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We write about hundreds of products every 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 the vast online-shopping universe — including the kissable lip balm Jessica Chastain can’t live without, an indoor mat that looks nice (and will fit under your door), and the boots that can withstand -45-degree weather.
Michelle Visage’s go-to for “beautiful minty breath”
“I don’t leave the house without them,” says Michelle Visage of these organic, not artificially sweetened breath mints. “I have them in every vehicle, I have them in every bag, I have them between takes.” Although the RuPaul’s Drag Race judge notes the natural ingredients these mints are made from — tapioca, essential oil, and molasses sweetener — might sound “vile,” she promises the wintermint flavor is especially delicious and does the job. “I don’t ever want somebody to be like, ‘Oh, Michelle smells funky,’” Visage says.
Foolproof falsies that’ll last you three days
In last week’s installment of The Strategist Beauty Brief, our writer Arielle Avila attempted to overcome her “deep disdain for falsies” by testing FlutterHabit’s DIY lash extensions. Her experiment was a success: the lashes felt weightless and comfortable, and they even withstood a holiday party. “By the end of the night, when my lip stain and eye shadow had long faded, my lashes were as fluttery as ever,” says Avila. (And don’t forget to check out our whole Strategist Beauty Brief archive here.)
A noodle-esque bolster pillow that’s suddenly everywhere
While living in France over a decade ago, Chantel Tattoli fell for a genre of pillows called traversins — otherwise known as bolsters. Recently, she’s noticed the long and narrow cushions are having something of a renaissance. They’re long and tubular, almost like giant noodles, and the latest crop includes Buffy’s Wiggle Pillow, several Jiu Jie cushions, and the Bearaby Cuddler.
Jessica Chastain’s “kissable” lip balm
If your pet peeve is sticky lip balm, you have that in common with Jessica Chastain, who swears by this smooth formula from Fresh, which feels “natural” and has a sweet scent. “It feels kissable — if I am lucky enough to get a kiss, it’s not going to deter the person (my husband),” she told us.
The tapered flares one writer prefers over her High Sports
Yolanda Edwards splurged on a pair of almost-$900 High Sport pants — and then discovered that she liked this $250 pair from Ann Mashburn much better. According to Edwards, the thick cotton-and-lycra material feels similarly substantial, but unlike her High Sport pair, these didn’t fade or get saggy after multiple washes.
A tasteful doormat to catch winter slush …
When a reader wrote in to our Ask the Strategist newsletter advice column seeking a “thin, nonslip, water-resistant mat” for under their front door, our writer Lauren Ro started hunting. Her search turned up the Waterhog mat from L.L.Bean. “They’re made in the U.S.; have a rubber backing; can be vacuumed, swept, or hosed off; and have a door clearance of a quarter inch,” she says. (To get the next edition in your inbox, you can sign up here.)
… And ultra-warm boots to put on them
Last weekend, when the air temp in Montana was -45 degrees, contributor Maggie Slepian discovered something: her Bogs Whiteout boots are really, really warm. While her hands and face felt like pins and needles, Slepian says her feet stayed toasty thanks to the waterproof Bogs’s dense insulating material. “Even with a standard-weight pair of socks, my feet never felt cold, and the sweat-wicking liner materials meant they never got clammy either,” Slepian says.
Deeply discounted cable-knit gloves
If you’re still feeling chilled by this cold front, our deals editor Sam Daly created a sales roundup just for you. She uncovered dozens of (very warm) discounted items, including butt-covering parkas, cashmere beanies, and these merino-wool gloves from Strategist-favorite brand Smartwool.
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.