Our favorite product releases this week: Nomad, Dandelion Chocolate, Dieux and more

CNN

25-07-2025

It's Friday, and that means that we get to end the week by looking back at our editors' favorite product launches from the last seven days. Whether you're just hoping to keep up to date with the latest and greatest releases or are looking to shop them, we've highlighted nine of the most notable drops from around the web.
To close out the week, our deals team of Rikka Altland, Jacqueline Saguin and Elena Matarazzo scoured the web to find the best new product drops. This week brings the launch of a new Nomad Apple Watch band, the 2025 edition of Dandelion Chocolate's beloved Advent Calendar, a fresh Dieux face cleansing oil and more.
This editor-favorite Apple Watch now comes in black
Altland's favorite Apple Watch band just dropped in a new color this week. First hitting the scene last August, CNN Underscored editors have been writing home about the strap for nearly a year. A dark grey Storm color marked its launch, but as someone who rocks the Piano Black Apple Watch Series 10, it wasn't quite dark enough for Altland.
Now, the new Carbon Black style perfectly matches the black aluminum finish of Apple's latest smartwatch. It has the same FKM rubber build that has stood up to months of wear, including hundreds of hours tagging along on runs and workouts. While the Rocky Point Band was designed with the Apple Watch Ultra and Ultra 2 in mind, it'll also work just fine with just about any other Apple Watch. So, whether you have an older model or the new Series 10, you can adorn your wrist with the new style for $79.
A fresh revamp of the brand's crisp, hotel-quality sheets
Add a nostalgic, coastal feel to your bedroom with Parachute's latest drop. The bedding brand just reinvented its bestselling airy sheets by debuting three new patterns. Calling on the Pembroke stripes reminiscent of vintage deckchairs, the Percale Stripe Collection invites a cozy look to your nest.
The brand already won us over with its best-tested linen sheets that come in an assortment of fun colors. But if you love the idea of a crisp, hotel sheet, Parachute's percale sheet is made with a long-staple Egyptian cotton for a more lightweight, breathable texture that warm-to-hot sleepers will enjoy. Percale's tight weave also means it'll have a smooth, matte finish that looks neat on beds. While Piglet in Bed is known for its linen Pembroke stripe sheets, we've yet to see a percale sheet with a similar aesthetic.
Choose from three, yarn-dyed stripes woven directly into the fabric: a cream Bone, a green Moss and a blue Dusk. The latest patterns premiere in the sheets set as well as a separate duvet cover and a pillowcase, so you can mix with your original bedding or match for a cohesive, striped design. Prices run the gamut of $284 to $324 for a complete sheet set and $314 to $344 for a duvet cover set.
Frizzy hair is no match for this hydrating duo
You might be familiar with Gisou's viral honey-infused lip products and hair oils, but the brand is here to expand on its line of beauty products through its hydrating hair care bundle. The Honey Gloss Hair Wash Duo is priced at a reasonable $46 — after getting 15% off when buying them together — which is on par with other middle-tier shampoos and conditioners on the market.
You'll find that this set is packed with familiar ingredients like hyaluronic acids, AHAs, strengthening ceramides and of course, fermented honey. The shampoo and conditioner duo set out to cleanse and de-frizz hair post-wash, and the brand claims you can get up to three days of gloss, hydration and humidity control.
What stands out about this hair care set is that you can get the benefits of cleansing and clarifying your scalp without stripping your hair or skin of its natural oils. It's safe to regularly use and will even help restore your scalp's microbiome, and in turn reduce hair breakage, per the brand.
Our editor's favorite way to countdown to the holidays
Yes, we know it's too soon to be talking about the winter holidays. But trust us, this launch is worth shopping ahead of time. One of Altland's favorite Christmas traditions is unboxing Advent Calendars. As CNN Underscored's resident Lego builder, she loves the Lego ones, of course, but an even bigger highlight for her is the annual Dandelion Chocolate Advent Calendars.
These masterfully crafted calendars include 25 days' worth of confections made by chocolatiers all around North America. As much as Altland can write home about the delicious candy inside the Advent Calendar, another highlight is the artistry of the box itself. Included in the holiday countdown are 25 ornament boxes that you can hang on your tree, as Altland has done in previous years, plus an illustrated booklet to go along with 2025's moon theming. Together, they honor 25 of our solar system's moons.
She has already placed an order for hers, and good thing, because these themed Advent Calendars always end up selling out long before the actual holiday season. If you're looking to enjoy the sweet treats on your own, the set goes for $189. You can double the amount of included chocolates to share with a special someone for $328.
Dissolve the day away with this oil-based cleanser
With SPF slathered on and salt and sun gracing your pores this summer, you'll need a good skin care routine to clear out all the gunk and grime at the end of the day. Oil cleansers aren't exactly new, but the Dieux Ethereal Cleansing Oil boasts a concentrated formula that the brand claims helps dissolve makeup in under 30 seconds, fine-tuned after 50 different trial iterations. The skin care brand, Dieux, has already made faithful users of two out of three deals team editors with its reusable silicone eye patches, so we're eager to get our hands on the cleansing oil too.
A cornerstone of Korean beauty, oil-based cleansers are step one of double cleansing routines, which basically gives skin a good, deep clean. Ethereal contains emollient ingredients that make the formula easier to spread across stubborn makeup, sunscreen and impurities. Meanwhile, its emulsifying ingredients help rinse impurities away without leaving any film or oily residue behind — only soft, clean skin. Cleansing oils can range anywhere from $20 to $50, and this one lands near the former at $28, marking a pretty reasonable price for its 3.38 fluid ounces.
For scooping ice cream all summer long
National Ice Cream Day might have just passed, but Material Kitchen keeps the scooping going with its newly released The Dream Scoop. The direct-to-consumer, AAPI-founded kitchenware brand partnered up with an editor-loved ice cream brand — Van Leeuwen — to create a scooper that'll churn out perfectly round scoops for those who frequently indulge in ice cream at home.
Quit fussing with the metal spoon in your kitchen drawer or resorting to popping your pint in the microwave to soften that pint in a pinch. This heavy-duty stainless steel scooper is carefully designed to glide through ice cream with its ergonomic handle and weighted body.
As a self-proclaimed ice cream connoisseur (who shares her birthday with National Ice Cream Day), Matarazzo is always looking for ways to improve at-home sundaes or late-night scoops. Once she saw this pairing, she thought it made a great gift for ice cream lovers, especially if you gift the enthusiast with their favorite pints.
Five miniature limited-edition vehicles are here
Hess Toy Trucks may be known for the annual winter releases around Christmas that many of us received as gifts as kids. But there are also new versions that come out during the summer. For 2025, the newest mini collection of vehicles has arrived, complete with five trucks, trailers and helicopters inspired by the company's full-sized holiday offerings.
The limited-edition set sells for $40 and includes all the usual bells and whistles you'd expect from Hess's larger releases. Each of the five mini vehicles comes packed with lights and sounds to inspire even more play.
A stylish sneaker that's secretly supportive and comfortable
No longer sacrifice style for comfort. While you could certainly rock orthopedic sandals, the latest drop from Kuru Footwear brings a comfortable sneaker in line with fashionable street shoe designs on the market. Catering specifically to those with plantar fasciitis, the all-new Apogee sneaker features a cushioned insole that cups your entire heel with more padding. We previously interviewed podiatrists who recommended the brand's styles for its superior stability and shock absorption, no matter if you're walking, running or otherwise.
Complete with a breathable mesh upper and a padded heel collar, these Apogee kicks will come in handy for those who like to get their steps in. It leans into retro looks with suede overlays and color-blocked options. The pair comes in both women's and men's sizes, including half sizes. Skip the guesswork and whittle down your perfect size by taking the brand's AI-powered quiz.
Run to this pair if you'll be taking Euro travels with many a cobblestoned trek involved, or if you need a solid go-to everyday sneaker that keeps you light on your feet. Priced at $145, the Apogee is certainly an investment, but you are paying it forward for potential long-term foot health benefits.
Summery press-ons that take minutes to apply
After testing for the best press-on nails earlier in the year, our associate testing writer, Carolina Gazal, ranked Chillhouse's unique tips in the top three. Out of the brands she tried, it stood out above the rest when it came to design range and shapes. Recently, the online nail retailer and spa launched a collaboration with Sumo Citrus to create seasonally relevant press-ons. The Sumo Summer Bundle comes with three different almond-shaped tips, which include a nude base with oranges painted on, a vibrant purple with subtle orange decals and an orange French mani with rhinestones.
While scrolling through social media, Matarazzo's eye was caught by its summery designs and fair price point. She usually only gets her toenails done professionally at the salon and avoids manicures because she finds that they chip easily. For the past few months, she's been considering press-ons since they're lower maintenance yet deliver a salon-quality look. Matarazzo attests that the tips can be applied in less than 15 minutes and that the safe, non-toxic glue lasts for about two weeks. For those on the fence, this set is 20% off and will look great ahead of your next summer soirée.
Smart features now come with a more flexible stand
LG just launched its newest Smart Monitor this week. The company has been making these unique smart displays for a handful of years now, and now there's even more to like with the latest one. Just like previous iterations, this monitor is neither a full smart TV at 31.5 inches nor a typical computer monitor. It's something in between.
The new LG Smart Monitor Swing lives up to its name with a novel mount that allows it to hover wherever you need some extra screen real estate. It has a wheeled base that can roll around your home and an adjustable arm that can tilt, swivel and lean forward. That last bit makes it even easier to position the touchscreen display at the perfect angle. There are also many other perks that the Smart Monitor series is known for, like AirPlay 2 casting for sending videos wirelessly from your iPhone, built-in streaming apps, stereo speakers and three USB-C ports.
If that robust feature list calls to you, you can bring the new Smart Monitor Swing, powered by LG's webOS, to your home for a whopping $1,300.
This week also saw the launch of other products our editors deemed worthy of standalone coverage. Shop all these additional launches below, including a new floating MagSafe hub from Twelve South, the latest Switch 2 bundle and a buildable Lego Game Boy kit.
Twelve South PowerBug 2-in-1 Wall Mount ChargerTwelve South's new PowerBug is a tiny but mighty wall adapter that blends a 30W USB-C charger with a Qi2 magnetic wireless charging puck — all in a design small enough to fit in your hand. It powers up two devices at once, great for when you're in a pinch.Nintendo Switch 2 + Pokémon Legends: Z-A BundleNintendo just leveled up with the launch of its Pokémon Legends: Z-A, which includes the upgraded Switch 2 console and a full game download set in Lumiose City with real-time battles and Mega Evolutions. It's available now for pre-order, launching October 16 at $500.Lego Game Boy KitLego is teaming up with Nintendo to bring the iconic Game Boy to life — in brick form. Work through over 400 pieces, featuring two game cartridges: Super Mario Land and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. You can pre-order yours now before it officially launches on October 1. As deals editors at CNN Underscored, we are some of the first people to hear about the latest product news from reader-favorite brands. Our deals team — comprised of senior editor Rikka Altland, editor Jacqueline Saguin and associate editor Elena Matarazzo — is passionate about product launches that we would be tempted to shop, and we enjoy finding a coveted new item (especially one from a brand with top marks from our experts) because it means we're helping our readers make savvy buying decisions.