A Little Bit Of Everything - Product Review Blog

17 Mar 2010

E-Cloth

I tried out the 'Hob & Oven' Pack. When I opened the packaged and told Andy what I had he laughed at me! Apparently normal people clean their ovens regularly .... We have had ours for 7 years now and I have never cleaned it (the inside, I wipe down the ceramic hob daily).

So I didn't back down and went into the kitchen opened the oven door and poked my head inside. Andy followed and laughed even more by saying "There's no use trying to top yourself love! Its electric!!". I ignored him and looked around, it was black... not black as in the oven was black - it was baked on soot and grease. I was not looking forward to this job.

Big bucket of warm water later and I was ready to get scrubbing. Luckily the Oven E-Cloth has scrubbing strips on one side which help remove tough grime, I was about to find out if they actually worked.
I scrubbed away, I didn't need detergent as the E-Cloths on need water to work which is great as 'apparently' the smell of detergents from cleaning the oven can taint your food (I wouldn't know this from experience as I have never before cleaned an oven).

I must admit - it took a lot of scrubbing! but my oven was dirtier than the normal oven. It did come up clean eventually, by rinsing my cloth and attacking the grime I got a good result. The ceramic hob sparkled when I had finished which surprised me as I had only cleaned it the night before.

When I was done my cloth was filthy, not to worry as you can throw E-Cloths into the washing machine and wash at 60* for a good clean or 90* for a tip-top wash. You can even tumble dry them! Each cloth is guaranteed for 300 washes - so think of the money you will save on cleaning products and cloths.

In the pack there is also a silver cloth, this is for light cleaning and polishing. Its best if you use it when the hob is 'warm' (not hot), spray water onto the area and buff away. It comes up lovely, a really nice finish.

I love E-Cloths, they are useful, dependable and can be used on any surface. You only need water and nothing nasty to clean surfaces which is great for the environment too.

Available from most major stores for around £8.80
For more info : http://www.e-cloth.com
http://twitter.com/Eclothuk

Hands First Power Scrub and Moisturiser

'Scrubs' that I have used before have always had tiny mamby-pamby grains that gently cleanse away the dirt from your skin. Not this scrub this is a POWER scrub and the capital letters mean business!!

This scrub is a green gel that clings to your skin, I had no trouble spreading this all over my mucky hands it covers easily and a little goes along way. In the gel is huge tough grains for deep cleaning .... and I mean huge!

Containing natural pumice and walnut shell this scrub scrubs. The grains are visible to the naked eye and you can feel them working as you rub your hands together. However they do not hurt your skin, just rub away the ground in muck and dirt.

The gel contains natural blue cypress oil and panthenol (for skin conditioning) and natural anti-bacterial grapefruit seed extract. Both being great for your skin and kind too, although stop use if irritation occurs as you would with any product.

The Power Scrub smells divine, it has a marzipan fragrance which also slightly fragrances your skin. I really like the smell as from the green packaging I expected it to smell clinical or harsh, it is in fact the complete opposite which is great!

I am impressed with this scrub, it cleans where it should and leaves your hands feeling conditioned (and smelling of marzipan). Great for both male and female hands to get a good deep anti-bacterial deep clean for any profession.

RRP: Approx £5.89 for 225ml from various online pharmacy's.
Please visit www.handsfirst.co.uk for more information.

My rating 9/10

20 Feb 2010

Durex Sensilube

Intimate Moisturising Gel

My first positive thoughts about Durex Sensilube is the discrete packaging, looking at the box you wouldn't realise that this is lubricant for personal use. As you can see from the image above the box is white with quite feminine illustrations and design, the Durex logo is tiny in the bottom corner, all in all the box looks like some kind of moisturiser or medication.

So why am I obsessed about the design - let me tell you:

I once brought two bottles of Durex Play - one that heats up and one that cools down on reaction to your skin. They were on offer (which is why I brought two bottles) in Sainsbury's. Now I don't know if you have ever seen the Durex Play lubricant bottles but they are brightly coloured and obvious from 100 yards what they are!

Usually buying personal items doesn't faze me, I have purchased pile cream (for my tattoo!) in my local Tesco where everyone knows me and haven't batted an eyelid, but on the Durex Play occasion all I had on the conveyor belt was bread, milk and two very colourful bottles of intimate sexual pleasure lubricant .... and who do was behind us in the queue but Emma's school teacher!
I don't know who was more embarrassed me or her? I just paid for my purchases and left red faced.

Now if I had brought Sensilube then she wouldn't have noticed my products on the conveyor belt ;) see? that's why I like the design.

However ..... the bottle inside looks like ear drops!!!!

Its not 'sexy', its not something that you could casually introduce into foreplay ... its hideous!

Think of a plain boring bottle of antibiotic ear drops and enlarge it by 400 times and you have the bottle of Sensilube.

But looks aside ... does it work?

The liquid is clear with no fragrance, slightly cooling on touch with the skin it has been designed to mimic the bodies natural intimate moisture.

Its a liquid but it goes jellylike when you try to rub it in (or 'on' as the case my be) it gets absorbed into your skin quite quickly which could be a problem as trust me you wouldn't want to keep whipping this bottle up to 'oil' up mid-passion!

Sensilube gently replaces lost moisture to help treat dryness in intimate areas, experienced by millions of women and commonly caused by hormonal changes, exercise, sensitivity to wash products, sanitary protection products and intercourse with your partner.

I have talked about its use during intercourse but its also useful for anytime that you are a little dry or uncomfortable.

How to use Sensilube Intimate Moisturising Gel:
Remove the cap. Squeeze a drop of Sensilube Intimate Moisturising Gel on your fingers tip and gently apply to the entrance of the vagina.

Use as required, depending on your individual needs.

Sensilube Intimate Moisturising Gel is not a contraceptive, but can be used with condoms.

Store Sensilube Intimate Moisturising Gel in a cool, dry place at room temperature away from direct sunlight.

The lubricant is PH friendly and Gynaecologically tested (is it just me that laughs ... where else would you test it?), suitable for all women but please test a small amount before slathering your nether regions 'just in case' of a reaction as you would with all intimate products.

For more information please visit: http://www.sensilube.co.uk/

Sensilube is available from leading pharmacies and online at http://shop.durex.com/en-gb/Pages/default.aspx sold in 40ml bottles and priced at £5.89. If symptoms persist contact your doctor.

13 Feb 2010

Moccis

I have never been a 'slipper' person. I like the big fluffy socks that you can buy, I even wear them in bed ... but I have never owned a pair of slippers.

When I was in hospital giving birth I was the only person on the ward who didn't have any slippers, I even trudged down to theatre in my socks!

One problem with my 'sock' obsession is that my in laws have wooden floor in their home, in my house I have carpet in every room so when I go round to their house I am constantly skidding across the floor waving my arms around trying to grab hold of something ... I am sure they polish the floors when they know I am coming round for dinner .. I am the entertainment.

Moccis don't have the slipping problem - they are slip proof!

Since owning a pair of Moccis I have been a very happy Mocci bunny :) they are like socks, with a dash of slipper thrown in.

The main part of Moccis are socks, thick warm good quality socks in various colours and styles. The bottom of Moccis are leather which acts as a good sole but its soft on the inside and keeps your feet snuggly.

Hand stitched natural material and ecotex certified yarn makes Moccis strong and durable. The leather soles are flexible so you can move around freely (as if you are wearing socks) but you don't fall over as they are skid proof.

Moccis come in baby/toddler, children's and adult sizes, they have loads of different colours, patterns and design to choose from.

http://www.moccis.co.uk/size-charts <<>

Baby and Junior Moccis start from £18, Adults £26. A little pricey but remember each pair is handmade.

But how do you wash them? I wear mine all the time (when in the house) and so they can get a little whiffy ... each pair can be machine washed at 40 degrees! However you must not tumble dry them .. instead just hand them up to dry.

http://www.moccis.co.uk/index.php/

I love my Moccis - My rating 10/10 !!

Green People Organic Children Products

Organic Children Bath & Shower Gel

Emma moans (a lot, she is 9 apparently they do that) she always has to use my shower gel and never gets to use anything that she wants to use! So I was kind and gave her some 'shower jelly' that I got for Christmas, this was fine until she used it on her face and her child acne flared up. In Tesco I said she could look for some 'big girl' shower gel, apparently they don't sell 'big girl' products in our small store .. only babies and adult brands.

Then I discovered Green Peoples Organic Children brand :) not too young and not too old, scented with lavender its not 'baby berry' or too adult. The gel is clear (no colourants) and foams up lovely, it makes her skin feel really really soft, it cleans well and doesn't leave any nasty scud around the bath/shower after use.

Emma likes the packaging as she finds the flip top very easy to use (even with wet hands).

We also used it on Emma's hair, it cleaned well but she found the fragrance a little overpowering to use as a daily shampoo. However for taking on holiday or to the swimming baths the product would be great as a 2in1 hair and body use.

The images on the tube are childlike but not babyish and she loves that way that 'lavender' is written in purple. So far so good her skin hasn't flared up sore and as it states on the packaging 'gentle for delicate skin' and 'certified organic ingredient's' I don't have to worry that she will be sensitive to the ingredient's.

As the product contains NO nasty chemicals like lanolin, parabens, colourants, synthetic fragrances, PEG's, petrochemicals, phthalates, propylene glycol or SLS/SLES (I am sure most of the chemicals I have just listed are also contained in petrol! but don't quote me on that!).

The shower gel is safe for the whole family if you can prise it off of your young child. I would like to state that if you have a dog the shower gel brings the dogs coat up lovely, our Ruby smelt of lavender for days and it didn't sting her eyes.

Sold in a 200ml tube you may think that this is pretty small for the price of £7.50 in fact a little goes a long way, if you use a sponge or a puff to apply the shower gel is goes even further. You do not need a handful of Green People shower gel as a drop foams up and will cover your whole body whilst cleaning and locking in goodness as it cleans.

200ml £7.50 http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/childrens-bath-shower-gel-lavender-200ml.aspx

Organic Babies Foaming Baby Cleanser

If you are a parent or guardian of children under 5 I suspect that you will have a packet of wet wipes within reach 24hrs of the day. If you are in the house you use them to wipe faces, bums, hands and toys (different wipes each time!). When you are out you always pack a sneaky packet of wipes for a quick wash mid-trip.

Foaming Baby Cleanser can be used anywhere on the body. You can use it for personal hygiene areas to keep skin clean and cleansed, faces and hands to get rid of grubby dirt and germs ... and also toys, pram handles, etc....

Gently cleanses and moisturises baby's skin:
Effective antibacterial action
Beautifully sweet, soothing scent
A nappy bag essential!

This natural baby care product is made without SLS/SLES, Parabens, phthalates, alcohol and artificial fragrances to bring you the purest baby cleanser that nature can offer.

We take our children to indoor play areas, now each time one child will fall ill after the event and I am convinced that its because all the toys and areas are not kept totally clean. As all children use the toys, play balls, slides etc.. bacteria can be spread from child to child easily. Having a bottle of cleanser in your bag/pocket can at least try to keep your children germ free by giving their hands a quick foam-bath before snacks or occasionally just to keep them fresh.

Same with is you visit a farm or zoo, using the foam to clean hands after animal petting keeps the germs away from the kids and the kids germs away from the animals!

Being Certified Organic all ingredients are safe and the foam contains no nasty chemicals that could harm children's skin. It is suitable for eczema and psoriasis prone skin so will not cause flare ups or sore patches. Containing chamomile its kind and caring for skin.

100ml £9.25 http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/baby-foaming-cleanser-chamomile-100ml.aspx

Organic Mandarin Toothpaste

Its weird a toothpaste not being minty - then I have to remind myself that its for children and not adults. Some children do not like mint, its too strong for little taste buds and so off putting when trying to get them to clean teeth.

Formulated with organic essential oils, vitamin C and Myrrh it give protection against bacteria growth (which is one of the main causes of gum disease). This natural toothpaste is made without Fluoride, SLS, Triclosan, Sorbitol, Parabens, phthalates, artificial sweeteners, petrochemicals and colourants to bring you the purest children's toothpaste that nature can offer.

My favourite part of the toothpaste is that it contains Aloe Vera, this give a soothing effect on tender gums particularly for teething (and when bigger children's back teeth come through). Aloe Vera is known to reduce swelling and is a powerful antiseptic in gum pockets where normal cleaning is difficult.

The colour is grey like putty, I would prefer it to be more orange .. but then it contains no artificial colourants so my idea is a bit silly when you think about it. The texture is a lot like a normal toothpaste - sort of gritty and foamy when you brush.

I like it but don't like it - but then I have had over 30 years of minty fresh full of chemicals toothpaste so I am not going to be convinced overnight, Emma however decided that it was 'cool' and has cleaned her teeth 4 times in the past hour (usually I have to drag her screaming into the bathroom to clean her bacteria filled choppers!) so it must be good.

50ml tube £3.30 http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/childrens-mandarin-toothpaste-50ml.aspx

All products are available from http://www.greenpeople.co.uk/default.aspx via mail order.

Green People are delighted to be showcasing their Organic Babies range at this seasons Baby Show.

The Baby Show is the ultimate event dedicated to pregnancy, parenting, babies and toddlers and attracts thousands of pregnant women and hundreds of companies and experts.

Green People will be attending the baby show at Excel, London (stand H30) on the 19th-21st February 2010 alongside leading retailer Mums the Word and will be offering top class advice on their organic products. They will be making recommendations from the Organic Babies range for sensitive and delicate skin and for little ones prone to eczema, psoriasis and other skin irritations.

Readers of my blog that they can head along to the show will receive a whopping 20% special show discount, free samples and product demos. Sounds a good excuse for a day out to me !!!

7 Feb 2010

Win Ideal Home Show Tickets

Competition to WIN tickets scroll down !!!!!

SAVE THE DATE: NEW LOOK IDEAL HOME SHOW, LONDON, MARCH 2010

BRITAIN’S most loved consumer event; The Ideal Home Show, is to be officially revamped to its former glory in time for the next show, running from the 20th March – 5th April 2010 at London’s Earls Court.

The famous, trend-setting show that made home-making a national passion, will be returning for its 102nd year, with a completely new and revamped format; offering a 17-day long event, packed full of the latest trends, technological advancements, and design innovations; the show embraces social attitudes of 21st Century living.

The new-look Ideal Home Show will explore the world of home interiors and style with a fresh, new inspiring and entertaining show format that combines EIGHT shows in one, offering; Ideal Home Improvements, Ideal Village, Ideal Food, Ideal Gardens, Ideal Shopping, Ideal Woman, Ideal Housewares, Ideal Interiors, as well as expert advice on everything from DIY to fine dining, gadgets and pampering, with a host of celebrity guests across the 17 days; there’s something for the whole family, all rolled into one.

Next year’s show will take visitors through an exciting and spectacular showcase of inspirational living, unveiling a series of industry first, UK product launches, and interactive features, as well as looking at topical issues such as social housing, homes and property trends, interiors, how to go green in the home and save money, offering inspirational living for everyone, helping consumers achieve their ultimate, Ideal Home.

Your ideal home reflects your personality and your personal style, and there will be plenty of inspiration on offer in the Ideal Interiors area of the Ideal Home Show.
Whatever your taste you will find plenty of choice for every room in the house, from clever storage, and impressive furniture to innovative design and decorating solutions. If you're not sure how you want your room to look then take inspiration from professionally designed room sets, which will fire your imagination and help you find the perfect look for your ideal home.

Upstairs at Earls Court you will find a wealth of gifts and gadgets in the popular Ideal Shopping area of the Ideal Home Show. Must-have items and good ideas are everywhere you look, some you might not even realise you need until you've seen them demonstrated at the show.
Pick up time saving gadgets, the latest kitchen wares, some new jewellery or fashions, in fact everything you need for your home and yourself!

A spokesperson for the show commented; “The Ideal Home Show is one of Britain’s greatest traditional events. The show is famous for showing people how they can improve their homes as well as how we will all be living in the future.

“The Ideal Home Show has traditionally brought new concepts to life, trends in modern living, industry firsts and jaw dropping innovations and inventions that catch the imagination of all of our visitors, and next year’s March show will be no exception, as we plan to bring the latest products, designs and technological advancements for helping consumers improve their homes and adapt to the current trends of 21st Century living”.

“We want to welcome visitors from every corner of the UK to come and experience and enjoy the brand new Ideal home show, an event that we aim to make the UK’s most unmissable event of the year”, said show organisers.

The 2010 event takes place across 17 days, at Earls Court from 20th March – 5th April 2010.

Tickets can be either booked online or by calling the Ticket Hotline on 0844 415 4144. Group bookings can be made by calling the Groups Hotline on 0844 412 4650, or for further information about the show and to purchase tickets online visit the website www.idealhomeshow.co.uk
Ticket Information:
On Door In Advance
Weekday Adult £15 £10
Weekend Adult £17 £12
Weekday Concession (Over 65's) £14 £9
Weekend Concession (Over 65's) £16 £11
Children under 16 Free (ticket is required)
Late Night Thursday Open until 9pm £5 after 5pm n/a

Opening times:
Opening Day – 20th March 10am – 6pm
Weekdays & Weekends 10am – 6pm
Thursday – late night 10am – 9pm
Final Monday – 5th April (Bank Holiday) 10am – 6pm

The Ideal Home Show, the UK’s biggest and longest running consumer event, was acquired by award-winning events and publishing company Media 10, just two months ago from DMG World Media, the first time the show has changed hands in just over 100 years.

The Ideal Home Show has established itself as part of the social calendar of events and regularly attracts over 250,000 visitors every year.

Follow the Ideal Home Show on Twitter http://twitter.com/ideal_home_show

___________________________________________

I have 5 pairs of tickets to giveaway!! Worth £30 a pair.

To enter just comment below

Please leave me some way of contacting you if you are a lucky winner:

or your Twitter name.

GOOD LUCK!!

Closing date 01/03/2010

Prizes will be sent directly from the PR company on behalf of The Ideal Home Show. I will pass on the winners details to them.

BornFree

BornFree is the worlds leading brand of baby bottles and feeding devices free from Bisphenol-A (BPA), Phthalates and PVC.

We know that plastic can be recycled, but did you know that if you use a plastic bottle more than once it starts to break down and releases chemicals into the liquid it is holding? This is why reusable water bottle manufacturers coat the inside of the bottles with a special coating to stop the breakdown of material and make the drinker safe.

Until now had never thought about babies bottles. We sterilise them, use them, wash them, sterilise them, use them, wash them over and over and over .... surely the plastic starts to break down and chemicals seep into our babies milk!! When I think about how manky my daughters bottles were by the time she started on solids I feel quite ill thinking about all the nasty's that I was unknowingly feeding her feed after feed.

BornFree bottles, training cups, teats and other products are all safe from chemical breakdown leakage. They do not contain typical plastic bottle chemicals in the first place - therefore there is nothing to leak. You should however look after your BornFree bottles, keep them in a dry cool place when storing and always sterilise before use.

The range is available from http://www.babybornfree.co.uk/

The brand also supports www.healthychild.org - Healthy Child Healthy World.