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

By,the updates coordinator at the Strategist.She writes about fashion and beauty. Prior, she was a fact-checker at New York.
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Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

The Strategist staff are in constant research mode — weighing products for Best in Class inclusion, finding the newest releases in their respective beats, and reassessing old favorites. We thought we’d let you behind the curtain a bit and share what we’ve been testing this month.

Blister-free fisherman sandals

Margaux The Calypso Fisherman
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I’ve tried severalpairs of Margaux’sshoes 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 herfisherman-sandal huntas 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

Sturdy stemmed wine glasses

Bormioli Rocco Riserva Cabernet Red Wineglasses
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As a chronicwineglassbreaker 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 thewineglasses restaurants use, and while none mentioned this exact model, I find my Bormioli Rocco bodega glasses to be some of my favorite vessels todrink frombecause 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 redwine, but I have to say (as very muchnota 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

Fermented face cream

Symbiome The One Restorative Face Cream
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I’velooselychronicledmyskinjourney the last few months as I’ve navigated recurring perioral dermatitis. Now that journey has landed me on this nonirritatingcreamthat I’ve been pairing nightly withtretinoinand other actives. Symbiome’sbrand ethosis appealing to me: stripping down to ingredients that focus on your skin’s microbiome health as a means of making it not onlyappearhealthier, butexisthealthier. And I’m shocked at thethree-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

Protein crackers that are better than Cheez-Its

Wilde Protein Crackers - Classic Cheddar
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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 theproteincontent 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 aprotein fiend, I’m just eating them because they’re delicious, but if youaresomeone trying to increase your protein consumption, definitely give them a shot. —Kitty Guo, writer

Dyson’s newest cordless vacuum

Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless Vacuum
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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 forbest 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

Light-as-air glasses

Jins Airframe Slim - Big Shape 051
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Photo: Retailer

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 withultra-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

The latest (and slimmest) Oura Ring

Oura Ring 5
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$399

I stopped wearing my previousOura Ringa 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 andnot 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.

A nongreasy foundation with a floral scent

Makeup Forever Balancing and Perfecting Natural Finish Longwear Foundation
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Thisfoundationfrom Make Up For Ever went on nicely and blended easily, with medium coverage and a natural finish. I generally go forlighter-complexion productsin thesummer, 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.

Invisible SPF moisturizer

Beauty of Joseon Dayscreen Moisturizer SPF 30
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I love how easily this newKoreansunscreenabsorbs 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 oftanningwithout ever coming close to burning. —M.Z.

A litter box you don’t mind leaving out

Tuft & Paw Cove Litter Box
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Tuft & Paw Cove Litter Box

$179
$199now 10% off
$179

Back in April I wrote a brand-new guide to thebest 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 typicallyvacuumsnear the litter boxes every day. My editorJen Trolio is testing the less-expensiveCubby 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

$179at Tuft and Paw
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with code: TheStrategist10

Our sleep writer’s current pillow of choice

The Pillow Bar Hybrid Side Back Sleeper Pillow
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Lately I’ve been thinking I may need to switch up mypillowbecause I’ve been waking up with asore neckand 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 andside sleepers— perfect for me! The brand is based in Texas and handcrafts every item in Dallas. I wrote about itsboomerang-shaped side-sleeper pillowlast 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 theEli & 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.

A fast-drying waffle robe

Onsen Waffle Bath Robe - White
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I’ve never cared especially deeply about the type oftowelI use after a shower and have been using some perfectly okay twisted cotton ones I bought from a Marshalls a while ago. Thisrobe’sbeen a welcome upgrade. For one, I think Ionlywant 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.

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