Welcome to the Strategist, a site for helping you shop the internet. It is written by journalists (not robots), and is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Our goal first and foremost is to help you find the best version of whatever it is you are looking to buy, while introducing you to the stuff (a Japanese nail clipper that cuts with the precision of a Santoku knife, for instance) that you didn’t know you needed. We’ll test things ourselves; we’ll call up 40 interior designers to find the best-looking and most comfortable couch under $2,000; we’ll investigate how a certain coat from a certain retailer became a nationwide phenomenon; we’ll write odes to products that we’d happily do an infomercial for; and we’ll ask Anwar Hadid about his favorite hand soap. To give you a taste of what we do, here are some of our all-time favorite products.
The Most Comfortable Travel Pillow Is Essentially a Padded Scarf
The Trtl pillow is so small it’s basically a padded scarf, taking up the same amount of space as a couple of magazines and making it the most comfortable travel pillow that creates minimal bulk in your carry-on bag. Read more here.
The Massager That Has Become Something of an L.A. Cult
Natalie Toren tipped us off to this beloved $30 massager that has amassed a cult following in L.A. Read more here.
The Mom Slippers That Don’t Scream ‘Mom Slippers’
Make it mom slippers, but make it fashion — or at least make it a “hug for your feet” if you have to get up and walk around your house at an ungodly hour. Read more here.
These Cured My Lifelong Fear of Bunions
Thanks to her grandmother’s hammertoes, writer Lauren Levy inherited a fear of bunions, but she has battled this fear head-on — or toes-first — with these stretchy gel exercise rungs for your toes. Read more here.
This Vaguely Threatening Water Jug Forces Me to Drink a Gallon a Day
On her quest for hydration, writer Caroline Goldfarb turned to this one-gallon jug emblazoned with motivational messages for inspiration and, at times, tough love. Read more here.
A Lavender-Scented Stick That’s Like Ambien Without the Side Effects
After Sara Gaynes Levy’s daughter was born, nothing helped the sleep-deprived health writer fall asleep except for this lavender, ylang-ylang, and palmarosa scented stick. Read more here.
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.
