Here, in our version of the Sunday circular, we’ve plucked some of our recent favorites. This week was especially good for sales: There’s Amazon’s Big Spring Sale, Nordstrom’s Spring Sale, and lots of beauty merchants that have sitewide deals. We’ve also got the mascara June Diane Raphael is constantly replacing, restaurant-host-approved boots with zero break-in time, and a solar-powered smart bird feeder that sent our writer’s family group-chat abuzz.
The on-sale clothing iron that flattens wrinkles on the first pass
We spotted our favorite clothing iron on sale during Amazon’s Big Spring Sale event, which is live until March 25. Erin Schwartz, the Strategist writer who wrote our guide to irons, writes, “The Focus could unwrinkle creases in one sweep that would take two or three passes with the ancient hand-me-down I’d used before.” And right now, it’s on sale for 25 percent off.
June Diane Raphael’s desert-island mascara
Actress June Diane Raphael loves mascara so much, she says, “Every makeup artist I’ve ever worked with is so disturbed by how much I put on.” And it’s the one thing she would take to a desert island. This Benefit mascara is her favorite because it “really has the wand that separates your lashes, and you can just get in there and get to the root. And I love how black is,” she says.
A cute pair of sunglasses for warmer weather
During Nordstrom’s Spring Sale, the retailer is treating us to some actually good in-season deals until April 2. Among the items that we’ve got our eyes on for warmer days ahead is this inexpensive pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses of which our deals editor Sam Daly says, “You won’t feel too bad about losing.”
The telephone water bottle that kids love
While chatting with her 8-year-old daughter and her friend about water bottles, Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang found out that the second-graders and their classmates are not into Stanleys but instead all covet these telephone water bottles. And some kids have even collected similar bottles shaped like a watermelon slice, camera, milk carton, and doughnut, all of which Yang thinks would make great gifts.
A manual back massager for targeting tricky knots
As someone who is constantly sore because he has been “training for races from 5Ks to marathons and every distance in between, in addition to weight training and rock climbing, Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa is well acquainted with recovery tools. Among the supplements and footwear on his list of favorites is this handheld back massager, which, he writes, “has two handles that allow me to dig into all of my back muscles, including my traps and my lats.” In fact, “I’ve found its hook to be more effective at targeting knots than any of the massage guns I own.”
A dermatologist-recommended dark-spot corrector …
After interviewing five dermatologists about dark-spot correctors, Strategist writer Arielle Avila found that the best one overall is SkinCeuticals’ Discoloration Defense. The formula, which is gentle enough for most skin types, is “formulated with a cocktail of tranexamic acid, kojic acid, niacinamide, and sulfonic acid, which work together to exfoliate, improve brightness, and reduce the chances of dark spots reappearing,” Avila writes.
… And a vitamin-C-rich cream for zapping dark under-eye circles
The Ole Henriksen Friends & Family sale is full of Strategist-approved products, including this Banana Bright+ Eye Cream. Strategist beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton swears by the cream for banishing under-eye circles.
Stylish boots with zero break-in time
Since restaurant hosts and food-industry pros spend hours on their feet, they’re experts on the shoes you can wear for hours without sacrificing style. Daryl Nuhn, a restaurant owner and wine buyer who used to work at Cosme, “purchased these in a pinch when she realized her Nikes plus her Cosme outfit just wasn’t going to work,” writes Strategist contributor Erika Veurink. “The Niki boots, which have a just-under-2.5-inch heel, turned out to have zero break-in time, and five years later they are still one of Nuhn’s go-tos.”
An adorable last-minute Easter bunny gift
Time’s running out for putting together Easter baskets, but if you’re still looking for items to include, Daly found this cuddly rabbit, which will still arrive before the egg hunt.
A smart bird feeder that makes it easy to birdwatch
Rellosa gave his parents this smart bird feeder for the holidays, and his family’s group chat has been dominated by bird talk ever since. The solar-powered bird feeder, which has a motion-sensor camera that functions like a Ring doorbell, provides a close-up livestream of all the feathered visitors that come to the feeder.
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.
