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 lightweight cream our beauty columnist uses to fight dryness (and breakouts) in colder months, a grippable sippy cup for fussy toddlers, and the portable lint roller 6lack uses to trap cat hair.
The “unicorn” Danner boots one writer wore all over Europe …
Have you ever misjudged the fit of your “cute shoes” and been forced to wear embarrassing — yet more comfortable — sneakers while traveling? Well, that once happened to contributor Maggie Slepian. To avoid another footwear failure before a four-country trip to Europe, Slepian tried these Danner 917 Logger Moc boots and says she was instantly impressed by their combination of comfort, classic styling, and high-tech features (such as an OrthoLite footbed and high-traction outsole). While abroad, Slepian says, she walked ten miles a day in these waterproof boots and they never gave her any trouble (so they’ll probably withstand any slush coming your way this winter).
… and electrolyte tablets for hikes in the Austrian Alps
In our latest installment of “Steal My Vacation,” we followed Kayla Levy on her hut-to-hut hike through the Austrian Alps with her partner, Jack. Their trek included mountaintop beers, friendly roaming cows, homemade strudel, and lots of breathtaking views. Levy says she filled her first water bottle of the day with one of these flavored electrolyte tablets (which are also our favorites for daily use) to stay hydrated before her days of hiking. “My other toiletry-bag must-haves were Aleve, deodorant, and sunscreen,” she says.
The retractable lint roller 6lack swears by
We first recommended this ultraslim lint roller in 2017, and over six years later, it’s gotten another endorsement for quick pet-hair removal — from musician 6lack. “I wear a lot of black, and I have a cat in L.A. I’m around cats a lot in general, so it’s cool to get that fur off your clothes before you have an interview,” he says.
The $8 Hanes shirt that’s the closest thing to a threadbare vintage tee
You don’t have to dig through bins or pay through the nose to find the perfect vintage tee. Pick up the Hanes Fifty-Fifty for a fitted and slightly slinky look thanks to the fabric’s 50-50 blend of cotton and polyester. Our writer Lauren Ro’s husband, Chang, loves his old ones but was delighted to discover a plain white version (now known as the Hanes EcoSmart) still in production with slight updates for the new millennium. “As for how it will age over the years, only time will tell,” Ro writes.
An affordable baby-food-maker for avoiding off-the-shelf pouches …
Making baby food from scratch sounds like a complicated task, but with the right baby-food-maker, contributor Lauren Corona says, you can prepare purées in a single appliance. This all-in-one model lets you steam and blend food in the same cycle, plus the bowl and blade are dishwasher safe for easier cleanup. It comes with three reusable pouches for storing and serving food.
… and a glass sippy cup that’s very toddler-friendly
Since having their first kids in 2022, sustainable-food veterans Fanny Singer and Greta Caruso have been hunting for items to make feeding them feel less fraught. While traveling together one summer and washing baby bottles with whatever scented dish soap was around, the two friends noticed their plastic sippy cups tended to absorb a chemical taste. After Singer found these glass alternatives, they both made the switch. The bottles have a silicone sleeve that makes them grippy for little hands and protects the glass when your kid inevitably drops it from their chair.
A lightweight, propolis-rich moisturizer for dry and acne-prone skin
As winter arrives, you likely need a skin-quenching moisturizer that won’t break you out. Our beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton created a list of products she uses on her dry, acne-prone skin, which includes this cream from CosRx. Its combination of antibacterial propolis and royal jelly can soothe inflammation, help with wound healing, and prevent future acne. “This might not be the richest moisturizer in my arsenal, but it has certainly been substantial enough to get me through several New York and London winters,” Rio says.
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.
