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 stylish art print, throat-saving tea, and the secret to Rachel Zoe’s cat-eye.
Jinkx Monsoon’s throat-saving tea
Drag queen Jinkx Monsoon credits Throat Coat for saving her “multiple times as a singer. It keeps my voice in good singing condition, which is important, considering how much I thrash my vocal cords,” she told us. She also loves that the ingredients in the tea “are the same ingredients the ancient Egyptians used for sore throats and to maintain throat health.” She now takes a tin with her whenever she travels, after finding herself in need on the road and struggling to re-create it on her own. “The licorice is easy to find, but it’s just not that easy to come by slippery elm and marshmallow root,” she says.
Dog treats that treat bad breath
We spoke to veterinarians, dog trainers, and dog parents to track down the Best in Class dog treats, and these Greenies dental treats have the distinction of being both delicious and good for your pup. Two Strategist staffers have given them to their dogs: Senior writer Liza Corsillo uses Greenies “as a supplement to dental wipes to hopefully get rid of food stuck between [her poodle Uli’s] teeth,” and junior writer Brenley Goertzen credits them for getting rid of her Australian shepherd mix’s bad breath. Veterinarian Dr. Sara Ochoa is also a fan, telling us that they “help prevent tartar buildup and help keep teeth healthy.” Ochoa reports that her 9-year-old pooch, who munches on one or two Greenies a week, still “has almost all of her teeth.”
A reissued monograph from an iconic photographer
For Black History Month, we’ve rounded up noteworthy Black coffee-table books to add to your collection. Carrie Mae Weems’s Kitchen Table Series tells the story of a woman’s life through moments at her kitchen table, depicting Weems and loved ones in various scenes — smoking, reading, looking, loving. The book was rereleased in November 2022 after a sold-out printing in 2016, and for years, used copies sold for hundreds of dollars; when it became available for a more reasonable price, Strategist writer Tembe Denton-Hurst leapt at the chance to snap it up. She calls it a “prized gem in my collection and a wonderful introduction to one of today’s most influential photographers.”
Sporty tanks made by Venus Williams
We have no doubt that pro tennis player Venus Williams knows a thing or two about activewear, which is why we included her line, EleVen, on our list of Black-owned athletic brands. EleVen offers everything from comfortable loungewear to proper tennis outfits to sunscreen, and much of the clothing features four-way stretch material and quick-drying technology that makes it more breathable.
Limited-edition artwork to zhuzh up your walls
If you’re looking to liven up your space, don’t miss our list of the best living-room décor accents from Black-owned businesses. Philadelphia-based interior-design studio and store Yowie stocks fun, funky tchotchkes, from vases and candles to bath mats and ceramics, many from Black creators. This limited-edition artwork by designer, writer, and Vitsoe planner Joshua Itiola is a two-ply screen print on museum board featuring puff ink and printed locally by Du-Good Press.
A fashion-forward mystery box …
Size-inclusive retailer Universal Standard’s highly anticipated Mystery Box annual shopping event is on now. Every limited-edition box has a theme, like “Wanderlust” or “Bestsellers,” and contains either two or three discounted pieces inside. The savings have the potential to be massive — you can buy a box for, say, $98 that’s worth up to $844, depending on what you receive. All you have to do is select your top and bottom sizes before adding the box to your cart, then wait for your surprise items to arrive. According to the brand, some never-before-seen styles are sometimes thrown in, so you might get lucky and score a piece that nobody else owns.
… and a no-frills coffee subscription box
If you’re itching to do some shopping this long weekend, we’ve rounded up all the best Presidents’ Day sales, including a discount on one of our favorite coffee subscription services. According to Strategist contributor Sal Vaglica, the beauty of Bean Box lies in its simplicity: “Setting up an account is easy and doesn’t require any quizzes — just pick a bean-roast level, whether you want bags or a kit, and your delivery frequency,” Vaglica reports. The brand is offering 10 percent off for new customers, plus a free winter tasting flight (worth $24) with the code PRESIDENT until February 20.
The eyeliner Rachel Zoe swears by
Designer Rachel Zoe can’t live without this Rare Beauty matte liquid liner, declaring that “a black liquid eyeliner is part of my being. Even if it’s a very thin, almost invisible line.” Rare originally sent her a sample, and she liked it so much that she repurchased it at Sephora; now it’s become an indispensable part of her daily five-minute makeup routine. “I think I’m on my third or fourth pen now. This one’s easy to use and always lets me draw a precise, clean line,” Zoe told us. “I put it on at, like, 7 in the morning, and sometimes I add more for a dramatic look on a night out.”
Fancy Champagne for a fussy CEO
For our latest installment of Assistant Files, we spoke to a fashion CEO’s executive assistant, “Marcella,” who recounted a time when she went hunting for 50 bottles of her boss’s favorite Ruinart Champagne to celebrate his 50th birthday. She’d originally placed an order at a Manhattan liquor store, but at the last minute, the shop informed her it was out of stock. So she paid an Uber driver $500 to take her all over the city and picked up a few bottles at a time from multiple shops until she reached 50. “My phone was on DND that day, and the only person who could get through to me was our managing director, because I was like, ‘I have a mission and I need to accomplish it,’” she says. But her journey was worth it in the end, as the CEO was very shocked and happy when presented with the Champagne surprise.
A deeply discounted air fryer
Air-fryer skeptics might be converted by this on-sale model, which is currently marked down from $130 to only $90. It’s made by Instant, and very similar to our pick for the best overall air fryer. (The main differences are that it has more presets and a stainless steel basket instead of a clear front.) Cookbook author Julia Turshen, who makes use of her Instant nearly every day, says it gets hot quickly, cooks food without overheating her kitchen, fits more than a skillet, and doesn’t create splatter on the stove. This model is a bit smaller than the one we featured, but it still offers a well-considered ratio of height to width with a large surface area at the bottom, allowing you to arrange your food in a single layer so it will come out crisp and evenly cooked.
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.