Wedding Snoafers, Thinning Hair Treatments, and Other Recent Strategist Finds

“A lot of people go, ‘Oh, natural deodorant doesn’t work.’ But you must trust the process. In the beginning, it makes you sweat almost more. It gets worse before it gets better. But once it kicks in and your body acclimates to it, it’s incredible. Your body’s not fighting it; it’s not fighting you.”

“I bought this when we were having fires in L.A. as a way to run power to my son’s nebulizer. We put it outside, and it gets enough juice every day to charge all of our laptops, iPads, and phones. We use it for camping and road trips. We even have a nickname for it: Donkey Butt. We just plug our devices into Donkey Butt, even when we’re home.”

“I’ve been wearing Birkenstocks for the last 35 years. These are really ­beautiful—even the outside is suede. They’re kind of like if Rick Owens had designed a Birkenstock. I should have bought three pairs because they seem to last only about a year and a half with me. I’m a bit hard on them.”

The only thing my husband loves more than me is grape-flavored Spindrift seltzer. His seltzer consumption has been so voracious that for years our ­ recycling bin has reached capacity every other day. It was time to invest in a can crusher. Ever since we installed ours, we can go a week without emptying our bin. Sometimes I wake up to the sound of crunch, crunch, crunch! but then I’m lulled back into a peaceful sleep, knowing the flood of cans is under control. –Leah Finnegan

Almost every beauty editor I know, including the two at the Strategist, recommends this nongreasy serum. Veteran beauty writer Linda Dyett has been applying it nightly for three years. After just six weeks of use, she noticed fresh peach fuzz growing on her scalp.

Scalp treatments remove excess product buildup and strengthen strands at the root, says dermatologist Nicole Lee. Here, jojoba beads will gently do both, which allows other hair-growth products to penetrate the scalp more efficiently.

And there’s always minoxidil. Dickson notes there are pros and cons to oral and topical minoxidil: “The topical works well but can be sticky and may mess with hair color. While oral minoxidil is supereffective, it can cause hair growth in unexpected places.”

When I first heard about the snoafer—that’s a sneaker-­ loafer—I was amused by the idea of it. But I wasn’t sure if the shoe was actually wearable—which is why I decided to try it out at a wedding in Vancouver over the summer. I expected snoafers to be a topic of conversation as my fellow guests noticed one another’s outfits, but, as it turned out, no one commented. They paired well with everything I tried them with, ranging from navy polo shirts to rainbow roll-neck sweaters. Most important, they are obscenely comfortable. I walked almost 43,000 steps over the weekend without feeling a single hot spot, let alone a blister. –Michael Zhao

When it comes to housewarming gifts, my philosophy is “Let someone else give them towels.” I like to bring something that is delightful and slightly useful. So when my friend Cassie got the keys to her new flat, I sent her this ceramic berry basket. She could also use it for eggs (or wrapped candies, or whatever). It comes in three fruit-forward designs: one featuring strawberries, one with blueberries, and another with cherries. –Ailbhe Malone

I love to play host, but providing enough seating for my guests is always a challenge. I stumbled upon this cushion in the kids’ ­ section at West Elm, and despite its department designation, it is, in fact, the perfect size for a fully grown person. I like that I can sit on it cross-legged and be level with my coffee table. There’s enough plush inside that it feels substantial. We have the natural color, which still looks nearly new after three years. It has become affectionately known among my friends as “the dog bed” and is everyone’s favorite. –Emma Wartzman

This one checks a long list of boxes: It’s made of insulated stainless steel and keeps water cold for hours; it has a push-button lid that makes the cup totally leakproof; and, without its lid, it can work as a regular cup for an older child.

The whole cup is squishy, so you can squeeze the sides to make liquid go up the straw and into your kid’s mouth; this helps babies and young toddlers understand the concept of how a straw works and encourages them to suck up more liquid.

This is the first cup I used with my son when he was 6 months old. It’s made of soft but grippy silicone and shaped with an angled lip to create a slow flow of liquid, which can help prevent choking.