August Testing Report: Misen’s First Food Containers and Ilia’s Newest Eyeliner

Misen’s first foray intofood-storage containers(which are available for preorder now and expected to ship in November) are made from stainless steel with tight-fitting silicone-and-glass lids. They can go in the microwave, freezer, oven, and dishwasher (though so far, I’ve only put them through the dishwasher). Like withdeli containers, the three sizes stack and the lids are universal. This last feature is especially great. The biggest drawback I’ve found so far is they’re a bit heavy (my colleagueDominique Pariso, who also has an early set, agrees). —Emma Wartzman, senior writer

My apartment kitchen barely has sufficient storage for all my necessarypots and pans, let alone afood processor, but this Japanese vegetablecleaverhelps me achieve similarly thin results when it comes to shredding cabbage, julienning carrots, and finely dicing alliums of all kinds. It’s not quite as consistent — though that’s more of a skill issue — but I actually prefer it overall, since cleanup involves just a few swipes of a warm, soapy sponge instead of having to scrub the crevices of a dozen different parts. The hammered, mirrored finish looks attractive and also prevents slices from sticking to the blade as I cut. And the VG-MAX steel feels less brittle than the V10 steel used in theKorin nakiriI keep in my home in Vermont.—Michael Zhao, senior writer

May I introduce a new contender in the vaguely orthopedic but still stylish comfysandalcanon? Bared Footwear came across my desk at the end of June, and I was immediately intrigued. The brand was founded by a podiatrist, and I loved that the styles were actually nice to look at. I got a pair of sturdy fisherman sandals, a strappierTory Burch–esque pierced pair, and aBirkenstock-but-betteroption. Of the three I’ve been wearing over the past month, I found thefisherman sandalsto be the most comfortable. They have a very cushioned sole for extra arch support, and I also appreciate the little height boost they give me. I’m considering getting a second pair instudded suedethat looks a bit like the Frēda Salvador sandals I’ve had on my wish list. —Dominique Pariso, senior writer

This is areally beautifully constructed pair ofsandals— in their craftsmanship, they feel like other handmade shoes I have. I have a wide foot and bunions, so I was concerned the first time I wore them that they squeezed and rubbed against the widest part of my foot, but the leather has stretched a little in subsequent wears. I just put them on for a two-mile walk across town on a hot day, and they felt great up until the last quarter-mile or so, but I would expect that to be less of a problem next time.—Winnie Yang, senior editor

I’vedabbled inenoughfootwearat this point that it takes a lot for a pair to truly stand out. Color me impressed with these wedges and their three stacked inches of patent leather. They’re incredibly sexy (and a little terrifying) but ultimately incredibly comfortable. I’ve spent multiple six-hour evenings on the town in these. I can stand,walk, and even skip (I’ve done it!) in them around Williamsburg and the Lower East Side — no Band-Aids or leaning on a friend’s shoulder required. And they’re delightfully doll-like. From the peep toe to the stunning lacquer red shade, these make me feel like a Polly Pocket, and they’re a massive compliment magnet.—Najwa Jamal, updates coordinator

I’m not one to get frequentpedicuresor puttoomuch thought intomy feet’s appearance.But after lots of time outdoors this summer, I felt they were looking a little worse for wear. This set includes a glass foot file, alotionbar for your feet, and a nice cosmetic case. Routine use of the file, followed by a thorough moisturizing with the lotion bar, has really helped my feet look less rough and dry. The file has two sides, the rougher of which is especially good for rubbing calluses on the heel or ball of the foot. And it feels very high-end, since it’s made of glass. Like Kate McLeod’s other lotion bars, the foot stone provides excellent moisturizing, and applying it via stone is like a nice little bonus massage. It includes tea-tree oil and mint, which makes it smell great and feel a little tingly. I usually use these after getting out of the shower and put on socks to help the lotion absorb into my feet. You can certainly achieve these results with a less expensive set, but I think this would make a lovely gift for a frequent sandal wearer or anyone who spends a lot of time on their feet.—Amelia Jerden, sleep writer

I’ve been really liking thissunscreenmilk from First Aid Beauty. It goes on smoothly, doesn’t have a strong smell, and sinks in immediately. Perhaps this is a me problem, but I invariably find myself rubbing my eyes at the end of the day, and so many other sunscreens will make them get irritated and sting — even though it’s been hours since application! Not this one, though. Ten out of ten for me so far (and my sister, who has been trying it out with me).—Sam Daly, deals editor

I’ve been usingStila’s waterproof eyelineron my waterline for as long as I can remember. It doesn’t irritate my eyes and typically lasts for a few hours before I feel the need to reapply. I’d always meant to look for something better, but I never got around to it — that is, until I tried Ilia’s new waterproofeyeliner, which I’ll be using on my waterline going forward. I’ve been testing it in the shade Serif, a matte dark brown that’s so buildable I’ve been debating buying it in a shade lighter (that would be Gesture, a matte warm brown). On the recent humid 90-plus-degree days, it has faded within a few hours (like all the products on my notably sweaty face), but it has an impressive staying power otherwise. Whenever I wear it to the office, my waterline stays nicelylineduntil I get home at the end of the day. Once, it even survived a post-work nap, albeit with some fading. —Bella Druckman, writer

Although I’m mostly loyal to the relatively inexpensive skin care my dermatologist prescribes, I have made my peace with splurging onDermalogica’s Microfoliant, moving up from buying travel-size bottles to investing in the value-size sachet. The results were simply unmatched, and it’d become a permanent fixture in my nightly routine. I didn’t think I could find an alternative to top the squeaky clean, reflective shine Dermalogica’s scrub left my forehead with — until I tried Lancer’s (unfortunately) equally pricey scrub. This one’s a polish as opposed to a powder. The magnesium, sodium, and quartz crystals are extremely fine, and the formula leaves you with a slightly tingly, warming feeling. For the last month, this polish has made my forehead look like glass. It has smoothed out wrinkles I didn’t even realize I had and helpedfade scarsI’d been struggling with for the last six months (likely thanks to brightening pumpkin and pomegranate enzymes). I’m willing to make this one of three (ahem,Biologique Recherche Lotion P50andMasque Vivant) major skin splurges moving ahead.—N.J.

Every summer, I pick afragranceI wear to death, and this summer, it’s been Fulton & Roark’s Roark’s Cove. I’ve walked into a room multiple times and had people tell me I smell amazing. It is surprising that I cannot get enough of it because I don’t usually go for deep, woody, earthy scents, but this one is tempered with citrusy bergamot, fruity cloudberry, and effervescent pink-pepper notes. It is clean and fresh and makes me feel like I’m lying on a bed of springy moss under an old-growth canopy. —Kitty Guo, writer

I’ve been doing a lot of cooking at home, and this duo of gochujang-based fermented sauces fromKorean chef Mingoo Kang, who has threeMichelinstars, has provided an easy shortcut for adding depth to otherwise quotidian stir-fries and braises. The cooking sauce in the squeeze bottle is like a Korean version of the now ubiquitousBachan’s Japanese barbecue sauce— an easy way to add the basic building blocks of Korean cooking to any dish. With its ideal combination of ingredients, it’s easy to make a tofu jjigae without having to carefully measure out the stew base. I also like adding it to stir-fries in the place of chili crisp to mix things up. The finishing sauce can be used like a peppery but not spicy hot sauce. It is the perfect base for cold noodle salads and quick kimchi on its own and is perfection on scrambled eggs or fried chicken. —M.Z.

This salt has large flaky crystals comparable to Maldon’s that give a pleasant crunch when left whole and have a nice clean-tasting salinity. I appreciate all thesaltsI have with far-away provenances, but it’s neat that this one is hand-harvested from the Atlantic Ocean near Charleston, South Carolina, and the processing finished outside Athens, Georgia.—W.Y.

After trying out theOrion sleep systemearlier this year, I’ve been testing a new temperature-control sleep system: the Chilipad 2.0. I also tested the previous version of the Chilipad, and justa few weeks in, I can tell the new one is worth the upgrade. My favorite feature is a phone-free bedside remote control. It’s a small circular device that sits on my nightstand and allows me to easily change the temperature of my bed without looking at an app or hunting around for the buttons on the device itself. The remote control has a metal ring along the circular screen that you twist to raise or lower the temperature. While the screen shows you the exact temperature, I’ve found that I can do a slight rotation toward warm or cool in the middle of the night without even taking my sleep mask off and go right back to sleep. I’m planning to write a lengthier review soon, but so far in my testing, the remote control has been the most distinctive actually helpful feature.—A.J.

While silk scarves were my focus inJuly, this month, I’ve been consumed by Hunza G’s combination headband-scarf. It’s the lazy girl’s solution to wearing asunhat(without, of course, the full coverage of a hat, but there’s at leastsomeUVprotection). Instead of requiring me to fiddle with tying a bandanna around the sweaty and splayed-out baby hairs on my neck, this headscarf slips right on and off. I especially love that it pulls my hair back securely and can cover myears, which I sometimes forget to put SPF on. I’ve worn this on simple daytime errands, on trips upstate, and to hours-long shadeless visits to Astoria Park pool. The fabric-tag placement is likely the most annoying part about it; if not tucked in correctly, it sticks out like a sore thumb by the side of your face. I ended up just snipping it off.—N.J.

Title Nine sent me these boardshorts to try after I published mynice-looking swim shortsstory. They’ve become one of my most-reached-for swim pieces this summer. They have a slightly loose fit — they aren’t a bodycon, hot-pant style of shorts — and a built-in bikini bottom for additional coverage. I like the looser fit because I don’t have to worry about the legs scrunching up over my thighs. It also makes the shorts feel more versatile and like “real clothing.” I could wear these in public and then straight to the beach. A hidden drawstring allows you to tighten or loosen the waistband to get a better fit. There is also a zippered pocket on the back of the waistband that would be great for stashing keys, jewelry, or a hair tie. I’ve worn these to swim at the beach and a friend’s lake house this summer, and they were perfectly comfortable and functional for both. I paired them with a black bikini top I already owned, but Title Nine has a nice variety of matching and coordinating tops to go with the shorts too.—A.J.