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 a lot of the products we can’t stop talking about — such as three moisturisers (including the hydrating gel a cosmetic dermatologist recommends) and the two-player board game that’s been a big hit during lockdown. But there’s also three new entries, including an acupressure mat that offers holistic pain relief.
This light gel moisturiser from Neutrogena is now in its fourth consecutive month on our most-bought list — and its third consecutive month as the No. 1 product. It first came recommended to us by Noelani Gonzalez, the director of cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai West, and it contains hyaluronic acid and glycerin, which help lock in moisture, while still feeling airy and lightweight. Experts told us that you can transition to a gel-based moisturiser in summer, which might explain why this product remains so popular.
Like the Neutrogena moisturiser, this plant mister has been on our most-bought list for four months now (and this month it’s gone up one place to No. 2). 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.”
First making its way into our top ten last month, this board game has clearly been popular with people in lockdown. 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 currently out of stock.]
This was voted the best overall face wash for oily skin by our experts, and it’s gone up two places from No. 6 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.
This matte moisturiser 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). It’s gone up two places from last month’s list, where it was No. 7.
Though it’s fallen down from second place last month, this moisturiser came recommended by five out of six dermatologists. Dr. Susan Binder said, “It has a high lipid content, which really helps repair dry, cracked skin.” In fact, she says that no matter the reason for your dry skin — whether it’s dry in winter, dry all year round, or dry because of aging — this is a universally good choice. [Editor’s note: This product is currently out of stock but will be available from June 30.]
Up two places this month is this hair-repairing mask from Olaplex, which 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.
A new entry this month is this hair mask, which was specifically recommended for people who want to encourage hair growth. Dhiran Mistry of the David Mallett salon says it’s great for growth due to ingredients like Creatine R, which is an amino-acid complex that helps strengthen hair fibres, and maleic acid, which works in the hair fibre to seal cuticles and reinforce the strands — all of which will help keep hair healthy and breakage-free during the growing-out period. “The mask also helps hydrate the scalp and improves elasticity of the hair,” adds Mistry. And as a bonus, it “smells amazing.”
Another new entry is this acupressure mat, which we first mentioned in our Father’s Day gift guide. It claims to offer holistic pain relief thanks to the way it targets both upper and lower back pain at the same time. On Amazon, 75 percent of its reviews are five stars, including one customer who says it completely eliminated her migraines.
This dentist-recommended electric toothbrush is actually a reentry — it last featured in April — and oscillates up to 44,000 times per minute. It features soft bristles, a pressure sensor, and a timer — all things our experts said are worth looking out for when buying a new toothbrush.
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.