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For our long-term testing series, Ranked, our editors spent dedicated hours applying, scrubbing, cooking and more to narrow down the top-performing summer essentials worth investing in. Executive editor Adrianna Brach stopped by the studio to help share the team's favorite everyday upgrades for the home and outdoors that can help solve common warm-weather woes. What you can expect: A powerful speaker for better outdoor entertainment, a quick-drying beach towel and more targeted fixes. Keep reading to discover what products we've labeled as the “best overall” for the season and beyond.
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Best budget countertop ice machine maker: Editor Shannon Garlin put a few of these gadgets to the test and found that this $40 find worked just as fast and efficiently as the pricier options. “The cycle time is around six to eight minutes, and since it’s a smaller ice basket, I found that it finished filling a little quicker than others,” she says. Brach also appreciates the machine's portable design: "It's got the handle; it's compact, so you can put it on a bar cart [or] you can bring it outside for a barbecue." She adds that it's pretty powerful, too, saying "it makes about 26 pounds of ice in 24 hours."
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Best non-stick pan: “What stood out to us most about this pan was honestly what didn’t happen,” emphasizes Brach. “No sticking, no smoking, no difficult cleanup and no sticker shock." Partnerships associate editor Lauren Witonsky used it to cook chicken, steak and scrambled eggs, achieving a golden-brown sear with little clean-up after each test. "While this was the last pan I tried, it was the first one I came back to after the testing period was over," she notes.
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Best beach towel: Shop TODAY contributor Camryn LaSala spent three weeks testing 10 Turkish towels, but says this one from Sand Cloud was the clear winner. “It performs at a high level across both light and heavier drying use, making it a dependable option for after-shower routines or beach use,” she says. She also adds that it's super absorbent and pulls moisture off skin with minimal effort. And as far as design: "We washed it over and over and over again, and it still held its softness," shares Brach.
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Best standing air conditioner: As a New Yorker living without central AC, staying cool is a top priority for associate editor Annie Shigo. She tested this unit on a 90-degree day and said it completely blew her away. "I was astounded by how cool it made my living room. It took the space from 76 to 71 degrees in just about an hour and a half on the cool setting," she shares, adding that even setting it up was easy, taking about 20 minutes total. One huge plus: "It didn’t overload the power. Some units we tested actually tripped the breaker, but this one didn’t."
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Best carpet cleaning solution: There’s nothing more panic-inducing than a stubborn stain on carpet or a rug, but commerce writer Danielle Murphy says this cleaner puts her mind at ease. "This OxiClean spray foamed up on contact, getting deep into the rug almost instantly." For the deepest clean, she recommends doing two treatments and allowing the stained area to dry after the first one. "The second round was a major success and removed wine, coffee and urine stains completely."
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Best portable Bluetooth speaker: One TODAY host, who has owned a JBL speaker for about 10 years, says this brand is "amazing" — and Brach says they made this seventh generation model better than ever. “This is one of those speakers that sounds way bigger than it actually is,” she notes. Our team ranked it with a perfect score for portability, mainly for its cylinder shape and removable clips for hands-free use on the go. And with a design that reduces distortion and adds more depth, it's a clear must-have for outdoor entertainment this summer.
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Best facial sunscreen: Murphy gave this K-Beauty sunscreen a perfect score for its comfortable feel, compatibility with makeup and zero white cast application. "The formula sinks into the skin effortlessly and requires hardly any dry-down time before starting your makeup routine," she says. "Plus, it offers a dewy base that gives the skin a glow even with a little foundation and concealer on top. There’s also zero pilling or product breakup, even in spots that crease, like around the nose and smile lines."
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Best white T-shirt: Commerce writer Jannely Espinal gave this shirt a perfect score across all categories: fabric, fit and coverage. Even when she revisited the top six months after testing ended, she still said it's the best in her collection. "I’ve washed it many times and still, the fabric looks as crisp as its initial wear. I love the structure, the weight and the softness of this shirt," she notes.
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Best skin tint: Garlin was so impressed with this skin tint, that she gave it a perfect score across all categories, mainly for its natural coverage and comfortable wear. “This formula just glides across and blends seamlessly into your skin,” she raves. “Despite being a ‘balm,’ the formula is serum-based, making it lightweight and packed with anti-aging and hydrating ingredients. I found my overall complexion looks radiant, plumper and more even.”
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Best mascara: "In my opinion, this is the best mascara you can find at a drugstore," shares Garlin. "I find it to be super pigmented and long-lasting; you just need a few swipes in the morning, and you're set for the rest of the day. It doesn't smudge, cause your lashes to clump, and I don't find myself rubbing off residue from my brow bone at the end of the day."
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Fun in the sun, here we come!
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Breezy button-downs, waffle-knit tees and more favorites for the season.
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Because it was never out with the old.
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Consider this your ultimate summer swim guide.
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Here's why the ingredient may be just what your scalp needs.
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