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30 Unique, Affordable Products For Some Well-Deserved Summer Fun

Snow cone machine, check. Pool hammock, check. It's about to be the best summer ever.

1. s'mores-themed ChapStick collection for a sweet throwback to your favorite summer memories, because you can still revel in sleepaway camp vibes even if you're ~technically~ at your 9-to-5.

Each set comes with three flavors: milk chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker. Basically, it's like a deconstructed s'more for your lips.

Promising review: "My mom and I are ChapStick fans, so I bought us both a pack of these. The marshmallow is clear, the chocolate is brown, and the graham cracker is tan. The color isn’t too extreme, but it will leave a little bit of tint on your lips. The flavors are DELICIOUS. Graham cracker reminds me of Golden Grahams cereal and chocolate is just perfect. I love the marshmallow best because it tastes slightly toasted." —Elle Ardi

Get it from Amazon for $4.79.

2. A shaved ice machine to pump out snow cones ON DEMAND, just like your childhood self always dreamed of. Reviewers recommend flavoring your cones with everything from syrup and soda to hot sauce and frozen drink mixes — frozen margs, anyone??

Just be warned that you may become the most popular person in the neighborhood once word gets out. 

Promising review: "When I bought it, I only hoped it would make the shaved ice I love without crunchy bits in it. I did not expect it to do so, but bought it anyhow for at least small ice. It turns out, it really does make great shaved ice that is not crunchy. The ice is delightfully like snow. I have started making 'snacks' of shaved ice with it and freezing a second bowl of it for later. Each little round block of ice makes about two bowls full of light, fluffy shaved ice. I have been eating the ice plain, because I just like plain ice most of the time, but I plan to go add some of the flavorings to my cart soon to try those out too. I love this little machine." —Brandywine

You can try a sampler of shaved ice syrup flavors also available on Amazon! 

Get it from Amazon for $49.99

3. Plus an at-home slushy-making cup *so* user-friendly that us slush-lovers won't believe our good luck. Just freeze the silicone cup for four hours, pour any cold drink in (soda, LaCroix, juice, smoothies, or what have you) and squeeze the sides of the cup. Behold: perfect slush.

The small cup shaped slushy maker
A model crushing the silicone cup to make a slushie

It even comes with a spill-proof lid so it won't leak while you're crushing the cup.

Promising review: "These are becoming a daily used item in our house. We ordered multiples for each of our children but they're great for all ages. I like making an Orange Julius and my son loves frozen Dr. Pepper. The options are endless and they work like a charm every time." —VLS

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in 14 colors and packs of two). 

4. waterproof pouch to protect your phone and other precious gadgets when you're near water, because once you prove to yourself that you need this, it'll already be too late. Plus, you can use your touchscreen with it, so you can take all the underwater pics you want!

It fits any phone up to 100 mm x 170 mm (or about 3.9 inches x 6.7 inches). It's also a great fix for keeping out sand and dirt (and a great option for runners, if you're caught in the rain but still want to be able to toggle through your music options).

Promising review: "I purchased this case in July for an upcoming canoe trip with a friend, and as luck would have it, we flipped our canoe. Being the rebel that I am, I chose not to wear my phone around my neck, and so it, my ID, and my debit card ended up at the bottom of the river and I just assumed it would be discovered a thousand years from now and placed in a museum as an ancient artifact. Fast forward to this week. I was contacted via FB by an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office diver and guess what he found? Yup, my phone case with all of the contents intact and dry as a bone! He had to cut the case open, but there was not one single drop of water in it and he ended up purchasing a case for himself because he was just that impressed!" —Julie McDonald

Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in 14 colors and patterns).

5. A drop-dead cool skull ice mold tray for anyone who wishes it was still Halloween, who loves horror movies, or just plain loves their novelty items. PS: Raiders fans will have a blast adding these to their drinks, too!

reviewer image of a skull ice cube partly submerged a blue frothy cocktail
reviewer's skull ice cubes

You can also use these in coffee or juice drinks, or fill the molds themselves with coffee, juice, or chocolate. They can even use them to make soaps!

Promising review: "A great gift and a fun alternative to round ice! I bought these molds as a Christmas gift for my dad. He loves circle-shaped ice cube molds and has about a half dozen of them, so I thought I'd get him something similar but a bit more badass. He likes them! The way they reflect light when they sit in a glass of bourbon makes them look so cool! A big plus side is that he's a Raiders fan, so the skull theme and black packaging were perfect for him! Silicone is an easy material to work with as well. If you're familiar with how to use round ice cube molds, I wouldn't worry in the slightest about figuring these out." —Cupcakes

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in an alien version and a larger size).

6. An easy-to-use rolled and chopped ice cream maker that'll turn any yogurt into delicious frozen yogurt in just five minutes. Plus, you can customize the flavor by mixing in toppings like chocolate, cookies, candy, or cereal — or even make your own sorbet or gelato. SCREAMING.

A cold plate with frozen yogurt topped with cereal
The ice cream chopped up in a bowl

Promising review: "It was definitely worth the money. Good for making a single serving at a time but I can use it two or three times to make a soft serve consistency. Easy to clean and use. This item has been such a hit with the kids and grandkids that I have sent out several for birthdays. Perfect for milk alternative drinkers because they can't have dairy. They can make their own dairy-free treats with choices of fruit. I LOVE this product. It is perfect." —Sandra

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

7. A reclining, adjustable Ostrich chaise lounge here to answer the prayers of those of us who love lounging on their stomachs, due to its *v* convenient face hole so you can lie down and nap, read, and generally relax to your heart's content out in the sunshine.

A blue lounge chair with a headrest converted to become a face hole
Reviewer reading a book in the grass with their face in the hole of the chair

Promising review: "This is the most comfortable chair of its kind I have ever experienced. I love being able to finally lie on my stomach without cranking my neck. I am so grateful to whoever came up with this design. And the red color is perfect. Definitely adds a classy touch." —Julie

Get it from Amazon for $56.99+ (available in four colors). 

8. An adjustable "sport-brella" designed with SPF 50+ (!) and a universal clamp to attach to any chair or outdoor table you like for instant shade and sun protection. 💪 Plus, if you work from home, this'll help you actually be able to see your screen outside.

A white umbrella attached to a chair shading a laptop on a table
Reviewer who attached the umbrella to a car seat on the beach to shade a child

Psst — a lot of reviewers swear by this for easy hands-free shade solutions for strollers and wheelchairs as well!

Promising review: "I originally bought this about three years ago and my husband used it and liked it so much recently that he bought an additional one. It is easy to maneuver and angle to block the sun, but non-intrusive. It is easy to fold and replace in the carrying case. It is worth every penny." —Sara B.

Get it from Amazon for $27.49+ (available in two sizes and nine colors).

9. A mess-free microwave s'mores maker that'll make warm, melty s'mores in under 30 seconds to satisfy your campfire cravings (and delight your kids or roommates to no end). 

Promising review: "This is a very cute gadget. I saw this on a TikTok and fell for it lol. I'm glad I did. My kids and I have so much fun making instant s'mores. They're done in about 30–40 seconds with literally no cleanup. The marshmallow doesn't melt over so you basically can just run hot water over it to remove a few crumbs from crackers and be done." —Shawna G.

Get it from Amazon for $14.51.

10. A temporary tattoo so realistic and beautiful that your friends might just think you got yourself some new ink. The shop features tons of different gorgeous designs, so you're sure to find one you'll love.

Model with a floral tattoo on their upper arm
BuzzFeed editor's wrist with two birds temporarily tattooed
Tattoorary / Etsy, Emma Lord/BuzzFeed

BuzzFeed Shopping writer Emma Lord says she's *obsessed* with these temp tattoos: "I waited for ages to get them, and I wish I'd done it much sooner, because I've had such a blast mix and matching them as a fun quarantine distraction! They transfer beautifully with warm water and look like legitimate tattoos (my neighbor truly thought I'd gotten some great ink), and are so easy and gentle to remove with a light scrub in the shower."

Tattoorary is an Etsy shop based in the Netherlands that specializes in temporary tattoos, offering a large range of sizes, colors, and designs. Each tattoo lasts from two days to a week.

Get them from Tattoorary on Etsy: the vintage floral tattoo for $7.99, and the little birds tattoo for $3.

11. A refreshing mini sprinkler pool with shooting water that'll keep kids cool and entertained for HOURS in what's basically a win-win for everyone. It's super easy to set up, and it's shallow enough for extra little ones to enjoy safely, too.

Reviewer's small inflatable pool with water shooting up from the squirters all around the rim of it, attached to a hose, with a toddler next to it
Reviewer's kid playing in the shallow pool

Promising review: "My kids love this. It is soo easy to plug the hose into and turn the water on and the kids can have hours of fun. Once the kids are done playing, I disconnect the hose let the water drain, and hang it over the porch." —Austin

Get it from Amazon for $24.96+ (available in four patterns and two sizes).

12. A portable Chill-O-Matic Instant Beverage Cooler to change the summer game for every finicky cold drink lover. This bb can make any 12-ounce drink ice cold in just one minute (!) — that means any room-temp cans of seltzer, soda, beer, and more. If your fridge just isn't doing the trick to chill your drinks, this will deliver the icy kick you've been craving.

Check out a TikTok of the Chill-O-Matic in action. 

Promising review: "I was so afraid of wasting money. But I didn’t. I love my sodas cold. But sometimes there’s not a cold one available, and waiting 30-40 min for one to get cold in the freezer is not always ideal. This will get your room temp can to fridge cold in 90 seconds. I let it run double that to get almost freezer cold. I wish it had a power cord. But I do appreciate the portability that the batteries provide. I can’t wait to try it out on vacationing, as access to cold sodas isn’t always available. All you need is a literally a little bit of ice." —G. Massey

Get it from Amazon for $29.99

13. An avocado pool float that comes with an avocado pit you can use as a beach ball while you float along. Now you can pay homage to your favorite fruit the way it DESERVES. 

A lot of reviewers mention this is legit super comfy to lay in.

Promising review: "It’s obviously a super cute float. But it also is the perfect shape for sitting in the opening and resting your head back on the larger part. It’s perfect! Inflates fast, and deflates quickly with the large opening too." —DShops

Get it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in two sizes as well as in a seashell design). 

14. A set of reusable LED ice cubes because why limit yourself to ordinary ice cubes when your spritzers and seltzers can be fit for a rager?

GIF of reviewer putting flashing cubes in a wine glass
lit up ice cubes in a red and green cocktail

Check out a TikTok of the LED ice cubes in action. 

Promising review: "Love them. Glad I purchased them! They added an extra pizazz to our girls' night cocktails and I was able to wash and dry them to reuse." —Chixxchat

Get a set of 12 from Amazon for $13.99+ (also available in larger packs). 

15. A ~Mystical Fire~ colorant that'll make you and your kids' jaws drop, especially if you're a camping enthusiast, a bonfire lover, or conveniently have a fireplace right at home.

A campfire with rainbow flames
A small outdoor fire pit with rainbow flames

Safety note: Packets cannot be used in propane or artificial gas log pits. Do not open the packet before throwing it into the fire. Do not cook over wood that has been burned with Mystical Fire Flames.

Promising review: "Mystical Fire Colorant is amazing. For a really fun experience, get some of these for your next camping trip. As if a campfire needs improvement... but this stuff is really neat. I'd say the adults love it even more than the kids. We only used one packet and the colors were so good — seems like they lasted at least 20 minutes. There was even color left in the ashes the next day. We will never go camping again without several packs of Mystical Fire on hand." —TeNe

Get it from Amazon for $7.50.

16. A two-in-one citrus squeezer so satisfying and easy to use, you'll be splashing delicious citrus in fresh cocktails, salads, and chilled water glasses all summer long.

Reviewer clamping down on hand held squeezer to extract fresh lemon juice
Reviewer pic of a juiced lime inside the device

Promising review: "A lot of my recipes call for fresh lime or lemon. I should have gotten this six months ago. I'm using fewer limes and lemons because I can get so much more out of them using this squeezer. It is sturdy. The limes go face down on the green part for a good squeeze and then lemons go face down on the yellow side. How did I get to my age and not know they go face down? Guess it helps to read directions. I hand wash this." —Kindle Customer

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in seven colors). 

17. A pair of popular cushioned "recovery" sandals for staying stylish while treating your feet to cloud-like soft, shock-absorbing support. They have an anti-slip sole so you can wear them poolside or to the spa without any stumbles.

reviewer in red slide-on sandals
reviewer in caramel colored version

Promising review: "I have ordered several pairs trying to find the one that lives up to its hype, well this one is it. Super cushy, fits true to size — I ordered the mauvish pink colored one and love it. I will be ordering a black pair. I have a heel spur and planters fasciitis so regular flip flops bother me after wearing several hours, these do not. Very pleased with this purchase and highly recommend." —leah

Get it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in women's sizes 5–12 and 30 colors). 

18. A set of reusable "water balloons" that'll give you the best of both worlds during a water balloon fight. It's made with extra absorbent material so you'll still get that classic SPLASH! effect when you throw them, but since they're not made of plastic they won't sting your opponent or damage the environment. Pain-free, eco-friendly fun? I'm in.

The small absorbent balls in pink, blue, red, and yellow
Children running around throwing the balls
Amazon

Promising review: "Purchased these for a 9-year-old's birthday party with 20+ kids. The day was 101 degrees! We filled some tote boxes around the yard with water and these were a BIG HIT. Kids 3 years old to 12 years old played together and everyone had so much fun. No mess to clean up and these can be used again and again. The kids would throw them and another one would quickly grab it and soak again. So much fun." —BGriffiths

Get a set of 56 from Amazon for $19.99

19. A ribbed U-shaped neckline workout set beloved due to its unique, sexy cut ~and~ its squat-proof design that's compressive without being overly restricting.

Reviewer in a red crop top and leggings
Reviewer in green version

Promising review: "LOVE IT. Material is thick and squat proof. This is one of those 'TikTok made me buy it' purchases 😂. I’m so glad I did. Received tons of compliments. Get it, sister. You will not be disappointed." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $35.99 (available in women's sizes XS–L and 25 colors). 

20. Plus a pretty two-piece crop top and wide-leg pant set reviewers swear by for day trips and warm-weather travels thanks to its lightweight fabric and comfy yet uniquely stylish lewk. 

reviewer wearing the pink outfit
reviewer wearing the green outfit

Promising review: "I purchased this outfit for a cruise. I wanted something cute and comfortable and this outfit did not disappoint! I usually don’t show my midsection or wear anything low cut in front but this outfit shows just enough to make you feel sexy, but not too revealing. I love the slits on side of pants and the color is beautiful! It’s true to size. I received a lot of compliments and will be buying more colors for summer!" —Kathie R.

Get it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in women's sizes XS–XL and in 28 colors).

21. A set of sunscreen reminder stickers that change color when it's time for you or your kiddo to reapply sunscreen, using patented ~SPF sensing~ technology and gentle, latex-free adhesive. Now you won't have to worry about whether you need to reapply — this little guy will do all the work for you.

The sticker turned clear
Reviewer with purple sticker on their arm

Check out a TikTok of the sunscreen stickers in action. 

To use, apply sunscreen and let it dry for a few minutes before applying sticker. You can also reuse the sticker after it turns purple! Once you reapply sunscreen and put the sticker back on, it will turn clear again.

Promising review: "After yet another bad sunburn even though I'm trying VERY HARD to keep sunscreen on, I bought these. First use was at Disneyland on a 90-degree zero clouds day. This helped so much! I kept an eye (as did my friends) on the dot so we all knew when to reapply sunscreen and not one of us got burned. I also used these on a week-long hiking adventure in Utah where it was also in the 90s with an extreme UV index. None of us got burned, so all in all this is one of the best inventions!" —Catherine Shock

Get a 16-count from Amazon for $15.99 (also available in a 48-count and in packs of two). 

22. A set of Burger Buddy bowls in case despite your VERY best efforts, you end up spilling condiments and fillings all over your clothes and surroundings every time you joyfully consume a burger. You can also use them for snacks, salsa, and dips, and reviewers swear by them for keeping things ~neat~ while chowing down on road trips!

Promising review: "Bought these over a year ago. Tonight we had bacon, lettuce and avocado sandwich in a burger bun. We could eat the sandwich without everything falling out. Works great. Taking them on our four week road trip next month!" —Lori

Burger Buddy is a Florida-based small business that specializes in burger-sized bowls. 

Get a pack of four from Amazon for $24.99

23. A lightweight, family-friendly flying disc for endless fun in the backyard, park, and on vacation. It flies straight so it doesn't require much skill, and it's specifically designed not to hurt in case it eventually boops someone.

Reviewers throwing flying disc at the beach
A red and blue pair of round discs propped on a dock

Promising review: "I used to play Ultimate Frisbee in college and it took me a lot of practice to get my throws down. Wanting to teach my kiddos how to throw, I researched and ended up buying these. I REALLY like them! I bought one set of two. And want to buy more. They are super easy for beginners to learn on and almost always fly true. They also don’t hurt when they hit you and my kids can catch them. Win. Win. Great colors and design! And they can skip a little bit. 🥏💗" —asnowmomma

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $16.99 (available in nine color combos). 

24. CurlCap, an adjustable cap featuring a backless scrunchie-style opening in the back and lined with satin. It's designed specifically for natural hair and updos, so you won't have to worry about damaging your locks or hairstyle while you're getting some protection from the sun.

Reviewer in Minnie Mouse version with ponytail through the gap in the back of the hat
Reviewer in blue version of the hat

Promising review: "This hat is comfortable, well made, and cute! It is now my go-to hat for casual days when I put my hair in a ponytail. I have also worn it playing tennis and found that it's more comfortable than wearing a visor. The back elastic really keeps the hat secure without feeling too tight. I have the black twill, and would love to see it in other colors in this fabric for walking, running, and tennis. Love." —Me

CurlCap is a Black-owned apparel company that specializes in caps designed for natural hair with an open back and flexible scrunchie design.

Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in 26 colors and patterns).

25. multipurpose, super adaptable pool float with a mesh center that you can use as a sort of ~water hammock~ in the pool, as a lounging chair, or even as a workout saddle for some exercise when it's extra hot out.

A reviewer sitting in the floatie like a chair with the inflatable arms on both sides of her. She's holdings drink in a pool.
Another reviewer laying on the pool flight. It has a square net in the middle and inflatable floatie edges in two ends.

Promising review: "These are the best floaties!! They are perfect for vacation because they take up no room to pack. You can also sit on them a few ways like laying back or sitting upright with the floats on either side. I bring them on vacation and people always ask where I got them. They're perfect for laying back with a cool drink." —Jenna DiPaolo

Get it from Amazon for $11.42+ (available in nine colors). 

26. A set of ice pop molds so you can prepare ice pops all summer-round using fruit, yogurt, or ice cream. Literally drooling at the possibilities. 

Each set also includes a base tray, a funnel, and a cleaning brush. 

Promising review: "Good price, good quality. I've bought a few different molds over the years trying to be the cool dad who does fun activities and most of them end up being junk that I throw away when the kids aren't looking. This one froze well, didn't freezer burn and was easy to get pop out without losing the stick and melting." —Nathan Rasmussen

Get it from Amazon for $11.99

27. A tin of cocktail sugar or salt to add to the rims of your at-home cocktails to ~elevate~ your bartender status. You'll never have to spend $14 plus tax and tip on a margarita again — unless you wanna!

A whiskey glass with a sugar rim
Reviewer with bloody mary salt on the rim of their cocktails
Emma Lord/BuzzFeed, www.amazon.com

Emma swears by these: "I started putting this on my end-of-the-week whiskey drink (the pandemic made me go full Mad Men, who knew!!) and it is SO darn satisfying. I tried the citrus petals version, and it's got a light lemon, faint floral, and vaguely minty taste with its sweetness that just makes the whole experience a delight and a half. The container it comes in is actually quite wide, so what we did was pour lemon juice on the top half to prep the rim, and a bit of sugar in the bottom half to coat it. In other news, I am officially too fancy to exist."

Promising review: "Since COVID-19, I have become my own bartender. Taco Tuesdays and margaritas! The lime comes through so well with this salt. I use it for Bloody Marys as well. It is thick and chunky so it's a learning curve to get the right amount of salt on. Don't press down too hard if you don't like a lot of salt. I do like extra salt but my husband said it was a little much for him, so I have mastered just a light salt for him." —cobrajet427

Get it from Amazon for $7.68+ (available in seven flavors).

28. A stainless steel beer layering tool for the coolest party trick you've seen in awhile. It lets you literally layer your beers on top of each other, so you can pour your dark beer on top of your pale ale and enjoy it as a deliciously un-mixed mixed drink. 

The contraption is shaped like a turtle!

Check out a TikTok of the turtle beer layering tool in action. 

Promising review: "Does what it says! The trick is to pour the Blue Moon so it has a nice head on it and then pour the Guinness over the turtle slowly so it filters through the head. Can do the same thing with a spoon, but this little guy makes it into quite the show. 😁 Impress your friends and family today! 🍻" —Stacy Tomlinson

Get it from Amazon for $10.96

29. A set of towel clips to attach to your beach chair to keep your towel from blowing away while you're frolicking in the waves. They're also ~perf~ for making blanket forts, securing tablecloths, and hanging wet suits and towels up to dry at the end of the day.

Promising review: "I purchased these for a family of eight going on a cruise and they loved them! So easy to use, just put your towel on the beach chair and clip down with these. They said they were especially awesome on windy days when others towels were blowing away if they were not sitting on the chair. The family was able to go to lunch or take a walk and not worry that their towels had been blown away and someone had then snagged their seats. Very inexpensive and functional clips." —TypeA

Get a set of eight from Amazon for $6.99 (also available in a pack of 16). 

30. A hands-free portable neck fan that'll keep you from drowning in a pool of your own sweat this summer while you go about your business. It even charges via USB for extra convenience!

It has three speeds to choose from and also lights up, making you more visible at night. Reviewers note that you should definitely put your hair in a ponytail while you use it (but that it's easy to unsnag if it gets caught).

Promising review: "If you sweat easily on your face then 100% buy this fan. I’ve always sweat very easily on my face and I hate it especially when the AC doesn’t work very good at my job. This fan is adjustable and you can adjust it for any part of your face and I LOVE IT!! It hits all the right spots and even the lowest setting blows great! I was in shock how good this fan is for being so affordable. Also a bonus is the cool lights you can change and the charging cord it comes with so you don’t have to worry about changing batteries. Definitely buy this fan you will be sooo happy!!" —Savanna Waters

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in nine colors).

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.