TODAY highlights new June launches for gifting, from beauty to home tech

A lip balm debuting in a tube for the first time, plus a snack bar with real protein and a low enough price to tuck into almost any gift, are exactly the kinds of launches that earn a place in a present. TODAY’s June roundup is built for that judgment: the running list spans fashion, home, tech, beauty and beyond, but the smartest entries are the ones that feel new without feeling fussy.

Why this launch list works as a gift filter

Shop TODAY says it screens, tests and reviews thousands of products each year, and the monthly cadence matters. A list that updates in real time does more than track what is new. It separates a true giftable launch from something that is merely freshly announced.

That distinction is the point of the June edit. The best picks have novelty, immediate usefulness, conversation value and price comfort. ChapStick’s Hydrabalm and Kodiak’s Drizzled Mini Chewy Granola Bars both clear that bar for different reasons: one brings a familiar brand into a format it had never used before, and the other turns an everyday snack into something polished enough to hand over as part of a care package, desk stash or travel bag.

ChapStick’s first tube feels like a small beauty first

ChapStick Hydrabalm Cherry and Vanilla Lip Repair Balm is listed at $3.89 at Target in TODAY’s roundup, which keeps it firmly in add-on-gift territory. Vivien Moon, one of TODAY’s editors, pointed out that this is the first time ChapStick has come out with a lip tube, and that is the kind of detail that gives a tiny product real gift energy. A brand that has been around for about 145 years does not get to call something “new” lightly, so a tube format becomes more than packaging. It becomes the story.

The appeal also shifts depending on where you look. Target’s product page describes Hydrabalm as a 2-count lip repair balm with up to 24-hour moisture, vitamin E and shea butter, and it frames the formula as fragrance-free, free of parabens, sulfates and phthalates, and designed for severe dryness relief. CEW’s June 30 coverage adds that the HydraBalm line comes in cherry, vanilla, watermelon, guava and an unscented version, which makes the launch feel broader than a one-note seasonal flavor drop.

That range matters for gifting. Cherry and vanilla are easy to give because they read as friendly rather than precious, while the unscented option keeps the gift safe for someone who is particular about fragrance. ChapStick still describes itself as the #1 lip balm brand, and this is exactly the kind of product that benefits from that kind of familiarity: it feels reassuring, but the tube format makes it feel updated. For a woman who likes practical beauty with a little novelty, this is a better small gift than a random prestige sample because it will get used immediately.

Kodiak’s mini bars make snack gifting feel more deliberate

Kodiak launched its Drizzled Mini Chewy Granola Bars on June 9, and the timing gives the product a useful edge. They are sold at $5.19 at Target and $6 directly from Kodiak, with Brown Sugar Cinnamon and Blueberry Lemon as the launch flavors. Each bar has 100 calories and 5 grams of protein, and Kodiak says the bars are made with 100% whole grains and real ingredients.

That profile makes the bars easy to gift in a way that feels thoughtful rather than random. They work as a desk drawer surprise, a road-trip add-in, or a low-stakes extra in a larger present because they promise actual utility, not just novelty. The nationwide rollout helps too: Kodiak says the bars are available at Walmart, Target and Publix, as well as on KodiakCakes.com, which means they are easy to find without hunting through a specialty aisle.

The same June 9 release also introduced Turkey Sausage Breakfast Sandwiches with 20 grams of protein per serving and no added nitrates or nitrites. That matters because it shows the brand is not treating the mini bars as a one-off snack experiment. Kodiak is building a broader better-for-you lineup around convenience, and that context gives the granola bars more credibility. They are not trying to be a novelty gift; they are trying to be the snack someone actually reaches for again.

For gifting, that is the point. The best food gifts are often the ones that feel like they belong in daily life. A protein bar with a clean flavor split, a compact format and a price that stays reasonable does that better than a flashy box that gets photographed once and forgotten.

What this month’s best gift launches have in common

The June batch shows how to read a product launch through a gifting lens. Start with the firsts: ChapStick moving into a lip tube for the first time is an easy conversation starter, especially from a legacy brand. Then look at usefulness: Kodiak’s mini bars and breakfast sandwiches answer the practical question of whether the gift will be used right away. Finally, check the price: $3.89 for Hydrabalm and roughly $5 to $6 for Kodiak’s mini bars keep both items in the low-risk range that makes a gift feel easy, not overplanned.

That is why TODAY’s monthly format works so well for gifts. It favors launches that are current enough to feel fresh, but grounded enough to earn a spot in a real-life routine. The strongest June finds are not the loudest; they are the ones that turn a small spend into a clear, useful gesture.