Everything Our Shopping Editors Bought This Month — From “Healthy” Cookie Dough To An E-Reader — For Under $100
February 07, 2022BruceDayneCozy turtleneck sweaters, winter skin-care staples, a “Christmas in California” candle — the lineup of what we actually bought ourselves in January reflects the bleak, homebound reality of the mid-winter stretch. Trapped inside our homes, we’re trying out “healthy” cookie dough, finally pulling the trigger on that Kindle and not regretting it one bit, and test-driving top-rated sex toys. There’s one silver lining to our cabin fever — an airtight list of editor-approved products consisting of everything you need to stay warm, entertained, and smelling good while you hunker down on your couch and wait for spring.
As you know, it's the R29 Shopping Team's job to bring you the best-of-the-best stuff worth buying day-in and day-out, and with all of the swag that crosses our laptop screens on an hourly basis, we think the goods that actually grab our attention and inspire us to hit “add to cart” deserve extra accolades. (And, as always, everything you're about to click through clocks in at under $100 bucks.) Because we know that there’s nothing as exciting as snooping on other people’s cart, we’re letting you in feast your eyes on 29 of our monthly favorites, ahead.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
LISEN Adjustable Desktop Phone Stand
"I know it's a bold statement, but this may genuinely be my best Amazon purchase to date. Whether I'm FaceTiming my mom or taking a cute selfie, this extendable phone stand has become a total life-upgrader for hands-free screen time. (You can apparently balance an iPad on there too, but I haven't tried that yet.) Best of all, the base is weighted so that it never topples over, and you can adjust the height and angle to your liking." — Karina Hoshikawa, Beauty & Wellness Market Writer
LISEN Adjustable Desktop Phone Stand, $, available at Amazon
NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Texture Wave Cream
"I love creating messy, tousled waves with a curling iron, but for days when that feels like too much #effort, this is what I use. After washing my hair, I squeeze a nickel-sized amount and scrunch it into damp hair to enhance my natural waves. The result: Effortless cool-person hair that smells freakin' amazing." — Karina Hoshikawa, Beauty & Wellness Market Writer
NatureLab Tokyo Perfect Texture Wave Cream, $, available at Ulta
Tula Breakout Breakthrough
"For over half of my life now, I've struggled with acne. Even though I'm mostly in the clear, I still deal with persistent breakouts every now and then. The latest addition to my pimple-fighting arsenal: Tula's just-launched salicylic acid pads. First things first: These are not the industrial-strength Stridex pads from the drugstore, but actually help calm down breakouts and prevent future ones. And the best part: The pads are biodegradable!" — Karina Hoshikawa, Beauty & Wellness Market Writer
Tula Breakout Breakthrough, $, available at Tula
Deux Chocolate Chip Enhanced Cookie Dough
"I know this may one day be the end of me, Is there any greater pleasure than going in on a roll of raw cookie dough? TBH, I think that cookie in its unbaked form is somehow better. Anyway, Deux is out here doing the damn thing with its totally safe to eat, vitamin-enriched cookie dough. You can actually bake the dough if you prefer, but I went all-in with a spoon and was positively living. Not only is it delicious, it actually has a side benefit of immune-boosting zinc and elderberry. (But don't rely on 'healthy' cookie dough alone to get your daily nutrients, mmk?)" — Karina Hoshikawa, Beauty & Wellness Market Writer
Deux Chocolate Chip, $, available at Deux
APTO Kakadu Plum Serum
"I’ve always given natural skincare a side-eye — which is why I’m obsessed with APTO’s products and branding in general. It doesn’t B.S. about ingredients, but also makes clean skincare that works (at least for my skin). I didn’t see results right away with this serum, but after about a month or two, I noticed a brighter complexion even without my prescription Retin-A that I keep forgetting to pick up from the pharmacy. But, perhaps my negligence is because this serum does such a great job all on its own? Who knows." — Alexandra Polk, Lifestyle Market Writer
Apto Skincare Kakadu Plum Serum with 8% Vitamin C, $, available at Apto Skincare
Zara High Collar Knit Sweater
"In this year’s annual Zara turtleneck haul I came across a sweater with the best collar ever. It keeps my neck snug as a bug without feeling like I’m wearing a boa constrictor as a scarf — which, I think many fellow turtleneck wearers understand my pain. I bought this one in cream but also copped one in black because I knew I’d be wearing them all the time until summer. Obsessed." — Alexandra Polk, Lifestyle Market Writer
Zara HIGH COLLAR KNIT SWEATER, $, available at Zara
Dickies Acrylic Cuffed Beanie Hat
"I’ve had this beanie for a minute now, and it’s time I give it its flowers. It’s perfectly stretchy — I’m not sure if my head stretched it out or if it came like that, but that’s just a testament to its flexibility. I wear it in the house, out in the snow, during a brisk lovely spring day, and so on. It’s not a heavy-duty headpiece, but it keeps my scalp warm during twist outs and is a great cover-up when that said twist goes awry." — Alexandra Polk, Lifestyle Market Writer
Dickies Acrylic Cuffed Beanie Hat, $, available at Amazon
Jenni Kayne Topanga Glass Candle
"This is one of the best smelling winter candles I've ever had. the scent is nostalgic to me and reminds me of Christmas in California." — Kate Spencer, Affiliate Strategist
Jenni Kayne Topanga Glass Candle, $, available at Jenni Kayne
UGG Tasman X
"People, there’s a new clog in town and they are IT. These new waterproof babies by UGG are truly a one-of-a-kind winter option. They’re light in weight while also being perfectly chunky in proportion, the bottom tread is sturdy enough to walk through wet weather without slipping and sliding, and the inner fuzzy liner sock is plush and REMOVABLE. I wore these outside on a 20-degree day and my feet stayed cozy and warm! Plus, just as TikTok (and my clog group chat) confirms, ‘ugly is in!’" — Kate Spencer, Affiliate Strategist
Ugg TASMAN X, $, available at Ugg
Nicwell Water Dental Flosser Cordless for Teeth
"I feel like I’m the queen of boring shopping suggestion, but — I bought a water flosser. I am simply awful at flossing my teeth (and I also hate the way floss feels in my hand). Now I almost enjoy my teeth routine!" — Kate Spencer, Affiliate Strategist
Nicwell Water Dental Flosser Cordless for Teeth, $, available at Amazon
Amazon Kindle
"After months of contemplating, I finally pulled the trigger and bought myself a Kindle. I have to admit, I love it much more than I expected. It's SUPER light which will make it great for on-the-go — once the weather is nicer and I can spend longer amounts of time outside without turning into an ice cube. I also love that I can easily check out e-books from my local library on it." — Kate Spencer, Affiliate Strategist
Amazon Kindle, $, available at Amazon
OXO Good Grips Bottle Brush
"I can’t believe how long it took me to get one of these brushes for my water bottles. I also can’t believe how gnarly my water bottle gets, even if it’s just filled with water. This thingy? Total gamechanger." — Jinnie Lee, Freelance Fashion Writer
OXO Good Grips Bottle Brush, $, available at Amazon
Office Chair Mat for Hard Wood Floors
"I started getting anxious about how my WFH rolling chair has been slowly ruining my landlord’s wood floors over the past couple of years (side note: I cannot believe we’re now in Year Two of the pandemia) so I finally bought this office chair mat to help prevent further damage. I know it’s not the sexiest purchase — but what IS sexy is (hopefully) getting my security deposit back in full one day. " — Jinnie Lee, Freelance Fashion Writer
MammyGol Office Chair Mat for Hard Wood Floors 36"x47" Heavy Duty Floor Protector Easy Clean, $, available at Amazon
Material The ReBoard
"My old cutting boards were long overdue for a replacement, and probably harboring salmonella and other bacteria by the time I got rid of them. And I LOVE myself for getting this set from Material! These colorful BPA-free boards are made from recycled plastic and renewable sugarcane, and they come in a host of highly appealing colors. The original reBoard is only $35, the mini is $25. And though it’s not pictured, I also got myself a reBowl too, for $25. Such good deals, such good meals." — Jinnie Lee, Freelance Fashion Writer
Material The reBoard, $, available at Material
Material The (mini) reBoard, $, available at Material
Mixed Dog Swedish Kitchen Dishcloths
"I finally made the switch to Swedish-inspired dishcloths in an effort to cut down on paper towel waste. These reuseable, ultra-absorbent squares are part sponge, part paper towel — you can use them hundreds of times for a variety of cleaning purposes and just throw them in the washing machine for a refresh. How cute is this doggerino cloth?! I’m obsessed. This towel is actually part of a six-pack — each cloth has a different canine-themed design. I look forward to reusing these for many months (hopefully years) to come. Because these cloths shrivel up and shrink, I found that it’s best to hang them to dry — so I also got these adhesive-backed hooks and stick them onto my kitchen wall. Just hole-punch the cloth and you’re good to go." — Jinnie Lee, Freelance Fashion Writer
Patelai 6 Pieces Mixed Dog Swedish Kitchen Dishcloths, $, available at Amazon
SoeKewo Adhesive Hooks for Wall Decorative Key Holder, $, available at Amazon
The Laundress Wash & Stain Bar
"Someone told me they swear by this Laundress stain remover bar, claiming that it removes literally everything from poop, puke, blood, and food/wine stains. I’m just trying to get rid of pit stains and ring around the collar in my day-to-day ’drobe, so I gave this bar a whirl and I can attest it totally works! I mean, some of the tougher stains had to be washed twice, with more muscle, and soaked for longer but this miracle bar truly does the trick when trying to freshen up beloved threads. 10/10 recommend." — Jinnie Lee, Freelance Fashion Writer
The Laundress New York Wash & Stain Bar, $, available at Amazon
EBY Brief Neutrals Pack
"These are literally the softest panties I’ve ever owned. I’ve been on a boxer briefs kick lately, but these EBY undies really got me. They’re so freaking comfortable, don’t slip at all and they’re not too tight (my eternal struggle with underwear). Plus, I love that the brand is Latinx-owned and fund micro-loans to support female entrepreneurs." — Mercedes Viera, Associate Deals Writer
EBY Brief neutrals pack, $, available at EBY
Snif Natural Talent
"This is my favorite scent from DTC fragrance brand Snif’s third collection — I cannot stop talking about it. Natural Talent is a mix of apricot, jasmine, soft suede, clementine, and sandalwood notes that blend beautifully together. I'm obsessed." — Mercedes Viera, Associate Deals Writer
Snif Natural Talent, $, available at Snif
Jack Black Pit Boss
"This is the first 'men's' deodorant I’ve tried and finished, and I’m buying a new one as soon as I can! This smells delightful, not too strong, not too weak, and it keeps me super fresh (without staining clothes or irritating my skin)." — Mercedes Viera, Associate Deals Writer
Jack Black Pit Boss, $, available at Amazon
Strawberry Leopard Orchid U Not
"I’ve been dyeing my curtain bangs for almost a year now, and for the most part, I was going to the salon to get it done. I was nervous about the hassle of at-home dyeing, getting it stained or fucking up in some other way. Strawberry Leopard has been the first product I used for at-home coloring and it literally couldn’t have been easier. It doesn’t stain (at least, not that I’ve noticed, I use gloves and I’m pretty careful with it) and the color is beautifully vibrant. It does fade fairly fast, but I wash my hair with cold water (the main tip used to prevent color fading) and it is a semi-permanent dye. All in all, I think the color payoff is more than worth it! And it smells so so good!" — Mercedes Viera, Associate Deals Writer
Strawberry Leopard Orchid U Not Semi Permanent Conditioning Hair Color, $, available at Sally Beauty
Unbound Puff
"My new favorite sex toy! While the Puff doesn’t beat out (my other favorite) the LELO Sona Cruise 2 in intensity and power, it does have the suction and air pressure I didn’t even know I needed. Super quiet, comfortable to hold. It took a little while to get used to it and figure out how to make it work for me, but the result? Some mind-blowing and relaxing orgasms!" — Mercedes Viera, Associate Deals Writer
Unbound Puff, $, available at Unbound
Allbirds The Scarf
"This scarf is so very warm. It's been really great to have on the extra chilly days in NYC. I love that it's made from wool, so you know you're getting a quality product! I have the pink one which isn't available right now. However, the oatmeal-colored will go with most outfits and is still available." – Chichi Offor, Associate Affiliate Writer
Allbirds The Scarf, $, available at Allbirds
Starface Exfoliating Night Water
"I have some stubborn hyperpigmentation, so I've been wanting to try out some products that could help with that. Starface’s toner contains a blend of alpha-hydroxy acids that promise to unclog pores and clarify your skin’s tone and texture. It's a bit too early to tell its impact on my dark spots, but so far it’s a solid toner and makes my skin feel very smooth!" – Chichi Offor, Associate Affiliate Writer
Starface Exfoliating Night Water, $, available at Starface
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5
"I need a boost of hydration in my skincare routine. This hyaluronic acid from The Ordinary is a tried and true favorite from a couple years back, so I brought it back into the day-to-day skincare routine." – Chichi Offor, Associate Affiliate Writer
The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5, $, available at Ulta
Ava & Viv Plus Size Double Round Buckle Belt
"Unfortunately, it's rather difficult to find a plus-size belt while shopping in person. Target always comes in clutch for plus-size clothing, so I'm glad they have a modest assortment of universally stylish belt options." – Chichi Offor, Associate Affiliate Writer
Ava & Viv Women's Plus Size Double Round Buckle Belt - Ava & Viv™ Black, $, available at Target
Papier Join Us Love Heart Party Invitations
"I’m hosting a little birthday dinner at the end of the month and decided to go analog on the invites. It was a fun way to flex my creative muscle, and to get excited about gathering with friends and loved ones now that it’s possible again." — Amanda Randone, Freelance Fashion Writer
Papier Join Us Love Heart, $, available at Papier
Bern Watts 2.0 MIPS Cycling Helmet
"Need a Valentine’s Day gift for your S. O.? I recently gifted mine this sleek cycling helmet and it was definitely a hit. It’s lightweight, easy to adjust, and was designed with comfort and safety in mind." — Amanda Randone, Freelance Fashion Writer
Bern Watts 2.0 MIPS Cycling Helmet, $, available at REI
Made Some x LSG Windsor Castle Tee
"Tourist merch is having a moment among the fashion set right now, which is why I was delighted to come across the LA-based brand Made Some Souvenirs (and their recent collab with Lisa Says Gah). The trend is nostalgic, it's kitsch in a Y2K kind of way, and it's getting me geared up for what I hope will be more travel adventures in 2022." — Amanda Randone, Freelance Fashion Writer
Made Some x LSG Windsor Castle Tee, Purple/Pink, $, available at Lisa Says Gah
Lanshin Intro Gua Sha Tool
"After learning about the traditional Chinese healing method of gua sha which promotes lymphatic drainage, I bought myself this tool to try out the basic foundational facial techniques as part of my evening skincare routine. The brand was launched by certified acupuncturist and herbalist Sandra Lanshin Chiu, whose Brooklyn-based health studio uses traditional Chinese medicine to promote healthier skin." — Amanda Randone, Freelance Fashion Writer
Lanshin Intro Gua Sha Tool - Xiuyan Jade, $, available at Net-A-Porter
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