Skip To Content
BuzzFeed Homepage
Sign In
Search BuzzFeed

    Making AA Batteries With Aluminum Foil, Using Dryer Sheets As Dusters, And 4 Other Popular TikTok Trends We Put To The Test (And Now Swear By)

    We saw it, so we tried it.

    by Farrah Penn, Lara Parker, Krista Torres, Shelby Heinrich, Jen Shiori Adams
    SAW IT ON TIKTOK HEADER
    Rob Jason Enate / BuzzFeed

    If you're like us, perhaps you've seen something on TikTok that made you go, "Huh, does that REALLY work?" or "OMG, that's actually genius!" The beauty of the algorithm is that no two For You pages are alike, and there's a plethora of content out there. So we're taking the work out of the equation and putting certain TikToks to the test, telling you honestly if you need it in your life...or if it's a bust.

    1. Farrah came across this simple cleaning hack using dryer sheets, and since it would cost her $0 to test it out, she went for it.

    @amandakaysheppard

    If you’re not using a dryer sheet on your toilet before cleaning it… you’re doing it wrong! #cleantok #dryersheet #fyp

    ♬ original sound - TheWadeEmpire

    Despite cleaning my bathroom often, it gathers dust really quickly. I attribute part of that to my apartment and the fact that I do not have proper ventilation or air circulation in my bathroom. Gotta love Los Angeles. I'll usually attempt to dust with my Swiffer duster, but it still leaves residue behind when I go back with my Clorox wipes. When I tried the dryer sheet hack, I was pretty amazed. It picked up SO WELL. There's something in the dryer sheet material that gathers dust really well, though I don't think a used dryer sheet would do the same job. Still, I'll be using this little hack in the future!

    Farrah Penn / BuzzFeed

    2. Jen saw that people were putting espresso in their orange juice, so she tried it for herself.

    @bundaddy

    stitch this and tag me. please. it is my FAVORITE THING. #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #CorollaCrossStep #coffee

    ♬ original sound - bundaddy

    Verdict: It's actually good. The original poster of the TikTok is absolutely right — if you like orange juice, and if you like espresso, you will surely like this. The drink is nicely balanced. The bitterness of the espresso and sweetness of the orange juice blend together seamlessly. You are still able to taste that tangy, citrus flavor without the sugariness. Definitely a bit of an acquired taste, but it's really good, and I can see why people would want to drink this.

    Jen Adams / BuzzFeed

    3. Shelby interviewed a therapist about why dunking your face in ice water can help with feelings of stress and anxiety, and then tried it out.

    I genuinely didn't expect to feel much of a difference with this exercise, but I really did! I held my face underwater for 15 seconds at a time, and although it wasn't fun in the moment, after each dunk session I felt much calmer and could think more clearly. Just Therapy Things — who I interviewed — explained that submerging your face in cold water is actually part of a therapeutic method called TIPPS, and doing so triggers our Mamalian Dive Reflex, which helps lower the heart rate back to resting.

    Shelby Heinrich/BuzzFeed

    4. Krista's TikTok scroll stopped after seeing this battery hack where you can use a ball of foil to effectively turn a AAA battery into a AA battery.

    IT WORKED, AND I WAS STUNNED. To take things further, I decided to try it on other things in my house.

    @callmekristatorres

    🤯 Going to try this with every battery-operated gadget in my house brb… thanks for the tip @Lindsay Roggenbuck ! #batteries #hacks #lifehacks #tv #tvremote #nobatteries #momhacks #SmellLikeIrishSpring #momsoftiktok

    ♬ Just a Cloud Away - Pharrell Williams

    5. Lara purchased the NuFace Mini Facial Toning Device that she saw approximately 1,000,000 times on her FYP and promised to get to the bottom of it.

    The NuFace Mini
    Lara Parker for Buzzfeed / NuFace

    If you haven't seen the TikToks, this little microcurrent facial toning device promises to make your cheekbones more cheekbone-y and "helps improve facial contour, tone, and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles." I am extremely lazy and also do not get regular facials, so when I saw at least 15 people showing some pretty shocking results after just a few minutes, I WAS IN.

    But because I didn't want to spend $200, I found the NuFace Mini at Nordstrom Rack for $119.97 and *immediately* added it to my cart.

    The device out of the box in Lara's hands
    Lara Parker for Buzzfeed / NuFace

    The device comes with your own supply of the company's Gel Primer to apply before using the device, which I did use each time! 

    The directions for use are as follows:

    Step 1: Prep. Cleanse your skin and apply the Gel Primer.

    Step 2: Lift. Glide the mini over your face and neck as directed.

    Step 3: Finish. Massage excess gel primer into skin for additional skincare benefits.

    "For the first 60 days, use five days per week. After 60 days, use two to three days per week to maintain results."

    Here's my completely unedited and makeup-free skin prior to ever using the NuFace. It's fine! We are our own worst critics, etc.

    Lara's face makeup-free
    Lara Parker for Buzzfeed

    Actually using the device is pretty easy, and I didn't experience any discomfort, even using it on the highest setting! I used the highest setting 95% of the time, just because I wanted to. At most it felt like a tiny little baby bee had zapped my skin and tried to hurt me but failed miserably. And I aimed to use the device every day after showering and before applying moisturizer. 

    Actually using the machine was fairly easy, even if I did feel like I wasn't doing it correctly half the time. I basically tried to follow directions and contour my face.

    In the immediate aftermath, I didn't notice a ton. But after a week of daily use, I felt like my skin was noticeably different (in a good way!). I felt fucking chic, TBH.

    Lara Parker for Buzzfeed

    Here's the before and after (a week-plus later)!

    Lara Parker for Buzzfeed

    I do not find the time or energy to use this device every single day, which I think is when it works best. But when I do find the time and energy to use it, I do feel like my skin looks better. Is it worth $200? No. Get it on sale though, and I'd say it might be.

    6. Farrah decided to try Hailey Bieber's pizza toast recipe because it looked too damn good.

    @haileybieber

    Had to share my quick easy Pizza Toast ✨✨

    ♬ GOOD VIBES - Ellen Once Again

    I'll eat almost anything that contains bread, cheese, and sauce. What could be better? Pizza toast isn't anything new or mind blowing, but I was intrigued by the concept. In this Hailey Bieber approved recipe, she goes all out with the cheese. My local Trader Joe's was out of burrata, so I went with mozzarella and heirloom tomatoes. I was not expecting this to be bad, but it was indeed very good. And extremely easy to make!

    Farrah Penn / BuzzFeed

    What's something you saw on TikTok that you'd like us to try? Tell us in the comments!