10 Things That Delighted Us Last Week: From Countdown Clocks to Cotton Shorts (2024)

For years, Strategist contributor Priyanka Aribindi was a loyal user of Secret’s Clinical Strength — until she found . “I was hunting for the perfect deodorant, but instead I found the perfect perfume,” Aribindi explains, adding that the formula is fresh, crisp, and ever-so-slightly floral. Though it’s not technically an antiperspirant, this one has never failed Aribindi, whether she’s doing hot yoga or sprinting down the street to catch the subway.

If you’re struggling to catch up on z’s, take note from Nikki Glaser, who buys this sleep mask for all her friends who have trouble snoozing. Glaser, who describes sleep masks as the “No. 1 essential thing” in her life, says she’s tried hundreds of styles, but the Halo cap (which is technically designed to relieve migraines or headaches) is her favorite. “Once you use a mask long enough, you train your body to know that when the mask comes down, it’s time to go to sleep,” Glaser says.

Whether you’re an avid home cook or just getting into baking, take note from research chef Rachel Sherman: “Quality measuring cups are a worthwhile investment.” Sherman consulted food experts about the best measuring cups and heard about this All-Clad set that pastry chef April Franqueza recommended. “It’s heavy duty, easy to clean, and will last a lifetime,” she says. They come in ¼-, ⅓-, ½-, ⅔-, and 1-cup sizes, and the longer handles, which are riveted just like those on All-Clad’s cookware, are ideal for reaching the bottom of dry-ingredient storage containers.

When writer Dalya Benor consulted gallerists to hear about the frames — from birch and maple to aluminum and plexi — they actually use at home, several experts recommended frames from Skyframe. The custom-framing company is super easy to use: You simply upload a photo of your artwork, select a frame, and choose the kind and color of mat you prefer. If you aren’t sure where to start, two gallerists called out the line’s whitewashed maple frames, which Jordan Barse, who owns Theta Gallery in Tribeca, says is a favorite look “because it’s got this pinkish-whitish glow that feels cozy and precious, though not too precious.”

Strategist tech writer Jordan McMahon was a Kindle user for years until he discovered the Kobo Elipsa 2E, which he reviewed last year. But this year, Kobo released the Libra Color, which has everything he loved about the Elipsa — but it’s in color. While other color e-readers are usually washed-out-looking, McMahon says the Libra Color makes full-color images look “gorgeous,” which he tested by reading an X-Men comic book. It’s also great for annotating each page because you can change the color of your highlights, making it “an easy way to categorize them, obviating the need to write an explanation for the highlight in the margins for my future self.”

Photo: Retailer

Patagonia Baggies are (still) great, but have you ever wondered if there’s an even more comfortable pair of shorts out there? It turns out there is, according to Strategist contributor Michael Zhao. He discovered these soft cotton twill shorts while visiting the Crazy Shirts flagship store in Honolulu and says that they’re similar to Baggies, but softer and drape nicely without crinkling or flaring. “Now that hot weather has finally returned back east, my singular pair of CrazyShorts has replaced several pairs of Baggies as the bottoms that go on first thing in the morning and stay on until there’s a reason to change out of them,” Zhao says.

And since it’s officially shorts season, you might be in the market for a new body oil. You can get glowing, hydrated skin with this Osea formula, which we recently crowned our new best overall pick in the category. It’s non-greasy, fast-absorbing, and contains a whopping 11 botanical oils — including sunflower seed, babassu, passion fruit, and açai — to quickly replenish your skin’s moisture barrier.

As a beauty enthusiast who grew up envious of Paris Hilton’s tan on The Simple Life, our writer Rachael Griffiths knew she needed to try the new mist from the celebrity’s collaboration with tanning brand Tan-Luxe. So, in last week’s edition of our weekly newsletter The Strategist Beauty Brief, Griffiths tested the formula on her own skin and found that it creates a natural, sun-kissed finish that lasts for almost a week without going patchy. Although she liked the final results, Griffiths says the hassle of the tan mist and “the false promises of a speedy development time” isn’t entirely worth the $50 price tag.

And finally, we spotted an excellent collaboration in our latest installment of Don’t Dillydally: Chaco and Gramicci teamed up to release two new versions of Chaco’s popular Z/1 Classic sandal, our pick for the best all-around hiking sandals. “I walked 1,200 miles in a single pair on the Pacific Crest Trail,” says Michael Hervey, a senior instructor with Outdoor Outreach.