As one of the UK’s most well-known pharmacy chains, Boots is a household name, but that doesn’t mean you should put up with subpar customer service! They once messed up one of my prescriptions. It was only a wrong dose, but things like that need to be fed back to them.

In this article, we’ll explore how to complain to Boots in the UK and get the issue resolved.

Why complain to Boots?

If you have an issue with Boots, it is important to complain to the company to get the issue resolved. Complaining to Boots can help you get a refund, replacement, or compensation for any harm caused.

It can also help improve the company’s customer service and prevent similar issues from happening to other customers in the future.

Types of Issues You Can Complain to Boots About

There are many different types of issues that you may need to complain to Boots about. These include:

• Delivery issues: If your order has not arrived or has arrived damaged, you can complain to Boots to get a replacement or refund, for online orders.
• Prescription issues: If there is an issue with your prescription, you can complain to Boots’ pharmacy team to get it resolved. These are probably the most important types of complaint.
• Account issues: If there is an issue with your Boots Advantage Card or your online account, you can complain to Boots to get it sorted out.
• Boots Opticians issues: If you have an issue with Boots Opticians or your eye test with them
• Boots Photo issues: If there is an issue with your Boots Photo order, you can complain to have it put right.

Your rights

As a consumer, you have certain rights when it comes to making a complaint to Boots. These include:

• The right to a refund: If you are not happy with your purchase, you have the right to a refund.
• The right to a replacement: If your item is faulty or damaged, you have the right to a replacement.
• The right to compensation: If you have suffered harm as a result of Boots’ actions, you have the right to compensation. This one is rare, but may be required if it’s a medication issue.

If you are not happy with how Boots has handled your complaint, you can escalate it to Resolver, an issue-resolution tool that is free to use.

You can also seek advice from consumer issues rights guides or escalate your complaint to ombudsmen or regulatory bodies. Here’s how.

How to Complain to Boots in the UK

If you have an issue with Boots UK, you can make a complaint in several ways. In this section, we will discuss the different ways you can complain to Boots, including contacting Boots customer service, using Resolver, contacting the ombudsman, and contacting regulators.

Contacting Boots Customer Service by Phone, Email and Social

If you have a complaint, the first step is to contact Boots customer service. You can do this by phone, email, or online.

The Boots customer service team is available to help you with any issues you may have, including delivery, Boots Advantage Card, Click and Collect, and Boots Photo.

To contact Boots customer service by phone, call 0345 609 0055. If you prefer to send an email, you can use the online contact form on the Boots website or use:

General queries: boots.customercare_team@boots.co.uk

For Boots Opticians queries: boots.customercare@boots.co.uk

For Contact Lens Reward Scheme queries: contactlenses@boots-opticians.co.uk

Boots UK customer service can also be contacted through several social media platforms.

• You can reach out to them on Twitter by using the handle @BootsUK
• Use Facebook by messaging their official page, which is simply called Boots.
• They also have a dedicated Boots Customer Care Twitter account with the handle @BootsHelp.

When contacting Boots customer service, it is important to provide as much evidence as possible to support your complaint. This may include correspondence, responses, or witness statements. Boots customer service will investigate your complaint and aim to resolve it as quickly as possible.

Writing a Letter to Complain to Boots

You can also write and complain, as you’ve always been able to do in the past! The address is:

Boots UK Limited.
Nottingham, NG2 3AA. 

Using Resolver to Escalate a Complaint

If you are not satisfied with the response from Boots customer service, you can use Resolver, an issue-resolution tool. Resolver can help you escalate your complaint to the ombudsman or regulatory body if necessary.

To use Resolver, visit the Resolver website and select Boots from the list of companies. You will then be guided through the complaints process, which includes providing evidence and tracking your complaint.

Contacting Regulators (Mostly for Pharmacy Complaints)

If your complaint is related to a regulatory issue, such as the conduct of a pharmacy team, you can contact the relevant regulatory body. In the UK, the regulatory body is the General Pharmaceutical Council.

You can contact the General Pharmaceutical Council by phone on 020 3713 8000 or by email at info@pharmacyregulation.org. You can also write to their head office address at 25 Canada Square, London, E14 5LQ.

In Ireland, the regulatory body is the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. You can contact the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland by phone on 01 218 4000 or by email at info@psi.ie.

In summary, if you have a complaint with Boots UK, you can contact Boots customer service, use Resolver, or contact regulators. It is important to provide as much evidence as possible to support your complaint and follow up with reminders if necessary. Good luck!

We chose Nordestetics for reasons I’ll go into below. I did most of the research into the clinic beforehand, and we took lots of pictures and notes when we were there.

Now we’re back home in the UK, we’ve decided to write up a complete review and guide to Nordesthetics (or “Nords” as many people call it), with the full story on how it all went, in case it’s useful for those considering going to have similar procedures.

Disclaimer: Everyone’s body is different, and these results aren’t necessarily indicative of how the same procedures might affect another individual. This isn’t medical or financial advice – this article is for informational purposes only.

This is a LONG read, so grab a cuppa – and you’ll probably want a pen and paper or your phone to take notes! We did tons of research on every aspect of the trip, so hope it helps if you’re about to do the same.

Plastic Surgery Abroad: Why Lithuania? [and Not Turkey]

When Sam first started researching tummy tucks abroad (including the all-inclusive “mummy makeover” packages) she looked at Turkey first. It’s been in the press a lot, some celebs have done it, and prices seemed cheaper than anywhere else.

There are a LOT of companies and clinics selling plastic surgery in Turkey. It’s incredibly difficult to wade through them and assess their quality. Many have a slick marketing operation with websites that look legit, but don’t give much ‘real’ information.

A lot of online reviews can’t be trusted, unless the person can prove they actually attended the clinic (which is why we’re writing this first-hand account!).

Remember, anyone can fill in a 5-star review form online, and anyone can put what they like on a website (which is why we’re including all our own pictures and reports here).

How We Made a Shortlist of Clinics (and How You Can, Too)

After sending initial emails out to a handful of clinics (including Nords), it was easier to make a shortlist. If you’re thinking of having plastic surgery abroad, you should do this too – get a few quotes, and assess the quality of the responses you get. Do lots of research.

Things you should check are:

• Full CVs of surgeons with membership of internationally-recognized medical associations (not just local ones, or associate memberships) – for example, can you call the association and see if the surgeon really is a member? Who are their colleagues? Who can vouch for them? Where are they professionally recognized? Where have they practised? Are they board certified?
  
• Are they a “real” business that you can call and get through to – not just a mobile/Whatsapp number and PO box? Is there a reception you can speak to, or a representative?
  
• Do the reviews and pictures online seem legit? Are they photoshopped? Do they appear on other sites or Instagram feeds?
  
• Are there first-hand accounts of people’s visits there, and their results?
  
• Finally, if it’s too good to be true – it usually is. Medical care is not something to be taken lightly. This is your body, and your life in their hands.

Nords was one of the few clinics that said that Sam should try and get her BMI down first, to achieve better results and to lower the risk of complications. This, to me, was a good thing – it indicated that they prioritised medical responsibility over securing the surgery booking.

In contrast, almost all of the Turkish clinics said yes, they’d do the procedure, with no reference to risks, BMI or anything else. Many were cash only (big red flag, in my book) and one couldn’t even spell ‘medicine'(!). It’s a minefield out there.

We eventually shortlisted clinics in Lithuania and Prague. EU countries also have an advantage here, since they have their own higher standards and laws if you want to practise medicine in the EU. Despite Brexit, the UK still maintains a reciprocal health agreement with all EU countries (more on this later).

Why We Chose Nordesthetics

In a nutshell, after a lot of research, here are some of the reasons we chose Nords:

• Certified and experienced surgeons who had practised in many other European countries, many of whom were members of respected medical societies or associations (and I checked)
  
• The parent company (Artmedica, UAB) is licensed by the Lithuanian Ministry of Health and adheres to European standards for practising medicine (yep, I checked this as well)
  
• No extreme reviews that indicated any sort of serious negligence or death – whereas there was a handful of these for other clinics. Bear in mind there ARE negative reviews, and there ARE things that go wrong, as with any surgical clinic, but these are for mixed reasons – more on this later. Every plastic surgery clinic will have someone unhappy with their results, or people who get infections, but wilful medical negligence is a whole different thing.
  
• Majority positive reviews across many channels (Trustpilot, TrueSelf, Facebook, Google My Business) with many that seemed genuine.
  
• A real physical office / business with multiple forms of contact – not just a “PO Box” or rented office space (watch out for this with some clinics).
  
• A community Facebook group for either men or women to discuss their journey at Nords and help each other out.
  

A note on the Nordesthetics Facebook Groups

Joining this “surgical journey” group was very important to Sam, since she wanted to speak to others who had already been for surgery, and see how it was going afterward.

It’s also a good idea to join if you’re at the planning stage, so you can see people’s stories and results. Here’s a link to the women’s group, and here’s one for men.

The Facebook group is moderated by Nords, but on the whole they seem to leave most posts up – even ones that could be viewed as negative or complaining. To me, this is a good sign – they could just delete or suppress anything negative. It’s much more preferable to keep an open dialogue and address problems in public.

There are also private, unofficial Whatsapp groups that people tend to join for their surgery month – just to make it easier to connect with people having surgery at the same time.

There are pros and cons to the Facebook and Whatsapp groups:

Pros

• Extremely supportive and helpful community
  
• You can ‘make friends’ with other people having surgery at the same time and then meet up in real life for support whilst you’re in the clinic (and after!)
  
• Reassurance when you need it from those who have ‘been there’
  
• Plenty of before and after (and during!) pictures of other women’s results
  
• The chance to ask niggling questions day or night to sympathetic ears
  
• Recommendations for useful things like what to pack, or things like scar cream and other bits and pieces you need to buy later on

Cons:

• Well-meaning but unqualified medical advice. I’ve seen some recommendations for things like supplements, pills, or creams that aren’t scientifically proven. I’m sure they may work for some, but it’s not wise to dish out medical recommendations to people, even if they’ve had the same surgery.
  
• There can sometimes be drama and frightening/graphic photos. Infections seem quite common (more on this later as Sam experienced this too) and depending on how they’re dealt with, can make others anxious and upset.
  
• For example, Sam nearly didn’t have liposuction because one woman said it gave her unbelievable pain. As it turns out, it was the least painful procedure and Sam very nearly didn’t have any lipo because of this one dramatic comment.

This circles back to my original point – everyone is different, and you have to do what’s right for YOU, and you should make that decision in conjunction with proper medical advice.

If you DO decide on Nords, or just want to hear what happened next, then read on:

When to Go for Surgery, and for How Long

This, of course, depends if you have the choice – lots of people can only get time off work/childcare and so on at a given date.

If you have the option, you might want to consider that swelling and the compression garments are likely to be uncomfortable when you’re hot, so if you’re flexible, go in a cooler month.

We went in November, which was fine – but very cold. Icy paths outside are probably a bad idea to tackle, but it certainly helped with managing the inevitable heat/itching/swelling issues.

Depending on the amount of surgery you’re having, you might have to stay longer than you think in Lithuania. The clinic will clear you medically for flying home, and give a minimum of about 5 days’ stay depending on your surgery.

I would STRONGLY recommend that you take much more time. Flying is the main risk, here, and you want to be in the best position possible to let your body recover and reduce the risk of blood clots. If you’ve ever had clotting problems then talk to your GP as well as mention this to Nords.

For example, if you were having a tummy tuck in the UK, they normally recommend not flying for at least 5-10 days, depending on how complex it is (source: NHS).

After consulting with the surgeon, which we’ll talk about later, he told us we’d done the right thing by staying ten days after Sam’s surgery. Bearing in mind she had more than one procedure plus liposuction, so it was more complex.

At the time of writing, people are concerned about Lithuania being close to Russia. Don’t worry – it’s perfectly safe. Lithuania is a member of NATO and the EU and the prospect of anything “bad” happening there is very slim indeed.

Kaunas, where Nords are located, is Lithuania’s second city. It’s modern, pleasant, and the people were friendly. Many people worry about going to Eastern Europe for surgery, but there’s no need. The city is easy to get around, and the accommodation reflects the usual choices in any major European city.

Going Alone vs Taking Someone With You

One of the strongest plus points with Nords is that a very strong community has built up around those having a similar “journey”.

This is both in the private Facebook groups but we also joined a private Whatsapp group for all the women having surgery in the same month. This means that you can make friends, reassure each other, and ask how everyone is doing. It certainly helps you feel less alone.

This means that some women decide to go alone – some, because they want to, and others for childcare reasons or just because their partner/relative/friend can’t spare the time off.

Many women go on their own and are just fine. I would say it depends on the amount of work you’re having, how you normally manage pain and/or inconvenience, and how independent you naturally are.

My sister is definitely a strong independent woman but she admitted she would have struggled on her own. Not so much the hobbling around and recovering, but all the other things – I had to help her wash and dress, and did all the shopping, cooking, cleaning, and wound care.

On top of that, being in a foreign country where not everyone speaks your language can also be trying, even if you’re not recovering from surgery. There are also a lot of medications to manage and if you’re feeling ‘out of it’ this can be a challenge, too.

Bonus tip: If you do take someone with you, have them do a first aid course (even one of the online simple ones). It’s super useful to have anyway, and it makes you feel more confident.

I was already Red Cross qualified but I took this refresher course on Udemy – there are loads on there and they’re less than 20 quid. For peace of mind, I think it’s a good idea.

WARNING: From this point on, there are pictures of the surgery. They are not gross or indecent, but some people might be squeamish about scars and so on. Just so you know if you keep scrolling!

Step 1 – Booking the Surgery [Pre-Surgery Pics]

Nordestethics will assign you a ‘rep’ when you make your initial inquiries. These representatives act as your main point of contact for almost everything, from booking the surgery through to logistics and aftercare questions to the surgeon.

Our rep was changed halfway through because I think the first lady left, but they are all very polite, friendly, speak/write excellent English and are really helpful.

First, Sam was asked to send photos of herself, front, back and side – and to complete a questionnaire.

The Before Photos (Taken at Home)

When Sam and I were thinking about putting this article together we thought we’d also share the photos – because so many people want to know a “real-life” story. Here is one of the ‘before’ ones Sam sent to Nords:

The email she received back indicated that she ought to lose weight before having the surgery. This is for two reasons:

• Better results. If you lose weight after the surgery you’ll have sections of loose skin again and may need more work. The best option is to get your weight down to a level you’re happy with before having any sort of skin-tightening procedures like a tummy tuck or boob lift.
  
• Lower risk of complications. People who are very overweight or obese may have more issues under anesthetic.

This is not a post about weight loss, of course – that’s a whole different story. But I am very proud that Sam worked hard to lose a couple of stones through a better diet and exercise.

I saw some posts in the forum about women lying about their weight in their application forms. This isn’t a good idea – you’ll definitely have an in-person consultation before you’re operated on and if the surgeon thinks it’s too risky, then you’ll have travelled all that way for nothing.

Surgeons can, and do refuse to operate if they think it’s unsafe to do so. If you want the best results, honesty is the best policy.

After the above pictures Sam was offered – on the condition of getting her BMI below 30 – the “mummy makeover”. This was a tummy tuck, breast lift and liposuction to the back and sides.

Sometimes, you will get other RECOMMENDED procedures, so bear in mind you don’t have to take everything you’re offered. You will talk more about this with your surgeon in person, and your final plan is decided before you pay for it all at the clinic, so you may end up paying a bit more or less, depending on what procedures are decided.

Why No In-Person Consultations Before Bookings?

Many cosmetic surgery clinics (especially in the UK) will give you an in-person consultation way in advance of the surgery and before any plan or booking is made. Some people feel uncomfortable with the Nords way of doing things, which is to have the consultation a day or two before going into surgery.

For this reason, some people may feel undue pressure to go ahead, when they’re not sure, just because “I’ve come all this way” and it’s already booked in.

It’s your body, and your life – you should ask any and all questions to make yourself feel comfortable with what you’re about to have done. Surgery is not to be taken lightly, so if you want to fly out for a consultation, that may be possible.

I know that Nords probably don’t do video consults and the like because they are simply too busy (they do 2000 ops a year, according to their site), and I imagine this is to prevent timewasters who will never book.

The best thing is to ask as many questions as possible, before you make a decision.

Step 2 – Paying a Deposit for the Surgery

Nords asked for a £500 deposit to secure the booking date. At the time of writing, if you cancel more than 3 weeks before your surgery, you’ll get half (£250) back. Less than 3 weeks and you forfeit the deposit.

If you postpone once, it’ll knock £100 off your deposit. If you postpone twice, you have to pay a new deposit. These rules are subject to change, so it’s best to read the official Nords Payment Policies on their site to see what they currently are.

These sorts of terms and conditions will be emailed to you. Read them thoroughly so you know where you stand. We read a couple of stories of lost deposits because people didn’t realise the cut-off date or the accepted reasons for changes or refunds.

That said, Nords were reasonable and will refund a full deposit if someone had a genuine reason to cancel, such as the death of a family member or other things out of their control. It’s best to speak to them about your individual situation.

The deposit is paid in Pounds Sterling, into a UK bank account belonging to Nords, so there’s no issue with currency conversion or anything like that, at the beginning.

You pay for the rest in person at the clinic, so there’s more detail on that later, including how to avoid paying ridiculous bank exchange rate charges, too!

Step 3 – Flights and Accommodation

Before we set off, we had very thorough emails from our rep, noting all the flights etc. we had booked, when we were being collected, and she double-checked our mobile numbers. I couldn’t fault their politeness and efficiency with the organising.

You also get a “pre-surgery” email describing all the things to do (or not to do) before surgery. For example, you shouldn’t smoke, take aspirin, use self-tan etc a couple of weeks before surgery.

I’m not repeating the full list here, because this may well be different for others, and you may get bespoke advice based on the surgery you’re having, as well as any medical issues unique to you. Again, your rep will tell you everything you need to know in advance.

Flights

We flew Ryanair both ways, direct from Manchester. If you can, I’d strongly recommend getting a direct flight rather than changing anywhere – the less time spent flying after surgery, the better.

Depending on the work you’re having done, and the days you’ve allowed for recovery, you’ll very likely need airport assistance booked for your return flight. You can do this at the same time as the booking.

Some airlines (like Wizz) like you to call their call centre to ask for it. One thing for sure though – you MUST book this in advance. You can’t just rock up and ask for a wheelchair. We heard that one lady had left it until the airport, and was turned down.

One advantage (on Ryanair at least) is that you’ll get automatic seat allocation together with a companion, if you’re taking someone with you, so you don’t pay extra to choose a seat.

That wasn’t a problem on our flight anyway -it was pretty empty!

Another thing to bear in mind is that Kaunas is a far better airport to fly back from if you can. It’s a 30-min ride between the clinic and the airport, whereas Vilnius, the capital, is over 1.5 hours away. Although Nords will provide transport, it’s a long journey if you’re still feeling every little bump, as Sam was, even on the way home.

Try to travel light. The less you’re carrying, the easier your return flight is going to be. Sam and I shared a suitcase and hand luggage so I could carry the whole lot on the way back (and I did). There was no way she was going to pull a suitcase.

Tips on What to Pack

We put this together based on what other people said in the various groups before we went, and what we realised we actually used afterwards. I’ve included links to each item on Amazon, too:

UK to EU adapter (Lithuania is 220v/2 pin European plug) – we got this one because it also had 2 USB points on it. It saved us buying separate adapters for our phones. If you have a lot of accessories like hair dryer, straightener etc and your accomodation won’t have them, I’d say get two adapters.

A long USB lead for your phone so it can go from pretty much any power point to your bed or sofa – like this one for iPhones or this one for USB-C powered Android type phones (Nords rooms do have USB points though, so you don’t need to take the mains adapter into surgery!) – before you buy, check it’s the right connector for your phone.

A foldable walking stick – like this one. We took a trekking pole and it didn’t work very well! So take a proper one with a wide base. The clinic does have sticks you can borrow, but they’re not given out routinely.

Earplugs – whether you’re a light sleeper or not, the surgery and its surroundings can’t be 100% quiet all the time, with people coming and going. That, and you might have street noise outside your apartment or hotel. I swear by these wax earplugs rather than the foam or silicone ones, and Sam LOVED them.

Throat lozenges – whatever your favourite brand is – Sam had a bag of these honey and lemon ones. This is because your throat hurts after having breathing/ventilation tubes during the surgery, and your mouth can get pretty dry anyway with all the stress, medication etc. You can always buy them there, too.

TAKE TEABAGS if you drink tea! Lithuania has much more of a coffee culture than tea, and the typical strong British brew is very hard to find. You can find green and herbal tea more easily.

Your own sleeping pills (if you’re able to have them prescribed) or something that will help, like these Kalms, for example. Nords give you a couple, but many people we spoke to needed help getting off to sleep for a night or two after. Always check if it will interfere with your post-surgical medication.

Something for constipation – which is one of the main side-effects of anaesthesia/surgery. Yes, Nords will also provide a couple of things to “get you going” but when Sam got through those with no luck, I had to go out on the high street and try to describe suppositories and constipation to a Lithuanian pharmacist in their second language.

They were lovely, but it was a bit embarrassing and stressful. So take something with you – these type of ones worked fine for Sam after a few attempts.

Compression socks (proper medical-grade ones). Blood clots are an elevated risk when flying after surgery so it’s a very good idea to wear these. Sam borrowed some from a nurse friend, but if you haven’t got any – it’s this type of sock and NOT the cheap, thin ones. They should go up to your thighs.

Any favourite films, books, music etc with headphones, loaded onto your phone. It can get boring pretty quickly. Sam had me, but she also had Beyonce to get her through it all

PJs, tracksuit or other loose-fitting clothes that you’re really comfy in – it’s really all you’ll be wearing until you fly home, and they’ve seen it all before in Nords, so don’t feel you have to dress to impress…

Shoes/boots (like Uggs) that are easy to pull on and off. I had to help Sam dress and undress so make it as easy as possible if you can.

A spare small old towel or a puppy pad. This is because if you’re having lipo, the fluid will leak for a bit after the drains are removed (more on this later) and if you’re in a hotel or Airbnb it can be alarming when it gets on the bedsheets.

Anything (e.g. a meditation or anxiety app) that will help support your mental health. I use Headspace, though there are plenty of others, including free apps. Or anything else that will keep you centred and help you cope with the emotional rollercoaster that some people experience.

What NOT to Pack

In the spirit of travelling light, there are some things you won’t need and shouldn’t bother with:

Don’t take loads of clothes changes. Not needed because you’ll be in a compression garment so can wear the same clothes over it, and wash the garment instead.

Avoid bringing any tight-fitting clothes… the swelling is significant and you probably won’t get into them anyway. The same goes for any clothes with complicated zips, laces, fastenings… it’ll just suck your energy and time trying to put them on.

For ease and speed of getting through the travel part, I’d try to go with hand luggage only, rather than check-in baggage, but I realise some people prefer it and want to pack more, so that’s fine too – but remember you’ll likely be unable to carry anything much on the way home.

Note: If you have more than one piece of luggage, or more than one person accompanying you, Nords will charge extra for the transport logistics. When we went, it was 30 Euros per extra person (e.g. if you brought a second person or more) for the airport transfer, one way, and 20 Euros per extra item of luggage, one way. Another reason to travel light!

Accommodation

The Nords clinic has its own apartments in the same building where the huge advantage is being just one or two floors away from the surgical team and nurses.

Nords has a working relationship with several hotels in Kaunas, and your rep will email you all the prices and can also book on your behalf. They’re happy to make enquiries for you as well, which is really helpful.

We were originally going to book a room at Nords but their ‘large’ apartment (or at least the ones available) had only one bedroom and a sofa bed, so we decided on an Airbnb instead so we could both have a bedroom with a bed. Choose somewhere quiet – you’ll need your rest!

We had a lovely little apartment in the old town, with two bedrooms and a full kitchen, washing machine, etc. It had one flight of stairs which was just about manageable – again, think ahead and don’t get somewhere with more than a flight of stairs or without a lift. It wasn’t much to look at from the outside, but it was pretty cosy.

I’d recommend staying a 10 min ride (or less) away from the clinic. If you go back for a lymphatic drainage massage, a check-up, or your tapes changed – it’ll be much easier. Sam felt every cobble, speed bump and pothole in the car and although the in-house Nords drivers are very careful because of this, the regular taxi drivers aren’t!

Some people also choose to stay in hotels. We didn’t, because I could do all the self-catering stuff, but if you were on your own, getting takeout from all the apps (more on this later) would be just fine since you won’t feel like much cooking. Or in the better hotels, there might be room service. Another advantage of hotels is that it’s likely at least a couple of staff members will be trained in First Aid, too.

I used Booking.com to look for hotels and self-catering apartments. See their Kaunas page here.

A note on Travel Restrictions

I’m not mentioning the restrictions here because they change so rapidly. It’s best to check the most up to date information for both Lithuania as a country (which will largely follow the EU guidance), and also Nords own rules. Here’s the link to the UK Foreign Office’s page on Lithuania, which usually tells you any restrictions.

For example, their requirement at the time was that Sam had to have a PCR test before her surgical consultation, and I was only allowed to visit her after I showed proof of being vaccinated. There were also the in-country rules like needing extra paperwork before flying, and showing your NHS vaccination pass before going in shops, and so on. This is very likely to have relaxed by now.

Your Nordesthetics representative will also tell you what their own rules are for the time you’ve booked.

Step 4 – Arriving in Lithuania

Our first night was at the Kaunas Airport hotel because we arrived very late – 1am in the morning, local time. If you have a similarly late flight I’d recommend it – it’s just outside the airport doors, across a small car park.

It was clean and comfortable but basic – a bit like a decent Travelodge or Premier Inn. Here’s the link to it on Booking.com if you want to book.

The following morning we were picked up by one of Nords’ drivers in a marked minivan.

A word on the Nords drivers – they’re all really lovely, helpful and speak good English. Despite some of them being quite young, they drove safely and carefully. We were really impressed with them.

We arrived three days before the scheduled surgery (I think the minimum is two), but the extra day was great for settling in to the apartment. First, Sam had to go have a PCR test done – and wait for the results before seeing the surgeon the next day.

This may or may not still be a requirement, so it’s best to check what rules are in place at the moment.

Tips on Food, Culture and Making Yourself at Home

Next, we went shopping and got supplies for the week ahead. Being a food dweeb I tried out most supermarket chains (much to Sam’s annoyance) and the best ones were Maxima followed by SILAS. Here’s a pic inside one – they’re pretty good!

Sam wanted the same familiar brands she had at home, which are fairly common – and I went for the local food.

Tips: What looks like milk (pieno) is often sour cream (grietine). Some people were upset when they poured it into their tea! I used the Google translate app camera feature to figure out what most things were.

Stock up on high fibre foods. Constipation is a “thing” after surgery – and eating fresh fruit, veggies and other high-fiber foods can really help move things along. Plus, eating healthier options also helps your immune system and wound healing.

Although Sam hated being dragged around the supermarkets, it was so much easier doing all this when we could both carry the shopping home and lug a trolley around.

Note that you don’t HAVE to do self-catering. Much of Eastern Europe has a food app called Wolt which is just like Deliveroo, Uber Eats and so on. Lithuania was full of delicious food options, and prices are much cheaper than at home.

Here’s a link to the Wolt app on the App store and on Google Play. I found it really easy, and it will auto-translate menus into English, too. Use the referral code GDDE5T3 and you can get 2.50 Euros off your first two orders.

On our first night Sam had a steak and I had some traditional Lithuanian potato dumplings with pork crackling (delicious). You could also get almost any other cuisine, so if you’re on your own, don’t want to cook or can’t be bothered – have the food delivered. The Nords clinic/apartments even has a hot box in the lobby for all the food deliveries that get sent there.

After Sam’s PCR test came back negative (thankfully!) we went to go to her surgical consultation the next day with Dr Ghassan.

Step 5 – Paperwork and Payment

I was looking forward to seeing the Nordestethics building in person. A good website is one thing, but I wanted to check things all out for myself – especially after I felt partly responsible for choosing the clinic, too.

Sam received some texts from the logistics team, telling her when we’d be picked up, so another driver came and we went off to the clinic.

First impressions were good. Our temperatures were taken, masks were offered (we already had some) and we were taken to the reception.

The clinic is clean, airy and modern:

The atmosphere was one of calm professionalism, which was also reassuring. The surgeons and medical staff were moving in between reception and consultation rooms, and everything seemed professional and above board.

There were ladies in reception (presumably waiting to be discharged) and some who had just arrived, like us. Sam immediately recognized a couple of names from the Facebook and Whatsapp groups and started to have a chat – especially to the two ladies there who had just had their surgery. They were really reassuring and made her feel so much better.

Next, we had to pay for the surgery:

Tips on Paying For the Surgery (And Avoiding Fees)

If you travel abroad often you might already have accounts, apps or cards in place to make it easier to make payments in foreign currencies like Euros.

Sam sent British Pounds Sterling to me and I did all the payments and conversions because I already have them all set up.

Whatever you do, don’t use your high street bank (Halifax, Lloyds, Santander, TSB, etc.) to do a bank transfer to Nords in Euros – you’ll be wasting a lot of money on fees, and it takes a few days to get there. Same goes for any high street debit card. These days there are far better ways of sending and spending money abroad.

To send money abroad, like Sam’s deposit, I used Wise (formerly known as Transferwise). They often arrive the same day and have small fees). You can sign up here with my referral link.

Do a test transaction (maybe 20 Euros or so) first to make sure everything works properly and you’ve got the right details for the Nordesthetics bank account.

You pay the rest after your consultation with your surgeon. Since this is usually a large chunk of money, you’ll also save a lot by using a currency-friendly card or app. The best three (and I own all of them) are:

Wise – I use this and my Revolut card (below) the most. Sign up using my referral link and your first transfer will be fee-free (up to £500)

Revolut – I used my Revolut card for everyday items while we were in Lithuania like shopping, and paying for taxis and takeaways. You can have both virtual or physical cards (I have one of each and use the virtual one for online purchases). Here’s my link to sign up to get a Revolut Account (it’s free). Do this ahead of time, as they may need to check your ID, etc.

Monzo – Sam had a Monzo account with a small amount of money loaded on it so she could buy things when she was in the clinic and I wasn’t, like booking a lymphatic drainage massage and buying an extra compression garment. Alternatively, you can get an extra card with Wise or Revolut, above.

Halifax Clarity – a credit card, so you’ll need to be approved, but they also let you spend in Euros at a good conversion rate, with no fees. However, you have to apply like any normal credit card.

If you use a “normal” debit card, you’ll often get stung with anything up to 3% fees per transaction and then a rubbish currency conversion rate on top of that. If you’re paying a few grand for surgery and a couple of weeks travel, this can really add up.

A Note on Paperwork

We were given a large amount of paperwork to sign when at Nords, just before the surgical consultation. You can request this beforehand by email so you’ve got a chance to read it all when you have time to look through it and digest it properly.

I strongly recommend that you do this because essentially it’s the legal agreement about revisions and dangers and risks and so on.

I noticed some ladies were just chatting and signing their documents without reading them, which I’m not sure is a good idea! Or maybe they’d already read them. You could probably ask Nords to send you these as a sample even before you’re considering your surgery, just so you know what the terms and conditions are.

The most common thing I’ve seen people miss are the clauses on revision surgery – very often people think they’re entitled to a revision but they’re not, and they’d already signed the document agreeing what does and doesn’t get you a revision.

As a general rule revisions are for when Nords are at fault for something that needs revising, for example with another surgical procedure. Whereas after the event, things like you being unhappy with your look or if you get an infection – that doesn’t automatically get you a revision.

That said, you can ask any questions you like when you’re there, and before you pay up.

Step 6 – The Surgical Consultation

After paying for the surgery and filling in all the forms, we went to see Dr. Ghassan in a private room. Like many of the surgeons, he was very pleasant and reassuring.

Sam was nervous about being naked in front of a surgeon (he needed to take pictures and have a close look at the work needed) so she asked me to come to the consultation with her. Nords said that this was OK, so I joined in.

We talked to Dr. Ghassan for about half an hour. It didn’t feel rushed and he took his time to explain all the work he planned on doing. He took pictures of Samantha from many angles so she had something to compare it to for the after photos. I believe they use these on Instagram as well, anonymised, with your permission.

Samantha told Dr. Ghassan about her fears regarding liposuction but after he had explained it in detail she decided to go ahead with the recommended procedures. We discussed recovery time – many told us that we’d done the right thing by allowing 10 days after the surgery for to recover.

Overall we were quite happy with the consultation. The only thing that struck me as a bit strange was that he said we could contact him via Instagram which seemed odd to me. This could be because so many people use Instagram to message each other these days but I was surprised that method was recommended. In the end we did contact him, but via the Nords reps.

After all the paperwork, payment and discussion we were driven back to the apartment and had a relaxed evening.

Tip: Sam had set up a WhatsApp group of her friends and I also spoke to her husband privately so everyone had a single point of contact (me). It was so much easier writing one message that went to a whole group, instead of answering each individual person!

Step 7 – Surgery Day

The next morning I wasn’t allowed to come with Sam to the surgical wards, so said goodbye as the driver came to pick Sam up in the early morning – and take her to be drawn on!

She sent me pictures of her room which looked really nice:

Then she saw Dr Ghassan again who drew all the surgical areas to be adjusted:

Because of the multiple procedures, Sam was due to be in surgery for around 5 hours. Believe me, when you’re waiting, it was a very long 5 hours! I felt much better about being a ten-minute taxi ride away, though, and was happy with what I’d seen of the surgery the day(s) before, so trusted Nords to do their job.

I distracted myself with work, and I asked the rep how long it takes for someone to wake up. Interestingly the rep said it varies from person to person, so we couldn’t really pinpoint a time when we would next hear from Sam.

After about 5 hours I got a selfie from Sam which she doesn’t remember taking, lol. She was still all drugged up and apparently had thrown up (as is common after anesthetic). Since she had managed to somehow operate her phone I presumed that all had gone well although she couldn’t really tell me.

A little bit later after she’d had a sleep she told me she would rather recover on her own that day and I would come and see her the following morning.

The WhatsApp group was, again, a really good idea at this stage because Sam didn’t have the energy to text more than 2 people – and that was her husband and me. If you have a lot of people at home or even in Lithuania with you it’s a good idea to just have one person relay all the messages.

Everything went well and the surgeon took a picture of Sam in surgery so she could see what she would look like. This is really motivating because you can see what your results are expected to be like before the swelling begins and you have a compression garment on, though you’re covered in iodine and surgical tape!

Step 8 – Initial Recovery Period at Nords

The following morning I went to go see Sam, and after proving I was vaccinated I was allowed to visit her in her room. I have to say I was quite impressed with the standard – it was very clean and very modern.

Sam had a roommate for one night but that lady only had some minor surgery and had already checked out by the time I got there.

Sam knew after her C-section that she didn’t do very well with anesthetic so she wanted to ask about an extra night. We were told that you can request this, but it’s €150 per night if you want to stay more than the 2 prescribed nights that are included. In the end, she decided the two nights were enough, after all.

One of the nurses came in while I was there and she was very friendly and nice. Everything I’ve heard about the nurses has been wonderful. Yes, they get you up and about as soon as possible and try to encourage you to eat – but that’s the best thing to do.

A lot of people have made comments about the good food. Nords order it from an outside restaurant, so the standards are extremely high. Here’s the menu Sam got:

In the end, Sam felt she would rather relax and recover at the apartment instead of having an extra night at Nords. This was also because there tends to be a lot of movement around the surgery, even at night and so it’s not that great for sleeping (and that’s where the earplugs came in really handy!)

Step 9 – Recovery in Kaunas

We were driven back to the apartment when Sam checked out. The drivers at Nords are very careful to not bump you on potholes or cobbles which is nice because you can feel every bump!

Sam was given some paperwork stating the procedures that had been done, a bag of medication, and full instructions.

Before we left I suggested we buy an extra compression garment so she could always have one clean to put on. You can buy these from reception from Nords when you’re there. I think it was about 30 Euros and well worth it.

When we got back to the apartment I made the bed as the nurses had told us to. Sam had to sleep with her legs raised and also slightly propped up because of the risk of blood clots.

Unfortunately, we had a mini scare within an hour of getting back to the apartment. Nobody had mentioned that when you have drains removed from your liposuction “holes”, the fluid continues to leak out for a while, and it looks really terrifying because it’s pink. Sam woke from a brief nap and panicked because she thought she was bleeding.

It didn’t look like blood to me, but nevertheless, I called the emergency number that Nords give you, which was also on a wristband that they gave Sam to wear. They answered straight away.

The nurses seemed quite calm and didn’t seem panicked, but to be super safe I insisted they send a driver to come and collect Sam to be checked over. Her compression garment was soaked through with the liquid. I didn’t want to undo it and expose her wounds so early.

Sam really did not feel like going back to the clinic but I just thought it was the best thing to do. When we got there we saw a couple of nurses who were brilliant. They got Sam into a room, got her out of her compression garment, repacked her wounds, cleaned her up, and then we put the new compression garment on.

They also gave us some absorbent pads in case it happened again although it looked like most of the lipo fluid had come out by then. Although they handled it really well, I wish someone would have mentioned this beforehand so we needn’t have worried unnecessarily.

Then the proper recovery started. I have to admit I was not prepared for just how immobile Sam was – she needed help with everything. On top of that, I had to set several alarms on my phone for all the different medications at different times.

This is something to consider if you’re going to go alone and do recovery on your own. Sam was on painkillers and antibiotics, and the brain fog meant I doubt she would have followed the instructions easily if I wasn’t there.

Nords will send you home with a leaflet on what to do regarding washing and in washing and showering. For example, I had to help Sam wash and after a couple of days, washed her hair for example. We tried to keep everything as dry and as clean as possible.

What people don’t tell you is that one of the most important things after surgery is to have a poo! Sam could go to the toilet on her own and lower herself onto it but she was really worried about post-anesthetic constipation.

She quickly ran out of the constipation suppositories Nords had given her to get things going, so I had to go out to a pharmacy and get some more. If you want to save yourself the embarrassment of trying to ask for them in a foreign language, bring some with you! (they’re on the “to bring” list above).

Sam’s solution to this stress was to play Beyonce full blast and lock herself in the bathroom for half an hour – it seemed to work!

One of the advantages of staying for the 10 days after the surgery was that Nords could do the first tape change which is sometimes left for you to do if you go home after 5 days. This is because it typically happens on the 7th day after surgery.

I was relieved that it would be done by the nurses in Nords and not me trying to do it!

Sam was really anxious about the tape change not just because of the pain, but because she didn’t really want to see her wounds just yet either. The driver came to pick her up as usual and it all went really well.

We had also booked two lymph drainage massages so Sam went for one of those as well and it helped keep the swelling down. More on this later because we had a problem finding a masseuse who would do this at home. There was a small fee for the second one onwards – I seem to remember it was about 20 Euros.

Fortunately, the apartment was big enough for Sam to walk around because it’s important to keep moving and avoid blood clots when you’re recovering. If you’re in a small hotel or something similar bear this in mind.

Tip: Bring lots of things to entertain you like DVD’s or your laptop or a good book because it gets very boring when you can’t really move much. I connected Sam’s laptop to the TV in the apartment and I don’t know what we would have done if we couldn’t have watched that. Lithuanian TV is fine but none of it is in English, obviously!

After a few days, Sam decided that she didn’t feel very well on the Codeine so I called a doctor friend to see if she could be taken off the strong painkillers.

Also, she was only given 2 sleeping tablets. Although it’s not recommended to use them for a long time, if you have anything else that helps you sleep like tea or lavender then bring that (they’re on the list above too).

Step 10: Flying Home

When the time came to fly home Sam was really nervous about the flight but we had booked assistance beforehand.

Tip: Always book it assistance way in advance. Ideally, when you book the flight. We had heard one lady being turned down for it at the airport because she asked for it there and then!

The driver was really pleasant, taking us all to the airport in a minibus. There were several people picked up from various hotels, but all Nords patients – some had gastric surgery, some nose jobs… it was an interesting mix!

Sam was given a wheelchair to be wheeled through the airport, a bit like a fast track system. I was allowed to go with her as her companion.

I strongly recommend booking airport assistance it was well worth it and the staff were lovely. It doesn’t cost anything extra and you automatically get to sit together without the daft seat booking fees.

Sam wanted to spend one night in the airport hotel just to prepare psychologically for seeing her husband and children again- this might be a good idea if you want some headspace after getting home, or understandably some people might just want to go home.

Step 11: Post Op and Complications

Now I handed over the baton to Sam’s husband to do all the care. Sam still couldn’t drive of course, and could only walk short distances. With kids, it’s also hard – she had to explain to her 5 year old why he couldn’t jump into her arms, for example. A lot of people tend to relax once they’ve been home a couple of weeks and the wounds have closed, but this is when you should be the most vigilant.

The fact you’re on your own for recovery once you get back to your home country is the single drawback about Nords. There’s only so much you can do when your surgeon is busy in another country. Yes, you can still text and ask questions but it’s just not the same as having the post-op care nearby.

I ought to mention that Sam tried to get a local masseusse to come and do a drainage massage but she was told because it was surgery done abroad, it would invalidate the indemnity insurace of the masseuse. So bear this in mind – I found a solution by taking an online self-massage course which was a lot cheaper anyway. If you want to do the same, then the one I took is here. Sam was able to self-massage or share the videos with her husband so he could also do a massage as well.

About 4 weeks after the operation Sam noticed a little bump and a red mark on her scar, and it hadn’t closed properly. She sent me pictures and I wrote to her surgeon at Nords, via the rep by email. Again, this is a disadvantage because you wait a day or two for a response, even longer if it’s over a weekend.

The surgeon replied saying she should go have an ultrasound to see if it was an infection, but how can you do this without going privately?

I’ve heard mixed stories about how the NHS handles complications like this. I totally understand why they want nothing to do with surgery done abroad – it’s not their surgeons and the results aren’t their problem. In this case, the issue was taken out of our hands – before Sam could get a doctor’s appointment the hole ruptured and started leaking pus, and she had to go to A&E.

It was an infection, thankfully a minor one. These are common – you have to be super, super careful with being totally sterile when you replace the tapes and dressings yourself. We bought these vinyl gloves, these sterile dressings and also some wound cleaning spray.

Thankfully that was the only issue and it resoved pretty quickly. Several women recommended Mepiform silicone scar dressings like these which help to reduce scarring and produce better results. Don’t be fooled by cheap Chinese knock-off fake ‘scar tape’ – it’s NOT the same. Mepiform is a proper medical brand – only buy the official stuff.

Step 12: Enjoy Your New Body!

I’ve always been lucky in that I’m happy with my figure but I know Sam’s was distressing her and making her self-conscious for a long time. She was absolutely determined to get this done, and it really improved her self-esteem and the way she felt. Here’s one of her ‘after’ pics, a couple of months later:

Was it worth it? Absolutely – but we wished we knew a bit more before we set off on this adventure.

Hopefully, this article will help you in your journey, too. Good luck!

In such cases, it is important to know how to contact Uber Eats UK to register a complaint and seek a resolution.

One way to get in touch with Uber Eats support is through the app. Users can navigate to the Help section and select ‘Call Support’ to be connected to the support team via the app. Alternatively, riders can contact support by calling 0808 189 7190 in the UK.

Riders outside the UK can also get in touch with support from within the app. It is important to note that phone support is available 24/7 for both drivers and riders in the UK.

In addition to phone support, users can also seek help through the Uber Eats help page, which provides answers to frequently asked questions and allows users to submit a request or report an issue. Users can also contact Uber Eats customer support via email, Twitter, or by sending a message through the mobile app.

When contacting Uber Eats support, it is important to provide as much detail as possible about the issue, including the order number, the delivery address, and any relevant photos or screenshots.

How to Complain to Uber Eats UK

If you have experienced any issues with your Uber Eats order, you may want to submit a complaint to Uber Eats UK. Here are some ways you can do that:

Contacting Uber Eats UK Customer Support

One way to submit a complaint to Uber Eats UK is by contacting their customer support team. You can do this through the app or the website. To contact customer support through the app, follow these steps:

1. Open the Uber Eats app on your mobile device.
2. Tap on your account icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
3. Select “Help” from the menu.
4. Choose the issue that best describes your problem.
5. Follow the prompts to submit your complaint.

To contact customer support through the website, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Uber Eats UK website.
2. Click on the “Help” link at the bottom of the page.
3. Select the issue that best describes your problem.
4. Follow the prompts to submit your complaint.

Submitting a Complaint Through the App

Another way to submit a complaint to Uber Eats UK is through the app. To submit a complaint through the app, follow these steps:

1. Open the Uber Eats app on your mobile device.
2. Tap on your account icon in the bottom right corner of the screen.
3. Select “Orders” from the menu.
4. Find the order that you want to complain about and tap on it.
5. Tap on “Help” and then select “My order was incorrect” or “My order never arrived”.
6. Follow the prompts to submit your complaint.

Submitting a Complaint Through the Website

You can also submit a complaint to Uber Eats UK through their website. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Uber Eats UK website.
2. Click on the “Help” link at the bottom of the page.
3. Select the issue that best describes your problem.
4. Follow the prompts to submit your complaint.

Contacting Uber Eats UK via Social Media

If you prefer to contact Uber Eats UK via social media, you can do so through Twitter. Simply send a tweet to @Uber_Support and describe your issue. A representative will respond to your tweet as soon as possible.

Contacting Uber Eats UK via Phone

If you would like to speak to someone directly, you can contact Uber Eats UK via phone. The phone number for Uber Eats UK customer support is 0808 189 7190. You can also contact Uber Eats UK through the app by selecting “Call Support” in the “Help” section.

It’s important to note that when submitting a complaint to Uber Eats UK, you should provide as much detail as possible about your experience. This includes the order number, the name of the restaurant, the items you ordered, and any issues you encountered.

If you have photos or other documentation to support your complaint, be sure to include that as well.

Overall, Uber Eats UK strives to provide a good experience for its customers, but if you do encounter any issues, don’t hesitate to submit a complaint. By doing so, you can help improve the platform for yourself and other users.

Common Issues to Complain About

When using Uber Eats in the UK, there are several common issues that customers may encounter. This section will outline some of the most frequent issues that customers may wish to complain about and provide information on how to address them.

Issues with Orders

One of the most common issues that customers face is problems with their orders. This can include missing items, incorrect orders, or issues with the quality of the food.

If you experience any of these issues, you can contact Uber Eats support through the app or website to report the problem. You can also submit a complaint through the help page on the Uber Eats website.

Issues with Delivery

Customers may also experience issues with their delivery, such as late or cancelled deliveries, or issues with the delivery address. If you experience any of these issues, you can contact Uber Eats support through the app or website to report the problem. You can also submit a complaint through the help page on the Uber Eats website.

Issues with Payment

Payment issues are another common complaint from Uber Eats customers. This can include problems with refunds, incorrect charges, or issues with payment methods.

If you experience any of these issues, you can contact Uber Eats support through the app or website to report the problem. You can also submit a complaint through the help page on the Uber Eats website.

Issues with the App or Website

Customers may also experience issues with the Uber Eats app or website, such as technical issues or problems with the user interface.

If you experience any of these issues, you can contact Uber Eats support through the app or website to report the problem. You can also submit a complaint through the help page on the Uber Eats website.

In conclusion, there are several common issues that customers may encounter when using Uber Eats in the UK. If you experience any of these issues, you can contact Uber Eats support through the app or website to report the problem. You can also submit a complaint through the help page on the Uber Eats website.

By addressing these issues promptly, Uber Eats can improve the overall customer experience and ensure that customers are satisfied with their service.

How to Increase Your Chances of Getting a Resolution

When you encounter a problem with Uber Eats, you may need to contact their support team to get a resolution. Here are some tips to increase your chances of getting a resolution.

Providing Detailed Information

When you contact Uber Eats support, it’s important to provide as much detailed information as possible. This can include the order number, the items that were missing or incorrect, the delivery address, and any other relevant details.

By providing detailed information, you can help Uber Eats support quickly identify the issue and find a resolution.

Being Polite and Professional

It’s important to be polite and professional when communicating with Uber Eats support. This can help to create a positive experience for both you and the support representative. Avoid using unprofessional language or making exaggerated or false claims.

By being polite and professional, you can help to create a more positive and productive conversation.

Following Up

If you don’t receive a resolution to your problem immediately, it’s important to follow up with Uber Eats support. This can help to ensure that your issue is being addressed and that you receive a resolution as quickly as possible.

You can follow up by contacting Uber Eats support again, or by checking the status of your request on the Uber Eats app or website.

In addition to these tips, there are a few other things you can do to increase your chances of getting a resolution with Uber Eats. These include:

• Using the Uber Eats app or website to contact support
• Providing photos or other evidence to support your claim
• Contacting Uber Eats support through social media (such as Twitter)
• Contacting Uber Eats support by phone (if available)

By following these tips and taking advantage of the available support options, you can increase your chances of getting a resolution to your problem with Uber Eats in the UK.

When to Involve the Authorities

If you have a complaint with Uber Eats UK that cannot be resolved through their customer service channels, you may need to involve the authorities. Here are some situations where involving the authorities may be necessary:

Fraudulent Charges

If you notice fraudulent charges on your Uber Eats UK account, you should report them to both Uber Eats UK and your bank or credit card company. If you suspect that your account has been hacked or compromised, you should also report the incident to the police. They can investigate the matter and take legal action if necessary.

Unprofessional Behaviour by Drivers or Delivery People

If you experience unprofessional behaviour by a driver or delivery person while using Uber Eats UK, you should report the incident to Uber Eats UK. If the behaviour is particularly egregious, you may also want to report it to the police. They can investigate the incident and take appropriate action.

Sensitive Information Leaks

If you suspect that your personal or sensitive information has been leaked or compromised while using Uber Eats UK, you should report the incident to Uber Eats UK immediately. You should also report the incident to the police, as they can investigate the matter and take legal action if necessary.

In general, involving the authorities should be a last resort. Before involving the authorities, you should try to resolve the issue with Uber Eats UK through their customer service channels.

If you are not satisfied with their response, you can escalate the matter to their senior management team. If all else fails, you can involve the authorities.

If you’re looking for a bronzer with the same high-performance power as Benefit’s Hoola, but need something more affordable then look no further! In this article, I’ve found the 3 best dupes for Benefit’s Hoola Bronzer. I’ve also answered some commonly asked questions. Read on!

The Best 3 Benefit Hoola Bronzer Dupes

Rimmel London’s Natural Bronzer

Rimmel London’s Natural Bronzer has been praised as a dupe for Hoola due to its buttery, blendable formula. Hoola is known for its ability to bronze and contour the skin without looking orangey or cakey.

The colour difference between these two products is almost unnoticeable, the only slight change is that Rimmel’s product has a slight sheen to it.

The formula itself isn’t too dissimilar, Rimmel’s bronzer is buildable and blendable, leaving you with a chiselled and sunkissed look. Not only is this product a lot cheaper, with this bronzer you get 14g of product, compared to 8g of Hoola. 

The formula itself is also waterproof, so you don’t have to worry about getting caught in the rain without an umbrella, or heading for a day at the beach. One thing to note is that similar to the original Hoola bronzer, this shade is not suitable for deep or darker skin tones. 

Pros:

• Very similar colour to Hoola
• Blendable 
• Buildable 
• 14g 
• Waterproof formula 

Cons:

• Not suitable for darker skin tones
• Not as long-lasting as Hoola

The Balm’s Bahama Mama bronzer

The Balm’s Bahama Mama bronzer is another great dupe for the Hoola bronzer. Although it’s slightly pricey for a dupe, it’ll still cost you less than the original Hoola bronzer.

Bahama Mama is a similar colour to Hoola in terms of it being a matte, dark brown. The satin finish with greyish undertones means that this bronzer is perfect for creating shadows on the skin, without leaving an orange tint – much like the Benefit bronzer!

It has a high pigmentation with a finely milled formula, meaning that a little goes a long way as the product is easily picked up and blended by a brush. Bahama Mama also has great staying power, I’ve used this product myself and can safely say that it lasts all day without smudging, even without a primer! 

Pros:

• Cool-toned brown with greyish undertones, suitable for all skin tones
• Multipurpose, suitable for use as a bronzer, contour, eyeshadow and body makeup
• Satin finish
• Finely milled
• Buildable
• Blendable
• Strong staying power

Cons:

• Has a slight fragrance

NYX Professional Makeup Matte Bronzer

NYX Professional Makeup Matte Bronzer helps to achieve a natural-looking, sun-kissed complexion all year round. NYX is a famous high street brand that is known for duping high-end products, without compromising on quality. 

This bronzer comes in multiple shades, meaning that it’s suitable for all skin tones. It has 9g of product, which is slightly more than you get with Hoola bronzer. As with the other dupes, this product is extremely blendable and buildable.

The product is not as finely milled as other bronzers, but it still has a soft, satin finish on the skin without the use of any shimmer.

Reviews have stated that this product lasts for over 8 hours when applied correctly! The product itself is also vegan and cruelty-free. 

Pros:

• Vegan and cruelty-free formula
• Multiple shades available
• 9g of product
• Blendable
• Buildable
• Matte, satin finish
• 8-hour wear! 

Cons:

• May not be suitable for extremely oily, or extremely dry skin

Benefit Hoola Lite Dupe

If you’re searching for an alternative to Benefit’s Hoola Lite bronzer, look no further. Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer in the shade Light is a great dupe! Physicians Formula is a brand that has been raved about by YouTubers and influencers for years, even before the Hoola Lite came out. 

Butter Bronzer is so soft and buttery, it has an almost cream-like texture despite it being a powder. It’s extremely finely milled, with a matte texture that blends into the skin seamlessly delivering an almost ‘lit from within’ glow. The light shade is almost an exact colour match for the Hoola Lite, working on even the palest of skin tones. 

Despite the Butter Bronzer being a dupe for Hoola Lite, it also has some features that many would say outshine its more expensive counterpart. Physicians Formula has packed this bronzer with fatty acids and pro-vitamins to soften and hydrate the skin.

This bronzer is super beginner-friendly, as due to the extra hydration it’s easy to blend and doesn’t disturb your base underneath. 

Pros:

• Beginner-friendly
• Highly rated by many influencers
• Soft and buttery
• Hydrating
• Hypoallergenic and Paraben Free
• Vegan and Cruelty-Free
• Almost an exact colour match for Hoola Lite

Cons:

• Cheap packaging

Is the Benefit Bronzer Vegan or Cruelty-Free?

Benefit’s stance on cruelty-free and vegan cosmetics remains unclear. Benefit states in their FAQs on their website that they do not test on animals and are convinced that animal testing must come to an end, with their products having strict testing methods that do not involve animals. However, they sell their products in mainland China. 

For those who do not know why this negates their cruelty-free standpoint, it is a law to test products sold in mainland China on animals. In order to sell products there, companies must commission and pay for animal testing before their products can be sold.

Benefit has stated that the bulk of its products is considered “general cosmetics” which can be imported into China without animal testing, but the government authorities still require companies to make “special” products available for animal testing. 

Whether or not Benefit is strictly cruelty-free can be difficult to say. For some people, the fact that they do not test on animals when they make their products in America is enough to support their cruelty-free ideology.

On the other hand, some people may say the fact that they sell in mainland China contradicts this statement as they are still allowing their products to be tested on animals, despite not doing it themselves. 

In terms of whether their products are Vegan, this is difficult to say for sure too. In terms of Hoola, looking at the ingredients there does not seem to be any animal product derivatives.

So, the bronzer itself is Vegan friendly (although not explicitly stated anywhere), but the fact that it is not Cruelty-Free may be a problem for many vegans. 

A dupe may be a better alternative for you if you are looking for a completely cruelty-free and vegan product. The NYX Bronzer and Physicians Formula bronzer mentioned previously in the article are both completely vegan and cruelty-free, whilst providing the same high-power performance! 

After reading this article, I hope that you’ve found all the information that you were looking for!  It’s clear that great makeup doesn’t have to always come at a high price, there are plenty of dupes on the market too! I hope I’ve helped you find your new favourite bronzer for a more pocket-friendly price.

In the UK, we now have specialist American Candy shops and websites that import certain candies, but they often come at a higher price point. Some candies mentioned on this list may be available at these stores, but they are not widely available. 

So, whether you’re headed on holiday to the States or are just curious as to what’s available in America, read this blog post for 15 candies and sweets that aren’t widely available in the UK!

Baby Ruth Bars

Despite being a favourite candy in America since the 1920s, Baby Ruth bars have never made it over international waters. The bar itself is made of peanuts, caramel and milk chocolate flavoured nougat, covered in milk chocolate. 

If you’re wondering what to compare it to over here in the UK, the most similar chocolate bar is probably Snickers. Both are made of very similar ingredients, but the nougat featured in a Baby Ruth does not contain any peanuts. 

Flavoured M&Ms

We have M&Ms over here in the UK, including milk chocolate, peanut, crunchy and salted caramel. But, that’s nothing compared to the flavours they have in America! 

Walking into your typical supermarket, you’ll be overwhelmed with the amount of different M&Ms on offer. Without being able to count every single flavour in store, it seems that they have around 50 flavours throughout the year including Christmas, Halloween and Easter limited editions. 

American flavours include:

• Peanut butter
• Almond
• Dark Chocolate
• Mint
• Fudge Brownie
• Birthday Cake
• Coconut

And that’s just naming a few! Whatever flavour you can imagine, you’ll be more than likely to find it over in America. Unfortunately, there isn’t really an equivalent for many of these flavours in the UK. But, searching some specialist American candy stores may help you find a few flavours. 

Peeps

Peeps are a seasonal staple in America, popular around Easter and other holidays. Peeps are coloured marshmallows, shaped into bunnies, chicks and other animals and shapes depending on the season. 

They are made from sugar, corn syrup, food dyes and a pinch of salt. Not only do they come in different colours, but different flavours too. These flavours include cotton candy, gingerbread, lemon delight, candy cane and chocolate covered!

Original Peeps are very difficult to find in the UK, and unfortunately we don’t have an alternative to them in the UK. 

Grape Flavoured Candy

Grape is a popular flavour in America when it comes to sweets and candies, however we don’t tend to have grape flavour over here.

In America, they have a different variety of grape known as the Concord grape that is used to make grape jams, juices and sweets. Over here, our purple coloured sweets and drinks are usually blackcurrant, a flavour that they don’t have in America. 

In America, grape flavoured sweets include skittles, jolly ranchers, airheads (known as grapeheads) and sour patch kids. They even have grape flavoured fanta, kool aid and jams. They taste nothing like the grapes we have in the UK, so if you’re interested in trying a new flavour in America, pick up something grape!

Junior Mints

Junior Mints were created in 1949 and have been popular in America ever since. They consist of a creamy, fondant mint filling in a dark chocolate coating and are small and round in shape. 

Although not available in the UK, a chocolate over here that is similar in flavour is an After Eight. Though they’re both entirely different shapes, they have practically the same ingredients. 

Candy Corn

Halloween without Candy Corn in America is almost unheard of! Candy Corn are made to look like pieces of sweetcorn, they’re a multicoloured pyramid shape with yellow, orange and white representing the colour of fall harvest.

Their flavour is based on vanilla, honey sugar and butter making them a delicious sweet treat, with a soft and chewy flavour. 

Americans are divided over the flavour, with people either loving Candy Corn or hating it, much like Marmite! We’d recommend giving it a go on your next trip to America to see what the fuss is all about. 

Charleston Chew

A staple chocolate bar over in America, a Charleston Chew is flavoured nougat covered in a milk chocolate coating. These candy bars have been around for decades and now come in three different flavours, vanilla, chocolate and strawberry.

A popular trick over the years has been to put a Charleston Chew in the freezer for a few hours. Then, once they’ve frozen, smack them against a surface to create multiple, bite-sized pieces. 

100-Grand Bars

Originally called the $100,000 Bar, this chocolate bar was created in the 1960s by Nestlé. It is made of caramel with chocolate and crisped rice coating. The most similar chocolate bar that we have over here in the UK that I can think of would be the Toffee Crisp,  although they still have their differences! 

Hershey’s Kisses

Although many Hershey’s bars are now available in UK supermarkets, including milk chocolate and cookies and creme, Hershey’s kisses are not as easy to find. In America, Hershey’s kisses are popular around Valentine’s Day due to their sweet name. 

They’re also popular around the rest of the year, with Hershey’s producing around 70 million kisses a day! The chocolate itself is just individually wrapped milk chocolate, but they are shaped like little teardrops.

The chocolate is so popular there is now Hershey’s Kisses flavoured cereal, that you may find hiding down an international aisle in your local supermarket. 

Sugar Daddy

Sugar Daddies are essentially a block of chewy caramel, on a lollipop stick. They are produced by confectionary brand Tootsie Roll industry, which specialises in caramel flavoured treats. 

As well as Sugar Daddies, Sugar Babies are available as a companion to the caramel pop. Sugar Babies, also not available in the UK, are bite-sized caramel sweets covered in a layer of milk chocolate. We have no alternative to the Sugar Daddy in the UK, but Sugar Babies are similar to the caramel flavoured chocolate you get in a pack of Revels!

Butterfinger

Butterfingers are not widely available in the UK, but they can be found in certain specialist candy stores that appear on the UK high street. Butterfingers are popular in America and have been since they were created in the 1920s. 

You’d think they’d be flavoured like butter due to their name, but they are actually made of a layered, crisp peanut butter core covered in milk chocolate. Butterfingers also come in two smaller, snack sized chunks called Butterfinger Bites Snackerz, which are essentially just mini versions of the full size bar.

Butterfinger Snackerz have smoother peanut butter layer when compared to Bites and the original bar. 

3 Musketeers

3 Musketeers is a chocolate bar made by Mars, Incorporated. It is made of aerated, whipped mousse covered in milk chocolate. It’s relatively similar to a Milky Way bar that we get over here!

Originally, the bar featured 3 flavours, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, but due to rising costs during the war they opted to sell a larger version of the most popular chocolate flavour.

Nowadays, they introduce and phase out limited edition flavours regularly. These flavours have included Hot Cocoa, Strawberry, Mint, Birthday Cake and Marshmallow. 

Dum Dums

Dum Dums are American lollipops that were introduced in 1924 and have been popular ever since. Obviously, we have lots of hard lollipops over here in the UK, but Dum Dums offer so many flavours that are simply not seen on our shelves!

These flavours include:

• Blue Raspberry
• Bubblegum
• Butterscotch
• Cotton Candy
• Cherry
• Cream Soda
• Grape
• Fruit Punch
• Root Beer
• Watermelon
• Strawberry

And that’s just naming a few! They come in multipacks and single flavours, meaning once you’ve found a favourite you can stick to it! 

Warheads

Another hard candy only available in America, Warheads are individually wrapped, extremely sour sweets. They’re on the same level of sourness as a freshly cut lemon! The candy itself is a sweet, lemony flavour with a sour powder on the outside. 

Although Warheads aren’t available here, the closest match would be Toxic Waste, which is ironically also an American candy! 

Fruit Gushers

Simply known as Gushers, Fruit Gushers are an interesting candy. They are a fruity flavour, soft, chewy candy. They also have a syrupy, fruit juice centre that releases in your mouth once you bite into it. 

Gushers come in a variety of flavours, including a sour version. They also have a spicy version, known as fiery! Definitely a must try if you’re heading over to the States any time soon. 

After reading this blog post, I hope that you’ve found some new candies and sweets to try on your next trip over! Make sure to leave space in your luggage for all the treats you’re bound to pick up. 

There are plenty of incredible dupes for the Nars foundations on the market. Keep reading this blog post to find out what they are!

Nars Foundation Dupes Available in the UK

With so many different foundation finishes, suitable for all skin tones it’s easy to see why Nars are a cult brand. However, not everyone can afford their higher price point.

And if you do purchase a Nars foundation, you may not want to wear it everyday for fear of using it up too soon and having to repurchase it. That’s where these product dupes come in. 

Dupes for Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

Nars Sheer Glow foundation is a medium, buildable foundation that gives a slight luminosity to the skin. Below are 2 dupes that work just as well.

The Ordinary Serum Foundation With SPF15

The Ordinary is known for its iconic skincare line, making high-end ingredients available to everyone. And their makeup line is no different! The Ordinary’s Serum Foundation is a lightweight foundation that gives a healthy glow to the skin. 

The foundation offers a light to medium coverage that is buildable if needed. It has a serum-like feel, feeling more like skincare than makeup. It gives a long-lasting coverage that won’t collect in fine lines or wrinkles due to The Ordinary’s proprietary spreadability system.

The foundation itself comes in 21 different shades, divided into 3 sections, 1 for fair skin, 2 for medium and then 3 for deeper skin tones. Each section is then classified by a second number ranging from 1-3 to indicate the depth within the range.

Finally, the letter at the end is for the undertone within the foundation. P for pink, R for red, Y for yellow and N for neutral. 

Some of the shades within the range have another letter, as they contain shimmery pigments to brighten the skin, S for Silver and G for Gold. These shimmery pigments add a luminous glow to the skin once applied, much like that of the Sheer Glow foundation. 

The Ordinary Serum foundation is also both vegan and cruelty-free, unlike Nars. This may be a great dupe if you’re looking for a similar product to Nars, but prefer it to be vegan.

NYX Professional Makeup Born to Glow Foundation

NYX Professional Makeup Born to Glow Foundation is a medium coverage, buildable foundation. It promises to look like it has just been applied for up to 12 hours and gives a gorgeous, luminous finish to the skin. 

Similar to the Nars Sheer Glow, this foundation feels almost like a BB cream on the skin rather than a foundation. It looks dewy on the skin, without looking greasy or cakey, even if you apply multiple layers! 

Available in over 35 shades, with multiple undertones you’re bound to find your perfect match in this foundation. With its vegan formula, Born to Glow blends seamlessly creating a ‘your skin but better’ appearance. It won’t settle into fine lines, or dry patches as it’s suitable for all skin types!

Dupes for Nars Radiant Longwear Foundation

Radiant longwear is a medium to full coverage foundation that’s said to last all night long, without any touch ups required. It won’t crease or transfer, which is what makes it such an iconic product. 

Take a look at the dupes for Radiant Longwear below!

Makeup Revolution IRL Filter Longwear Foundation

This Makeup Revolution IRL Filter Foundation went viral on Tik Tok for being an incredible dupe for Nars Radiant Longwear Foundation.

The breathable foundation offers medium coverage, that’s buildable to full coverage if that’s what you prefer. Once the foundation is set, it has a soft-focus demi-matte finish that leaves your skin looking radiant, almost as if you’ve got a filter on (hence the name)! 

It’s most suited for normal to oily skin types, but with the right, hydrating skin prep it’ll suit drier skin types too. The foundation contains skincare ingredients including Niacinamide, a form of Vitamin B3 that helps to maintain your skin barrier and improve hydration. 

IRL Filter is available in 30 shades, with multiple undertones to suit all skin complexions. The foundation won’t settle into any fine lines or wrinkles and is said to last an amazing 16 hours on the skin, without any top ups. 

Maybelline Superstay 24 Hour Full Coverage Liquid Foundation

Maybelline’s foundations have been popular in the beauty community for years, and this foundation is no different. Praised as a dupe for Nars Radiant Longwear, Maybelline Superstay 24Hr Full Coverage Foundation gives a smooth, radiant base. The saturated colour pigments allow for an even tone without any visible imperfections. 

Despite being full coverage, the foundation feels breathable, lightweight on the skin and doesn’t settle into any lines. The formula blends seamlessly in the skin, giving that perfect skin we’re all after. With around 20 shades available, the foundation is also oil-free, water, sweat and transfer resistant. It’s also said to last for an incredible 24 hours! 

Dupe for Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser With SPF30

I personally feel that tinted moisturisers are a godsend in the warmer months. Even though foundations that are lightweight don’t feel too heavy on the skin, with the sunscreen and heat the summer brings, I much prefer a tinted moisturiser. 

Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser is known for its ‘your skin but better’ look, creating an even base that looks glowy and healthy. However, you don’t have to spend a fortune on the original, there are dupes for this too! 

e.l.f BB Cream With SPF20

Despite having a lower SPF than the Nars tinted moisturiser, everything about this BB cream is practically the same as the Nars (including the packaging). e.l.f are known for duping high-end makeup brands for a budget-friendly price and this product is no different. 

The e.l.f BB cream gives a light, weightless coverage that blends into your skin without looking like makeup. It contains skincare ingredients, including Vitamin E, jojoba oil, cucumber and aloe to soothe the skin and keep redness at bay. 

Unlike the Nars Tinted Moisturiser, this product is 100% vegan and cruelty-free. A great alternative if that’s what you need in your makeup, but want the same high-quality performance! 

After reading this article, I hope that you’ve found your new favourite foundation! A lower price point no longer means lower performance in the beauty world, and the dupes above prove exactly that. Now go and put on your new foundation dupe and head out there!

Fortunately, the Road Traffic Act of 1988 contains all you need to know about cars, roads, and the UK. (source: Legislation.gov.uk)

You can own a car without having a driving license in any part of the UK. The law doesn’t bar anyone from owning cars, provided you own them through legal means. Per UK legislation, there’s also no age restriction to owning a car, and you don’t need any unique document.

However, non-residents cannot own a car in the UK since they need a fixed address for legal and insurance registration. In this article, I’ll dive into all you need to know about buying, financing, and selling cars in the United Kingdom.

Can You Buy a Car Without a License in the UK?

The United Kingdom law is clear about all things on driving licenses and car ownership. For example, anyone can get a license if they fulfill the laid requirements and pass the tests (source: Gov.uk)

However, there’s a chance you could be without a license, and you might be interested in buying a car. So, can you buy a car without a license?

You can buy a car without having a driving license in the UK. There’s no law prohibiting unlicensed purchases, but you’ll need to have a provisional license to drive it on any UK road—even if the car dealership is close to your home. So, you might want to consider having it delivered instead.

Although you don’t need a license, you need to have a Ministry Of Transport (MOT) roadworthiness pass certificate for your car, insurance documents, and, sometimes, a vehicle excise license to purchase a car legally. 

However, you don’t need these documents in all cases, and some dealerships will sell most cars to you if you have an MOT roadworthiness pass certificate and some way to prove you’re a UK citizen. (sources: Angloinfo and Gov.uk)

It’s a bit different if you’re a foreigner. While foreigners can buy cars in the UK, you must have a driving license—either an international driving license or a UK-issued one—and have a legal UK address and a valid means of identification and other required documents.

Here’s how to buy a car in the UK:

1. Carefully inspect the car you’re interested in when you find a dealership or seller in your area. Ensure the dealership has the car’s V5C vehicle registration certificate to ensure the legitimacy of all its parts—even if it’s a new car. Remember to check the registration number and MOT test number too. (source: Safe Driving For Life)
   
2. Buy the car and register it with the Driver & Vehicle Licensing Agency. You’ll need to register both new and used vehicles bought in the UK. However, old cars with V5C vehicle registration certificates need to be taxed before you can drive them on UK roads. (source: Gov.uk)
   
3. Get car insurance. Insurance is vital, and you can get into serious trouble in the UK if you own a car without insurance papers. You can check here to confirm if your car is insured. (source: Gov.uk)
   
4. Pay the car’s tax fees. Although almost everyone has to pay mandatory taxes to drive in the UK legally, there are some exceptions if you’re disabled or drive certain vehicles. However, you need to tax your car even if you’re not legally required to pay. (source: Gov.UK)

Afterward, you can drive the car home or have the dealer deliver it to you if you don’t have a driving license.

Can You Get Car Finance Without a Driving License in the UK?

You might want to purchase a car, but you might be financially limited and unable to do so—that’s why we have car finance.

Car financing allows individuals to become car owners through loans that you can serve over months or years. While car finance is majorly uncomplicated, many people might wonder what impact a driving license might play if you want to get car finance. (source: My Car Credit)

You can get car finance without a driving license in the UK. You’ll need a means of identification to get the loan, but a passport or similar document will work in most cases. However, some lenders might insist you have a full driving license before authorizing the loan.

Foreigners and residents of any nationality can also get car finance in the UK. Still, you’ll need a driving license, credit history, and a UK address if you fall into this category. A lot goes into car financing, and some technical parts depend on the lender and car dealership.

Can You Sell a Car Without a License in the UK?

I’ve explored the possibility of buying cars in the UK without a license, but you may wonder if it’s possible to sell a car—or someone else’s car—if you don’t have a driving license.

After all, since you can buy and own a vehicle without a license, there must be a drawback in selling, right? Unsurprisingly, UK legislation is pretty straightforward about these things, and you can probably guess the answer.

You can sell a car without having a driving license in the UK. You can sell your car or other people’s cars as long as you have the DVLA-required documents for vehicle sales. You also don’t need additional dealing licenses when selling vehicles in the UK.

Of course, make sure you have all the papers required when selling your car. You’ll need to provide all the documents you got when purchasing the vehicle. UK law also requires that you inform the DVLA after selling a vehicle for tax refund and record-keeping purposes. (source: Gov.uk)

You don’t need a driving license to own, buy or sell a car in the UK. While you might need some other documents for identification, insurance, and legal purposes, UK law does not list a driving license as a requirement for any of these activities.

The same applies to car financing. And although some lenders and dealers might insist on customers presenting a full license, it’s not the law.

Henrys (as they are sometimes called) have ingrained themselves into British culture so much so that having the cute-looking appliances are as synonymous with being British as drinking tea and the Union Jack. But are they any good?

Henry Hoovers are excellent and practical vacuum cleaners with impressive suction power and versatility—perfect for long-term household use. You can use the vacuum cleaner on most dry surfaces, but it can damage fluffy carpets. Still, it’ll get rid of dust, air, and fur on every other surface.

Although Henry Hoovers are popular, it’s common to have a few questions about their practicality, efficiency, and limitations. After all, vacuum cleaners are like other appliances—they’re rated to perform a certain way and in certain conditions.

This article will answer your burning questions about Henry Hoovers, including how powerful they are, their effectiveness on pet hair, and what surfaces you can use them on.

Are Henry Hoovers Any Good?

Numatic International’s iconic Henry Hoover turns 41 this year—and while the popular leg warmers and leotards of the 80s are long gone (source: Hobbylark), Henry’s smiling face still adorns corners in homes and offices around Britain.

It’s easy to attribute the line’s success to public sentiment. After all, it’s pretty uncommon to have commercial vacuum cleaners stay on the market for so long (source: The Telegraph).

Henry Hoovers are very good vacuum cleaners that have been consistently good since Numatic first introduced them to the British market in 1981. The products are well-designed, allowing anyone to efficiently use, maneuver, and store them without any hassle.

While many people argue that Henry’s popularity is due to Numatic’s excellent branding and marketing strategies (source:The Guardian), it’s impossible to argue about the vacuum’s efficiency. The product is as good as you’d get in modern vacuum cleaners, and Numatic has introduced other series in the line to cater to even more customers.

For example, the Numatic HVT160-11 Henry Vacuum Cleaner (available on Amazon.co.uk) helps clean stubborn pet hair and remove microscopic allergens—proving that Henry Hoover vacuums are as ubiquitous as they are timeless.

Are Henry Hoovers Powerful?

It’s almost impossible to mistake a Henry Hoover for another appliance. After all, the familiar red smiling face is impossible to miss—even if you prefer to store your cleaning supplies under the stairs or in dark closets. However, do Henry Hoovers have powerful suction, or are the vacuums all aesthetics?

Henry Hoovers are powerful vacuum cleaners that will get rid of dust, dirt, and hair from most floors with minimal effort. The vacuums typically have a maximum rating of 1200 watts (1.6 horsepower)—enough juice to get you through particularly daunting cleaning sessions without stress.

A power rating of 1200 watts is more than enough power for vacuum cleaners, so it’s indisputable that Henry Hoovers are pretty efficient. Of course, the Henrys come with a switch to adjust how much suction the vacuums provide, allowing you to switch to a low power mode of 600 watts (0.8 horsepower) to do light cleaning.

Are Henry Hoovers Good for Pet Hair?

Although Henrys aren’t associated with the Hoover brand, many Britons refer to the vacuums as “Henry Hoovers.”

This misnomer is because Hoovers were synonymous with vacuum cleaners in 80s Britain (source: Reference For Business), the period Numatic’s Henrys hit the market. However, it’s normal to wonder how well the classic vacuum cleaner deals with pet hair.

Henry Hoovers are good for pet hair, thanks to their robust suction power. With 600 watts (0.8 horsepower) fans and specially designed canisters. The vacuum also has a capacity of 9 liters (0.31 cubic feet) and a long cord, perfect for cleaning up after the shaggiest of pests.

While the regular Henry NRV 240-11 Dry Vacuum Cleaner (available on Amazon.co.uk) can help you clean out pet hair, a dedicated vacuum cleaner from Numatic is specially designed for this exact purpose—the Henry Petcare.

The Henry Petcare comes equipped with an EcoBrush and a MicroFresh filter to quickly take up tenacious pet hair and absorb residual pet odors (source: My Henry).

You can get the Henry Pet PET200 Bagged Cylinder Vacuum on Amazon.co.uk. It also helps to reduce pet odors throughout your home. 

Are Henry Hoovers Good on Carpets?

Henry Hoovers were designed to clean floors, so the most logical surfaces to use the vacuums are floors in homes, offices, and similar areas. Still, most floors aren’t bare, and they come with paddings or finishings of some kind—like carpets or rugs. Therefore, it’s normal to wonder if you can use Henry Hoovers on your carpets.

Henry Hoovers are not good on carpets. While they may help efficiently clean non-fluffy carpets, the vacuums can damage light or thin carpets. The system’s powerful suction and tapered bristles are the main culprits—capable of ripping through carpets’ padding without warning.

I don’t recommend you use the Henry vacuum cleaner on carpets, even if it’s non-fluffy. In addition to the risk of damage, regular Henry Hoovers don’t clean carpets as well as they do other surfaces. So, you’ll likely be disappointed by the results.

Even the Henry Petcare, specially designed to deal with fur and fine hair, is unsuited for cleaning out pet hair in carpets, so I recommend using vacuum cleaners specially made to clean all kinds of carpets.

Are Henry Hoovers Good for Wooden Flooring?

Today’s vacuum cleaner market is very different from how it used to be in the 80s when Henry Hoovers first made waves. So, it’s expected that there’ll be a few questions about how well the product will perform in contemporary homes. After all, it’s pretty common to have floor finishes these days—and smooth wooden flooring can be hard to clean.

Henry Hoovers are good for wooden flooring. You can clean wooden flooring without hassle using Henrys, and they’ll leave the surface looking excellent. And while smooth surfaces can be tricky when vacuuming, you don’t have to worry about that with Henry Hoovers.

Henry Hoovers’ suction power also comes into play with hard wooden flooring, so you don’t need to run the vacuum over the same place over and over for effectiveness. Therefore, you can get even fine crumbs and pet hair out of freshly polished wooden flooring with minimal effort.

It’s no wonder Henry Hoovers have stayed relevant in the British cleaning scene for a long time. After all, each purchase of a red canister with a cute face offers timeless efficiency and ubiquity.

However, with a high-end product comes a high-end price point and this is just not affordable for everyone. If you’re looking for an alternative to the Touch Éclat with the same payoff, but a more budget-friendly price then look no further. I’ve rounded up 5 dupes for YSL Touche Éclat available within the UK. Read on to find out what they are!

YSL Touche Éclat Alternatives Available in the UK

The Touche Éclat pen helps to brighten any feature you put it on, without being glittery or shimmery. The product uses light-diffusing technology to give a natural, luminous finish that makes your complexion look all over healthier! It also contains Vitamin E extracts to hydrate the skin and avoid settling in any fine lines or creases.

Revolution Pro Brightening and Tightening Under Eye Concealer Wand

Revolution Pro’s Brightening and Tightening Under Eye Concealer Wand is pretty much an exact copy of the YSL Touche Éclat illuminating pen, down to the packaging! Although this is more of a concealer than the original, it still provides the same payoff and brightening power as the original, without the need for multiple products. 

Many high street makeup brands are known for creating dupes of iconic, high-end products and Revolution is one of those brands. This concealer instantly covers under-eye imperfections and brightens the under eyes, camouflaging any evidence of late nights. 

The concealer has a click button technology, with soft bristles rather than a plastic wand. The brush features a pointed tip to help you get all around your eye contour.

Similar to the YSL concealer, this under-eye concealer also contains reflecting pearl fragments, along with natural brightening ingredients that leave you looking awake and ready to take on the day.

The concealer itself is lightweight, so it won’t settle into any fine lines or creases around the eye. It also doesn’t feel cakey on the skin, so it’s all you need to take on the day! Available in 3 shades and cruelty free, this is a great dupe if you’re passionate about keeping your makeup bag cruelty free as YSL is not. 

Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer

Maybelline’s Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer has been praised as a dupe for YSL Touch Éclat when used under the eyes. Not many people know that YSL and Maybelline are actually owned by the same brand – namely L’Oreal!

That means, I can say with at least some certainty that the formulations and ingredients used in the YSL Touch Éclat have more than likely been passed on to the cheaper brands, leading to a great dupe product for a much lower price tag! 

Maybelline’s highlighting concealer is a lightweight, gel-based formula that diffuses light to illuminate the under-eye area as it conceals imperfections. This concealer is lightweight and blendable, so it won’t settle into any fine lines or wrinkles. Instead, it will just leave you with a bright and hydrated looking under eye area! 

Although a great dupe, the colour range is limited compared to some of the other options in this article. This concealer is best suited for light to medium skin tones. 

L’Oréal Paris True Match Eye Cream in a Concealer SPF20

This concealer-eye cream hybrid by L’Oreal is said to give similar results to the YSL Touche Éclat. A unique product, this concealer contains 0.5% hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance that draws water from the atmosphere into the skin, making it appear plumper and more hydrated.

Using this around the eyes can make the eye area look more youthful and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time. The included SPF20 protects the delicate under-eye area from any damage from UV rays (although we always recommend using sunscreen on the face too).

Not only will it actually improve the look of the eye area with repeated use, but in the meantime, it will cover any dark circles and under-eye imperfections instantly. Pigments are diffused when blended offering a seamless coverage that brightens the area, making you look awake and ready to take on the day. 

Available in multiple shades across the colour spectrum to suit all skin tones, the concealer is contained within a click-activated pen. The consistency is extremely lightweight and provides more of a natural finish, so it won’t be suitable for those who prefer a heavier makeup look. 

Collection Illuminating Touch Under Eye Brightener

Collection cosmetics have been raved about in the beauty space for a good few years. Known for their high-performing products at a low price point, this Collection Illuminating Touch Under Eye Brightener is no different! It has a peachy-pink undertone that counteracts the blue and purple undertones that can appear under the eyes.

This product is very similar to the YSL Touche Éclat as it’s not a concealer, it’s a brightener to be used underneath foundations and/or concealers. 

This under-eye brightener contains light diffusing pearl pigments that reflect light, to create the appearance of a bright and youthful under-eye. With this product, you can fake a full 8 hours of sleep with the swipe of the pen!

Max Factor Radiant Lift Hydrating and Brightening Concealer

Max Factor Radiant Light Hydrating and Brightening Concealer makes under eyes appear instantly hydrated, brightened and lifted. The concealer contains Vitamins E similar to the YSL version, and C to fight signs of fatigue as well as covering them up.

Vitamin C is praised in the skincare community for its ability to brighten and even out skin tone, including dark circles and hyperpigmentation. Vitamin E penetrates deep into your skin to hydrate and nourish. Using both Vitamin C and E together will brighten and nourish the skin, giving a more youthful under eye – much like the YSL Touche Éclat!

This concealer does not feature a click pen applicator, instead the product is squeezed out onto a sponge-like applicator and blended into the skin. The formula is lightweight, blendable with medium coverage that can be built up if you prefer a heavier look.

The light reflecting formula bounces light away from the face, giving your skin that “lit from within” glow. 

After reading this article, I hope you’ve found your new favourite beauty product to give you that gorgeous, natural-looking glow. No matter how many hours of sleep we actually get, there are plenty of dupes on the market to make it look like we’ve had our full 8 hours!

At first, it was hard to find Kombucha in the UK. Nowadays, it’s everywhere, and comes in many flavours. Kombucha contains probiotics and has a wide range of health benefits, including improved gut health, mental health and is even said to help with IBS symptoms! So it’s no wonder if you want to try it or have been looking for it.

If you want to try out Kombucha for yourself, but aren’t sure where to purchase it within the UK, then don’t worry! I’ve put together this guide for you to make it a lot easier. Carry on reading for more information!

Best Places to Buy Kombucha in the UK

Kombucha is easily available online, but it can be hard to know which ones are the best ones to purchase for the health benefits. Below, we’ve listed the 3 best places to buy Kombucha drinks.

Hip Pop

Hip Pop is a family-run business that brews Kombucha the traditional way, with all organic ingredients. They have a strong focus on ensuring the best quality Kombucha every time and are constantly evolving their recipes.

They currently stock 4 flavours, Strawberry and Pineapple, Blueberry and Ginger, Apple and Elderflower and Ginger and Yuzu. 

They offer cases of 12 or 24, of a 6-bottle taster case of mixed flavours if you’re new to Kombucha. They also offer monthly subscriptions to their drinks. All of their Kombucha options are vegan, low in sugar and certified organic. They’re also full of antioxidants, enzymes, Vitamins B and C and organic acids! 

Hip Hop doesn’t charge shipping fees to the mainland UK. They ship using Royal Mail and your items should be with you within 3-4 business days.  Subscription cancellations can be done at any time too. 

Pros:

• No added sugar
• Vegan 
• Certified Organic
• Family business
• Traditional brewing
• Free delivery
• 330ml bottles
• Huge amount of positive customer reviews

Cons:

• Only 4 flavours

Drift Drinks

Drift Drinks stock a range of drinks, including Kombucha. They stock 3 different brands of Kombucha, Genie, Fix8 and Nunc.  Altogether there are 8 flavours, including:

• Rose Blush
• Dry Apple
• Fiery Ginger
• Strawberry Tulsi
• Citrus Saffron
• Triple Ginger
• Hops Monster
• Sweet Citrus

You can order single cans of Kombucha, or you can order 12 or 16 drink boxes. However, these boxes do not solely contain Kombucha and also contain alcohol-free cocktails and beers.

Deliveries are sent with DPD, which costs £4.95 or is free on orders over £50. They aim to get your drinks delivered to you in 2-4 working days. They cover the mainland UK, including Scotland. However, deliveries to Scotland will be charged a high delivery fee. They don’t currently deliver outside of the UK or to Northern Ireland.

Pros:

• 3 brands of Kombucha
• 8 different flavours
• Free delivery on orders over £50
• Less than 100 calories per drink
• 330ml
• Some flavours are vegan

Cons:

• Not organic
• Doesn’t ship outside the mainland UK

Freshly Fermented

Freshly Fermented stocks their own brand of Kombucha as well as Blighty Booch, which is registered with the Vegan Society and Certified Organic. They have around 10 flavours over the 2 brands, including Lavender and Elderflower, Ginger and Organic Cherry.

You can order a single bottle, pack of 6 or 12 with the option to have a single flavour or mix it up. 

Freshly Fermented also offers a monthly subscription of Kombucha, where you will receive 8 bottles of Kombucha per month. 

They offer a standard delivery charge, but free delivery over £50 if your package weighs less than 20kg. They do ship outside of the mainland UK, so customers in Northern Ireland can shop with them. However, they state on their website that customs charges may apply.

Freshly Fermented also offers next day delivery within the mainland UK if the order is placed before 1 pm. 

Pros:

• 2 brands of Kombucha
• Blighty Booch is vegan and organic
• 10 flavours
• Monthly subscription offer
• Ship to Northern Ireland
• Free delivery on orders over £50
• 330ml

Cons:

• Customs charges may apply to Northern Ireland

Which Supermarkets UK Have Kombucha?

You can find Kombucha in the aisles of some UK supermarkets or on their online stores. Below, I’ve listed which brands of Kombucha can be found at each supermarket.

Sainsbury’s

• Nexba
• No.1 Living
• Los Bros Living Drinks
• The Gutsy Captain

Tesco

• Remedy Kombucha
• Nexba

Asda

• Los Bros
• Equinox

Waitrose

• REAL Royal Flush
• Equinox
• River Cottage

Morrisons

• Remedy Kombucha
• Captain Kombucha

Unfortunately, Aldi, Lidl and Iceland do not stock Kombucha.

Where Can I Buy Kombucha Starters or Kits in the UK?

It’s possible to brew your own Kombucha at home if you have the right ingredients and tools. Luckily, these can be bought online and delivered to your door quickly. 

Freshly Fermented

The online store mentioned as a place to buy Kombucha, also offers Kombucha-making tools and Kombucha scobys (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast). Each scoby has its own unique flavour and all but one is completely organic.

Although marketed as a Kefir maker, this tool can be used to create your own Kombucha easily. It is available in 2 sizes, 848ml and 1.4l. It features a 2-level strainer, is made of glass and BPA-free plastic, meaning it can be washed in the dishwasher. 

It also features secure cover screws within the container lid, which enables airflow. 

Amazon

Amazon UK has a wide range of Kombucha-making kits and scobys available to buy. This Kerfiko Complete Kombucha Making Kit comes with everything you need to brew your own Kombucha, the only thing you need to buy separately is the tea and sugar. It contains a 1.4l jar which is made of glass and BPA-free plastic. 

Etsy 

Etsy stocks a range of different Kombucha starter kits with all the tools you need to make your own. This particular kit by BooChiKombucha has many positive reviews from satisfied customers, stating that this kit took all the guesswork out and makes perfect Kombucha.

The kit itself was actually featured on The One Show on BBC in January 2020 and has been labelled as “the best organic kombucha kit on the market”.

It comes with everything you could possibly need, including all the tools, certified organic tea, certified organic sugar, an organically grown scoby, organic starter liquid and instructions to follow. All you need to do is add water! The seller also offers free delivery to the UK.

After reading this article, I hope you’ve found everything you need to know about buying Kombucha or Kombucha starter kits and scobys. It’s clear to see that it is no longer just stocked in expensive health stores and is readily available to anyone! Good luck on your Kombucha journey, and enjoy all the health benefits it brings!