Sainsbury's Distilled Witch Hazel

For some reason many Boots are failing to stock Witch Hazel now, and I was going slightly mad trying to find somewhere that did.  Fortunately, my partner managed to find some hiding at Sainsbury's, and its even ever so slightly cheaper than the Boots ones were.  It works just as well, I haven't noticed any real difference. As I said in my in my previous post, Witch Hazel is an extraordinarily important part of my skincare routine, and since I wrote the last one I've convinced a few other people of this as well. It can function as something of an aftershave for men, but I recommend using it on the in-between days (if you don't shave every day) as well, much the way women would use it daily on their faces.

The key components continue to be that this is a clear no-additive liquid, with a primary use in basic personal care and various secondary uses in first aid and in astringent type routines such as make-up removal.  If anyone does hear of any other shops selling this, I'd be happy to buy and compare their products as well, mostly to make sure no-one is slipping something useless into a fairly small system.  Otherwise, enjoy where you can find it!

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: 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, All genders.

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.

One-Shot Drain Cleaner

It does clean drains, at least to an extent.  It also cleans most other nearby surfaces. For 'cleans' I mean dissolves.  Its 91% sulfiric acid by weight, although I don't know what that works out to in laboratory terms.  Certainly follow the labels and use with caution, i.e. rubber gloves, not latex or nitrile, and something over your eyes as a minimum. It will discolour and later burn through clothing, skin, etc. As a shower cleaner, its fascinating.  That plus the baking soda I used to neutralise it (I wasn't the one who applied it, in case you wondered) made the shower whiter than it has ever been, at least since I've seen it. That said, I'm fairly certain it took some of the plastic with it. 

I can only imagine it has a similar impact on the drains, but I'm sure it does help dissolve organic matter. It didn't solve my problem, as it was too far along the pipes and they had to be taken apart outside.  It makes the drains frighteningly hot, and when the drains remain backing up it smells of sulphur. For ages... at least a day. You only need reasonable ventilation if it works, but have LOTS if it doesn't. This is the 'first' thing a lot of plumbers will try, so its worth a go (especially if you can't easily take your own pipes apart.)  They recommend regular use, so maybe it is mostly safe for your drains. I'm more ok with using it in rental properties, and there have been stories of it eating rubber casings on pipes.  Still, like any powerful chemical it can be used for good if you are careful!

Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 4
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 6
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 10
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 7
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 6
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, Homeowners, Renters.

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.

Sainsbury's kitchen foil

This is the result of stupid amounts of calculations and supermarket price comparisons to decide which 'cooking' quality kitchen foil was the cheapest.  Then, to decide if it was worthwhile.  My partner has started using double layers of wrapping / cheap foil in pans, which sometimes works ok and more often doesn't.  I used to use single layers, which seemed to prevent burn but filter grease like a cheesecloth. This stuff is amazing! It contains grease, fat, you name it. Most of the time it contains it entirely as if the tin has never been used. Occasionally you get a tiny bit of grease in a few small spots - barely anything! Its hard to tear, I've certainly managed it from time to time but it doesn't just sprout holes like the cheaper kind.  

The savings in washing up liquid, tissues/towels, and stress alone probably is worth it, and the savings on your drains from less grease is also hard to quantify.  If you don't eat meat / fish, its probably less of an issue, but cooking oil still wreaks its own wrath.  It appears to be around four times the price of its most value counterpart, but its significantly more functional than even double layers of the same.  I judge it not just worthwhile, but a surprising potential savings. The price for this exact product is similar at other shops, but I don't know about quality.

Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 6
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 8
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 9
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 8 (This falls off a little for vegetarians, 6 maybe)
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 8
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 2 (of relief, but hey!)
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: MAYBE, BUT I'D BE UNHAPPY
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Teenagers, All genders, Anyone who likes cooking (especially meat / fish eaters)

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.

Duracell AA PlusPower Batteries

As I stated last week, I use AA batteries quite variably, and I informally tried to compare these, which are meant to hold their top power for longer but have a shorter overall life, to the Boots extra long life which do the opposite.  I have to admit, they have a reasonably long life themselves.  They can experience temporary power drops, but usually leaving them alone for days or weeks means when you use them again they're back to before, and they do hold their initial power very well.  Inasmuch as I notice, I think there is a stage where they drop too much in power for me before they die. They respond better than the long life in terms of being left alone and coming back up, but both respond and I think I draw slightly too much energy to use the long life to all of their potential.  I possibly favour these but don't have a side by side comparison.  There certainly isn't a glaring enough difference for me to choose anything other than 'whichever is cheapest' at this point in time!

Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 3
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 8
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 9
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 10
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: 2 

*Do I think its the best in its field: POSSIBLY
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Most ages

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.

Boots AA extra long life batteries

I use AA batteries fairly sporadically for a lot of things, and I haven't always had luck with rechargeables which are ever so slightly bigger.  I was told that the extra long life ones will in fact have a 'longer' life, but will lose their initial power sooner. I can verify that they do have a long life compared to any AA I've ever had, and they do seem to lose some of their punch a bit faster, but as long as you are running them in a lower usage piece of equipment you won't notice.  I haven't done a strict side-by-side, but I'm favourably impressed. 

Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 3
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 8
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 9
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 10
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: POSSIBLY
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Most ages

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.

Mango Casual Sportswear 60% Wool medium length lined coat

These wool town coats are absolutely lovely.  Like many mixed fabric things they don't last forever, but most people would tell you to expect something like this to last 2-4 years, especially in brighter colours.  Whilst its something of a luxury for some, I'd brand it an absolute necessity for others.  The coat is medium in length, so just goes to the top of my thighs.  Its belted, so helps to create or enhance your shape nicely.  The collar is brilliant, allowing for scarves, stylish, but warm in its own right. I have a red one, and they're superb, but I've seen them in other colours and even in black. It starts to defeat the point in black, but if for example you dress all in black it could be worthwhile.

As far as durability, I have worn it most days in the winter/wintery months for about two and a half years.  It had one minor tear along a seam which I got fixed professionally, and after that it held together. The threads on the buttons have a tendency to have issues, I do need to cut them somewhat regularly. Clear nail polish helped the problem but didn't stop it. None of the buttons has ever fallen off, though.  It fits closely or allows thinner jumpers, struggles with thicker ones, but can be forgiving of a bit of extra fat centrally.  After two and a half years it has definitely started to show some wear patches, but probably can be gotten away with for errands in this age of austerity without being entirely shabby.

I'd love to replace it but can't afford to so am wearing country coats in London right now - my tweed or my waterproof riding/hacking/hiking one.  I would class it as essential to have this or similar for someone who lives/works/studies exclusively in a city or large town (I originally lived in York.)  I would class it as a luxury for someone who is mostly village or countryside, and if you go between the two only you can say.  Its a perfect fashion point, but not an infinitely durable one.

Also, when I wear it with a shorter skirt or shorts teamed with leg warmers I get called 'manga detective' owing in part to the cute japanese leg warmers and utter lack of being able to tell I'm wearing a skirt/shorts.  This is by someone more into anime than fashion - its a good belted wool coat with buttons and a flashy quasi-military collar. Still, its fun.

Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 5
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 4 (I do want to give it more, but I'm forced to admit its lower)
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 5
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 8
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 7 (With variability from 2-10)
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 8
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 9 

*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, Female, Teenagers, People living in cities / large towns, People who regularly travel to cities/towns, Fashion conscious

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.

Mango Jeans Shorts

To clarify, I can handle English grammar. Mango Jeans is the full brand name!  Anyway, I have them in ordinary denim, and at the time the only ones they sold have slight distressed rubs on the front (fashion will change this eventually.)  They have been very very sturdy.  Due to slightly odd circumstances, I've practically lived in them for almost a year, sometimes with tights sometimes bare legs.  In that time, and despite gaining weight, they've only got a coupe rubs on the crotch - nothing to yet stop me from wearing them although they may need a patch soon.  The original distressed marks haven't gotten any bigger or frayed.  

They've been easy to clean, they fit great, and they do allow a small amount of leeway in weight change.  There are a couple of very slight colour fades on the back pockets, which almost blend in with the design.  They're a great colour, too.  They're wonderfully short shorts, but they still fit nicely and don't slide around - I don't really have much bad to say! I own another pair for my lower weight - I'm looking forward to being to wear those, too :)

This is like what denim clothing should be, and has often stopped being in this day and age. Brilliant!

Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 5
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 10
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 9
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: 6 (I have sexy legs, this is a reason for smiling!)
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 8 (This might be generous for brand and short jean shorts alone, but see above about sexy legs) 

*Do I think its the best in its field: POSSIBLY
*Could I live without it: YES, BUT MY LIFE WOULDN'T BE AS GOOD
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Female, Teenagers, Anyone with good legs, 

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.