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The Beginner’s Guide To Retinol Products

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  Listen and follow The Wirecutter Show Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio A retinoid is one of the best, scientifically-backed products you can use to keep your skin looking youthful. These vitamin A derivatives are among the very few skin-care products that can boost collagen, minimizing the appearance of pores and fine lines. In this episode, we’re bringing on two experts to help you determine the type of retinol product that’s best for you. Board-certified dermatologist Nikhil Dhingra, MD , of Spring Street Dermatology, explains how retinoids work and how to decide between using over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription-strength products. Wirecutter editor Rory Evans shares the top OTC products from Wirecutter’s extensive testing. This episode covers: What retinoids can do for your skin: Retinoids stimulate collagen, helping to reduce fine lines and wrinkles. They can also help with hyperpigmentation, protect the skin against ...

Our Favorite Summer Pajamas for Kids

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Hot, sticky summer nights call for ice pops, cool baths, and lightweight, breathable pajamas. On the warmest evenings, my kids sometimes sleep in just undies, but the steadfast ritual of “bath, jammies, books” is hard to resist. My daughters and I have tested more than 30 pairs of jammies and nightgowns for Wirecutter’s guide to the best kids pajamas . Many of our favorites come in breezy summer versions, too, including organic-cotton sets with shorts and short sleeves , pants and short-sleeve sets made with stretchy bamboo fabric, and charming nightgowns . Like their cozier counterparts, these PJs come in a wide array of kid-friendly colors and patterns. Just make sure to follow the pre-bedtime order suggested above — you don’t want the accelerating drip of a melting frozen pop to stain those brand-new jammies. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/cg30vIa via IFTTT

The Best Kids Lunch Boxes

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Packing lunch for your kid(s) can be an exercise in utility, or it can be an art form. Whether you’re a sandwich-and-chips family or a bento lunch one (or maybe you like to switch it up), you’ll want a durable lunch box that’s easy for your kid to use and for you to clean. Over the years, we’ve tested dozens of lunch boxes, including insulated fabric bags, plastic bento boxes, and metal bento boxes. Since some families want both insulation and organization, we also looked for boxes with the best combination of the two . Everything we recommend The L.L.Bean Lunch Box has long been one of our picks both for kids and for adults. It comes in an expandable version, too. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter The Pottery Barn Kids Mackenzie Classic Lunch Box has a fairly squish-proof plastic interior, so it’s a happy medium between an insulated lunch bag and a plastic lunch box. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter The leakproof Bentgo Fresh Lunch Box has a customizable layout, whi...

So You Stained Your Shirt. Now What?

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Stains aren’t just for the accident-prone. Even the most fastidious can fall victim to a dribble of soup, a tipsy tablemate’s wine spill, or an errant ink swipe. Fortunately, after testing dozens of laundry detergents and stain removers and going full-blown Jackson Pollock with mustard and gravy, I have advice on how to tackle all types of stains on machine-washable fabrics. Here is a how-to guide — plus a handy chart — to help you strategize your stain-busting game, no matter what state you find your clothes in. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/WPY7osv via IFTTT

The Best Conditioner for Different Hair Types

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On any given day, my commute might be snarled, and my to-do list could be a tangle of deadlines and commitments, but I still have a moment in the shower where everything feels streamlined, smooth, and easy. And that’s because of conditioner. Though it’s not a necessity for everyone, there are certain people — I count myself among them — who wouldn’t think of showering without conditioner. These creamy hair products moisturize dry strands, make detangling easier, and can help to prevent damage. And once you find the right conditioner, those last few seconds in the shower are blissful. To help you find a new favorite, I spent four months researching conditioners for a wide range of hair types . I started by evaluating 84 different options, and then I sent 15 contenders to a diverse group of 21 panel testers. We found a hydrating, budget-friendly conditioner for medium and thick hair, a detangling hero for tight curls and coils, an ultra-creamy moisture surge to s...

The Best Camping Stove

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A camp stove doesn’t have to be complicated to be great. It should cook food and boil water quickly and be rugged enough to withstand travel in the back of a car. And it should not require a burdensome amount of fuel. After researching 26 camp stoves, testing 13, and dissecting three of them — down to the welded copper tubing and soldered burner plates — we discovered that the Coleman Classic Propane Camping Stove is, in fact, uncomplicated yet great. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/21UF3kN via IFTTT

The Best Earplugs for Concerts

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Concerts are ephemeral (and frequently expensive) experiences, so we don’t want anything to hinder your enjoyment — including wearing standard foam earplugs that overly muffle the sound. That’s why we recommend using a great pair of universal-fit, concert earplugs, like the Loop Experience 2 set, which is tuned to let you hear more of the music while still protecting your ears from noise damage. Professional musicians and frequent concert-goers may want to upgrade to custom-made earplugs , which sound and fit even better. from Wirecutter: Reviews for the Real World https://ift.tt/TKJigUu via IFTTT