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Boredom is for squares. An axolotl squishy and a disco ball tissue box are for you.

As a Senior Shopping Writer at BuzzFeed, I specialize in a broad range of topics, including beauty, cleaning, fashion, personal care, home, fitness, and my beloved “TikTok made me buy it.” My work has been featured across lifestyle and writing publications during my ten years in the digital media space, including Bustle, HuffPost, HelloGiggles, and The Washington Post.

Check out a TikTok of The Met x Band-Aid collab in action. 

Promising review: "So totally awesome. 😬 I needed new Band-Aids — I’m always doing something ridiculous, and with these, so pretty. I have one cat that likes to let me know when she’s done with pets, and I have claw marks from her — not to mention my general clumsiness with gardening and cooking. Love them!!" —Mom the Handyman

Promising review: "So adorable and fun — bought these for my kiddo to help with dishes, and he LOVES THEM! The rocket ship packaging is so cute, and kiddo plays with it like a toy as well! Great marketing for Toy Story 5!" —BrookeLynnReviews

Promising review: "This matches the listing in style and flavor. I have a bunch of these, and this one is one of my favorites. The flavor is nice — noticeable without being too much and sweet without being sugary. I found it just as moisturizing as all the other Super Balms, and for the price (currently about $6), it's great compared to local stores." —Amanda

Promising review: "BEST SQUISHY EVER!! It's super cute, very squishy, and very survivable lol. Had it for multiple days, and it hasn't shown any wear aside from the little antennas having the usual rub off you'd expect from its material. Once squished, it will slowly rise back like memory foam, and I personally recommend squishing it and then setting it down to watch its rise. IDK, but it's just so cute to watch lol." —Madison Gillespie

Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in five colors). 

Read more about how an Epsom salt soak or bath can help with stress and muscle relaxation at Cleveland Clinic.

Check out a TikTok of the magnesium soak. 

Promising review: "A great magnesium soak, very affordable, and amazing, incredible scent! It is so uplifting and vibrant — it should not be a special edition but a regular product offering! Bravo!" —Amazon Customer

Get a pack of two from Amazon for $11.74. 

Touchland is a small business that specializes in hand sanitizers. Check out a TikTok of the Disney x Touchland Power Mist in action. 

Promising review: "The perfect accessory for my last Disney trip. Not only is it adorable and adds a bit of that Mickey flair, it is reusable (so I can just pop in another one of my favorite Touchland hand sanitizers), the initial spray is delightful and fresh, and the little key ring allows me to attach it right to my park bag, providing a simple ease and access to spray our hands after each ride around the parks. Super cute and highly recommended!" —Shelby Piper

Get it from Amazon for $20 (and check out Touchland's Amazon storefront for more options). 

Check out a TikTok of the butter squishy in action. 

Promising review: "I bought this soft toy to use on the desk, and I really like it. The material is soft, pleasant to the touch, and slowly recovers its shape after being tightened, which makes it very entertaining. The butter-like design is original and draws attention. It is comfortable to use, has no strong smell, and feels good quality. I use it to relax while I work or when I need to distract myself for a moment." —Camilo Hernández Almenares

Get it from Amazon for $7.99+ (available in a two-pack and in gold). 

Promising review: "I love this! It’s well painted, and the solar light works great. It is the cutest thing on my patio table." —solowithpits 

Get it from Amazon for $19.76 (available in two other styles).

Promising review: "These are so stinkin' cute, and I really enjoy wearing them. Sometimes I'll do my makeup while wearing a couple of them during heavier breakout days. They work very well, and I like that they are a little larger than the classic stars. They stick fairly well. I find using them before applying any of my skincare is more effective." —Ciera Dawn

Get it from Amazon for $12.98 (available in three styles). 

Promising review: "I get so many compliments when people see this on my desk! What a fun addition. It shines brilliantly on the walls when sunlight hits it! So fun. I am gonna get the smaller version for my coworker for Christmas." —Gunsaw

Get it from Amazon for $7.59+ (available in two styles and two sizes). 

Check out a TikTok of the smoked sea salt in action. 

Promising review: "The smoky sea salt by Maldon is the best by far that I have found. I love the crunch and flavor. I put it on my steaks and on my vegetables and baked potatoes, and top my scrambled eggs with it. I suggest buying two boxes." —Kimberly Yarbrough

Promising review: "I ordered this lamp because of its appearance. I didn't NEED a depressed duck lamp ... but it has totally filled a void in my life I didn't know existed. Everyone who sees it pokes it. The lamp is actually very functional. It's got a really nice set of brightness options and the glow is yellowish, which is much nicer than white in a dim/dark room. One thing that isn't mentioned in the description is that its legs are utterly floppy. It's terrific." —Literated

Here's what BuzzFeeder Rebecca O'Connell says about it: "My husband got me this light as a gift, and I can confirm it's very cute. If you firmly tap or squeeze it, you can toggle between three brightness settings. It's not bright enough to read by, but it works quite nicely as a night-light or for mood lighting. The legs are wiggly, which is definitely a selling point for me." 

Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in two styles).

Patchology is a small business that specializes in beauty products like patches, masks, and skincare.

Promising review: "This is my FAVORITE brand! It hydrates my skin and reduces puffiness, and I don’t fear breakouts or reactions like I do with other brands. The birthday packaging is so cute, and I loved the smell. I want 100 more of these!" —Kaylie Endres

Promising review: "These are beautiful, well-made, and so very comfortable. True to size." —leigh

Get them from Amazon for $33.98 (available in women's sizes 5.5–11 and six styles).

Promising review: "Worked fantastically. My wife had doubts about how egregiously dirty and caked-on the gunk in our 15-year-old microwave was (she thought we'd need serious chemicals!), but with only one pass of using this, it got 80% of all the gunk built up. A second pass a few days later got most of the rest!" —Some Hyena

Promising review: "Such a fun toy. They're easy to take to play with in a restaurant or while waiting. Very versatile. They can be made into just about anything. A fish, a bracelet, a rocket ship. They can be used many times." —Nicole Hadley 

Promising review: "Any Dolly lover would love this bottle brush. It is made well. It's slightly bigger than I expected when I received the item." —Lauren

And check out more Dolly Parton kitchen items at her Amazon storefront! 

Promising review: "I bought both, the cherry is more pink with a little bit more pigment, the apple is more red with very slight pigment. I use the pink on my lips; it lasts an acceptable amount of time, and I use the red for blush; it's the perfect amount of color. These are just as good, if not better than, the $20+ jelly tints, and both smell so good. Very cute and very usable!" —Ella 

Get it from Amazon for $4.97+ (available in Apple and Cherry). 

Swiftie Brian is a Utah-based Etsy shop that specializes in pop culture products. 

Promising review: "My daughter and I will have fun with this card game. Love the extra touch of star confetti in the package, so fun! Love your shop!" —Etsy Reviewer

Get it from Swiftie Brian on Etsy for $13.99. 

Promising review: "Great little crusher. Perfect for summer drinks. Bits of ice are large enough that ice doesn’t melt right away after I fill the glass with cola, and the perfect size for those of us who like to eat crushed ice after the drink is gone." —Linda Stroupe

Promising review: "This was so cute! My daughter loves it! It's great to take with you for a little encouragement when needed!" —Wendy W 

Psst — you can check out a ton of other gorgeous Lego Botanicals on Amazon for more lovely options! 

Promising review: "I just love these Lego Botanicals! I got these daisies to add to the sunflowers I already have. The directions are easy to follow and really fun to put together. It took me about an hour to finish the kit. We all know Legos are built to last, so I'm sure these flowers will too! The best part is they will never wilt or die, so you can enjoy them all year long. The colors are bright, cheery, and the flowers go well with the other Lego Botanicals that I own. I will be adding more very soon, and I highly recommend." —Luv2shop

Demi's Colouring Corner is a UK-based business run by Demi, a mother of two who loves all things horror and coloring. 

Another psst — you can pick up a cult-fave colored pencil set on Amazon! 

Promising review: "This book is a must-have for horror lovers. So many adorable renditions of classic and newer horror movies that are a blast to color. I like the simple style because it allows me to add my own flair and techniques like a lot of the popular 'cozy' coloring books nowadays. I so hope this artist does a second version because I plan to finish every single picture in this book!" —AyemmeJay 

Psst — reviewers say to size up one size! 

Promising review: "Cute, good quality, comfortable. Just size up one size." —Osaris R. 

Get it from Amazon for $39.99 (available in women's sizes 6–11 and three colors). 

Dirtsa Studio is a New Jersey-based Etsy shop established in 2008 that specializes in clever, handmade goods. 

Promising review: "These pillows are so cute, perfect for a cozy reading corner!" —Nicole

Get it from Dirtsa Studio on Etsy for $32 (available in four colors). 

Promising review: "Bought this for my 6-year-old boy, and he absolutely loved them. He even taught his 1-year-old sister how to use them, and she was delighted to see the colors appear on the page. They spent hours on these when they couldn't go outside due to rain or too much heat." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $4.99+ (available in two styles and an activity pack). 

Fellow BuzzFeeder Melanie Aman located these on Etsy, and I have never blacked out and bought something so fast. GO JOE GO. 

Potato Praga is a New York-based Etsy shop established in 2021 that specializes in pop culture-themed stickers. 

Promising review: "Iconic. Hilarious. I love it. 10/10 THANK YOU!!" —Catherine

Get it from Potato Praga on Etsy for $4.47. 

Promising review: "Bought this because I was looking for a smaller version of the Chom Chom. Works the same lint-wise, but the motion is different and easier for me because the handle aligns differently. Best I can describe, the Chom Chom has to go forward and backward, like away from and toward my body. This one goes side to side. And the smaller size is helpful." —Dolljrsw

Promising review: "I bought this puzzle for Christmas as a family activity, and it was a huge hit! The Tree of Life stained glass design is absolutely beautiful, and the colors are vibrant and eye-catching. It was definitely challenging, but that made it even more fun for everyone to work on together. We spent several cozy evenings around the table piecing it together and making great holiday memories. If you're looking for a puzzle that brings the family together and keeps everyone engaged, this is a wonderful choice! 🧩🎄😊" —MoD

Check out a TikTok of the cactus dryer ball. 

Promising review: "This is my first time using these, and I'm already in love! I saw someone say these can catch hair but I didn't know if these would really catch hair until I used them. They even captured cat hair, which is life-changing for me! 😄😻" —E & D

Get a set of four from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four styles). 

See Work Design is a Massachusetts-based Etsy shop established in 2025 that specializes in creative 3D-printed home products. 

Promising review: "Amazing! Honestly, pics don’t even do this cutie justice. Did you know there are snowflakes on the handle? The package was wrapped well and arrived on time. Seller was so helpful and communicative, too." —anna

Get it from See Work Design on Etsy for $18.81 (available in ten different colors — plus check out the shop for a bunch of *other* ice cream-holding pals!) 

FYI, depending on your situation, water may be enough to rehydrate you! Read more about electrolyte-enhanced drinks and hydration at Cleveland Clinic. 

BuzzFeeder Elizabeth Lilly tried the sugar-free Ring Pop flavor and says, "It truly does taste so much like my childhood candy aisle fave that it's a little spooky (in a good way)." 

Promising review (for Firecracker Popsicle): "Liquid I.V. does an amazing job hydrating. I purchase their product for 40+ employees who work in a construction-related industry. Hydration is so important while working in the hot Georgia Sun, and this product aids in this 100%. Now, let’s talk about the firecracker flavor! When we produced these for our crew, ages 23–60, all of their eyes lit up, and they were super excited. Many of them did not know this flavor existed. Quite honestly, I didn’t either until I came across them on Amazon. They all loved the flavor. In particular, the ones who were older kept telling me it tasted like their childhood. Seriously, who hasn’t stood outside an ice cream truck ordering the Firecracker Popsicle?" —Disney Diva

Get them from Amazon: $23.28 for 16 packets of Firecracker Popsicle and $21 for sugar-free Ring Pop. 

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.

Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.