March Testing Report: An Alternative to Skims’s Discontinued Bralette
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The Strategist staff are in constant research mode — weighing up 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 little and share what we’ve been testing this month.
Plastic-free deli containers (finally!)
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We have long been on the hunt forplastic-free deli containers. I’ve only had this set from Anyday a few days, so I haven’t had time to give a proper test. But after using them for mise en place (a task I usually reserve for plastic-fulldeli containers, sorry!), I’m pleased. They didn’t hold on to the colors of anything I was prepping — mostly cilantro and broccolini — but the one I used for cilantro still smells like it a day later. I’ll report back once I’ve had more time to test them. –Bella Druckman, junior writer
An alternative to a discontinued Skims bralette
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I thought I couldn’t find a bra to beat my dearly beloved but now-discontinuedSkims ultrafine skimpy mesh bralette. However, I wear this bra nearly every day and am prepared to buy any bra this brand has to offer, stat. For those of a mid-range B-cup comfortable with unpadded and unwired bras, this one is perfect for day-to-day wear that’s comfortable but stays put. And as a lover of sheer, the scaly pattern is perfectly cheeky and opaque. –Najwa Jamal, updates co-ordinator
A serum concealer
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I am mostly using Jones Road Beautyconcealerandneutralizersticks, but when Ilia sent me some liquid concealer, I was willing to give it another go. The Jones Road Beauty pencils are easy to use, so I don’t think I’ll give them up, but the consistency and color range of the Ilia, whose products I have used and loved in the past, are very nice. I’m just not good at applying it. I usually use my finger to apply but recently got a brush, which has a bit of a learning curve to it. –Lauren Ro, senior writer
A comforter for couples
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I called this in while working on my story abouthow to share the bed as a couple. It’s designed so that each partner can choose how warm their side of the comforter is. I included it in that piece but didn’t get much space to write about it. After sleeping with it for a while, and through multiple temperature changes (thank you, spring), I’m quite into it. Basically, it’s a duvet that comes with two additional mini-duvets that layer on top and attach with buttons. You can remove the mini-layers to make it a more lightweight comforter or add them back on to make it warmer. Each mini-duvet covers one side of the bed, so each partner can independently add or remove their mini-layer without affecting the other person. So smart! I’ve been sleeping with it without a duvet cover because I don’t own one, but I like it a lot and want to get a cover so I can keep using it full-time. –Amelia Jerden, sleep writer
And a mattress topper for couples
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Helix Dual Comfort Mattress Topper With GlacioTex - Queen
I also tested this topper for the couples’ sleep story, and I ended up including it in ourBest in Class mattress toppersstory too. It’s a memory-foam mattress topper, but what makes it unique is that each side is a slightly different firmness. My husband and I have slightly different preferences about mattress firmness — he likes firmer, I like softer — so we were perfect candidates to test this. The difference on each side isn’tdrastic, but it is definitely noticeable. My side was cushier and a little more sinky, which I liked for the pressure-relief benefits. Meanwhile, his side didn’t have as much give and felt more like sleeping “on top of the bed.” We were both happy with our respective sides!
Two new pairs of underpants
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I did a spring-clean of my underwear drawer and have been testing out some new pairs to see if they’re worthy of being added to my daily rotation. The Strategist staff is widely curious about cotton underwear. So far, I’ve quite liked options from Kent and Stripe & Stare, which are very different but fulfill their respective functions excellently. The cotton bikinis from Kent are comfortable and breathable and feel really solidly constructed — I have no compunctions about tossing them in the dryer (still on a gentle cycle, though). Because they’re on the thicker side, they’re perfect to wear with sturdy bottoms like jeans and wool trousers, but they do tend to show visible lines when wearing them under a more delicate, drapey material like a silk skirt. That’s where the Stripe & Stare pairs come in. The fabric and seams are much thinner, made of Tencel and trimmed with nylon lace. I was worried the lace would be scratchy and distracting, but it’s not at all — I completely forget I’m wearing them. I’m especially a fan of all the fun colors and patterns they come in, but there are also plenty of nude colorways if you prefer more understated underthings. –Kitty Guo, writer
Nonplastic cooking utensils
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I’m about to update my story onnonplastic cooking utensils, so I’ve been using some newer pieces to see if they’ll make it into the rotation (and in certain cases, replace sold-out products). Back in January, I wrote an ode to Earlywood’s flat sautés, but its proper wooden spoon has also become heavy in my cooking rotation. It’s angled for my right hand and feels so comfortable to hold. After my editorWinnie Yangtold me how much she loved Misen’s five-piece spoon set, I called it in to try myself. It’s a great little collection for cooking, and I appreciate how a couple at a time can be used for serving, too. Finally, both Material Kitchen and Food52 have had their respective whisks sold out for ages (both of which I use), so I got my hands on what I figured would be a reliable OXO one — and indeed it is. –Emma Wartzman, senior kitchen and dining writer
Supportive half-marathon shoes
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I’m one of the Strategist’s resident runners. I started testing the latest shoe from Brooks earlier this year, and it’s quickly become a regular in myrunning-shoe rotation this half-marathon training block. As someone who doesn’t typically enjoy the ultracushioned trend a lot of daily trainers have these days, these are a nice in-between. They have just enough support for your easy runs yet are still super responsive if you want to throw in some strides or tempo paces in there. The flexible midsole is also extremely unique and gives me a little more grip and bounce running up elevated bridges or even wearing the shoe for both runs and strength training. It’s truly one of the most unique shoes I’ve tried so far, and I can’t wait to log more miles in them. –Ashley Wolfgang, newsletter editor
A new crewneck contender
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As the person who writesour crewneck-sweatshirt guide, I have more crewnecks than I can count. This one, which is made from lived-in-like terry cotton, has quickly become the one I reach for most. It’s from Imogene + Willie, a small, made-in-USA company with a 12-person sewing team. The crewneck truly feels thoughtfully made; it has clean stitches and a cute V-stick (a.k.a. the “Dorito”) on both the front and the back. It’s heavy without being too heavy and thick enough to keep me warm on these rainy spring days. I love that it hits right above my hips, so I don’t need to do a French tuck. –Bella Druckman
An extremely softening lotion
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I can become neglectful of the skin south of my chest during the winter — even though I am an constant quest tostay moisturized. But tank-top-and-short-skirt-season is coming, so I’m trying to up my body-care game. This is a new launch from Grown Alchemist that’s infused with a blend of AHAs and BHAs to really slough off dead skin. While I don’t love the smell, a stranger at a cocktail party bumped into me and, before apologizing, noted that my skin felt supersoft, so I think it’s worth it. –Dominique Pariso, writer
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