
36 Cheap Products Reviewers Are Feral About
A pack of fine point pens specifically designed to prevent bleed-through, which, if you're an aesthetic aficionado when it comes to your journals, is a pretty big deal. You can finally color code your notes on both sides of the page.
A toothbrush with extra "flossing bristles" that are 10 times thinner than the regular, firmer ones, so it can get into those hard-to-reach places (like between your teeth and gums) for a super deep clean.
An alcohol-free "Soft" perfume rollerball made famous on TikTok. If you've never tried an oil-based perfume, you can snatch this one up for just $4. Reviewers are *loving* the gourmand, vanilla scent that's an almost perfect swap for the higher-end $50 Pink Sugar.
A set of space-saving compression bags designed so you don't even need a vacuum to use them — you just roll them up to push any excess air out. If you're the type of over-packer who needs 32 pairs of underwear for an eight-day trip because you're worried you might pee your pants twice every day, you're going to want some of these magical contraptions.
Catrice "Instant Awake" under-eye brightener that'll help conceal dark circles with a more natural finish than a traditional 'color correcting' concealer. It's lightweight, buildable, and formulated with hyaluronic acid and shea butter for a seamless, skin-like finish.
Also, Good Molecules "Wake Up" eye gel to deliver a shot of espresso to your eyes. It's got caffeine that can help temporarily reduce puffiness within minutes, and you'll notice a more consistent effect with daily use.
Some sulfate-free biotin shampoo that's got all kinds of gentle, hair-feeding ingredients like rosemary, zinc, and coconut oil. This shampoo can help hydrate your existing locks (which will help your hair look and feel fuller) and may promote the growth of new, healthy strands.
A box of Death Wish instant coffee packets with 300 mg of caffeine for the sleepiest among us who are sick of downing a quad-shot every morning just to feel something. 😩 Just one of these packets has roughly the same amount of caffeine, and reviewers are raving about the coffee's rich, bold flavor.
A pair of open-ear headphones designed to "float" above your ear rather than going inside it. If you need a podcast to listen to while on your morning run, but regular earbuds just obliterate the skin on the inside of your ear, go ahead and scoop these up. Plus, the design of these headphones makes it so you can still stay aware of your surroundings while preserving your privacy — your music, calls, and podcasts will only be audible to you.
Eos' Vanilla Cashmere shea butter body lotion that's got all of TikTok in a chokehold because of its absolutely *delicious* scent and non-greasy, non-sticky formula. If you want to look (and smell) like a gourmet glazed donut, but you're not too keen on your skin *feeling* like one, this is the lotion for you.
A reusable silicone cactus dryer ball for those of you who hate folding clothes with a lint roller on standby to (hopefully) remove all the dog hair. These things are beloved by pet parents and long-tressed folks alike because the little arms on the cacti are amazing at collecting hair. Mark my words, every time you take one out of the dryer, it will be *wrapped* in hair.
A laptop mouse jiggler to help you get through those days when your schedule says you need to be available on Slack all day, but your heart says you *need* to rewatch Joey's season of The Bachelor for the umpteenth time — and you need to do it NOW. This undetectable jiggler has three modes of movement, which range from super minimal to completely random.
A rejuvenating Elizavecca hair treatment containing collagen and protein extracts — this $7 swap for Olaplex has all the same 🪄 magical 🪄 benefits (aka smoother, shinier, softer hair) without the notoriously un-magical price tag.
A set of moisture-wicking exercise socks that are wildly inexpensive for how well they work. These blister-preventing, sweat-busting miracles are perfect for not just exercising, but any time when you might be on your feet for extended periods of time. Servers, nurses, and teachers — you must give these a try.
Some dishwasher-cleaning tablets because, despite popular belief, cleaning your dishwasher does not actually have to be that torturous. Just place a tablet in your detergent tray, run a cycle, and bam — goodbye water stains and...interesting...smells.
A set of matte lipsticks that are smudge-resistant, long-lasting, and non-drying. This pack of six lipsticks costs less than one currently trending Sacheu lip stain, and they have similar staying power.
E.l.f.'s Halo Glow blush wand with a shade range that can truly do it all: You can blush, bronze, *and* brighten with this affordable $8 swap for the much more expensive $42 Charlotte Tilbury beauty wand.
An earwax removal kit that works so well, it'll have you hearing colors. This kit is the gentler, safer swap you've been looking for if you're a recovering cotton swab user.
A plug-in mushroom lamp to distract your kids from the monster under the bed and turn their attention to the far-less-terrifying fairy in the night-light. 🧚
A stainless-steel tongue scraper that'll take your oral hygiene game to the next level. When paired with brushing and flossing, tongue-scraping can make your breath fresher *and* even improve your taste buds.
A set of Keurig cleaner pods to get rid of all the gunk that's built up over time and is probably affecting the taste and overall quality of your coffee.
Some satin pillowcases with a cooling effect and slippery surface that's beneficial for everyone's skin and hair, but us rough sleepers will notice a more immediate difference: wayyy less hair breakage from tossing and turning in your sleep. You can now dream peacefully of your past life as a rotisserie chicken without waking up to a tangled mess on the back of your head. ✨
A pomade hair wax stick for all hair types so you can *finally* achieve the slicked back bun of your dreams without looking like you decided to finish your style by rubbing a balloon on your head — or having to live with that greasy, sticky feeling in your hair. (There's no residue!)
A hands-free phone mount with a rotating design that can be used on all planes, regardless of airline. You can clamp it to your tray table, your carry-on, or even an armrest — you could probably clamp it to the window cover, too, but I don't know that the flight attendants would be very happy with you.
A candle that'll make your place smell more like a luxury bathhouse and less like an overpriced shoebox. This sandalwood, jasmine, and oud blend is perfect for those times you just want to light a candle, close your eyes, and pretend you're in the timeline where Kris Jenner adopted you and you're super rich.
And a rechargeable electric candle lighter designed to be wind-proof and splash-proof, so whether you're lighting up a backyard firepit or a cozy candle for your bathroom, this thing's got you covered
E.l.f.'s sheer tint, moisturizing "Squeeze Me" lip balm chock-full of the queen of hydration. Yep, I'm talking about Her Majesty, hyaluronic acid. This stuff is so good, reviewers are comparing it to the Laneige glowy lip balm, which is about $15 pricier than E.l.f.'s version. 🫣 Your lips *and* your wallet will be thanking you for this one.
A pasta strainer that snaps right onto your cookware because if you've ever had the misfortune of fumbling with a two-handled pot and losing most of your noodles to the garbage disposal, you know that this is basically the most genius invention ever. This handy lil' gadget is also super helpful for rinsing fruit in bulk.
A blister-preventing balm so you can wear those adorable but deeply impractical sandals while you're on your much-anticipated European walking tour. You've waited all year for your vacation, and a pocket of irritated foot skin is not about to ruin your outfit before you can be seduced by the very, very good-looking tour guide.
A jewelry-cleaning stick to finally get your engagement ring's sparkle back. The brush tip is already loaded with cleaning gel, so all you need to do is take the cap off and start scrubbing that lotion buildup (and other miscellaneous gunk you'd rather not think about) off the surface.
Some Sea Bands, which are essentially sweatbands with plastic studs that target an acupressure point (known for helping with nausea) on the wrist. Despite the name, you can use these bad boys for a lot more than sea sickness — like car sickness, morning sickness, chemo, and more.
A "cat dancer" toy that your furry friend is sure to go wild over. You and your baby can get *hours* of entertainment with this thing — they'll love chasing it around, and you'll get a kick out of their cute, excited little faces.
A rainbow eyeshadow palette with everything a budget-conscious makeup artist could need. Reviewers are loving the *expansive* variety of colors and how pigmented each shade is.
A shampoo scalp massager that you can use in the shower to soothe and exfoliate the top of your head, whether you just want to work your shampoo in or need relief from uncomfortable, itchy dry patches — tons of reviewers are reporting that this tool can help with scalp tenderness, psoriasis, and dandruff.
A knee stabilizer band for both short- and long-term relief from pain so you can comfortably work out, hike, and pace around the living room anxiously awaiting a text back from your situationship.
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Buzz Feed
3 hours ago
- Buzz Feed
44 Products That Are So Darn Good, I Feel Like It's My Duty To Share Them With You
A set of large ceramic cabbage bowls, because I think we can all agree that food tastes better when it's coming out of something this dang adorable. Whether you're serving a classic chicken Caesar during girls' night or having some leftover Cacio e Pepe on your lonesome, these microwave-, dishwasher-, AND freezer-safe (!!) dishes will make dining at home your only preference. Plus, the various sizes will make it 10 times easier to stack and stash in the cupboard! Laneige Lip Glowy Balm — a lightweight, moisturizing, and hydrating lip balm that smells like heaven and does the work of an angel. This fantastic blend of ingredients *isn't* sticky like many other gloss/balm combos, and each shade leaves a different, subtle tint! A freakin' shower lamp that's a splash-proof, cordless, and rechargeable lamp you can leave in your bathroom for the perfect ambience during your AM showers (because who wants that big ugly light on that early in the morning), PM showers for the most relaxing wind down ever, and all of those long "everything" showers in between. Lamp: ON. Worries: GONE! A cleverly designed rechargeable electric candle lighter to ensure you never have to worry about running out of lighter fuel again *and* features a flexible head that can easily get to those low candle wicks without you almost burning your fingers. Isn't that the dream? A set of hair-tie bracelets that look like normal arm candy, but are actually stretchy hair ties that you can wear on your wrist 24/7 without worrying about clashing with the day's outfit. Plus, you'll never not have a hair tie on hand, and that means *a lot* to a person always losing them! The leak-proof (!!!) Brumate Era 40-ounce water bottle because you can have your cake and eat it in this case, you can have your straw without worrying about water leaking all over the place. This genius hydration station has a metal straw inside, with a silicone straw on top that locks in place to prevent spills. *Bragging rights unlocked* And an ice cube tray that makes cylindrical ice cubes so that your water stays cold muuuuch much longer. These ice cubes can fit in 30- and 40-ounce Brumates, Stanley's, Hydro Flasks — you name it. Bonus points for giving you room to move your straw around, too. Catrice "Instant Awake" Under Eye Brightener — the holy grail, miracle-working superstar that conceals and brightens dark circles like no other... just ask the entire internet or read one of the 9,000 5-star reviews. This *tinted* concealer features both hyaluronic acid and shea butter, two ingredients that not only cover those circles now but also work to help reduce them in general over time. Do you see why everyone is obsessed now?! A luxe set of tie-front satin PJs that are — to put it simply — the most perfect pajamas I've ever seen!? The satin-like material is comfy, breathable, and perfect for those humid nights that have recently graced us with their presence. The easy breezy shorts have an elastic waistband for some added comfort, too. And trust me, I won't judge when you decide to wear the top as a part of your going-out outfit 👀. The TikTok-famous Medicube Turmeric Overnight Wrapping Peel Off Mask from viral K-Beauty brand Medicube, because is there anything more gnarly than "shedding" first thing in the morning!? This mask features ingredients like hydrolyzed collagen, vitamin C, and turmeric that work together to even your skin tone, clear acne, and improve elasticity. Put it on before bed and peel off the old you in the morning! A cold brew coffee maker so you'll never have to leave the house for a nice cup (or three) of iced coffee again. All you need to do is put grounds into the filter, add some water, and let it sit overnight. The next day, you'll have some yummy cold brew! A Gold Bond neck and chest firming cream designed specifically for the area that's too often overlooked in skincare — your décolletage. In this cream, salicylic acid, glycerin, and aloe work to exfoliate dead skin cells and hydrate your skin, leaving you with a more plump, tightened, and firm appearance. All that for under $12! 👏 An affordable collagen-coating hair treatment because it's something reviewers refer to as "magic in a bottle." Say goodbye to frizz and grease after just 10 minutes (yep, 10!) with this in your hair! A stunning sun shower curtain that'll work with the natural light coming into the room in the *best* way. This gem is made with heavy-duty, non-chlorinated EVA vinyl (which'll last way longer than typical plastic liners), has 100% brass grommets, and comes in tons of colors that are fully transparent. Long story short — it's truly a worthy decor investment. A Java Sock so you can comfortably carry your iced coffee without freezing your fingers off and to keep your bevvy cold for hours — at least, according to reviewers! If you love iced coffee (or any cold beverage, really), you know the struggle of having cold palms and water dripping on your clothes — this helpful invention solves that! A set of 3D-printed venus flytrap bag clips to help keep your chips, snacks, and other bagged goodies fresh in the most adorable way. It's perfect for plant lovers, folks with a black thumb (this one won't ever die 😅), or anyone who just loves having quirky things all around their home. A nongreasy pomade hair wax stick so you can easily achieve the ~slickest~ bun or ponytail that will actually stay the slickest bun or ponytail all day long. This stick won't just hold your hairstyle, but will also keep all your flyaways at bay, giving you a sleek, polished look every single time. A set of convenient suctioning "Food Cubby" dividers for picky eaters who can't stand when their foods touch! This is an easy solution that both kids and adults can appreciate. Plus, the suction at the bottom ensures that the dividers won't move an inch. A MoMA-exclusive coffee maker perfect for the maximalists who want fun and color in every aspect of their home. This gorgina appliance — did you know there could ever be such a thing!? — can be programmed up to 24 hours in advance, has an auto shutoff feature (no burnt coffee over here!), and can brew 12 cups at once. Did I mention how immaculate this thing looks? Because just LOOK at it! A reviewer-favorite Alleyoop 4-in-1 makeup brush that features an eyeshadow brush, a blush brush, a brow brush, *and* a blending sponge! It's the perfect size to keep in your purse for touch-ups throughout the day and for saving space in your makeup bag. An exfoliating scrub mitt because it removes dead skin and leaves your body feeling the softest it's ever been. Some reviewers say it helps soothe skin conditions like eczema or keratosis pilaris, too. Use it in the shower to reveal super soft and super clean skin when you step out. Easy peasy! A renter-friendly Poplight which requires no tools, wiring doodads, or electrical knowledge — simply *pop* it on your wall with adhesive tape and you're all set! This app-controlled lamp is dimmable, rechargeable, can be programmed to turn on/off at certain times, and even has a built-in level to make things as easy as possible. On top of it all, IT'S SO CUTE!! Self-proclaimed "chronic redecorators" love it, too. A set of Stretchlace shoelaces that turns ~every~ shoe into a slip-on. With these stretchy elastic laces tied up, you can slip right into your kicks and head out the door without having to untie them from the last wear. Who has time to stop and tie (and re-tie) anyway? Hint: not you. A no-slip, no-spill pet water bowl with a silicone bottom grip to prevent the mess your pet inevitably makes every time they go for a drink. It even has a stainless steel interior to keep the water cold! A curved (!!) SPF 50 Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar, a.k.a. you're newest skincare obsession. This sunscreen is curved to shape your face *perfectly*, to help ensure that no spot is missed. The awesome water-resistant formula also hydrates and protects skin without leaving a white cast! Or some Black Girl Sunscreen, which is a sunscreen specifically designed for melanated skin (although it works for everyone!). This gem protects skin without leaving a greasy white cast, plus the water-resistant formula is infused with jojoba and avocado oils, too, so your skin will be nice and moisturized on top of it all. A trivet tree — a genius 3-in-1 home essential set that works as hot dish trivets, beverage coasters, *and* cute decor. Leave this in the center of your dining table so you can easily place your hot-out-the-oven casserole on top... and pass one to the family member who's about to place their hot tea mug on your antique table. 😩 A reviewer-beloved sparkling crystal suncatcher that will — not to be dramatic — COMPLETELY and TOTALLY transform ANY room you hang it in! Want rainbows in the kitchen? Done. Want a little color in your bathroom? Hang it up! This decor is just a sea of compliments waiting to happen. Just wait 'til that sun hits! Demora's foot exfoliation mask to peel away dead skin, calluses, and buildup for baby-smooth skin. Sign. Me. Up. Simply slide these foot mask "socks" onto your feet and leave them on for an hour to let the gel soak in and work its magic. You should start to see the dead skin peel away within 6–11 days (with incredibly softer feet in two weeks!). A zigzag martini glass set because it looks like something you may have scored at a flea market, but surprise — Amazon for the win. This beautiful glassware set of four happens to be dishwasher-safe, too. Vintage could never! A vintage-inspired custom pet tee since you *need* to be able to rep your favorite furry friend anytime you want. (And yes, it's nearly guaranteed that you will be complimented whenever you wear it.) A Tub Topper, which acts as a splash guard, toy tray, and all-around play zone when your kiddos are taking a bath. The suction cups attach to the lip of the tub to keep things nice and way less chaotic. A beauty spatula so you can get every last bit of foundation left in the bottle! It can fit into the crevices that no amount of shaking or hitting the bottle will get. It's also reusable and easily washable, thanks to the silicone material. A 2-in-1 standard/microfiber towel pillowcase that allows you to bed with wet hair and not have to worry about ruining your pillow or waking up with a cold, thanks to the super absorbent yet gentle microfiber towel side. The standard side, on the other hand, is ultra soft, smooth, and comfy for a pleasant night's sleep. And an extra soft, 100% cotton jersey sheet set because it'll make you feel like you're sleeping in your favorite oversized t-shirt every night. The jersey knit material makes these sheets lightweight and breathable, too. A "Magic Tap" automatic drink dispenser, a spillproof system that fits into water, milk, and juice mugs! Reviewers are calling it the ultimate parent hack because it essentially doesn't require you to stop what you're doing to help your kid get something from the fridge. That's probably hours of time saved if we're being honest! Some fruit and veggie-shaped candles! These cuties (one literally looks like a Cutie mandarin btw) are scentless and are the perfect mood-setter while you're preparing dinner or chatting over dessert at the dining table. They look *super* realistic too, so be sure they don't become part of the meal by accident. You've been warned! Topicals' brightening eye masks that have caffeine and kojic acid as the main ingredients to not only eliminate puffiness but *actually* help reduce dark circles, too! Who says you can't take your morning coffee in eye mask form? A space-creating Sink Topper if you're desperately in need of more counter space. This topper provides a sturdy temporary surface, works as a heat-resistant mat for hot hair tools, *and* as a makeup brush cleaning mat thanks to its textured surface. That's like getting three things for the price of one! A RobeCurls heatless hair curler to get bouncy curls without the heat damage. And as the weather keeps getting warmer, the last thing you want is to turn on your piping hot curling iron. On top of being heat-free, the curler is made with satin that helps prevent tangled hair, too. Simply wrap your damp hair around the curler and sleep tight! In the morning, you'll have voluminous curls with zero effort. A magnetic necklace detangling clasp so tangled jewelry can be a thing of the past (and so will the worry of ruining your favorite pieces along with it). With this cool magnetic clasp, your necklaces will lie *right* where you want them to... and stay that way! A portable paw cleaner because it'll get the (very important) job done and prevent dirty paws from walking around your house — without taking tons of time out of your day. With this, you can clean muddy or dusty paws quickly and easily using the gentle silicone bristles inside the cleaning cone. Brags will be bragged at the dog park. A beloved Click & Carry grocery bag carrier so you can lift bulky, heavy bags with ease. This baby can lift up to 80 pounds while resting comfortably on your shoulder. This means you'll only need to make *one* trip bringing groceries in from the car. Yes, please! A pack of Gameboy wall decals as easy as peel, stick, and stare in awe. It'll make a fridge or a bedroom doorway more fun as it doubles as dry-erase boards, too. If that won't motivate you to write down your grocery list, I don't know what will.


Elle
9 hours ago
- Elle
Can Taking an ‘Offline Summer' Recharge Your Style?
Style Points is a column about how fashion intersects with the wider world. Back when modems made banshee-like noises and webpages took full minutes to load, the internet was already driving fashion. Whether it was the dawn of e-commerce, the rise of street-style blogs, or the rabbit hole of niche designer forums, being online became a periscope out of the limited 'real' world. Later, logging on to Lookbook or Tumblr was a way to find the community you were lacking in your small town. And now, while it remains an IRL medium, everything happening in fashion really happens online, whether it's TikTok microtrends or Substack essays decrying TikTok microtrends. The physical world's surrender to the digital realm is something of a done deal. But what if that's no longer the case? Along with a rise in analog-ophilia—film photography is back, print books have triumphed over Kindles, tactile hobbies are offering an antidote to screen time—has come a nostalgic mode in fashion. New independent print publications are springing up and luxury houses are paying homage to literary figures. Fashion magazine and book archives (like the recently opened Library 180) cater to Instagrammed-out creative directors looking for new visual fields to till. Even online, everyone now aspires to be offline, chronicling their digital detoxes and offering tips for looking at your phone less, though they broadcast these messages from their phones, of course. Pinterest declared 2025 to be a 'digital detox summer' after finding that searches for digital detox-themed vision boards went up 273 percent. And being offline is increasingly a luxury, a sign that you're not subject to the whims of Slack or scheduling software. In the same way that, circa 2022, food motifs became a fixture in fashion as a symbol of plenty, time away from your device has become the ultimate flex. It goes along with a broader lamentation of the way social media has led us all to dress the same. Or, as ELLE's own fashion news editor Alexandra Hildreth said, in a statement that has spawned multiple think pieces, 'You can tell someone's screen time from their outfit.' The more you're plugged into the matrix of microtrends, the more it bleeds into your everyday wear, along with styling tics like pairing soccer shorts with ballet flats. If being, as they say, extremely online has such a chokehold on the way we get dressed, what happens when you take the off-ramp? And is there really one? Phoebe Taylor, a YouTuber who has explored these questions in her videos, is, thematically enough, 'vacationing slightly off the grid' when we speak. But even before this sojourn, Taylor often used her channel to think through the intricacies of carving out personal style in a digital-first world. For example, the back-and-forth about male gaze fashion versus female gaze fashion, which she calls 'slut-shaming in a different font,' inspired a video about 'the demonization of sex in contemporary fashion dialogue' and how 'sexy' dressing has become vilified in online style discourse. 'The direction that fashion is going in right now, and I think is particularly a product of it being so online,' she says, 'is that so many of the trends that are considered fashion-forward are heavy in juxtaposition and contrast…almost purposefully incorrect things going together.' (Like the ballet flats with Umbros mentioned above.) That began as a way of proving oneself different from the herd, but now we see it replicated endlessly. Once, we went online to escape the normies around us; now those normies are living in our phones, inescapable. These days, Taylor says, she gets her inspiration from people who don't follow fashion, like 'an 80-year-old man who was in the ice cream line one night, a guy friend of mine who exclusively shops at Walmart and Goodwill and isn't doing the whole 'thrifting for cool trends' thing, and my neighbor in her 50s who has had the same wardrobe for 20 years.' Emulating those who are somewhat out of the loop has helped her feel freer to put clothes together intuitively, rather than shopping from an influencer's link. 'Being online also makes you scared to make certain fashion mistakes,' Taylor adds. 'It scares you away from wearing things because you don't want to be scrutinized by all these New Age fashion rules that are totally outdated ways of thinking about fashion, repackaged into modern dialogue.' Rather than lash themselves to the algorithm, many creators she knows are giving up the game, and 'using that as a reason to just make what they want anyway.' That said, it takes a lot for even an aspiring Luddite to completely disconnect from the contemporary style landscape. Even if you spend the summer touching grass, that online panopticon remains embedded in your brain. Not to mention that 'so much is trending right now that even purposefully avoiding trends is not necessarily going to lead you to your authentic personal style,' Taylor says. 'If you avoid all of them, you're still strategically trying to do something that you might not necessarily avoid if you weren't online at all in the first place. It's hard to find your authentic balance of, 'What trends actually would captivate me enough to want to participate in them if I weren't online, and which ones am I just participating in because I am online?' To disconnect yourself from it in order to be authentic, without also accidentally disconnecting too much to the point where it's not authentic.' If anyone figures out that calculus, let me know.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
I tried this TikTok weighted vest hack — and it's a game changer when it comes to building functional fitness
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. As a fitness editor, it's not often that I turn to TikTok for workout inspiration. I've seen plenty of fitness fads come and go, and I truly believe that the secret to long-term health and well-being is consistency. That said, one thing I haven't missed is the current weighted vest trend that's sweeping social media. Yet people aren't just wearing weighted vests to increase their calorie burn on daily walks (although read more about this in our rucking feature here), but while doing household chores to turn everyday activities into a workout. The TikTok trend involves wearing a weighted vest while doing everyday chores to increase functional fitness. When we talk about functional fitness, we're referring to exercises designed to mimic everyday activities, like lifting something down from a shelf or carrying a bag of shopping. By working on your functional fitness, you're less likely to experience falls and injuries, and you'll also likely improve your athletic performance as you strengthen the muscles in your body. To sneak in an extra workout, I grabbed a weighted vest and wore it during my everyday chores for a week — read on to find out what happened. As a reminder, if you're new to exercise or you're returning to exercise following an injury, it's always a good idea to check in with a personal trainer or doctor before taking on a new exercise routine. Physios don't recommend running or jumping while wearing a weighted vest if you're a complete beginner. It's important to build up to this slowly to ensure you're not putting your joints under too much stress. I tried this TikTok weighted vest hack — and it's a game changer Weighted vests are a relatively affordable piece of workout equipment if you're exercising at home. The beauty of a weighted vest if you can strap it on during walks and strength training sessions to increase the resistance on your body. This makes your muscles work harder, helping you to sculpt strong muscles and increase your calorie burn. I purchased this 12 lb weighted vest from Amazon, but there are plenty of different options on the market, with different weights available. When picking a weighted vest for your workouts, the general guidance is to start with a vest that is 5-10% of your current body weight. This is heavy enough to challenge your body, without putting too much strain on your joints and spine. A vest with adjustable weights is a great purchase, as it allows you to increase the load as you get stronger. Of course, if you don't have a weighted vest, you could always grab one of the best adjustable dumbbells and chuck it in a backpack. Just use a backpack that has a chest strap if possible. Here's what I noticed wearing my weighted vest for chores for the week: Going up and down the stairs was a lot Obviously, one of the main benefits of wearing a weighted vest is that, over time, you'll grow stronger muscles and improve your cardiovascular fitness. I live in an old Victorian cottage, and I found that when cleaning, I walk up and down the old, steep stairs multiple times. The addition of the weighted vest sent my heart rate soaring on each climb, and I realized that even without leaving the house, strapping on my weighted vest and walking up and down the stairs was a killer workout. The added weight forces your lungs to work harder, so over time, you can improve your cardiovascular efficiency and increase your VO2 max. This is really important to me as a marathon runner. I burned more calories on my dog walks Ok, so this is kind of cheating, as I did have to leave the house, but any dog owner will know that the twice-daily walks are a key chore you can't skip. I strapped my weighted vest on for my dog walks for a week and found, once again, my heart rate soared and I worked a lot harder than I usually would. That said, this wasn't too much of a challenge for me, as I've been effectively wearing a weighted vest for the past 18 months, as I often carry my son in a sling on dog walks. He's acted as the perfect adjustable dumbbell, as his weight has slowly increased month by month, giving my body a chance to adapt to the load. I had to think about my form when cleaning One thing I noticed immediately is how much I had to think about my core when picking up various baby toys and hoovering. The weighted vest challenges your body's center of gravity, so it's essential to keep your abdominal muscles engaged to stabilize your torso as you move. This meant my abs were getting a workout too, but again, start with a lighter weight to avoid putting any stress on your spine. My verdict after a week? I'm hooked. This was the perfect way to add little bursts of exercise to my daily routine — a phenomenon also known as exercise snacking. It made me realize how much of a workout cleaning already is, as I bent down and lifted objects above my head, unpacking shopping, or carried my hoover from room to room. If you're looking for an easy way to increase your daily calorie burn, TikTok has found it. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button. More from Tom's Guide I've been walking with a weight vest for 5K every day to help boost my metabolism — here's what happened to my body I worked out with a weight vest for a week — and it's a game changer I did 70 weighted push-ups every day for a week — here's what happened to my upper body