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Sponge Cake Cards & The Legends Brownie Box from Sponge

beauty, camping, eco friendly, Fashion, Fitness, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Gluten Free, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day Gifts, Vegan, Vegetarian

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Cakes for all occasions! Sponge send cakes that are, “Brilliant cake. Bold flavour. A little bit cheeky” and we couldn’t agree more. Why send just a card when a piece of cake and a card will make them feel more special? If you’re anything like me, Father’s Day is an especially difficult day to buy for so Sponge make it easier!

Sponge.co.uk have a selection of cake pieces, whole cakes, brownies and cupcakes that can be delivered to your recipient’s door. All cakes come with a card which in some cases, are a little bit cheeky! You can customize each card to suit the receiver. We were sent The Legends Brownies box and a Sponge Cake Card which are both brilliant for Father’s Day. If you order before 2pm, it can be delivered the next day.

The Sponge Cake Cards are literally cards with pockets that house 2 slices of cake which you can choose from a range including chocolate, carrot, white chocolate & raspberry, Red Velvet and several of the same cakes but in vegan or gluten free versions. You also get to choose the design of the card and if you want to, you can upload a video too which can be viewed online. The card can be personalised with any greeting and then you can choose up to 2 extras, including items like tea bags, face mask, balloons or even a candle.

Once you’ve made your choices, you can choose to have the Sponge Cake Card delivered or you can even pick up from their warehouse in Holt, Norfolk. The same process works whether you’re sending a Cake Card or any of the other cakes and items which the company stocks.

As for the cakes…. The Sponge Cake Card came with a chocolate and a Victoria slice, both of which were obviously freshly made and not processed or frozen. They were light and fluffy with ample amounts of buttercream filling and a light topping, but not enough to make a sticky mess in the cellophane! The brownies were obviously very densely made, with 8 pieces in total and all of them delicious. I haven’t worked my way through all of them yet, but there are 4 flavours in all and again, they were freshly made.

An interesting idea of having cake delivered as well as a card, Sponge.co.uk execute it very well and make it easy to send any type of celebration to a loved one.

Sponge Cake Cards from £9.99: https://www.sponge.co.uk/cake-card

The Legends Brownie Box from £18.99: https://www.sponge.co.uk/cakes/brownies/the-legends-brownie-box

Turtle Wax Renew & Restore Wipes and 1 & Done Detailer

Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

You could take your car to the car wash every weekend. Expensive? Yes, especially if you have to wait in queue for ages like you do at my car wash! Instead, keep a bottle of 1 & Done Detailer in your car, or even the Renew & Restore Wipes for both inside the car and outside. Turtle Wax have both new products available and sent them to us to try out.

Turtle Wax Renew & Restore Wipes (8 pack) are individual wipes with a slight abrasion to them which can be uses for stubborn stains inside the car (such as upholstery and the dashboard) or for cleaning the body of the car on the outside. With a little light work, the wipes can remove bird poo, mud, tree sap and every day dirt. They’re great for when you have to clean the rest of the windscreen that the wipers don’t reach, or headlights that are foggy after a long drive. For inside the car, they are also brilliant for hand marks (I had a dirty hand mark on the inside pillar which the wipes got rid of) and on seats that have spills and stains, even dried in stains. In combination with a cleaner, they can even help lift more inground stains on the carpet and seats.

The 1 & Done Detailer is a 500ml spray for the outside bodywork of the car. It instantly cleans and shines bodywork and glass such as where green is starting to grow on this roof. The spray lifted the lichen quickly and the Turtle Wax Clean & Shine cloths remove all traces of dirt, leaving the paintwork sparkling. I also used 1 & Done Detailer on these light scratches on the door handle. It’s not removed them, but along with cleaning up the dirt, it does lessen the scratches altogether.

This is a great combination of cleaning and detailing products from Turtle Wax, and I’ve already left them in my car so that I can bring them out whenever I have the urgent need!

Renew & Restore Wipes (8 pack) available for £10 at: https://www.turtlewax.co.uk/products/renew-restore-wipes-8-pack

1 & Done Detailer (500ml) available for £8.00: https://www.turtlewax.co.uk/products/1-done-detailer-500ml

Joe & Seph’s Shortbread Biscuits and Neapolitan Chocolate

Children, chocolate, Christmas, snacks

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Joe & Seph, the famous gourmet popcorn makers, are branching out into new gift treats this year, bringing out more goodies for Christmas and beyond. Not just popcorn, but gifts including these shortbread biscuits and Neapolitan chocolates, suitable for a whole range of events, not just when Santa arrives!

Both the biscuits and chocolates arrive in large packets, set for the mass market of party bags, wedding favours and even offices where guests are greeted by the Joe & Seph favourites. Popcorn has been popular as a snack whilst watching TV for years, but it has now found itself in mainstream snacking with weddings using popcorn as favours at the end of the day. Well, the Joe & Seph chocolates work just as well with the gifting opportunities. I was sent some to try, and they reminded me of the chocolates you get in pillows of posh hotels! The shortbreads biscuits are reminiscent of afternoon meetings with clients where you bring out the cups and saucers at work and have a proper cup of tea!

The Neapolitan chocolates come in packets of 100 and are individually wrapped. They’re great for sharing at home or at parties and the milk chocolate is made with cocoa and premium ingredients to give a smooth, silky texture and chocolatey taste! The shortbread biscuits are very light – lighter than some of the biscuits on the market. They’re not gritty either, which some shortbread biscuits are and they break rather than crumble, making them easy to eat.

I’m looking forward to seeing whatever treats Joe & Seph come up with next in time for Christmas!

Shortbread Biscuits (40 packs of 2) £20 at: https://www.joeandsephs.co.uk/gifts/butter-biscuits-pack-20

Neapolitan chocolate (100 pieces) for £28 at: https://www.joeandsephs.co.uk/gifts/neapolitan-gift-pack

Lee Stafford Hyaluronic Hydration Hair Mask

beauty, haircare, Stocking Fillers, Summer, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

The Hyaluronic Hydration Hair Mask from Lee Stafford is part of a larger range of Lee Stafford products for moisturizing hair. The hair mask uses hyaluronic acid to enrich your hair and prevent it from breaking, plus giving a sleeker look, and in turn, making it more manageable.

The instructions recommend that you cover your hair from root to tip and work in the formular using a comb to ensure overall coverage, leaving it for 5-10 minutes. I prefer to leave in for a bit longer and massage the mask into the ends, especially if it’s been a while since your last haircut (like mine is now!) and in need of TLC. You add the mask after shampoo (Lee Stafford also have Hydrating shampoo and conditioners at Boots) and then rinse off, using the Lee Stafford conditioner too.

It smells wonderful – like a summer fruit fragrance that reminds me of the 1990s Body Shop products! It left my hair softer and with the fruity scent too. Over time, the repair should build up so that hair is stronger and longer. I found that on hair with dry ends, it made all of the length of hair softer after just one treatment, then when I got my hair cut, it was great at hydrating my hair enough to get the soft curls back in. It’s perfect for summer too, with the light fragrance giving your hair an additional impact!

Available from £7.49 at: https://www.boots.com/lee-stafford-hyaluronic-hydration-treatment-mask-250ml-10377507

Devonia Plant Fertilizer Sticks

Birthday Gifts, Children, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home, Home & Garden, Spring, Summer

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

This is a gardening hack for all gardeners, whether you’ve been gardening for years or if you’re a beginner! Devonia’s fertilizer spikes and sticks are nutrient dense sticks which feed plants at the roots over time, releasing food and providing magnesium and iron too. Easy to use, the sticks are just popped into the ground or pot next to the plant.

The nutrients are pre-measured so using the directions on the back of the packs, work out how many sticks are needed for the size of pot. There are a variety of sticks to choose from too, including the tomatoes & vegetables, Boarders & bedding plants and even for individual plants like olive trees, lavender and orchids. You have to push them below soil level and on the opposite side of the pot to the plant but after that, just water them and see the plant thrive. They last all season long from spring to autumn but I would recommend changing them out for the next spring to get the full benefit of them.

These are great gifts for gardeners too, or anyone who is growing plants indoors. I’ve used them for my indoor plants and a few seedlings which are just starting to grow now.

Available online from £6.49: https://devonialondon.co.uk/product/flower-bed-border-bedding-plant-food-sticks/

Berkeley Health Self-Testing Kits

health, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Given how difficult it is to see a doctor or even book a blood test nowadays, many people are turning to internet searches and other way to get a head-start on their medical appointments. Berkeley Health Self-Testing kits are available in Waitrose and can test for Vitamin D, FSH levels (menopause), Thyroid TSH and other common deficiencies. We were sent some self-testing packs to try out.

Starting with the Berkeley Health Menopause FSH test, there are 2 tests in the packet. The urine test detects FSH through gold-conjugated monoclonal antibodies. It looks similar to a pregnancy test and is used in the same way. It takes 5 minutes for the results to show on the test device and gives a positive/negative/non valid result. A positive test shows that FSH in the urine is equal to or higher than 25mIU/mL, indicating that menopause, or perimenopause, has already started. At this point, the instructions suggest you see your doctor. In a negative result, the results are below 25 mIU/mL but it is strongly suggested to carry out another test a few days later using the second test device in the kit, as FSH can alter during the course of a few weeks.

The Berkeley Health Thyroid TSH Rapid Test Cassette is a blood test which provides 2 lancets as well as a testing cartridge. With washed hands, follow the instruction to draw a drop of blood and using the capillary dropper, migrate blood into the dropper. Put the blood from the dropper onto the cassette and it will give a positive/negative result within 10 minutes. A positive result means the TSH level is higher than normal (5 µIU mL) and you need to see a doctor. Why is the level of TSH important? A high level might indicate that that your body isn’t metabolising properly and you could be putting on or losing weight or have a problem with your thyroid. The TSH test is one that is not done in isolation by a doctor, but they can look at a range of test results and make a diagnosis.

Finally, the Berkeley Health Vitamin D test ins one single test in the packet and has the most amount of apparatus out of all of the kits we were sent! Vitamin D is important in the body for the absorption in the gut of calcium, iron, magnesium phosphate and zinc. All of these elements are needed in the body for a huge range of functions and growth so it’s important to make sure Vitamin D levels are as good as possible. This test includes the lancet again for self-drawing blood, a pipette for collecting the blood, a vial with a dropper tip containing the vitamin D test and the Vitamin D test cassette. As with the TSH test, use the lancet to draw blood, use the pipette to migrate a sufficient amount of blood and then deposit a drop on the cassette. The results after 10 minutes are deficient/insufficient/sufficient/excess or invalid.

All of the tests are easy to use and the results being positive/negative make it easy to read the outcomes without confusing data and having to find someone to interpret them for you. They’re also a really good way of cheaply eliminating a health problem or finding a pathway. Trying lots of different Berkeley Health tests when you don’t know what’s going on could give you a direction to start exploring with your doctor too.

Available from Waitrose from £8-£10.

Casdon Dyson Cordless Vacuum and Ooni Pizza Oven

Children, Family Life, Gifts for children, Learning, Toys

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

We’re half way through the Easter holidays and the weather has been, well…..unpredicatable. Grey skies and rain have meant we’ve been spending more time indoors than I would like, so the arrival of a couple of new Casdon toys was a very welcome treat.

Casdon are a family run business and the number one manufacturer of role play toys in the UK and Dyson, Ooni, Morphy Richards, Kenwood and Joseph Joseph are just some of the many brands that they make miniature versions of. They kindly sent us two of their popular toys, the Dyson Cordless Vacuum and the Ooni Pizza Oven to try out with our mini reviewers and we’ve all been enjoying playing with them (me included!!)

The Dyson Cordless Vacuum (RRP £25) was extremely easy to set up, it was simply a matter of putting in 3 x AA batteries (not included) and then clicking the pieces together. It comes with a long orange extension tube and two cleaning heads that attach and detach with the push of a button and once clicked in stay firmly in place.

The toy vacuum cleaner is extremely lifelike with all the features that that a real Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner has. It even has working suction that picks up small bits from the floor. There’s an easy to empty dust box, quick release attachments and a fantastic “whizzing cyclone effect with colourful bits of plastic spinning around to replicate dust and dirt.

Our mini reviewers have had so much fun zooming around the house with it, it’s the perfect height for little ones (68cm) and light enough for them to carry about the house. The really enjoy using it when I am vacuuming and they have started to follow me about ‘helping’ with their toy Dyson.

Next it was time to cook up some fun with the Ooni Pizza Oven (RRP £20), this was just as easy to assemble by slotting the legs into the base. The legs are also easy to remove for storage which is good. The oven takes 3 x AAA batteries (not included) which power the flames in the oven that look very realistic and add to the authenticity of the toy.

The set includes six pizza slices that slot together to form a full pizza. We found that they don’t stay fixed together very well, so it was much easier to assemble them on the pizza paddle before sliding them into the oven. The pizza toppings clip easily onto the base, with a tomato base to start, followed by pepperoni slices, mozzarella and basil leaves.

Once prepared, the pizza goes into the oven to “cook.” When it’s ready, the little chefs can slice it up with the pizza cutter and serve their tasty creation. We did find that making the same pizzas can become a little predictable so the Pizza Topping Station available on the Casdon website would be a good addition to extend the interest of the toy.

These toys have been a very welcome addition to our playroom and whilst whizzing around with the vacuum and baking pretend pizzas, our mini reviewers have been busy learning, playing and having fun.

Plant With Willow Starter Pack

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Home & Garden, Spring, Summer, Tech

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Put some technology into your plant care with the Plant With Willow Starter Pack. Using the Plant With Willow probe, hub and an app on your phone, you can be alerted whenever your plant is in need of care. We tested out the technology, which was totally new to me and I’m a gardener, to see if it worked!

The instructions are relatively easy and once the app is set up it looks after itself. There is a QR code on the front of the box which you scan with your phone and the app downloads. The app walks you through all the steps for setup, including identifying the plant which the probe is going to monitor. If you don’t know what the plant is, there’s provision to take photos of the leaves and flowers and the app will look it up for you. I have a peach tree that needs a lot of water so I was keen to use Plant With Willow to help look after it.

The app can also help with sick plants, teach you how to look after each identified plant, set up schedules including watering and fertilizing and monitor milestones. The setup screen go on to help you pair the probe with the hub and to use the wifi in your house, then sends you notifications on your phone to tell you when the plant needs watering, more light or moisture.

For when you are on holiday or not at home like being back in the office every day, this is really useful. It has a huge depth of information to draw on as well to tell you how to care for your plants. I think this is especially good for new plant owners or if you have a new plant which you don’t know how to identify or don’t know how to care for and could do with the prompts. I think it would be especially good for children so that they learn how to care for something that rewards them, such as a fruit tree or plants such as strawberries, and has a very low risk factor too. It’s also great fun watching your plants thrive!

Available from £34.99 at: https://plantwithwillow.co.uk

Faith In Nature

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, cruelty-free, eco friendly, Gifts for Her, haircare, Mother's Day, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Summer, Vegan, Women

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

If you’re looking for affordable, natural and eco-friendly skin and haircare products , then Faith In Nature is a brand that deserves a place in your bathroom. Founded in 1974 by Rivka Rose, long before natural, cruelty free and vegan products were a thing! Today, Faith In Nature products are stocked in over 40 countries and all their product are still made with as few ingredients as possible and free from silicones, parabens and SLS.

I’ve been recycling long before the council started the colour coded bins, and I’ve always tried to use eco-conscious beauty products where I can. Faith In Nature makes this commitment even easier with their refillable 5-litre and 20-litre bottles which mean less waste, fewer trips to the shop, and the feeling that you’re doing your bit for the environment.

I’ve used Faith In Nature shower gels for many years, but until recently, hadn’t ventured into their haircare range. With my curly hair feeling particularly dry and resembling a ball of frizz most days the arrival of their Shea & Argan Shampoo, Conditioner, and Nourishing Hair Mask was most welcome.Blended with organic shea butter and nourishing argan oil, the range is designed to hydrate, boost shine, and reduce breakage. And does it works – absolutely! The shampoo lathers nicely and cleans my hair without stripping moisture from it, while the conditioner glides through my hair leaving every strand silky and tangle free. The hair mask, meanwhile, is a weekly treat for my hair, restoring softness and definition to unruly curls with impressive efficiency.

Each formula also contains a blend of organic rosemary, nettle, and chamomile which soothe the scalp, enhance shine, and nourish the hair. Since using them, my curls have become softer, bouncier, and significantly less frizzy. Whether I leave them to air dry or dry with a diffuser, they hold their shape much better than before.

Not a morning person? You will be if you start using the Grapefruit & Orange Body Wash, it is not just a shower gel- it’s a citrus-fuelled wake-up call! Powered by 99.5% natural-origin ingredients and a 100% natural aroma, it leaves my skin feeling soft, refreshed, and delicately scented long after the steam has cleared. This shower gel is proof that you don’t have to spend loads of money to get a quality body wash.

if you’re looking to upgrade your hair and skincare routine and indulge in some expertly crafted natural products, Faith In Nature is the brand to try. With shower gels from £6.49 and haircare from just £7.99, these brilliantly formulated essentials are as kind to your bank balance as they are to the planet.

Helly Hansen Solen Women’s Sports Tops

Birthday Gifts, Fashion, Fitness, Gifts for Her, hiking, National Walking Month, Sport, Spring, Summer, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

As we ride into spring and take more time for outdoor pursuits (and it can’t come quick enough around here) a whole new wardrobe of outdoor clothes is needed. Helly Hansen’s Solen collection are base layers which can be worn on their own or as layers. We were sent 3 tops to try out from the new range.

The Women’s Solen collection all have UPF (Ultra violet factor) 50 protection for the sun’s rays, plus it has moisture wicking. The fabric is stretchy too, so you can run, twist and bend without being constrained. The range is designed for trail running, hiking and outdoor pursuits in particular. I run at the weekends in all weathers, so some new, and very colourful tops were very welcome! The short-sleeved crew neck top (here in white) is great for summer as the fabric is really light. It isn’t particularly see through though, so you can still wear your sports bar underneath!

The long-sleeved crew necks are also light but because of the light fabric, these are better in spring or early mornings in summer. The long sleeves help protect against the sun. They’re just as durable as the short-sleeved shirt though, and there’s a great range of colours including the Barely Blue and Sunset Pink. All of the tops in this range have the Helly Hansen HH design on the front and the raglan style sleeves that come right down to the wrists.

When out running in them, I hardly noticed them which is a good sign! There was no tightness across my chest or arms and the sizing was try – these are a size XL which roughly translates to a UK size 16. When it came to washing, I was surprised at how well the white top was fresh still afterwards, and there was no staining. The pink and blue shirts were both washed on a 60 degree wash and neither of the colours ran with them either, which helps when you know you’ll be throwing these into the washing machine regularly.

There are lots of other accessories in the Solen collection at Helly Hansen as well as the usual staple outdoor kit they do all year round: https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_gb/women/base-layer/solen

Long sleeved women’s top £60: https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_gb/w-shine-solen-ls-crew-48189?color=634529

Short sleeve women’s top £50: https://www.hellyhansen.com/en_gb/w-shine-solen-tshirt-49577?color=291445

MYKI Bio-Cellulose Sheet Face Masks

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, health, Stocking Fillers, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Korean skincare is all the rage now and MYKI Beauty have brought their Bio-Cellulose face masks to the UK along with some other beauty products such as LED light masks. We were sent a few masks to test this month, and I can tell you, testing beauty and skincare is one of the better perks of the job!

Each mask is folded with mesh each side to keep them hydrated in the packaging. The masks are designed to completely hydrate the skin when they’re worn for a period of time, which is recommended to be around 30 minutes but some people recommend that you keep them on your face longer, or until they dry out. The masks work by hydrating the skin and allowing the LED light masks to work better, reducing fine lines and cooling your skin.

I put this on whilst I was in the bath to take advantage of the steam as well as to be able to relax. The only downside was that the mask was huge and it doesn’t seem to come in different sizes. I had to cut the top of the lip and around the eyes a bit because it didn’t lie flat on my face for long enough without having to keep pressure on it to be able to stick. Once I knew where to cut the mask to make it lie flat, that was all I needed.

I left the mask on for about 35 minutes. It didn’t dry out completely and that was with getting out of the bath too. When I took off the mask, my skin was hydrated and I could feel that the products had had a chance to work because my face felt more hydrated. I could see in the mirror that the mask had left my skin hydrated and shiny, but not looking like plastic. Going to bed, the hydrating lasted until the next morning but the shininess wore off within about 12 hours. The mask is great for relaxing and giving you your hydration back, and if you’re going out one night and want to do the full pamper and glam, MYKI’s Bio-Cellulose Sheet Face Masks have you covered.

Available from £16.95: https://mykibeauty.com/product/bio-cellulose-sheet-mask/

Sentia Spirits Alcohol Free – GABA Red

Birthday Gifts, Drinks and Mixers, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Gluten Free, Summer, Vegan, Vegetarian

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

There are more and more non-alcoholic ‘spirits’ on the market these days and a new one that I’ve come across is the Sentia Spirits GABA Red. GABA Red works on the body’s gaba receptors, mimicking how alcohol affects us but without the side effects. It has zero alcohol content, so it can be used in mocktails or as a mixer without the trigger of having even a trace of alcohol. It’s also vegan friendly, thanks to the organically sourced products.

You can use it just as you would a botanical spirit – straight, in a glass of ice, or as a mixer. It works well with lemonade or a sparkling drink or to make a new cocktail. Neat, it has an herbal taste to it. I personally found it a bit strong on its own, not because it had the ‘alcohol’ taste to it but because the essences of herbal flavours such as magnolia bark and hawthorn berry are not every day tastes to us.

As an alternative to alcohol, it’s just as versatile and you can mix it and drink as much of it as you like. I wouldn’t suggest children try it though, it’s more of an acquired, grown-up taste, but it still gives you that ‘hit’ as if it’s a refreshing alcoholic drink. It’s more expensive than other drinks though and probably more like an alcoholic spirit in price, which is the only downside.

Available from £32 at: https://sentiaspirits.com/products/sentia-red

SMUG

beauty, Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, Easter, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, travel, Women

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review, but all thoughts and opinions are our own.

The Easter holidays are in full swing, and whether you’re hopping on a plane, train or jumping into the car one thing’s for sure… we all want to look and feel our best when we’re away.

I always hate sleeping in a strange bed, different pillows, unfamiliar noises, a lumpy mattress they all affect my sleep. So when a parcel from SMUG landed on my doorstep, I thought these could be a game changer for my Easter travels. And honestly? They really are.

Cloud Padded Satin Sleep Mask (RRP £20)

This sleep mask blocks out every bit of light, feels unbelievably soft, and crucially… stays put all night. It’s nicely padded and being made of satin is great for your skin. The gently curved shape sits nicely on my face and it really seems to help prevent sleep creases. There’s lots of different designs to choose from, so you can pick one that matches your pyjamas. It also comes in a little pouch, making it perfect to pop in your hand luggage. An essential for your Easter getaway? Definitely

Satin Sleep Turban (RRP £15)

If you have curls, this is the sleep aid you didn’t know you needed! Say goodbye to the pineapple bun that never quite survives the night. This satin turban keeps your hair smooth, protected, and hydrated while you sleep. When I wake up, I no longer look like I’ve had my fingers in a socket and my normal mop of frizz is history. The turban is comfortable and stays on all night, whether you’re in a hotel, on a plane, or in a friend’s spare room. It can be washed, ideally by hand but it can be put in the washing machine on a delicate 30 °C cycle and I’d advise popping it in a mesh bag to protect it.

Soft Satin Pillowcases (RRP £15)

Now, we’ve all heard about the benefits of silk pillowcases, but they can be eye-wateringly expensive. These give you that same luxe feel without the splurge, which is great. They’re brilliant for both skin and hair and I’ve found since I started using them that my skin stays hydrated, and my hair is less likely to turn into a mop of frizz overnight.

The pillowcases were a good fit on my pillow, well-fitting but loose enough to easily take on and off. They wash well on a delicate 30 °C wash and I’ve been drying them outdoors which helps reduce creasing.

With a good choice of colours and designs you should easily find one to match your bedding. I’m going to be taking one away with me this Easter as they’re easy to pack, and will instantly make any bed feel a bit more like home.

Bamboo Scalp Massager (RRP £12)

Small and easy to hold, this scalp massager fits nicely in my hand and gives a gentle, soothing massage that helps boost circulation to help keep my scalp in good condition. I have been using it in the shower to work conditioner through my hair and I’ve noticed an immediate improvement in how well my hair is conditioned over the comb I normally use and it moisturises my hair without pulling the curls. The rubber nubs give a really good massage and exfoliate my scalp, removing dry flakes and reducing itchiness.

Crafted from high quality bamboo it comes with its own bag, so it’s perfect for popping into your suitcase when you’re travelling.

Pillow Mist & Shower Mist Set (RRP £24)

Mornings now start with the shower mist, which wake me up gently with gorgeous essential oil vibes, perfect when you’re dragging yourself out of bed on holiday. Then in the evening, a quick spritz of the pillow mist transforms even the most basic hotel room into a calm, cosy sleep haven.

All these SMUG products are ideal for Easter getaways when your routine is all over the place and will help you reset, relax, and actually switch off.

Helly Hansen Women’s Aden Insulated Coat

Autumn, Birthday Gifts, camping, Days Out, Family Life, Fitness, Gifts for Her, hiking, National Walking Month, Women

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

As the days grow longer and we step into Spring there is still quite a nip in the air so it’s not quite time to hang up the coat just yet. The Helly Hansen Aden Insulated Coat is the perfect choice for this in-between season as it is warm without being bulky, and and it’s waterproof, which is always a very good thing, particularly if you live in the North West where rain is less of an occasional inconvenience and more of a recurring theme!

As I’m 6ft tall with long arms, finding a coat that fits properly is often a challenge, and I frequently end up buying men’s coats just to get the sleeve and body length I need. Buying online can be risky but I found Helly Hansen’s online size guide really helpful. By entering your measurements it recommends the best size and suggested Large for me, which fits well, although next time I would probably size up to allow for a thicker jumper underneath, as it does feel a bit snug with one on. The cost is a good length, covering my bottom nicely, so on someone shorter it would likely sit around mid-thigh. The adjustable hood is a good size and stayed firmly on my head even on a blustery coastal walk.

The coat features HELLY TECH® Protection, meaning it’s waterproof, windproof and breathable, along with PrimaLoft® insulation which makes a real difference on those colder spring days. Despite not being overly padded, it feels surprisingly warm and cosy. There are two zipped hand pockets and a generous inside zipped pocket that easily fits my phone, which is always useful for keeping it dry in wet weather.

The coat can be washed at 30° and it is recommended that it is tumble dried on a low heat to reactive the water repellent treatment.

Overall, I really like the Helly Hansen Aden Insulated Coat. It’s comfortable, practical, and has been doing a brilliant job of keeping out the wind and rain in the unpredictable Spring weather that we’ve been exposed to over the last few weeks. With its tailored fit and waterproof protection, it’s a great choice for walking or everyday wear.

Available in a choice of four different colours, (Black Grape, White, Black and Navy) it is priced at £150.

Contouring Glow Wand from Scented Aromas

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, eco friendly, Gifts for Her, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, travel, Vegan, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Here’s a treat for you! The Contouring Glow Wand from Scented Aromas combines both Gua Sha and ice therapy to give your face a glow-up like never before. What’s Gua Sha I hear you ask? And what is ice therapy? Gua Sha is a technique used to push the lymphatic fluid around the body, and in this case the face, to drain out through the lymph nodes and leave skin’s appearance smoother and less swollen-looking. Gua Sha also brightens up the skin by increasing blood flow, which along with the ice therapy also relieves headaches and tightens open pores.

The Contouring Glow Wand is made of silicone and comes in two parts. To use, you fill the inside of the wand up to 80% with water then pop it in the freezer to freeze solid. When it’s solid, it’s ready to use at any time of day but can be used anytime depending on the need. The wand defrosts slowly giving you enough time to use it and then return it to the freezer. Of course, you can let it defrost too, in case you need to store it, or travel.

How do you use it though? The frozen wand combines ice therapy with Gua Sha to give all the benefits. Examples of Gua Sha massage can be found on Instagram or YouTube but the principle is to massage away the stress, lines, underlying toxins and relax the muscles of your face by applying pressure across the contours of your face. This can be in the direction of the muscle, away from the face and into the lymphatic nodes or simply through the scalp if it’s a headache you’re trying to stave off. With time, you find more techniques, but I already carry out a lymphatic drain on my face every morning before LED red light therapy. I used the Contouring Glow Wand to massage under my eyes by applying medium pressure from the nose, out to the temples and down to the lymph nodes under the ears. I also used it across my forehead, from the middle of my face out to the edges to reduce puffiness.

How did it feel? It’s freezing at first and in warmer weather it melts a little bit too! The sharpness of the ice takes a while to get used to and probably speeds up the Gua Sha at first but once you get used to it, it’s both cooling and soothing. I’m sure the ice cold helps with inflammation too, as well as the benefits of brightening skin and reducing redness.

I would recommend taking this on holiday with you in case of sunburn or to reduce redness from hot climates. As it’s so cooling it’s great for children too, where they can play with it safely to cool down. Most hotel rooms have fridge freezers or ice machines which will allow you to keep the Contouring Glow Wand frozen in your room and handy at all times. It lasts for as long as the ice asks, so you can just fill it up again and start over as early as a few hours later.

I think this is a really good tool as well as a good gift for someone who loves beauty and especially beauty gadgets. It’s non-toxic plus it doesn’t interfere with any aesthetics such as botox or surgery.

Available from £13.99 at: https://www.scentedaromas.uk/products/2-in-1-ice-therapy-gua-sha-contouring-glow-wand-hot-pink

Luxuriant Haircare for Hair Loss Prevention

beauty, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

There are so many different haircare products on the market now, but there also so many different needs for better haircare than what we used growing up. Luxuriant Haircare specialises in hair loss prevention in both men and women. We were sent a Women’s Bundle to try for a few weeks to see how it works. The Women’s Bundle comprises of a shampoo, conditioner and serum. The serum is not for the condition of the hair like other serums, but for the scalp to prevent hair loss.

I don’t have hair loss but I do have hair that has been thinning with age, and it bothers me. Over the past 2 years I’ve been trying to work on my lymphatic drainage, scalp massage and not damaging my hair too much. In combination, I am trying to use products like Luxuriant to help stimulate hair growth and strengthen my hair. It takes a while, and I find that your hair needs to grow for the changes to be completely noticeable.

Luxuriant explain on their website that it takes just a few weeks for changes to be seen. I’ve been using the Luxuriant shampoo and conditioner for 10 days, which isn’t long enough to see the real results which typically take 10-12 weeks or up to 6 months for your hair to grow to a length that others can notice. What I can tell you is that the sulphate-free, natural extracts of ginger root, Indian gooseberry, soapberry and a host of other plant-based extracts give my hair shine and a gorgeous scent. The natural elements prevent hair loss from hormones and stress and I can see after a week of washes that my hair feels stronger. There’s a depth to the colour too, thanks to the concentrated condition, which is also derived from the same group of Asian botanical extracts.

The added bonus of the Women’s Bundle is the Luxuriant Serum. The serum is to be administered on your scalp to help stimulate growth and prevent hair loss. It has the same fresh, botanical scent as the shampoo and conditioner and doesn’t leave a residue in the hair. I actually think it conditions the hair a bit too, making it easier to style, even though that’s not the intended purpose! The serum needs to be applied a few times a day but the bottle is large enough to last as long as the shampoo and conditioner, making the bundle worthwhile.

Female Shampoo & Conditioner sets from £80: https://luxuriant168.co.uk/products/hair-loss-shampoo-women

Steenbergs Loose Leaf Organic English Breakfast and Organic Double Mint Tea

Birthday Gifts, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Tea is one of the most important ‘meals’ of the day in our house, with the morning pot of tea (yes, we use a pot) to replace breakfast. Lately, I’ve been using loose tea for the first pot of the morning to be able to strengthen the flavour and to reduce the plastic waste that can be found in some commercial teabags. Steenbergs sent us some Organic English Breakfast Loose Leaf Tea and Organic Double Mint Tea.

The Steenbergs Organic English Breakfast looks different. I compared it to the loose leaf tea from the supermarket and the Steenbergs leaves are chunkier, whereas the supermarket brands were like dust. This makes a difference to how they are brewed in the teapot because the leaves swell when absorbing water. With finer grains of tea, they swell but the flavour isn’t as full, and you get those particles of tea that collect at the bottom of your cup like a sediment. Steenbergs sent us a tea filter egg to use too, which is great if you’re only making one cup and also prevents some of the sediment. The flavour of the tea is full-bodied, and you don’t need much to make one cup in a pot. I used 1½ teaspoons of tea to make a pot and brewed for only about 3 minutes, which was enough. You can taste the ‘tea’ without there being a scum on top from additives and preservatives.

We also tried to Steenbergs Organic Double Mint Tea. Brewed in the same way in a pot, these leaves are just as substantial and there’s the lovely aroma from the box as you open them! As the afternoon goes on, I like to switch to herbal teas to reduce my caffeine. Mint tea is great for digestion both in the afternoons and after dinner. I found that I didn’t need as much of the Double Mint Tea per pot as I did of the English Breakfast; one teaspoon was enough as it’s really quite potent! The tea is fresh and strong but not acidic and brews nicely, filling the room with the mint scent.

Both are ideal for at home and either a pot of tea or a cup made individually, and make great gifts for tea lovers too!

Available from £3.45 at: https://steenbergs.co.uk

Tom Parker Creamery – Bedtime Milk and Unhomogenised Whole Milk

Children, cruelty-free, Family Life, Food & Drink

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Most of us don’t have a milkman anymore, but that doesn’t mean we can’t have real milk in real glass bottles any longer, not does it mean milk has to be boring! Tom Parker Creamery has a new range of flavoured milks including the Bedtime Milk with chamomile and lavender. Along with some of the Unhomogenised Whole Milk, Tom Parker Creamery sent us some to try out at home.

If you’re not familiar with Tom Parker Creamery’s milk, which can be found in High Street supermarkets such as Tesco and Ocado, then try their Unhomogenised Free-Range Whole Milk, which is in 750ml bottles. This unhomogenised milk has not been through as many processes which break down the fat in the milk, giving it the creamy texture it’s famous for. If you’re interested in other dairy products, Tom Parker Creamery also does creams and iced coffees which can be found on their website. We used the Unhomogenised Whole Milk for both beverages and in cooking, where the fat content is highly useful.

The Tom Parker Creamery Bedtime Milk, which comes in 500ml glass bottles, is fresh whole milk, infused with lavender and chamomile for their sleep-inducing properties. Also added are magnolia extract and valerian root, both of which also help induce sleep and relaxation. This can be drunk at night before bedtime, or as an afternoon beverage such as to make hot chocolate. I found that it actually tastes quite good in tea at any time of the day, with only a slight lavender taste to it but didn’t detract from the taste of the tea. It also made scones more interesting, especially as I was making flavoured scones. The flavour of the chamomile and lavender was very subtle in the scones, but the rich whole milk really helped the scones to turn out well.

There’s more to discover of the Tom Parker Creamery range, all in the knowledge that you’re using free-range animal products from a Somerset based dairy.

Our Range

MINISO Nail Polish

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Treat yourself to some glamorous nail care this spring with the new range of nail varnishes from MINISO. With a range that’s being updated in the coming months, we were sent two colours to try; Shiny Pink and Starlight Gold. Both were from the Golden Cap range, which you can see in the photo is part of their packaging branding too!

These oil-based nail varnishes (or nail polish to give them their American titles) are a steal at just £3.99 for the bottles at 11ml. They’re full size, but not anywhere as expensive as some of the other nail varnishes on the market. I am wearing the Shiny Pink colour in this photo and it’s only 2 layers (I did have a clear base layer on underneath these layers though.) The colours both glide on with ease, the oil base makes it easy for them to fill out to the corners and gives a shiny finish. As with most oil based varnishes, they take longer to dry but they are very stable and harder to chip when they are fully dry. I would recommend waiting 30 minutes between each layer of colour to allow the varnish to dry properly and last longer.

Each of the colours is deep and builds up to a lovely finish. Shiny Pink is a hint away from red towards pink so you’d be mistaken for thinking it was a primary colour, but there’s a splattering of glitter in the colour which gives it a reflection. The Starlight Gold colour is just as vibrant and works up to a deep colour too. As the name suggests, there’s tiny starlight flecks of gold in the colour too, reflecting back in a disco theme. This colour is more for the weekend or going out, whereas I felt comfortable wearing the Shiny Pink all week, but there’s no reason why you can’t paint your nails gold for work too!

Available soon from £3.99 here:

https://minisoshop.co.uk/beauty/nail-care

The Blooming Mama Crystal Kit

Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, health, Mother's Day, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Whether you know about crystals already or are starting your journey, Blooming Mama’s Crystal Kit is a great tool for you, or to gift to someone else.

Comprising of seven crystals, the set comes in a gift pouch and has instructions too. The crystals are:

Smoky Quartz (clear quartz with a black colouring)
Peach Moonstone (peach, solid colour with flecks of white)
Citrine (clear, with a touch of orange/yellow colouring)
Kunzite (icy lilac)
Amazonite (turquoise blue with black flecks)
Lepidolite ( white and purple marbling)
Clear Quartz (clear)

Each crystal relates to a different chakra point in the body and releases energy that is not needed. The instruction card with the kit explains which crystals work where and how they benefit women in different stages of life. The Blooming Mama Kit is especially good for new mothers who need rebalancing after birth or newborn care, with the instructions explaining that they can be used for meditation and rest, keeping close (ie emotional needs) and bonding time such as with a new baby.

The crystals can be used throughout life though and not just by new mums. For example, Clear Quartz can be used for spiritual connection at any time and many people find it a comforting or helpful when they have an illness. You can also use the kit to see which stone you are drawn to when they are all laid out in front of you, and meditate with it or keep it close for healing.

The Blooming Mama Crystal Kit has been well thought out by Natasha at Always Believe in Miracles, who is a crystal spiritual healer and Reiki practitioner. The crystals are a descent size to use on yourself or to gift to someone else but the sizes do differ considerably due to the nature of harvested stones. As an all-round kit, this is perfect for getting started with crystals as they cover all the bases (literally, all the chakras are covered!) and the 7 stones are enough to start you on either a crystal or healing journey. At £15.50 for the whole set, it’s a very reasonable way of getting started too, or treating a new mum to some recuperation.

Available from £15.50 at: https://www.alwaysbelieveinmiracles.com/product-page/the-blooming-mama

Helly Hansen Wanderer Shoulder Bag

Gifts for Her, Summer, Birthday Gifts, Family Life, Women, Stocking Fillers, secret santa, National Walking Month, travel

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

Whilst Helly Hansen are perhaps better known for their outdoor clothing, they do also have a great range of accessories like the Helly Hansen Wanderer Shoulder bag. This compact bag is a brilliant for travelling and has a good selection of pockets, both zipped and open which are ideal for keeping everything organised when navigating airport or train station queues.

The main compartment is zipped and inside are two mesh pockets. The larger pocket is the perfect size for a phone, while the smaller one will hold smaller essentials, I’ve currently got a lipbalm and a tube of sweets in it but it would also be perfect for a pen or a folded up shopping bag. Inside the bag is a handy key clip, a simple feature but incredibly useful and I no longer find myself rummaging around at the bottom of the bag searching for my keys. The bag is plenty large enough for my purse, phone and everyday essentials and the design means I can keep everything nice and organised. There’s also a couple of pockets on the front of the bag, one zipped and one open, which are perfect for items that I need quick access to.

The bag also has an incredibly useful feature – there’s a zip that runs around the bottom of the bag and this can be unzipped, expanding the capacity to 2.6L. It’s like having my very own Mary Poppins bag and kowing what my family are like when travelling, this is going to come in very handy on our next trip!!

The strap is made from rope and it’s easy to adjust the length by retying the end knots. I also like that the rope can also be removed, turning the bag into a handy travel wallet that’s ideal for storing tickets, passports, electronics and charging cables and can be popped inside a rucksack or larger bag while travelling to keep all your essentials together and easy to grab when needed.

If you don’t pack the bag too full, it’s slim enough to tuck discreetly under a coat or jumper which makes it very handy for travelling, giving an extra layer of security in busy places.

Made from lightweight 70D nylon with a TPU backing, it feels durable enough to cope with travelling, whether that’s by plane, train or car and whilst it isn’t fully waterproof, the taped seams help keep water out, so it can handle an occasional rain shower without any problem.

Overall, it’s a well designed and practical bag that will be perfect for summer adventures.

RRP £35

JOMO Club

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Drinks and Mixers, Family Life, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Subscription Boxes, Winter

Disclaimer: We received this box free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts an opinions are our own.

JOMO Club was founded by Richard and Gemma after they grew bored of the limited alcohol-free options found in supermarkets. Wanting something more interesting and better tasting, they left the corporate world behind and created JOMO Club with the aim of making high-quality artisan alcohol-free brands easier to discover. Run as a subscription service, there is the choice of monthly, two monthly or quarterly deliveries which can be paused, skipped or the frequency changed at any time. You’re also not tied into a set period, meaning your subscription can be cancelled at any time.

Each box contains a hand-curated selection of alcohol-free treats designed to introduce members to drinks they’re unlikely to stumble across in the supermarket. The focus is on quality and flavour, with artisan brands that feel and taste completely different to all the supermarket alcohol free drinks available. Each box typically includes one full-sized bottle of an alcohol-free spirit, five or more drinks such as mixers or ready-to-drink cocktails, plus snacks, garnishes and a members’ magazine filled with recipes, serving suggestions and the stories behind the brands.

The boxes are all very well packaged in a sturdy cardboard box an the box I received was the one that was sent out to subscribers in January and included the following products –

• Wilfred’s Aperitivo
• Navas Ginger Beer
• MONTY Lightly Sparkling Elderflower with Lion’s Mane, Reishi and Maitake
• LA Brewery Citrus Kombucha
• MATCH Tonic Water
• Naked Life Ready to Drink Margarita
• Popcorn Shed Chocolate Orange Gourmet Popcorn
• Delicious Pig Snacking Pickles
• The Zest Orange, Cinnamon and Star Anise garnish

The main drink in my box was the full-sized bottle of Wilfred’s Aperitivo. Now this is the sort of drink that tries, quite bravely, to capture that lovely bittersweet magic you normally associate with a proper Italian aperitivo. And it’s fair to say it does a very respectable job indeed, first you taste the sharp bitter orange flavour, then a hint of rhubarb comes through, and there’s a touch of rosemary floating about as well. Right at the end there’s a tiny bit of clove which makes it feel a bit more sophisticated than your average fizzy drink. Splash it over ice, add tonic and a wedge of orange, and suddenly you’ve got something that actually feels like a proper drink rather than just something you’re having because you can’t have the real thing. It’s fresh, a bit sharp, and quite refreshing really. So yes, it turns out you can have something that feels a bit fancy… without ending up with a headache the next morning. Which, if you’ve got work to do the next day, is probably for the best.

The Navas Ginger Beer has a proper ginger kick, warming and slightly spicy rather than overly sweet, which made it ideal with the Wilfred’s Aperitivo. The MATCH Tonic Water is wonderfully crisp and clean and doesn’t try to steal the spotlight but instead lets the flavours of the other drinks shine through, which is exactly what a good tonic should do.

One of the more intriguing discoveries in the box was the MONTY lightly sparkling elderflower drink. Now, I’ll admit that when I saw the ingredient list including Lion’s Mane, Reishi and Maitake mushrooms, I did raise an eyebrow. It sounds slightly like something you’d find in a very enthusiastic health food shop. Not being a fan of mushrooms I was unsure about this one but was actually quite surprised at how nice it tasted, it’s light, floral and delicately sweet with that familiar elderflower freshness and a gentle sparkle.

Another one I really enjoyed was the LA Brewery Citrus Kombucha. Now if you’ve ever had kombucha before you’ll know it’s got a tangy kick to it straight away, and this one’s no different. But the citrus in it really lifts the whole thing. It’s sharp, fresh and properly refreshing, without being overly sweet or heavy like a lot of soft drinks can be. It’s the sort of drink that wakes your taste buds up a bit and actually feels like you’re drinking something interesting rather than just fizzy pop.

Now, I’m quite partial to a Margarita, so when I spotted the Naked Life ready-to-drink Margarita in the box I was pretty pleased about that. And I’ve got to say, it does a surprisingly good job. You get that proper limey sharpness straight away, with a bit of that salty citrus edge you expect from a Margarita. Somehow it manages to taste very close to the real thing, which is quite impressive considering there’s no alcohol in it at all. It’s one of those drinks where you take a sip and think, “Right, yeah… that actually works.”

The snacks were delcious too and the perfect accompaniment to the drinks, the Popcorn Shed chocolate orange popcorn was a real grown up treat – rich, crunchy and indulgent, while the Delicious Pig snacking pickles added a sharp, tangy contrast that paired nicely with the drinks.

There are lots of occasions where alcohol-free drinks just make a lot more sense. Pregnancy, medication, being the one driving everyone home, or simply not fancying a fuzzy head the next morning. For me it’s often a practical thing. I’m usually the one behind the wheel or I know I’ve got an early start the next morning, so having something interesting to pour into a glass makes all the difference. You still get the flavour, the little ritual of mixing a drink, and that feeling that you’re having something a bit celebratory… just without regretting it the next day.

Another bonus is that they’re low in calories too. A quick glance at the labels showed most of the drinks sit at around 60 calories per 250ml, which is quite a bit less than your average glass of wine. So you get all the enjoyment without quite so much of the guilt either.

All in all, JOMO Club is a cracking way to explore the growing world of alcohol-free drinks. It takes the guesswork out of finding the good ones and delivers a box full of interesting things to try – proving you don’t need alcohol to raise a proper toast.

The JOMO box costs £46 for a one off box with discouts of up to 20% available for regular subscriptions. Wine drinkers may prefer the Wine Club box at £43 which contains three bottles of wine along with a tasting card.

Superdrug B. Complete Base Make up Brush Set

beauty, Birthday Gifts, eco friendly, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, Women

Disclaimer: we received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Make up brushes are every bit as important as the products you apply so it is well worth investing in decent ones. That said, you don’t have to spend a fortune as there are some really good quality brushes available on the High Street like these Superdrug B make up brushes which strike that rare balance between affordability and quality. I’ve been a fan of them for a while now and they certainly give some of the more expensive brands a run for their money! If you haven’t tried the Superdrug B brushes before then The Complete Base Make up Brush Set is a great starter set as it contains four essential make up brushes – a Concealer Brush, Contour Brush, Blending Foundation Brush and a Powder Brush.

I’ll start with the foundation brush because that one really impressed me. It’s beautifully dense but still lovely and soft, packed with plenty of bristles so it buffs foundation into my skin rather than just pushing it around giving a really smooth, flawless finish with no streaks in sight.

The concealer brush is another winner, it picks up just the right amount of product and allows for a really precise, delicate application, particularly around the eyes. I usually rely on my fingers but I might just be converted to a concealer brush now as it blended the concealer beautifully, leaving the skin looking smoother and more even.

The contour brush is just as versatile, it sweeps blusher or bronzer across the cheeks with a soft, natural touch giving a subtle glow to lifts my complexion. Finally, the powder brush is wonderfully soft and fluffy and picks up just the right amount of powder to dust across my face to help set my make-up.

I am really impressed with these brushes, they glide easily across the skin, making my make-up application quick and easy. The bristles stay firmly in place and I’ve not noticed any falling out which is good. The handles are also very comfortable to hold and the brushes are a nice size and fit nicely in my make-up bag.

All the brushes have a 100% recycled plastic handle and 100% recycled plastic bristles, so they’re a more sustainable choice as well.

Whether you’re just starting to build your brush collection or looking to upgrade the brushes in your make-up bag the Superdrug B.Base Make Up Brush set is a great choice. It has a RRP of £15 but is currently on offer at £12 so it’s a great time to buy.

Le Bab Restaurant, Soho London

Birthday Gifts, Days Out, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Restaurant

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

In the alleyways between Regents Street and Carnaby Street, you’ll find Kingly Court tucked away where you can’t see it. On the top floor sits Le Bab, the World-influenced kebab restaurant that’s part of a chain across London.

The moody, candlelit atmosphere is far from overlooked thanks to being on the highest floor and overlooking a gallery looking down to the restaurants below. There’s a maximum of 40 covers including the bar and window seats and even when half full there was atmosphere. We started with cocktails, including an incredibly strong Negroni as you can see from the photo!

We ordered the mixed mezze for starter, which included hummus with steamed broccoli and two different naan breads including garlic bread. This was delicious, and could have been a meal in itself! The bread was obviously baked on site because it was so fresh and so warm. The broccoli was not something I’d seen before, as it was arranged like a tree on the plate and cooked whole. We cut off pieces of the broccoli tree, tore up the garlic naan bread and devoured the hummus bare handed.

Next were the mains. I had the Dirty Bab; a chargrilled lamb with chips, piled with pickles, chilli, lamb’s lettuce and mayo. My guest tried the Mixed Grill Kebab with chicken and lamb plus red cabbage, chilli and mayo topped with leaves. Both kebabs were sitting on a flat bread, so you could wrap them up if you wanted to, or cutlery is brought to your table. In both meals, the lamb was incredibly tender and the flavour from the chargrilling was fabulous. The chilli can be on the side, which I’m very glad we both chose to do because it was so hot, but it added yet another layer of flavour to the meal if we wanted to. Both of us had to leave some of our kebab because there was so much!

For dessert, there was a choice of only two items. We could have done with something with ice cream as the chilli was so hot and the meal so filling, but we each had the desserts; baklava and sticky toffee pudding. The STP was extremely light, not heavy and dull like most puddings. It was covered with chocolate sauce, giving the sweetness you crave at the end of a meal. The baklava was also sweet, and as one huge piece, it was a meal on its own.

We enjoyed the meal and the restaurant immensely. There was far too much food in three courses for two people, but I’m glad we got to sample the kebabs as well as the mezze. The mezze alone would have been a great meal, but there’s plenty more on the menu which I could happily have ordered – or maybe I’ll come back another time and sample it!

Le Bab Soho, Top Floor, Kingly Court, Carnaby St, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW

https://www.eatlebab.com/soho

AQUAPHOR Water Filter

Birthday Gifts, eco friendly, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Home, Home & Garden, kitchen appliances, Mother's Day, REUSABLE

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Whether it’s reducing plastic, filtering out toxins or eliminating heavy metals, a kitchen water filter jug benefits the whole family. AQUAPHOR ‘Filters every drop’ of your home tap water to reduce limescale and help create delicious drinks and taster food when cooking.

The jugs are designed with a slimline look which fits into the shelf of the fridge door. The massive jug holds 3.2 litres and has a battery-free filter indicator in the lid, which is flip-top to make it easier to fill. The custom filter, known as the AQUALEN is made of an ion-exchange filter material containing extra fine coconut shell carbon and efficient ion-exchange beads. As with most water filters, you need to soak the filter in water for 2 minutes first, then run water through the reservoir twice before being able to drink the water safely on the third filter.

The filter, which can last for 200 litres, filters out organic compounds, iron and heavy metals, as well as removing limescale which causes hard water. The lid of the ‘Fresh’ water just that we tested has a cartridge replacement counter. This gives an indication of the quality of the filter from 100% when it’s installed, down to zero percent when it needs changing. New cartridges can be found on the AQUAPHOR Amazon site (below).

The AQUAPHOR Fresh, which we tested, was ample size for a family, with us being able to fill it up and use about 3 times a day, and that was with cooking too. It’s easy to pick up and easy to fill up too, and the cartridge replacement counter is really useful in a busy household. The water tastes pure and when you hold it up to the light it certainly looks clear too. I’ve tried it in the kettle a few times after having cleaned the limescale from inside, and it hasn’t furred up the mechanism yet so the hard water must be removed during the filtering process.

No one in my house has complained about the taste of the water, which is always a bonus! If you’re not used to filling up a jug all the time then that can get a bit of getting used to, but we always have a jug of water ready to go. The filters aren’t that expensive and you can buy them in bulk but they do last a long time so you can buy 6 at a time on Amazon and forget about buying anymore for a while.

AQUAPHOR is a great alternative to under sink filters, not least because they’re cheaper but they rival anything else on the market, and you know that you’re getting purer, cleaner water than what comes out of the tap.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/AQUAPHORWATERFILTERS/page/241D9FA6-27A6-4C44-958B-D54BE2F7453D