NYT Strands Hints and Answer for August 23, 2025
If you breezed into Saturday ready for soothing crossword therapy—or maybe just wanted five minutes away from that never-ending to-do list—today’s Strands is basically a love letter to your bathroom cabinet. Yes, the grid is glistening with skincare.
Theme & Hints
Let’s not bury the lede: today’s theme is “Rub it in, why don’t you?” and, no, it’s not a jab at anyone who forgot to moisturize this morning. The actual hint: skincare. Every answer is something you might rub, slather, or pat onto your dry spots in the name of beauty, smoothness, or vague aspirations of hydration.
Honestly, had a bit of a chuckle at the theme reveal—my own shelf looks like a cross between a pharmacy and an experimental art project, so I felt right at home. If only solving life’s problems was as easy as solving themed crossword clues.
Spangram (The Big One)
Let’s get to the splashiest clue: the spangram connecting word in the grid that feels so good to finally spot. For August 23, the spangram is MOISTURIZERS (and it’s horizontal, running across, like a good dollop of face cream that just won’t quit).
Finding the spangram can feel like that “aha” moment when you finally understand what “serum” does (spoiler: still not sure, but I use it anyway). For me, “MOIST” caught my eye and then, letter by letter, the rest slid right in—definitely a satisfying grid-crossing word.
All the Answers: Your Skincare Starter Pack
Here’s where it feels a bit like standing in the skincare aisle, lost but also a little delighted. These are today’s thematic words, all united by their promise to restore your dry, tired brain—or just your elbows:
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BALM (first thing I found—reminded me of losing yet another tin in a coat pocket somewhere)
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BUTTER (it goes on thick; bonus if it smells faintly of coconut)
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CREAM (classic—Grandma swore by it and so do I, even if it leaves the back of my phone greasy)
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JELLY (not for toast, but for those rough patches—mine’s currently grape-scented and yes, it’s weird)
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LOTION (legendary; nothing says summer more than that neon bottle of aloe)
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SALVE (old-school, but dependable—my uncle always had a jar for mystery scrapes)
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SERUM (glass dropper, a bit fancy, but feels like science)
I’ll admit, this puzzle made me nostalgic for the first time my roommate explained “double cleansing” and “layering” products. She lined up jars and bottles on our tiny sink, reciting their benefits until I gave in and let her slather me in lotion. Perks of friendship: an accidental education in personal care and immediate relief for winter hands.
Today, while solving, I found myself reflecting on how skincare—like puzzles—is really about small, incremental triumphs. Sometimes you nail it in one go. Sometimes you miss “salve” three times and only remember it when you spot it on your keychain (yes, they make keychain salves now).
