Welcome to Your Shopping Cart, wherein we break out the top-ten products that you, devoted Strategist UK readers, all 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, our top ten features five new entries, including two products designed to help any glasses wearers struggling to wear a face mask. There’s also plenty of the products we can’t stop talking about, including the hydrating gel a cosmetic dermatologist recommends, and a spray mop favoured by a best-selling author.
Our most-bought item this month is a new entry – an anti-fog spray that came recommended by an eye expert. James Dawson, a dispensing optician councillor at the Association of Optometrists, told us that these sprays, which work by preventing condensation forming on surfaces, are ideal for anyone whose glasses steam up when they’re wearing a fabric face mask.
This product had, until this month, been the best-selling product for three consecutive months. Now in its fifth month in our most-bought, we first heard about it from Noelani Gonzalez, who recommended it for dry skin. This moisturiser contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which help lock in moisture, while still feeling airy and lightweight. Experts told us gel-based moisturisers are particularly useful in summer, which might explain why this product remains so popular.
Staff writer Chris Mandle wrote about these squashy grippers for his glasses when he was having trouble keeping his mask on his face. “As soon as I started walking down the street, I’d feel my frames inching closer to the tip of my nose — and twice they fell off my face completely in Sainsburys.” He bought these after someone on Twitter suggested them, and they’re now so comfy he keeps them on his frames 24/7 (even if they look a bit dorky).
Another regular in our most-bought, this spray bottle has been on the list for five months now. Lisa Muñoz, interior plant designer and founder of Leaf and June, says this bottle is “typically something you’d see in salons,” but it’s her favourite mister for plants. “It’s small and lightweight, even when full of water, and it creates a gentle, steady mist.”
This board game is in joint fifth place, and has fallen two places from last month, where it was No. 3. Caper combines a drafting card game with a whodunit-style murder mystery, and was featured in our Recommended by Experts story on the best games for two players. The game allows players to hire and equip a crew of thieves, who then attempt to plunder famous sites across Europe. [Editor’s note: This product is low in stock].
Also tied for fifth place was the CeraVe cleanser, which was voted the best overall face wash for oily skin by our experts. It’s gone down one place from No. 4 last month. Dr. Michelle Park, of Washington Square Dermatology, likes it because it’s gentle and foaming, which helps it gently remove oil and impurities.
Our third new entry this month is this water flosser, which contributor Grace Holliday said was “practically idiotproof.” After being gifted it at Christmas, she says the tea stains on her teeth have been reduced by about 75 percent. “It’s not a substitute for a regular visit to the hygienist by any means,” she wrote, “but it’s an effective way to get that squeaky-clean feeling (especially when a nonurgent appointment won’t happen for a while).”
A non-mover from last month, this hair-repairing mask from Olaplex first featured in our story on the best hair masks, according to experts. Stylist Ash Fritzler said she’s seen the transformation this formula can bring to her clients with once-a-week use. “It’s so versatile, I would definitely recommend it to anyone who feels like their hair is compromised in any way,” she said.
This matte moisturiser has gone down three places since last month. The product was first brought to our attention by Hadley King, a clinical instructor of dermatology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. King says it uses “sebulyse technology” to target excess oil, “the brand’s proprietary new anti-sebum ingredient” (sebum being the substance secreted by your body’s oil-producing glands).
Our fourth new entry this month came courtesy of author Laura Jane Williams, who told us this mop made washing her kitchen floors almost enjoyable. “I loved it so much that I called my mother, my best friend and showed it to my neighbour after its first use,” she wrote. When she posted it on her Instagram stories, 1,000 people clicked the link. We’ve seen this spray mop out in the real world ourselves, too – staff writer Chris Mandle spied it in the kitchen of a friend’s house recently.
And finally, our last new entry this month is this tint kit by Godefrey, which we featured in our guide to tinting your eyebrows at home. Eyelash and eyebrow artist Jas Imani told us this was her “go-to” kit because it’s good for sensitive skin. The kit includes the dye, activator, and applicator. Imani notes that since it is not a professional-grade product, results will typically last about two to three weeks.
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.