Play Strands #938
The same letter grid NYT shows. Drag across touching letters, or tap them one by one and tap the last letter again to check. Theme words turn blue and the spangram turns yellow. Hint outlines one word you haven't found. Nothing is saved, so your real game stays untouched.
Strands #938 hints
Today's official theme is "It's skin deep". If that alone doesn't help, work down the hints below.
Hints used: 0
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What's the theme in plain words?Gentle hint
Look for products people use in a daily routine to look after their face, the kind you might find lined up on a bathroom shelf.
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How many words am I looking for?Gentle hint
There are 5 theme words plus the spangram.
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A nudge toward the spangramHelpful hint
This phrase describes the whole category of everyday habits and products for keeping your complexion looking fresh and healthy, and it spans the entire board.
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How do the theme words start?Helpful hint
The theme words start with: C, M, S, S, T.
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How long is the spangram, and which way does it run?Strong hint
The spangram has 10 letters and runs from left to right.
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Strands #938 in numbers
- Theme words
- 5
- Recent average
- 5.7
- Spangram length
- 10 letters
- Longest theme word
- 11 letters
Strands #938 answers
Spoiler zone. Below are the spangram and all theme words for September 27, 2026.
Reveal one word at a time
Only want a foothold? Open one word, find it on the board, then go back and try for the rest. Shorter words come first because they give away the least.
Theme word 1 (5 letters)
SERUM. It starts in row 7, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 2 (5 letters)
TONER. It starts in row 7, column 1, counting from the top left.
Theme word 3 (8 letters)
CLEANSER. It starts in row 5, column 3, counting from the top left.
Theme word 4 (9 letters)
SUNSCREEN. It starts in row 3, column 2, counting from the top left.
Theme word 5 (11 letters)
MOISTURIZER. It starts in row 5, column 4, counting from the top left.
The spangram (10 letters)
BEAUTYCARE. It starts in row 5, column 1, counting from the top left.
Everything at once
Show every theme word and the solved board
Spangram: BEAUTYCARE
Theme words: CLEANSER, MOISTURIZER, SERUM, SUNSCREEN, TONER
The clue 'It's skin deep' plays on the saying about appearances only going so far, and the answers are all steps in a skincare routine. BEAUTYCARE is the umbrella term, while CLEANSER, TONER, SERUM, MOISTURIZER, and SUNSCREEN are products applied to the skin's surface.
Recent Strands puzzles
| Date | Puzzle | Theme |
|---|---|---|
| Sep 26 | #937 | A breath of fresh air |
| Sep 25 | #936 | 1✖️1, etc ... |
| Sep 24 | #935 | Just outside your door |
| Sep 23 | #934 | Practically paleolithic |
| Sep 22 | #933 | Day and night shift |
| Sep 21 | #932 | It's back! |
| Sep 20 | #931 | Putting on airs |
About Strands
Strands is a daily New York Times word search with a theme. Every letter on the six-by-eight board belongs to an answer, and one answer, the spangram, names the theme and stretches between opposite sides of the board. Past puzzles are a good way to learn how the themed clues are usually worded.
Other puzzles on Sep 27
Strands #938 questions
What was the Strands spangram on September 27, 2026?
The spangram for Strands #938 was BEAUTYCARE, for the theme "It's skin deep".
What were the Strands theme words on September 27, 2026?
CLEANSER, MOISTURIZER, SERUM, SUNSCREEN, TONER, plus the spangram BEAUTYCARE.
What did the Strands #938 clue mean?
The clue 'It's skin deep' plays on the saying about appearances only going so far, and the answers are all steps in a skincare routine. BEAUTYCARE is the umbrella term, while CLEANSER, TONER, SERUM, MOISTURIZER, and SUNSCREEN are products applied to the skin's surface.