January 29, 2026

EDITOR'S NOTE

We haven’t met yet, but I’m Alex. By day I’m known as a senior analyst for theSkimm, but at night I’m the shopping team’s Collective Boyfriend™. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, the team asked me to impart some deeply important knowledge: What gifts do the men really want for Valentine’s Day? So I’m here to give my expert boy opinion on what to gift a man. Here are the product-related hills I’m dying on:

• A “fresh vegetable, but make it chic” cologne from Troye Sivan.

• The $115 umbrella that actually makes all the difference (don’t judge).

• Some designer sneaker dupes that are a comfortable, noteworthy upgrade to his cheugy pair.

• The noise-cancelling Bose Headphones that are $200 cheaper than that popular pair. Perfect for flights, quick commutes, and deep focus.

• The henley sweater I can’t take off. It’s 100% cashmere and under $80.

If you want more Valentine’s Day gift ideas, click here.

—Alex Mutammara, Skimm Shopping Boyfriend, Brooklyn, NY

Margo here. As shopping editors, we test out a lot of brands. But it’s the ones that have stood the test of time that I actually find to be the most underrated. I’ve been burning P.F. Candle Co.’s amber glass candles since college (so for almost ten years now), and to put it lightly, they’re the best. My go-to scent is Golden Coast with notes of eucalyptus, lavender, and sage, but I’m currently eyeing this new HI-FI Tuberose Musk Candle. We have an exclusive code, SKIMM20, until February 11 for 20% off sitewide. You better believe I’ll be using it to treat myself to a Valentine’s Day gift.

Three Totally Random Things

Here are three random products we’re loving this week:

• Neendi Vintage Buttercream Cake Long Pajama Set: A stylish loungewear upgrade for the homebody in your life.

• Glamnetic Love Notes Collection: A Valentine’s Day-themed press-on nail collection you’ll want to start wearing now.

• Limitless Heated Ice Scraper: A genius problem-solver to keep on hand in case of emergencies.

Take Note

If there’s one thing we can count on, it’s that LaserAway is always going to have a good deal. From now until March 2, you can get 70% off a package of eight to 10 treatments. This deal only applies to small areas of the body or face, so it’s the perfect deal to use ahead of any events. Staying warm thanks to lasers? We’re here for it.

Bookmark This

🍗 An air-fryer, dehydrator, and rotisserie oven in one (and it’s under $100).

🖇️ Our paper-obsessed editor just shared all her stationery, journal, and planner picks for 2026.

❤️‍🔥 We tried three vibrators ahead of cuffing season. Here’s which one is worth the buzz.

🙏 This complexion stick doubles as a foundation and concealer. Bonus points for its range of 30 shades.

🫖 An underrated favorite: This small, woman-owned tea brand. Our editor always restocks this flavor. You can too with code SKIMM20 at checkout.

‼️ One of our goals for 2026? Wear this more.

Skimm’d by: Margo Ghertner, Alexandra Napoli, Martha Upton, Caroline Goldstein, Alessandra Rey

theSkimm Shopping | We serve you affordable, durable products meant for keeps. And if anything has a flashy price tag, we’ve vetted for quality and deemed it investment-worthy.