Ruth Ovens

The Mirror's shopping team recommends five summer sandals tested through extensive everyday walking, holidays and outdoor activities. Dr. Martens Wrenlie sandals are highlighted for their versatile leather design, Skechers On the Go Brilliancy sandals for exceptional cushioning and walking comfort, Crocs Brooklyn clogs for a stylish platform and comfort, Passenger Atlas Roam sandals for grip and outdoor use, and Blowfish Malibu slingbacks for comfort and smart styling. The reviewers also note drawbacks including break-in time, high prices, minor rubbing or blistering, and occasional strap adjustment.

Ruth Ovens tests Vivobarefoot’s Primus Trail FG 3.5 after switching from conventional trail runners, wearing them for dog walks, pavement walks and a short run over a month. She praises their light weight, flexible sole, grip, comfort and lack of break-in period, but says the distinctive low-profile shape and pull-tie fastening may take some getting used to. Priced at £120, the shoes include a 100-day trial, and the review also compares them with cheaper Merrell and pricier Xero Shoes alternatives.

The LEGO Speed Champions Back to the Future Time Machine, priced at £23 from Argos, can cost £6.08 for new TopCashback members who spend at least £15 and claim a £15 introductory cashback reward. Existing Argos customers who qualify for the cashback promotion would pay about £7.81, while Amazon is offering the set for £17.99. The promotion runs until 21 May 2026 while stocks last. Customer reviews broadly praise the set’s detailing, value and nostalgic appeal, although some reviewers report minor assembly issues. Other Back to the Future gift options include a DeLorean 3D lamp from Menkind and a retro sweater from TruffleShuffle.

The Russell Hobbs Upright Steam Mop is available on Amazon for £26.99, reduced from £34.99, and has more than 1,600 five-star reviews. Its features include a 25-second heat-up time, up to 25 minutes of steam, washable microfibre pads, a 350ml tank, a 5m power cord and a carpet-glider attachment. Shoppers largely praise its lightweight build, ease of use and cleaning results, although one reviewer says the steam power is limited. Shark and Dunelm models are suggested as alternatives.

The Mirror highlights Roman's £35 Classic Cotton Denim Jacket, available in 12 colours, as a versatile spring and summer layering piece made from machine-washable cotton. Shoppers generally praise its quality, fit and style, although some say the sleeves are tight and recommend sizing up. The article also compares discounted alternatives from Nobody's Child and Debenhams and notes that the coverage contains affiliate links.

The Ninja Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine is discounted by £145 to £404.99 at Ninja. The bean-to-cup machine offers 19 drink settings, a built-in grinder, 25 grind levels, automated and manual milk frothing, and options including espresso, filter coffee and cold brew. Ruth Ovens found setup straightforward but somewhat time-consuming, praised its versatility and dishwasher-safe parts, and noted difficulty changing portafilter baskets. A buyer called it well made and capable of producing highly customisable coffees, while the article also highlights cheaper alternatives from L'OR and De'Longhi.

The Mirror’s shopping team recommends several coffee machines they use regularly, spanning pod, ground-coffee and bean-to-cup models. The L’OR Barista Absolu and Sublime are praised for compact designs, convenient pods and good-quality drinks, while the Breville Barista Max and Ninja Café Luxe offer more advanced brewing and milk-steaming capabilities. The De’Longhi Dedica Style is highlighted as a durable, affordable choice for smaller kitchens. Although the machines require upfront spending and, in some cases, ongoing pod costs, the team says they can reduce expenditure on takeaway coffee.

The Mirror’s shopping team recommends nine advent calendars still available ahead of December 1, covering craft beer, beauty, stationery, candles and coffee. Prices range from £18 for Yankee Candle’s set to £161.48 for L’Oréal Paris’s 24-day calendar. The guide highlights value, product variety and presentation while noting drawbacks such as small product sizes, repeated items, limited shade choices and possible sellouts. Several calendars offer substantial stated savings and are positioned as gifts or festive treats.

The Mirror’s shopping team recommends 15 unconventional advent calendars for Christmas 2025, covering coffee, tea, matcha, wine, popcorn, jam, liquorice, stationery, LEGO, crafts, candles, jewellery, sex toys and socks. The selections range from budget-friendly options to premium calendars, with descriptions of contents, prices, savings and intended audiences. Several writers highlight product variety and gift appeal, while noting occasional drawbacks such as repeated candle scents, high prices and small matcha portions.

Jennifer, a mother of two, says the Simple health app helped her lose 2st 8lb (17.7kg) in four months after a doctor classified her as morbidly obese. She credits the app’s intermittent-fasting guidance, reminders, tailored nutrition advice and Avo AI coach with making weight loss manageable despite emotional eating and a knee injury. Other users also report significant weight loss and improved habits, although one reviewer found the app confusing to navigate. The article is affiliate-supported and promotes a temporary subscription discount from £29.99 to £17.99 per month using code REACH60, while noting that individual results vary.

Five Mirror shopping experts recommend ways to spend Amazon gift cards ranging from £10 to £150. Suggestions include thermal socks and cleanser, a wireless charging station, Soundcore Q20i noise-cancelling headphones, Le Creuset mugs with an insulated French press, and a new Kindle with accessories. The recommendations emphasize practical, well-reviewed products, with some current discounts and a minor warning about the socks shedding.

The Mirror’s shopping team recommends several coffee machines discounted or promoted for Black Friday, highlighting the De’Longhi Dedica Style at £149.99, Breville Barista Max at £299, Philips L’OR Barista Sublime at £45 and Melitta’s larger filter machine at £99. The team also discusses a £1 Smeg-Lavazza machine tied to a capsule subscription, the full-price Ninja Luxe Café, and the Sage Barista Express as an alternative. Recommendations emphasize ease of use, home coffee quality, built-in grinders, milk frothing and potential savings compared with takeaway coffee, while noting drawbacks such as cleaning difficulty, subscription commitments and high prices.

Ruth Ovens reviews Ninja's Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine, which is back in stock at £549.99 ahead of Christmas. She praises its grinder, automated and manual milk-frothing options, compatibility with dairy and plant milks, flexible drink settings and thoughtful storage design. The machine helped her replace takeaway coffee with homemade drinks and reduce spending on pods, although setup takes time and changing the portafilter baskets can be difficult. A Sage Barista Express is highlighted as a cheaper alternative.

Ruth Ovens reviews Ninja’s £549 Luxe Café Premier Espresso Machine, which includes a conical burr grinder, automated grind recommendations, multiple baskets and milk-frothing settings for dairy and plant-based milk. Setup is straightforward but somewhat time-consuming, while cleaning is simplified by dishwasher-safe removable parts. The reviewer enjoyed making cappuccinos, lattes, flat whites, mochas and hot chocolate, and praised the machine’s design and accessory storage, though changing the portafilter baskets initially proved difficult. Despite the high upfront price, using whole beans instead of pods and making more drinks at home reduced the household’s coffee spending and takeaway purchases.

Marks & Spencer’s 2024 Home of Beauty advent calendar contains 25 products, including 11 full-sized items, in a reusable blue velvet case. Priced at £50 for customers spending £35 on clothing, home or beauty, it includes brands such as Color Wow, Benefit, Clinique, Nails Inc and Dr. PAWPAW, with the contents valued at more than £300. The reviewer considers it worth the qualifying spend, praising the presentation, brand selection and opportunity to try premium products, while noting that five haircare items may be excessive and that the fragranced Fresh Elements day cream may not suit sensitive skin.

The Mirror’s shopping team recommends eight autumn knitwear pieces spanning affordable high-street options and premium cashmere or wool investments. The selection includes cardigans and jumpers from Cos, Uniqlo, The White Company, Mango, Marks & Spencer, Toast, Arket and Club Monaco, with the writers highlighting softness, durability, versatility and quality. Proper garment care, including hand-washing some items, is presented as essential to achieving long-term value.

Ruth Ovens recommends O'Keeffe's Working Hands Intensive Balm and Hand Cream for people whose hands become dry and cracked during cold weather or frequent outdoor activity. She praises the products' long-lasting, soothing, fragrance-free formula and says a tub lasts several months, while noting that the packaging feels less hygienic than a tube. The cream and balm cost £8.49 and £16.50 respectively on Amazon, with Rituals Hydra-Boost Complex Instant Care Hand Lotion and Burt's Bees Hand Salve offered as scented alternatives.

Rituals' Classic Advent Calendar costs £91.90 but contains products valued at £166, offering shoppers £74 in apparent savings. The review praises its attractive Amsterdam-inspired packaging, appealing scents, candles, hand lotion and Ayurveda hair products, while criticising the extremely small Mehr shampoo and body bar. The calendar is presented as a good way to sample Rituals products and pack travel-sized toiletries, though shoppers seeking a strictly beauty-focused calendar may prefer alternatives under £100.

The Antler Discovery Backpack is discounted by 25%, from £140 to £105, with code SUMMER25. The 28-litre, water-resistant backpack is presented as suitable for Ryanair's free under-seat baggage allowance and includes a laptop compartment, internal pockets, a suitcase sleeve and recycled-polyester construction. A writer who used it on a Ryanair flight to Pisa said it passed the airline's luggage checks and held four days of clothing. The product also has a lifetime warranty and is available in three colours.

Thirteen Daily Mirror shopping and beauty writers recommend discounted beauty products available during Amazon Prime Day 2024. Their selections cover skincare, makeup, fragrance, haircare and at-home nail treatments, including products from Embryolisse, Maybelline, COSRX, Paula’s Choice, Urban Decay and L’Oréal Paris. The writers emphasize personal experience, effectiveness and value, while noting that the article contains affiliate links and that some prices may be lower than those at Boots, Superdrug and other retailers.

Catherine, Princess of Wales made her first public appearance since announcing her cancer diagnosis at the 2024 Trooping the Colour ceremony, wearing a white-and-navy Jenny Packham dress and Philip Treacy hat. The feature highlights her outfit and offers more affordable alternatives inspired by her style from LK Bennett, Hobbs, Marks & Spencer and Roman, including discounted shopping options.

Marks & Spencer is selling Prai Beauty’s Ageless Throat and Decolletage Creme Intensive Gold, a 24K-gold-enhanced neck and décolletage cream launched for the brand’s 10th anniversary. Shoppers praise its texture, fragrance, hydration and perceived firming effects, although one reviewer reports only a modest improvement. A Rodial neck and décolletage gel is also highlighted as a discounted alternative.

The feature recommends eight unglamorous household purchases that the Mirror team considers worth paying for when used regularly. Suggestions include a draining washing-up bowl, smart kettle, Wi-Fi range extender, foldable laundry basket, spray mop, bread bin, handheld vacuum and colour-changing light bulb. The recommendations emphasize convenience, durability, storage savings and improved cleaning, while acknowledging that spending more is a luxury during the cost-of-living crisis and noting cheaper alternatives for several products.