9 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: From DJ Khaled’s Cocoa Butter to Brown Sugar Lip Balm
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We write about hundreds of products every week. Here, in our version of the Sunday circular, we’ve plucked some of our recent favorites: expert-recommended essentials, life-changing stuff you didn’t know you needed, newly launched gizmos, and very good deals we uncovered while trawling the vast online-shopping universe — including Myha’la Herrold’s sunscreen that doesn’t cause a white cast, an easy-to-use photo frame that you can text, and a Mother’s Day plant that won’t require any post-holiday watering.
A beginner-friendly, over-the-counter retinoid
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We’ve already broken down thebenefits of retinol, and this week, we went deep on thedifferent types. If you’re a new retinoid user or someone withsensitive skin, you’ll want to “look for an OTC product with one of the retinyls as the active ingredient,” says dermatologist Dr. David E. Bank. Retinyls are the easiest retinoid to formulate with, so they’re typically more affordable, like this under-$20 L’Oréal Paris moisturizer.
A near-perfect dupe for a discontinued Uniqlo tee
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Old Navy EveryWear Crop T-shirt
When Uniqlo discontinued Mya Gelber’s favoritewhite T-shirt, she went on a mission to find aworthy replacement. After meticulously testing and comparing a total of 13 tees, Gelber finally landed on a winner — from Old Navy. She says it’s similar in construction to some of the more expensive tops she’s tried and, overall, checks all the right boxes: It’s boxy with wide (just-long-enough) sleeves, comfortable, all cotton, and not too cropped. “I have been wearing this T-shirt with all of my favorite midi skirts and cardigans,” Gelber says. “It is just the right width to still fit comfortably under a cardigan, but not too fitted.”
Myha’la Herrold’s favorite no-white-cast sunscreen
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When we spoke toMyha’la Herroldabout her favorite things, we learned that she uses a couple of differentsunscreens— but this one from Black Girl Sunscreen is her go-to. “That one’s really great for people who are blessed and melanated because it doesn’t have a white cast,” she says, adding that she wears SPF every single day.
A better-than-average blow-dryer brush
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If you’ve ever wondered about the difference between theDyson Airwrapand the Shark FlexStyle, you should read ourhead-to-head blow-dryer-brush reviewfrom contributor Najwa Jamal. She put both the Dyson and Shark through the same trials and concluded that the Airwrap is worth the few hundred extra dollars. “The slightly smaller attachments give it quite the leg up in the blowout arena — they are nimble and able to get close to my scalp, smoothing and straightening in a way the Shark attachments were unable to,” she says.
The cocoa-butter lotion that DJ Khaled uses to “protect his glow”
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It’s no secret thatDJ Khaledloves cocoa butter: He’s been using it on his skin for as long as he can remember, and that’s why he counts thisultrahydratingPalmer’s lotion among his favorite things. “God has blessed me with a glow, but this helps me get through the day without tampering it,” Khaled says.
A digital picture frame for non-techie folks
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We can’t all be gadget wizards like tech writerJordan McMahon— but we can approximate it with thisdigital picture framefrom Loop. Unlike most frames that upload photos via email or through an app, the Loop can receive images over text message, which should give even your most tech-averse family members a more straightforward way to send in their favorite pictures.
A red-light therapy mask that forms to your neck and chest
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Our latest edition of “Don’t Dillydally” bringsStrategist-testedbrand Solawave’s new at-home device for targeting the skin on your neck and chest. Made from flexible, medical-grade silicone, the Neck and Chest Rejuvenating Mask useslight therapyto treat areas where elasticity loss and sun exposure show up the most, helping to reduce the appearance of wrinkles, creases, hyperpigmentation, and sun spots.
Rarely-on-sale tinted Summer Fridays lip balm
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Speaking of buzzy beauty products, now’s your chance to score tons of formulas on sale atSephora’s Savings Event. Though the super-popularvanilla lip balmfrom Summer Fridays is already out of stock, this tinted (and equally moisturizing) “brown sugar” shade is still available. If you’re eager to try it, we recommend you don’t dillydally, as all Beauty Insider discounts will expire at 11:59 p.m. PT on Monday, April 15 (2:59 a.m. ET on Tuesday, April 16).
A Mother’s Day gift that won’t require a green thumb
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Finally, a gentle reminder thatMother’s Dayis about a month away — so there’s no better time to start perusing our manygift guides. Instead of getting Mom another bouquet of bodega flowers, consider giving her thisorchid. It’ll only take an afternoon of LEGO building to fully assemble — and it’s immortal.
The Strategistis designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the bestacne treatments,rolling luggage,pillows for side sleepers,natural anxiety remedies, andbath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
