Tag: stocking filler

Christmas Beauty Gifts -Curlsmith Hair Products, Rubis Tweezers and Wonderbalm Lips

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, cruelty-free, Gifts for Her, Mother's Day, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Vegan, Winter, Women

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

I know it’s only October, but it’s the perfect time to get started on your Christmas shopping. The shops are beginning to fill with festive gifts, and by picking up a few now, you won’t be rushing around at the last minute. We’ve been trying out some brilliant beauty treats this week that are perfect as stocking fillers or Secret Santa gifts – little luxuries that are bound to be well received on Christmas morning.

First up, the Rubis Tweezers – in my opinion these are the holy grail of tweezers and perfect for anyone who likes to keep their brows neat and tidy in between salon visits. Lightweight but surprisingly sturdy, they’re well made with an ergonomic design that makes them very comfortable to hold. Each pair is hand-finished in Switzerland from surgical stainless steel and they pluck even the finest hairs easily, with no pinching or snapping. They come in a neat zip-lock pouch (no more rummaging through your make-up bag) and even have a protective cap to keep the tips in perfect condition. At £27.98, they’re an investment, yes – but one that will last for years. Available from Amazon.

If you’re shopping for someone with curls then you really need to look at Curlsmith products.  The Shake & Shine Curls Refreshing Mist (£24) is my go to product for refreshing my curls – a few spritzes of the lightweight mist and a quick scrunch and tired curls spring back to life looking bouncy and defined again. It locks in moisture (up to 41% more, according to Curlsmith’s tests) without weighing hair down.

The In-Shower Style Fixer (£24) is an anti-frizz styling gel designed to be used on soaking wet hair. Like the name suggests the best place to apply it is in the shower and I just smooth it down my hair using the “praying hands” method before scrunching it and drying with my diffuser.

Curlsmith products are vegan, cruelty-free, and packed with natural ingredients. I’m really impressed with these products – my curls are shinier, smoother, and, on most days, even cooperative. Every so often they do their own thing, but that’s curls for you!  

Both products are available from Boots along with other products in the range and there’s currently 20% off – so another reason to start shopping early!!

And finally, for those who can’t be without a lip balm (and let’s face it that’s probably most of us in winter?), Wonderbalm Lip Balm is a handbag essential. Made with shea butter and infused with a blend of botanical oils, butters, and waxes, it glides on smoothly and doesn’t leave your lips feeling sticky or greasy. Whether you’re out walking, sat in an office or battling a cold December wind your lips will be lovely and soft and hydrated all day long. At £8 it’s a lovely treat for lips and the perfect size to fit in a Christmas stocking.

So, while the Christmas countdown may feel far away, now’s the time to start gathering those small and special gifts. Pop a few of these in your basket now, and by December, you’ll be feeling calm, smug, and ever so slightly festive.

Elemay Starry Nights Luxury Refillable Ceramic Candle

Autumn, Christmas, Fragrance, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Home, REUSABLE, Stocking Fillers, Vegan, Winter, Women

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

When it comes to candles, I’ve found it’s worth paying a little more for a better quality candle. While cheaper ones will flicker away quite happily, many are made with paraffin wax, which can release soot and toxins into the air. Spend a bit more, however, and you get something altogether different. Natural wax candles burn more cleanly, with a steadier flame and the scent actually smells like what it says on the box.

Which brings me to Elemay candles – they’re made from 100% natural soy wax with lead-free cotton wicks, making them just as as kind to the air as they are beautiful to look at. The brand was dreamed up by Ellie while she was on maternity leave. And you can tell – this isn’t some faceless corporation churning out identical jars of wax. Every scent has been chosen with care to bring a sense of calm, joy and a little bit of luxury into your day. And I think we can all agree, we need more of that.

With notes of jasmine, zesty citrus, sweet musk and vanilla, the Starry Nights fragrance is inspired by Steephill Cove on the Isle of Wight with Ellie wanting the candle to capture the magic of a clear summer night under a starry sky.

In my opinion candles should look as good as they smell and Elemay certainly delivers on that front. The luxury refillable ceramic candles are in handcrafted ceramic pots, made exclusively for the brand by Sussex-based artist Beth. Each pot is uniquely glazed and the Starry Nights pot has midnight blues and dusky purples to reflect the starry sky above the coast. Mine even arrived with a photograph of the cove taken by Ellie’s dad, and it’s incredible how Beth has echoed the image in her design.

I was surprised to discover that in most areas of the UK, candle jars can’t be recycled, so Elemay’s refill option is such a great idea. It’s not only a more sustainable choice but also a more cost-effective way to enjoy their candles. Refills are priced at £15, while the Starry Nights candle itself is £35.

The 220g candle has a burn time of around 40 hours comes with a care card and refill guide, and is packaged in a reusable linen gift bag, making it a perfect treat for yourself or a lovely Christmas gift.

Teoxane Discovery Set

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Stocking Fillers, travel, Women

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

The Teoxane Discovery Set is a travel sized version of Teoxane’s signature products. It. contains 5 items; Micellar Solution, RHA Serum, R(II) Eyes, Advances Filler (normal to combination skin) and UVA Shield SPF 50+. The Discovery Set is also a travel bag, which in clear plastic means it could go on a plane as well but works nicely as a make-up case for holidays.  

TEOXANE RHA is a patented hyaluronic acid, for skin hydration and anti-aging. Teoxane RHA forms a mesh on the surface of the skin to maintain moisture in the epidermis and strengthens the skin by preventing moisture loss. This leaves the skin looking not just hydrated, but plump and smooth too.  

The Discovery Set includes 5 products that are used in combination to create optimal skin conditions. The Micellar Solution cleanses the skin in preparation for the treatments. R (II) Eyes is for the delicate areas around the eyes whilst RHA Serum is for the rest of the face and neck. Advanced Filler Normal to Combination create the deep hydration for skin whilst the UVA Shield protects morning and night, and whenever skin is exposed to sun.

The Teoxane Discovery Set is pricy at £45 but it’s for older skin and with an emphasis on repairing and anti-aging.  It makes a great kit for someone who is going away on holiday during the summer so that they have everything they need to protect from the sun and repair, all in a small travel size.  It’s very luxurious too, with a slight fragrance but it screams luxury!

Available for £45.00 at: https://www.teoxane.co.uk/product/700177-00?srsltid=AfmBOoq4Y9OACGzshLCCdrV9iR0x_w-YotJoVwJQ0XGpxalNVYofsTIK

Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Gifts for Her, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Women

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

If you’ve never used oil to remove dirt, make-up and clean pores before, then let me enlighten you… most make-up removers used to be 100% oil. This was a long time ago, when they weren’t fragranced though, and if you held onto them for too long, they would go rancid and smell. Think Petroleum Jelly but a bit softer! Oil does indeed remove dirt, but nowadays we have a more sophisticated approach and a much nicer selection to use.

Anua Heartleaf Pore Control is a cleansing oil which removed make-up, but also dirt, build up and generally anything that gets into the pores on your face. It’s lighter than most oils, and has a slight, fresh fragrance about it but nothing heavy. To use Anua Cleansing Oil, it takes just a small amount distributed over the dry skin of your face and massaged in for a minute or two. You can feel the softness of the oil as it works over your skin.  To remove the cleanser, use warm water and I like to use the reusable make-up remover pads that you can put in the wash. They seem more robust than most cleansing pads, and yes, they help remove both the oil and the dirt that the oil removes!

After a light brush of warm water, my skin is cleaner and Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil manages to remove traces of make-up and dirt, including stubborn mascara.  The cleansing oil also kept my skin hydrated, which is what you’d expect from an oil but in these autumn and winter months, air conditioning and heating really don’t help your skin.  If you are in need of some de-puffing during the Christmas season, then I can highly recommend Anua Heartleaf Pore Control Cleansing Oil for some facial massage too. Oil is essential for facial massages and this lighter, more nutritious oil worked a treat!

Available online for £16.00 at:

https://www.boots.com/anua-heartleaf-pore-control-cleansing-oil-200ml-10352040?srsltid=AfmBOoozgX1_p6erbijBceUMPN0NbkopBIBKGxryD1Mqn_BwY1l8yxZU

Bedsure Wearable Blanket Hoodie

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, eco friendly, Family Life, Fashion, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Home, secret santa, Stocking Fillers

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

Cosy up this Christmas in Bedsure’s wearable blanket hoodie – a perfectly snug cross between a hoodie and an oversized dressing gown, it makes a brilliant Christmas present for anyone.  

We were sent this lovely light blue blanket hoodie to test out, which turned out just in time for the weather to turn! The oversized jumper fits over your head easily and has two giant pockets and a fluffy hood.  If you’re looking to save a bit on the heating this winter, this is a great alternative. The shorter hoodie-style means you can wear it around the house without it getting in the way, and especially good for driving in. The sleeves have elasticated cuffs for typing or cooking and I like how the hood comes up round your ears even when it’s not up, so it acts as a scarf. 

The Bedsure Wearable Blanket Hoodie is easily transportable because it’s vacuum packed and boxed for arrival. I not only loved this garment for the fluffiness of the material and how warm it keeps you, but for anyone who struggles with being cold all the time, or for the elderly who need to keep a constant temperature, it’s really wearable and an adorable colour. It’s available in other colours including pink, grey, red and black, but because it’s shorter, it’s easier to move around in and doesn’t weigh too much for every day wear.

It’s a great gift at Christmas, even as a stocking filler or Secret Santa!

Available from 26.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C1NQ7GT4?th=1&linkCode=sl1&tag=masca0d-21&linkId=677774e6d39e553b3cc200292e969239&language=en_GB&ref_=as_li_ss_t

PLAYinCHOC

Children, chocolate, Christmas, eco friendly, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gluten Free, Plastic free, secret santa, snacks, Stocking Fillers, Vegan

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

It can be hard to find delicious tasting chocolate that is suitable for people with different dietary needs so PLAYinCHOC is such a great find as it is vegan, organic, dairy free, nut free, and gluten free.

The PLAYinCHOC Christmas collection includes all six of the fun ToyChoc boxes and inside every box are two individually wrapped 10g organic chocolates, a festive 3D puzzle to build and a fun fact card to read. The 3D puzzles are all Christmassy – a snowman,  cheeky elf,  friendly ginger-bread figure, Christmas tree, reindeer and of course Father Christmas. Simply pop out the sturdy cardboard pieces and slot them together. The leftover pieces can also be used as stencils which are perfect for keeping little hands busy over the holidays.

The chocolate is smooth and creamy and is made from just three simple organic ingredients – cacao, vanilla and coconut. It also has a third less sugar than other leading brands and importantly, it tastes delicious – no bitter aftertaste, just pure chocolate deliciousness. Our mini-reviewers happily nibbled while tackling their puzzles, awarding it a resounding thumbs-up.

With its award-winning credentials – from a Great Taste Award in 2022 to Gold at the Free From Food Awards – this is a lovely stocking filler or table gift for both children and adults.

RRP £15

The Moon Tarot Cross Stitch Kit

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, secret santa, Stocking Fillers

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

If you are looking for a cracking gift for the creative person in your life or a relaxing new hobby for yourself, a cross stitch kit from Innocent Bones is a great place to start.  Modern, stylish designs combine craft with art for both beginners and more experienced sewers, offering a mindful and rewarding experience that creates an artwork you can display in your home.  There are several collections available including Folklore, Mystical and Gothic, and each collection includes a rich choice of design options enabling you to tailor the choice of kit to the personality of the recipient or even to build up a whole collection over time.

I have been enjoying creating The Moon from the Tarot collection in my free time over the past few weeks.  It’s a really simple and effective design with a modern feel to it, and I absolutely love the colour choices.  The thing about cross stitch that particularly appeals to me is that you don’t need to come to it with any particular skills or even a lot of free time.  It’s something you can just pick up and put down but it’s also a very rewarding process.  I always find that taking some time out of my busy day to sew a few lines centres me and brings a wonderful sense of calm.

Each kit contains a guide to basic cross stitching, a printed design chart to follow, cross stitch and backing fabric cut to size, and a generous amount of high-quality embroidery floss that is more than enough to complete the design.  The kit also includes all the necessary equipment for the complete beginner, including a 5 inch wooden embroidery hoop, a pair of embroidery scissors, a packet of needle threaders and the perfect size needle.  It all comes packaged in an attractive eco-friendly box that is tailor-made for gifting to someone you love.

I would give Innocent Bones’ cross stitch kits a solid five stars and would recommend them to anyone.  These high quality kits are an inspired gift idea – creative but not complicated, great value for money and you get to create something beautiful!

Available for £18.00 at: https://innocentbones.com/products/tarot-moon-cross-stitch

Build Your Own Marble Labyrinth Advent Calendar

advent calendar, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Games, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Stocking Fillers, Toys

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

I’ve been really looking forward to this advent calendar! As children, we loved making our own toys so this Marble Run from Build Your Own Kits.  The kit arrives in flat form, with 24 days’ worth of instructions under advent windows which children can open and use piece-by-piece to build their own marble run. The kit is made entirely of engineered cardboard and there’s no gluing, sharp objects or tools needed.  If you want to, you can build the whole kit in one go without opening the windows by using the instructions which are also included. In the interest of doing a review, that’s what I opted for, and had great fun in doing so!

The enforced cardboard pieces are easily popped out but for little fingers, there is a cardboard too.  The instructions are without words, so even smaller children can read them, but I would suggest that the age 8+ years on the box is about right, as it took me a few turns of the paper to be able to work out how some of the pieces go together.  The instructions say that it’s 3.5/5 in difficulty and I would agree. Some of the parts fit together with ease, and there are steps which are repeated so once you get the hang of it, you can just go on and do the next part.  It’s incredibly rewarding though, even if it is a bit fiddly at times. It took me about 90 minutes to put it all together non-stop on my own and that was with scratching my head for a few minutes on one part!

The Marble Run builds up in stages with square structures on levers and balances. It’s a fabulous way to learn about physics practically as you have to get the pieces fitting together correctly for the whole kit to balance and fit together. The levers at each side move the trays inside the box, which is on a frame and therefore allows the users to adjust the level of the trays to move the marble around the course.

From the start, it’s very easy to understand the instructions. Even without words, you can work out how to put the pieces together because the instructions show you which sheets of cut-outs you need, plus they pieces are numbered. Where there are multiple pieces that fit together, they are colour coded too, so you can hold up the model against the instructions and see how they fit together.  Once you have all the trays and the frame made up, the instructions tell you how to put it together, and include a box for the marbles as well! It was actually quite easy to put the frame and trays together, and once I did, it was obvious how it all worked.  The game is quite tricky because the marbles get stuck in the holes. The object of the game is to get the marble from start to finish without getting stuck, and although it’s difficult at first, it becomes compulsive to try and get the knack. There’s also some different templates to use once the game is finished so that everyone can play and no one gets bored with the same route.

The whole game is really robust, so there’s no chance of breaking it unless you use real force. I think this is a great advent calendar for older children or for parents to sit down with younger children every night and assemble together. It’s great for dexterity too – I know my grandfather would have loved this as an advent calendar because it’s such a brain teaser, plus the game at the end is a challenge for children and adults alike, especially in winter. Great way of getting children off of screens too!

I absolutely loved doing this kit, and would happily give the advent calendar as a gift or try out some of the other kits on the Build Your Own Kits website: www.buildyourownkits.com The Marble Run Advent Calendar kit is available from late September for £24.99.

Warmies Keyrings

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Women

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

Sometimes it’s the little things that bring a smile to my face and my pink bunny Warmies® Keyring has been doing just that since it hopped onto my keys. Cute, cheerful, and surprisingly practical, it never fails to make me smile – and it also means I can find my keys a lot easier in the depths of my bag!

At just 3 inches tall, this mini bunny has a soft, squidgy body and the sweetest little ears that are impossible not to stroke. Like its bigger Warmies® friends it’s scented with lavender, so whenever I’m feeling stressed, a quick sniff is all it takes to help me relax. One thing to be aware of though, especially if you’re already a fan of Warmies® is unlike the larger toys these keyrings aren’t designed to go in the microwave.

The bunny is just one of a whole family of Warmies® Keyrings. With 11 different characters to collect – including an irresistibly sweet pink elephant, whichever character you choose, you’ll end up with a pocket-sized companion that brightens even the most ordinary of days.

At £8.99, they’re affordable and perfectly suited to those small-gift occasions: think stocking fillers, Secret Santa, or simply a treat for a friend. They’re lovely for children too, with the gentle scent making them especially soothing.

Prezzee Personalised Digital eGift Card

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, secret santa, Stocking Fillers

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

Probably the easiest, and most personalised gift you will ever be able to send, Prezzee is a digital gift card which can be sent with a video message which you can record yourself.  With a price range of £5-£500, the Prezzee gift card can be converted into vouchers for over 200 stores including Apple, Argos, John Lewis, Dunelm or even for restaurant vouchers such as Cote, Five Guys or Pizza Express.

Using the Prezzee website at www.pressee.uk, after you create an account, click on the Buy Now button. You then choose whether you’re treating yourself or sending the card to someone else, the amount of money to add to the card and the design of your eGift card. This can include a Gif or a recorded video. Yes, you can record your own video on your phone and have it attached to the Prezzee eGift card when it’s sent, to make your present more memorable. Add the recipient’s details and whether you want to send it via email or SMS and click through to the preview and payment.

When your recipient opens the email or SMS, there is a link to the Prezzee website where they can open the eGift card and convert it to any of the stores affiliated with Prezzee. I chose Marks & Spencer, which takes you to a page where you can redeem your card and print out a pdf of the gift card to use either online or instore.

For Christmas, you can choose a festive greeting card and distance isn’t a problem with Prezzee when you’re just an email away from sending someone you love the perfect, personalised gift.

Create an account at: https://www.prezzee.uk/

Edifier ES20 Portable Bluetooth Speaker

Birthday Gifts, camping, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Tech

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

As far as Christmas presents go, you can’t go wrong with a Bluetooth speaker. Edifier have this new 6 watt, Bluetooth v5.4 portable speaker which almost fits in your hand. It has a 43mm driver with neodymium magnets and a 55mm bass radiator.

Enough of the tech talk though – what’s it like to use?  It’s 9.4cm x 9cm x5cm and has a USB-C charging port which comes with the relevant cable.  The controls on the top are on/off, + & – and a light feature. There’s a display of how much battery there is and it illuminates when the speaker is switched on. There’s also a microphone function light which you can see lights up when the microphone is on. The light surrounds the speaker on both sides and pressing it several times changes the light colours or to a solid white. Great for when you’re camping and need to leave a light on to find your way back or to carry with you and see where you’ve left it!

To set up, just switch on the ES20 speaker so that you hear the chime noise, then look in your Bluetooth settings on your phone or device. The ES20 speaker should be there, and you can connect immediately! The speaker actually has multipoint pairing on v5.4 which means you can connect more than one speaker at a time to your one device. There’s about 15 hours of playtime on the speaker too, although I haven’t managed to test that yet as I’ve been playing it for hours on a full charge and it hasn’t given any indication of running out of steam!

You can use the controls on the speaker or there’s the EDIFIER ConneX app which allows you to change settings as well as simple tasks like volume. For the festival goers, it’s also waterproof and dustproof and comes with a handy strap handle to carry it with. 

Like most Edifier products, this is a great Christmas gift or handy for yourself when you’re camping, in the garden or for a teenager’s bedroom.

Available from £49.99 at: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Edifier-Portable-Bluetooth-Waterproof-Dustproof/dp/B0F8HYJB3F?th=1

Tolpa Dermo Face Sebio+ Face Wash Gel, 4-Molecule Serum and CICA Correcting Cream

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Gifts for Her, Women

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

Ah, acne. I suffered greatly right into my 20s and now that I’m ‘that age’ it’s evident that I’m going to suffer again! Topla Dermo have a range of face products for those suffering from acne and associated scarring or inflammation so they offered to send me some to try in this hot weather.  

Tolpa Dermo products were a nice arrival a few weeks ago before the sunshine came, and now they’re invaluable as we battle the hot weather, air con and dehydration.  I was sent the Serbio+ Face Wash Gel, 4-Molecule Serum and CICA Correcting Cream, the latter two mainly for night time skin repair and the Face Wash Gel for daily use.  How have I been getting on with it?

Night time repair is essential to skin and this summer I’ve been using the combination of the 4-Molecule Serum and CICA Correcting Cream.  Before bed, I applied a few drops of the 4Molecule Serum and worked it into my skin. You don’t need much, but the serum is really light and takes minimal effort to massage into your face.  Next, I used the CICA Correcting Cream which is a slightly richer but not oily correcting cream. It works at night to minimise acne as its anti-bacterial, unclogs hair follicles and pores and smooths skin discolouration.

The Tolpa Dermo Face Sebio+ Face Wash Gel contains two acids; AHA and LHA for a deep cleanse and exfoliation without feeling tight. It works with the skin to reduce active acne legions and acne prone skin and can be used daily. I put this in the shower to use when I’m conditioning my hair but it’s gentle enough that you can use it more often. My skin was clean afterwards, but not tight and the use of the 4-Molecule Serum helped rehydrate my skin even more after I came out of the shower.

The combination of all the Topla Dermo Face products together was having a clean, hydrated face that repaired at night. The CICA Correcting Cream was particularly good at smoothing out blemishes that arise during the day and the overall texture of my skin has improved despite the hot weather! Even today, I can feel the effect of the Tolpa Dermo Face products in how smooth and soft my skin is.

Available online from Boots:

https://www.boots.com/tolpa-dermo-face-sebio-wash-gel-195ml-10342614
https://www.boots.com/tolpa-dermo-face-max-effect-4-molecule-serum-20ml-10342615
https://www.boots.com/tolpa-dermo-sebio-cica-cream-night-40ml-10342613

The Krafted Connex

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, Mobile Phone, Tech, travel

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

Keep your devices connected and up-to-date with the Krafted Connex in your pocket. 

The handy Connex gadget has 5 connectors in one product which can allow for high speed data transfer between phones, laptops and other devices as well as charge from one to another. Like a Swiss Army knife, the Krafted Connex folds up into the size of a packet of chewing gum to be able to be packed, in a pocket or thrown at the bottom of a bag.  It also comes in two colours; jade (like the one in the photo) and charcoal.

The Krafted Connex has a USB-C plug at one end, which comes with a USB-C to USB-A adaptor already attached. This is important because when it comes to charging or data transfer, the Connex needs to be plugged in to each device at opposite ends. So I had to remove the USB-A first, then attach my speaker to the USB-C plug on the other end in order to charge it.

All the connections are: 

INPUT:

  • USB-C Connector
  • USB-A Connector (as an adaptor)

OUTPUT:

  • Lightening Connector x2
  • USBC-Connector
  • Micro USB Connector

There’s actually 8 different combinations of connections you can make with the gadget, and because it’s made of Flex Silicone rubber, it can twist in all sorts of ways to get the connection you need. It folds up nicely so that you can store it away and the keyring on it ensures you’ll always have it handy.

This is great as a Secret Santa or for the stocking of a teenager or someone travels a lot. You could also use them as gifts for clients who are always out and about – nearly everyone would find a use for them!

Available from £29.99 at: https://www.kraftedtech.com/products/connex-jade

Jade & Joy Collagen Protein Bars

Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, health, snacks, Women

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

We always seem to be hungry at The Review Studio, so when Jade & Joy sent us these chocolate bars, we decided to tuck in and enjoy the vast selection of bars they sent us. 

Collagen is needed for skin, hair and nail growth and is often credited for keeping skin in good condition.  As we get older, we lose collagen in the skin and don’t make as much of it so taking a supplement has its benefits. Jade & Joy have a range of different chocolate bars which contain collagen as well as other added vitamins and minerals. I was amazed at the range of flavours the bars were, from Salted Caramel to Cookie Crumb, Caramel Blondie and Marshmallow biscuit. They don’t taste like ‘health’ bars at all because they’re mostly chocolate and still have the sweet taste to them, with no bitterness like some alternative products have.

Jade & Joy were also kind enough to send us a selection of the plant based Yubi Bars in a Variety Pack which also includes some Christmas seasonal flavours.  Great for stockings, Secret Santa as well as a daily snack, there are flavours such as Yule Log, Gingerbread and Choc Orange.  All of them contain 10 grams of protein, 99 calories and 0.3 grams of sugar. These bars are pocket sized for snacks after school but as they’re high in protein, they’re also great for after the gym. The festive flavours are fabulous though, with gooey centres. The Mint Choc bar was probably my favourite but all of them were yummy with a few quiet minutes in the afternoon.

Various boxes available online from £21 at: https://jadeandjoy.co.uk/vegan-collagen/vegan-collagen-selection-box/

You can shop the whole range (including the pick n mix) here: https://www.yubibar.com/collections/vegan-protein-bars

Yubi Bar christmas bars will be available here in the festive period: https://www.yubibar.com/products/christmas-protein-bar-selection-box

Peppersmith Taster Box featuring Gum, Mints and Pastilles

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Family Life, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gluten Free, snacks, Stocking Fillers, Vegan, Vegetarian

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

We can’t make up our minds whether this is a stocking filler, Secret Santa, gift for teenagers or a subscription box for the whole family, but Peppersmith surprised us with this tasty variety box of gum, mints and pastilles so we thought we’d try them and find out!

Featuring two boxes of six varieties (that’s 12 boxes in all), there’s both Peppermint and Spearmint gum, Extra Strong Mints, Peppermint Mints, and Strawberry and Lemon Pastilles.  Made in Britain with the mint sourced from a Hampshire farm, all the products contain no sugar, just Xylitol which is lower in calories and approved by the Oral Health Foundation. They’re also gluten free, vegan, nut oil free and free from palm oil and the boxes are made of cardboard so there’s very little litter from them, totally recyclable.

I started with the mints, which is not something I usually eat unless it’s after a posh meal at a restaurant. The Peppermint Mints (In the green box) were very strong with a peppermint taste. I crunched mine to release the flavour which I find is the best way!  On the back of the Peppermint Mints, I then tried the Extra Strong Mints (blue packet). I think both of them are particularly strong, and I only had one of each. Each time, they left my mouth unbelievably minty fresh and the freshness lasted quite some time. There’s about 25 mints in each packet, so great for a pocket or a handbag.

The Strawberry and Lemon Pastilles aren’t what I would usually buy but they were lovely none the less. The same size as the mints, they’re round gems of flavour with the lemon variety being my favourite. As the pastilles don’t contain sugar, they don’t coat your teeth after eating them and the lemon one is especially refreshing. 

Although I don’t chew gum much these days, I would only chew sugar free, so the Peppermint and Spearmint Gums were a nice change. Again, you can taste that there isn’t any sugar in them and all-natural flavours. The only downside to the gums was that the flavour and texture didn’t last that long and I found myself disposing of them after about 10 minutes. With commercial gum, I find that I can chew it for about an hour and it loses only some of its elasticity. Peppersmith’s gums had that lovely initial crunch as I bit into it, then there’s the flavour that hits you and finally the texture. It was the texture that I found particularly difficult after 10 minutes, although I don’t know how long chewing gum is meant to last – maybe 10 minutes is it’s maximum! Still, there’s plenty of pieces in the pack and there’s two packs of each flavour.

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this Taster Box as much as I did, but I found that I was popping a mint or chewing some gum each time I sat down to work or after a meal. It could totally become addictive and a subscription in our house, especially as there are even more flavours to try that I haven’t even looked at yet!

Peppersmith Taster Box available from £17.99 at: https://peppersmith.co.uk/collections/bestsellers/products/taster-pack-12-x-15g-mixed-pocket-packs-2

Desire2 Smartphone Stand, Tablet Stand and Laptop Stand

Birthday Gifts, Family Life, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home & Garden, Mobile Phone, Tech

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

Tech accessories are everywhere nowadays, but few are actually useful! Desire2 sent us this set of lightweight aluminium stands for laptops, smartphones and tablets. As I never got around to getting any of them during lockdown, it was a bit of a treat to be able to set them up and use my tech properly!

Each of the stands pack completely flat. They’re metal, but very light to carry so you can pack them to travel or even in a laptop bag. Each one has rubber footings to make them more secure and non-slip on a surface. The laptop stand can hold a computer measuring from 10-15.6 inches with 6 different level adjustments depending on what height you’re looking for. The higher levels allow you to prop up a laptop (such as a MacBook) with a camera at the top so that you’re eye-level during a call. Otherwise, the lower levels allow you to watch a video or type at a more comfortable angle.

The smartphone stand can be used for either phones or tablets, depending on their size and how you want to view them.  With a rubber foot to hold your device up from the table surface, it won’t mark a touchscreen as there are no metal corners. You can adjust the angle of the view as well as the back support to give a higher lift.  You can feel that even though the stand is lightweight, it’s incredibly anchored and doesn’t move, especially with the grips on the base. The last stand is the smaller ‘Anywhere’ model which is designed for taking anywhere. This stand is so small that it can be flattened to about 1 centimetre flat and even fits in a pocket, but it’s useful for both phones and tablets.

Each of the stands are designed for easy charging access, especially as most smartphones charge from the bottom nowadays. The smaller stands are both really stable, and the laptop stand would be too but for the lever at the back that doesn’t sit as firmly in the support as I would have liked. It collapses if you pick it up from the wrong arm as there’s no pivot in the lever and changing levels means you have to pick it up and hold the weight of the laptop to fix it into place. It works perfectly if it’s stationary but it would be more sturdy if the back support snapped into place. It still folds flat though and is still very strong.

These are great as Secret Santa items or for setting up a home office for a teenager needing accessories for their new laptop. I have so many uses for them because I always have my phone and laptop around and need some way of propping them up whilst I’m doing a million other things, so I’m very glad to have them at hand now!

Supreme Lite Portable Laptop Stand £29.99:  https://desire2.co.uk/products/portable-adjustable-laptop-stand-silver

Anywhere Foldable Tablet Stand £17.99: https://desire2.co.uk/products/holrtsi-anwywhere-rotatable-holder-for-smartphones-and-tablets-silver

Smartphone Folding Stand Holder £12.99: https://desire2.co.uk/products/d2fpholbk-anywhere-smartphone-folding-holder

5 Second Rule: The fast and Chaotic Trivia Game

Birthday Gifts, Children, Family Life, Games, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Stocking Fillers, Toys

Do you think you know a lot of footballers? Musicians? Countries with coastlines? Do you want to put that knowledge to the test? Then pick up this game.

5 Second Rule is as simple as the name suggests, you have 5 seconds… to do what you ask? Well to say the name of 6 rappers, or name 7 kitchen appliances. What makes this game chaotic is the timing tower, a tall spiral tower with a ball bearing that will noisily whirl down in, you guessed it, 5 seconds! 

As it stands that sounds easy but the difficulty comes from the group dynamic. A players turn starts with someone drawing them a card and reading the prompt and then flipping the tower to start the noisy timer. But, pay attention as if the first player can’t do it they flip the tower and the person to their left must try and meet the prompt. The difficulty, fun, and chaos ensues… Because you cannot use any of the previous players’ guesses.

Play continues around the group until someone gets it or it reaches the starting play in that case the tower has won! When we played we tracked the tower’s points as well as our own for fun – it did annoyingly well! 

This is a fast paced party game that is suitable for most ages and is a fun exploration of what random trivia you can pull from the deep parts of your memory. Your mum might surprise you with her knowledge of Spanish kings, or your grandma might weirdly know the films list in the top grossing films list.

If you are a fan of party games at family gatherings or with friends I highly recommend grabbing this game as it is quick and a wild time – it can really get everyone up on their feet screaming and shouting or saying something random that gets the whole group laughing.

Stabilo Fibre Tip Pens and Coloured Pencils

Birthday Gifts, Children, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for children, Stocking Fillers, Toys

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

We all know how tough it can be to keep the kids entertained during the school holidays. You get a few weeks of lovely sunshine in the run-up, then as soon as school’s out -down comes the rain! And as much as I’d love to pack our days with trips to the cinema, bowling alley or soft play, let’s face it, it soon gets expensive so it’s not an option for most parents.

That’s why I’m such a big fan of keeping it simple. You really can’t beat a good old-fashioned colouring session to keep little hands (and minds!) busy. Felt tips and colouring pencils might not sound like much, but they’re absolute lifesavers in our house – and STABILO have a brilliant range that makes colouring and craft sessions a lot of fun.

The STABILO Cappi felt tip range have clever caps so you can thread them together and fasten the set to a bag or a carabiner which is perfect for keeping them all in one place, especially when you’re out and about. It also means no lost lids too! The triangular shape is comfy for small hands to grip, and they come in packs of 12 or 24 vibrant colours.

If you’ve got younger kids who tend to press a bit too hard, the STABILO Trio Scribbi is a game-changer. These pens are practically indestructible thanks to their spring-loaded tip. Press down too hard and the tip just bounces back – no more ruined pens! Plus, the water-based ink is washable (thank goodness), and they come in 14 bright colours.

Then there’s the STABILO Woody 3-in-1 – a chunky pencil that works as a colouring pencil, wax crayon, and even a watercolour for the more adventurous, simply add a splash of water and with a small paintbrush the little ones will soon be creating  masterpieces for your walls. They’re also great for craft projects as they can be used on windows, lunchboxes, mirrors, and blackboards too. The colour wipes off easily with water, and the thick lead lasts for ages – eight times longer than a regular pencil! Available in 24 shades, these have been a big hit with our little ones.

As well as drawing we’ve been making homemade cards for birthdays and using colouring books too. There’s also loads of free printable sheets online too if you want something different.

So next time the kids say those dreaded words – “I’m bored!” – hand them a rainbow of STABILO colours and let their imagination do the rest. They’re affordable, portable and most importantly fun!!

Grow Your Own Food Lady Muck Style – Book

Birthday Gifts, Books, Christmas, Drinks and Mixers, Gifts for Her, Home & Garden, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Women

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

A book which is dedicated to gardeners and growers alike, with no prejudice regarding why you grow herbs and vegetables (cocktail anyone?) by writer Lady Muck.  You’ll pick up gardening tips, morsels of information about Lady Muck’s life, past and present, and have a few laughs at the shenanigans she gets up to, too.

Having previously worked in The City, Lady Muck began writing articles for magazines when she started her own herb garden. Admittedly, she only started growing to be able to garnish her homemade cocktails with her home grown plants, but that grew to growing lots of other herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers.  The short chapters detail her journey along the way and tell the story of how a cocktail herbalist got to a top tier gardener, notwithstanding ‘help’ from her husband along the way.

The book is organised into article-length chapters with bold, colourful illustrations along the way.  Each chapter tells the story of Lady Muck gardening, and her life with His Lordship, her husband. It’s very funny, and a narrative on modern day marriages especially past a certain age. Think Bridget Jones but older, and with even more cocktails but a few wellies and soggy lettuces along the way. Very entertaining, fans of Lady Muck will love it, and anyone looking for a stocking filler, light reading for commuting or a holiday read will relish it.

Paperback £10.99: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grow-Your-Food-Lady-Style/dp/1738538311

Frankzart Horse Artwork Mug

Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, secret santa, Stocking Fillers

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

Talented artist Frank Porthouse is more than just an artist. A 55 year career in architecture has spawned a love of drawing which includes not just architectural design and drawing on a commercial basis, but watercolours and ink sketches on topics ranging from buildings to portraits and even movement in sport. This array of subjects has led to Franzart’s website.  Gifts galore are based on Frank’s artwork including greetings cards and postcards, tote bags and ceramic mugs.  The horse-themed ‘Freedom’ mug is one of a range of 20 different varying designs of mugs on Frank’s website which includes other animals such as dogs of different breeds, more horses, a cow and a particularly cute rabbit!

The ceramic Freedom Mug is sturdy for coffee or hot beverages, with the Freedom horse design on both sides so you can’t miss it. The blue ink line drawing of the face of a horse on a particularly windy day is striking in its detail and sure to be a favourite of any horse lover.  Each mug is dishwasher safe and each design is made especially for you the buyer, so it can take a bit longer for delivery.

Freedom is available as a design of tote bag, also on the Frankzart website, as are a host of other designs with no doubt more to come!

Freedom Mug retails for £10.00 at: https://frankzart.co.uk/product/freedom-mug-2/

Fatso Chocolate

Birthday Gifts, chocolate, Christmas, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Mother's Day, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Valentine's Day Gifts, Women

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

If you’re on the hunt for the ultimate indulgence this festive season, look no further than a bar of FATSO Chocolate. Made from the finest single-origin cacao, every bite is a journey into rich dark chocolate heaven. This isn’t the kind of chocolate that you’d scoff down in one go, unless of course you’re made of money or don’t have the slightest respect for good chocolate! It’s rich, smooth and incredibly tasty!

FATSO sources their chocolate exclusively from a Columbian family owned business and co-operative called Luker. The company are 100% ethically driven and they grow delicious, sustainable cocoa that has been awarded the highest chocolate classification, FINO DE AROMA. They also work closely with a network of farmers, alliances and communities to improve social welfare, biodiversity and farming practices. This means that the chocolate doesn’t just taste good – it does good, too.

The 150g bars are packaged in recyclable cardboard boxes, making them the ideal size to slip into a Christmas stocking. Just imagine it, Christmas morning, the stockings are opened, and there it is – a bar of FATSO chocolate waiting to be unwrapped. Fast forward to later in the day, and you’re curled up in front of the fire, blanket wrapped around you, savouring each bite. It’s the ultimate festive indulgence.

And how does it taste? In a word sensational! My favourite is the Sweet Tart bar, inspired by the classic Bakewell Tart (my favourite pudding) it’s a 60% cacao masterpiece loaded with cherries, almonds, and shortbread. The shortbread brings a delicate sweetness that balances the richness of the dark chocolate whilst the cherries bring a lovely tang, and the almonds give it a satisfying crunch.

The quality of FATSO chocolate is exceptional, easily the best I’ve tasted in a quite a while. One bite and you will see that their chocolate is a world apart from your average supermarket chocolate bar. At £6.95 for a 150g bar it is quite indulgent but you are paying for quality chocolate –  just keep it out of the way of the children and enjoy every piece!

Danilo Calendars

Christmas, Family Life, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Gifts for teachers, Home & Garden, secret santa, Stocking Fillers

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

In an age dominated by smartphones and digital reminders, you might think that calendars have lost their charm. However, paper calendars still have their place, especially in our house – I still like a paper calendar in the kitchen where it’s easy for the whole family to glance at upcoming birthdays, appointments, holidays, or even reminders for car insurance and MOTs.

With such a wide variety of calendars available it’s easy to choose one to perfectly match the recipients’ interests. Whether they’re passionate about cookery, enchanted by nature or devoted to a football team there’s a Danilo calendar to suit every personality.

The Planet Earth II Official 2025 Calendar showcases stunning photographs of the natural world, capturing the beauty and wonder of the iconic BBC series. Each month offers a breathtaking new image, with ample space to jot down important dates making it the perfect Christmas gift.  

RRP £10.99

Perfect for the home or the office the RHS Flowers desk easel calendar makes a great stocking filler or even a Secret Santa gift. Celebrating Women in Horticulture, it features exquisite illustrations by renowned artists like Lilian Snelling, Lydia Penrose, and Caroline Maria Applebee. The spiral bound month-to-view design is not only functional but creative – the beautiful image for each month is also a postcard that can be removed and kept or posted to a friend.

RRP £7.99

The Star Wars Desk Pad Weekly Planner is a must for any Star Wars fan. This weekly desk pad makes planning the week ahead a breeze with plenty of space for notes, deadlines and reminders. It’s a practical yet fun choice for fans of the galaxy far, far away!

RRP  £6.99

Vinca’s Wine Tasting Cracker

alcoholic drinks, Christmas, Drinks and Mixers, Food & Drink, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Women

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

Let’s talk about Christmas crackers, they’re such a big part of the festive season – the bang when you pull them, the silly paper hat, the classic dad joke… but now, there’s a fabulous grown-up twist on the traditional cracker – the Vinca Wine Tasting Cracker!

Inside each cracker, you’ll find not one, not two, but three mini cans of Sicilian wine: a pale rosé, a crisp white, and a smooth red. Talk about elevating your cracker game! These crackers are made from sturdy card with beautifully folded ends to give that iconic cracker shape. They’re finished with two hand-tied black ribbons and they’ll look very impressive on the table on Christmas day.

Christmas is all about eating, drinking, and being merry and these crackers have it all covered. Let’s be honest, a can of wine beats a fortune-telling fish or a mini screwdriver any day. Plus, you’re doing your bit for the planet too, with no plastic tat inside so it’s a win-win all round.

Not only do they look great on your Christmas table, but they also take care of the first round of drinks. Less stress for the host and more fun for everyone—what’s not to love?

The crackers cost £15 and are available from Vinca or John Lewis

Tolpa Dermo Face Skincare

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

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

Rosacal Strengthening Regenerating Cream

Rosacal Strengthening Soothing Cream

Lipidrio Nourishing Regenerating Cream

Boots are now stocking a new skincare range called Topla, aimed at improving the condition of skin with conditions such as acne, rosacea and dehydration.  Hailed from Poland, the new range combines minimalist skin treatments in a new collection termed ‘Skinimalism’ which has been recognised by dermatologists as a new approach to tackle skin conditions by reducing the number of products used.

In order to treat acne, rosacea and dehydration, all of which can affect anyone and are conditions that are very noticeable, Tolpa have created just 10 products. There’s no need for lengthy skin routines, just these 10 are all you need for cleansing, day cream, night cream and eye cream.  We were sent two products from the Rosacal range (for rosacea) and the Lipidrio Nourishing Regenerating Cream.

The Rosacal Strengthening Soothing Cream works best on sensitive skin, and helps strengthen the capillaries over time, where the red capillaries at the surface is the noticeable sign of rosacea.  It also helps to moisturise the skin and calm down any allergies or redness. This is a very light cream, worn in the day and also has a SFP 10.

Rosacal Strengthening Regenerating Cream is a night cream, which also reduces redness of rosacea and strengthens the skin, helping to even out the colour which might be affected by the rosacea capillaries.  This cream is heavier, which is what you’d expect at night and also has a freshness to it that makes it soothing to put on.

The Lipidrio Nourishing Regenerating Cream massively increases the hydration of skin and can moisturise for up to 24 hours. It’s a day cream but it’s incredibly rich, and takes a while to rub in but does leave skin feeling soft and hydrated. It works particularly well when you apply it straight out of the shower and skin is still damp. I like this as a day cream because it’s so nourishing and rich, and it improves the texture of my skin before I put on make-up, which always helps!

I have been using these Skinimalism creams now for a few days so the long term effects won’t be seen and I’m not a sufferer of rosacea although I do have acne.  I’m loving how rich the creams are and how easily they are absorbed and the fact that they are not complicated or over engineered but instead are a pleasure to wear!

Rosacal Strengthening Regenerating Cream available at Boots for £12.99: https://www.boots.com/tolpa-dermo-face-rosacal-strengthening-regenerating-cream-night-40ml-10342619

Rosacal Strengthening Soothing Cream available at Boots for £12.99: https://www.boots.com/tolpa-dermo-face-rosacal-strengthening-soothing-spf-10-cream-day-40ml-10342618

Lipidrio Nourishing Regenerating Cream available at Boots for £12.99: https://www.boots.com/tolpa-dermo-face-lipidrio-nourishing-regenerating-cream-day-40ml-10342620

Twilight Hair Dryer Straightener Set

beauty, Birthday Gifts, Christmas, Family Life, Fashion, Gifts for Her, Gifts for teachers, Home, secret santa, Stocking Fillers, Women

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

There are some products that we all use all year round, and yet we never think of buying them for ourselves. A hairdryer and a set of straighteners are among them! I don’t think I’ve ever bought myself a hairdryer but instead wait for Christmas to either ask for it on my Christmas list (thanks Mum!) or be surprised by it!

The Carmen Twilight Hair Dryer and Straightener Set includes a hair dryer with three heat and two speed settings to give a professional look and making it ideal for all hair types and all types of finish. There’s also a handy mirror in the back of the hair dryer so that you can see what you’re doing.  Anyone who has curly or frizzy hair knows that you have to blow dry your hair first, with a straight nozzle, before you can straighten it.  Which makes it very handy having both the hair dryer and straighteners in a set!  

The Twilight hair straighteners are keratin infused to give a smoother finish and prevent burning, even if your hair is still slightly damp. It heats up to 215 degrees which is comparable to other straighteners on the market.  Both the hair dryer and straighteners are part of a set of other Twilight products including tongs, a cosmetic bag and a high grade hair dryer all in the Twilight blue colour.

The Twilight Hair Dryer works brilliantly and is not as noisy as some of the older model hair dyers I’m used to. It’s light weight too and the mirror is really handy! Other models would have some diffuser and interchangeable nozzles to go with this product but if you’re drying straight hair or hair that’s a bit frizzy and needs straightening, this is the nozzle you’d use anyway.  The straighteners work really well too and it’s nice to have brand new straighteners with keratin coating that glides through your hair.  It left my curly hair nicely straightened and with blunt edges in just a few attempts, leaving my long hair straight all over in a matter of about 15 minutes.

Available for £29.99 at: https://carmen-products.co.uk/gift-sets/twilight-hair-dryer-straightener-set