Whilst technically useable, I'm less in favour of this one. Its flimsy, its mediocre in a really annoying way. The main upside is that its cheap, and if I need some desperately, its useable.
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 1
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 4
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 3
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 8
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 10
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Female, Male
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
Wednesday, 25 July 2012
Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Tesco Value Toilet Roll
This is one of those which has been better in years gone by. It has gotten a bit thinner, a bit more flimsy, and gone up in price besides. Its still perfectly useable, but no longer my cheap go-to. It is on the rougher side, if that matters to you - I prefer it since it doesn't shed like some toilet rolls. I rate it the best of the cheap toilet rolls, but I'm not 100% certain if its actually the most cost effective, I suspect it varies by person. Worth a go!
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 1
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 6
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 4
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 9
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 10
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Female, Male
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 1
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 6
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 4
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 9
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 10
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Female, Male
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
Wednesday, 11 July 2012
Tesco Value Tissues
I'm not fragile about my tissues, they needn't be soft, or scented, or anything else. Not being like sandpaper would be a decent start, and if I've been ill for awhile I start to wonder about my wisdom. The truth is, though, you save absolutely loads by buying value tissues (either from tesco or morrison's.) If you use about one box of tissues a year, fine, buy a pretty and soft box to impress people and ignore it. If you use them at all regularly, you'll notice the pounds you are saving.
That said, the old red stripe Tesco value tissues were a bit softer and more overall useful. They've made the boxes bigger, rebranded them, and turned them into harder and more sandpaper like tissues in the process. It doesn't look like all boxes have been mistreated equally (tho I must admit I also find the rebranded style ugly and annoying.) Still, what was previously fairly unequivocal is now guarded, and coming out in favour of their near competitors.
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 1
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 5
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 8
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 8
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 9
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Teenagers, Children, Female, Male,
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
That said, the old red stripe Tesco value tissues were a bit softer and more overall useful. They've made the boxes bigger, rebranded them, and turned them into harder and more sandpaper like tissues in the process. It doesn't look like all boxes have been mistreated equally (tho I must admit I also find the rebranded style ugly and annoying.) Still, what was previously fairly unequivocal is now guarded, and coming out in favour of their near competitors.
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 1
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 5
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 8
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 8
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 9
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Teenagers, Children, Female, Male,
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
Boots Distilled Witch Hazel
Just to be very clear, this product is a clear liquid, and has no other additives. The Boots own brand is sold in a clear bottle with their standard labelling. Some other places also offer an own brand (Sainsbury's, for example) which theoretically should be comparable.
Witch Hazel is an astringent, and a key part of my skincare routine. I'd even go so far as to say its THE key part of my facial skincare routine, as I occasionally skip moisturiser but never the witch hazel. Although it shouldn't contain alcohol, it still dries skin out, and as such most people would want to use it alongside a moisturiser (I generally do anyway.)
It can further be used for a small selection of first aid purposes, and like any commercially available astringent it removes make-up. It lasts for a long time, is not sensitive to sunlight insofar as I know, but the way I use it makes it prone to collecting skin from my hand in the bottle. Pouring tends to waste it, though, so decanting it into smaller bottles is likely the way forward.
I particularly recommend it as a form of aftershave for men, and probably less recommend it for drier skinned women. On the other hand, I'm no pro. My skin is roughly speaking "normal" and has had few spots or blemishes even when I was a teenager. On the other hand, I've been religious about daily simple attention to it, and not overdoing it. Since I was twelve. Your results may vary!
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 2
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 9
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 6 (Depends slightly on how you use it, decanting or pouring would help)
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 9
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 10
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Teenagers, Female, Male,
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
Witch Hazel is an astringent, and a key part of my skincare routine. I'd even go so far as to say its THE key part of my facial skincare routine, as I occasionally skip moisturiser but never the witch hazel. Although it shouldn't contain alcohol, it still dries skin out, and as such most people would want to use it alongside a moisturiser (I generally do anyway.)
It can further be used for a small selection of first aid purposes, and like any commercially available astringent it removes make-up. It lasts for a long time, is not sensitive to sunlight insofar as I know, but the way I use it makes it prone to collecting skin from my hand in the bottle. Pouring tends to waste it, though, so decanting it into smaller bottles is likely the way forward.
I particularly recommend it as a form of aftershave for men, and probably less recommend it for drier skinned women. On the other hand, I'm no pro. My skin is roughly speaking "normal" and has had few spots or blemishes even when I was a teenager. On the other hand, I've been religious about daily simple attention to it, and not overdoing it. Since I was twelve. Your results may vary!
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 2
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 9
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 6 (Depends slightly on how you use it, decanting or pouring would help)
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 9
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 10
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Teenagers, Female, Male,
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
Wednesday, 27 June 2012
Bic Medium Crystal Ballpoint Pens
I'll have to start by saying that they aren't my favourite pen. On the other hand, they are the most long lasting "good" pen in my life. They're durable in every fashion, they tend to write well, they tend to have a long life. They're decent to hold.
On the downside, if you *can* get them to break they shatter impressively. But its not the case that they are dangerous, and they don't break often. I also really prefer clicky pens to the ones with caps, but their caps are strong, sensible, and do stay well on the back. They don't break the boundaries of good taste, even if they're not "cool." They don't leak. They're a good learning pen for younger children.
I have little that is bad and much that is good to say about them, I always own a few... but they aren't quite my favourites, either, and it shows. Still, in this pen obsessed world their importance is keen, and Bic have a very reasonable reputation to boot. For a generalist ballpoint pen, they really are the best in their field, whatever my personal preferences!
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 2
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 9
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 7
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 10
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 8
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 3
*Do I think its the best in its field: YES
*Could I live without it: YES
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Teenagers, Children, Female, Male,
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
On the downside, if you *can* get them to break they shatter impressively. But its not the case that they are dangerous, and they don't break often. I also really prefer clicky pens to the ones with caps, but their caps are strong, sensible, and do stay well on the back. They don't break the boundaries of good taste, even if they're not "cool." They don't leak. They're a good learning pen for younger children.
I have little that is bad and much that is good to say about them, I always own a few... but they aren't quite my favourites, either, and it shows. Still, in this pen obsessed world their importance is keen, and Bic have a very reasonable reputation to boot. For a generalist ballpoint pen, they really are the best in their field, whatever my personal preferences!
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 2
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 9
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 7
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 10
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 8
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 3
*Do I think its the best in its field: YES
*Could I live without it: YES
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Teenagers, Children, Female, Male,
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Morrison's 'Savers' Kitchen Foil
I have mixed feelings on this one, for the purposes that I wanted it for, it comes up short. However, those are not at all the purposes it was designed for, and it does well at those. To wit, I mostly use my foil for cooking, and whilst it survives the process admirably, it does let fat/oil leak into the pan.
For its intended purposes of wrapping food its fantastic, and I've had no breakage problems in the freezer, in handbags, or anywhere really. If you need wrapping foil regularly, its a great way of saving money. If you have to try and make it work for cooking, it sort of does. Proper cooking foil is better for cooking though, and I don't wrap things too often, leading to in my case lower scores on usefulness and necessity.
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 1
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 8
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 8
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 5
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 3
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: YES
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Female, Male,
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
For its intended purposes of wrapping food its fantastic, and I've had no breakage problems in the freezer, in handbags, or anywhere really. If you need wrapping foil regularly, its a great way of saving money. If you have to try and make it work for cooking, it sort of does. Proper cooking foil is better for cooking though, and I don't wrap things too often, leading to in my case lower scores on usefulness and necessity.
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 1
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 8
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 8
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 5
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 3
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: YES
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Female, Male,
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
Wednesday, 13 June 2012
Make-up Basics: Sephora Powder
I try to stay relatively gender neutral, and not spend loads of time talking about make-up. Even though there are loads of products, and I have a fair number of opinions on them! Occasionally, though, I can branch out without feeling guilty, and this is a basic that is especially useful in the summertime.
In general, powder helps your foundation last longer, can be a smoothing touch-up, and is VERY useful when photos are being taken. My one nod out to the men of the world and this post is- if you're having a heavy day of photos (wedding or similar) you actually do want a skin matched powder to be applied and occasionally touched up. You don't have to have it over anything, just to break the shiny.
So I know there are varying ways to approach foundation, cover-up, and powders, but I've never been a fan of the all in one type. For any other combination, the powder will really help, and it can be applied very lightly and help ease lines. I personally apply it with a powder brush, for which you can get away with lower quality ones more than with any other make-up brush. That said, I have been SO happy with my nicer one, and it has been hugely durable besides.
I do realise that if you live in the UK, this is a bit of an ask. Practically every other country has Sephora, so you can pick it up on holiday easily, but still an unfortunate thing. In my humble opinion, its worth it - I haven't had as much luck with any other powders, and its fairly inexpensive as well.
Match your skintone perfectly, or get the warm version of your skin-shade (it depends slightly on whose advice you listen to.) I use D20, and they come with a mirror and pad. The mirror is only slightly useful, I prefer the one in my Smashbox cream eyeliner palette, but it is better than nothing!
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 3
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 5
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 5 (It does last, but not forever. Touch-ups are required. Also, they are occasionally prone to shattering within their case, which makes them useable but go faster, and slightly messier.)
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 8
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 7
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 2
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 3
*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: YES, BUT MY LIFE WOULDN'T BE AS GOOD
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Teenagers, Female, Special Events, Anyone getting their photos taken
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
In general, powder helps your foundation last longer, can be a smoothing touch-up, and is VERY useful when photos are being taken. My one nod out to the men of the world and this post is- if you're having a heavy day of photos (wedding or similar) you actually do want a skin matched powder to be applied and occasionally touched up. You don't have to have it over anything, just to break the shiny.
So I know there are varying ways to approach foundation, cover-up, and powders, but I've never been a fan of the all in one type. For any other combination, the powder will really help, and it can be applied very lightly and help ease lines. I personally apply it with a powder brush, for which you can get away with lower quality ones more than with any other make-up brush. That said, I have been SO happy with my nicer one, and it has been hugely durable besides.
I do realise that if you live in the UK, this is a bit of an ask. Practically every other country has Sephora, so you can pick it up on holiday easily, but still an unfortunate thing. In my humble opinion, its worth it - I haven't had as much luck with any other powders, and its fairly inexpensive as well.
Match your skintone perfectly, or get the warm version of your skin-shade (it depends slightly on whose advice you listen to.) I use D20, and they come with a mirror and pad. The mirror is only slightly useful, I prefer the one in my Smashbox cream eyeliner palette, but it is better than nothing!
Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 3
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 5
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 5 (It does last, but not forever. Touch-ups are required. Also, they are occasionally prone to shattering within their case, which makes them useable but go faster, and slightly messier.)
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 8
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 7
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 2
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 3
*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: YES, BUT MY LIFE WOULDN'T BE AS GOOD
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Teenagers, Female, Special Events, Anyone getting their photos taken
Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.
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