📲 This week's viral TikTok products: Halara yoga shorts, jalapeño wine, a $6 lip balm
Consider this your weekly guide to the internet's trendiest products across beauty, wellness, travel and beyond.
You know when you're on the cusp of discovering something that you think might change your life? Dramatic as it sounds (and I am very dramatic), that is how I felt while scrolling through TikTok this past week. For whatever reason, the app seemed to be brimming with even more product inspiration than usual. My For You page was populated with video after video of TikTok-viral product reviews, shopping trends and even the occasional review.
I was left not only excited by the products that people are gravitating to these days (goodbye high-priced makeup items, hello drugstore beauty dupes) but eager to add many of them to my own shopping cart. And since I'm not in the business of gatekeeping, I'm here to share a few of my favorite trending TikTok products with you—and hopefully lead you in the direction of your next favorite purchase.
I'll be coming to you every Friday with a breakdown of the week's most viral TikTok products, including explanations on why certain items are trending, what professional shoppers (like myself) really think about them and why they deserve a spot in your digital shopping cart.
Shop this week's most viral TikTok products
In this week's installment I take a look at a smushy $6 lip balm, personalized beach towels that are perfect for summer, an ugly-cute bag doll that's become a celeb-favorite accessory and the spicy jalapeño wine that's sure to add a kick to your bar cart.
1. They're shorts, they're yoga pants—they're yoga shorts
Halara skirts have become a cult-favorite style, namely because of their flattering fit and celebrity fan base which includes stars like Taylor Swift. Now, Halara yoga shorts are all the rage—and yes, they're absolutely as comfortable as they sound. Imagine the stretchy comfort of yoga pants wrapped up into a cropped design that's breathable and stylish? Workout wear has never been so cool (literally).
My verdict? The question isn't whether or not I'm going to buy these Halara shorts, it's how many colors I'm going to buy them in.
2. Monogrammed beach towels are all the rage for summer
No more forgetting your spot on the beach or losing track of the pool lounger you've settled into—with these viral Personalized Beach Towels, you can mark your territory and add a cute new monogrammed piece to your beach bag.
My verdict? As a very private person, I'm admittedly a little weary about confirming my name in such a public capacity. What's next, turning our Social Security numbers into bumper stickers for our cars? (See, drama!) Privacy concerns aside, these towels are unbelievably cute and would double as a great personalized gift for a loved one.
3. This smushy lip balm has a pillowy-soft feel
When I hear "smushy lip balm" I automatically think about the sacrificial lip gloss that gets (accidentally) left in my car every summer and winds up melting into a smoothie consistency. But this TikTok viral beauty product—aka the NYX Smushy Matte Lip Balm—is actually designed with a smushy composition in mind, as it provides a plusher coating for lips.
My verdict? I've been embracing the smushy lip gloss trend for years—granted, accidentally and by way of Arizona's 100-plus degree summers. Regardless, you can bet I'm a fan.
4. Celebrities are obsessed with these ugly-doll bag charms
Move over, Squishmallows—there's a new quirky toy in town, and this one comes in the form of a toothy monster accessory that's... cute? Terrifying? Sure to turn heads? Pop Mart Labubu Dolls have suddenly become the "It accessory of A-listers like Rihanna and Kim Kardashian. Given how quickly they sell out online, many TikTok users are scrambling to get their hands on them.
My verdict? As frightening as these ugly-doll bag charms are, IMO, they aren't nearly as polarizing (or unforgivable) as the hoof shoes that are currently dominating fashion trends. Power to anyone who wants to sport this quirky accessory on their handbag (hi, Rihanna), but this might be the one TikTok trend I actually sit out.
5. Spice up your next wine night
For TikTok's latest viral trend, users are dipping their toes (and tongues) into the spicy world of jalapeño wines—and actually enjoying it? This St. Clair Hatch Green Chile wine is one of the many popular options that's now trending on the app, as it packs a seriously fiery kick. In the words of the Y2K prophet Paris Hilton: "That's hot." (But literally.)
My verdict? This wine gives a whole new meaning to "spicing up your bar cart," and as a gal with a pendant for hot flavors, how could I resist?
How do I determine TikTok's most viral products?
There are a couple factors I take into consideration when narrowing down the best TikTok products on any given week, including: Which product categories are trending on TikTok? Is there an organic discourse surrounding individual items? Are there product reviews from shoppers that can support the hype surrounding a popular TikTok product? Understanding the functionality of an item—beyond just its virality—is critical in assessing its value, and I ensure that any products recommended here are also backed by USA Today Shopping editors, shoppers and boast no lower than a 4.0 average rating.