Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle is a funny one, with a lot of short words to find. If you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: Rub it in, why don’t you?
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Skincare.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- RATE, RARE, MARE, MART, LAST, BLAST, CRAM, RUTS, RULE, JELL, STRUT, SURE, RUSE, BUTT
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- BALM, CREAM, JELLY, LOTION, SALVE, BUTTER, SERUM
Today’s Strands spangram
The completed NYT Strands puzzle for Aug. 23, 2025, #538.
Today’s Strands spangram is MOISTURIZERS. To find it, look for the M that’s five letters down on the far-left row, and wind across.
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