We write about hundreds of products each week. Here, in our version of the Sunday circular, we’ve plucked some of our recent favorites: expert-recommended essentials, life-changing stuff you didn’t know you needed, newly launched gizmos, and very good deals we uncovered while trawling through the vast online-shopping universe — including a thermos beloved by outdoor enthusiasts, a laid-back linen lounge set, and white sneakers that will never go out of style.
Vinegar with a sweet touch
Brightland just restocked its strawberry vinegar, a collaboration with the buzzy specialty fruit brand Oishii, for the third time. Though the second drop was reportedly the last, the restock requests were apparently so voracious that the two brands finally obliged. Oishii’s super-sweet, aromatic omakase berries have only gotten more popular since the vinegar debuted last July, so we’re betting this run will sell out fast; if you want to have it on hand for drizzling over salads, cheese, or fresh fruit, we suggest you don’t dillydally.
A size-inclusive denim jacket from a senior-approved brand
We recently surveyed over a thousand seniors, asking them about their favorite clothing brands, most beloved gadgets, and the gifts they actually want to receive. One surprising takeaway: more than a dozen responses mentioned Universal Standard, a direct-to-consumer fashion brand that makes clothes in sizes 00 to 24. Carol appreciates their ethos, saying their whole stance “seemed right to me. They understand that the average American woman is a size 14 or 16.” She said she feels “like a million bucks” in her Universal Standard denim jacket.
Amelia Meath’s favorite fragrant face wash
When we asked Amelia Meath of Sylvan Esso about the things she can’t live without, she said that Moon Juice’s facial cleanser “smells incredibly good, like your cool hippie aunt’s bathroom. Like it has that California energy where you’re like, What even is this heavenly smell?” Meath described the scent as “a little citrusy and woodsy and dank, almost like a forest floor but light and bright.” As for the cleanser’s performance, she reports that it feels “really refreshing” on her face and makes her skin “moisturized and dewy … but never sticky, which happens with other cleansers.”
A bra for larger busts that’s actually comfortable
Strategist contributor Alyse Whitney, who wears a DDD bra cup, used to “boycott bras at home” because they would dig into her rib cage and make it “impossible to ever really relax or lounge around.” But then she discovered Lane Bryant’s Lightly Lined Lounge Bra while “trying to find something with the support of an underwire bra that didn’t feel like a bra.” Whitney reports that the bra “slips over my head as easily as a T-shirt,” yet the “molding of the cups, the thick band underneath the bust (that isn’t too tight or constricting), and the supportive straps give real lift and cleavage.” She’s worn it while walking the dog, traveling across the country, jumping around at a concert, and even filming a TV show; she loves it so much that she just bought three more and is even “contemplating throwing out all my old bras and replacing them with only these.”
A sturdy thermos for holding campsite coffee …
Incredibly durable and well-insulated, Stanley’s iconic green thermoses have become a favorite of truckers, campers, and other nomadic and outdoorsy types. It’ll keep drinks piping hot or ice-cold for more than 24 hours, and ice cubes will remain frozen for up to six days; the attached cap doubles as a mug and screws on tightly, ensuring the bottle is totally leakproof. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe and comes with a lifetime warranty. The thermos is currently 36 percent off at REI Outlet, so if you have any hikes or road trips coming up this fall, we highly suggest snagging one.
… And versatile white sneakers that can rise to any adventure
Ariel Arce, owner of Tokyo Record Bar and Niche Niche, prefers to time her European travel to the off-season. For our latest installment of Steal My Vacation, Arce recounted her trip to Portugal with her best friend this past March. They explored a sleepy seaside town, lounged around a massive resort, and sailed on a yacht around the Algarve — and the whole time, Arce wore her trusty Nike Air Force Ones, which she says you can wear “to dinner or when you’re out scaling rock formations in southern Portugal. And if you get them dirty, just wash them when you get home.”
The facial steamer beloved by Hailey Bieber
Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst recently spotted an Instagram Story from fashion influencer and Elle U.K. contributing editor Camille Charrière featuring a futuristic-looking facial steamer she called “one of the best beauty gadgets ever.” Charrière said she bought it on the recommendation of model and friend Adwoa Aboah, who allegedly heard about it from model and Rhode founder Hailey Bieber. After some intense sleuthing, we concluded that it’s the Pro Hydro-Mist Steamer from London-based facialist Sarah Chapman. The steamer is apparently inspired by the machines at Chapman’s Skinesis clinic that use microscopic steam particles to cleanse pores, help supplement moisture levels, and remove “dulling dead skin cells.”
An unfussy (and inexpensive) linen lounge set
During the summertime, Strategist contributor Sarah Leon “wanted an easy-to-wear outfit versatile (and comfortable) enough to both WFH in and run errands in my neighborhood without feeling like I’d forgotten to change out of my pajamas.” What she needed was a linen short set — and she found the perfect one for $22 at Walmart. “It looked just right: a short-sleeve button-down shirt with a turndown collar, paired with elasticated, drawstring shorts. You can choose between mostly neutral colors (beiges, black, white) or brighter shades of blue and purple in straightforward sizing, from small to extra-large,” Leon writes. She’s since bought a second set in black and influenced multiple friends to buy one as well.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
