What Strategist Readers Are Buying: Humidifiers and Hot-Water Bottles

1. I’m Practically Surgically Attached to My Hot-Water Bottle All Winter

Writer Fiona Byrne was familiar with hot-water bottles from growing up in Ireland. Now that she lives in New York, they still come in handy: “During the day at my desk, I sit with one in my lap to afford me just the right level of warmth. There’s no sweating, no overheating, no gloves indoors à la Cameron Diaz in The Holiday. Not just any hot-water bottle will do, though. My favorite is the Attmu, which is made of thermoplastic rather than rubber, meaning that it holds heat longer. It also comes with its own handsome cable-knit cover, which provides a necessary buffer for your very hot bottle. It’s the ultimate luxury, like swaddling a little bundle of warmth with no danger of sparking an electrical fire or risking nasty burns.”

2. This $9 Cream Soothes My Itchy Winter Skin Even Better Than a Prescription

For those who suffer from itchy winter skin (or eczema flare-ups), writer Alexia LaFata found a solution that beats even her prescription creams: “Reader, this lotion is a damn miracle. Whenever I feel like I’m about to claw myself, I grab it, and in under two minutes (yes, the label’s right), I’m no longer itchy. I now dutifully keep it on my nightstand, in my purse, and on my desk at work — and rub it all over the itchy area. Because there’s no hydrocortisone (a.k.a. steroid) in the CeraVe, I slather it on at will without fear of developing a dependency — the cream uses a calming ingredient called pramoxine hydrochloride instead.”

3. The 9 Best Humidifiers on Amazon, According to Hyperenthusiastic Reviewers

Winter can do a number on dry skin not only because of the cold, but because indoor heating can dry out the air and sap the skin of moisture. One of the best ways to restore that humidity is with this filter-free humidifier, which one Amazon reviewer loved: “My wife and I loved it so much we recently ordered another one for the family room! It puts out a ton of cool mist, but somehow didn’t leave ANY condensation on our table even after running it about ten hours alone today.”

4. What’s the Best Underwear for Women?

Installment after installment, these continue to be a Strat best seller. Says High Fashion Home founder Dolly Frearson: “For everyday underwear, I need them to feel comfortable and breathable. I also need them to appear smooth, and not pinch my skin in any place or ride up. And this is the only pair that does all of the above. They will eventually replace almost all of your underwear in your drawer.”

5. The Shampoo Replacement I Only Have to Use Once a Week

Yet another familiar face, this hair wash that Molly Young first tipped us off to gave her the best hair of her adult life: “But the results are wild. 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.”