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 Jennifer Behr’s preferred pencil, a shallow and babyproof-able kitchen cabinet, and an unexpected upgrade from your weighted blanket.
The gift one writer has given at nine weddings
If you’re not familiar with a julep cup, let Strategist contributor Margaret Eby explain: It’s “a cup, usually with a fluted rim, made of silver, pewter, or stainless steel, that’s traditionally used to serve — yep — mint juleps.” The cups were a popular special-occasion gift when Eby was growing up in Alabama, and now she’s made it her go-to wedding gift to give. This customizable version from Mark & Graham is her current favorite. “They’re sturdy, beautiful-looking, and great if what you want to inscribe is just a monogram or a short last name,” she writes.
Jennifer Behr’s preferred pencil
“I like the process of erasing, which sounds weird, but being able to change your mind is important,” says designer Jennifer Behr. So, no pens — just this mechanical pencil, which she buys in bulk. “I always buy the largest box that I can and then just work my way through it, and I always buy them in yellow,” she told us. “I have them stashed in my kitchen cabinets, on my desk at work, on my desk at home, in my bag.”
An especially sleek sateen flat sheet
If you regularly follow our column “What I Can’t Live Without,” you may have noticed that certain categories, like water bottles and candles, are more popular than others, so we’ve taken to gathering these recommendations in our “Famous People On” column. This week, we focused on sheets, and found that this rather niche stand-alone flat sheet comes recommended by PIN-UP Magazine founder Felix Burrichter and Ghetto Gastro co-founder Jon Gray, who both like it for its soft handfeel and sleek appearance — “What’s special about Magniberg’s black sheets is they’re a very deep black with a matte finish. It’s a beautiful color. They’re all cotton, so they’re very soft to touch and silky smooth,” Burrichter says.
Editor’s note: Magniberg lists all prices in euros, so the price shown for that retailer is an approximate conversion to U.S. dollars.
A babyproof-able cabinet for a clutter-free kitchen …
At the Strategist, we’re always on the hunt for something, and Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo’s latest search was for a nice-looking kitchen cabinet. Her criteria: “Something that was counter-height and comfortable for chopping, shallow, babyproof-able (with doors to hide dangerous items, all of our clutter, and keep dust out), easy to keep clean, under $300, and attractive enough to make the whole space look better.” She landed on this soft-white option from Wayfair, which satisfied the checklist and took only 45 minutes to set up.
… and an actually good-looking kitchen mat
Strategist junior writer Bella Druckman was on a kitchen-related hunt this week, too — specifically for the best, actually good-looking kitchen mats. She called up a number of home cooks and bakers and heard about several mats, including this wipeable one that fashion designer and culinary creator Peter Som has been using in his kitchen as he works on his upcoming cookbook. The mat has a textured, woven-tweed look to it that he says gives it “a bit more of a home feel, whereas if you’re doing a solid color, that usually feels a bit more industrial.”
Affordable period underwear that doesn’t leak
The latest in our lineup of Best in Class articles is this roundup of the very best period underwear, according to Strategist writer Arielle Avila. She tested 14 pairs and determined that these from Period Company are the best, thanks to their substantial material, flattering cut, and price. “I’ve reached for the high-waisted pair for heavy flow days and haven’t had any issues with leaking,” she says.
The (on-sale) SPF 40 skin tint loved by our beauty writers
Our beauty writers are big fans of Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint, even naming it the best tinted moisturizer and serum. So when Strategist writer Kitty Guo spotted it on sale for 20 percent off during the Ilia Friends and Family Sale, she added it to her list of items worth buying during the event (which ends on June 13). The tinted moisturizer–slash–serum is one of her favorites “thanks to its sheer, lightweight formula, which is infused with plenty of nourishing ingredients, such as squalane and hyaluronic acid for extra hydration and SPF 40 for sun protection,” she writes.
A seed-sprouting kit for maximizing your daily greens
Strategist contributor Keren Lerner is not a nutritionist or a doctor, but she is a self-described “nutrition nerd whose embarrassing hobby is combing through clinical trials.” Her hobby inspired her to eat more broccoli sprouts, which, she writes, contain 100 times more cancer-fighting phytochemicals than mature broccoli. The sprouts aren’t always available in grocery stores, so Lerner purchased this sprouting kit and some broccoli sprouting seeds, which yield fresh broccoli sprouts in just four days. “[We] put them in smoothies for our kids, in salads (they add nice radishlike flavor and good crunch), and on bread with peanut butter or hummus,” she writes.
A charming upgrade from your weighted blanket
Like many adults, Strategist sleep writer Amelia Jerden hadn’t slept with a stuffed animal since she was a tween. However, as our resident sleep expert, she had to pick up a weighted stuffed animal to try as soon as they had a viral moment on TikTok. Two years later, she’s still snuggling with the weighted stuffed animal — the dinosaur pictured — every night. It’s three pounds with its weight concentrated in the body, which Jerden likes “better than a whole weighted blanket, which sometimes makes me feel trapped,” she says. “It’s also large enough for me to fully wrap my arms around without being too bulky.”
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.
