wonderwhatif
Member Since: January 26, 2015Reviews
Makartt Nail Dust Collector Machine 60W
The Makartt Nail Dust Collector is essentially an extractor fan designed for nail use, but as a result it's pretty multi-purpose. When not using it for filing nails or removing polish, I use it to extract fumes and particles when doing small DIY... +
The Makartt Nail Dust Collector is essentially an extractor fan designed for nail use, but as a result it's pretty multi-purpose. When not using it for filing nails or removing polish, I use it to extract fumes and particles when doing small DIY projects and pyrography. An extra layer of protection on top of good ventilation, as it were.
The quality is ok. There's nothing wrong with it per say, but it does feel cheap considering the price point. You can see the glue/sealant on the filter when you pull the drawer out and the plastic just feels a bit low-end.
Functionally, it works great. It can go from a lower suction level, to a reasonably high one with a simple turn of a dial.
They recommend replacing the filter every 3-4 months, but I couldn't find replacement filters, so I can't comment on the cost of those.
Overall, it did a great job, but I wish it felt a little more high-end and came with some replacement filters.
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Senville Oscillating Tower Fan
The Senville Oscillating Tower Fan delivers on everything except for looks. While it doesn’t look bad, the glossy black design isn’t really to my taste and the remote looks pretty cheap. I do like the tower style design though and everything... +
The Senville Oscillating Tower Fan delivers on everything except for looks. While it doesn’t look bad, the glossy black design isn’t really to my taste and the remote looks pretty cheap. I do like the tower style design though and everything else about the Senville fan is so brilliant that I’m willing to forgive the looks.
If I could use two words to describe this fan it would be simple and effective (sing along to the tune of Kingdom Heart’s Simple and Clean if you must). It’s super easy to operate. While the remote is ugly, it works well and has the same functionality as the tower itself. All the buttons are clearly and individually labelled and only a quick read through the manual is needed to understand them. The button icons make sense so after learning it once, it sticks for good.
I didn’t find a need to have so many different fan modes, though I guess it’s nice if you have a particular type of air you like. I’ve always enjoyed a fan blowing straight at me on full, so I’ve never needed those settings. I did like the three ‘speeds’ or strengths, because sometimes it’s hot and sometimes it’s slightly less hot (I have a way with words, I know!). I often take photos and videos (can you tell) so it’s nice to have the option to set the fan lower as well.
My partner enjoys an oscillating fan and the Senville Tower Fan has that as well. The Oscillation goes over a wide area and works perfectly. The fan is also reasonably quiet, even on the highest setting, more than that, the sound is steady, not annoying, rattly, or irritating.
The timer feature is a brilliant addition, as you can set it to turn off after anywhere from 1-7 hours. A small negative here is that the timer is a little complex. If you want 7 hours, for example, you must press the button until 1hr, 2hr and 4hr are all lit up. It allows them to offer more hours for less LED work on the fan, but it’s an annoyance for consumers.
Assembly is very simple. Snap two pieces together on the base, unscrew a ring, put pole on fan (or not if you want it shorter) and then put through base and screw ring back on. Voila, your fan is ready to go.
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Summary
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The Senville Oscillating Tower Fan is an old-fashioned looking fan in traditional glossy black, that won’t win any awards for it’s looks, but it’s performance is actually really good. If you’re looking for an oscillating fan that has a few bonus settings and works well, this is the one for you.
Pros:
+ Canadian company. (Or at least based in Canada)
+ Fan comes with many features (Timer, flow type and speed)
+ Oscillates on a wide area.
+ Performs well.
+ Relatively quiet, even on strongest setting.
+ Easy to setup.
+ Pretty easy to learn to use.
+ Adjustable height.
Cons:
- Ugly design. Glossy black unit and remote are a little cheap looking.
- Timer setting can be a little confusing.
Recommended: Yes, I use this fan daily to stay cool while taking photos and it’s working great!
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Biore pore clarifying cleansing cloths
Skin type: Combination I think these Biore Pore Clarifying Cleansing Cloths are a good option for Combination or Oily skin, though dry and sensitive folks should avoid. Despite my before and after not showing much of a difference, my skin did feel... +
Skin type: Combination
I think these Biore Pore Clarifying Cleansing Cloths are a good option for Combination or Oily skin, though dry and sensitive folks should avoid. Despite my before and after not showing much of a difference, my skin did feel better and fresher over the couple of weeks I used these wipes (I am still using them). I felt like my pores were smaller and less noticeable and that it kept the oily sections of my face under control.
The wipes are a decent size, have a slightly textured but not rough or uncomfortable feeling and are about the right level of moistness. I didn't dig the smell, but it was manageable. After using them, my skin felt tight for a little bit, so I do recommend using in conjunction with a moisturiser (non comedogenic, of course!).
Despite enjoying them, I wouldn't buy these wipes again for one reason. If you've heard me rant once, you've heard it a million times. I hate sticker seals and find it's not worth buying wipes that have them. The sticker seal wears off within a few days and you'll need to take measures to stop your wipes drying out for the next 30 days. It's annoying and there's no excuse for not having a flip-top open.
Recommend the wipes, but not the opening
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Delonghi Pinguino AC
As someone who does not handle heat well, I was thrilled to try out a strong portable A/C unit like this one in the middle of Summer. While I was happy with it in some ways, I was also disappointed with some of the features and found that it... +
As someone who does not handle heat well, I was thrilled to try out a strong portable A/C unit like this one in the middle of Summer. While I was happy with it in some ways, I was also disappointed with some of the features and found that it wasn’t the right fit for what I wanted.
This portable A/C unit is pretty standard in terms of size and set-up. There is a hose you can place on the back of the unit to help it drain excess water, though you will probably want to raise if off the ground for that as the drain is at the very bottom of the unit’s back. It also comes with a kit to install it in your window (or sliding door) which has adjustable plastic rectangular pieces to help you fit it into almost any size of window. It also has adhesive foam, which is a big help when you’re trying to make sure the window is sealed tight without any leaks. The plastic pieces are not as adjustable as I would have liked (in my windows the plastic pieces were always either too small or too big for the different adjustable options) but for most windows they will do the trick. If you plan on installing this in a tall window or sliding door, or a non-standard window like mine (casement windows), be prepared to use large pieces of cardboard, wood or plexiglass and a lot of duct tape to cover the gaps.
The hose that connects the A/C unit to the window is very adjustable and flexible, though it does come out of the back of the unit in a way that prevents it from being flush against the wall. Unfortunately, the connecting between the hose and the window-mounted vent does not have any kind of lock to secure it in place, instead they just slide together. As a result I woke up on at least one occasion to find that the hose had simply slid out of the window and was now on the floor, rendering the entire A/C pointless. After the first time I secured the hose with tape to avoid it happening again.
There are two reasons this A/C unit ended up being a bad fit for me: it’s too powerful for a small room, and it’s too loud to be used while someone is sleeping. I wanted a portable A/C unit for my small bedroom, but this unit is measured at 14,000 BTU, enough for a room of about 600 square feet. My room was much smaller than that. I’ve actually never had this experience before, but if you have an A/C unit that is much too strong for the room you want to cool down (and the doors are closed), the A/C will actually function very poorly and struggle to maintain a consistent temperature. My A/C unit would blast cold air for a few minutes, then give up and switch to a fan modem even though the room was not very cold at all. After a few minutes on fan, it would switch back to the A/C function and try again. That ties into my second issue: when the A/C switches on or off, it does so with an incredibly loud noise. If you plan on having this unit anywhere near your bedroom, you’ll find it waking you up every time it does this. Even once I moved the A/C to a different room and it was working properly, it would still occasionally turn off the A/C function with a loud clunk, waking me up in the next room. During the daytime this was not an issue, but at night it became a real dealbreaker for me. If you're not sensitive to noise, it'll be fine for you.
One of the most frustrating and disappointing things about this air conditioner is the app and how it works with this device. When I first set up the air conditioner I noticed that there were several functions that you could not control using the remote, such as the fan speed when using the A/C setting. I eventually figured out that some settings are locked behind the smartphone app, and can only be changed there. This is very disappointing for anyone who wants the remote control to offer them full functionality, and especially for anyone who doesn’t use their smartphone much at home. Even worse though is the fact that the app is extremely unreliable and difficult to use. Setting it up in the first place to connect to my air conditioner took multiple attempts and resets before I finally worked. Once it was connected, the controls in the app are slow to change the air conditioner itself, and in some cases simply refused to work at all. Another big problem was that the connection would frequently disconnect and then take 30-60 seconds to reconnect without ever indicating that it was having trouble. I would simply try to change things in the app and then wait and see if it would ever work. If I left the house and came back and attempted to connect again to the A/C it would take at least a minute each time to connect. Between the connectivity issues and the other issues I had using the app, it became very frustrating trying to adjust basic features like how strong the fan speed was, and eventually I was so sick of trying to make it work that I would avoid adjusting the settings as much as possible.
On a side note, I never successfully connected Android and had to rely on an Apple device to hook this up.
Despite some of the issues I had with this unit, it’s still a very strong air conditioner and it does have some interesting features. I like that the cold air comes out of the top of the unit and not the front, allowing you to cool the room rather than just blow cold air in one direction. It also opens by itself, which is pretty cool. I like that you can adjust the specific angle of the vents on top including both left/right and forward/backwards.
Finally, the ECO Real Feel setting is very interesting, but in my experience has a fatal flaw. It’s meant to automatically determine the ideal conditions for the room, cool it down, and then dehumidifying it until it’s just right. The problem is, you don’t get to decide what the ideal conditions are for your room. They’re automatically built into the device and you cannot adjust them. I quickly found that the “ideal” conditions for any room I tried this in were too hot for my liking, which made the entire feature completely worthless and led me to never use it again.
Overall I wanted to like this air conditioner more than I did. It’s very powerful, it looks good, and it has some features I really like. But at the end of the day there were too many issues that I could not fix, in particular the app problems, the noise, and the fact that it was simply too strong for what I needed.
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Wasabi-O Red Chilli Wasabi Hot Sauce
This Chilli wasabi hot sauce has turned out to be a real hit in my house. It’s a thin, slightly runny sauce (the same consistency as tabasco) that goes well with meat dishes and burgers. It has a strong chilli flavour but isn’t overwhelmingly... +
This Chilli wasabi hot sauce has turned out to be a real hit in my house. It’s a thin, slightly runny sauce (the same consistency as tabasco) that goes well with meat dishes and burgers. It has a strong chilli flavour but isn’t overwhelmingly hot, so you can actually enjoy the taste and not simply burn your taste buds. The wasabi element of this sauce is extremely light, only 1% of the actual sauce is wasabi and that’s reflected in the very light hints of wasabi you can taste. Personally, I found this to be a good thing, as wasabi can be a very strong and overpowering flavour if you use too much of it. Because the sauce is so thin it isn’t suited for dips or as a condiment on the side, but it works very well when added during cooking or on top of your food just before you eat.
The bottle and the box it comes in have minimal English and is mostly translated poorly from the Thai writing, but there’s enough for you to understand that this is a red chilli hot sauce with wasabi, which is all you really need to know. There is no ingredient information on the bottle itself, only on the box, so you’ll have to look that info up or take a picture before throwing out the box if that matters to you.
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Wasabi-O-Combo Set
The wasabi mayonnaise only contains about 2.5% real wasabi, but despite that it packs a surprising kick! I was very pleased to find that this mayonnaise has a distinct wasabi flavour to it and a decent amount of the spice as well. I feel the... +
The wasabi mayonnaise only contains about 2.5% real wasabi, but despite that it packs a surprising kick! I was very pleased to find that this mayonnaise has a distinct wasabi flavour to it and a decent amount of the spice as well. I feel the mayonnaise is still much less spicy than actual wasabi sauces, but the flavour carries through very clearly which is great news if you're a fan of wasabi. This mayonnaise was a bit too strong for me when I used it as a dip, but as a topping to use sparingly on a burger it's a fantastic condiment.
This sauce has 7% real Wasabi. Wasabi sauce with a much higher concentration of wasabi in it would be extremely expensive, so this is a convenient way to get the unique flavour into your kitchen without spending a fortune. Here’s the thing, I watched a very interesting video about Wasabi once and recommend you read up on it too.
Real wasabi is EXTREMELY difficult to get outside of Asia (indeed, this comes from Thailand!). Wasabi is very hard to grow and fresh wasabi loses its flavour if left uncovered for 15 minutes. So this brand is definitely right to advertise the ‘real wasabi’ in their product, as most wasabi is just flavouring with no genuine wasabi anywhere in it. Wasabi sells for such a high price that it’s somewhat of a status symbol and fancy restaurant dish, much like wagyu beef.
As someone who only enjoys wasabi with very specific foods I wasn’t sure what to expect with a wasabi sauce. Wasabi pastes are good in my experience, but this sauce surprised me by being quite good. It’s not quite as good as the paste in my opinion, but only because I find this sauce to be too runny and watery for my liking. I often found the sauce would run off my food and drip down, as opposed to a thicker sauce which would stay in place better. The watery consistency also allows this sauce to spread quite far and soak into everything, which is good if you enjoy a strong wasabi taste. I prefer to apply my wasabi more carefully to avoid overpowering every other taste, but with this bottle the sauce only comes out in large splashes, making precise measurements almost impossible. It is good for dipping though or mixing a small amount into a sauce (measure with a spoon)
Despite my complaints about the consistency and the bottle, I do find this sauce tastes very good and isn’t too spicy. It does have a very distinct wasabi taste and you can barely taste the other ingredients like the horseradish. If you’re looking for a wasabi option that you can splash onto your food, this should be perfect for you.
The mayonnaise is a nice complement to the sauce and buying both together makes for a great gift or just a fun way to spice up dinner time.
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Instachew 2 Smart Automatic Pet Feeder
Let me start by saying that the Instachew 2 Smart Pet Feeder is a brilliant device for automated feedings, but it has some shortcomings that you need to take into account to decide if it’s right for you. Firstly, the app needs massive improvement... +
Let me start by saying that the Instachew 2 Smart Pet Feeder is a brilliant device for automated feedings, but it has some shortcomings that you need to take into account to decide if it’s right for you. Firstly, the app needs massive improvement and secondly, there could be a lot more guidance. Even though I’ve used it A LOT I have a ton of questions that weren’t answered by the manual, website or literally anywhere. I’ve done my best to find those answers and I’m relatively tech-savvy and a very experienced tester/reviewer. If Instachew could fix those issues this would be the best product I’ve ever seen, but for now it’s simply ‘good’.
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Effectiveness
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The best thing the Instachew 2 Automatic Feeder does is...well, automatically feed. You can set it up portions of 10 grams up to 100 grams. Now here’s the kicker, while I did like the feeder, I’ll have to speak about those limitations now. 10 gram adjustments sounded great to me, until I calculated my three cats food exactly and it wasn’t a 10 gram ratio. So my option was to round it down by 8 grams or up by 2 grams, essentially choosing between over or underfeeding them their ideal. I think it’s worth it for the ease of feeding, but it did annoy me a little.
Of far more concern is the fact that it can only be set for 4 feed times per day. Given the price point of the Instachew 2, I don’t see any reason not to allow 6 feedings minimum. This is especially a concern for cats as vets often recommend small feeds of 4-6 meals per day. I have an Obese (Yes, he chonky) cat who is currently on a diet and he forces himself to throw up if he doesn’t get food. When feeding six times a day this is much reduced and more comfortable for him. So I was really annoyed to find you can only feed up to four times a day.
It’s an incredibly effective feeder because once it’s setup, it does it’s thing. It also holds a really good amount of food (for cats) and dispenses it easily and without issues.
However a lot of the features aren’t explained. Like the SD card addition. If I put an SD Card in, what does that do? Does it mean that it will take videos and pics everytime a cat eats. With the app you get a photo at each feeding time, but no videos. What does the SD card change? It’s frustrating that there’s little to no guidance for that.
I also believe you can’t set it up without using an app/smartphone, which makes me concerned about support over time.
It might sound like I’m complaining a lot and these are all very valid points, but it’s to ensure that you are aware of these issues before you buy. The reality is that the Instachew 2 Smart Pet Feeder dwarves my previous auto-feeder in terms of usefulness. It’s made my life a lot easier and with three cats to feed, being able to measure food more accurately and take the burden off me has helped a lot.
Since I’m no longer the ‘feeder’ they don’t annoy me for food and because of the camera, I can make sure each cat is eating. It’s also important not to downplay how useful the smart features would be for someone who is away a lot. You can communicate, view and check in on your pets. Of course, I have no idea how secure this is or if someone else could view through the device, which is always a concern in this day and age.
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Quality
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The quality of the packaging and device is very high. Right out of the box, everything looks professional and well-packaged. The Instachew 2 itself is a simple yet effective pet feeder that has great quality. There’s nothing shoddy or cheap looking. I love how the bowl attaches via a simple ‘press and push’ mechanism. It doesn’t click in or become impossible to remove. It’s easy to attach and detach for cleaning.
The body of the Instachew 2 Smart Pet Feeder is simple, clean and well-made. A really well-thought out part is the lid for the food section. You have to press a relatively small button to open that top section, so clever cats won’t be able to knock it over or open to get at the food inside. It’s a smarter design than I’ve seen on other pet feeders.
Unfortunately the app and manual quality are so far below the quality of the rest of the feeder, it’s almost tragic. The manual is clearly explained, but lacking in a lot of detail, it only really explains how to connect the feeder to the app (something that’s relatively self-explanatory if you follow the app directions). If they could be brought up to the level of the device, quality would be top-notch. Keep reading to hear about the issues with the app itself.
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App
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Note:I use the Android app.
Considering how helpful the Instachew 2 is and how professional the device and packaging looks, the shoddiness of the app is upsetting. The QR codes in the manual lead to an older app which doesn’t exist and by searching I was able to find the updated app. It’s...pretty bad. One of the biggest issues is explanation, as detailed above. There’s a motion sensitivity setting that is never explained. Can you set it to feed when it detects motion, not as far as I can tell. What does the motion sensitivity do? I have no idea. I was left with so many questions.
The app is not super user friendly either. A lot of controls require holding down with your finger, but since there’s no help of explanation on the app, you’re on your own. The basics are relatively easy to do, but the app is also a little buggy. For no reason I can find, it stopped using my audio sample when feeding. I had it set to call Dinnertime twice a day (at reasonable hours) and it did it once and never again. Rechoosing it didn’t seem to work and I was forced to record a new audio sample.
I also had no idea it was saving pics of the feeding times until I found the randomly named ‘Event Management’. I still don’t know what prompts the snapshots found inside that section (I think feeding though). You can’t multi-delete, but must do it individually and when I tried to delete individually it didn’t work.
It also only allows programming for one pet in the profile section, but many households are multi-pet.
The app needs a ton of finessing and fixing and it makes me want to shake the Instachew makers and ask WHAT ARE YOU DOING. The Instachew is awesome and it deserves an awesome app, please pay some app developers.
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Value
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At $199.99 (at time of review) the Instachew 2 Smart Automatic Pet Feeder is at the upper end for a pet feeder. Considering the sleek design and how it will make feeding so much easier, there’s a lot of value there.
However, it must be said that the restrictions and pitiful app reduce the value a ton. I’d recommend it, but not if you’re on a tight budget. If they fix the issues detailed above, it would easily be worth the cost.
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Summary
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The Instachew 2 Smart Pet Feeder is a brilliant high-end automatic feeder, but due to a poorly designed app and lack of communication about features it doesn’t take the title of Ultimate Pet Feeder. There’s more room for improvement than I’d like to see, especially considering it’s the second iteration of the Instachew.
Pros:
+ Works well.
+ Makes Feeding super easy and fully automated while still maintaining the ability to manually feed.
+ Quality design and parts.
+ Professional looking packaging and product.
+ Ability to add audio cue to each feeding.
+ Ability to take snapshots and videos, as well as listen and talk to your pet.
+ Instachew takes snapshots at feeding time (I think).
+ Holds a good amount of food (for cats).
+ Bowl is easy to remove and clean.
+ Secure, difficult for pets to break into.
+ Measures food from 10G - 100G.
Cons:
- App is not user friendly.
- Many features not explained (motion sensitivity, snapshots).
- Expensive.
- Audio Cue and other app features are buggy.
- Feels unfinished in terms of app and manual.
- Limited to four feed times per day.
Recommended: Yes, unless you are on a tight budget. It’s good, but not perfect.
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Bright Day Calendars Academic Planner
This is a wonderful planner. If, like me, you still prefer physical paper to technology, this will really help keep you organiser. The first thing I noticed, and loved, is how cute the design is. Bright Day Calendars have a great range of designs to... +
This is a wonderful planner. If, like me, you still prefer physical paper to technology, this will really help keep you organiser. The first thing I noticed, and loved, is how cute the design is. Bright Day Calendars have a great range of designs to suit all tastes, they are modern and cute at the same time.
One caveat is to be careful when opening your package. This is NOT Bright Day’s fault or a negative on the product at all, but mine was packaged right at the top and I sliced through the cover a little when opening the parcel. I wanted to explain the line you see on the front cover in my pictures, it’s not a flaw or a problem with the product. In fact, I’m really impressed it didn’t cut deeper.
As the other review mentions, if you’re looking for special dates, the Canadian ones aren’t there. These are US made planners. I don’t actually use a planner for the holidays and dates, so it didn’t bother me, but it might be something to include in the future for this brand. Especially as the map has US and Canada.
I use my planner moreso for keeping organised and on task and have other calendars with the holidays, so it’s not a big problem for me. I’m super happy with the other elements of this planner and it has everything I need. Most importantly for me is the ability to have a month view and a week view, with enough space to write multiple things.
The quality is also fantastic. While if you write with sharpie, it can be faintly seen on the other side, it does NOT bleed through. Regular pen and pencil work great. The cover is a thick, plasticised card that resists damage. I love that the ‘holding pouch’ at the back isn’t open on one side like some are, so stuff won’t tip out.
Overall, this is a fantastic planner with the only flaw being missing Canadian holidays!
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CHAMPS 'Horizon Collection' Luggage Set
I love Champs luggage. Every one I try is fantastic quality and has brilliant looks and this one is no exception! I adore the shimmery purple exterior, checkered interior and numerous features. It expands, it locks (TSA locks mean they won’t bust... +
I love Champs luggage. Every one I try is fantastic quality and has brilliant looks and this one is no exception! I adore the shimmery purple exterior, checkered interior and numerous features. It expands, it locks (TSA locks mean they won’t bust your case opening it to check for smuggling) and it looks fantastic doing it.
Like other Champs suitcases I’ve tried, the wheels are smooth like butter and the handle extends easily and simply. The zips are super smooth, never catch and open and close like a dream. Every part of it I examine is the quality I’d expect at this price point and every time I use it, I’m shocked by how effective and brilliant it is.
If it sounds like I’m gushing, it’s because I am. Champs is hands down the best luggage I’ve ever used.
The only downside with the hard case like this, is that you don’t get any ‘easy access’ storage on the front and back. They have fabric suitcases if you prefer, but I like the added protection of these hardside suitcases.
The small ‘carry-on’ size doesn’t expand, but does come with a see-through toiletries or ‘essentials’ bag.
If you have a tight budget and travel a lot, try and get these on sale because they are truly fantastic. They have a luxury feel and quality that I’ve never seen in cheaper suitcases and I’m really happy with them (as you can probably tell!)
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Spa Luxetique hand cream Gift Set
I’ve used Spa Luxetique Soaps in the past and what always stands out is the beauty of their gift packaging. Spa Luxetique’s Hand Cream Gift Set, in the same vein, has lovely packaging. You can send this directly to someone or buy it and gift it... +
I’ve used Spa Luxetique Soaps in the past and what always stands out is the beauty of their gift packaging. Spa Luxetique’s Hand Cream Gift Set, in the same vein, has lovely packaging. You can send this directly to someone or buy it and gift it as is. It looks nice enough to be a sweet and thoughtful gift.
If you want to get more bang for your buck, you can divide up the soaps and hand creams for a bunch of individual gifts to people who you normally wouldn’t get big gifts for. They are also great stocking stuffers or extra pressies. Put one with a pair of socks or gloves and you have a cute gift!
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Effectiveness
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When it comes to effectiveness, both the hand lotions and the bar soaps do a good job, but it depends on what you want in a lotion or soap. The Spa Luxetique hand creams come in six different scents, with two bottles of each. The bottles are 30ml each, they are not tiny, but not large sized either; on the upper side of small.
The texture of the lotion really appealed to me. It’s a medium consistency, not too runny or thick, but it absorbs very quickly and easily and spreads well. It doesn’t feel sticky, but quite velvety. It’s good for regular skin, but might not be strong enough to tackle extremely dry skin. I have normal skin and found my hands were softer and more moisturised when using the Spa Luxetique hand creams.
The scent of these hand creams don’t wallop you about the face, they have a subtle yet pleasant scent. If you prefer a punchy, strong scent, you won’t love these. For fans of gentle scent, it’s a great lotion. I believe it is an artificial scent. Here’s what each one smells like:
Rose: Smells a lot like Turkish Delight (Rose flavoured sweets), with a more realistic Rose scent that isn’t overly perfumed.
Lavender: This has a nice Lavender scent. While Lavender is not my favourite, this smells more like real lavender (though I’m sure there’s added perfume, just like big brands) and isn’t overly sweet.
Almond: My least favourite in the pack. It wasn’t unpleasant, just quite faint and didn’t have an identifiable smell like the others.
Cherry Blossom: A lovely sweet, floral scent. Perfect for those who like a girly scent, but also very calming for some reason.
Green Tea: A little dull for my tastes. I expected zesty and zingy, but it’s a bit leafy and light.
Ocean: Always my favourite. Smells like ‘ocean’ scent usually does. Fresh and watery smelling, if that makes sense.
Vanilla: A subtle vanilla smell. Vanilla sometimes gives me a headache, but this one doesn’t.
The Spa Luxetique 3-in-1 Bar soaps can be used as a soap, shampoo bar or bubble bath. I find they are too drying on my hair to use them as a shampoo bar full time (a problem with shampoo bars that aren’t extremely hydrating), but I enjoy using them in the bath, so I don’t have to bring multiple bottles with me. The soaps come in nice little boxes and are always vacuum sealed.
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Quality
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The quality is great here. They have a mid-end feel, but they definitely feel pricier than they are. That’s another thing that makes them great gift options. The box and design of the bottles are all very cute, while still looking professional. There wasn’t any spillage or leaking.
The only part that feels a little low quality is the sticky stuff holding the bottles into the packaging. You can take those off if you desire, before gifting it, it’s not a big issue.
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Value
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At $26.99 (at time of review) the Spa Luxetique Hand Cream Gift Set is an absolute bargain! Whether you plan to use it yourself, or give it to someone else you get a great looking set of effective hand creams with a range of scents and two soaps. The hand creams are perfect for travel and can even be used individually as small gifts.
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Summary
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The Hand Cream set is exactly the quality I expected from my past experiences with Spa Luxetique. It’s a great gift and there’s some fantastic smells in there.
Pros:
+ Range of scents.
+ Highly suitable for gifting.
+ Pretty Packaging.
+ Lovely scents.
+ Great consistency, spreadability and feel on the hand creams.
+ Great value.
Cons:
- Might not like all scents.
- Bar soap can be drying on hair or skin for some people.
Recommended: Absolutely! I would be thrilled to receive this as a present!
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