Welcome back to Your Shopping Cart, where we break out the top-ten 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.
Between Father’s Day and Prime Day, June was a busy month for Strategist readers. It was also the first time since the start of the pandemic that your shopping carts look, well, back to normal. (We’re pleased to report that not a single face mask earned a spot on the list.) With a post-vaccine summer on everyone’s minds, readers were instead shopping for barbecue tools, oscillating floor fans, and space-saving garden hoses. But it wouldn’t be a Strategist shopping-cart roundup without a few reader staples, like the gel moisturizer that’s made this list dozens (upon dozens) of times, some luxurious pillows, and the gentle cleansing water beloved by Strategist readers and writers alike.
Temperatures are still on the rise, which may be why readers are opting for these cooling gel pillows from Beckham Hotel. (They’ve been a reader shopping-cart staple ever since we deemed them the best pillows, according to hyperenthusiastic Amazon reviewers at the start of 2021.) Over 86,000 five-star reviews attest to their cooling comfort, including one from a person with insomnia who describes the pillows as “magical” and was shocked when they were able to sleep for 11 hours straight: “I woke up and was SO comfortable and the pillows were still soft and fluffy. And I was so cozy, I could have fallen right back to sleep.”
For the second month in a row, readers also appear to be beating the heat with this oscillating floor fan from Lasko, which we’ve rated both the best tower and floor fan on Amazon. According to nearly 20,000 five-star reviewers, it’s “whisper quiet” and plenty powerful for large rooms. Experts love it, too: In our story about how to cool your apartment without an air conditioner, interior designer Ariel Okin recommends the Lasko, noting it gets her through the weeks before her building turns on its central air-conditioning.
We suspect readers were purchasing this nifty barbecue tool — which Strategist contributor–slash–grill master Steven John calls “the Swiss Army knife of grilling equipment” — as a thoughtful Father’s Day gift for the dad who grills. It combines a spatula, grill fork, tongs, and bottle opener — everything dad (or you) could ever need.
We uncovered lots of exceptionally good deals on Strategist-approved items this past Prime Day, including our (and soon to be your) favorite nail-clipper set, which makes its first appearance on this list. Nearly 16,000 reviewers give the set five stars, including one person who calls the clippers “attractive, comfortable to hold and use, solidly built and sharp.” If you haven’t already snagged a pair, you’re in luck: The set is still on sale with free Prime shipping.
This “Goldilocks” gel moisturizer — the 15th time it’s been on our top-sellers list — comes recommended by several dermatologists for nearly every type of skin: oily, dry, combination, acne prone, mature. It won’t clog pores (even in mid-summer humidity), and if you’re prone to burning, it’s a great option for after-sun care. Dr. Dhaval G. Bhanasuli of Hudson Dermatology & Laser Surgery says it “works well to retain moisture and prevent water loss through the compromised skin.”
The TBI Pro Garden Hose took one of the top-three spots in our readers’ shopping carts in May, and it appears that readers are still taking their lawn and COVID garden care seriously this summer. This hose is exceptionally lightweight (and expandable), making it a great option for saving space. The only downside, says Timothy Hammond of Big City Gardener in Houston, is that “the same thing that makes them light … also leaves them prone to tearing or punctures.” To keep them safely stored when not in use, Southern California gardener CaliKim hangs hers from a wall-mounted rack.
It wouldn’t be like us (or our readers) to miss a rare 20 percent off Glossier sale, and your shopping carts this month are certainly proof of that fact. Glossier’s boy brow has long been a makeup bag staple for our beauty columnist Rio Viera Newton, and it made an appearance in your Black Friday shopping carts last November. It’s no longer 20 percent off (all good things must come to an end, after all), but it’s still an excellent choice for those who want to create natural, full-looking brows. Rio uses clear on little-to-no-makeup days and brown for a bolder look on nights out.
Our readers also appear to be fans of the brand’s impossible-to-mess-up Cloud Paint, a gel-cream blush that’s meant to be applied with your fingertips. Rio found that mixing her two favorite shades, Haze and Puff, creates a “beautiful, hot flush.” (She notes that they each look good individually, too.) Plus, the products’ compact packaging makes them ideal for on-the-go touch-ups.
Experts tipped us off to this budget-friendly Krups coffee grinder back in February, but it didn’t make it into your shopping carts until this past month. (Perhaps another Father’s Day pick?) Paul Schlader, co-founder and head roaster at New York City-based Birch Coffee, recommends it in place of more-expensive burr grinders, assuring that it has all of the essentials: 12 settings for selecting your preferred grind size and a “cup selector” dial to grind the exact amount of coffee you need for the number of coffees you’re making.
A three-time shopping-cart veteran, this French Bioderma cleansing water hasn’t been in your shopping carts since way, way (way) back in 2018. We’re owing its resurgence to Prime Day, which brought the price down to just $10. Even though the deal is over, makeup artists and Strategist writers still recommend it for melting makeup and hydrating skin. “I don’t know what it is about this product, but not only does it take all of my makeup off, it actually does a great job of soothing my skin, especially after a night out,” Rio writes. “Since I’ve incorporated this Bioderma micellar into my routine (pre-cleanser), my skin has felt even more supple and rejuvenated.”
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.
