Welcome back to Your Shopping Cart, wherein we break out the top-five products that you, devoted Strategist readers, all bought in droves. Think of this as the tl;dr of the Strategist: If your like-minded brethren are buying these items, maybe you’d like to, too.
Once again, New Wash takes the title. Writer Molly Young’s ode to Hairstory’s New Wash continues to move several of you. The shampoolike product developed by the co-founder of Bumble and Bumble washes hair without drying it out (and leaves it feeling so nice and bouncy, you only need to do it once a week). And for the first time in weeks, the Cosrx pimple patches from Rio Viera-Newton’s skin-regimen story falls off of the list — though the Gold & Snail eye patches she uses to quell under-eye puffiness and reduce dark circles takes second place. Just after that is a new entrant — these $4-for-four cooling migraine patches, which writer (and migraine sufferer) Sara Spruch-Feiner calls the closest thing to relief. Just after that is another longer-running hit — the Uniqlo cashmere sweater, which continues to cost just $40, down from $80 (for the time being). And in fifth place, a new entrant: Snail Bee High Content Steam Cream, from Rio Viera-Newton’s very comprehensive guide to facial moisturizers that won’t cause you to break out. It’s $20, and it’s incredible.
1. The Shampoo Replacement I Only Have to Use Once a Week
Hairstory’s New Wash isn’t a shampoo. It doesn’t lather. It doesn’t strip your hair of oils. It’s actually more like a cleansing conditioner that keeps your hair nice-looking rather than too clean. Writer Molly Young adores the stuff: “My long hair air-dries perfectly, with no ‘squeaky’ texture. It is shiny and falls in loose waves, like it did when I was a kid. I don’t need to blow-dry it. My chronic flaky scalp (sorry!) is gone forever. I customarily wash my hair every three days. With New Wash, once a week. When friends remark that my hair looks nice, it’s fun to say, ‘I haven’t shampooed in six months.’ Which is technically accurate.”
2. The 14 Products I Use for My Chronic Raccoon Eyes
To fight purply under-eye circles, writer Rio Viera-Newton swears by snail mucin. Says Viera-Newton: “This is my favorite under-eye product, and don’t make me tell you again why I love snail so much! Its regenerative properties not only work wonders on blemish scars, but also help with any kind of hyperpigmentation, including dark under-eye circles. It’s also super beneficial for helping with wrinkles and dryness.”
3. I Buy These Instantly Cooling Menthol Migraine Patches in 24-Packs
Writer Sara Spruch-Feiner suffers from migraines that can keep her up at night. When she discovered these cooling forehead patches, she found, if not relief, then something very close to it: “Think of it as an ice pack for the 21st century, though not too cold in the brain-freeze way ice packs can be. They stay put, hands-free, and don’t need to be wrapped in soggy paper towels. Infused with lavender oil and menthol, they’re soothing enough to lull me into slumber. And unlike copious amounts of Excedrin Migraine (the only other at-home pain relief I’ve got, and which is, incidentally, better than any prescription I’ve ever tried), overuse won’t cause stomach issues. They’re so effective, I order them in Costco-size amounts — 24 at a time. I’d be terrified of life without them.”
4. This Cashmere Sweater From Uniqlo Is 50 Percent Off
The $80 Uniqlo cashmere sweater is already a bargain, but at $40, they’re practically giving them away. Get an oversize one for a slouchy, “borrowed from a boyfriend” look or try a tailored version for layering over skirts and button-downs.
5. The 6 Facial Moisturizers That Keep My Skin Quenched (and Blemish-Free)
It’s cold now, which means your skin will be getting drier. Don’t forego moisturizer just because you’re acne-prone. Skin enthusiast Rio Viera-Newton named all of her favorite moisturizers, and one of them — a culty Korean lotion — became a best seller: “This moisturizer from Korean brand Benton is incredible and has completely changed the texture of my skin. This cream is very, very thick, so if you’re oily, I would say to use this in small doses or only when your skin is looking particularly dehydrated. Some evenings, I use this right after I’ve used Benton’s Snail Bee Pollen mask, and I wake up and my skin looks so clear and plump! If your skin is having an off day, this combo will set it straight. Also, the price???? C’mon! A new Holy Grail for me.”
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 women’s jeans, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, ultra-flattering pants, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
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