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 the coffee grinder that girl in red can’t live without, a kid-friendly “Shellaclava” for freezing temperatures, and Ceremonia’s new nonaerosol dry shampoo.
Warm and breathable Polartec Alpha fleece one writer can’t stop buying
If you’re constantly overheating, even in the winter, and struggling to find gear for layering, you’re not alone. Contributor Will Porter found a solution with the fabric known as Polartec Alpha Direct. “Light as air, immensely breathable, and surprisingly warm, Alpha fleece has become a popular material among many outdoor and style brands,” Porter says, adding that the fabric has a structured mesh core, but it’s finished with lofted fibers for warmth. His introduction to the material was on this William Ellery Woolly, which is made to mimic the tiny hairs found on the woolly bear caterpillar. “It’s made with 68 GSM Alpha, so it’s fairly warm on its own but light enough to throw on between a lightweight tee and your favorite jacket,” Porter adds.
girl in red’s super-consistent coffee grinder
Oslo-based musician girl in red (née Marie Ulven Ringheim) says her group of friends and her band have a coffee club. “When we all wake up in the morning — we do this either on the bus or in the hotel rooms that we check in to — we make coffee together and talk about love and hate and the struggles of life and whatnot,” Ringheim explains. Her favorite grinder is this Comandante one, which is very consistent and easy to use, plus it has a nice design, she says.
Hannah Bronfman’s sound machine for long car rides
In the newest installment of How I’d Redo My Baby Registry, we spoke to investor and influencer Hannah Bronfman, who is based in New York and travels with her two kids often. For car rides with both kids, Bronfman loves the Frida Baby shusher. “The trip out to our country house is a two-hour drive. So we try to do it during her nap time or his nap time. This machine helps make sure they actually fall asleep without me having to do the shushing myself,” she says.
“Shellaclava” for keeping the winter cold off your kid’s face and neck …
As seen in our roundup of the best winter gear for kids, contributor Youngna Park highlighted the fleece headwear from Turtle Fur for extra-cold days. The brand makes the “Shellaclava,” which is a deluxe mash-up of a neck warmer and a balaclava into a single cozy garment that keeps the whole neck and head insulated, Park says.
… and Ganni’s take on the balaclava
Here’s a tip: Just buy a balaclava. Not only do they combine a scarf and hat into one (and are one less thing to lose), they’ve been popping up more and more on the streets over the past few years. Our junior writer, Bella Druckman, set out to find the best ones on the ever-expanding market and uncovered this Ganni wool option “for an almost Fair Isle knit that’ll fit right in with your après ski getup,” she writes.
CBN gummies for those who have trouble staying asleep
As part of our column Strategist Explains, contributor Cheryl Kramer Kaye answered an important question for those struggling to catch up on z’s: What is CBN (a.k.a. cannabinol) — and can it actually help you sleep? Well, while this is very much a “further research is required” situation, CBN “appears to be helpful for sleep,” says Michael Breus, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist and the founder of sleepdoctor.com, who refers to cannabinol as “C-B-Nighttime.”
Our writer Dominique Pariso recommends Charlotte’s Web Stay Asleep gummies, which are formulated with CBN. “Since I’ve started taking them, I’ve noticed my sleep is much deeper and more restful,” she reports.
The Babaà sweater our writer snagged during Black Friday
In our latest edition of Strategist Brain, we heard from Pariso, who says she’s been enjoying the purchases she made during Black Friday, particularly her Babaà sweaters. “I usually buy a new one each year during the brand’s Black Friday or winter sale, and this year (because I’m mildly concerned about possible tariffs) I bought two, growing my collection of Spanish-made knitwear to five pieces,” Pariso says. If you’re considering a turtleneck, she prefers the No. 67 and says the balloon-shaped silhouette and oversize collar add a bit of drama to her outfits.
Durable dish sponge for washing dishes or cleaning bathrooms
In our new Best in Class post covering the best dish sponges, we named the Skura as our favorite overall. Made of quick-drying polyurethane foam, it’s dual-sided for scrubbing and regular sponging and can be used on dishes and practically all surfaces. Contributor Kiki Aranita named it our top choice for two reasons: “Its edges could clean the sharp crevices of my idiotically designed square kitchen sink (which always traps grime in its corners), and because its design slowly starts to fade over time with use, you know when to replace it,” she writes.
Ceremonia’s new nonaerosol dry shampoo
We’re big fans of the hair-care line from Ceremonia: No less than four Strategist staffers use the Guava Rescue Spray as a heat protectant. And recently, as seen in Don’t DillyDally, we featured the brand’s new dry shampoo “powder pouf,” which is formulated with oil-absorbing arrowroot and frizz-reducing aloe vera.
The Strategist is designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read about here. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
