June Testing Report: The Newest Dyson Vacuum and Blister-Free Fisherman Sandals

I’ve tried several pairs of Margaux’s shoes over the years and loved basically all of them, but I have to say that the brand’s fisherman sandals are truly one of the best. I was sent a pair to test out and have worn them every day since I received them a couple weeks ago. The leather is supple and didn’t leave any blisters even the first time I wore them. They were one of the pairs that Angela Tafoya tried for her fisherman-sandal hunt as well, and she had similarly high praise. They have a cushy sole, a not-too-wide or too-narrow cut, and they look dressy enough to wear to work. I’m planning on packing them for a trip to Italy this summer and am sure I’ll continue to wear them a ton around the city. —Hilary Reid, senior editor

As a chronic wineglass breaker who for a while was resolved to drink out of stemless ones, I have come back around to stemmed in testing these glasses from Bormioli Rocco. I was re-inspired by the story I wrote on the wineglasses restaurants use, and while none mentioned this exact model, I find my Bormioli Rocco bodega glasses to be some of my favorite vessels to drink from because they’re the perfect combo of elegant and sturdy, so I thought I would give the brand a shot here. I’m quite pleased. This one in particular is meant for red wine, but I have to say (as very much not a wine snob), I think it works perfectly as a universal glass. It’s on the smaller side and feels especially proportional to hold and sip from. I haven’t broken one. Keep your fingers crossed for me. —Emma Wartzman, senior writer

I’ve loosely chronicled my skin journey the last few months as I’ve navigated recurring perioral dermatitis. Now that journey has landed me on this nonirritating cream that I’ve been pairing nightly with tretinoin and other actives. Symbiome’s brand ethos is appealing to me: stripping down to ingredients that focus on your skin’s microbiome health as a means of making it not only appear healthier, but exist healthier. And I’m shocked at the three-ingredient list: sanoma-leaf oil (a fermented oil derived from “Amazonian shrubs”), lactobilicus (a postbiotic made from a blend of lactic-acid-producing bacteria), and water. The cream pumps out buttery, fluffy, and almost oily — in the best way possible — immediately making my skin gleam. I sandwich it with my tretinoin and have hardly dealt with dry patches since. I’ve also noticed that even when I am dealing with zits or a stubborn perioral patch, my skin still looks even-toned and glowy. —Najwa Jamal, updates coordinator

I cannot stop snacking on these Wilde crackers. The brand is careful not to mention it, but they’re very obviously Cheez-Its, except with triple the protein content because they’re made from chicken breast (?) and bone broth (??). It’s hard for me to imagine how those two ingredients could combine to become a cracker, but I’m giving Wilde’s R&D department big props because texturally they’re amazingly crispy and very satisfying to crunch into. I’m not even a protein fiend, I’m just eating them because they’re delicious, but if you are someone trying to increase your protein consumption, definitely give them a shot. —Kitty Guo, writer

I just unwrapped the new Dyson V16 Piston Animal, and after the first few cleanings, I’m fairly certain it will become my new pick for best cordless vacuum. It’s stronger than any cordless vacuum I’ve tested, and the uniquely shaped conical head works as well on rugs as it does on hard floors. The new Piston dust-compacting mechanism means I can use it many times between emptying — Dyson suggests up to 30 days — and also reduces the amount of dust that goes flying once it is emptied. It’s a much more compact and slightly less messy alternative to the bagless auto-emptying dock found on Shark’s latest vacuums, but I would still prefer a bagged dock. Dyson confirmed that one is in the works, but there’s no firm release date yet. —Michael Zhao, senior writer

I got the chance to test the new Airframe Slim glasses from Jins, the Japanese brand known for its lightweight eyewear. This new model has a “zero-gravity balance” that makes it even lighter, and they are truly the most light-as-air glasses I have ever owned. I chose an oversize shape in a translucent beige color that now appears to be sold-out, but I love that it incorporates a resin frame with adjustable nosepads for my low-bridge profile. The arms are remarkably thin but miraculously keep the glasses on my face. They also came with ultra-thin lenses, making them even lighter. The only thing I have an issue with is that the metal caps on the ends of the arms have snagged my hair here and there, but it’s not a huge deal. —Lauren Ro, senior writer

I stopped wearing my previous Oura Ring a while ago because it was too clunky. This one’s 40 percent thinner, and I’m excited to use it again. It’s more comfortable to wear, and I love the black, which looks like a fashion lacquer ring and not a wearable (plus there’s so many more colors to choose from now). I’m hoping to wean off my Apple Watch and just use the Oura for tracking purposes. —L.R.

This foundation from Make Up For Ever went on nicely and blended easily, with medium coverage and a natural finish. I generally go for lighter-complexion products in the summer, but I wore it out and about for a few hours and didn’t feel heavy or greasy, though it did crease a bit around my mouth area. However, the formula also had a strong fragrance that reminded me of Nivea cream — a somewhat powdery, floral, old-fashioned scent. I tend to stay away from that general scent profile, so I won’t be adding the foundation to my everyday rotation; but if you’re someone who loves powdery florals, give it a try! —K.G.

I love how easily this new Korean sunscreen absorbs into my skin. It rubs in within seconds and isn’t at all greasy or chalky. After a few minutes, I can barely tell it’s there. It’s one that I definitely don’t mind reapplying as needed. Now that it’s finally consistently sunny, I look forward to seeing if it hits that perfect SPF30 sweet spot of allowing a bit of tanning without ever coming close to burning. —M.Z.

Back in April I wrote a brand-new guide to the best litter boxes. Since then, I’ve been testing this new litter box with my kittens. After talking to lots of cat experts for the story, I learned thatwhat makes a litter box good for cats can, unfortunately, sometimes be ugly to humans. This one seemed to check many boxes experts recommended (open-top, semi-transparent high sides, plenty of room to turn around) andactually looks pretty nice. It also has a dedicated spot for the scoop and a cleaning brush. My cats took to it fairly quickly, though we initially set it out without the walls so they’d be less intimidated to use it. While I like that it’s not an eyesore,I’m not 100 percent sure I’d recommend it, considering the price. The brush and scoop seem nice in theory and may be worthwhile if you haven’t purchased any supplies already. But I already have a scoop and haven’t found much use for the brush since my husband typically vacuums near the litter boxes every day. My editorJen Trolio is testing the less-expensive Cubby litter box, and, while exchanging notes with her, I realized the Cove has a larger footprint but a slightly smaller litter area, meaning you’re sacrificing space to hold the brush and scoop. So I’d recommend getting the Cubby instead for the same look at a third of the price. —Amelia Jerden, writer

Lately I’ve been thinking I may need to switch up my pillow because I’ve been waking up with a sore neck and shoulders. Luckily for me, as a sleep writer, I have plenty of options lying around my apartment. For the past two weeks I’ve been sleeping on this pillow specifically designed for back and side sleepers — perfect for me! The brand is based in Texas and handcrafts every item in Dallas. I wrote about its boomerang-shaped side-sleeper pillow last year, and I’m sad I didn’t try this one sooner. It has a subtle crescent shape, with a cutout for your neck. However, it’s not as dramatic as some dedicated side-sleeper pillows, like the Eli & Elm, so it’s much easier to switch between side and back sleeping. The pillow comes in a down or down-alternative fill option. I have the down fill, and though it’s entirely filled with down, this pillow never sags or loses support. My head and neck stay supported all night long. I can’t say this pillow has 100 percent fixed my neck soreness, but I’ve been feeling much less achey since I started sleeping on it. —A.J.

I’ve never cared especially deeply about the type of towel I use after a shower and have been using some perfectly okay twisted cotton ones I bought from a Marshalls a while ago. This robe’s been a welcome upgrade. For one, I think I only want to towel off in a robe now. Onsen’s is very soft yet lightweight, just the right thickness for the summer. Although the waffled honeycomb weaving does snag on some of my bracelets when flowing my arms through the sleeves (now that I know, I would have sized up for a slightly roomier fit), it’s still been a delight to wrap myself in. Most importantly, within a minute of wearing it I’m more or less entirely dried off, but still damp enough for oils and creams to soak in. —N.J.