sunday circular

7 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: From Fragrance Tags to Foundation

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

We write about hundreds of products every week. Here, in our version of the Sunday circular, we’ve plucked out some of our favourites — expert-recommended essentials, life-changing stuff you didn’t know you needed, newly launched gizmos, and the very good deals we uncovered while trawling the vast online-shopping universe this past week, including a mature skin-approved foundation, and a gift that smelled so alluring, one Strategist writer kept it for himself.

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A festival-ready dry shampoo that doesn’t cake you in white residue

This Living Proof dry shampoo came out on top when we heard from hair-care experts, four of whom especially shouted it out. “MIT scientists actually worked to formulate this dry shampoo,” said Kathleen Hou, beauty director at the Cut. “This is one of the rare ones that actually makes your hair feel truly clean, and it’s the best if you really can’t wash your hair. It makes your hair look great and adds a little volume too, so you really do look like you washed your hair.”

A two-for-one, versatile sleeping bag

Another staple of the festival rucksack is a good-quality sleeping bag, such as the Olpro Dark Moon double. It has a vibrant print and a poly-cotton insulation of 300 GSM (grams per square meter), meaning it’s suitable for camping across three seasons (i.e., not quite warm enough for a deep winter expedition). Robshaw-Bryan, who runs the Camping With Style blog, points out that the double is actually two singular bags zipped together, so you can either separate them for a solo trip or keep them as one if you’re travelling with a partner.

A particularly stylish (and compact) handheld vacuum

Slick, inexpensive, and highly praised for its impressive suction power, the AerosSlim earned its place on our roundup of the very best handheld vacuums this week. Although it has slightly less capacity than larger models, its suction power “packs a punch,” according to one reviewer. Cordless, fast charging, and with a 12-minute run time, it’s the ideal choice for quick cleanups in tough-to-reach spots.

Multi-use glitter that’s kind to the planet

Glastonbury banned the use of traditional body glitter this year, as it’s considered a single-use plastic. We looked into a couple of biodegradable glitter alternatives you could consider for the rest of festival season and beyond. This soft, pastel tub from EcoStardust caught our eye, all subtle shimmer and fine particles — we think it would add a nice finish to a cut crease.

Luxurious scent tags from a boutique brand

“Last Christmas, I bought something for my boyfriend that I liked so much, I ended up keeping it for myself,” Strategist writer Chris Mandle admitted. He was talking about a scented tag, or portable air freshener, from statusy home-fragrance brand Earl of East. When the Smoke and Musk scented tag arrived, Mandle was delighted by its sweet, herbaceous smell. He decided to nestle it in his wardrobe, rotating his hangers every few days to allow all of his garments to pick up the scent. “I had expected the smell to linger for a month at best,” he says. “But a whole six months later, my clothes still have this pleasing scent practically woven into the fibres.”

A makeup artist–approved glowy foundation

As your skin matures, your skin-care routine demands change — as does any foundation you reach for. If you’re not sure what to look for when picking out a new one, New York–based makeup artist Gita Bass (whose clients include Laura Dern) recommends scanning for key words like hydrating or luminous. “Formulas with words like these tend to help bring back the glow that we lose over time,” she explains. This NARS foundation is one of Bass’s favourites: It provides a luminous glow, without sacrificing longevity. It’s also a great option for drier skin, no matter your age.

A frequently sold-out Mason Pearson dupe

Photo: Evo

If you have textured or dry hair, you’ll likely already have a carefully curated routine for wash days and maintenance. Strategist intern Fern McErlane searched for the right brush to keep her curls bouncy, but felt overwhelmed by the amount of options out there. On the recommendation of her hairdresser, she replaced a budget drugstore brush with the Bradford by Australian brand Evo. “It turned out to be an investment piece that’s still in great condition after a year of daily use,” she wrote — and wash day isn’t a battle anymore.

The Strategist UK is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Read about who we are and what we do here. Our editors update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

Things That Delighted Us Last Week: Fragrance to Foundation