They sure look like hoop earrings, and in fact, they come in circular shapes which is precisely like hoop/cartilage earrings. The key to their difference is however in size.
While hoop earring tends to be big and dangle well beyond the ear size, huggies just stay right at the edges of your earlobe.
They are a perfect fit and they can also be decorated with beautiful scent for alluring features. Also, they range in sizes, so check the dimension before you get one for yourself.