13 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: A Summer Makeup Hack and This Year’s Best Linen Quince Dress
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We write about hundreds of products each week. Here, in our version of the Sunday circular, we’ve plucked some of our recent favorites: expert-recommended essentials, life-changing stuff you didn’t know you needed, newly launched gizmos, and very good deals we uncovered while trawling through the vast online-shopping universe — includingPierce Abernathy’sfavorite date molasses,Summersalt’sbest one-pieces, and the perfectlynot too-redlipsticks.
The under-$100 Quince dress one writer owns in three colors
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Senior writerLiza Corsillotempered her expectationswhen she ordered this linen dress from Quince in an understated brown gingham. “I’ve been disappointed by many affordable linen dresses in the past,” she says. But after trying it on — and keeping it on — for several hours, she was sold. The chestnut gingham was sophisticated, and its fit is perfectly between sexy and comfortable. “The bodice is fitted enough that I can wear it without a bra and not worry about flashing anyone, and the whole thing has a silky lining that ensures it’s totally opaque. It even has pockets!” She likes it so much she’s since bought it in two more colors: black and beige.
A swim skirt that doesn’t make it look like you’re trying to hide your butt
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In thismonth’s edition of her column,Kim Francetackled all things swimwear, including swim skirts that don’t make it seem like you’re an “old lady trying to hide her butt.” Luckily, France says, “we are in a pretty hugely adorable moment for swim skirts,” so she had no problem finding ones that fit the bill. Among her suggestions is this black-and-white micro one by Staud. “If you’re interested in showing off your legs in a meaningful way, this could be the one for you.”
We tried all the Summersalt swimsuits
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Earlier this month, senior writerDominique Parisoraved aboutSummersalt’s Sidestroke Suit, the one-piece she’s worn more than any other since 2021. But despite her loyalty to the suit, she’d never tried anything else from the brand. So forthe Strategist Swimsuit Project, she did just that,giving over a dozen otherone- and two-piece styles a chance. One of her new favorites is the Ruched Backflip, which she didn’t think she’d like when looking at pictures of it but loved in person, thanks to its “plunging V-shaped neckline and open back that feels slightly sexy.” The brand’s careful seam placement and compressive fabric means she’s still comfortably covered and supported with straps that stay in place.
The two best not-too-red lipsticks
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The last time writerKitty Guofell for the allureof red lipstick, she was a college student who’d impulsively purchased a tube ofRevlon’s Cherries in the Snow. She hated it. “It felt too much like a costume,” she says, and she’s stuck to peaches, beiges, and nudes since. But lately, she’s noticed new red lip formulas that promise a more sheer, not-so-in-your-face color, so she gave red lips another try. Of the six red lipsticks she tested, E.l.f. and Violette_FR were her top two. E.l.f.’s solid lip oil was a surprise hit at $10, with a buildable cherry color that’s just right with one or two applications. Violette_FR’s more expensive blotted, powdery formula is a subtle warm poppy shade that has “just the right amount of pop without going overboard,” and as a bonus, you can easily apply it without looking in a mirror.
The date molasses Pierce Abernathy puts in almost everything
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Senior writerEmma Wartzmanchatted with chef and cookbook authorPierce Abernathy for a new editionof our “Celebrity Shopping” series, “What I Can’t Cook Without.” Abernathy shared the foods he always keeps on hand, including French tarragon mustard, spicy Spanish mussels, and this date molasses that he calls the “cousin of pomegranate molasses.” “It’s not really tangy or acidic at all,” he says. “It’s more like a date caramel. It’s fantastic in banana bread. A little date molasses mixed into a compound butter on toast is unreal. It’s also very, very good in a coffee drink.”
A true “everything” black pant
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“I recently formed a theory with a friend that a wardrobe feels destabilized when it doesn’t orbit a go-toblack pant— an ‘everything pant’ — which means mine’s been limping along since the day I retired my matte-black cotton-blend Citizens of Humanity Avedon skinny jeans somewhere in the 2010s,” says contributor Edith Young. This has sent Young on a chase for the elusive, ponte-like pair that looks good, feels good, and works for enough for occasions high (date night at Bemelman’s) and low (worn at home) on her five-foot-nine frame. EnterAritzia’s Effortless Pant, Young’s favorite of the six pairs she tried. Wildly popular but not instantly recognizable, they have “just the right bit of slouch,” and are well-proportioned from the waist on. “This is a work pant for the ages, but I’d also wear it with a micro crop top to a birthday party with a disco ball,” Young says. And a bonus: Thus far, they’re wrinkle-free.
Baggy pants you can actually work out in
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Aritzia was also the winner of writerBella Druckman’ssearch for baggy, wide-legged pantsshe could safely and comfortably exercise in. Her hunt was sparked by her love for a swishy, airy pair from Urban Outfitters that she had to stop wearing on the StairMaster because they continually got caught on her shoe. She tried over ten pairs by activewear stalwarts like Lululemon and newer brands like Oner Active and Splits59 to find pants fit for her petite frame, but Aritzia’s fit (and felt) the best. “Out of all the workout pants I’ve tested for this story, I’ve worn these the most by far,” she says. “They’re easy to pull on, don’t show my sweat marks, and have maintained their shape through countless washing-machine cycles.” They fit slimly through the upper thigh and are wide-legged without being flared. In ananti Gen-Z move, Druckman is even considering the matching bra.
Whimsical snail clip-on earrings
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This week, Guo took some time toround up all the best things Strategist staffers have purchased this year. Among the 55 items (so far) are the eye-catchingclip-on earringsParisopurchased in Mayafter spotting them inTrash Panic, her favorite secondhand-shopping newsletter. “They come in a variety of great colors, but I was most drawn to these jade-and-turquoise babies,” she says. “I think they will add just the right amount of whimsy to my summer outfits.”
Peyton Dix found ballet flats that don’t make her look straight
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“Before anyone barks at me, I am well aware that lesbians can look all kinds of ways,” says podcast co-host and Strategist contributorPeyton Dix. But her fashion typically “sits comfortably between a soft masc and baby futch,” which typically means chunky boots over femme ballet flats. With temperatures already climbing, though, she wenton the hunt for a pair of breathable flats that fit her style.Eight pairs later, Madewell’s came out on top — a surprise to Dix. “Madewell. Diva. Can I call you diva? I was not hip to your game!” The Mylies are “the perfect, good-quality-yet-reasonably-priced mesh ballet flat.” They have breathable mesh, a nice square toe, and “no whistles and bells (read: bows).”
The trick to meltproof makeup: layering setting sprays
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Beauty writerKrista Bennett DeMaiowas recently tipped off to the secret totrulykeeping makeup fresh — especially in sweltering heat — while chatting with makeup artistErica Taylor:layering two setting sprays. At her suggestion, DeMaio gave Taylor’s combination a try, testing various combinations of sprays to achieve the perfect, long-lasting look. She found several combos for various needs, from sprays that give a dewy finish to ones that work best for oily skin. But if it’s hydration you’re after, she suggests this combination from Milani and L’Oréal. Milani’s is an alcohol-free and humectant-loaded formula, which left DeMaio’s skin with a naturally dewy finish, while L’Oréal’s heavy-duty fixing spray helped hold her makeup in place for several hours in the heat.
The stuff we saved for our newsletter readers
Secret Strategistwrote about eight things we’ve seen for this very hot, short week …
… Including “somehandblown Frama glasswareon display at180 the Storethat reminded us ofCurrie Person’s collection. They’re dishwasher safe up to 70 degrees Celsius.”
Want more?Sign up forSecret Strategisthere.
Emma Wartzman wrote an ode to an impressive salad bowl from Quince for Strategist’s daily newsletter
“Wooden salad bowls are generally pricier than you might think, so to find such asolid one for about $60feels like a win. That price correlates to the smallest 12-inch size, which is what I use multiple times a week for my household of two. It’s a bit shallow and wide-mouthed, which is aesthetically pleasing, and also makes it easy to toss whatever lettuce is inside. It’s sturdy, carved from a single piece of wood — which means it won’t crack or separate over time, unlike cheap versions where pieces of wood are glued together. Anoccasional oilingif it’s ever looking thirsty and it’s back to being good as new.” —Emma Wartzman, senior kitchen and dining writer
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Arielle Avila wrote an ode to the face SPF she used through six days of surfing forThe Strategist Beauty Brief
“Earlier this month, I went on a surf retreat in Nicaragua to push myself as a very beginner. The retreat called for minimum SPF-50 zinc sunscreen, and I went withNaked Sundays’ mineral primersince I recently became a fan of its serum SPF. Out of the tube, it has a thick consistency, but it rubs in so there’s a light, nongreasy layer protecting your skin. Each day involved three hours of surfing with breaks every hour to rehydrate and reapply SPF — a necessity on those UV6 or more days. This meant I applied it over a dozen times and went through nearly the entire tube. Every time I reapplied, even after plenty of wipeouts, I could still feel a bit of the lotion on my skin. After a week of sitting, paddling, and surfing in the ocean with the sun (and the reflection of the sun) on me, my face was shades lighter than my body where I was applying another brand’s SPF. There wasn’t even a touch of rosiness around my nose or cheekbones (I can’t say the same about my shoulders or back, unfortunately). On top of that, I didn’t break out once, even after slathering on layers and layers day after day.” —Arielle Avila,writer
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The Strategist Kids’ Departmentshared their favorite new launches this week
Strategist Kids’ Departmentsenior editor Jen Trolio rounded up some of this week’s best new releases. One highlight: “Don’t write off Squishmallows fragrances — one of my daughters is a fan, and I’ve been pleasantly surprised. The newest scent isWonder Whirl, a fruity and summery blend of berries, cherry blossom, and vanilla that comes in a very giftable Joelle the Bigfoot bottle.”
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This week’s top saved items
It’s very easy to save products we’ve written about, so you can refer back to them later or be notified when they go on sale. (Find a step-by-stephere.)This week, readers were curious about some of thebest things staffers have purchased this yearso far, like a supportive balconet bra and Jones Road blemish correctors. They also saved writerKrista Bennett DeMaio’s luminousSPF primer, and Clinique’s Black Honey, the decades-old lipstick that reigns supreme every Prime Day (including this year’s).
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The Strategistis designed to surface useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Every product is independently selected by our team of editors, whom you can read abouthere. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
