November 21, 2024

Animation: Pedro Nekoi

You may recall that I recently called out a few Strategist staffers who purchased Ceremonia’s Guava Rescue Spray from the latest Sephora sale. Ambar Pardilla stands by it so much that she went long on how much it’s changed her hair for the better. “I can spray it on my hair when it’s almost air-dried or dripping wet with the same result: a blowout that makes me feel like I’m cheating on my hairdresser,” she says. 

Also on the site: Soft-sided suitcases aren’t as ugly as they used to be; part three of the Strategist’s Carefully Selected, Unusually Special Gift Guide is here, this time highlighting 111 ideas over $200, including an electric surfboard, a 24-karat-gold vibe, and feathered Ferragamos; and here’s a gifting philosophy from Bella Druckman: “Buy them something useful, but make it sparkly.”

SALE

MICRO ODE

I’m head over heels for this Greek honey-sesame brittle called pasteli. I can go through bags of it in the blink of an eye. You can find some versions on Amazon, but I prefer to get it from Primis Imports, a small-batch importer that sources it directly from a local family-owned producer on the island of Crete. It’s sweet and nutty and pretty healthy, as far as snacks go. You can eat it on its own, but I like to crumble it over yogurt or black-sesame ice cream (sesame squared!). It also makes the perfect stocking stuffer.  —Kitty Guo, writer

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