What Strategist Readers are Buying: Flight Attendant Jumpsuits and Blooming Dolls

Last month, trend forecasters told us that they predicted the Skyrocket Blume Doll would be the most popular gift for kids this holiday season. It looks like they were spot on, as the doll is our best-selling product for the second time in a row. Adrienne Appell, the senior director of communications at the Toy Association, says the doll — which starts out looking like a potted plant and comes with a little watering can — is a new take on the “surprise toy” trend, in that you don’t know what exactly you’re going to get until you open it. “The hair of the doll is made of slow-rise foam,” Appell explains, “and when you water the ‘plant’ it looks as if your doll is blooming from the pot.”

A standout skin-care ingredient, vitamin C is credited with everything from diminishing fine lines and wrinkles to fading acne scars and brightening skin. Although the well-known (and very expensive) Skinceuticals version is deemed the “gold-standard,” when Strategist writer Dominique Pariso asked dermatologists for their recommendations, she discovered this surprisingly affordable alternative. As Dominique learned, “In addition to skin brightening L-ascorbic and ferulic acids, the serum also has a soothing botanical blend of aloe, grape, magnolia, and orange peel to give the skin an added dose of nourishment.” Glow Maker has appeared on our list six times now, and this week’s second place finish marks the highest rank yet.

When Strategist writer Hilary Reid got a tip that this jumpsuit could be the next Amazon coat (at least among flight attendants), she was understandably skeptical. But as she did more research, she learned the very affordable, off-the-shoulder style has become a legitimate craze among them. In a private Facebook group, 332 flight attendants (and counting) reported buying the jumpsuit after one member included it in her list of Amazon purchases. “Every single body looks amazing in it, and it never wrinkles,” says one flight attendant of the so-called “traveling jumpsuit.”

Lots of you also picked up this long-sleeved version of the same jumpsuit that’s a little more winter-appropriate.

This electric toothbrush is a favorite of dentists, Amazon reviewers, and, clearly, our readers: it has made our list 12 times now, including five first-place finishes. The pros like that it both rotates and oscillates (vibrates) to clean teeth and remove plaque. And one reviewer raves: “This toothbrush leaves my teeth feeling like they’ve been power-washed.” Right now, you can get it on sale for just $36 (an additional $3 discount is added at checkout).

This lightweight gel moisturizer has a big following since it’s a good match for nearly every skin type. Experts recommend it for dry and mature skin, and because it’s not as heavy as a thick cream, those with oily skin tend to like it as well. The key ingredient is hyaluronic acid, which, as one dermatologist explains, “acts like a sponge to pull in water to the outer skin layer to hydrate and plump, even improving the appearance of some fine lines.”

If you’re thinking it’s time to replace your pillow, or maybe stock up on extras for holiday visitors, this long-time favorite of ours (and yours: it’s made the best-seller list 25 times now) would be a solid replacement pick — especially if you or your family are side sleepers. When we tested a wide selection of pillows, we concluded that the Wamsutta Extra-Firm was the most comfortable and supportive of them all. According to our former deputy editor Jason Chen, “Unlike other pillows that mistake plushness or fluffiness for support, the WEF didn’t sink as soon as I rested my head. Instead, it had a firm, satisfying spring — it’s a different sensation, but one I took to right away. And even though I didn’t do any measuring, my head felt more propped up from the mattress and sheets than with any other pillow.”

It isn’t easy to find sweatpants that are both extremely comfortable and nice-looking enough to wear out of the house, but this pair from Madewell checks both boxes. We wrote about them last month when they were on sale for just $24. Now, with an extended Cyber Monday deal, they’re almost as cheap. The the navy blue color we featured is sold out, but you can still buy a pair of these lightweight terrycloth pants with an elastic cuff in either olive green or pale pink.

According to Great Jones co-founder (and former New York editor) Sierra Tishgart, it took the company a year to craft what she has called the perfect sheet pan. The end result is this cheery blue number that doesn’t warp with heat and has a nonstick covering for easy cleanup. We think it’ll sell out fast, so act quickly if you’d like to buy one for the home cook in your life — or for yourself.