Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
No matter what the weather this summer, a good SPF face cream is needed and it’s true that even dull, overcast weather can damage the skin.
Kalme Day Defence Cream SPF25 is the down to earth daily face cream for all seasons, but best of all, the richness and smoothness of Kalme keeps your skin hydrated and feeling soft too. The added bonus of SPF25 means you don’t have to put on daily sunscreen too when you’re walking around, which is a bonus in saving time and money.
During the summer months when you’re on the beach, by the pool or out playing sports and walking, the sun isn’t your only enemy. All the elements work together to evaporate moisture away from your face. Walkers and sports men and women find it especially hard to wear a SPF cream to protect their skin without it sliding off. Kalme Day Defence Cream SPF25 is exceptionally rich and takes a while to rub in so you know it’s not going anywhere in any weather! I really liked how thick it was so that I only had to use a small amount most days, but when I needed a denser layer, it was easy to apply and blend in. It’s great for night time too to give a deeper moisturising level and as it’s a daily face cream, you can use it anywhere including your hands.
There are more expensive day creams out there especially with SPF25 but for a deep, moisturising cream, Kalme Day Defence Cream SPF25 gives all the Department Store protection without the need for the price tag!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We all need a bit of help with our hair sometimes. I love the ritual of hair masks, conditioners and then using products to fix my hair once it’s washed and styled. Hair Gain sent us the Peptide Puff Dry Shampoo, Hair Gain Hair Mask, Hair Gain Scalp Foam and a lovely Hair Gain Comb to try out!
Starting with the Peptide Puff Dry Shampoo, it’s not an aerosol and isn’t like a mousse so it’s easier to use and will last longer too. The dry shampoo is more of a powder, administered by a soft pad which prevents the powder from going everywhere and also helps direct it to the roots. I was particularly happy to find that it doesn’t leave a white residue on your hair, nor does it leave a residue on your clothes. Instead, it’s clear and just takes the edge off of the oil in your hair. You can use as much or as little of it as you like so that it takes off more of the greasy shine but you get used to how much you need to use with time.
The Hair Gain Scalp Foam is a fairly new concept for women but men have been using enhancers for years. The foam is absorbed into the scalp and helps grow fuller, thicker hair. It reduces hair breakages from the roots and strengthens hair over time to prevent long term breakages. This is a product you need to keep using and it’s probably best to use after you’ve washed your hair but before you completely style it. The formula makes your hair fuller anyway so it makes hair styling easier if you like big curls or lots of volume. Over time, this should have more of an effect so I would go with using it every wash until it’s used up and then you’ll see how good it is!
The Hair Gain Hair Mask is probably my favourite. It’s a luscious treatment to nourish your hair and is intently hydrating. You only need to use it in your hair for 10 minutes whilst hair is towel dry and then wash out, and once or twice a week is enough. Again, over time this works even better but with just one application you will find that it starts to work on making hair softer and fuller. In combination with the Hair Gain Scalp Foam, it creates thicker locks and less breakages. It’s also a vegan formula but it does contain alcohol, sulphates and parabens.
The Hair Gain Comb was a nice treat to send to us along with the hair care products! I love a chunky comb so this is great for any hair type whilst you’re in the shower and trying to get the product through your hair as well as smoothing down the cuticles, especially if your hair is long and thick. It looks like plastic but it’s actually made from materials which are 100% biodegradable.
The Hair Gain product package creates an all-round treatment for your hair, from dry shampoo through to hair mask as well as the handy comb! I’m looking forward over time to seeing the long term results on my hair and how it’s changed in thickness and strength too.
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 had sunburn you know what it feels like to have burning skin and your underlying fear of what comes next once the skin dries out. It inevitably isn’t pleasant and isn’t healthy either.
If you find yourself burned this year, especially whilst on holiday, TermaBurn Post-Sun Aloe Wrap combines the healing properties of aloe vera with a revolutionary wrap format which makes it easy and much quicker to apply than aloe vera gel. The 100% organic aloe is combined with Vitamin E, and Green Tea for anti-inflammation to create a moist web which when placed over the sun burnt skin can help healing. It can also prevent further burning as the aloe and ingredients take away the damaging heat and also leave your skin moist to prevent peeling too.
The whole roll is 52 inches (1.32 metres) which you can cut to any size. So if the burn is on your face, across your back or chest or even on your hands, you have plenty TermaBurn to use liberally to cool your skin. It can be worn under clothes and doesn’t leave a residue and doesn’t need to be refrigerated first.
Even if you’re not going on holiday, many people find TermaBurn great for grazes and household burns, itches and allergies and generally keeping cool in the summer especially for children and the elderly. There are no drugs involved so you can use as much as you need and keep it on your skin for as long as needed. Rashes and insect bites are often soothed as well, especially if you put any ointments on underneath and let the TermaBurn do the cooling and sealing on top.
Whoever came up with this brilliant idea has obviously had some serious sunburn in the past, but hopefully it won’t be as serious anymore with TermaBurn around.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
It’s that time of year again, when we start to think about the summer beauty products we need. Probably best not to rely on what’s left of last year and instead start anew with some beautiful, yet practical summer products.
My Little Sudocrem 22 gram pots are great for summer, family, taking to work and even better for taking on holiday! The hand-held pots are filled with Sudocrem but their size makes them so much easier to carry around and to use. Not only for children, I use my Sudocrem as a hand cream when I’m sitting at my desk, or after a bath or shower on any skin area but particularly on hands and feet when they’re dry. You can rub it into knees and elbows too and with a bit of work, any area of skin to create a barrier as well as deep hydration.
If you’ve never used Sudocrem before, let me explain. Sudocrem includes zinc oxide which helps reduce the loss of moisture from the skin. It’s incredibly rich, not like a face cream, but this richness which eventually works into the skin will create a barrier to reduce fluid loss but also create a barrier. Great for the child who loves to amble through the long grass or bracken. Sudocrem also contains benzol alcohol, which has local anaesthetic and antiseptic properties so if you are out in nature, it allows for the odd scrape or irritant to touch the skin. It’s also packed with Anhydrous hypoallergenic lanolin to both soften and soothe skin, which is great for outdoor life, children and even in the kitchen.
The small 22 gram pot might not sound like much, but as it’s so rich and so powerful, it’s the perfect size for a small area of skin because it goes a long way. Just a tiny dab on the back of the hands needs real effort to work in but when it does, it covers both hands and leaves them smooth and mega hydrated.
I’ve currently got my office using the My Little Sudocrem pots as we are in our busiest time of the year for paperwork. The dry fingers and chapped thumbs from using so much paper is much soothed by Sudocrem, and even a super dry face enjoys a little hydration, although I use it sparingly as it leaves a bit of a film on softer or more delicate skin!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Burns Dog & Cat Food has been producing pet food sine 1993 when Veterinary Surgeon John Burns created a version of Chicken and Brown Rice food for dogs. Since then, he’s gone on to create more flavours for both cats and dogs and maintained his goal of providing foods which have less toxic waste build-up in the system. This holistic approach helps promote healthy skin and digestive system in animals and has been for over 30 years.
We were sent the Burns Sensitive & Grain Free Cat, Duck & Potato food from Burns to try on out on our senior cat. Meet Mickey! Mickey is 12 years old and as mischievous as ever, but as soon as he hears food he’s right at the door, waiting to be fed. Of course, he loves the attention too…
The Burns Sensitive range is new to the family of foods, and the Adult & Senior Cat complex is a complete, hypoallergenic and grain free food. The recipe contains different ingredients compared to other foods which help avoid common food allergies (such as gluten) and naturally maintain your cat’s health.
On the back of the packet, there’s a handy guide of how much to feed your cat depending on its age and weight and whether it’s senior or neutered. The pictorial guide also helps you distinguish whether your cat is under or overweight, obese or the right size.
As Mickey is rather overweight (we try not to mention it around him to spare his feelings) we didn’t give him a whole meal, just a small handful to see if he liked it at first! It’s always best to introduce food slowly to a cat’s diet. He doesn’t normally have food which contains duck let alone potato so it was interesting to see what he did with it. You can see how keen he was though! He ate every little bit of it that he could find on the table and was nudging the bag to look for more, no doubt being able to smell it. It was a hit with Mickey!
Over time, Burns Sensitive & Grain Free Cat, Duck & Potato Food should improve his digestion and coat, and if Mickey has anything to do with it, it will be part of his staple diet from now on!
Disclaimer: We received these books for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
May is National Walking Month and is the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and explore our beautiful countryside. If you’re new to walking or just on holiday, then a guide book is a great way to discover the best routes in the area. The AA have recently launched a new series of walking books covering some of the most beautiful areas of England, each featuring 50 walks to suit all abilities. The walks are numbered and it is easy to see their locations on the handy map at the start of the book. As well as being numbered they are also colour coded according to the difficulty of the walk – easy (green), intermediate(orange) and hard (red).
Each walk has information about the distance, time, gradient, type of surface and accessibility, landscape, dog friendliness, parking, and public toilets as well as the OS map that covers the area. They also give useful information about the area, a little of the history of the area and things to look out for. There is a map of each walk with the route clearly highlighted making it easy to follow the written instructions. As the guide is meant to be taken out on a walk with you it fits perfectly in a map pocket or rucksack, making it easily accessible when walking.
There are two books covering Yorkshire and there is a great selection of walks in them, some we already know like Malham, Pen-y-Ghent and Grassington and lots for us to discover over the coming months.
Whether you want to explore country lanes, the coast or the fells these handy guides offer plenty of walks for novices and experienced walkers alike.
The new 50 Walks In guides are £13.99 and feature Devon, Gloucestershire, Hertfordshire and Worcestershire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, North Yorkshire, and West Yorkshire.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
We don’t normally review things like lubricants but when I saw that Überlube can be used for many other uses, I was intrigued! The award winning silicone personal lubricant can be used in sport and for beauty thanks to the added Vitamin E and smooth texture.
Firstly, it can be used as an alternative to moisturiser, but not to moisturise skin, more to keep the moisture in. In the literature we were sent with Überlube it describes how some users find it a great alternative to prescribed medications for dry skin, although it doesn’t work the same way as moisturiser. This could be a bonus if you’re allergic to some prescribed skin medication but might not be as effective, so it’s worth trying it on dry skin first.
I didn’t know that hair salons and photographers use silicone preps such as Überlube for getting shiny, glossy hair. Überlube works as a relaxant to frizzy hair and smooths down stray strands. Think of the classic low bun with pulled back, wet-look hair and you will find it is achieved with silicone lubricant. It also protects hair from chlorine in the pool but it can be difficult to wash out of your hair because it’s not water based. Try a small amount first to see how easy it is to remove, or if you’re going on holiday, dare I say, try it whilst you’re staying at a hotel!
Überlube is also great for sports. As a runner, I often get chafing when running especially in the summer, so applying Überlube first can make a huge difference. As it’s not water based, it doesn’t absorb or evaporate as easily so keeps the skin free from friction. Again, as there’s no water involved it can be used for swimming or under a wetsuit and the water won’t wash it away.
Überlube is made with cruelty free products and contains no alcohols, no gluten, no glycerine, no scent and no flavourings. It’s paraben free and all vegan so everyone can use it, no matter what use!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Treat yourself to a little luxury haircare as well as using the Nanogen features to repair and restore hair growth, giving you nourished locks for the summer!
Nanogen are experts in haircare but have also designed shampoos and conditioners for both men and women to give you thicker hair. We were sent a selection of products from their online range, for both men and women to try out. We were also sent the new Hair Growth Factor Treatment Serum which launched earlier this year, but more on that later!
The Nanogen shampoos and conditions work together to create thicker hair. As with any beauty products, you get the most out of them if you use all the products in the range, so I was eager to try out the Nanogen Shampoo Luxe for Women and Nanogen Conditioner. There is also the Nanogen Shampoo for Women (in the purple bottle) which I kept as an in between shampoo for when I was at the gym, but they all compliment one another. The Nanogen Shampoo Luxe is especially rich and adds to the hair thickening experience which is what Nanogen are striving for. This shampoo is silky and soft but still does an excellent job of cleaning and you don’t need much to get your hair squeaky clean, which is how I like it.
The Nanogen Conditioner (which is for everyone not just for women) is where the magic happens. Like any conditioner, it needs to go on for about 2-3 minutes but I have a timer in my shower so I like to keep it on longer, as a type of mask. The conditioner is also softly smooth and you can feel that the texture is fortified with lots of good nutrients that are going straight on your hair. The combination of both the Nanogen Shampoo Luxe and the Nanogen Conditioner leave hair soft, but over time it also keeps hair thicker by adding nourishment and stimulating growth.
We were also sent the Shampoo for Men and Shampoo and Conditioner for Men (2-in1) which works much the same, and has a different fragrance for men. The Shampoo and Conditioner for Men also works brilliantly if you are sharing shampoo and conditioner with your other half and are camping or taking cheap flights where the luggage is limited! The 2-in-2 also continues with the Nanogen treatment if you can’t take all of your bottles with you and creates a stop-gap for you to be able to keep up the good work until you get back to your usual Nanogen bottles.
We were also sent the Nanogen Hair Growth Factor Serum which was launched earlier this year. Using all the best Nanogen hair technology, the serum works on the scalp to stimulate hair growth over time so that as one hair is lost, another starts growing in its place as soon as possible. The Nanogen Hair Growth Factor Serum does this in 3 ways: Stimulates new cell growth, regenerates hair follicles and reduces hair shedding by increasing collagen around the hair follicle. The serum contains Pea Sprout Extract (to stimulate hair cells), Europaea Bark Extract (to revitalise hair follicles) and Peptides, including Acetyl Tetrapeptide-3 to create more collagen around hair follicles.
With all this science involved, it still takes a few weeks or even months to show a difference as it’s working deep in the hair follicles for your hair to be able to grow, and as with all hair growth, it takes time! You can add the serum at any time though, not just during your hair wash and as the serum is non-greasy, you can add it during the day. Just use a full pipette amount of serum on your scalp and massage in. It’s not greasy so you can add it after you’ve styled your hair or at the beginning of the day and you can use it every day to give a more consistent approach.
I have been using it for this week and yes, it’s easy to apply and to massage in and it’s not greasy. It’s more like a tonic and you don’t need very much of it but the pipette means you can direct the serum to the area of the scalp which you think might need it the most. I’m looking forward to my hair looking thicker over the summer and coming months as well as stronger and shinier.
Shampoo, conditioner and Hair Growth Serum available online at:
Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
In this digital age it seems everyone is documenting their lives on social media and for those who enjoy the great outdoors then an action camera is an essential for recording all those adventurous activities. Designed to be mounted, whether that’s on the handlebars of a mountain bike, a helmet when climbing, skiing or canoeing or on a chest mount for hiking and trail running, they are great for capturing the action in places where you need to have your wits about you and your hands free. They also tend to be more robust and waterproof meaning they will survive your adventures and capture the action no matter what the conditions!
We’ve been trying out the SJCAM C300 Action Camera over the last couple of weeks and have been really impressed with it. The key features are
Waterproof up to 30m with waterproof case
4K resolution and 20MP lens
Remote control bracelet to easily control recordings and taking photos
Immersive first-person view with the clip to position on your chest
Adopts extra-large aperture to increase light intake by 40% to for low light shooting
1.3” Dual touch colour screen and 154° wide-angle lens to take pictures from the best angle
App control
Included with the camera are two batteries and a selection of mounts including one that claims to be waterproof to a 30m depth! I’m not a fan of water so I won’t be putting this to the test but I’m sure lots of people will find this a great feature. There is also a USB cable, instructions and a cleaning cloth.
The camera can be paired with either of the batteries, the smaller 1000mAh battery gives a compact size that will fit into the waterproof mount but only has a single display. The larger battery at 2800mAh gives much longer recording times and a second display on the rear of the camera but does not fit into the waterproof mount. Instead, it does offer a standard ¼” tripod mount which allows me to use some of my other camera mounts.
Controlling the camera is easy, there is just a single button on the body which doubles as the power control and the shutter button, other settings are accessed using the 1.3” touch screens. They worked well but I certainly wouldn’t want to use anything smaller! Swipe from the top gives options such as playback or switching display whilst video settings are changed by tapping an icon at the bottom of the screen. A swipe from the left switches quickly from video to photo, a feature that I use quite a lot – it allows me to grab a quick picture without swapping cameras.
Another option for controlling the camera is to connect your phone to its WiFi and use the SJCAM app. This allows quick access to all the image and camera settings plus you can take control from a distance. The app also allows images and videos to be transferred to your phone although I prefer to connect to my PC with a USB cable and transfer files that way.
I don’t tend to carry video cameras in my hand, preferring a tripod or other mount but I did take some handheld video and was very impressed with how easy it was to frame the shot using the dual screens and also how steady the video was using the gyroscopic stabilisation. It definitely worked well and smoothed out the jerkiness you get when holding a video camera.
A much more realistic test came when I mounted the camera in its waterproof case to my bike (I purchased a go-pro mount for my Garmin GPS mount). I’m not a fan of wearing a camera on a helmet but video shot from my bike in the past has always been very unstable. After a two hour ride, I was very pleased with the results, the video was crisp with good colour and most importantly smooth. My only gripe is that the default video clip length is just 3 minutes which makes transferring and editing the video a bit of a pain. This is a setting that can be changed to a more reasonable 10 minutes.
This weekend I’ve been working in the garden so thought I’d try out one of the other modes, timelapse video. I setup the camera using one of the mounts strapped to a fence post and then got to work. Over the day I moved the camera a few times and looking back at the footage I’m really happy with the results, I’m much more likely to use a timelapse that condenses hours into a few minutes than try editing a day long video down into something more interesting.
When you are not using the camera for adventurous activities it can also be used as a dash cam to record when you are driving, this will be great for all those scenic routes but is also invaluable in the unfortunate event of an accident.
There are also a couple of other modes that I haven’t had chance to try yet such as slow motion video, starry night and even a fishing mode!
I’m very happy with the camera and its performance and I’m looking forward to taking it on lots of adventures this summer!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Hair Veda have taken a range of natural, organic oils and created an oil blend to promote hair growth in those with moderate hair loss.
With the antibacterial and antimicrobial oil properties, the scalp is cleaned and nourished to provide the best conditions for hair to grow. The anti-inflammatory properties increase circulation to the scalp which in turn increases growth of new hair, and the oils themselves condition the existing hair to leave it shinier and glossier with less frizz. The Vitamin C rich oils enrich hair growth and the oils also help prevent dandruff and further hair loss.
Containing Jojoba oil, Cedarwood oil, Thyme oil, Rosemary oil, Lavender oil and Lemon oil among other natural ingredients, the combination of the oils helps the scalp grow hair again after hair loss, plus strengthens new strands and your existing strands. To reap the full benefits of Avani Hair Growth Oil, leave it in for a few hours and let it work its magic like a hair mask and over several weeks, you’ll start to see a difference.
The instructions say to warm up the oil first to have the maximum benefit, which I did by placing it near a warm radiator. Then, using the pipette provided, drop it into sections of the scalp and massage into your hair roots. With the remaining oil on your hands, run it through the length of your hair to give a protective, nourishing coat. After a few hours, you just have to wash out with shampoo and then you can condition and style as normal. I find though, that you don’t need to shampoo more than once, the one shampoo application is enough to clean your hair and doesn’t strip out the good work of the oil.
Results are not immediate – not for hair loss anyway. What you will find is that after a few hours of your locks marinating in the Avani Hair Growth Oil, the smell is divine from all of the different oils in the blend, and your hair from root to tip is nourished. Your hair is nourished over time with each application so after you shampoo and condition, there’s a slight improvement each wash. The hair loss improves slowly with each application too, with your hair regrowth being stronger so that the strands of hair withstand the daily combing, styling and pollution of everyday life. Over months and years, this all adds up to healthier, stronger and more luscious hair!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
I wish I could tell you that I tried out the Hay-Band in some tropical climate, in the middle of summer when all the pollen is in the air and the humidity is a scorcher, but alas, it’s only March here in England and the pollen is only just getting started! However, I am a hay fever sufferer and it does start around this time of year for me, probably with tree pollen from the blossoms.
I am not good with medications; antihistamines make me drowsy even if they’re the non-drowsy type, so I have to reply on lots of other methods to keep the pollen out, including air purifiers indoors and washing my hair daily to keep levels low. Hay-Band works on non-medical principals – the acupressure points from Chinese Medicine. The pressure point is called LI-11 and is on either arm, and works to alleviate allergy symptoms.
The Hay-Band is an elastic double band with a plastic pressure button in the middle. The acupressure point is at the end of the elbow crease when you bend your arm, so it’s at this point you need to slide the band onto your arm and position the button in the right place. There’s a really clear video on the Hay-Band website here: https://hay-band.co.uk
You can wear the band discreetly at all times, and it can be preventative or used when symptoms start. There are no side effects, so you can use it all times, even in bed at night but it is not advised to be used when pregnant. If the symptoms aren’t waning, then you can make little adjustments to where the button lays on your arm to hopefully help. The Hay-Band can be re-worn over and over and is washable too – it won’t affect the button position if you put it through the washing machine!
I found that putting the band on was a bit tight as I have quiet muscly arms and the band is only available in one colour and one size so far (15cm – 40cm circumference). Once it sits on your arm, you hardly notice it’s there but I think once the button hits the right place when your allergies are flaring, you suddenly feel it. It would be perfect for children or people who have to work without having to take drowsy medication and of course, as soon as you take it off the effect will stop working so if you don’t get on with it, there’s no harm done.
I can’t wait to use it when summer is finally here, and in conjunction with other non-medical methods it should work perfectly especially when out and about or needing to work. Just pay attention to the tan lines it may create if you wear it on holiday…
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Combine a watch, sports monitor and health monitor with the TOZO S3Ultimate Smart Watch for a stylish wear this summer.
Smart watches have come a long way with most of us using them on daily basis and replacing the mechanical watches that only tell the time and the date at best. The TOZO S3Ultimate Smart Watch contains multiple functions and the latest technology and at less than £50 it costs roughly the same as a cheap watch but with all the benefits. We were sent one to try this week and to see how well it worked and I tracked it during my Park Run and gym sessions to see how well it worked and whether it gave me what I wanted.
The first aspect of the TOZO S3Ultimate Smart Watch is the screen. It’s 1.83 inches, square and has the touch functionality that makes it distinguishable from the old-fashioned watch. The coloured screen shows information it gathers from throughout the day including date, time, bpm, steps, calories and your sleep information. Touch and hold the screen to see other displays that are available such as a conventional clock face (if you prefer to see analogue time rather than digital) and a sports display showing your number of steps, distance and calories. The other displays give a variation on the health data and time but in different configurations, depending on how you like to see your summary display.
The TOZO S3Ultimate Smart Watch also has a microphone and Bluetooth to connect to your phone (it works with both iPhone and Android) and allows you to call from it. Connecting to Bluetooth was easy – once the Smart Phone was charged, a QR code comes up and allows you to download the app. The app then takes you through the Bluetooth pairing easily. This makes workouts and running easy as you have free hands and can accept or make calls from the touch of the screen. The Smart Watch also notifies you of new messages and allows you to view older messages that come into your phone. If you swipe the face of the smart phone, you can view all sorts of information if you are link your phone via Bluetooth including the weather, stress levels and activity.
The health monitoring is up there with the best of the smart watches as just by wearing it, your heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen saturation level and activity tracking are stored. Particularly interesting to me was the blood oxygen saturation level so that I can compare it at rest, night and when exercising as I’ve never had this facility before. The distance and steps is not new to me, but it was refreshing having it on a different display and being alerted whenever I got to 3 kilometres. On the app though, you can change any of your goals, so I was able to change it to 5 kilometres once I had used the watch for a while.
The watch arrived with no charge at all so I was able to see how long it took. The cable is included in the pack and works as a magnetic point at one end to attach to the watch and the other end is a USB so you can plug into any socket or any laptop to charge. It took about 1 ½ hours to charge fully and you can see the percentage charge amount on the display screen. The first full charge lasted about 6 days which is longer than my FitBit and longer than my iPhone, but with different variations of use, the battery will last longer.
The app gives more detailed information on all your stats and includes data such as menstrual health, blood oxygenation and standing amount. One of the areas I was most interested in was the ability to record a specific exercise and see individual information. You can set the watch so that when you press the side button, it comes up with your favourite sport (in this case it was Outdoor Running) and it will calculate your time, steps, bpm and other information relating to your exercise. The more detailed information is on the app which you can look at later.
The TOZO S3Ultimate Smart Watch has all you need of a watch, the information that you see on your phone and a detailed health monitor, all in one small device. It’s easy to use, and when you get into the settings and how it works it’s really easy to set up and to make it work for you the way you want it to. For my Park Run, it gave me all the information of my FitBit plus Blood Oxygen Saturation which is new to me, and very interesting.
I would highly recommend the TOZO S3Ultimate Smart Watch as an alternative to the more high end watches which cost a lot, lot more and do the same job just as well. It looks stylish too with the black face and black strap, and dare I say it, looks like it’s a lot more expensive than it is!
Available on Amazon at a discount at the moment but usually £49.99:
Spring is in the air and with the Easter holidays fast approaching it’s the perfect opportunity to get outdoors and explore the countryside. There are many forms of outdoor exercise that you can do but my favourite is hiking, a great all-round exercise that is suitable for everyone and best of all doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment.
If you are planning on starting walking then my advice is to invest in some decent socks, it really is amazing the difference a good pair of walking socks makes, having cushioning in the right places and wicking materials to draw moisture away from your feet is really important, helping to keep feet nice and comfortable and also prevent blisters – every walkers nightmare! I’ve been trying out a couple of pairs of HJ Hall socks over the last month and I’m really impressed, they’ve kept my feet incredibly warm and comfortable (and blister free) and I’m looking forward to covering many miles in them this year.
The Mountain Climb socks are a heavyweight sock with extra padding on the heel, toe and Achilles tendon areas. Made with an ultra durable, moisture wicking, scientific wool blend, the socks offer warmth and long lasting comfort and are the perfect choice for colder days. The socks are lovely and thick and keep your feet nice and toasty when the temperature drops. They are comfortable to wear, the arch support and ankle bracing keep the socks from moving about on your feet and they are a good length, coming up higher than the back of my walking boots. The socks are also long enough to tuck into trousers if you wish. This sock is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a heavy duty hiking sock, especially if you walk a lot in cold weather as they will keep your feet warm in sub zero temperatures.
The Adventure Trek are a middleweight sock, they are thinner than the Mountain Climb socks and are suitable for both boots or shoes. The breathability is excellent thanks to the mesh zones that run across the top of the sock and along with the cushioning underfoot they are very comfortable to wear in both warm and cold weather. The socks hug my feet nicely and I have worn them on both long and short hikes with no discomfort. Whether I’ve been on the fells, the park or a recent trip to London, when we walked an average of 12 miles a day, they’ve never slipped, sagged, or bunched up and my feet have been comfortable all day long.
I would highly recommend the HJ Hall socks for anyone who enjoys walking and hiking, they are good value for money and your feet will certainly thank you for putting them in socks as warm and comfortable as these are. So whether you’re exploring the local fells, conquering mountains or walking the dog make sure you have a pair of HJ Hall socks on your feet. Happy hiking!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Acne can be damaging to the self-esteem as well as the skin, even in the summer when UV damage can make skin worse, or when our lifestyles change and can play havoc with the condition of the skin. There’s no getting away from the acne though, it’s there for everyone to see. Bare Addictions specialises in acne skincare, from serums and cleaners to the Daily Defence Moisturiser which we were sent to test. It may not be summer yet but you can still be prepared!
Formulated for teens and twenties who have the most acne-prone skin, the Daily Defence Moisturiser both protects and moisturises in the sun. With an SPF30, that’s enough for daily life in the UK and may places in Europe (you’ll need something stronger in the summer and if you’re out in direct sunlight). The Bare Addictions Daily Defence Moisturiser protects against UV rays, shine and spots by targeting excess oil. There’s also the added advantage of protecting against blue light stress – blue light comes from appliances like laptops, tablets and phones which so many of us use daily for both work and home.
Daily Defence Moisturiser SPF30 contains several active ingredients including Indian Ginseng Root extract which is for the protection against blue light stress, and Vitamin B3 to combat hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone. The specialised UV filters give a level of protection against both UVA and UVB rays too.
The 50ml pump tube is easily carried in a handbag and won’t spill thanks to the pump design. It’s very light weight and absorbs into the skin easily with a very light fragrance that is neither perfume nor medicinal and doesn’t linger long. I felt that it was very hydrating whilst giving a matt finish when it dries. The directions say to put on 15 minutes before sun exposure, so either during the summer whilst you’re at home and moisturising for the day before you go out, or on holiday before a day in the sunshine, make sure you give your skin some time to absorb the Daily Defence Moisturiser.
It doesn’t matter if you have acne or not, this day moisturiser still works, but also has the added bonus of having UV protection, being easily absorbed and has SPF30. The richness of the cream makes it super hydrating too, which is never a bad thing and as summer approaches we all need a bit of help!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Get ready for summer! Yes, I know it’s raining today but spring is the time of year when you either have your holiday booked, or are booking in and getting essentials together for the big trip away. Judging by the rain out there today, I think most of us are planning on some sun overseas this year so Delph Sun Lotions are definitely going to be needed.
The range we were sent included two sun lotions, one at SPF30 and one at SPF50+ and an after sun lotion, all in handy 150ml tubes. Delph pride themselves on being of the highest quality, so much so that their products are available on prescription on the NHS for those with sensitive skin and other skin issues thanks to their 4-star rating from Diffy & Robson. Delph is also used by the Ministry of Defence, so you can imagine the types of scenarios Delph sun lotion comes in handy! Additionally, each of the sun lotions (SPF30 and SPF50) are “very water resistant” so you can swim in both the sea and swimming pools whilst still getting a high level of protection.
Each of the SPF30 and SPF50 sun lotions can be applied directly to the face, in generous amounts (approximately ½ a teaspoon amount just for the face alone) and then a teaspoon to each arm, more for each leg and 2 teaspoons amount to the back and chest. The lotion must dry before going into water and be reapplied every 1-2 hours especially after swimming or towelling. Remember, using the recommended dosage gives the highest possible protection from the sun.
The Delph After Sun is designed to provide deep moisturisation and contains Aloe Vera and Vitamin E for their anti-inflammatory properties. The Vitamin E helps prevent peeling and prolongs the life of your tan too.
We were also sent the Lotil Lip Care stick with SPF30. This is a great addition to the range to protect your lips along with your face. It also moisturises your face whilst you’re out in the sun, keeping them soft especially against beach weather.
Each of the Delph Sun Lotions are Dermatologically Tested, and have a very light fragrance to them. There are elements of the scent that remind me of ‘holiday’, presumably because of the sun protection ingredients and there is a very light citrus smell too. The lotions blended into my skin very easily though, so it’s easy to apply to wriggling children who don’t want to have to wait before they get into the pool or the sea! The After Sun is also almost fragrance free and very light, making it easy to absorb.
I can’t wait for the summer and the holidays to begin so that I can finally test the Delph range on some proper sun!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
If you’ve never heard of Just Spices (and if you ever go to the supermarket and look at the spice and herbs section, they’re everywhere!) then let me tell you a little secret. You no longer have to blend a whole heap of expensive spices together to make savoury meals or even desserts because Just Spices has an enormous range ready-to-use which does all the work for you.
This Just Spices Discover Spice Box contains 8 ready spices including; Sandwich Seasoning, Potato Allrounder, Pizza Topping, Chicken Seasoning, Pasta Allrounder, Vegetable Allrounder, Avocado Topping and Egg Topping. Each of the sachets contain a mix of herbs, dried vegetables and spices which can be added to food especially the ones recommended on the packet.
For example, the Sandwich Seasoning contains salt, onion, leek, black pepper, cumin and lemon myrtle among other ingredients. It doesn’t matter what sandwich filling you’re using, you can add the Just Spices Sandwich Seasoning sachet to it and enhance the flavours. Alternatively, you could make the same sandwich every day and use different sachets to create different flavours. Your cheese sandwich will taste completely different with the Pasta Allrounder seasoning with the added paprika, chilli and rosemary.
If you usually cook pasta once a week, or have avocado on toast anytime, then the seasoning sachets make a pleasant departure from your usual cuisine. Without Just Spices, you’d have a cupboard full of tons of opened spices and herbs, all past their sell by date and all in different quantities that you’re never going to use anyway! I’m not sure I’d even think of adding a different herb to my egg on toast let along a whole host of the Just Spices ones…
The Just Spices Discovery Spice Box is not only for popping in the post to your Mum or Grandma, but it could introduce your household to the range of Just Spices available in the supermarket without the cost of having to buy a whole jar. The Discovery Box is also easy to post to a student who is just starting out cooking or doesn’t have a lot of room to store anything in a kitchen. It’s the perfect gift for a teenager learning to cook as well as something homely for Mother’s Day.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
The mornings are getting lighter, which means the evenings are too and as we approach summer, the nights aren’t as deeply dark. If your circadian rhythms are affected by the daylight then you’ll appreciate some darkness in order to sleep. I know I do.
Mavogel’s Sleep Mask is a handmade mask which goes over the eyes and fits over the nose to give a completely light-tight night time. The mask is designed with an adjustable strap at the back so that you can get a custom snug fit, and the bridge of the nose has a mouldable cartilage to fit over the nose and prevent light entering. The mask is made of black cotton with a sponge inner that makes it more comfortable to sleep in, and there’s no sharp bits that dig in or are too tight. The adjustable straps make it easy to fit and not be uncomfortable when you sleep.
The mask itself is very deep so can accommodate most faces and prevent light seeping in at the top or over the nose, where conventional sleep masks usually struggle to keep out light. This is great for adults and for older children because of how it adjusts. I think this would be excellent for travelling with too as the mask comes with a travel pouch and clip that you can use to keep on the plane seat in front or the back of the car. If you don’t know where you’re staying, it also makes a handy travel companion as it’s so light it can go into main luggage or hand luggage. No doubt a life saver if you need it and you won’t notice it’s there if you don’t!
It’s comfortable too. The nose clip is made of carbon steel and can adjust to nose bridge sizes but also be straightened out in case someone else needs to use it. I found the strap easy to adjust and fitted my head and nose easily. It absolutely blocks out all the light too! It was one of those moments when I woke up in the morning and didn’t know what time it was because it was so dark! If you’re a shift worker, this is also great for sleeping in the daytime.
Great as a travel companion or for anyone who finds it hard to sleep with the amount of light in the room.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
What beautiful Mother’s Day gifts! Annabelle Minerals have been around since 2012 and founded in the UK to provide handpicked ingredients that are both minimalist and natural. The idea is that the ingredients pamper your skin so that you don’t have to suffer unnecessary layers of heavy chemicals just to look your best. The theme of the ingredients being natural also carries across into the style of make up – natural and understated but still with a flare for style.
We were sent some lovely lip make up for Mother’s Day. Annabelle Minerals have both lipsticks (with refills available online) and jumbo lip pencils which can be used as both lip liners and as a lipstick. There’s several colours online too, including these shades; Apricot for the lipstick you can see and Brown Fig for the refill.
The Shear Lipsticks are presented in these gorgeous gold swizzle sticks and come in Apricot, Brown Fig, Coconut, Dragon Fruit and Strawberry. The names of the colours give away the type of natural ingredients Annabelle Minerals strives for! The Apricot colour I received is a slightly darker shade of my lips, so it’s very natural and glides on superbly. The colour stays all day too, as I discovered when I went out one Friday night wearing it. Only a small amount of the middle of the lips was missing at the end of the night, and probably as a result of drinking.
Once you’ve bought one lipstick, you can buy refills in either the same colour or a different one, and saving not just the packaging but also a bit of money! I was sent my second choice of Brown Fig, a slightly darker shade with a touch of red in it. This was a great colour for when I was wearing a darker outfit and wanted my lips to pop.
The Annabelle Minerals Jumbo Lip Pencil is probably my favourite of all the lip products. I was sent the Marigold colour which compliments all the other lipstick colours in the range. I used it as a lip liner, then you can fill in your lips with that colour, or dab it on as a base before you add a lipstick on top to vary the colour. You can also do the opposite and put the lip liner on top of your lipstick and seal it in and also change the colour.
With each of the lipsticks and the lip liner, they glide on perfectly, don’t come off easily and keep a constant colour. I didn’t notice them on my lips as they’re not greasy at all and in fact, I didn’t even need to blot with each application. They travel really well too, with a pencil lid to the liner and magnetic locking lipstick cases. I’ll be exploring more of the range at Annabelle Minerals, and looking at what Mum would like for Mother’s Day.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Daily life nowadays means you are running errands, looking after children and/or parents and probably juggling that with a full-time job and adding in a social life of your own. Oh, and don’t forget you need to get exercise too, and lots of it! We look for gadgets and life hacks nowadays to make life easier but to also improve the quality of life.
Carrying water around is essential nowadays, and especially for children. Brita have a range of water bottles for everyday use but they also contain filters to make the water extra clean. The Brita Water Filter Active Bottle is a clever 0.6 litre bottle which includes a filter in the top so you can filter tap water when you’re out and about and not have to worry about the nasties.
The bottle is made of 100% BPA free material with a sports cap (so you can use it when exercising or to prevent it falling over and spilling) and has flexible sides so that you can squeeze it to direct through the sports cap. The filter is made of natural carbon and originates from coconut shell material so it’s more sustainable too. The Brita filter cartridge used in the Brita Water Filter Active removes chemicals found in tap water such as chlorine and some herbicides, pesticides and hormones but leaves the useful elements like Magnesium and calcium. So if you’re out of the house without your Brita filter, any tap in a café or restaurant, or even at the gym will fill the Brita Active Bottle and the water will be cleaner than just taking out of the tap.
The bottle is also multipurpose because it’s adapted for sport. Not just squeezy sides but there’s a sports loop to attach it to your belt as you’re working out or to pick it up and hold it, and it comes with a cup that fixes to the base snugly so that you don’t lose it. The same cup works as a lid to protect the spout. Taking this out with a pram where you can attach it to the handle bars with the loop or put it in the cup holder, it can also help a toddler drink from a cup as you dispense it into the attached beaker. If you’re going to the gym and don’t want the attached cup, it’s easy to leave behind and 0.6 litre capacity is probably enough for an hour’s session.
The Brita Water Filter Active Bottle comes with a cartridge already but when you need to replace it, it only takes taking off the top screw cap and placing the filter in the neck of the bottle. No fuss, and easy to carry around with you if you’re on holiday for instance. The whole bottle with filter and full of water is light to carry too, so it fits into hand luggage. If you can’t take a bottle of water onto a plane, you can take a Brita Water Filter Bottle when it’s empty, then fill it up when you’re airside or on the plane and you’ll know you have filtered water for the journey. Think how great this would be for camping too!
The more you use this Brita Water Filter, the more uses you have for it and realise how versatile it is for everyday life. It’s a great gift item too for new mums, sports lovers or commuters alike. Have fun this summer with Brita Water Filter Active Bottle!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Whether you’re an old hand vegan or starting out on your vegan journey this January, Costa have a surprising amount of food items on their menu which are perfect for you. We were sent out to our local Costa Coffee to see what was available and check out the new items on the menu.
For 2024, there are their new Hot Milkshakes. In three flavours, White Chocolate and Strawberry, Salted Caramel Coffee, and Chocolate Hazel they are thick like a milkshake, but made with warm milk and topped with different flavoured sprinkles, dependant on what flavour you order. They’re a cross between a hot chocolate and a milkshake, especially with the Light Whip cream on top to make it extra indulgent.
We tried items from the Plant Based menu, including this Plant Based Saucy Chicken Fajita Wrap. It doesn’t contain chicken at all; every ingredient is plant based, but the substitutes taste like chicken and even have a chicken-like texture. They’re slightly lighter than the meat version though, with the ‘chicken’ pieces as you would imagine, a tortilla wrap, roasted peppers and a spicy tomato sauce. We paired that with a beautiful Chocolate Tiffin Cake, which although it’s not plant-based, it is vegetarian. If you’re not into chocolate for New Year, then there’s a new range of cakes (which are also vegetarian) such as new Banana Loaf Cake and new Orange and Raspberry Victoria Sponge. Anyone who remembers the Lemon Drizzle Loaf Cake will be very pleased to see that it’s back on the menu and as delicious as always!
Lastly, there are the assortment of Costa drinks. It sometimes feels like you could have a different drink every day of the month and still not try all of them in their different configurations of milks, toppings and additions but the staple drinks we all love are still there – namely coffee. We tried a Salted Caramel Frappé which was made vegan with coconut milk instead of cow’s milk and the whipped cream on top was vegan too. The drink is laced with Salted Caramel and topped with tiny caramel pieces which not only add to the flavour but add a gorgeous texture as well. I found that the Chicken Fajita Wrap, Chocolate Tiffin and Salted Caramel Frappé were all very filling and no different to a meat-eating lunch I would normally choose.
Costa Coffee Plant Based items are available in store and you can see their menu and prices here: https://www.costa.co.uk/menu
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Indulge yourself in 2024 with the Mindful Extracts Deep Relief CBD Massage Oil with the sweet aromas of juniper berry, Capalba and Full-Spectrum CBD.
CBD is relatively new to the market and lots of people are using it for a whole host of reasons. It has relaxing properties, which are helped absorbed into the deeper dermal layers of your skin to bring your body back into balance. Users often report that their sleep is improved after using CBD oils and muscle conditions are relaxed with the use of CBD massage oil. Other ingredients include Copaiba Balsam, a resin found in trees in the Amazon and are believed to contain anti-inflammatory properties. Organic Black Cumin Seed Oil is thought to also contain anti-inflammatory properties for both the skin and joints whilst ginger is great for the recovery of stiff muscles and joints. Lastly, juniper berry also contains anti-inflammatory products and has been used by ancient civilisations for millennia.
The Mindful Extracts Massage Oil has an aroma of CBD oil so if you’re not familiar with the smell, it might take a while to get used to. The oil base is sweet almond, apricot kernel and avocado oils along with the medicinal compounds. It only takes a small amount of the massage oil to rub into your hands then apply to the area that needs treating. Within a few minutes of working the oil into your skin and muscles, the ingredients are absorbed and get to work.
The CBD oil smell takes a while to get used to but when you do, you hardly notice it. The oil absorbs in remarkably quickly and the scent from the seed and flower extracts are released and you get a completely different fragrance. It doesn’t leave a residue on your skin either, but does leave it softer and hydrated!
The effects of the Mindful Extracts Massage Oil take a few minutes to work but I found they lasted much longer. Before bed, it creates a relaxation that puts muscles to rest before sleep and during the day it dulled the inflammation in my back as I moved around and was walking. As the day went on, the fragrance of the oil stayed with me and seemed to change again, presumably as the different extracts were released and at work. It may be a small bottle (50ml) and quite expensive, but it goes a long way as you only need a tiny amount at a time. It’s a fabulous alternative to taking a pain relief tablet or having to buy the over-the-counter creams!
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Take a few moments to think about how 2024 could be different for you. Small steps, rather than grand gestures or resolutions that won’t last are the key to improving your health, your self-esteem or wellbeing. One way of taking a small step to make yourself feel better in 2024 is switching to more targeted products in your beauty care. Nanogen shampoos and conditioners help thicken your hair (for both men and women) over time. We were sent a lovely selection to try over the Christmas holidays, taking us into 2024 with luscious, healthy looking hair!
The range at Nanogen includes Shampoo for Women, Shampoo Luxe for Women, Hair Thickening Conditioner for Everyone, Shampoo for Men and Shampoo and Half-Conditioner for Men. If that sounds like a lot to choose from, don’t worry, they’re all explained on the Nanogen Shampoo & Conditioner page: https://www.nanogen.com/collections/shampoo-conditioner
Starting with the Nanogen Shampoo for Women, the 240ml tube of shampoo goes a long way with just a small 5 pence-piece sized portion which washed my shoulder-length hair perfectly. The shampoo feels luxurious and not only cleans beautifully but has a silky texture, which no doubt helps the thickening process. After using the Shampoo for Women, I went straight to the Conditioner for Everyone to finish the nourishing process. The Conditioner for Everyone is universal, meaning anyone can use it and even children will probably find it easy to use because it’s so soft, it takes away tangles without you even knowing it. It’s very lightweight, so as well as its moisturising properties, it washes out easily and doesn’t make your hair really heavy. If you need to, you can add products afterwards but I just let my hair dry naturally.
The Shampoo Luxe for Women is super, super hydrating and probably good for when your hair is in need of some TLC long term before using the other Nanogen products as part of your daily routine. It feels amazing because it’s so rich, and again, you don’t need very much of it to make your hair feel soft. Its intensity is comforting because you know that as soon as you let the conditioner work its magic, then your hair will be softer once it dries. Over time, I found that after a few washes and letting it dry naturally, my curls were more defined and my hair smoother, as well as being less flat. I’m looking forward to seeing how my hair looks after a few months of using the Nanogen products!
Nanogen aren’t just for women, but there’s the Shampoo for Men and Shampoo and Half-Conditioner for men too. Both products work to thicken men’s hair, which obviously can be thinning for different reasons to women but men can still use Nanogen to thicken their hair as well as have a bit of luxury. Unlike other hair thickening products aimed at men, Nanogen doesn’t have a chemical fragrance and you can feel that the Shampoo and Half-Conditioner isn’t abrasive but instead, more nourishing. The men’s products also make excellent gifts!
Taking 2024 by the horns, Nanogen shampoos and conditioners for thickening hair are a lovely treat to help improve the condition of your hair, make it fuller and allow you to enjoy healthy hair again.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
There are some gifts which are perfect to give to anyone. Hive & Keeper produce the most exquisite gifts suitable for everyone this Christmas and we were sent a special sample of their famous giftbox of honey to try out. You’ll soon see why honey is the perfect gift for anyone, especially anyone who is difficult to buy for!
Hive & Keeper was started by Emily soon after she discovered bee keeping. It wasn’t until Emily owned bees of her own that she found out that the honey we buy in shops does not stand up to any of the honey produced naturally by beekeepers by a long way. In fact, Emily thinks that honey in shops tastes nothing like what she and her colleagues were producing in the natural world. Working with other crafts people with natural, British products (leather, wool, wood, antler and other natural materials) that Emily discovered a whole new world of sustainability and natural beauty in craft.
Hive & Honey’s website sells a range of natural product gifts but the main focus for Emily is the honey. She sources different honey from many suppliers around the country, giving the honey different tastes. Did you know the taste comes from the different flowers and plants bees pollinate? So the heathers on the Scottish borders produce a very different honey than somewhere else in the UK such as farmland in Surrey. Each of the keepers are featured on the Hive & Keeper website so you can see exactly where the honey is from. The jars are each labelled with the name of the keeper and given a reference such as, “good on toast” so that you know best how to enjoy each variety!
Gift wise, Hive & Honey have individual jars, gift boxes and subscriptions where households can order 1 or 2 jars to be delivered every 3, 6 or 12 months. We were sent the Big Breakfast Honey Gift Set which contains 3 different honeys, all suitable for breakfast (toast, porridge and tea). The gift arrives in a lovely cardboard (recyclable!) giftbox with straw as packaging and the three jars nestled inside. There are cards for each of the honeys giving information about the keepers. My jars came from Matthew in Staffordshire, Eduard in Berkshire/Buckinghamshire and Howard in the Forest of Dean.
As for the honeys, they each have a different shade and aren’t clear like supermarket honeys. This is an indication that they aren’t over filtered and contain some of the (harmless) impurities in all natural honeys and haven’t been treated. Don’t be surprised if you open a jar and there’s a swirl of different colours in there, it’s just where the honey has settled. To reap the full benefit of each honey, open the jar and smell the aroma. Mix the honey and then taste a small amount, paying attention to the different notes like you would a wine. If you’re unsure about how you want to use it, and there are thousands of ways, then have a look at the jar and see if it’s good for cereal or porridge, in tea or on toast or even experiment yourself to find out how it goes in baking and as a glaze when cooking.
I am a huge honey lover anyway. Being able to try these British honeys without having to worry about air miles or sustainability is not only a weight off my shoulders but it’s a real treat to try authentic honey, straight from the hive. I think Hive & Keeper honey is a fabulous gift for any food lovers, families or anyone who you can’t buy gifts for easily. The Hive & Keeper honey opens up a whole new culinary world that you never thought was out there. Turns out, the bees are out there in the British countryside and they were making excellent gifts for us all along.
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
The Australian company Modibodi have been changing how women deal with periods for 10 years now, but still not everyone knows about their revolutionary products!
Sometimes known as period pants, Modibodi produce underwear that doesn’t need tampons or sanitary towels because Modibodi design in a high absorbency layer to their clothing, giving you more protection. As these are reusable feminine products, they have added layers of materials which give much higher absorbency than disposable liners etc, therefore giving you longer wear.
The Modibodi Festive Gifting 3 Pack is a set of 3 differently sized and shaped knickers all in Fiesta Red colour. Including High Waist Bikini (light/moderate absorbency), Classic Bikini (moderate/heavy) and Full Brief (heavy/overnight), they are bundled up in an attractive draw string bag which can also be used for laundry. The packs are available in sizes 8-18.
The briefs are made of bamboo viscose for the body of the knickers and merino wool for the absorbency section, which is brilliant at absorbing moisturiser to keep you dry. They look and feel like everyday pants, which is always a bonus and the different sizes and shapes make them adaptable for any dress or trousers. The bright red colour makes a change from the usual dark blue or black period knickers which are usually on the market and I can guarantee you have something red and Christmassy you want to wear over the Christmas season!
I have been using Modibodi pants for a while now, and they’re really innovative. If you’re a bit nervous about using them, you can always use a sanitary towel or tampon as well, before you get used to how much more absorbent they are or how they fit. I find if I am going out for the day, I use a towel or tampon as security and then rely on the pants later on. It’s more comfortable that way. The knickers themselves fit really nicely and the bamboo viscose is cosy and fits well, especially as they’re in my dress size and not S/M/L like other period pants.
As for absorbency, you get used to not having any other products to rely on. I found that I forgot I was wearing Modibodi pants and it really helped that I wasn’t wearing a towel at the same time when I was in jeans or certain dresses where I was more self-conscience. The absorbency of the period pants was also much better than towels or tampons. The wool material used for the black lining is super absorbent and you can go a whole lot longer without having to need to change them, especially in the full briefs which are bigger. If you have the 3 pack bundle and use them in conjunction with other Modibodi pants (such as the PUMA Active Period Underwear we reviewed previously), you can go your whole period and not use and disposable products at all. Modibodi saves money on using feminine products but also saves the environment with having less to throw away each month.
Even if you’re not buying the Modibodi 3 Pack gift set for anyone else, treat yourself to a pack this Christmas!
Available online now at a discounted price of £39.00:
Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.
Christmas is a time to ask for that gift you would never buy for yourself, or to surprise someone with a present that they weren’t expecting but similarly love! For me, the Donnerberg Back Massager falls into both categories as I’d seen them around but not ever thought of buying one. Likewise, it is something which I wouldn’t think of giving as a gift.
Read on to see why the Donnesberg Back Massager is perfect for both categories…
The Donnesberg Back Massager sits on the back of a chair so that the user sits with the massager behind them. It’s mains powers so there’s no need to charge it or change batteries and there are four settings; Shiatsu Massage, Massage Intensity (3 levels), Infrared head (2 levels) and Tapping/Percussion. That might sound like a lot of functions but playing with the different functions is part of the fun!
I started by plugging in the massager, which is easy with the UK plug that’s included. That’s all you need to do to get it working! Starting with the Shiatsu Massage, the plates on the machine work extremely hard, giving a deep massage into the different areas of your lower back. There are 10 massage heads in all which work in different directions and patterns to give you a deeper, firmer massage in certain places as well as the infrared heat which helps you relax, but also aids healing. The intensity can be increased with the function buttons, and the infrared heat can be increased too.
The second setting to try out is the Tapping/Percussion. This is a lighter, rainfall-like rhythm which helps relieve tension in the back muscles but with a different pattern. The Tapping/Percussion setting can be used with the infrared heat too, to give a deeper healing. Try using a combination of the tapping/percussion and Shiatsu massage settings to help with your specific ailments and eventually, you’ll work out a session that’s most beneficial to you! There’s a timer on each of the settings too so you don’t spend too long in one place.
The first time I tried out the Donnerberg Percussion Massager I did all the settings and all the intensities going on for more than 20 minutes. This turned out to be a mistake because the next day my muscles were sore and I had bruises! Instead, it’s better to find a medium intensity for your back and work up to the higher intensities over time. You don’t notice how strong the massager is at the time of working it, and it’s usual to find that it’s a bit of a weird sensation at first, until you get used to how deep it can be.
Over a week, the massage became more relaxing as your muscles get used to the sensation and start to relax over time. I haven’t needed to increase the intensity to the maximum level yet but as times goes on there is that option. Interestingly, there are other areas you can use the Donnerberg Massager on. Whilst watching TV, I put it on the floor and rested my feet on it. It’s a very weird feeling at first but once your feet start to relax, and your calf muscles start to melt away, it’s very nice having the vibrations trace through your feet and legs! After a run, this was especially useful as it distracted from the pain but then as the day went on, all the blood rushed to my calves and feet to bring the oxygen.
The Donnerberg Massager can be used on other areas of the body too. Placing your thighs or calves directly onto the massager face and putting it on a low intensity also helps with relaxing muscles and getting rid of aches and pains. The massager has a low noise output too, so you can still watch TV with it running in the background.
The only downside I can see is from having the cable to the mains adaptor. The lead is a few metres long so you can move it around whichever room you’re in but it means you can’t use it outside in the summer easily, and might not be able to use it in every room in the house. Still, it’s great to use whilst sitting up and you can probably use it whilst lying in bed too.
The Donnerberg Percussion Massager is a fabulous toy for anyone who has everything, or if your loved one needs to relax! It’s perfect however for anyone who runs, works out with weights or has a busy life where they need muscle relaxation but probably don’t have the time for a massage. Sit with the Donnerberg massager whilst watching TV and soon the aches and pains will melt away, no matter how active you’ve been!
The Review Studio 