15-03-2025
34 Products That Might Seem A Little Weird At First, But Hear Me Out
We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
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Bet you didn't think you'd be looking at disco light-up bath fizzes when you woke up this morning, but here you are.
1. Moodmatcher's ~green~ color-changing lipstick, an affordable WinkyLux alternative that not only adapts to the pH of your skin to create a personalized, perfect shade for your skin tone, but lasts for HOURS. Reviewers marvel at its all-day staying power even after meals and breaking a sweat. Look at that lil' green lipstick go!!
Moodmatcher is a small business that specializes in color-changing lipstick.
Promising review:"This color is beautiful, and shows up differently on everyone. This thing that I like most about this product, is that it stays on all day even through eating multiple meals. I have to use a microfiber cloth to remove it at night!" — Rasheda
Get it from Amazon for $6.59 (available in 10 shades).
2. A guided visual sloth "breathing partner" you can use for meditation and calm to shift your mindset. This is designed to guide you through either the popular 4/7/8 or 5/5 "calming breaths" to help reduce stress and anxiety, using colors that fade in and out softly as cues. Bonus: it's kid-friendly!
Mindsight is a small business that specializes in calming personal care and decor products.
Promising review (for the original style):"I started meditating over a decade ago. Intermittent in the beginning, progressing deeper, and finding new joys over time. With Breathing Buddha, the last thoughts have dropped away as counting breath always seemed to keep me conscious of, well, counting. Granted, I have always dropped the counting after a handful of breaths, but Breathing Buddha has made for a delightful transition as I realize it doesn't have to count at all. It is a lovely concept, well executed, and very easy to start using." — Lynn
Get it from Amazon for $22.95 (also available in two other styles).
3. A set of espresso martini mix packets that make this cocktail staple a little TOO easy to recreate at home — all you need to do is add vodka and water, and BOOM. That's that you espresso.
Amazon,
Craftmix is a small business that specializes in instant drink mixers.
Promising review:"The closest thing to creating a drink from scratch as you can get! Tried the variety pack and the espresso martini mix, and it was a hit with folks, and most couldn't believe it when I told them it came from a packet. Especially if you're thinking of hosting or making drinks in batches, Craftmix is a real timesaver. Would definitely recommend and plan on repurchasing for future get-togethers!" — Kenneth Walfred Fojas
Get a pack of 12 from Amazon for $16.99 (also available in eight other flavors and a variety pack).
4. A lil' polar bear hydrating eye stick for some sweet, sweet relief when you wake up with puffy, aching eyes. This formula is blended with Iceland glacial water to help tighten skin and tackle dark circles so you look and feel more ~refreshed~.
Promising review:"I have always had serious dark circles and bags under my eyes and this has really changed this for me. The results are incredible. The puffiness is gone. The dark circles are hardly noticeable. My sensitive skin has not broken out. I never write reviews, but this was so good that I had to write a review. This actually works." — Ben
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in two other styles and multipacks).
5. A moody nightlight you can get based on your vibe, be it "depressed duck," "cheerful pear," or "absurdly adorable puppy." They are all delightfully squishy and add the perfect amount of dim light to use as a portable nightlight or light up a desk without being too harsh!
Promising review: "Over the last year, I've bought three of these — for first grade teacher to use the 30-minute timer for reading time, for my granddaughter because she fell in love with her mother's, and for me to use as a short term nightlight when I go to bed. Easy to use and adorable!!" — Rene Z.
Get it from Amazon: the duck for $15.99, the pear for $19.99, and the puppy for $19.99.
6. A set of TikTok-famous Globbles, which are about to be your favorite stress-relieving fidget toy. These colorful balls are squishy, stretchy, and stick to pretty much any flat surface you throw them at *without* leaving any messy residue. TikTokers have a blast tossing these at walls and ceilings to see the satisfying way they glom onto them.
Promising review:"I have bought these over and over again for gifts. My own children have played with these balls repeatedly. We even left one on the ceiling to see how long it would stay for. It lasted four months before we decided to take it down. Since they are so sticky, they get dirty pretty quickly. All you have to do is a quick rinse in the sink and an air dry, then you are good to go. Great for adults and children! Will be buying again." — Valerie Young
Get a set of six from Amazon for $10.99.
7. A ridiculously charming octopus-shaped blackhead remover you can use to gently scrub as part of your skin routine or in the shower to remove excess sebum to exfoliate pores and pull out blackheads, whiteheads, and other miscellaneous gunk from the day that you'd rather evict.
Amazon
Promising review: " I was quite skeptical of all the hype but decided to try it out anyway. This stuff actually works! Two weeks in and my stubborn blackheads are almost gone, and my skin is much clearer. Holy grail!" — Tmuk
Get it from Amazon for $12.50.
8. A mini inflatable tube guy for your desk to cheer you on (or remind you to take a lil' dance break whenever you overwork yourself).
Promising review:"OMG! I love this guy! These things, large and small, will ALWAYS make me laugh. My husband bought the desk version for me, and I can always count on it to make me laugh. My co-workers love it, too. People just stop by to turn him on for a quick pick-me-up. I would recommend getting the AC plug since batteries can run down fast. I think we should create a community of fellow air-dancer-havers and post clips of our little guys dancing to our favorite songs. Anyone in?" — Mark
Get it from Amazon for $8.58.
9. A box of "Zombie" face masks that are NOT for the faint of heart, but definitely get the job done when it comes to tightening skin and reducing pores and wrinkles. Once it's on your face, it starts to tighten and makes you look like a literal! zombie!!! in this very spooky but satisfying way. You leave it on for a quick 10 minutes, and then it washes off super easily and leaves your skin bright and rejuvenated.
Promising review:"Smells great! This face mask does exactly what it says. My skin is nice and lifted, hydrated, noticeable reduction in fine lines, improved texture, reduced my pore size, and eliminated some newly developed rough patches forming around the hairline. Couldn't be more satisfied with this product! I have pretty good skin for 37, but this mask has really helped take my skin to the next level." — Samantha
Get a box of eight masks from Amazon for $17.91 (available in larger packs).
10. A spinning pill dispenser to make taking your meds feel like a game show or a trip to the carnival — sometimes you have to ~romanticize your life~ to remember the essentials in your daily routine!! You can even attach this to a wall or the fridge if you're feeling it.
Check out a TikTok of the pill dispenser in action.
Promising review:"So I am horrible about remembering if I took my pills. And I HATE digging into the old pill boxes or doing the tip over. I don't know what it is, but i have always disliked it. I hung this on my wall right by the kitchen so I pass it like 5,000 times a day and I can't not see it. It is so fun pushing the little orange button to watch the meds fall out. I mean it kind of feels like a really weird game of Wheel of Fortune, but I like it." — Grofica
Get it from Amazon for $29.99 (available in four colors).
11. A shaker of Thin Mint seasoning you need to buy as a favor to all your taste buds immediately. Allow me to paint a picture for you: Thin Mint coffee, Thin Mint pudding, Thin Mint popcorn, Thin Mint anything your dessert gremlin heart desires.
I stared at this for months online before caving and buying it, and when I tell you!! It jazzes up my morning coffee in a way that makes my little '90s baby heart sing. I've also loved it on Greek yogurt, oatmeal, and mug cakes. Plus, when I am feeling lonely for a real Thin Mint, and we're not in Girl Scout cookie season, I'll shake this on an Oreo Thin to stave off the despair.
Get it from Amazon for $5.99.
12. A Silly Poopy's Hide & Seek game, aka any parents' dream — this gizmo keeps kids entertained for hours of fun hiding it all over the house, where it makes little noises to give clues about where to find it. It's basically all the joy of playing hide and seek, except it's the *toy* hiding, not the humans.
John Mihaly / BuzzFeed
What Do You Meme? is a small business that specializes in adult and family games.
Check out a TikTok of the Silly Poopy in action.
Promising review:"Let me tell you that if you want hours of endless fun of hide and go seek without having to hide yourself, this is a must-get! When it's hidden, it makes various toot noises and says stuff so the kids know if they are close. And when they find it and press the button to do and sing the silly poopy dance ... even you will dance and sing along!!! It doesn't need batteries, and come on, it's poop? Who doesn't think poop and toot noises are funny, and if they don't, they are lying to themselves. A must-have for fun with your kids without barely doing any work!!" — andrea kelli gorman
Get it from Amazon for $9.88.
13. A phone umbrella you can suction to the back for *instant* shade when you're trying to reduce sun glare outdoors (or text in the rain 🫠). Reviewers especially love this for their Kindles when they're trying to read at the beach or the pool. The "handle" of the umbrella even doubles as a phone stand to prop it up on long flights!
Check out a TikTok of the phone umbrella in action.
Promising review:"I got this little umbrella because I'm always outside for work, and the sun shines bright. I always have to put information in my phone for work and sometimes I can't step to the shade to do so. The sun protection is good, and the performance and size is perfect for my phone. I've had people ask where I got it because they also need one." — Garza Jboss
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in 17 styles).
14. "Through The Seasons" Reverse Coloring Book, which is a newer edition of the original Reverse Coloring Book that took the internet by storm — reviewers swear by this easy, calming artistic outlet to help ease their anxiety, relieve stress, and unleash their inner creativity without taking up too much brainpower.
For those new to the concept — Instead of adding the color to these, you add the lines to create images within the colors. Sort of like a Rorschach test, but make it whimsical.
Check out a TikTok of the reverse coloring book in action.
Promising review: "Kendra Norton's beautiful art books, Reverse Coloring books, have changed my world! My whole life, I thought I was not creative and had zero artistic ability. Now, this has become my favorite form of artistic expression. I turn on music and/or an audiobook and allow myself to go for an adventure outside of my mind, beyond my mind, if you will. T his has become my favorite way to process through difficult emotions and experiences I'm working through." — K. DeWitt
Get it from Amazon for $8.29.
(Psst — check out these cult-fave black fine point pens for $8.99 on Amazon for a good doodling option!)
15. A reusable silicone cactus dryer ball that pet owners especially love because it catches hair like nobody's business. These lil' desert bubs also help soften fabric, reduce wrinkles, *and* save drying time, so they're putting all the decorative but useless succulents in your home to shame.
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 $8.59 (available in three other styles).
16. Wreck This Journal, a full color journal with prompts for you to write, paint, shred, and, in the words of Taylor Swift, "have a marvelous time ruining everything."
Some of the prompts include one to close the journal and scribble on the edges; another to cut out colors from a magazine and tape them all over the page; another is a "Stain Log," which you can use to classify stains in your life, from red wine to nail polishes to food dyes. Basically, if you turn the page in this journal, odds are it's going to look *nothing* like it originally did by the time you're through.
Get it from Amazon for $9.59 or Bookshop for $14.88.
17. A " Grievance Journal," or rather a "burn book for the discerning misanthrope" — a darkly funny, satisfying, and cathartic journal with 52 prompts so you can purge yourself of the ~~darkness~~ of your daily irritations and inconveniences without alarming all your friends and neighbors. (Well, any more than you already do 😈.)
Amazon
Promising review: "Bought this intending to gift it to a friend but ended up getting really into the prompts and decided to keep it for myself. WOW, what an awesome way to vent and articulate the negativity you're feeling by actually forcing yourself to form coherent thoughts around your emotions. Cheaper and more effective than therapy, buying several more for friends and fam." — Alex
Get it from Amazon for $27.99.
18. A three-tiered ring floor lamp for anyone who wants a lighting option that isn't going to bore them to tears. This not only has unique, sophisticated flair, but comes with adjustable brightness so you can curate the room's mood.
Amazon
Brightech is a California-based small business that specializes in home lighting.
Promising review: "The light is nice! It's a unique-looking light. I love how it has three different settings so you can adjust the brightness. It fits perfectly with my reading chaise and goes well with the rest of my living room decor. The only con I have is I wish the cord was clear instead of black, it sticks out. Other than that, I love the light. I'd definitely recommend it to others." — Carmelita Joy
Get it from Amazon for $79.99+ (available in four colors).
19. A wildly hilarious "screaming goat" button that has surprised reviewers by becoming a legit staple in their routine — people use it to get the attention of a classroom or break tension in the office or just to generally announce to anyone in your vicinity, "I've had it up to HERE and someone better get me a little treat IMMEDIATELY."
Novelty888 is a small business that specializes in delightfully and oddly specific talking buttons.
Promising review: "Got this for my wife to keep on her desk. She said it's been a big hit in the office! If she or her coworkers are having a tough time, this lightens the mood with just the press of a button." — Daniel
Get it from Amazon for $17.99.
20. A"Gracula" garlic crusher, because you know what? If a 108-year-old vampire lurking moodily in the trees in the Pacific Northwest isn't going to fall in love with you and grant you immortality, one might as well make your life in the kitchen a little easier.
Promising review: "I love this little guy. I found him on a BuzzFeed list and had to have it as soon as I saw it! I've minced as many as five cloves in it in seconds. It's a little tricky getting all of the garlic out once minced (I use a silicone basting brush to get most of it, but I always use more than the recipe calls for anyway, so it's not a deal breaker). Cleanup is a breeze because he goes right in the dishwasher!" — Barbie
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
21. A gentle bubbly clay mask designed to help remove blackheads and minimize the appearance of pores, but most importantly to let you cosplay as a happy lil' cloud.
Check out a TikTok of the foaming mask in action.
Promising review:"I love this stuff! I received some for a gift and then purchased it for my daughter from Amazon. It feels like a clay mask going on, and then starts bubbling and turns to a thinner substance when it's done. I feel like it is very gentle on my face. My skin feels amazing after I wash it off. It feels like I used moisturizer, even though I did not. I hear that these masks are very popular in Japan." — L. Shea
Get it from Amazon for $9.90.
22. A chic coffee cup holder so you can carry your favorite beverage *and* answer work emails *and* text your friends pictures of cute dogs at the same! time!!! Reviewers also love this for keeping the cold condensation off their hands.
VIS Paradise Goods is a Florida-based Etsy stop established in 2021 that specializes in personalized and sustainable goods.
Promising review: "This is perfect! I constantly have my hands full and now I can comfortably carry my coffee with me everywhere I go. I will be purchasing more!" — Erin
Psst — I own one of these myself and love it for the convenience of texting on the go! These even have a holder for a straw if you happen to get iced coffee or bubble tea and don't want to stick the straw into the drink just yet. I've found this to be very sturdy and easy to use, plus they're a fun conversation starter — people always want to know where I got it!
Get it from VIS Paradise Goods on Etsy for $14.91+ (originally $16.99+; available in five colors and 10 option designs).
23. A pick-apart ASMR cloud plush, or "Fluffie Stuffiez" — this unique fidget toy is covered with fluff you can methodically pluck off, revealing a different color plush underneath. No worries about the extra fluff, because it comes with an adorable container to make a second cloud out of it! Reviewers love this engaging, adorable fidget, both as a toy for kids and a stress reliever for adults.
A few reviewers with trichotillomania swear by this as a helpful alternative for picking tendencies.
Promising review: "I have a tendency to pick at my clothes when I'm bored and have nothing else to occupy my time with. I got this toy to see if it would scratch that itch and save my clothes from my boredom. It worked much better than I thought it would. The outer layer to pluck has a soft wooly feel and the under layer is very soft. Some of the strands were a bit stuck and took some effort, but most came out with only a little effort. I'll probably get some more if I know I'm going to be away from home for a while." — Terras
Get it from Amazon for $6.44 (and check out dozens of other versions on the Fluffie Stuffiez Amazon storefront!).
24. A set of "wine wands" to remove sulfates and histamines from your beloved cheap Pinots in as little as three minutes, basically making "not getting a hangover" your new superpower.
25. A "Soap Opera Sponge Holder" because you know who is the biggest diva of them all?? That burnt cheese that refuses to budge from your plate. Reviewers love this for livening up their kitchen sinks *and* bathrooms, since it will hold metal scrubbers, sponges, and even small loofahs!
Amazon
Each diva comes with her own metal scrubber included.
Promising review: "This is the funniest thing — makes me laugh every time I'm at the sink. Lord knows we need to laugh these days!" — Laura Bajuk
Get it from Amazon for $15.90.
26. A set of snail tea bag holders to keep your tea from pulling a disappearing act *and* giving you a built-in breakfast buddy to talk to about that weird dream you had last night.
Amazon
Check out a TikTok of the snail teabag holder in action.
Promising review:"Love these fun little quirky tea slugs. They work on all shapes and sizes of mugs and have brought a smile to all who either used them or were the lucky recipients of their own batch of tea slugs from me. They clean up well with just a quick rinse under the sink and are even fun to use on wine or cocktail glasses to help guests track their drink." — NC
Get a pack of 10 from Amazon for $6.99.
27. A bag of freeze-dried Sour Skittles for anyone who wants to embark on their newest candy obsession — these "cosmic crunchies" are unlike any other earthly candy you've tried before, giving a lighter, crunchier texture to Skittles without compromising on their delectable sour taste.
Space Age Snacks is a small business that specializes in small batch freeze-dried candy.
Promising review: "Honestly, I didn't know what to expect going in, but I was pleasantly surprised. Skittles normally taste alright, but having them freeze dried really made the flavors POP, and genuinely I feel like they had more flavor than normal Skittles. (Then again, that might just be my head playing it up knowing it's a first, who knows, who cares.) Very delicious." — John Blake
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (available in four sizes; check out the rest of their freeze-dried candy for more options).
28. Murdle, Volume 1, a true essential for anyone who relaxes to true crime podcasts or Only Murders in the Building. The book is full of murder 100 mystery-themed logic puzzles with four different levels of difficulty that you can do solo or with pals, and in order or out of order (although if you do it in order, you get the full scoop on Deductive Logico and Inspector Irratino, whose hilarious misadventures guide you through the book).
The best part?? Once you finish "Murdling," you can use your sleuthing skills on Volume 2, Volume 3, and a whole BUNCH of other themed Murdle books!
Promising review: "The puzzles are a lot of fun but the characters, story lines, and other details take the Murdle experience to another level. I have no idea how the author came up with all of this creativeness! You can Murdle solo or with friends. I look forward to future volumes but this one will keep me busy for awhile!" — Liz Gately
Get it from Amazon for $10.25.
29. A retro-inspired, rechargeable electric gamer lighter that is not only a more environmentally-friendly alternative to gas lighters but will give you any and every opportunity to relive your glory days of being a Pokemon trainer, searching through a sea of Pidgeys in the tall grass to find a Pikachu.
Promising review:"Love this lighter. It has some weight to it, so it feels like a real lighter. It makes a nice click sound when you open and shut it, and is easy to charge with the included cable. The blue lights on the side that show the battery level are neat, and the fact that it looks like a tiny Game Boy is awesome." — Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $22.88+ (available in two styles).
30. A pair of "floating" air conduction headphones perfect for anyone whose earbuds slip out when they get sweaty — these are designed to stay put by settling just over your ear instead of inside it. Basically all the convenience and privacy of earbuds, without the discomfort of physically putting them in your ears.
It picks up calls just as well as any other pair, and is designed so the sound isn't audible to anyone else!
Purity is a small business that specializes in tech products and accessories.
Promising review:"I've tried soooo many different types of earbuds over the years with no success. But these Purity open-air headphones are the first pair I've ever tried that actually fit well, don't hurt, and sound great! So, after many years of trying, I've FINALLY found the right ones for my ears!! Woohoo! They are comfortable, lightweight, have great sound clarity, are easy to operate, have great battery life, and people can hear me clearly when I talk on the phone with them. I definitely recommend these, especially if regular in-ear buds don't work for you either." — CPic
Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in 15 styles).
31. A dual beverage Stanley cup separator so you can have TWO beverages in ONE GIANT CUP. It's a free-for-all of bevvy combos. Apple cider + seltzer, iced tea + lemonade, High Noon plus — you know what, I'll let you choose that journey for yourself 😉.
Each set comes with two silicone separators and two straws in different colors adapted to a 40-ounce Stanley cup.
Promising review: "I love this separator! It fits in snugly and comes with two straws. Works well with my 40-ounce Stanley!" — Dana Daily
Get it from Amazon for $6.99+ (available in six styles).
32. A pillow-shaking alarm clock that uses a "shaker" mode to gently vibrate under your pillow to wake you up — perfect for someone who doesn't respond as well to noise, or doesn't like how jarring it is to wake to an alarm. THAT SAID, this also features an option for an alarm so loud that they call it a "sonic bomb," so you can use that as extra wake-up insurance if you need it!
Sonic Alert is a small business that specializes in alarm clocks.
Promising review: "This alarm is amazing. The pillow shaker does its job to perfection. The shaker shakes the pillow just right so you don't wake up startled. The loud alarm is loud enough. I wear a hearing aid to hear everything, and the loud alarm is loud enough that I can hear it without my hearing aid. Must have for someone with hearing issues so you wake up on time every time." — Scott D.
Get it from Amazon for $41.99 (available in six colors).
33. A set of light up bath fizzes, because life is short and bath time is nothing if not an opportunity for an underwater rave!! Bonus: these are made with natural essential oils and moisturizing shea butter and coconut oil for a real ~spa~ experience.
These come in six different scents: lavender, aloe, ocean, rose, milk, and olayer.
Promising review: "Disco in my bath! This product is such a nice distraction from a stressful life! The scents are not overpowering light and soothing, they don't seem to deposit rings a real plus with a soaker tub! But the best part save the little center bit and set aside for a real party with wine and candles. Sending these out to stressed family now as random pick me ups." — Katrin Sullivan
Get a set of six from Amazon for $19.99.
34. A pet cloud because honestly ... some of us were *not* cut out for the pet and plant parenthood, and this is our next best bet. This lil' bub does require "a lot of love and attention," plus a 30-minute walk and a steady diet of "tears of joy," but one look at that precious face and you'll be able to swing it.
Party People/Etsy
Party People is a UK-based Etsy shop established in 2018 that specializes in fun gag gifts and party supplies.
Promising review:"This pet cloud is so full of life and energy! As soon as I opened the box he jumped out and gave me a big hug! Might've been high IDK." — Owen
Get it from Party People on Etsy for $6.73+ (available with or without a gift bag).
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.
