wonderwhatif
Member Since: January 26, 2015Reviews
Burt's Bees Brow Pencil
Normally my eyebrows would be a lot neater, but I'm actually growing them out right now so I can shape them better, so please excuse the fact that there's a lot of stray hairs! First off, the colour. Last time I tried an eyebrow pencil, I picked a... +
Normally my eyebrows would be a lot neater, but I'm actually growing them out right now so I can shape them better, so please excuse the fact that there's a lot of stray hairs!
First off, the colour. Last time I tried an eyebrow pencil, I picked a colour that was way too dark and it ended up looking super fake, so I was really pleased with this brunette colour. Even though my hair is threaded with grey (since the age of 20) and more of a brown tone (this pencil has a bit of a reddish/auburn hint) it looked great on my eyebrows.
It's not the finest tip and not as precise as some 'precision' brands you can get, but I have chunky eyebrows and prefer a subtle fill-in anyway. Essentially, my eyebrows aren't really sparse and I just need a little enhancement, compared to someone with a lot of gaps. What it came down to was this pencil did the job great at subtly enhancing my eyebrows and giving them a nice colour.
I really do love the spoolie brush on the end, it's essential if you want a subtle and polished look and I always misplace mine. It also means it's an ideal pencil for a beginner, who might not have a spoolie tool.
Overall, I enjoyed this eyebrow pencil and felt it was pretty great. The only reason to rate it a little lower is that I found sharpening it to be kind of a nightmare, it's quite soft and clogs up the sharpener. I recently read a tip that says you can pop it in the freezer to prevent this, so I'll try that in the future.
-
B. Funkeys By Battat
In a lot of ways these are really similar to the LucKeys, also by Battat with some extra features. So everything I liked about the Luckeys, I also like about these, but I do prefer the design of these as well. I really like the long 'tie' strap. Not... +
In a lot of ways these are really similar to the LucKeys, also by Battat with some extra features. So everything I liked about the Luckeys, I also like about these, but I do prefer the design of these as well. I really like the long 'tie' strap. Not only is it more realistic, but it gives you more of a height to dangle from when playing with the little one. It's not long enough to cause any problems either, but these toys should not be left unsupervised regardless.
I like the purple colour and feel it looks a lot more natural and appealing, less 'bright' and toy-like. Like the other key toy, these are bigger than actual keys, but in my opinion, they look a lot more like real keys. They have a few extra buttons that make different noises too. I do like that the noises aren't extremely loud, so they won't bother sensitive baby's ears or drive the parents crazy. Babies enjoy chewing on them, but also pressing the buttons, basically like they try to do with regular keys. These keys are portable enough to keep them busy when you're trying to load the shopping or distract them from a crying fit if you're out and about.
Lastly, I like that the batteries are included, so right away you can start playing or if it's a gift, it's ready to go.
-
B. spaces Peek-a-Boost Toddler Step Stool by Battat
A lot of times things look nicer online than they actually are, so I was thrilled when this arrived looking just as beautiful and flawless as the picture. Mine had no problems with scratches, peeling paint or anything visual and looked wonderful... +
A lot of times things look nicer online than they actually are, so I was thrilled when this arrived looking just as beautiful and flawless as the picture. Mine had no problems with scratches, peeling paint or anything visual and looked wonderful when assembled. I really love the swirl patterns and soft mint colouring. The biggest appeal of this is visual, as many kids step stools look like large plastic monstrosities, this is suitable for slightly older kids or just so that you can have something that fits with your decor.
Be aware the weight limit is 154 lbs.
So that just leaves my two small complaints and assembly to talk about. First, the complaints. On carpet, you have nothing to worry about, but I did find that on tiled floor and wood laminate this step has an unfortunate tendency to slide a little. For that reason I would recommend you attach non-slip grips to the bottom and to be honest, if Battat included these in the future it would be a five star product.
My second (minor) annoyance and suggestion for Battat would be related to the stickers on the product. While most are not very visible, some people will peel them off (at least one was visible when assembled) and it leaves a sticky mark and ruins the look and feel of the stool. Using stickers that are more easily removable will erase this problem in the future!
So, onto assembly.
In terms of Assembly, it's pretty easy. I was able to easily figure it out (be careful to make sure the steps are facing the same way as the picture) and even mostly assemble it myself. Towards the end of tightening the screws with the included Allen (hex) key, it can become quite stiff, so if you have mobility issues you might need a hand at the end. Overall, though, extremely easy to do and little chance of messing up.
-
Burt's Bee Matte Lip Crayon
I wasn't too sure on this one. I like that it's natural and overall I'm a fan of the crayon format as it's easy to swipe on and go, but I do find this feels quite thick and 'dry' when it's on and it dries out my lips and clings to some of the... +
I wasn't too sure on this one. I like that it's natural and overall I'm a fan of the crayon format as it's easy to swipe on and go, but I do find this feels quite thick and 'dry' when it's on and it dries out my lips and clings to some of the damaged areas more than I'd like. If you have smooth, healthy lips this shouldn't be a problem, but I've suffered damaged lips for years.
I also like that there's no scent to the product and while initially I wasn't sure about the colour on my super pale skin, it actually looks nice as long as you are willing to go bold! I also like matte style over gloss.
The one massive problem I had with this lip crayon was feathering at the edges (see picture). Even though I'm not overly wrinkled (I'm 32), it definitely feathered into the natural skin lines around my lips. For that reason I wouldn't wear it without lip liner, which makes the lip crayon format a little silly. I always think of lip crayon's as a simple option, but if it requires liner it's not.
It does work very well to do the Korean 'gradient' style lip, as it spreads easily with a Q-tip. It's not particularly long lasting, but doesn't wipe off super easy either and has a tendency to stain.
-
Battat Wonder Wheels Tractor & Trailer
I've been impressed by the quality and style of Battat toys and this Tractor and Trailer is no exception. While it's simple and brightly coloured, looking a the molding and details inside the cab of the tractor and even on the underneath, is... +
I've been impressed by the quality and style of Battat toys and this Tractor and Trailer is no exception. While it's simple and brightly coloured, looking a the molding and details inside the cab of the tractor and even on the underneath, is impressive. It's not coloured (all the same base colours), but it has all the real details you'd expect. Toy cars and trucks are always popular with all genders and this too, is a hit. There's not a ton of room in the tractor (small figures can fit), but they really love carting people and animals around via the trailer.
The only problem I had is that I don't really think of the trailer hitch as functional and recommend it stay connected once together. This is because trying to remove and attach the trailer, easily put extreme stress and bend 'lines' on the plastic and I believe it would break after only a few times of this. For that reason, I wouldn't class the trailer as removable and as long as you leave it attached you'll enjoy this toy!
Because of its chunky size and how easily it rolls, it's especially suitable for younger children. It's sturdy and doesn't have any plastic overspill or sharp edges. Other than the tractor hitch, it's great quality!
-
BioSteel Sports High Performance Sports Mix - Mixed Berry
While I still think this is most worth it for athletes or those doing high-intensity workouts, we noticed a difference in our daily energy levels when switching out soda for this, compared to the other flavour we tried. Part of this could be we were... +
While I still think this is most worth it for athletes or those doing high-intensity workouts, we noticed a difference in our daily energy levels when switching out soda for this, compared to the other flavour we tried. Part of this could be we were more consistent in drinking this because the flavour is more pleasant.
While I usually prefer Blue raspberry flavoured things (the other flavour I tried) the Mixed Berry has much less of an oversweetened 'stevia' taste and bitter aftertaste. Due to Stevia's bitter aftertaste, I prefer stuff sweetened with sucralose, but I know many complain and want 'natural' flavouring. It's each person prerogative to decide on the science and what choice they want to make, but do know that if you have an unpleasant experience with Stevia and are a supertaster (too many tastebuds) like me, this is a more bearable flavour over blue raspberry. It kind of tastes a bit like classic bubblegum, despite it's berry description.
Since it's flavoured with sweeteners it's also suitable for diabetics. My only (small) complaint is that the tub is much bigger than the powder, which is a little misleading, but go by the weight and you can't go wrong. It also comes with a little scoop that is (cleverly) long handled so you can reach the powder as it gets lower.
-
B. LucKeys By Battat
There's not really much to say about these keys. Usually Battat toys are well-made and have a lot of features and while these have less features, they're pretty much similar to other Battat toys I've tried. They're cutely designed with nice rustic... +
There's not really much to say about these keys. Usually Battat toys are well-made and have a lot of features and while these have less features, they're pretty much similar to other Battat toys I've tried. They're cutely designed with nice rustic looking packaging, babies and kids enjoy them and they're pretty simple.
The noise of this toy is nice and quiet, so it's a good gift for young babies as it won't drive you nuts like a loud, obnoxious toy. The light isn't overly bright (so it won't hurt eyes) and it already comes with batteries. They do clatter like normal keys, but are a little bigger.
Overall a good toy, I'm pretty frugal and would rather pay $15, but I think most will be happy with the price.
-
Battat Deluxe Kitchen-Pretend Play Accessory Toy Set
Absolutely perfect for expanding on a play kitchen. No matter what play kitchen you buy, it never comes with enough accessories, so this little set is great for expanding that. Even if you don't have a play kitchen, it's great for tea parties or any... +
Absolutely perfect for expanding on a play kitchen. No matter what play kitchen you buy, it never comes with enough accessories, so this little set is great for expanding that. Even if you don't have a play kitchen, it's great for tea parties or any kind of kitchen/food based play.
I will say, the quality is slightly lower than some Battat products I've tried, for example some of the plates have manufacturing buff marks on them, but overall it's still good. The most important thing for these is they are very sturdy. Even the thinner plates are not going to break, they are made of hard, bright shiny plastic. Perfect for rough players. They also work really well with play-doh because the play-doh doesn't stick to the shiny plastic overly much and is easy to clean off.
There's just a massive amount of stuff here, so that kitchen play will never be short a utensil or cookware again! Bright colours and lack of small stabby details makes them even suited to younger kiddies. A must buy if you have a play kitchen.
-
Battat Steering Wheel
Another unique and well-made toy from Battat that's loved and enjoyed by all genders! They really had a lot of fun with this one. One of the things you don't realise until you take it out of the box is how many different things it does. Like it has... +
Another unique and well-made toy from Battat that's loved and enjoyed by all genders! They really had a lot of fun with this one. One of the things you don't realise until you take it out of the box is how many different things it does. Like it has a sort of 'base' on the bottom and if you lean the steering wheel against the base, you can tilt it at different angles and turn the wheel, giving it the function of a car wheel, but also meaning it can be 'imagined' to be a plane wheel as well. It even has indicators when you rotate the wheel left or right!
From a parent's point of view, it's super sturdy, fun, has a lot of elements and keeps them entertained. While each thing can be pressed and turned, there's also a fun little game you can start by pressing the traffic light symbol, which will start a Simon Says style 'traffic light' game where you must match the red or green buttons as they flash and do nothing when it's amber.
The only thing I can think might be annoying is that when it's on, it constantly has a 'vroom' noise of an engine, but Battat have even thought of that, there's a handy volume dial which can turn the volume from 'comfortable' all the way down to 'whisper'. Every toy needs one of these.
It even has rubber feet on the bottom to stop it sliding over the floor when kids are 'driving' and keep it in place. They've really thought of everything.
-
Bristle Blocks by Battat
These are a great alternative to Lego (or as an addition!), not only because they are suitable for younger ages, but they are actually a whole different ball game (so to speak). The way the Bristle Blocks connect seems simple at first, but they... +
These are a great alternative to Lego (or as an addition!), not only because they are suitable for younger ages, but they are actually a whole different ball game (so to speak). The way the Bristle Blocks connect seems simple at first, but they often have to be rotated and changed around to build a structure and if built poorly it will fall over or detach. This helps to teach kids about structure and spatial dynamics in a really creative and imaginative way.
In terms of quality, these are great. Really sturdy and well-made with no visible flaws. There's some wheels and other rotating parts and 'special' blocks which are pretty fun. Kids really enjoy getting creative with these, but I would say that a bigger pack would be better. That's part of the reason of removing a star in my review, is that I feel like this is more of a starter kit and it's a little bit over-priced. I feel like around $30 would be fair price.
The other complain is the packaging is a nightmare. If you've ever tried to open a plastic cylinder like this, you know what to expect. Tape all around the cylinder that's almost impossible to get off and leaves a sticky circle. Even the 'animal' pieces are in plastic that's hard to pop out, which is also taped onto the box. Some people might have to destroy the tube to get the blocks, but then there's no way to store it then. Even keeping the tube feels weird because of the sticky residue left behind. Simply put, an arthritic grandmother or parent will need help with getting these out.
Overall, a clever, sturdy and well-thought out toy that kids really respond to, but waiting for a sale would be my advice!
-
Looking for more?
Check out our other review websites:
