We tried lots of products in August, these picks from Béis, Hoka, Zara and more were worth our dollars

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August starts off deceptively slow for many, but it’s actually a big month of discovery for the shopping experts on our team. The laid-back nature of those first couple of weeks is often welcome following an eventful July. But just before the month comes to an end, everything seems to feel fast-paced again — students are heading back to school , people are squeezing in their last-minute summer vacations and sports fans are prepping for Premier League and football season .

At NBC Selected, we’re always in the process of testing some sort of footwear , skin care product or interesting new piece of tech — the types just vary based on the season. This August, everyone on staff tried out a mix of self-bought products and samples (sent complimentary for testing purposes) from some of our favorite brands, which includes Adidas , Shark , Zara , Béis , Phlur and many more.

Below, we’re sharing all of the products we tried out this month, including comfortable shoes, hair gel , carry-on luggage , lunch boxes , and tank tops that are so good we bought them (or would buy them) with our own money.

The best products we tried in August 2026

All of the products below are either courtesy brand samples or products that we bought ourselves.

Zoe Malin , reporter

Adidas Handball Spezial Shoes

There’s always a couple pairs of shoes that it seems like every woman in Manhattan owns, and this year, one of them is the Adidas Handball Spezial, specifically in the Earth Strata/Off White/Gum color. After weeks of seeing them at least five times a day, I convinced myself I needed them — I even started planning outfits around them in my head, so I had no choice but to buy them. I’ve been wearing them multiple times a week for a month now. The sneakers are just as stylish as I imagined, and even more comfortable than I hoped for.

They support my feet as I walk more than 20,000 steps a day in New York City, and the brown shade makes them a neutral basic that pairs well with the majority of my outfits. Two sizing notes: I went down half a size in these because I felt like they ran big when I tried them on at the store (I got a women’s 8 instead of my typical 8.5), and they’re narrow in the toe area, so if you have wide feet, they may not work for you.

Maldon Sea Salt Flakes

One of the ingredients I must have in my kitchen is Maldon Sea Salt Flakes. I sprinkle it on everything I eat to bring out the natural flavor of food and add crunch, including eggs, roasted vegetables, baked fish, pasta, ice cream and oatmeal. Whenever I run out, which I did this month, I buy the 20-ounce tub. It has a resealable lid, so it lasts me about six months; I keep it on my counter and grab a big pinch as needed. Not to be dramatic, but the few days between when I ran out of sea salt flakes and when my new tub came were tasteless — it’s that essential to my meals.

Love Ur Curls Volumizing Foam

Love Ur Curls Strong Hold Gel

Curly hair styling is always a common theme in my TikTok algorithm, but I’ve been served even more videos about it lately, which prompted me to reconsider my routine. I consulted my hairdresser at Curl Bar Beauty , who approved of what I saw on social media and gave me more in-depth lessons based on my exact hair type.

She recommended I use a foam and a gel instead of a mousse and a cream, the latter of which weighs down my thick hair too much. I also finish with a few spritzes of my beloved Color Wow Dream Coat for Curly Hair . My hairdresser instructed me to apply these products to soaking wet hair, use a cotton T-shirt or paper towels to soak up excess moisture, air dry (or, better yet, diffuse if I have time) and break my curl cast with a little oil .

Lover Ur Curls offered to send me their Volumizing Foam and Strong Hold Gel when I was overhauling my hair styling routine. I’ve been testing them for about six weeks and truly feel like my curls have never looked as defined and shiny, or felt as soft. They also maintain their shape much better over about two days between sleeping and workouts. At $22 and $24, the foam and gel are half the price of what I was paying for similar products, so I’m less stingy about how much I use at a time, which has also contributed to my improved curl definition. Now, with a combination of the right products and a styling method I can actually commit to, I’m even more confident about my natural hair.

Local Weather Fruit Punch Premium Sports Drink

After a super hot, sweaty run, I always crave fruit punch, so I usually drink a Gatorade Zero . But when I was on vacation in Maine this month, the nearby market only had Local Weather’s Fruit Punch Premium Sport Drink — it seemed close enough to Gatorade, so I bought it. It tastes exactly like the Hawaiian Punch I had as a kid but with way less sugar and lots of electrolytes from coconut water and sea salt.

As I drank it, I started to feel much less depleted, and the flavor was delicious, so I actually enjoyed sipping it. I looked forward to buying a Local Weather each day after my run during my trip, so I ordered a 12-pack when I got home since I haven’t seen them in Manhattan grocery stores or bodegas yet.

Big Spoon Roasters Pistachio Crunch Almond Butter

I meal prep overnight oats for breakfast during the work week, and nut butter is one of my favorite toppings in addition to berries, coconut flakes and pecans. I usually go with plain almond butter, but Big Spoon Roasters sent me a few of its more unique options, and out of all the ones I tried, I came back to Pistachio Crunch Almond Butter most often. It has just enough maple and sea salt in it that I taste the flavors without them being overpowering, and the pistachios mixed with the almonds adds extra richness.

I also love spreading the Pistachio Crunch Almond Butter on rice cakes with sliced bananas before a run. I don’t think I’ll be able to go back to eating standard almond butter once I finish this jar.

Caitlin Cusack , associate social media editor

Phlur Beach Skin Shimmering Body Oil

I absolutely love when my skin looks shiny, glittery and bronzed, especially in the summer. When I saw that Phlur launched this shimmery body oil, I was beyond excited to try it out. Out of all of the glittery body oils I’ve tested (which is at least 5), I can confidently say that this one is my favorite.

The formula is extremely pigmented, so I only need to use a little bit at a time, and it’s actually noticeable to the eye and in pictures. It’s also extremely long lasting — I can put this on in the morning before lunch and get home at night with it looking fresh. My only complaint is that it’s a little sticky right after application — which is not ideal if you’re like me and always get ready super last-minute.

Béis The New Weekender

Last month, Béis dropped a fully overhauled collection of travel essentials, which included an updated version of the brand’s insanely popular OG weekender bag. We stopped by its New York City popup event to chat with founder Shay Mitchell , and I was lucky enough to take home the revamped weekender bag, which I tested out on my trip to Chicago earlier this month. I used this bag as my personal item on the flight, and was extremely impressed with how much I was able to pack — it fit all of my toiletries, hair tools, a pair of shoes and even my travel-sized Lola Blanket.

My favorite part of this bag is the soft opening, which allowed me to stuff my blanket on top of all of my things while still being able to fit the bag underneath the seat in front of me. I used the trolley sleeve to carry the bag on top of my rolling carry-on, and it made my airport experience easy.

Nespresso Iced Tumbler

I’ve been looking for a great coffee tumbler for a while, and after trying a bunch, I realized that all I wanted was to see my coffee. Not sure what the psychology behind that is, but when I found this clear iced coffee tumbler from Nespresso, I knew it was exactly what I wanted. Although it’s technically not insulated, it keeps my iced lattes cold for hours. I can make my coffee with ice at home, bring it to the office and still see ice cubes until at least noon. It’s also *actually* spill resistant. I’ve thrown this in my bag plenty of times and haven’t had an issue with spilling one time. Plus, all of the pieces are dishwasher safe, so it’s super easy to clean.

E.l.f. Hair Humidity Hero Anti-Frizz Styling Spray

As a years-long Color Wow Dream Coat fan, I was skeptical when e.l.f. launched a similar anti-frizz styling product for more than half the price. But after trying it out on a blowout, I was extremely impressed. My blowout looked shiny, silky and not frizzy at all immediately after styling, and it held up great throughout my humid commute and full day at the office.

My only complaint is that the nozzle doesn’t distribute the product that quickly, so it takes a while to cover my entire head. But, I’d take an achy wrist in exchange for a blowout that actually lasts throughout the day. And for just $9? I’m already planning to stock up before this product sells out.

Ninja AutoBarista Fully Automatic Espresso Machine

I’m a huge fan of Ninja’s OG espresso machine, the Ninja Luxe Cafe . So when the brand dropped their first fully automatic espresso machine, I was excited to try it out. After testing it over the last few weeks, I can confidently say that this machine has fixed all of my pain points that come with the Ninja Luxe Cafe.

Since it’s fully automatic, you basically don’t have to do any of the manual work you once did. This machine grinds the beans, tamps your espresso, brews your coffee and discards the grounds, all with the press of a single button. Plus, it does a full machine rinse after every single use, so I have a little peace of mind that the inside of my machine is clean. The biggest pain point is definitely the price — $900 is a lot of money, but I think it’s worth it for a machine that’s basically a personal barista living in your kitchen, especially if you’re a real coffee lover.

Marilyn La Jeunesse , newsletter editor

Phlur Vanilla Canyon

I have always been a vanilla girl. The obsession started back in middle school with Victoria’s Secret Vanilla Lace and has been going strong ever since. Lately, I’ve been on the hunt for more mature vanilla scents that feel refined and intriguing. Phlur’s new Vanilla Canyon is just that. The scent reminds me of fall days in Southern California, the notes of wild honey and patchouli are warm and familiar. It wears well throughout the day and feels like the perfect elevated vanilla for every day wear.