Reviews

    Lush

    Level 1
    Esme JLevel 1 10 Reviews

    2 years ago

    If you’ve ever been within 100m of a Lush shop, you’ll know the smell! Their products are mostly highly scented which can be polarising. I’m not a fan of the very soapy / fruity scents but love some others. Products I rate - violet shampoo Daddy-o, Marilyn conditioner for blondes. Both make hair feel, look and smell great and do what they promise in terms of lightening and hydrating. Vanilla scented solid perfume. Solid massage bars. A work friend highly rates their curly hair cream and her hair looks and smells divine. Another friend will only use their solid shampoo bars and Lush were one of the first brands I know to produce these. Everyone seems to have their favourite Lush product and I think it’s partly down to the product and partly down to the brand - the fun packaging and product names, vegan credentials and consistently friendly and knowledgable staff in their stores makes Lush a brand that’s a joy to use and gift.

    Feedback

    The solid perfume now comes in glass jars instead of a roll-on and it’s not as easy or convenient to use.

    John Masters Organics

    Level 1
    Esme JLevel 1 10 Reviews

    2 years ago

    Got a free sample of the lavender shampoo for normal hair. I’ve got thick, wavy hair that can be dry and this shampoo is made with sodium lauryth sulfate so it really dried out my hair in the same way as other shampoos with this formulation.

    Feedback

    The formulation wasn’t for me but maybe I don’t have normal hair.

    Who Gives a Crap

    Level 1
    Esme JLevel 1 10 Reviews

    2 years ago

    Recently stayed at a hotel that used this brand of toilet roll. It felt like a luxury product and the design of the packaging was so attractive they’d opted to keep extra rolls on display. I have looked at it online and thought I personally couldn’t justify the price over and above the brand I usually buy.

    Four Sigmatic

    Level 1
    Esme JLevel 1 10 Reviews

    2 years ago

    I love the concept of a mushroom cacao version of a hot chocolate before bed and “elevating your bedtime routine” but I’m not sure of the effect of this product. I am a good sleeper anyway and haven’t noticed any discernible effect on my sleep which I suppose is a good thing. The taste is surprisingly innocuous - if you didn’t know it had mushroom extract in I don’t think you’d pick it out as tasting different from a normal cacao drink. Without noticing a bit effect from the active ingredient, it feels a bit expensive to me as buying organic cacao powder or 100% cacao buttons and making that a drink would be considerably cheaper. The packaging is well considered and fun to use and read (see photo) and I am enjoying working my way through the pack. I’d recommend to a friend interested in exploring the power of mushrooms as everyone is different and they may experience the product differently to me.

    Feedback

    Variety of flavours perhaps by addition of other herbs/spices that have aromatic and/or medicinal properties

    Tony's Chocolonely

    Level 1
    Esme JLevel 1 10 Reviews

    2 years ago

    Tony’s Chocolonely is a brand on a mission. If you haven’t read the back-story of how the brand got it’s name, it is quite a tale! It makes you think differently about chocolate and made me want to only eat this brand of chocolate. It recently had a roadshow in Leeds city centre (see photo) to educate people on their mission to end child slavery in the chocolate industry (and all the other inequalities in the industry). Aside from the brand ethos, the chocolate is delicious, the packaging is old-school but exciting (kind of reminiscent of a Wonka bar from Charlie and the chocolate factory - it definitely gives me those vibes anyway!) The only negative I can think of is that the irregular-shaped markings on the bar make it tricky/messy to eat (not to mention control portion size!) but even this is part of the brand messaging - to highlight the inequality in the cocoa industry and the small piece of the pie that the producers get.

    Ouai

    Level 1
    Esme JLevel 1 10 Reviews

    2 years ago

    I love hair and beauty products and had read such good things about this brand. I really wanted the wave spray to live up to the hype. But it didn’t do much for me and I actually ended up binning it for making my hair so dry and horrible-feeling. I experimented with different amounts of product and wetness of hair but nothing seemed to make it work as intended. I have long, thick hair with a wave in it so was hoping to have really lovely beachy waves with it but a couple of times I ended up re-washing my hair just to get the product out after it had dried and looked awful.

    Feedback

    The formulation of the wave spray really dried and tangled my hair.

    Allbirds

    Level 1
    Esme JLevel 1 10 Reviews

    2 years ago

    I love Allbirds. My husband loves Allbirds. We just got our 3-year-old her first pair of Allbirds. We have about 10 pairs in our house! I should look to get a picture of them all actually ☺️ We have a variety of styles and colours and they are all just the comfiest shoes ever. We had an issue with a pair after several months and customer services were impeccable - friendly, efficient and couldn’t do enough to help. Happy to say it was a one-off issue. Customer services has also been extremely helpful when I queried sizing as had bought a limited edition pair in a men’s size as they were out of stock in women’s sizes - not realising the sizing isn’t equivalent. The inner soles wash well and the shoe styles that are washable come out of the machine like new and smelling gorgeous as they are made of wool. We love the brands eco credibility and use of innovative materials. As well as the shoes, we have branched out into using their socks, underwear and my husband loves the trino t-shirts and long-sleeved tops. Everything is so comfortable and practical as well as under-stated stylish thanks to the gorgeous colours. I got their flip flops this summer and they feel like a massage for your feet thanks to the textured in sole. I am excited to try their new sports bra that just came out this week too! We got my mother-in-law who’s in her mid-70s a pair of mizzles for Christmas and she beat me to ordering the flip flops when they came out as she loved her shoes so much. She’s usually cold so having stylish woollen shoes was ideal for her. Because wool is breathable the shoes that keep you warm in winter also don’t overheat you in summer. I feel like I’ve rambled a lot about a lot of different Allbirds products but I am so enthused about them - I know they aren’t the cheapest brand but they are sustainable, use quality and innovative materials and their customer service has been second to none (in our experience). They have occasionally started putting end of line colours on sale too so worth keeping an eye out for a bargain.

    Feedback

    The new kids’ styles in adult sizes - I love the pair we just got our daughter with the rainbow rivets 😃

    Cards Against Humanity

    Level 1
    Esme JLevel 1 10 Reviews

    2 years ago

    Wow, what a blast from the past! I don’t think there’s a bookshelf in a friend’s house that doesn’t have a Cards Of Humanity set on it. It felt ground-breaking and shocking when it first came out and made a good (and sometimes controversial) drinking game.

    Minor Figures

    Level 1
    Esme JLevel 1 10 Reviews

    2 years ago

    I like their oat milk but it’s a bit pricey compared to other brands that have the same ingredient profile. I feel like their branding is innovative and quirky so maybe you’re paying for that.

    Feedback

    Reduce price

    Oatly

    Level 1
    Esme JLevel 1 10 Reviews

    2 years ago

    Oatly is my fav brand of plant-based milk unless I pay the extra for a brand that only has three ingredients and no preservatives/additives whatsoever. I love the range of consistencies/tastes they do to mimic different types of cow’s milk (like whole, semi-skimmed) and Oatly barista gives a great froth for coffee!

    Feedback

    Reduce ingredients