September Testing Report: Dressy Blundstones and Melatonin Alternatives

I’ve been going through a patch of bad sleep again so I’m trying theSakara Night Servicecapsules, which do not include melatonin. I don’t like melatonin — it makes me have bad dreams and inevitably leaves me groggy the next morning — so this is a formula I’m optimistic about. It has, instead, among other things, tart cherry extract, which I keep reading about but haven’t yet tried for sleep support. Sakara recommends taking it for 12 weeks to get the full benefits, but I’m more of a take-as-needed type, and so far I’m finding it effective.—Diksha Basu, writer

My makeup routine is fairly straightforward: skin care and SPF as prep, mattifying primer, blush, translucent powder, brow gel, and some kind of lip product. Though most of this is applied with my fingers, I’ve struggled to build out a quality collection of brushes for ideal powder application. Traveling usually involves lugging around too many of these: one for the clear Rae Morris primer, another for powder, and a third for blush. This brush easily does the job of all three. The domed end is excellent for buffing primer into my skin or blending out creams like concealers. And the angled side is key for setting under my eyes and contouring my cheekbones with powder. The gently tapered edge gives me precise but not too harsh placement and blending. It’s the only brush I’ve used next to a blush brush in the past month and one I’m confident I could get away with using for a more full face of makeup. The bristles have held up well after multiple washes, too.—Najwa Jamal, updates coordinator

I’ve been wearing this new bomber jacket from Patagonia since the spring, and now that evenings in the city are starting to feel nippy again, I’m excited to bring it back into rotation. The Nano-Air material is super-stretchy and breathable, yet relatively wind resistant, so it’s comfortable across a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions. Its relatively fashion-forward bomber silhouette and lack of logo on the torso lends it a more sophisticated look that reminds me of Arc’teryx’s Veilance line of technical urban clothing.—Michael Zhao, senior writer

I took this alpaca hoodie on my camping weekend, which was a perfect layer for chilly-but-not-quite-cold weather in the morning and evenings. The hoodie is made from 65 percent alpaca wool and 35 percent nylon, so it’s soft and very lightweight. I liked how it felt cozy without being too warm. I felt slightly itchy when I wore it over a tank top but didn’t notice any issues when I wore it over a T-shirt — I can definitely be sensitive to itchy fabrics. Going forward, I’ll probably primarily wear it over tees or long-sleeved shirts to avoid that. But it’s a lovely light layer for this time of year when it’s just starting to get chilly, and I can already see it being a regular wear on hikes this fall. The sizing is unisex, so make sure to consult the size guide (it runs slightly larger than typical women’s sizes). —Amelia Jerden, sleep writer

I’m on the search for a pair of new loafers, and I think I’m maybe over the scrunchy look of a pair I picked up last year fromBanana Republic. I also didn’t want anything with a lug sole or a variation of a penny loafer. The silhouette of these is especially quiet: soft, fluid edges all around with hardly a sole but plenty of Margaux’s typical cushiony insole. I love how elongated they are and that the toe isn’t too square or too rounded off. Now that temperatures are properly dropping, I know I’ll be reaching for these more (yes, sockless). I took them for a test spin earlier in the summer and ran into no issues at all, though they’ll need a pinch more (largely painless) breaking in for the buttery leather to really form to my feet.—N.J.

I’ve tried my best to like theManta sleep mask(considering it’s one of ourbest upgrade picks), but I just can’t abide the extra padding around my eyes; it always, always, always leaves deep grooves on my face that take forever to disappear. Recently I’ve switched to ourbest overall pick, which is this mulberry-silk mask from Drowsy. I haven’t really liked other silk masks I’ve tested out, but the unusual slit above the nose seems to be the key for keeping the mask in place and blocking out light. It shifts a little during sleep, but not nearly enough to be a deal-breaker. I also like that the strap is adjustable.—Sam Daly, deals editor

The deal with these gummy candies is that they’re designed to be better than the usual ones: They’re made without synthetic dyes (they’re colored with spirulina and turmeric instead) or corn syrup and have an actually pretty short ingredients list for this category. They also come in sophisticated flavors like Prickly Pear and White Peach. Of the three kinds of gummies Sweet Stash makes, I like the Sour Jams (scroll down on the product page) the most. They have a really delightful bouncy texture to them, and the citric acid makes the flavors taste a bit juicier than in the regular gummy Jams (which are my 10-year-old’s favorite) and the crunchy rock-sugar encrusted Rock Jams. My husband and I both agree, however, that if they made the Rock Jams sour, those would be the winner.—Winnie Yang, senior editor

While I used to think the whole “drink a cup of warm water on an empty stomach in the morning” was just some wellness nonsense my mother had been spouting, turns out she’s right. I’m trying to be consistent about having a glass before my first cup of coffee and have been sneaking a few droplets of these ginger drops in for added digestive benefits. They taste like hardly anything, and I’ll also throw a few drops into my nightly cup of peppermint tea for further benefits. They’re a nice addition to my daily routine and an easy way to avoid the annoying task of microplaning ginger into my liquids otherwise.—N.J.

Consider this a sneak peek of an upcoming story. I’m working on testing a bunch of kitchen shears, and though at some point I’ll employ an organized way to compare them, I am at the moment simply using them in my day-to-day cooking. So far, I’ve been gravitating toward this Zwilling pair, which I find sharp and comfortable to hold, especially impressive given the price. More soon … —Emma Wartzman, senior writer

It’s been only six weeks, but I’m pretty convinced that the Joolz Aer2 is the best stroller for walk-up apartment dwellers. Its wheels are slightly larger than a typical travel stroller’s, so it rides and handles comparably to a full-size stroller without sacrificing the easy one-handed fold and compact design of a travel model. My wife and I opted for the bassinet configuration, which we’ve also been using indoors to safely contain our napping newborn while we eat at the table or attend to more hands-on chores. At just under 19 pounds with the bassinet, it’s light enough for me to carry up and down the stairs with the nine-pound baby inside.—M.Z.

One of the lessons I’ve learned in adulthood is that having a good chair can really upgrade your experience for outdoor activities — like camping or spending a day at the beach — where you’ll be spending a lot of time lounging around. This camping love seat is an excellent upgrade on a standard camping chair, particularly if you’re camping with a partner, pet, or other loved one you’d like to cozy up with.

I took it camping this past weekend and was thrilled with how easy it was to set up (you basically just unfold it like any standard camping chair) and how pleasant it was to sit in. Obviously, being able to share the love seat is the main perk — I cuddled up with my husband around the campfire and even shared the chair with my friend’s affectionate dog — but I also love that it’s a bit lower to the ground than an average camping chair. While it is slightly more effort to stand up from, the lower seat makes it easier to lounge and truly chill than a regular upright chair allows. (Kelty also makes an upright version, which writer Kat Gillespie recommends in our guide to thebest camping chairs.)

Another nice feature is the insulated cupholders, which can fit a can or a water bottle, thanks to a divider. When you pack the chair up, you can wrap it in a mat that keeps it compact and easy to carry; when not in use, you can use the mat as a makeshift dog bed too.—A.J.

The Litter Robot 4 we bought ourselves a couple of years ago had in the past six months been failing in some fairly catastrophic ways (i.e., dumping all the fresh litter I just put in the drum onto the floor while I emptied the bin), and I was curious whether the newer version would have those issues. So far, so good, though largely the general experience (minus the failures) is unchanged. One new feature we appreciate is that the 5 displays messages in text instead of just blinking lights at you.—W.Y.

Mywool-lined Blundstonesare one of the most comfortable shoes I own, so when I saw that the brand was coming out with a Heritage dress boot, I had to try it. The boots are handcrafted with premium leather and look more like fancy Chelsea boots — Goodyear welt construction, leather outsole, and rubber tread — than winter Blundstones, though they still have the signature pull tabs. I haven’t worn them outside yet but the inner cork sole feels comfortable, and I can’t wait to pair them with tights and skirts this fall.—Lauren Ro, senior writer