If you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered what famous people add to their carts. Not the JAR brooch and Louis XV chair but the hair spray and the electric toothbrush. We asked actress and comedian Kate Berlant— who’s in the upcoming movie Don’t Worry Darling (out this Friday) — about her humane bug catcher, everyday boots, and the mousse that gives her ’90s Julia Roberts hair.
This was sent to me via Poog, my podcast. I’m wearing a lot of makeup right now because I’m doing my Off Broadway show, Kate. I have to really be diligent about washing my face every night, so I double cleanse. This melts away all my makeup before I use a cleanser. I’ll also put it on my neck and décolletage for extra moisture. I really like the way it smells. I think it’s lavender and sandalwood. It makes me feel like a woman who hikes and has extravagant dinner parties.
This smells like what I imagine battery acid to be like. Not something I should be putting on my face. But it’s obligatory that I mention P50. At this point, when I don’t use it regularly, I see a difference. My now retired facialist told me to use it, and I’ll do anything she tells me to do. I use it every night. I’ve heard that there’s phenol in it, which apparently is illegal in Europe, but that almost makes it more titillating, like it’s an actual poison.
I had never used mousse before until my friend Greg Lennon recommended this to me. He owns a salon in L.A. and is a hair god. Now I am completely obsessed and about to buy my third bottle. I’m always striving for ’90s Julia Roberts hair — that’s always my dream— and this does it. It adds volume, but there’s no crunch. And I just love using a mousse. I feel like Erin Brockovich.
This brush was given to me on the set of Don’t Worry Darling in the hair trailer. I think it was given to me with the caveat of like, Jamie Lee Curtis swears by this. I don’t know why because I don’t even think she has curly hair. But I use this now in the shower to detangle my hair; otherwise huge knots form within hours. I now own two of them.
This was advertised to me on Instagram. I begrudgingly bought it, which felt painful, like self-mutilation. Now I worry that my dependence on this thing will alter the course of my life. I’m sensitive to light in the morning, and this blocks out everything. And it’s made of silk, so I don’t even feel it. This speaks to my schedule right now since I’m staying up late and sleeping in, but today, I woke up at 7:15 a.m. to blinding light. I put this on, went back to sleep, and woke up at 11. I’m terrified of ever being without it.
This was recommended to me while shooting A League of Their Own by Lil Frex, who’s on the show. I had my first one and did a handstand and fell. Now, I just love them. I really perk up if I see them at the store. My friends are constantly making fun of me because I’m always trying to peer pressure them into drinking High Noons. I bring them to parties, and it seems deeply déclassé, but I swear to God people drink them and are like, “Oh, this tastes absolutely delicious.” I get chronic migraines, so I have to be really careful about alcohol because it can be a trigger. I can have a couple of these and wake up feeling like I slept for a hundred years. I have yet to experience a hangover after drinking these. I had a friend recently tell me that one of the owners might be evil, but I continue to buy them. I don’t really believe in “guilty” pleasure, but this does elicit some guilt because it’s possibly made by some Trumpian figure.
I’ve been drinking this pretty religiously for a couple of years. But particularly right now, I make sure not to skip it because I’m performing constantly and terrified of getting sick. I pour an inch of water into a glass, pour this in, and shoot it back on an empty stomach. I have to say, it keeps a cold at bay, but the taste is absolutely horrendous.
I’m equally terrified and fascinated by insects. I wish I could stare at them at a safe distance, and this allows me to do that. I’ll capture a spider, freely stare at it for as long as I want, and then safely release it outside. It has a long handle, so I can open the window and flick it out. I don’t have to be a murderer. It’s therapeutic to be so close to the thing you fear, but observe it safely. I actually recommended it to my friend and then he sent me a photo of a mouse he caught in it that he was able to release.
I wear these boots every night in my show. They are my uniform. I get so many questions about where my boots are from. This company makes beautiful shoes. They’re really elegantly made but also durable. I’ve had them since March, and they’ve held up. They’re also so comfortable. I’m able to perform in them every night and go out in them. It’s a sleek, classic boot.
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