Welcome back to “Your Shopping Cart,” where we break out the top products that you, devoted Strategist readers, 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 as well.
At last, signs of spring finally started to emerge in April: chirping birds, radiant cherry blossoms, and hordes of sidewalk diners partaking in leisurely al fresco suppers. Strategist readers responded accordingly, adding plenty of sunscreen, moisturizer, and mascara to their carts to greet the warmer weather. Plus with Mother’s Day on the horizon, plan-ahead types perused our handy-dandy gift guides, and our fourth annual Two-Day Sale got everyone excited to shop a slate of Strategist-approved stuff at super-slashed prices.
What were our top sellers in April?
Before we get into the nitty gritty, here are our best sellers by the number of items sold (rather than the total amount of money spent):
The beloved Zimasilk pillowcase was finally knocked out of the best-sellers list this month after a dominant seven-month run in the No. 1 spot. It was supplanted by EltaMD UV Clear, our top-pick facial sunscreen, which rose an impressive four spots from No. 5 last month. Oral-B’s nighttime dental guard, affordable Beckham Hotel pillows, and Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost moisturizer all maintained their stalwart status, meanwhile, having now appeared on the list for several months straight.
Beauty and skin care are consistently some of our top-performing categories, and April was no exception. Alongside the Neutrogena Hydro Boost were our best overall mascara, Essence Lash Princess, and two of the best moisturizers for dry skin, CeraVe Moisturizing Cream and Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer — great tools to have in your arsenal as you shake off any remaining winter flakiness.
Newcomers to the list this month include Now Sports’ whey protein and a surprisingly intense card game. Our roundup of the Best in Class protein powders was a top-trafficked article in April, with Now Sports taking the crown as our best overall pick; it comes recommended by personal trainer Kern Alexander, who said it was his favorite after 15 years of trying different brands. And though Strategist contributor Laura Guidry warned that the fast-paced card game Dutch Blitz nearly tore her family apart — “My husband had brought a tape measure out, insisting that my sister-in-law and I had an unfair advantage by playing cards closer to ourselves,” she writes — that seemed to only encourage readers to buy the game in droves. Hopefully we won’t be seeing an associated rise in divorce-related products in May!
Which (actually good) deals did readers take advantage of during our Two-Day Sale?
One of our most-clicked stories this month was our list of deals for the fourth annual Strategist Two-Day Sale, our biggest event yet, featuring exclusive discounts on over 60 tried-and-true, Strategist-approved products. One of those products was Ilia’s ultrapopular skin tint — the most-shopped product during the sale. It’s been raved about by celebrities and professional makeup artists for how it seamlessly melts into the skin, giving you a glowy no-makeup-makeup look that’s perfect for the summer months.
Readers were also setting themselves up for a summer full of fresh pesto, tomato salads, and cocktail garnishes courtesy of AeroGarden, which makes our best-in-class indoor smart garden. Don’t let the Harvest Slim’s small footprint fool you; the ingenious system is “easy to use, easy to set up, and grows a prodigious quantity of herbs,” according to Strategist writer Erin Schwartz.
If you’re the mom of a Strategist reader, stop scrolling!
With Mother’s Day coming up on May 14, it’s no surprise that our Mother’s Day gift guides were also some of our most-read stories this month, as readers shopped for suitable tokens of their appreciation.
It seems that lots of moms still love looking at photos the old-fashioned way — this Kodak wireless photo printer, which lets you physically print iPhone snapshots, was the most-purchased product from our Mother’s Day gift guide for every type of mom. “I love sending my family prints of things I’ve taken photos of,” says writer, artist, and mom Leanne Shapton.
Is there a hair-loss product out there that actually works?
The answer is “yes,” declares Strategist contributor Linda Dyett. Dyett used to have long, curly hair, but a few years ago she noticed “thick strips of scalp where my curls parted. My hair was thinning.” A hairstylist turned her on to Harklinikken (Hair Clinic), a Danish hair-growth regimen that centers on the brand’s Extract, “a liquid blend of natural ingredients that help regrow hair,” Dyett writes. She’s been applying it every day now for three years, and is delighted to report that she has “cascades of bouncy curls at the back of my head” and “knife-thin partings where my curls separate.”
How do I get a good night’s sleep without pills?
Actress Annie Murphy doesn’t like taking melatonin or sleeping pills: “I can get groggy from it, so I love a good cup of tea before bed,” she explains. Murphy claims that the mysterious “extra” in this Traditional Medicinals tea “really doubles down on the sleepy” and will send her straight to dreamland.
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.
