Just 10 Things To Try In August

Because we tried them for you in July!

This post features a mix of items that we purchased with our own money and those that were provided to us at no cost for the sake of review. (But! We’re under no obligation to write a review of those things, let alone a positive review.)

1. A champagne stopper to preserve the bubbles in your half-finished bottle of sparkling wine for DAYS. Aka this is the perfect accessory for Aperol spritz szn.

"I love bubbles — champs, cava, prosecco, sparkling rose — they just know how to bring the party! But no one likes when sparkling wine goes flat, or you feel like you can't just have one or two glasses without ruining the whole bottle. So when I embarked on a 'I want to have Aperol spritzes at home' quest, I quickly realized I needed a solution. When you add the Aperol (duh) and the soda water, it takes a whole lot of spritzes to finish a bottle of bubbly. So I went on Amazon and found the best champagne stopper I could find and immediately hit 'add to cart.'

What a great purchase! This little bb is so easy to use — just pop it on top of the bottle, push the metal sides in so it clamps on, then push the top button several times to vacuum seal and preserve the bubs. Then when you next want a glass, spritz, or mimosa, you'll hear that same *POP* you heard when first taking out the cork — and the effervescence you so crave will be fully intact. Plus, you can confidently store your leftover bottle on its side in your fridge; I've had zero leakage problems with this thus far!" —Maitland Quitmeyer

Get it from Amazon for $8.97.

2. A high-waisted bikini that'll make you sing the Jaws theme under your breath but with the words "Pom-pom......pom-pom......POM-POMPOM-POMPOM-POMPOM-POM!"

BuzzFeed / Heather Braga

"Before you start yelling at me via the comments that you're tired of seeing this bathing suit, hear me out. I took my own advice and purchased this ever-popular suit and — WHATTYA KNOW — it's amazing. I'm not a fan of showing off my stomach and so I was shocked at how flattering this bathing suit was when I put it on! I wore it for the 4th of July and got tons of compliments (specifically on the dangling pom-poms). I was worried about putting it in the wash, but surprisingly all of them stayed intact. The only suggestion I have for you is to remember put sunscreen on your lil' exposed mid-section. I forgot and am PAYING the price with a strip of not-so-cute red across my entire body. Ouch." —Heather Braga

Get it from Amazon for $25.99 (available in sizes 4–16 and 16 colors and patterns).

3. Tatcha's Pore-Perfecting sunscreen I promise is truly worth the splurge if you 1. hate getting sunburnt 2. want a sunscreen that's also *good* for your skin and 3. detest greasy residue.

BuzzFeed / Maitland Quitmeyer

"I am very afraid of the sun and very careful when I go out in it. I don't just burn, I rash-burn, and it is deeply unpleasant. But I *also* have super-sensitive, acne-prone skin, and finding a non–pore clogging formula that also protects is super hard. So when I was working on a roundup of the best products for adult acne, I happened upon this Tatcha sunscreen. They're known for great skincare, a seriously cult-fave primer, and with all the glowing reviews I knew I NEEDED to try this sunscreen. All the benefits of SPF plus a whole slew of other skincare benefits? Sign me up.

It's formulated with silk extract, Japanese wild rose, and other skin-friendly ingredients that magically transform into a super-soft, smooth, matte canvas you can feel confident in. And boy, is it great as a base for makeup. And it REALLY protects your skin from the sun. Yesterday I went to the beach, bringing a giant sunhat, renting a large umbrella, and never venturing into the sun. BUT, ladies and gentleman, I made one fatal mistake: I TOOK THE FERRY THERE! I couldn't wear my hat (it would blow all the way off my head), so I stood in the sun — with *extra* sun reflecting from the water onto my skin — for 45 minutes. My non-Tatcha body sunscreen FAILED, resulting in the boiled-lobster arm you see above. But my face?? Not one little hint of burnage. My skin stayed smooth and protected all day, And I know, I know, $65 is a lot! I really do — but this is truly, far and away the best facial sunscreen I have ever worn. And the bottle definitely goes a long way. I've been using mine for a few months, and I have a lot of sunscreen left to go." —Maitland Quitmeyer

Get it from Sephora for $65.

4. A travel-friendly backpack that'll fold up into a little teeny pouch so you don't have to waste suitcase space. But when you get to your destination? It'll hold eeeeverything you need.

BuzzFeed / Elizabeth Lilly

"When I went on an Amazon shopping spree for a vacation to Greece, I figured I'd need a ~lightweight~ backpack to tote around my bottled water, sunscreen, and other essentials for day activities like climbing rocks at and exploring the caves at Kleftiko Beach on Milos and hiking from Thira to Oia in Santorini. (For the record, I generally hate hiking but when in Greece....) I packed this one in my suitcase in its pouch form and when it came time to fill it up, it easily held two 1.5 liter bottles of water, two bottles of sunscreen, a change of clothes, a change of shoes, and other random crap. Don't be fooled, this unassuming beaut will carry the stuff you need. Despite the heat, vertical inclines, sweat, and just general what-am-I-doing-hikingness the backpack didn't weigh me down or dig into my shoulders! I took it on three (yes, three!) boats, to the beach, and basically any other activity on my trip that required more carrying room than a cross-body bag. Lots of reviewers say you can throw this bag in the wash and then lay it flat to dry. I haven't done that but easily wiped all the dirt and outdoors smells from it with a Clorox wipe." —Elizabeth Lilly

Get it from Amazon for $15.82+ (available in 11 colors, plus another size/style).

5. A pack of individually-wrapped ginger drops to stop nausea and seasickness in its tracks — without the doziness you might get from other remedies.

BuzzFeed / Elizabeth Lilly'

"I don't spend nearly as much time on boats as I'd prefer, but a recent vacation to Greece had me on six of them (OK, three were ferries, but still)! The group trip's packing list suggested Dramamine or some other form of motion-sickness meds just in case you started feeling whoozy on that four-hour ferry ride from Athens to Milos. I took a chance during an Amazon binge shopping sesh and bought these ginger drops that are more or less hard candy and made to help you feel some nausea relief. I didn't want any meds-induced drowsiness to keep me from taking in all the scenery during ferry rides and boat excursions, plus I really love ginger.

They turned out to work *quite well* given that I woke up the morning I was to get on said four-hour ferry ride at 2 p.m. with some serious nausea that I think is because I ate SO MUCH FETA CHEESE at dinner the night before. Truly too much of a good thing! I guzzled Sprite and loaded up on bread at lunch, and then sucked on three of these drops during the ferry ride and started to feel much better! I used them on several boat trips, including a catamaran ride where I thought I was gonna meet my maker the first 20 minutes due to rocky waters. ('Book a sailboat instead!' they said. 'Catamaran or nothing!' we said.) And other people on the trip used the drops to help quell their tummy troubles too! From now on I'm going to keep a store of these at home just because and make them a requisite travel essential anytime I'm going on a trip that includes boats and/or exciting new food." —Elizabeth Lilly

Get a bag of 30 individually-wrapped drops from Amazon for $10.44.

6. E.l.f.'s Jelly Pop water-gel moisturizer infused with watermelon extract and castor oil for a burst of refreshing hydration on parched summer skin.

BuzzFeed

"My fair skin is prone to getting sunburnt (yes, I use sunscreen daily) and dehydrated in the hot summer heat, so I'm always open to trying new things to keep it feeling healthy. I gave this Jelly Pop Water Gel moisturizer a shot and BOY was I pleased! It smells like freshly cut watermelon, has a water-like consistency I've never experienced before, and doesn't leave my face feeling sticky or oily. It's simply fantastic. I know it's mainly for your face, but I also used it on my arms and chest after a beach day and felt so refreshed after. Love, love, love." —Heather Braga

Get it from E.l.f. for $8.

7. A spaghetti strap swing dress in a lemon print peeeerfect for making the hottest days of August feel a little more ~refreshing~.

BuzzFeed / Sarah Han

"I initially spotted this cute sundress on Extra Petite, one of the few fashion bloggers I regularly follow (Even though I myself am not ~extra~ petite, I still trust Jean's recommendations!) and thought the lemon print was way too cute to pass up! It's nothing fancy style-wise, but the bright, fruity print really sets it apart from me. It makes me happy just looking at it, and it just screams 'SUMMERTIME.' doesn't it? The cotton material is super comfortable, the spaghetti straps don't slip down (I didn't have to adjust them, but they are in fact adjustable!), and the waistline hits high up/at just the right spot, imo! It also falls knee-length on me, so I don't have to worry about any potential peek-a-boos while I'm sitting on the subway. I'm not one to typically buy clothes on Amazon, but this piece seems like it'll hold up well over many washes and many years, despite its affordable price! A fabulous find, all in all!

My only minor complaint is that I wish there was an XS size since the S is just a teensy bit loose and I wanted a true fitted fit, but obviously I love it too much anyways!—Sarah Han

Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in sizes S–XXL and 30 other colors/prints).

8. ColorWow's Dream Coat spray for your sleekest, shiniest, most flyaway-free blowout yet.

BuzzFeed / Alexandra Napoli

"Unlike every Disney princess character, I do not have silky smooth hair. My mane is naturally wavy and can definitely frizz in humid environments. So, when it comes to taking the time to actually blow dry my hair and style it, I want it to freaking last. I'm by no means a hair expert, so I don't want my effort to go to waste! To help my blowouts last, I started looking for a product that would keep my frizz at bay even during steamy summer days. My hair dresser recommended Color Wow Dream Coat spray since he also experiences frizz, so I decided to give it a try. If a professional stylist uses it, it must be legit, right?

Well, let me tell you – it works! After showering, I let my hair dry a bit so it's not soaking wet, but more damp. Then before blow drying, I use the spray generously all over my head (especially underneath near the back of my neck and on my ends). Ever since I started using it, I can see a visible difference in the final outcome. My hair is super sleek and holds its shape for way longer. I experience less annoying flyaways and my wispy hairs (you know what I'm talking about) stay totally flat. As a tip – you have to activate the spray with heat. If you just spray it on your hair and then let it air dry, you probably won't see big results. Some people make this mistake and then think the spray isn't working for them. But that's not the case! Also, I don't find that the spray makes my hair feel greasy. My hair feels very soft and looks super velvety. Now, I actually look forward to doing my hair because I know the results will be worth it." —Alexandra Napoli

Get it from Amazon for $28.

9. A wholesome dog treat made of real ingredients your pupper will love to eat — and that you can trust feeding them.

BuzzFeed / Hannah Loewentheil

"My dog, Hudson, is a notoriously picky eater...like pickier than you can imagine. He often turns his nose in disgust to human food that's on my plate. So finding treats that he's excited to eat is always a big feat. I recently received a pack of these Wild Ones chicken tenders pet treats, and I've never seen Hudson so excited to eat anything.

Not only does he love these chicken treats, but I actually feel good about giving them to him. When you browse through the aisles of any pet store, there are so many treats, and you have no idea what really goes into most of them. These Wild Ones treats are made of one single ingredient: Chicken (cage-free, non-GMO chicken from Georgia, for that matter). I'm fully aware that at the $22 price tag, it seems ridiculously expensive, but for a special treat for my dog that he loves and I feel good about feeing him, it's well worth the splurge. Plus, you should see his puppy eyes when he sees me opening the bag." —Hannah Loewentheil

Get a bag of treats from Wild One for $22.

10. A set of pearl hair clips and pins so you can jump on the dramatic hair accessories trend without shelling out a ton of money.

BuzzFeed / Sarah Han

"I don't usually follow fashion ~trends~, but when I saw pearly hair barrettes making a splash on Instagram I thought, "These are so pretty and super simple to put on! I want 50!!!" I don't usually style my hair, so I felt like they'd add some class to my 'do.

And, spoiler alert, I was right! It makes a statement without really any effort on your part, and people always notice/compliment them. I have a pretty deep side part, so they also help push my hair back so it doesn't distract/annoy me when I have to focus. This set of clips is dang cheap *and,* more importantly, they've held up really well over the past few months I've had them. I can't recommend them enough!" —Sarah Han

The original four-piece set Sarah bought is sold out, but this eight-piece set has the same clips in her set *plus* four more clips, and it's cheaper at $6.99.

There's still plenty of time to get the most out of your summer!

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Check out the July, June, and May editions of our review series for even more products we swear by!

Looking for more great Amazon finds? Check out some of our favorite cheap things to buy on Amazon, some of the weirdest things on Amazon you might actually want, or read through all the rest of our incredible Amazon product recommendations.

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