If you follow our monthly feature “Your Shopping Cart,” you know we have some eerily good intel on what you all are buying, so we felt it was only fair that, as Strategist editors, we would turn the tables and highlight all the things we’ve been buying for ourselves. As you’ll notice, it’s both a blessing and a curse to be on staff at the Strategist; we’re picky, but sometimes we just have to get on with it. (It’s online-shopping expertise meets IRL needs.) Below, what we bought in February.
Maxine Builder, editor
I missed last month’s haul because I was at surf camp in Costa Rica — but that meant I started February with an incredible tan and a couple of new products on my wish list. Specifically, this bucket hat, which someone at the camp let me borrow during a midday lesson, when I was desperately concerned about getting sunburnt. It looks a little goofy, but the L/XL fits my large head, and it wasn’t annoying to wear in the water. I’ve also got big plans to wear this silly hat this summer, while kayaking and sailing and watching my husband kite-surf. (Unlike the trucker hats and baseball caps I usually wear, this one won’t blow away in the wind.)
My mom is very much the mom who says that she doesn’t want anything, so when it comes to gifting, I usually get her a Diptyque candle or a bouquet of flowers. But for her birthday this month, I wanted to get her something a little different (and because there are only so many Diptyque scents that she likes). So I picked up this Chanel hand cream. It’s a splurge for hand cream, but it is one of Tembe’s favorites, and the egg-shaped packaging was a real hit.
Ailbhe Malone, senior editor
Every six to eight months, I buy a big ol’ tub of Maldon. I decant it into a salt pig, and then stash the big tub in a cupboard.
These are disgustingly expensive (even the five-pack, which I got for my birthday this month, is $20), but with just two swipes, my skin is lit from within like a Rembrandt.
Brenley Goertzen, junior writer
I’ve been on a mission to stop cleaning with bleach, and I’m no longer adding it to our laundry loads. I found this nontoxic whitener and must say it has remarkable stain-removing power for something formulated with only a few plant-based ingredients. It’s transformed a range of dingy whites — T-shirts, socks, dishcloths, and bedsheets — and leaves them smelling fresh and a little bit sweet thanks to the lemon essential oil.
Hilary Reid, senior editor
I love going to the ballet and have wanted some merch for a while, but have never been that drawn to anything in the shop — and vintage New York City Ballet merch tends to be SO expensive. That’s why it was thrilling to find this T-shirt, which has a reproduction of a 1970s illustration Edward Gorey made for the company. It was in the kids section, but the XL was roomy enough, and I love the coral color. I can only hope one day they’ll reissue the beach-towel version.
I also re-upped on this hand cream, which I’ve been using for the past 11 years. I first tried it when I spent a semester abroad in Paris during college, and my host mother kept a full suite of Clarins products in her fridge (chic!), including this cream. Yes, it’s a splurge for hand cream — but I find the faintly powdery smell very comforting, and it’s one of the only lightweight hand creams I’ve found that actually works for more than a few hours.
Erin Schwartz, writer
This Christmas, I was gifted not one but two beautiful candleholders. Inspired by a pitch from my esteemed colleague Kat Gillespie about tiny beeswax candles, I did some searching and ended up on the web shops of a lot of Greek Orthodox convents and abbeys, where the craft of candle-making helps to sustain their monastic lifestyle. It was easiest to find the size I was looking for (large lampadas) at Holy Nativity Convent, but also check out the Saints Mary & Martha Orthodox Monastery and San Jose Candle Company. The candles burn beautifully, with minimal smoke — the reason they’re burned in churches is to avoid damage to frescoes — with a waxy honeyed scent and a warm yellow glow.
Bella Druckman, junior writer
Over the past few months, I’ve been searching for high-quality basics to fill some gaps in my wardrobe. Among those missing basics was a classic black crew-neck sweater. While I had my eyes on Naadam’s cashmere sweater, a day of wandering around my suburban mall led me to discover this cotton-blend crew neck from Banana Republic. With a thick ribbed collar that contrasts the otherwise solid sweater, a soft yet sleek feel, and sleeves that are long enough to cuff, this sweater was the only one I could find that satisfied all of my criteria. Plus, it’s thick enough to keep me warm on its own but loose enough that I can layer a turtleneck or long-sleeve shirt underneath if I’m craving some extra warmth or style.
As class of 2020 high-school graduates, my boyfriend and I have completed most of our internships and work experiences in remote and hybrid environments. But for the first time, my boyfriend’s internship is completely in person, and finding the ideal way to transport and warm up his lunch at work has been a big topic of conversation. I wanted to get him something thoughtful yet practical for Valentine’s Day and landed on this adorable electric lunch box. While it takes longer to warm his food with the lunch box than a microwave, he says the final result feels (and tastes) more natural.
Lauren Ro, writer
For someone who writes a lot of gift guides as part of their job, I’m really bad at remembering to buy people presents. But when I stopped in Porta on a recent day off, I saw so many delightful things that reminded me of my friends that I had to get them. These radicchio salt-and-pepper shakers were screaming my friend Rachel’s name. She recently moved to Los Angeles and I was tardy in sending her a housewarming gift. These were perfect.
I’m powerless to resist the draw of a beautiful notebook, so when I saw these on display, I had to get both: the pink one for myself and the green one for a friend, whose birthday was coming up. It’s a great big hardcover book with newsprint-y paper that’s quite conducive to sketching and journaling.
Rachael Griffiths, writer
Since moving to London, I’ve had to stop getting eyelash extensions, as I simply can’t justify the price. I started hunting for DIY lashes, and have now tried at least half a dozen different brands — some were impossible to actually glue on, and some only lasted 48 hours (at best) before being lost to my pillowcase. But Pro Lash doesn’t have either of those problems — they’re by far the best I’ve tried. Each “lash” is made up of four strips, which are far easier to stick down than packs that come in dozens. They also actually stay put. Though the brand promises ten days of continuous use, I’ve only managed to get up to seven, but I still think that’s remarkably good. The Shorties also look precisely how I used to like my extensions, not overly false-looking, but fluttery and not too dense.
Jen Trolio, senior editor
My younger daughter and I are a little bit obsessed with our local flocks of Canadian geese; we even dressed up as a mama goose and a gosling for Halloween. Ergo, she’s getting this Canadian goose Squishmallow named Gertrude for her upcoming birthday.
Crew-neck sweatshirts are an established part of my personality. Now I have a going out crew-neck sweatshirt.
Winnie Yang, senior editor
I discovered recently that the latest thing among the second-graders at my daughter’s school is trading and collecting water-bottle stickers — and not just any water-bottle stickers, but Squishmallow ones. As far as I can tell, there are no official licensed ones, but my 8-year-old informed me that the other parents were getting these packs of 100 on Amazon. There are plenty of made-up (possibly discontinued? I don’t keep track of the Squishmallow-verse) characters in the pack, but she seems satisfied with these, and it turns out they make for high-value, yet very inexpensive chore rewards.
I’m finally transitioning our household to all-glass food-storage containers. We liked the plastic Brilliance line well enough, and Rubbermaid is a known quantity, so I decided to try the glass version.
Sam Daly, deals editor
I’ve always tried to be a mouthwash person, but way too many have a weirdly thick consistency and a “minty burn” that’s just too much for me. But I’ve found real lasting love with this one from Therabreath, which I just repurchased in Mild Mint. It has a very light flavor, and almost feels like you’re swishing around water. It claims to neutralize the sulfur-producing bacteria that causes bad breath — and is paraben-, gluten-, and sulfate-free, if that’s important to you!
Kitty Guo, writer
I have never watched Mad Men, despite every single person in my life telling me that it’s right up my alley — sharp costuming, stylish set dressing, snappy writing. This winter, in search of a prestige TV show to get me through the cold dark nights, I finally decided now was as good a time as any to catch up. When I watch a show, I always rush to read Vulture’s episode recaps the moment the credits roll, but Vulture didn’t review the show’s first season when it aired. Instead, the recaps are excerpted from TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz’s book Mad Men Carousel: The Complete Critical Companion. I promptly bought a copy and can’t wait to be enlightened by all the illuminating context and insightful analysis it no doubt contains.
I also decided to upgrade my chopstick game — I had a couple of acrylic pairs that looked attractive, but the smooth, slick material was next to useless when it came to actually picking up food. After a round of research, I settled on these fun kaleidoscopic ones from Totally Bamboo. The colorful stripe-y pattern looks very nice out on display, but their best feature is the small grooves etched into the end for a better grip. I can’t tell you how improved my life is now that I’m not spending five minutes attempting to capture a piece of sauce-coated chicken.
Jenna Milliner-Waddell, associate editor
I waited and saved to splurge on this rug, which I’d been eyeing ever since Lauren Ro wrote about red rugs being a thing. My hot tip is that I found it on Moda Operandi for $100 cheaper than the Nordic Knots price — which gave me pause at first, but ultimately, there was nothing to worry about. The rug shipped directly from Nordic Knots, and I had it in three days. The only catch is that it was final sale, and Moda doesn’t sell the rug pad, which I desperately need. Now that I have this rug, I’m almost done decorating my living space. My next (and hopefully last) big purchase will be dining chairs.
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.
