Phone cases aren’t just a necessity to protect my devices; they’ve become an outlet for self-expression. Over this past year, I’ve developed a monthly phone case rotation, depending on my mood and aesthetic for those 30 or 31 days.
The clear case ($9.99)
The clear phone case is a classic one. This was the first phone case I purchased when I received my new phone a couple years ago, although it turned yellow after a couple months. When I do occasionally use it now, I add polaroids or stickers inside my clear case to give it some personality.
Rhode Lip Case ($38)
While Rhode’s phone case is on the pricier side, it easily receives the most compliments out of all my cases. The unique case allows you to insert a Rhode peptide lip treatment or peptide lip tint of your choice, making it both convenient and fun.
As someone with insanely dry lips, I love not having to worry about bringing a lip product with me while I run errands or accidentally losing it if it slips out of my pocket.
Unfortunately, many customers (myself included) have noticed that the lip treatment can leak when attached to the case, likely due to heat exposure from the phone.
Another downside is that this silicone case is bulkier than most, so I have to use a little more effort to fit it in my jean pocket. In certain cases, I have to flip my phone upside down (since the bulky part is on the bottom) when I place my phone in my teacher’s phone jail during class.
Most importantly, I don’t use this case often anymore because it doesn’t fit in my car’s phone holder, so I have to either put my phone on my lap or in a cup holder while I’m driving.
Despite these inconveniences, it’s definitely a cute case that I’ll use when I feel like taking a mirror selfie in my room.
Casely Into the Wild White Snow Leopard Case ($30)
When I first saw this phone case on TikTok shop, I was in awe of its simplistic yet captivating design. I immediately ordered it on the Casely website. To my surprise, Casely was running a buy one get one free deal, so I went ahead and bought two phone cases instead of one.
Despite my excitement about this case online, I was a bit let down (and felt catfished) when it didn’t live up to expectations. Instead of the leopard print being a contrasting grey against the case’s white body — like how it’s shown on the website — the case instead had a matte texture, while the leopard pattern was glossy. While it’s still a cute case, you can only see the difference in texture when the light hits it, so from certain angles, my phone case just looks plain white.
I did not spend $30 on a phone case for it to look plain white.
Dippin Daisy’s x Casely Stuck in Paradise Dippin’ Daisy’s Tropical Vacation Case (Magsafe, $35)
This phone case was my second pick after discovering Casely’s buy one get one free deal. The colorful tropical design instantly caught my eye, and I couldn’t resist the fun, vacation vibe it gave off.
With perfect timing, I got to use it on my cruise vacation in the Caribbeans. The bright colors and playful pattern added a perfect splash of summer to my phone, even when the weather turned chilly.
What I appreciate about both Casely phone cases is that they are Magsafe — meaning my phone can connect to wireless charging and stick onto accessories like my phone stand due to the magnetic technology — and the print covers the entire case, unlike other brands like Wildflower and Casetify. Casely also offers frequent deals, so I’m really only spending around $15-20 per case.
TikTok Shop’s double-sided Octobuddy knock-off
This product is originally intended for social media influencers who don’t want to bring a tripod everywhere they go. The silicone suction mount attaches to the back of your phone and allows you to stick your phone to smooth surfaces, like mirrors, windows — you name it.
I bought the silicone suction mount for a couple dollars on TikTok Shop, specifically because I wanted it to be double-sided (where the suction is on both sides, instead of the name-brand adhesive Octobuddys that cost $15-20. While the adhesive silicone suction mounts could be stronger than the double-sided suctioned version, the double-sided silicone suction mount provides flexibility in changing between different phone cases.
Although the suction mounts were originally intended for social media influencers as a replacement for a tripod, I found them especially useful on my Carribbeans vacation. Instead of placing my phone on a wall, I used the suction for my hotel room card, portable charger and digital camera.
Usually, I would tuck my room card under my phone case, but that meant removing my phone case every time I wanted to unlock my door. With the suction mount, I could attach the card to my phone’s back for easy access — no more fumbling or risk of losing it.
Phone cases are more than just a way to protect your phone — they provide a bit of both fun and pizzazz. Whether I’m choosing my white leopard phone case or bulky Rhode case to carry my lip balm, each case in my rotation serves as an extension of my style and needs.
