Welcome to “Your Shopping Cart,” wherein we break out the top ten products that you, devoted Strategist UK readers, bought in droves. Think of this as the TL;DR of the Strategist UK: If your like-minded brethren are buying these items, maybe you’d like to as well.
This month saw four new entries in the Strategist top ten, including a dermatologist-approved salicylic acid cream and a set of woven planters. One of our most popular products is back after an unusual absence last month, while moisturisers and lotions for the face and hands remain popular among readers.
Once more, the Flairosol mist bottle is the best-selling product this month, now in its 22nd month in our top ten. In fact, this is the third month in a row the mister has reigned supreme — a sure sign that its status as our most frequently bought product on the Strategist is well deserved. Experts told us misting is an excellent way to take care of both indoor plants and those on a balcony, so perhaps readers are nurturing their aspidistra and leafy ferns after a winter of low maintenance.
Cerave’s moisturiser has now spent three months in a row as the second-most-bought product — and March marks its sixth month overall in our top ten. We imagine the cold weather has called for a thicker, more robust cream for banishing dryness — this one comes recommended by Strategist contributor Daniella Morosini, who says it’s better than some of the luxe options she has tried over the years. Experts told us this is suitable for dry to very dry skin. Dr. Susan Binder said, “It has a high lipid content, which really helps repair dry, cracked skin.” In fact, she notes, no matter the reason for your dry skin — whether it’s dry in winter, dry year-round, or dry because of aging — this is a universally good choice.
Our first of four new entries this month is a bath pillow that contributor Chelsey Pippin said has transformed her evening soaks. It offers more support for the neck (as well as with little wings at the side for shoulders), which Pippin said was essential in her rented home. She explained that her bath is jammed against the sink column in her bathroom, which can make getting comfortable difficult. “The pillow stayed in place but was also easy to readjust, and most of all, it was comfy — just the right balance of soft and firm to make me feel relaxed and supported at the same time,” Pippin wrote. “It really did feel like memory foam.”
Our second new entry is a smoothing cream that experts recommended to us for facial psoriasis. Treating psoriasis requires a trip to a dermatologist’s office because patients will oftentimes need a prescription and a personalised regimen. But Dr. Rachel Nazarian told us over-the-counter creams can help remove the excess skin. She says to look for a product that “contains salicylic acid to resurface the scale and smooth out psoriasis plaques” and recommended this salicylic acid cream from CeraVe.
This is the sixth month we’ve featured Belazu’s olive oil, which we recently named a best-in-class product. Staff writer Chris Mandle has recently become a convert, noting the pleasing banana-like aroma and buttery finish makes it ideal if you dislike peppery oils that catch in the back of your throat. You can see the other oils that made our top five here.
This month, there are three products tied at sixth place. First is this Oral-B toothbrush, which featured in our most-bought back in May 2021. Recently, we named it the best overall in our exhaustive look at the best toothbrushes. We pulled in recommendations from dental experts and compared notes on everything from battery life to Bluetooth compatibility. This toothbrush is notable for its lithium-ion battery, usually found in more expensive models, which allows it to go more than two weeks without a charge.
Also at sixth place are these chewable, stackable baby blocks, which have gone up three places from February, when they were in ninth place. Natasha Crookes, director of public affairs and communications at the British Toy and Hobby Association, recommends interlinking tactile cubes for little ones at this age, but said soft toys are an important consideration, since 1-year-olds are still very much in the teething zone. These blocks are also in the Strategist 100 — our guide to our most stood-behind products, and March marks their seventh month in our most-bought.
Finally, these rope planters were also in sixth place and made their debut in our top ten this month. We first spied them while perusing Amazon for some actually nice plant pots, and we like them so much, we think they’d make an excellent gift for a friend or a partner (perhaps with a Patch gift card tucked inside).
Spending its third month in our most-bought is this heavy-duty moisturiser from Cetaphil, which remains in seventh place. It is popular with dermatologists and skin-care experts: In fact, it was featured in both our guides to the best lotions for dry skin and the best moisturisers. Experts said it is particularly good for sensitive skin, as it contains ceramides and essential fatty acids. Cosmetic dermatologist Michele Green said these “create a barrier that protects skin from environmental stressors, while replenishing lost moisture.” It’s fragrance-free and, due to containing lactic acid, will gently exfoliate without irritating skin.
In joint eighth place this month are two products we haven’t seen for a minute. The first, a silk pillowcase by LilySilk, returns after last being in our most-bought in February 2021. Strategist contributor Natalya Lobonova wrote that “these pillowcases are a dream to sleep on, and they’re machine washable (though only on the delicate setting, of course). I have washed them at least a dozen times, and the silk is still very shiny and luxurious-looking.”
Also in eighth place is the Neutrogena moisturiser that, for reasons unknown, fell out of our top ten altogether last month, after spending 20 months in readers’ carts. It recently came recommended by experts as one of the best moisturisers for oily skin. It contains hyaluronic acid and glycerol, two intensely moisturising yet light ingredients. What’s more, the formula is oil-free and doesn’t contain any alcohol. Cosmetic dermatologist Kenneth Howe explained that these factors result in a “lightweight gel formulation” that “goes well with oily skin.” He also revealed it’s the moisturiser of choice for his 14-year-old son.
After last appearing in our most-bought roundup in December, this almond hand cream by Burt’s Bees returns in ninth place. We’re particularly fond of the farmcore-style jar, which makes it quite giftable compared to a lot of other hand creams. It contains almond oil, beeswax, and vitamin E, and can be used on elbows, knees, and feet, too.
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.