer for oily skin like mine. I am amazed at how much oil it absorbs without smudging or removing any of my makeup. Every time I think this oil-eating monster has had its fill and surely I should get a new one, by the next morning, the oil has disappeared, and the roller looks brand new again!! MAGIC!!" —Jason Zapata
Get it from Amazon for $8.18 (also available in rose quartz style).
Reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.
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