We write about hundreds of products every 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 the vast online-shopping universe — including one of the most popular warm-weather activities on college campuses, Rachel Antonoff’s cute dental floss, and an exquisite tissue-box cover for spring sniffles.
The corn-soufflé-flavored chips that Simu Liu looks for everywhere
Perhaps actor Simu Liu draws his Kenergy from these sweet-corn-flavored chips, which he compares to a corn soufflé and included on the list of items he can’t live without. “You can crush a bag in a few seconds if you’re not careful, because they’re so goddamn tasty,” he says.
The sexy, snug cardigan that one writer can’t get enough of
In her search for an easy way to get dressed every day, Strategist contributor Nicolaia Rips found the solution in the Cou Cou Intimates cardigan, which she has taken to wearing daily since first receiving it (she has since bought two more). Of the top’s adaptability, Rips writes, “The Cardigan has all the solemnity and economy of a school uniform, with the comfort of a pajama and the sex appeal of ’90s Gwyneth Paltrow.”
Plug-in wall sconces for soft, sultry lighting
“I have a serious aversion to overhead lighting,” writes Strategist contributor Fiona Byrne. “It’s not just that it casts the most unflattering shadows, it’s just that it feels all wrong. If the Big Light is on, everything feels off.” If those words struck a chord, Byrne has a solution for you: plug-in sconces, which are “ideal for homeowners who want to add atmospheric lighting without the cost of hiring a professional or three.” They come in a variety of styles, including a sleek picture light, a satisfying sphere, and this quaint exposed-light-bulb fixture, which, according to Byrne, “is such a bargain it’s almost rude not to buy it.”
The concealer dupe backed by The Strategist and Sephora employees
Among the many items we’re eyeing during the Sephora Savings Event is the brand’s own concealer, which Sephora employees told us is a dupe for Tarte’s Shape Tape. Strategist writer Arielle Avila says the concealer is long lasting and buildable. It’s also currently on sale for 30 percent off.
One of the biggest commodities on college campuses
Along with portable Bluetooth speakers and cute picnic blankets, Spikeball sets are surfacing on college greens nationwide now that warmer weather has arrived. In fact, when Druckman chatted with 15 college students to determine the best gifts for college kids, students in schools ranging from Bates College in Maine to the University of Colorado Boulder mentioned how popular the game was and that it was on many people’s wishlists.
The Strategist-approved floss Rachel Antonoff speeds through
On the three occasions that we’ve chatted with designer Rachel Antonoff about the items she can’t live without, she’s told us about her beloved Blistex lip ointment and Kiehl’s Creme de Corps. This time, she included Cocofloss, which she says “has ruined all other floss for me.” She also noted that the translucent packaging has a helpful design on the back that tells you how long the remaining floss should last you. “Not to brag, but I’m using it faster than they say,” she told us.
Our best-in-class women’s razor just in time for swimsuit season …
For our brand-new guide to women’s razors, Avila talked to six dermatologists and tested a number of razors herself. The Athena came out on top for its substantial and grippy handle, clean shave, and strong magnetic holder. It’s also a great value, Avila writes, “since the starter pack is just $10 for the razor, two extra cartridges, and the holder.”
… And our favorite tanning lotion to get a head start on your glow
This facial tanner that Strategist writer Rachael Griffiths named the best overall in her new guide to face tanners “contains moisturizing ingredients like raspberry-seed oil, vitamin E, and aloe vera and has an oil-cream consistency that doesn’t dry out the skin.” She recommends reapplying every two to three days to maintain your glow.
A delightfully dainty tissue-box cover
Tissue boxes should be a balm when you’re sad — not a blight that makes you sad. To counter their unsightliness, Strategist contributor Leigh Plessner likes to use fancy lace tissue-box covers. Not any cover will do, however; the right one “can be clutched softly in one’s arms (beautifully, even), like Sebastian Flyte’s teddy bear in Brideshead Revisited,” she writes. In addition, “it must look at home on a bed or a couch or the other places where one might sneeze or cry, and must not crack were it to tumble from any of these places.” Among the covers that make the cut is this one from Etsy, which “will be just the thing if eggshell is your preference.”
Jimmy Butler’s game-day socks
Just like many other professional athletes, NBA player Jimmy Butler has his game-day rituals, an important one of which is putting on these Alo socks. “The majority of the time, these are the socks that I’m wearing in games. I just try to keep it as consistent as I can with what socks that I put on.”
An actually affordable (and Rio-approved) hyaluronic acid
Strategist beauty columnist Rio Viera-Newton has been using the Ordinary’s vast lineup of skin-care products since her early 20s and knows what to buy and what to skip. On her list of must-have items is this hyaluronic acid, which is a bargain compared to some of the popular hyaluronic-acid serums on the market.
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.
