Author: thereviewstudiouk

Honest and Impartial Reviews.

ECO Professional Hair Styling Gel

beauty, Family Life, health, Women

Whether it’s a new hair style, a New Years’ Resolution for haircare or if you feel like a change, your hair styling is something very personal to you.  For 2023, I am trying more hair styles, colours and drying methods to see what suits me, so the Eco Professional Hair Styling Gel, made with olive oil was on my radar to try!

Olive oil has long been used as a beauty product, and the Eco Hair Styling Gel is made with 100% olive oil.  The oil acts as a way of keeping in the moisture and keeping hair soft, as well as working on the scalp to keep it hydrated. The effect of the olive oil overall is to keep hair slick and sheen and easily managed, especially as it’s so light weight.

The gel can be used on wet or dry hair, and hair of all lengths. Obviously if it’s used on wet hair it keeps in more of the moisture, and on dry hair you can style better. Both methods should give good hold.

I tried the Eco Hair Styling Gel on both wet and dry hair.  With my hair roughly dried but not long out of the shower, it was difficult to assume how much gel to use without it looking ‘crunchy’ so I used it sparingly at first, with the texture of the gel coating locks of hair. My hair is naturally curly so it was easier to work it through long strands. When it came to drying, I let my hair dry naturally and found that I should probably have used a bit more gel than I did so that the curls had more definition, but with trial and error, I managed to get an even, defined curl throughout.

When I used Eco Hair Styling Gel on dry hair, there was more of a ‘wet look’ and it made it easy to pull my hair back into a tight bun or pony tail.  My preference though, is to use the gel for defining curls, and anyone who has curly hair knows how difficult that is!

Available from Boots from £3.99: https://www.boots.com/eco-style-olive-oil-styling-gel-237ml-10261195?cm_mmc=bmm-buk-google-ppc-_-PLAs_HeroCompare-_-Toiletries_Hair-_-UK_Smart_Shopping_Toiletries_Hair&gclid=CjwKCAiAk–dBhABEiwAchIwkR_MKSkfzxIYdAB2snpW3y8Iq4qX4rHnu3ZfMKRT7H5z_emU_zXw-BoCPRsQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

New Years’ Resolution, New Hair style, new hair, hair styling, Hair gel, curly hair

#NewYearsResolution #NewHairStyle #NewHair #HairStyling #HairGel #CurlyHair 

Wahl Peaky Blinders Clipper & Beard Trimmer Gift Set

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for Him, health

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

Like many others I started cutting my husband and son’s hair during lockdown, my first attempts weren’t great and it’s a good job they weren’t leaving the house but after watching a few YouTube videos and with three heads to practise on I quickly improved. With the cost of living crisis my barbering skills are being called on again so I was really pleased to receive the Wahl Peaky Blinders Clippers & Beard Trimmer Gift Set.

Wahl are known for their hair clippers and this is a great set containing everything you need to keep control of your hair and beard. Male grooming is big business now and with beards very much back in fashion along with shorter hair styles, cutting your hair at home makes more sense than ever before.

The mains voltage clipper is very solidly built and not being limited by battery power will run as long as you need it to and as is always ready to use. The clipper has a long power lead and includes a thumb operated fade blade to get that modern crisp look. There is a choice of 12 attachment combs offering cutting lengths between 0.8mm and 25mm with left and right tapers so whether you want a close cut or something a little longer you can achieve it with this set. 

The clippers are extremely comfortable to hold and give a nice clean cut without pulling or tugging the hair. They move through hair nicely and don’t get clogged up and are very easy to use either by yourself or on someone else’s hair. 

They can be used for cutting hair, trimming sideburns and beards and for trimming around the ears and neckline. 

The battery powered trimmer is handy for smaller areas, my son found it particularly useful when trimming his beard and around his ears where the main clipper was a little cumbersome.

The set even includes a cape in the set to protect clothes whilst your hair is being cut. When not in use you can store everything away neatly in the stylish grey bag.

Also in the set are the following items to give you the full barbers shop experience at home

Scissors

Barber Comb

Fade Brush

Barber Cape

Blade Oil and Cleaning Brush

Storage Bag

Style Guide

This is a great set for anyone looking to purchase clippers for the first time or as a replacement set. It has everything you need to maintain the sleekest look in town – just like the Peaky Blinders!

RRP £100 but currently on offer for £50 on the Wahl website

Mavrik Non Alcoholic Cocktails

Birthday Gifts, Drinks and Mixers, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Summer, Vegan, Women

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

It’s the weekend and even though we’re taking part in Dry January it doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy a cocktail or two – there are plenty of delicious non-alcoholic cocktails available now and Mavrik have certainly come up trumps with their exciting non- alcoholic cocktail range.

The Mavrik taster pack contains four 250ml cans and with less than 50 calories per can they are perfect for those watching the calories as well as those who prefer a non-alcoholic drink. Choose from

  • Aromatic G&T: A delicious version of the quintessential English favourite with a refined low calorie pink G&T.
  • Cuban Mojito: Zinging with mint and rum flavours, this indulgent alcohol-free Mojito is the very refreshing and will be lovely to drink with friends this Dry January. 
  • Venetian Spritz: A refreshing, sparking orange drink, sweet with a hint of bitterness and is  delicious with plenty of ice and a few slices of orange.
  • Storm & Spice: a fiery, tongue tickling, low calorie version of the classic spicy Bermudan rum cocktail.

My favourite of the four was the Cuban Mojito which was just as a Mojito should be, nice and  refreshing with the taste of fresh lime and mint and with no sugar I can drink it all night guilt free.

I must say I was very pleasantly surprised with the non-alcoholic drinks, made with natural ingredients and carbonated New Forest spring water they are very refreshing and enable you to get into the party spirit without the hangover! They are vegan friendly, gluten free and contain less than 5 grams of sugar per 100 grams so what’s not to love?

Mavrik drinks are available from their website and the tasting pack costs £9.75

Cranes Cider

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

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

It’s the first week of Dry January and I’m sure I’m not the only one looking forward to having a break from alcohol (and hangovers) after a few weeks of over indulgence!

I enjoy a glass of cider, so I’ve swapped my normal brand for low alcohol cider from Cranes Cider. It’s got the fresh, crisp flavour you would expect from a quality British Cider but with only 0.5% alcohol content is a much healthier choice.

When you pour it into a glass you get the same apple aroma as you would from a traditional cider, and I was pleased to discover that it has the same crisp freshness in the mouth that I am used to. This is every bit as good as traditional cider and one I will continue to drink once Dry January is over. At only 0.5% ALC it is ideal for those who can’t or don’t want to drink alcohol and is suitable for those who follow a vegan or gluten free diet too.

RRP £22.50 for 9 x 500ml bottles and is available from Cranes

FootActive Orthotic Insoles

Family Life, Fashion, Fitness, Sport

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Since our last review of the FootActive Plantar Fasciitis and Orthotic Insoles last month, we’ve had notification that lots of you are reading what we had to say so the lovely people at FootActive have sent us another version for us to try, the Orthotic Insole.

Built for sports enthusiasts, the Orthotic Insole is super supportive for all sorts of sports like running, walking and team games. If you read our previous review, you’ll know that I lift weights and I also have very flat feet. This makes lifting quite difficult because my knees turn inwards and my feet roll, making it painful on my feet and knees and the balance of the overhead weights is off centre.  Over time, it can make my feet in particular really painful.

The FootActive Orthotic Insoles are specially for sports, so this was my chance to prove how they work! The insoles are different to the Plantar Fasciitis variety because they are slightly more pliable, with more of a grip to the surface, perfectly suited to high impact sports. The insole shape is still there though with the moulding around the heel and arch of the foot but I did notice that the arch support isn’t as high with these sports ones.

The top layer is also moisture-wicking, meaning that when your feet get hot and sweaty during sports, the material makes it easier for your feet to breath.  The heel also has extra cushioning with shock-absorbing gel on the heels, and on the front of the foot too.  Overall, there are several designs built in which make them more sport-friendly. However, there’s no reason why you couldn’t wear them all day if you need to.

When it comes to sports, I used them to walk to the gym (about 7 minute walk) then for the weight lifting.  It wasn’t that difficult to get used to the shape, I actually found them easier to walk and lift in than the Plantar Fasciitis insoles and that was probably to do with the gel which cushioned my feet more.  The insoles also instantly correct your posture which was noticeable, although my knees and shoes weren’t used to the new positioning so they put up a bit of a fight, but I’m assured by my trainer that this is only temporary! Hopefully in time it will improve my overall posture and not just with lifting weights.

I think I actually prefer these Orthotic Insoles because they’re more mailable and fit more snugly as well and fitting into my every day Converse shoes or Sketchers trainers.  They could potentially make any shoe more comfortable though, we’ll just have to see how my flat feet cope!

Available from £25: https://footactive.co.uk/footactive-sports

Wahl Mini Massage Gun

Birthday Gifts, Family Life, Father's Day, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Sport, Tech

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Aches and pains are an everyday part of life, but don’t have to last long when you have a masseuse at the touch of a button.  The Wahl Cordless Mini Massage Gun has been on my list of items to try, so when the team offered to send me one to review, I was eager to see if it stood up to my expectations! 

The gun itself is only about 15cm long (hence it’s a mini massager) and approximately 10cm high.  Charged with a type C USB cable, there are no batteries involved and the cable is a standard computer lead which comes with the kit but can also be found with other appliances. It can be charged from a USB port on a computer, or on a wall charger.

The gun and attachments come in a handy zip-up case which fits neatly into a gym bag or a drawer at home and contains all 4 attachments as well as the USB lead.  Starting with the gun, it only has one on/off button to operate, which is triggered by holding down the button for just a second. The digital display on the front tells you the intensity of the movement (1 being lowest, 6 the highest) and the amount of battery left. I found that it took up to 4 hours to charge the battery in full but it can take longer. The instructions suggest you charge the gun every 3 months if it hasn’t been used.

The gun is already fitted with the Flat Head attachment, whilst the Round Head, Bullet Head and Spinal Head are contained in the case.  Each attachment pops in and out, there’s no threading to worry about but they are fitted quite snugly so you have to use some effort to change them sometimes.

The instructions don’t give an indication of which attachment to use on any particular part of the body, just techniques for the shoulders, neck, back etc.  I found that it was best to start the massage gun on the lowest level and use the round attachment first on the hands, thighs and upper arms until you get used to the sensation. It’s quite powerful, even at a low level which is exactly what you’re looking for in a massage gun but does take a while to get used to!  I found that the Round Head was good for working the back of my neck.  The gun isn’t very heavy so you can hold it in one place for a long period of time. The attachment is really quite effective though, with the headache I had at the time easing. If you had a person massaging with the same intensity for any length of time, there wouldn’t be as much power, and they would probably get tired very quickly. The fact that you can change the intensity of the motion too means that you can tailor the massage to your needs.

The other attachments were great for other areas too. The Bullet Head works well on certain reflexology points on the feet, giving a precise massage to pressure points. The Flat Head also helps with digestion when you massage the abdomen in circular motions.  It’s very difficult to try the Spinal Head on yourself, but the wishbone shape works on the muscles either side of the spine (never use directly on the spine) to relax the back muscles.  With some ingenuity, you can find the right attachment and the right intensity for any part of the body which needs restoring, which is part of the fun of a massage gun!

The Wahl Mini Massage Gun runs for approximately 20 minutes on a timer or 200 minutes in all on a single charge. If you need more help, or indeed inspiration, Wahl have a tutorial on their website to give you more ideas. 

The Wahl Mini Massage Gun is available from £71.99 at: https://www.wahl.co.uk/product/cordless-mini-massager-gun/

Triggle Family Board Game

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Games, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home & Garden, Learning, Toys

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Families are always looking for more wholesome ways to connect and have fun, so Tomy’s board game Triggle is a gem for the winter months. Based on 2-4 players (but you could play in teams) it is aimed at 8 years and upwards and has a remarkably simple objective; to create triangles.

The starting board consists of pegs arranged in a geometric pattern. Each player chooses one of the colours of pegs (there are 21 pegs for each player) and the elastic bands are divided out between everyone playing. Taking it in turns, each player add one rubber band to the board, suspending it between any two posts in any direction. The only ‘rules’ are that the line created by the band must be straight, and it must stretch across 4 post only and touching at least one other rubber band. 

Once a player creates a triangle with their rubber band, they can claim it as their own by placing their coloured peg inside it. A triangle consists of only one single space.

The game ends whenever there are no spaces left on the board to claim, or one of the players uses up all their pegs.  An alternative to the full game is for each player to have a set amount of rubber bands (for instance, 10 or 20) and the players play until there are no more bands left. Whoever has the most pegs placed on the board is the winner.

This is a remarkably easy game to follow and learn the rules for, and can keep the whole family entertained. We found that playing with just two, and especially two adults or older children was exceptionally easy and allowed for conversation throughout. There was no need to remember where you were in the game, so it was easy to talk, or walk away and come back after dinner if you needed to. It also doesn’t last for hours and hours where you feel compelled to complete the game. It also didn’t require point scoring or writing anything down as you can just count up the number of pegs visible, and there’s no need for remembering characters or complicated rules!

If you are in a group who don’t speak English or have limited vocabulary, this is a great mind teaser puzzle, and if you lose the rubber bands, they can easily be replaced. Instead of using the pegs, you can use any other type of counter from another game, so there’s longevity too.  I found that after a while, some of the younger children (under 12 years old or so) were able to make up new games of their own, or liked making patterns in the board after the game had finished, so there was endless entertainment to be had over the school holidays.

Triggle isn’t really a game you grow out of and can be picked up by anyone. It’s definitely a “thumbs up” from us as a family game.

Available from £19.50 at Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fat-Brain-Preschool-Educational-Suitable/dp/B08SRF4FKJ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2T4AYCESTM577&keywords=triggle+board+game&qid=1672763459&sprefix=triggle+board+game%2Caps%2C63&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1

Jamu Wild Water

Children, Drinks and Mixers, eco friendly, Family Life, Food & Drink, Lunchbox Fillers, Plastic free

January is not only Dry January, but the beginning of the year is a time to try new things and for many of us, to become healthier! Jamu Wild Water have these 100% Natural and Zero Sugar waters to tempt you into the healthier side of living in 2023, and sent us some of them the try.

The waters come in 250ml sized cans in three flavours; Natural Sparkling Raspberry, Natural Sparkling Blood Orange and Natural Sparkling Lemon. As the name suggests, they don’t contain any sugar or artificial sweeteners and each have added Vitamin C and zinc.  Not only are they made with natural fruit flavours but with nourishing botanicals and are gently fizzed so you can attempt almost anyone with their texture or taste!

The Natural Sparkling Raspberry flavour is slightly sweet from the raspberry and elderberry fruits, with the root flavouring of the Marshmallow Root Extract coming through. It’s probiotic too, giving your gut a better nutrient from the probiotic root it contains.

The Natural Sparkling Blood Orange flavour contains chicory root for probiotic health, and the flavour comes from the sweet blood orange and Echinacea, which has immune boosting properties.

Lastly, my favourite is the refreshing Natural Sparkling Lemon with the invigorating citrus flavour from lemons, and added nettle and dandelion extracts, the combination of which is used traditionally to relieve inflammation, boost immunity and aid digestive health.

Suitable for the whole family, they will be particularly useful in flu season and when the kids don’t want to drink just water. The 100% recyclable cans means that Jamu Wild Water can be taken out on car journeys, picnics or even to school. Can’t wait until after Dry January to find out what else it can be mixed with too!

Available from www.jamuwildwater.co.uk, £20 for 12 cans.

STM Goods Myth Laptop Bag

Birthday Gifts, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home & Garden, Mobile Phone, Tech

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Back to work this week after the Christmas break and many of us are having to haul laptops into hotdesking offices.  The STM Goods Myth Laptop Bag has a clever design and material features which make it stand head and shoulders above other backpacks and lends itself ideally to laptop carrying.

For starters, the handles are designed with a cooling mesh which sits comfortable on your shoulders and allows air to pass through, saving your skin from heating up when there’s a heavy load inside the bag.  On the back, there’s also the Pass-port Passthrough, a new design which allows you to slip the backpack onto the handles of a suitcase or hand luggage trolley so that you can transport both with one hand. It saves having the backpack handle clasped onto the suitcase and falling off due to not being balanced.

Inside, there’s completely new technology to support your laptop. Instead of just a pocket, there’s a whole compartment which has cushion technology to save your laptop (or tablet) from impact when setting it down on the floor or from being bashed about on transport. You’ll also find tons of other pockets and compartments inside, specially designed for your AirPods, or for wired headphones to be clipped inside and kept safe. The ample pockets are big enough for phones, tablets, notebooks and even pens and are all hidden away inside to make it more difficult for anyone to pickpocket you, as well as being cushioned from impact.

On the front of the backpack, there are more pockets too. If you’re travelling, the front pocket is ample size for passports and travel documents plus a smaller pocket at the top for loose change. Although the STM Myth Laptop Bag is for transporting laptops to and from work, this backpack actually works really well for travelling by plane because of its size (it’s suitable as hand luggage) and the ‘bump’ technology keeps gadgets safe when on transport. However, it also has the durability needed when travelling a lot. Having been completely redesigned, the team at STM have thought about everything. As we don’t use money as much now and rely on our phones to store our credit card details, it means we can carry around less precious items but need to keep phones and laptops safe. The zips on the STM Myth are big enough to accommodate a lock if you need to, and there’s room inside to hide a Tile or Apple AirTag.

The more I look at the bag, the more I find uses for it! I took this away on holiday where I only had a limited amount of hand luggage and found that I could fit most travel items in it easily, and more importantly, they were safe and protected and didn’t get crushed in transit. Even my headphones were safe from being squashed!

The little details in the STM Myth Laptop Bag make it excellent for travelling, working or even as a gift. The zips are protected with a cover to prevent rain and dirt entering, there’s an integrated CableReady system which allows you to charge your laptop or tablet whilst it’s still in the bag and a durable top handle so that you can carry it in one hand, or pick it up easily from the floor or overhead locker. It weighs less than 1kg when empty too, so with most hand luggage being a maximum of 7kg, you still have plenty of room for the laptop, phone and even a snack!

But finally, what does STM stand for? Smarter Than Most… the Australian company who think of everything!

Available on Amazon for £61.73: https://www.amazon.co.uk/STM-Goods-Backpack-Featuring-Pass-Through/dp/B07HY5BPGF/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?adgrpid=66649414279&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgvLDn9n3-wIVhweLCh3Pagt3EAAYASAAEgLS1fD_BwE&hvadid=335528403538&hvdev=m&hvlocphy=1006948&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=1753826711841176724&hvtargid=kwd-613724609670&hydadcr=19799_1751391&keywords=stm+myth&qid=1670972400&sr=8-1

iSqueeze Juice

Drinks and Mixers, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gluten Free, Lunchbox Fillers, Sustainable, Vegan, Vegetarian

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

After the excess of food and drink consumed over the Christmas period, Dry January provides the perfect opportunity to reset your body and mind. Dry January is the month when many people abstain from alcohol and as well as saving money it also has plenty of health benefits too, including improved sleep, weight loss and cutting out alcohol can also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol too.

Lots of people associate orange juice as a breakfast staple but it can now be enjoyed “on-the-go” thanks to a growing number of iSqueeze machines in retail establishments, enabling you to grab a fresh juice whilst out and about. You will find machines in supermarkets, convenience stores, cafes, restaurants, gyms, and even hospitals.

The easy to operate self-service machines squeeze the fruit in seconds before bottling it, letting you enjoy fresh orange juice with no nasties, preservatives or sweeteners. The juice is packed full of flavour with plenty of zesty pulp and is very refreshing to drink.

The juice is available in a variety of sizes and each iSqueeze 250ml bottle (priced between £1.50 – £2.50) contains 3 oranges, 330ml (priced between £2 – £2.80) bottle – 5 oranges, 500ml (priced between £3 – £4.00) bottle – 8 oranges and the 1 litre bottle (priced between £4.25 – £6.00) contains an impressive 15 oranges.

As well as orange juice iSqueeze also have machines that will squeeze pomegranates and grapefruits too, with the technology to extend to further fruits including apples, so keep your eyes peeled!

All fruit is sustainably sourced, meaning zero waste, and the bottles are made from 100% recycled plastic which can easily be recycled. The juice is squeezed whilst you wait and is packed full of immune boosting ingredients and is high in vitamin C, folate, as well as potassium.

You will find iSqueeze machines in a growing number of places around the UK, we have one in our local Booths and you can also find them in Sainsburys, Coop, Nisa, Costcutter, Spar, Centre Parcs and plenty of other locations too.

Spice Kitchen Subscription Box

Birthday Gifts, Family Life, Father's Day, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Subscription Boxes, Vegetarian

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

My New Year’s Resolution is to cook more from scratch, rather than relying on ready made sauces. I love curries but have never really tried making my own, so I was really pleased to be able to try a subscription box from Spice Kitchen Each box contains a selection of spices along with a handy recipe guide with plenty of tasty recipes to get you started. Using the spices with the suggested ingredients means you know exactly what is going into your dish and that all the ingredients are healthy and suitable for the whole family.

The subscription boxes are available as a 3 month or 6 month subscription which are posted monthly or quarterly – you choose the timings. The spices are different in each box

3 month subscription – India, Around the World, Middle Eastern & African Spice Collecion

6 month subscription – The same as the 3 month followed by Chilli, Moroccan and Flavoured Sea Salts

The spices are packaged in resealable plastic bags which are clearly labelled so that you know which spice is which. Each box contains enough spices to make over 100 meals so you can try plenty of different recipes with each box. Once you have tried the ones in the recipe guide have a look at the Spice Kitchen website where you will find plenty more.

I flicked through the recipe book and was spoilt for choice, all the dishes sounded lovely however after a lot of deliberation we settled on Chicken Biryani, one of our favourite takeaway meals. We had all the ingredients so were able to try it out straight away. The instructions are really simple and easy to follow and I was really impressed just how easy it was to create a delicious curry.

We served the Chicken Biryani with Naan bread and rice and the whole family loved it, it was flavoursome and had just the right kick to it.

Next we tried the Punjabi Chickpeas, again we had all the ingredients in and my son made this for us. He said it was really easy to make and there were 4 clean plates at the end of the meal, so this speaks for itself!

Now I know how easy it is to make curries from scratch I know this is one New Year’s Resolution that I won’t be breaking! The subscription boxes are a way to bring authentic Indian cooking into the home and would make a great gift for any keen cook or foodie this year.

LensPen Smarty Smartphone Camera Cleaner

Birthday Gifts, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home & Garden, Mobile Phone, Stocking Fillers, Tech

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

If you’ve received a new smartphone for Christmas, or take a lot of photos on your camera you’ll know that the smudge factor is real when it comes to the camera lens. I hate it when I take what I think is the perfect photo, only to find that when I view it, there is that misty blur on all the photos because the lens isn’t clean. It’s the price we pay for handling our phones all day, but there are ways of reducing the smudges.

LensPen Smarty Cleaner for Smartphones is a tiny yet useful gadget for cleaning your camera lens on smartphones. Suitable for all makes of camera phone, the pen is only 4cms long and can fit in your pocket, or in the bottom of your handbag without even noticing it’s there! The cap screws loose to reveal the head of the pen which is a carbon cleaner. There’s no detergent or alcohol involved, just a pad which is small enough to fit through any camera phone casing and erases away all the grime.

I tried this on my iPhone, especially as I frequently get blurry smudges and I can’t clean them away easily with just a tissue or corner of my shirt. The LensPen is small enough to fit, comfortable to use and with minimal effort, it dissolved away the greasy fingerprint on my camera lens.  To prove it works, I used it on the front of my camera phone on the touchscreen. The pen does indeed eradicate fingerprints anywhere!

Available online from $5.99 at: https://www.manfrotto.com/us-en/lenspen-smarty-smartphone-cleaner-black-ln-smarty/

No Guilt Bakes Keto Cakes and Treats

Christmas, Family Life, Fitness, Food & Drink

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

If you’ve ever been on a low carb, Keto or Atkins diet (there are many names for the high protein/fat lifestyle!) then you’ll know how difficult it is to find commercially available products. No Guilt Bakes is the brain child of Taeya and Maya, friends who have lost 40kg between them in weight after following the Keto diet whereby sugar isn’t consumed at all, and the rest of your diet is high in fat and low in carbohydrates. That means… no cake! Well, it did, until No Guilt Bakes found a way of making cakes and treats with almond flour and other sugar-free, low carb ingredients. 

The team at No Guilt Bakes sent us two cakes to try over Christmas; the Christmas Keto Fruit Cake and Caramel & Ginger Spice Keto Cake Loaf.  The Christmas Keto Fruit Cake isn’t available after Christmas, but there are more cakes and treats being released for holidays and special occasions throughout the year, so keep an eye on the website if you’re interested. Each cake is approximately 350gram loaf and arrives by post as quickly as possible after delivery. The idea is to hit that sweet craving before you can reach for the biscuits and as the company professes, have No Guilt!

Both the Christmas Keto Cake and Caramel & Ginger Spice Loaves arrived neatly packed in cardboard trays and sealed for freshness in plastic. You can either freeze them for 2 months, or if you open them straight away, they have at least 4 days’ shelf life.  They are best kept in the fridge, even before being opened to keep their freshness. 

What were they like to eat? Both cakes are surprisingly rich in flavour, with additions such as cinnamon, dried blueberries and both are made with almond flour. If you’ve never tried almond flour before, its’ taste isn’t much different to wheat flour, other than it is slightly richer and heavier, but not sticky. It holds flavours very well when you mix it in a cake batter for instance, and works particularly well with butter.  The Fruit Cake and Ginger Cake really didn’t taste any different to your bakery-bought cakes we see everyday. I would say that the No Guilt Bakes Keto Fruit Cake is lighter than the usual fruit cake though, so for everyone who finds Christmas to be a sticky mess, this cake is probably preferable.  The Caramel & Ginger cake is likewise just as moist and not heavy at all, plus you can really taste the ginger in it.  Neither cake is lacking in sweetness though, hence you wouldn’t be able to tell the difference in a blind taste test!

I am constantly looking for Keto sweets to try and No Guilt Bakes is new to me, so thanks to Taeya and Maya, I will be looking to see what else I can order!

Cake loaves are available from £8.99 at: https://www.noguiltbakes.co.uk/products/ginger-keto-loaf-cake

Edifier GX Gaming Headset

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Tech

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

Christmas is fast approaching and this gaming headset from Edifier would make a perfect present for the gamer in your family – young or old!

Made of a grey plastic with leatherette ear cups and a lined headband this headset has a really good feel – they certainly don’t feel cheap and are light on the head and comfortable for long periods of gaming.

With any headphones the quality of the sound must be the most important feature and with a pair of 50mm titanium drivers and Hi-Res audio this headset does not disappoint. The earcups provide plenty of insulation from external sounds and music is clear over the whole frequency band.

Three different cables are provided enabling easy connection to a variety of devices. USB-C can be used to connect to most modern smartphones and tablets, A standard Type-A USB cable allows connection to PCs and PS4 consoles whilst a standard 3.5mm jack is provided for connection to pretty much any other device. At 1.2m long they might not be long enough for everybody but can easily be extended / replaced.

For gamers a good microphone is essential and the microphone on this headset works well. It includes a noise cancellation system to give better clarity and when not in use it easily stows away inside the earcup.

The headset has four controls, on the left earcup is a mute button for the microphone and a scroll for volume control. On the rear of the right earcup are controls to switch between gaming mode and music mode and also to control the RGB LEDs. Different colours can be selected and a long press turns them off completely.

These controls are all dependent on power taken from the USB connection which does mean that they do not work when using the 3.5mm jack.

I have worn these for quite some time and find them very comfortable and the refined styling with the ability to turn off the LEDs appeals to me, I had intended to give these to my teenage son but I don’t think I want to part with them now!

I do have one niggle to mention but it is only minor – the controls on the left earcup are well positioned but on the right earcup the controls are positioned right where I hold the headset when taking it off meaning I’m always pressing buttons by mistake.

Overall I am very impressed with these headphones, they are lightweight, comfortable to wear and the sound quality is excellent and at £69.99 are excellent value for money.

Specifications

Frequency response – 20Hz-20kHz

Driver unit – Ф50mm dynamic driver

Sensitivity – 97±3dB

Impedance – 32Ω

Product weight – 345g

Interfaces – Type-C/USB/3.5mm

Edifier CC200 Bluetooth Headset

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home & Garden, Mobile Phone, Tech

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Now that most of us are working from home most of the time, I know that I find myself looking for gadgets and technology that make life easier.  This Edifier Wireless Bluetooth Headset is one example of how my working practice has changed since the beginning of the pandemic. Let me explain…

The Edifier CC200 Bluetooth Headset is a wireless, Bluetooth mono headset for taking phone calls or listening to music.  As its wireless and Bluetooth, it doesn’t need plugging in anywhere but can connect to your laptop and allow you to walk around whilst the noise-cancelling microphone can still pick up your voice, allowing you to do more than just be sat at your PC.

All of the controls are on the headpiece; the on/off switch and volume controls, plus the call pick up button on the back of the earpiece.  How the combinations of buttons work is detailed in the instructions, but the headset does allow you to pick up multiple calls, mute and redial all from the headset.  With so few buttons, it doesn’t take long to pick up the sequences to be able to work them without having to look at the instructions (which are super easy) and learn what the buttons do by their shape and texture.

The headset charges using the USB cord which is included in the set.  The battery life is around 29 hours for calls and 64 hours for music, so if you’re not on a call you can run your music from your laptop or PC and still wander around with a range of around 10 meters!  This is great for parents who are on calls with their hands full all day or those who have a job where they need to be away from their desks for long periods of time.  It’s not just a PC which the Edifier CC200 can work from either. The headset is compatible with both Windows and Apple technology and some phones as well.

The Edifier technology boasts crystal clear calls as well.  I set this up easily with my work laptop. Using the on/off button, you only need to pair it once using Bluetooth. With the headphone on set-up mode, my laptop was able to search for it and lock on to the headset easily. Once they’re paired, your laptop or PC locks onto it again whenever it’s switched on and you can start using it straight away.

I am familiar with wireless and Bluetooth headsets so this worked similarly to other brands I’ve used. The call is crystal clear though, both hearing the other person and your own voice, and it works well when there are a group of you on a call.  The charge length of the battery is super long – I am used to charging my headset every day and the Edifier CC200 lasts for days without needing to be charged. The adjustable headset is really good for those of us with a lot of hair, or if you wear your hair tied back etc, and even better, it doesn’t have sharp bits that get caught in your hair too!

This is a great addition to working from home and I really can’t find any faults with it. It’s a brilliant price too for how well it works.

Available for £49.99 at:

The Contour Pro by Dr Levy

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Fashion, Gifts for Her, health, Tech, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own. The Review Studio are not responsible for any of the information provided below and no information should be taken as advice. Consult your doctor before using any new devices especially on the face. Do not use The Contour Pro on the chest/breasts, neck (including the thyroid), within the orbital rim of the eye (including eyelids), on the lips, genitals or groin area. Do not exceed the 3 minute maximum per day.

Every so often a new technology comes on the market to wind back the hands of time and help eradicate the signs of aging.  The Contour Pro by Dr Levy Switzerland is a multitasking technology that helps plump and firms skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines.

Who is Dr Levy?

Dr Philip Levy is a dermatologist who works out of Geneva, Switzerland with an aim of delaying the need for cosmetic surgery and instead uses techniques to reverse the signs of aging and restore glow.

He was the first person to introduce cosmetic botox to Geneva in 1995, and also practices other technologies such as CO2 laser resurfacing and hyaluronic acid injections. When skin stem cells were discovered in 2009, a whole new world of ‘healing’ the skin opened up for Dr Levy who harnessed the skin’s ability to heal itself.  Along with his other treatments, Dr Levy is best known for the Nefertiti Lift® which is used to tighten the jawline.

How does The Contour Pro work?

The Contour Pro is a non-evasive, hand held machine which is used to tone and plump the face.  Using Electro Muscle Stimulation (EMS) and Radio Frequency (RF) in micro-pulsating sequences, it boosts deeper muscle strength and plumps the surface of skin. The radiofrequency stimulates collagen production and stem cell action, all of which help the appearance of skin.  The combination of the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask (more about that later!) and the heat generated from The Contour Pro, further boosts the skin to leave it illuminated. 

Why do I need the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask too?

It is highly recommended to use the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask with The Contour Pro for two reasons. Firstly, you MUST have a gliding gel on your face before using The Contour Pro. This is to ensure even texture, and it’s never a good idea to put an electrical appliance right onto the face, especially if you have never used such an instrument before.

The Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask has been specially designed to be used with The Contour Pro because the benefits of this mask compliment the technology used in The Contour Pro.  

What do I need to do to use The Contour Pro?

Before I explain in depth, be assured that there is a well-designed and thought out booklet that comes with The Contour Pro which explains even more and has diagrams to help!

Firstly, you need to clean your skin thoroughly to remove any make up and residue. Dr Levy recommends the 3DeepÔCell Renewal Micro-Resurfacing Cleanser. You can also apply the Eye Booster Concentrate over the eye contour area and the Booster Serum all over the face. Once the products have been on your face for one minute (in order to penetrate the skin), you can add the gliding gel.

Dr Levy Switzerlandâ’s Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask (a gel) is recommended as the gliding agent.  Distribute the gel all over the face and especially on the target areas. The device may stop working if you don’t have enough gel. Now you are ready to use The Contour Pro.

About The Contour Pro

The Contour Pro device is hand held, charged by a USB cord (only ever use the cord which is provided!) and easy to operate.  The head of The Contour Pro has 4 discs which administer the radio frequency and electrical pulses. There is one Universal Button on the front of the device which turns on and off, and changes the intensity. You can tell the intensity of The Contour Pro by the blades of the propeller on the front. 1 blade means the lowest intensity whilst 3 blades is the highest. Start with the lowest intensity first.

There are no other buttons to learn on The Contour Pro, making it easy to use!

Before you start…

Always undertake a patch test on the inside of your arm the day before using The Contour Pro. Check that the skin doesn’t have a negative reaction to either the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask or the device.

The full workouts are detailed in the enclosed booklet, which include the workout for eyes  (“Fox Eyes”),”Cheekbones contouring” and “Lips contouring.”  It is important to never use The Contour Pro on the eyes or eyelids, lips, breast and chest area or other sensitive areas especially not on the face. 

The booklet also states;

  • To use The Contour Pro slowly, in an upward motion, and with light pressure.
  • Always STOP if the skin becomes hot or red.
  • Do not stay more than 3 seconds on any general application area and continuously move the device.

What happens when you use The Contour Pro?

Once you have tried the patch test, you can start using The Contour Pro the next day. With the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask gel applied all over your face especially the target areas, follow the workouts detailed in the booklet. Start on the lowest intensity level.

When you turn on the device, there is no sound and no movement, which threw me at first. The intensity dial lights up but you only know it’s working once you apply it to your skin and feel the sensation.

I found that the electrical pulses, which are intermittent, were a bit of a strange sensation at first. They felt like sharp vibrations, and although they didn’t hurt, they took a while to get used to. It’s similar to holding the vibrating head of an electric toothbrush against your lips when you’re not used to it. I’m glad I took the advice and started on the lowest intensity!

Working for only 10 minutes maximum at a session with one session a day, work around the eye area (not the eyelid or the eye though!), cheekbone and lip area.  It’s best to do the workouts 2-3 times a week, not every day.

So, what was the outcome???

The Contour Pro is a sophisticated bit of kit which takes some getting used to.  It starts to work immediately with the device heating up and pulsating the skin, helping the products to seep into the deeper layers.  At first, you can see your skin reacting to the heat and stimulus with plumping of the skin surface.  After a few sessions (the course of a week if you are taking the advice and repeating every other day) the pulsations and electricity are more familiar and you will have learned the workouts to use.  I could feel that my skin was softer from the combination of the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask and The Contour Pro together, and it was as if the underlying muscle and tissue was ‘working’ which I took to be the muscles toning up and the skin repairing itself.  The contour of my jaw and cheekbones was smoother too, and my face felt like it had had a workout all of its own!

Over time, I’m sure the benefits will continue even if you don’t use The Contour Pro as often. I think once you get the desired effect and are used to the sensation it will be easier to increase the intensity and use it to maintain the benefits rather than having to use it so often. It’s difficult to show the physical changes in such a short amount of time, which is why I haven’t posted photos but I know that my skin and face has already started to feel different.

I especially like that The Contour Pro is an alternative to cosmetic surgery and non-intrusive.  You can adapt the intensity yourself and concentrate on one target area, or several, depending on your needs. It’s also very small and handy! I have used it for over a week now and the battery hasn’t run out yet.  I will be taking this on holiday with me soon, so that I can use it at my leisure and tone up those muscles even more!

The Contour Pro is available for £249 and the Freezing Anti-Fatigue Mask for £69 at: 

Dr Levy – https://www.drlevy.swiss/en/product/the-contour-pro

Cult Beauty –https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/dr.-levy-switzerland-the-contour-pro/13974127.html

Liforme Yoga Mat

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, cruelty-free, eco friendly, Family Life, Fashion, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, Home & Garden, Plastic free, Sport, Sustainable, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

By a certain age, or maybe it’s a certain level of fitness, yoga becomes less of a puzzle and more of a necessity. The company Liforme pride themselves on doing things differently to support and encourage the practice of yoga, and do so with their conscientious products. Their ethos to ‘Live for More’ by positively engaging communities is evident on their website, along with some delicious products any yoga fan will adore!

Amongst the products available was this Liforme Grateful Rainbow Yoga Mat which was sent to us to try out.  It’s bright pink, printed with an eco-friendly, non-toxic design of a rainbow mandala and alignment markings which can be described as guides for your feet and hands. This mat is a serious bit of kit for serious yoga people and you can tell just by looking at it. There’s much more science, and thought, behind it than you realise though, as I discovered.

The Liforme Yoga Mat is made with a real natural rubber base (so that it doesn’t slide all over the place) and the top layer is made of eco-polyurethane.  In all, the mat is 4.2mm thick but it feels thinner than that. It’s not chunky or clunky at all. The top eco-polyurethane layer is designed to be more grippy than other mats, so that you can practice without worrying about sliding all over the place, and the design is printed with durable yet eco-friendly ink. The same goes for all the designs of the yoga mats available on the Liforme website.  The mat weighs in at a hefty 2.5kg though so if you’re used to your yoga mat being light-as-air, this is going to be quite a shock!  The weight comes from the quality of the material though.

The dimensions of the mat come in at 185cm long and 68cm wide. That’s 73 inches long and 27 inches wide in old money.

As for the usability, the mat comes with a free carry case, which is needed when you have a rolled-up mat of this size and weight and need to transport it to several lessons a week.  The real test is in a yoga class, which is where any yoga equipment needs to prove itself.  The bright pink façade is very pleasing especially as you know in a dimly lit room and when you might need to wander around a bit, you can never lose it!  The surface is nicely grippy. Grippy enough for a Downward Dog and to not face plant yourself.  Liforme call this GripForMe technology and it allows you to use your full body weight in poses and not move an inch. Not even a millimetre for that matter, as I discovered when I was able to more pressure into some of the poses than I usually would. So in some ways, you could say that the Liforme Yoga Mat made me better at yoga as a result!

Liforme as a company have recently been awarded B Corp status. The B Corp status proves that Liforme has high standards of social and environmental impact as their core belief as a company and a quick look at their website proves that their high quality and non-toxic materials are the tip of the iceberg when it comes to responsibility. The mats bio-degrade in 1-5 years (depending on conditions) and believe that they have the world’s most planet-friendly yoga mat.

Truly a treat, the Liforme Yoga Mats aren’t cheap but they are suited to the serious yoga practitioner or fitness expert and look simply gorgeous. The unique design and alignment cues make this yoga mat stand out from all the rest, and a perfect gift too. 

Available for £140 (but currently on sale for £105) at:

Liforme Grateful Rainbow Yoga Mat – Grateful Pink/Rainbow

Oclean X Pro Elite Smart Electric Toothbrush

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, REUSABLE, Tech

Disclaimer – We received this toothbrush for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

Did you know that 90% of gum disease and cavities are caused by incorrect brushing? In fact only 1 in 10 people actually brush their teeth correctly (that’s pretty worrying isn’t it!).

Luckily the OCLEAN X Pro Elite is also one of the smartest brushes on the market with a fantastic battery life of up to 35 days and Qi Quick Charge technology enabling it to fully charge in just 3.5 hours!

The X Pro Elite certainly knows its stuff when it comes to oral hygiene and it can help you improve your brushing technique via the Oclean app! The app connects to the X Pro Elite via Bluetooth and gives you derailed analysis of your toothbrushing technique.

Using an ingenious AI algorithm, the X Pro Elite analyses the way you brush your teeth and recommends how you can improve your technique, using a dental model on its 0.96-inch touch screen display which enables you to develop good brushing habits with its 4 modes and 32 intensities for clean mode.

To ensure its users get the deepest clean possible, the X Pro Elite’s motor spins at the speed of sound, delivering a maximum of 42,000 rpm that helps you reach and defeat difficult plaque and stain build ups with ease.

OCLEAN’s new self-developed WhisperClean™ technology also means that the toothbrush emits just 45dB when operating at maximum power: a drastic decrease compared to it’s more pricey big name competitor’s (55-65 dB).

The Xpro Elite also benefits from a wall-mounted holder which was easy to attach to my bathroom wall and it helps to keep it dry to prevent the growth of bacteria.

The OCLEAN X Pro Elite is available to purchase online for RRP £74

More information can be found at: https://www.oclean.com/products/oclean-x-pro-elite

Chicco Balance Bike

Baby, Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, eco friendly, Family Life, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home & Garden, Learning

Disclaimer- We received the Chicco Balance Bike for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

Riding a bike is something everyone should be encouraged to do as it not only keeps us fit but it’s also a more eco friendly mode of transport which is a great benefit for our planet.

Learning to ride a bike can be quite daunting for children, when I was learning I had a set of stabilisers which gave me some confidence to ride.

Bikes have really come on in leaps and bounds since I was a child and balance bikes seem a popular choice amongst parents.

A balance bike is a two wheeled bike which helps children develop the necessary balance on two wheels. Acting as a comfortable stepping stone to a real pedalled bicycle.

The child uses their feet to propel themselves instead of pedals which gives them a greater sense of balance whilst riding.

With Christmas fast approaching I can see the Chicco Balance Bike being well received by any lucky recipient.

This super stylish balance bike not only looks awesome in it’s 3 available colours (Green Rocket, Pink Arrow and Red Bullet) it feels very robust and safe!

Suitable for ages 2-5 years the Chicco Balance Bike will give your little one the confidence to take up bike riding.

With grippy adjustable handle bars, a soft non-slip saddle and anti-puncture wheels the Chicco Balance Bike will develop your child to switch to their first real bicycle without any difficulties or fear.

Available to buy from https://www.chicco.co.uk/products/8058664130658.balance-bike.html

RRP £39.99

Oclean Flow Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, eco friendly, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, health, REUSABLE, Tech

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

If you’re looking for an electric toothbrush, you will be astounded at both the range available and the price of them! Oclean have launched a reasonably priced toothbrush at less than £25 which is both rechargeable by USB and sonic.  They sent us one this week to try out.

The Oclean Flow toothbrush has everything you would expect but at that surprising price.  It has Sonic Technology, so that’s sonic speed to the brush oscillation which is 38,000 strokes per minute. It has 5 easy to use brush modes (Morning, Night, Standard, Whitening and General) with a 2-minute smart timer. Flicking through each of the modes is just at the touch of the one on/off button so there isn’t anything complicated to learn or read up about in order to get your routine. You can even do two of the modes back-to-back if you want to go the extra mile.

The toothbrush comes with one brush head which is made of DuPont bristles. I liked the bright orange bristles, which make it much easier to see in the dark mornings! They also act as an indicator to let you know when the brush head needs replacing.

Charging is easy with the USB Type-C lead which comes with the toothbrush. The Type-C port is at the base of the toothbrush which is accessible from a lid which flips open. You know when there is 10% or less charge left in the toothbrush because the round button flashes red to indicate it needs charging. One single charge can last up to 25 weeks though with morning and evening brushing.

When using it, the instructions give you a warning that it may make your gums tingle if you haven’t used an electric toothbrush before, but as I usually do, it wasn’t a problem for me. I liked the firmness of the bristles and how easy it is to use especially with just one control button and nothing too complicated for late at night or early in the morning. The same goes with the 2-minute timer so you don’t have to think much. My teeth were left clean and fresh afterwards, as you would expect!

It is surprising that this brush is so cheap and that it’s aimed at adults and teenagers because it’s rather sophisticated for what it can do, but easy to use. I think most children would be able to use it easily, and the white look and packaging makes it universal for everyone.  Perhaps good for taking on holiday, especially with such a long charge amount and the ability to charge from a USB outlet? It’s a fabulous present for anyone and looks like it’s a lot more expensive than it is!

Available for £21.10 at:

Sennheiser Momentum Ear Buds

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Sport, Tech, Women

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

The first time I had headphones I was a teenager in the 80’s and back then headphones were firmly attached to your Walkman. Thankfully technology has evolved and improved a lot since then and I was really pleased to be given the opportunity to try out the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True Wireless 3 earbuds

The stylish grey fabric charging case is nice and solid and closes with a satisfying click. It holds the earbuds securely and once placed in the case the earphones start charging automatically. The USB-C connection makes the case easy to charge and there is also the option to use Qi wireless charging too. A single charge provides 7 hours of playback with the case providing an additional 21 hours of charge, so in total you can enjoy 28 hours of playback before you need to charge. When it does run out of charge, 10 minutes of ‘fast charging’ offers an hour’s playback and a full charge takes just 90 minutes. 

Included in the box are four pairs of silicone ear tips, three pairs of ear fins, and a charging cable. The earpieces are IPX4 rated for water resistance, and each earbud has three microphones for voice and Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) functionality.

When I first received the earbuds, I found that they had 40% charge, so I was able to use them straight away – all I needed to do was fit the ear fins and then pair them to my phone.

Pairing the earbuds was simple – just touch and hold both earbuds and then select them on your Bluetooth device and they pair to your device easily. The earbuds power off when placed in the case and the lid closed and power on and connect automatically to your device the moment you open the case.

Once paired, I downloaded the Sennheiser Smart Control app. The app not only allows you to control settings on the earbuds but there is also an option to go through a ‘Sound check’ where you select your preferred sound from a choice of 3. There is also the option to set “Sound Zones” where you customise locations you frequent, like your home, gym or workplace and save preferred Active Noise Cancellation and Equaliser settings. Once you enter the radius—set by you on the location map—your settings automatically change to the saved setting when you are in that Sound Zone.

The earbuds feel light, well made, and with IPX4 sweat resistance they are perfect for the gym or when I am out walking.

So I’ve talked about the fit, pairing and app so what is the sound quality like?  

Well, it’s excellent, the sound is crisp and clear with no distortion, every song I played sounded amazing, whether it was rock, pop or classical music.

You can also use the earbuds to make and receive telephone calls – if you are playing music it stops whilst you are on the call. I found that the call quality (for both people) was very clear and background noise was minimal.

Answering calls, skipping tracks and turning on/off different modes can all be executed by tapping the earbuds. Once you get the hang of tapping they are very simple to use, the sensitivity is very good and works well all the time.

Overall, I was very impressed with the Sennheiser MOMENTUM True wireless 3 earbuds – superior sound, excellent Bluetooth connectivity and a secure and comfortable fit. They are definitely a premium pair of wireless earbuds and anyone receiving them this Christmas won’t be disappointed.

RRP £219.99 available from the Sennheiser website here

Elliot Brown Bloxworth Hali Watch

Birthday Gifts, camping, Christmas, Fashion, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Jewellery, Sport, Women

I am not the easiest person to buy presents for – I am told that every single birthday and Christmas, and with a milestone birthday coming up in a matter of weeks my family have started asking me what special gift I would like to celebrate the occasion. One thing that I have considered is a nice watch, but being an outdoorsy sort of person, I don’t want to spend a lot of money on a watch that will invariably get bashed and scratched when I get too close to a rock face, fall off my bike or slip on wet ground. I also don’t want a watch that is likely to stop working after getting wet too many times. Nowadays fewer people wear watches as it is easy to glance at our phones to check the time, but there is no denying the elegance and refinement that a proper watch brings. And, when you are half way up a rockface or standing on a paddleboard, believe me, looking at a watch is a whole lot easier than taking a phone out of your pocket – and you don’t run the risk of it slipping out of your hand either.  

So when Elliot Brown, a UK-based watch brand that makes the most wearable, affordable, toughest watches on the planet, asked me if I would like a loan of one of their Bloxworth Hali watches I jumped at the chance. Elliott Brown test all their watches meticulously so that they will withstand the toughest of situations. Me knocking it on a rockface, or falling in Lake Windermere is a drop in the ocean compared to being smashed with a 3kg mallet or being submerged for an entire winter in Poole harbour – just some of the rigorous tests the watches are put through. Oh, they also strap watches to the bows of racing yachts and send them off round the world for 40,000miles and 12 months at sea – the watch survived and was still keeping perfect time. How impressive – these watches really are built to last!

The watch is presented in a lovely solid grey box, with the instruction and warranty details in a neat little pocket in the lid of the box. There is also a mini screwdriver type tool to enable you to remove the strap should you wish to change it for one of the rubber straps that are also available for this model. This fantastic presentation helps to make this a really special present.

The quality of the watch was obvious from the second I took it out of the box. It has a solid feel but isn’t cumbersome to wear. I also really liked how the size of the watch face was slightly larger than a standard, small ladies watch. I have never been keen on tiny dials as I find them hard to read, and I think bigger ones look a bit more rugged too.

As the Bloxworth Hali isn’t a smart watch it doesn’t have the features that other outdoor watches might have but you can wear it all weekend without worrying about charging and be confident that it won’t get damaged whilst out and about, as it is super tough and incredibly durable.

With a recommended retail price of £595 this is not a cheap watch but, reading the specifications of the watch you can see just what you get for your money. At the heart of the watch is a Swiss Made Ronda 705 quartz movement which is encased in a finely brushed stainless steel case with high polished elements. The high contrast, easy to read face is protected by a domed anti reflective sapphire crystal. The high contrast face glows in the dark, making it easy to read when you are off on night time adventures.

The brushed link bracelet strap, has a concealed double folding deployant buckle on bespoke stainless steel, meaning I can wear it on top of my drysuit without altering the bracelet. Marine grade 316 stainless steel is used for the case, bezel and strap bars which means it won’t rust, even in saltwater (and after 12 months at sea we are confident that it has been thoroughly tested).

The other features to mention are

  • Dual layer piano sandwich dial with polished minutes track
  • Matte finished stainless steel uni-directional 60 click timing bezel
  • Signature basket weave textures on compressor case back
  • Domed crown at 4 o’clock with triple seals
  • 100% tested at 200m in water
  • Unbreakable easy change strap bars
  • 5-year warranty

This watch looks just as good when I’m out adventuring as it does with heels and a cocktail dress and is the perfect gift for any outdoor enthusiast. It’s not the cheapest watch on the market but you are investing in a serious, timepiece that will stand the test of time and I know it will still be ticking and keeping perfect time long after the smart watch has counted it’s last step!

Available to buy from https://elliotbrownwatches.com/


Edifier TWS1 Pro True Wireless Earbuds

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Family Life, Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Tech

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

I have never had wireless headphones before, and with all the commuting I do and going to the gym, I really should have done before now!  Opening these pink Edifier ear buds, it was nice to have them in their own case, which also doubles up as a charging unit.  The buds fit snugly in the magnetic case where they snap into place and fit the connectors to charge.  

Placing them straight into my ears was obviously the first thing I did, but like any good reviewer, I tried to connect them to my iPhone X without reading the instructions.  It turns out that these TWS1 Pro headphones are super easy to set up. From my phone, all I had to do is go to the Bluetooth settings and the headphones were already there. I just clicked on ‘connect’ and the headphones were working, playing the songs from my phone straight away. They turn themselves on when you take them out of the case and turn themselves off again when put back in place.

Using the headphones was easy too. It was just a matter of tapping once (on either ear) to play or pause, twice on the left ear for the previous track and twice on the right for the next track.  Volume up and down is a hold on either ear bud. It’s one tap to accept a call and 2-3 taps to disconnect a call on your phone too.

The ear phones stayed in for the whole of my cycle and weights workout which I was surprised about.  The sound is balanced between both ear buds but there’s not the best bass on them and I can’t find a way of changing the settings. There’s a long battery life on them and they’re very sharp when listening to audio books etc.

For the price, these are great stocking fillers or for teenager who already have a smart phone.  It’s difficult to go wrong with how easy they are and compact but well designed in the case and they come with not one but two sets of spare ear pieces.  I am converted to using these headphones now instead of my wire ones for everyday use and I’m not going back!

Available for £59.99 at:

Edifier W240TN True Wireless Noise Cancellation In-Ear Headphones

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Family Life, Father's Day, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Tech

Disclaimer – We received this item for the purpose of this review/feature but all thoughts and opinions are our own.

I love music, especially heavy metal and rock, but my music choices aren’t to everyone’s taste, so a good set of headphones is a must for me.

The Edifier W240TN headphones are the perfect choice for me as they not only look great in a stylish gunmetal black (available in gunmetal black or white finish) they feel comfortable and most importantly the sound quality is astonishing!

I have had in-ear headphones before both wireless and wired that didn’t fit well, had connectivity problems and sounded very tinny.

Thankfully, the Edifier W240TN ticks all the boxes and is a cracking set of earphones with fast charging, meaning you can use them sooner (a 10 minute charge will give you approximately 2 hours of use).

Connecting them to my devices was simple via Bluetooth and the booklet gives a rundown of all the settings available.

When it comes to earphones, one size does not fit all and Edifier has helped with this by including 4 different sized pairs of rubber earbuds XS, S, M and L meaning the Edifier W240TN can fit all.

The active noise cancellation with ambient sound mode is a great feature, meaning you won’t be disturbed whilst listening and you really will be immersed in your music, calls, film or game, etc.

Advanced Bluetooth V5.3AI DNN noise cancellation is another great feature meaning calls using the Edifier W240TN are crystal clear, which is what we all want!

Long-lasting battery life with almost 7 hours playback per charge, the Edifier W240TN has by far the longest battery life I’ve experienced in earphones and I am really impressed with them.

Customized settings can be created via Edifier Connect App, which I downloaded from the Google Play Store.

Overall, the Edifier W240TN are a tremendous pair of earphones, the sound quality is superb, and the appearance is very sleek and trendy, the W240TN is inspired by the shape of a robust piston head and looks effortlessly stylish.

The metallic design carries the legacy of the TWS1 Pro and the finished product speaks volumes about Edifier’s pursuit of style.

The result has an iconic profile that balances modern lines with a retro, almost 80s-like character; think Robocop meets Blade Runner 2049.

RRP £79.99

Available to buy from Amazon