Plant-based pals, we have some very exciting news: Ikea is finally launching veggie meatballs that actually taste and look like their proper meatballs.

Everyone knows that the best part of an Ikea trip – aside from wandering through all the showroom setups and pretending you live there – is popping into the restaurant to enjoy some meatballs, mash, and lingonberry jam.

Vegetarians have always been lumped with the brand’s veggie balls, which are fine, but make no effort to be anything like the meatballs on our carnivorous friends’ plates.

No more. From 3 August, Ikea will launch brand new plant balls.

As the name suggests, these are balls made entirely from plants, with no animal products used. But unlike the old veggie balls, these actually look and taste like the ‘real’ meatballs Ikea is known for.

They’re totally vegan – but Ikea is quick to warn that the mash and cream sauce the balls are traditionally served with contain dairy and are thus not vegan. We’d suggest pairing with chips and lingonberry jam instead.

As well as being veggie-friendly, the plant balls are being promoted as a ‘a more sustainable sibling to the much-loved meatball’.

A single plant ball has just 4% of the climate footprint of the usual meatball, meaning that one meatball has the same climate footprint of 24 plant balls.

So if you’re bothered about the environment, it’s worth giving plant balls a go next time you have a craving for Swedish deliciousness.

They’re made from yellow pea protein, oats, potatoes, onion, and apple, which might sound a bit odd, but mashed together manages to offer the same taste and texture of Ikea’s usual meatballs.

The new plant balls will be on offer in Ikea bistros for £1.50 for eight balls from 3 August. You’ll also be able to buy bags of plant balls from the food market to cook and serve at home – a 500g bag will be £2.75.

If you want the proper Ikea restaurant experience, though, you’ll have to wait – the plant balls will be rolled out to all restaurants from 26 October.

Hege Sæbjørnsen, Country Sustainability Manager, IKEA UK and Ireland, says: ‘At IKEA, we are committed to having a positive impact on people and the planet. In order to reduce the climate footprint of the total IKEA business, including our food business, and make climate friendly, delicious food available for everyone, we are making sure meat alternatives are an easy, desireable and affordable choice.

‘With the new plant ball we can now offer meat lovers a great tasting, more sustainable alternative – without compromising on the IKEA meatball experience that is loved by so many.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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What do you see when you look out of your window? Grey skies, the odd pedestrian, a stray cat?

Chances are, you would prefer a different view.

Though most of us can’t fly to a sun-drenched elsewhere, we can still use technology to pretend we’re in a different place.

Enter the WindowSwap. A husband and wife duo came up with a concept which allows you to see through different windows in the world with just one click.

Sonali Ranjit and Vaishnav Balasubramaniam, who are living in Singapore, were bored in lockdown and all they had of the outside world was the view from their window, which they quickly got bored of.

So the couple came up with WindowSwap, which allows you to see the world from someone else’s eyes for up to ten minutes.

You might catch a sunset in Los Angeles, rain in Mumbai, the traffic of New York, or a skyline from Kuala Lumpur.

Or you might see pets staring at the camera or the calming ambience of leafy trees.

The site works by people sending their 10-minute videos to Sonali and Vaishnav, who screen each clip before putting it on their website.

Currently, you can scroll through 100 different views. And Sonali and Vaishnav have 500 more they need to upload.

Sonali told Metro.co.uk: ‘For over two months, all we had was the view from our window because of the lockdown.

‘And our friends around the world were in the same situation too. We often wondered how it would be to trade places with our friends, just be able to see something different outside our windows.

‘And that’s what gave us the idea. If we couldn’t trade places with our friends, we could still swap views from our windows! 

‘So we started off with just a few window views from close friends around the world, and then decided to invite everyone else to join, because we loved the experience so much.’

Sonali mentions that worldwide travel restrictions mean we may not travel for some time or have the means to, and this small bit of escapism may help.

‘Travel is still a distant dream. Until we can (responsibly) explore our beautiful planet again – WindowSwap is here to help you travel without moving.

‘Experience a slice of life from countries we never dreamed of visiting but now can’t wait to.’

To see some different views, head to the WindowSwap website. If you have a view you want to share with the world, you can email qunaliaa@gmail.com with the video attached.

Do you have a story?

Email metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk to tell us more.

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No matter how many tools and add-ons you have for your vacuum, there will always be places that you just can’t seem to reach.

Whether it’s under the washing machine or between awkward parts of windows and radiators, you end up having to adopt an out-of-sight-out-of-mind approach so you don’t go mad.

But one mum’s tip might just put an end to that, and all you need is a pack of plastic straws.

On the Facebook group Mums Who Clean, the woman wrote: ”Had to share this hack! Straws! Brilliant to put at the end of a vacuum nozzle.

‘Great for tricky areas. Also great for cars in tight spots and won’t pick up coins etc!’

Sharing a picture of the tip, she showed how she bunched the straws up and wrapped them in an elastic band.

From there, they’re placed into the vacuum hose and can be used wherever you need.

You do need to make sure that you have enough straws that are tightly bound so they fit securely and snugly. The elastic band should give it a bit of grip so the vacuum doesn’t simply suck the straws right up.

Comments poured in praising the hack, with one person saying: ‘What an amazing idea, now I can do my windows tracks – Dyson should bring something like this out.’

‘Okay this is seriously next level,’ another said.

A third added: ‘Why have I never thought of this?’

Plastic straws were a source of controversy last year, with many restaurants banning their use to try and cut down on their plastic waste.

However, as long as you keep this homemade tool rather than simply using once, and make sure to recycle the straws when the time does come to throw away, you needn’t feel bad.

Do you have a great cleaning hack you’d like to share?

Get in touch at MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk.

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When Kate Middleton and Prince William started dating again in 2007, after their initial break up, it sort of went over my head.

I was living in Spain, where the ups and downs of the royals’ love lives aren’t as closely documented as they are here, so I wasn’t exposed to the hype.

The fun and games only really started when I moved back to the UK in 2010, the same year as the couple got engaged.

At first, it was all quite amusing. Even better than that, it turned out that sharing a name with our future queen had some serious perks.

On more than one occasion I was the beneficiary of significant but unexplained hotel room upgrades, the best being when a luxurious London hotel mysteriously placed me in the presidential suite, rather than the standard room my then company had paid for! 

Instead of the standard bedroom and shower expected, I got a huge bed literally fit for a princess. The bathroom suite was completely marble while the kitchenette had an ice maker and crystal champagne glasses for all the bubbly I was presumably going to drink on my company’s tab. I didn’t challenge it! I guess they just wanted to play it safe on the off chance – and I wasn’t about to complain.

I was also invited to appear in several magazines and on the Oprah Winfrey show at the time of the royal wedding. Everyone seemed fascinated to know what it was like having the same name as the ‘royal of the moment’. It was quite funny really, and all the media attention was a bit of a novelty, but I was so snowed under with my master’s degree exams at the time that I turned down my one minute of fame.

Sharing a name with the Duchess of Cambridge hasn’t always worked in my favour though. I had one really embarrassing experience at a comedy night.

As I had bought the tickets for our group, my name was on the guest list and the comedians soon got wind of it. Each of the four comedians used me in their set to some degree; one grilled me for 10 whole minutes, and the others all made digs here and there about a VIP being in the house. I just wanted to crawl under the table by the end of it.

I also had my Facebook account suddenly deleted without warning as the administrators thought I was an imposter. It seemed strange having to send in a copy of my passport to verify that I was actually a bona fide Kate Middleton.

But I think the most memorable incident was back in 2014 when I booked a romantic night out at a hotel for my partner and me. When we tried to check in, we were told, to our amazement, that the booking had been cancelled.

Our arrival date happened to be on 1 April, and they had assumed it was a big April Fool’s joke! Luckily, they did find us another room straight away, as it was a week night and not booked up… plus they were very embarrassed about the whole situation!

Thankfully, that kind of thing doesn’t really happen anymore because the other Kate is far too famous now to frequent the places I do.

Although I love the idea of my local chemist thinking the princess has come in to pick up her prescription – it’s not very likely, is it?

Now it’s mainly just a talking point for people, and most of the time it’s all pretty fun and harmless.

I’m an English teacher and pronunciation trainer, helping non-native English speakers with accent reduction, so I always joke with students that I will train them to speak like British royalty!

They often laugh along and want photos of me – along with my name badge – for Instagram. The novelty of being taught by ‘The Princess’ never seems to wear off.

There are some times when I wish I just had a normal name though – when I’m tired or in a hurry, it can wear a bit thin.

I know that as soon as I give my name (when collecting something from the post office, for example) a whole conversation about it will follow. Sometimes it’s just a guffaw, but usually people can’t help themselves from saying something or other.

Some pretend they haven’t noticed, or try to be polite by saying, ‘Oh I won’t comment!’, which is, in effect, the same as commenting!

Nowadays, I just try to get in there first and pre-empt the whole thing. Before they can open their mouths, I blurt out: ‘My name’s Kate Middleton – would you believe? – but I was born first so I am the original!’.

That tends to scratch their itch without having to go through all the predictable questions and comments (‘Where’s William?’ is a very popular one).

Overall, I could never say that being Kate Middleton is a negative experience. It helps that my namesake is generally liked (or doesn’t provoke particularly strong reactions in people).

I’m not a royalist but I do think Kate seems up for a laugh and the younger royals have done some really positive work in the community.

As for meeting her, I have no particular ambition to do that, although my mum would love to.

I’m sure she’s really nice but sharing a name doesn’t mean any more than that, does it? It’s strange how many people ask if we have met or if we are related.

I guess what is even stranger is that we have the same middle name. Though mine, Elisabeth, is spelt with an S.

You can find out more about Kate’s English Pronunciation Training company, Speak My Language here.

Do you have a story that you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk

Share your views in the comments below.

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Bacardi Limited has released a range of flavoured vodkas called Plume & Petal with marketing focusing on the idea that they are ‘by women, for women’.

The drinks come in three flavours – peach wave, cucumber splash and lemon drift – and contain half the alcohol of vodka.

So far, the Plume & Petal brand has only been launched in the U.S and is due to go on sale at the start of August.

In marketing materials sent out to journalists, they’re described as ‘spa-inspired, premium spirits with a delicate infusion of fruit, botanicals, tea and a hint of honey.’

But the brand has been criticised for the ‘gendered’ marketing, feeding into stereotypes.

Khushbu Shah, restaurant editor at Food & Wine, posted a screen grab on Twitter of an email which says: ‘Plume & Petal – Bacardi Limited’s first spirit design by women, for today’s modern woman, intended to be enjoyed with other women.’

Khushbu commented: ‘Ah yes just what I need in 2020! Gendered drinks with half the alcohol.’

Melissa Cole, author of the Beer Kitchen, added that gendering drinks is something she has spoken about before.

She said: ‘OMG this gives me proper, proper rage. They’ve tried this crap with beers over here loads and it has, rightly, crashed & burned every time.’

Shakirah Simley said: ‘“Delicate” “spa-inspired” “infusion of fruit” “today’s modern woman” “half the ___” – this ad copy is from a Crystal Light ad from 1995. How far we’ve come.’

Jess Levkoff said that while the drinks themselves appealed, the branding really put her off.

She posted: ‘This is totally up my alley except for the branding is horrible and now I probably will avoid all Bacardi brands. What even is this? Uggg.’

Following the discussion on social media, Bacardi has apologised for the language used in the release.

A spokesperson for Bacardi Limited told Metro.co.uk: ‘Plume & Petal is a trio of new, low-proof vodkas, infused with natural flavours, hitting shelves nationwide in the US on August 1. 

‘Shelley Menze, our Senior Beverage Scientist, set out to redefine the drink experience for her and her friends when hosting them at home. What started out as a personal, passion project turned into a unique brand that addresses a broader demand for low calorie, low-alcohol alternatives.

‘That being said, we are aware of the conversations on social media around the use of gendered language in a pitch. We’re not proud of that, but we are proud of the female creators behind this product – unfortunately, a rarity in this industry – and we are proud of this great tasting drink.’

Do you have a story to tell?

Get in touch at metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

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Our weekly series How I Save looks at the reality of how people spend and save their money.

Each week we ask someone to track their spending and tell us about their budgeting tactics, then get an expert to provide advice on how they (and we) can save better.

This time around we’re chatting with Alexa*, 27, a recruitment consultant living in Sheffield.

How Alexa saves:

I earn £20k a year without commission – which, let’s face it, is a distant memory in the current pandemic. In my savings account right now I have £3,500.

I’ve saved this much money by transferring as much of my commission and money as I can on payday and doing side hustles such as Ebay etc. The main way I save is transferring money as soon as I get it. It means living like a pauper some months but I know it’s there as a back up if I need it.

I’m saving for my wedding! Hopefully I’ll get down the aisle this year, pandemic dependent.

I struggle with saving because I emotionally buy things. If I’m sad or stressed I shop. I also struggle with distinguishing between a want and a need!

Lockdown has affected my spending and saving because I spent two months on furlough and all commission payments have stopped. I could earn between £300 and £1,500 a month commission which has now gone to zero with my outgoings remaining the same. I’m trying to not waste money as I desperately need to save.

How Alexa spends:

Monthly expenses:

• Car: £50 for insurance, Green Flag
• House: £430 for my half of the mortgage, water, gas, electric
• Entertainment: £30 for my half of internet, Netflix, spotify)
• Credit Card: £100 (minimum is like £17 but I try and pay £100 every month to get it down faster)
• Part-time job expenses: £20. I have a blog I create content and do social media work, I have expenses of £20 a month covering schedulers and a Microsoft office package.

A week of spending:

Monday: £27 on Ebay postage. Managed to sell a whopping 14 items I’ve decluttered, I charged delivery so while this is an expense I’ve had the income to cover it.

Total spent on Monday: £27

Tuesday: I spend £10 on a birthday present – It’s my mum’s birthday coming up so this was a little present I saw that I thought she’d like.

Total spent on Tuesday: £10

Wednesday: £12 on a takeaway – We decided to have a takeaway to celebrate the football returning and the early 6pm kick-off, picked a local one because it’s cheaper than a bigger brand.

Total spent on Wednesday: £12

Thursday: Our delightful cat decided to throw up on the bath mat in the night. Wonderful. Just because cats have a habit of returning to the scene of the crime, I binned it and bought a new one from Ebay for £8.49.

I spent £8.74 on birthday decor for my mum’s 50th. We’re obviously still in lockdown so not having a party or anything. I’ve got a few bits of balloons and banners to still make it feel like her birthday and celebrate.

Total spent on Thursday: £17.23

Friday: £3 goes on Joe and Sephs popcorn via Vodafone VeryMe – I’m a sucker for a deal and this seemed like quite a good one, we like the popcorn anyway and three pouches for £3 seemed good value when they’re normally around £3 each – perfect for our indoor movie dates.

I decided to get the feline a worming tablet for £3.95. Vets aren’t taking any appointments yet and after his little accident it’s better to be safe than sorry

£65 goes on a food shop – we haven’t been food shopping for three weeks, trying more to eat what we have in to reduce spending so this was a big one, this should last us two weeks minimum but ideally three weeks with little top-ups of milk and bread.

Total spent on Friday: £71.95

Saturday: I bought a bird box and seed that will stick to my patio window from Amazon for £13. It looks super cute and I can’t wait to welcome wildlife into my garden.

Total spent on Saturday: £13

Sunday: £16 on a BBQ set. We’ve ummed and ahhed for a few weeks in lockdown about getting a BBQ, I saw this one which is a round kettle bbq, utensils, cover and charcoal for £32 at TJ Hughes, which I thought was a brilliant deal and well under the £50 we were looking at for just a BBQ. We split the cost of house purchases, so £16 out of my account.

Total spent on Sunday:

Total spent this week: £167.18

*Name has been changed.

How I Save is a weekly series about how people spend and save, out every Thursday. If you’d like to anonymously share how you spend and save – and get some expert advice on how to sort out your finances – get in touch by emailing ellen.scott@metro.co.uk.

If you want more tips and tricks on saving money, as well as chat about cash and alerts on deals and discounts, join our Facebook Group, Money Pot.

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A miracle baby born weighing less than 15 oz (420g) is now a thriving three-month-old.

Baby Mahlia was born prematurely, at just 24 weeks, and was given a 50% chance of survival.

Since her arrival on 27 February, Mahlia has undergone three critical surgeries and has spent 130 days in neonatal intensive care (NICU).

Parents Danielle and Roger Bennie, from Australia, found out they were expecting a baby in October 2019.

The couple, who already have a five-year-old called Lilah, were thrilled with the news.

But Danielle experienced some problems early on in the pregnancy. At seven weeks she haemorrhaged so badly she thought she was having a miscarriage.

Danielle, a massage therapist, said: ‘I was rushed to the emergency department where I was told if it was a miscarriage and there was nothing they could do, they just told me to go back if it was. 

‘I had lots of tests and scans but they couldn’t determine where the bleeding was coming from. 

‘Eventually we were told that clinically the baby looked fine but there was high risk for Down’s syndrome.’

Then at 20 weeks, the couple were told their baby was really small because Danielle had placenta previa. This meant all the blood was going to the baby’s brain to keep her alive – so other organs weren’t receiving as much.

Danielle said: ‘We had to sit down and discuss our options with the consultants at the NICU. 

‘It was really difficult having these conversations with a baby inside my body, having to decide whether she lives or not. 

‘It was one of the worst things I had to do, I didn’t know if she could hear me or feel the emotions. 

‘It’s sickening, there were some pretty dark times, I was told it was possible she would pass away in the uterus.’

Doctors told Danielle and Roger the goal was to reach 23 weeks – then she would be classed as ‘viable’ (which means it’s possible for a baby to survive being born at this stage).

Mahlia, who was the ‘size of a hand,’ was delivered at 24 weeks via emergency C-section.

At just nine days old, Mahlia was diagnosed with necrotising enterocolitis – which meant her bowel had perforated and she would require surgery to fix it.

Following that, Maila underwent another surgery to rejoin her bowel to her stomach, before her third and final surgery at 36 weeks.

After spending months in hospital, Mahlia was officially discharged on 5 July.

Now, the bundle of joy weighs a healthy 2.9kg.

Danielle said: ‘When I found out we could take her home I had butterflies in my stomach and was also apprehensive about bringing home a baby without any hospital support. 

‘She’s such a fighter, even with everything that she’s been through, she is so positive, I knew that everything would be fine in the end. 

‘She is such a special baby, she’s had so many hurdles, now I just look at her and I can’t believe it. 

‘She’s now a robust healthy looking baby who knows what she wants.’

Do you have a story to share?

Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@Metro.co.uk.

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There has never been a summer quite like this one, so make it extra memorable by discovering the best that the UK can offer.

From historic gardens to piers and amusement parks, attractions across the UK are finally reopening with their own ways to protect us. Think inventive queueing set-ups, one-way systems and quirky new signage.

With so many delights right here at home, now is the time to find the hidden treasures you’d forgotten about and the ones you never knew existed. So, take a much-needed staycation and plan that local meet-up – you might just wonder why you ever went elsewhere!

In Part One of our brilliant series covering everything you need to know to enjoy a fun-packed, safe summer, here are our ten of our top picks for fun days out and trips in the UK.  

ENGLAND

1.  Spetchley Park, Worcester

Open again since June, the enchanting gardens at Spetchley Park in Worcester are an ideal outdoor space for families to come together for a safe and socially distanced picnic.

‘The front lawn overlooking the lake is my favourite spot,’ says operations manager Sarah Bird. ‘Spetchley Park is a true hidden gem – very romantic and peaceful, and there’s plenty of space for groups to feel like they are alone, together.

‘Pre-order your picnic from the Granary Coffee Shop on arrival for some delicious homemade treats.’ 

2. Mother Shiptons Cave, North Yorkshire

Explore England’s oldest tourist attraction: the subject of 500-year-old legend and once home to the country’s most famous prophetess. 

Book tickets in advance and look out for additional signage and new one-way systems. 

3. The Unruly Pig Gastropub, Suffolk

A popular British food haunt, the Unruly Pig in Woodbridge is ready to serve its delicious menu once again. 

Confidently trained in new safety requirements, team members will warmly welcome guests back to pre-booked tables. 

An open-sided marquee in the pub garden also offers ‘outside in’ dining.

Visitors to the cave in Knaresborough must arrive by car, not on foot, to reduce contact on entry.

NORTHERN IRELAND

4. Ballygally Castle 

This is the perfect opportunity to stay local and staycation. And for the team behind Ballygally Castle, a stunning coastal hotel overlooking the Irish Sea, the chance to welcome you ‘home’ is all part of the charm. 

‘Many people haven’t stayed in Northern Ireland for their summer holidays in a long time,’ says general manager Norman McBride. ‘So we can’t wait to remind everyone why their childhood coastal holidays were so fantastic.

‘We’ve gone above and beyond the UK Government’s safety guidelines because we want to give guests the confidence to spend their first nights away from home with us.’

5. Let’s Go Hydro, County Down

Watersports park Let’s Go Hydro is officially back in action. Taking bookings for action-packed day trips, Belfast’s top activity resort now operates a one-way system with cash-free payments and guests arriving in ‘bubbles’. 

Wetsuits will also be quarantined for 24 hours before use.

The park also boasts an open air cinema and cable assisted water sports.  

SCOTLAND 

6. Milk Barn Cafe, Falkirk

Suzannah, 44, and Alistair Reid, 47, were thrilled to reopen their artisan ice-cream parlour in the rolling Stirlingshire hills earlier this month – just in time for summer.

‘We’re so glad to be back,’ says Suzannah. ‘We’re now serving 18 delicious homemade scoops, including a popular Scottish tablet flavour and, for young farmers, there’s a brand-new picnic box featuring lunch and a fun puzzle.’

Despite the business owners’ excitement, reopening has been ‘a big responsibility’ she says, with rigorous new safety measures put in place.

‘The staff are fantastic – they all wear masks and clean continuously throughout the day. It’s become second nature.’

7. Blair Drummond Safari Park,Stirling

For a really wild day out, explore Stirling’s thrilling safari and adventure park via new socially distanced walking routes, past Lemur Land, through Pets’ Farm and over to the Birds of Prey. 

While live shows are temporarily suspended, the animals are very much still in action! 

8. Atholl Arms, Perthshire

Leading down to the banks of the River Tay, the newly reopened beer gardens at the Atholl Arms serve up stunning views of Highland Perthshire. 

Food and drinks are now available for outdoor table service – just remember to wash your hands regularly and walk or cycle to the pub where possible.

*In Scotland, a phased reopening of hotels, museums, galleries, cinemas, monuments and libraries began yesterday. Other attractions, such as nightclubs, theatres, live events and indoor gyms, will be reviewed before a new announcement on July 23. 

WALES

9. Farmers’ Welsh Lavender, Builth Wells 

An hour from the Brecon Beacons, the rolling lavender fields of Builth Wells are quite a sight to behold. With two-and-a-half acres and plenty to do, the recently reopened Farmers’ Welsh Lavender site is a safe day out for couples and families.

‘The gardens are really spectacular,’ says director Nancy Durham, 67. ‘We’ve been working on them for many years. There’s a large viewing swing overlooking the fields, a wild-swimming pond and even a fantastic glamping spot to stay overnight.

‘Self-guided tours will operate in bubbles, but we love that people can really spread out here. There’s also great new signage to guide everyone. We want people to come and have fun, but also be safe.’

10. Zip World, Snowdonia National Park

One of North Wales’s biggest outdoor tourist attractions returns this month in a limited capacity and with a robust safety strategy in place. Measures include signage to navigate the site, contactless-only payments and enhanced hand-washing. It’s also recommended that all guests wear face coverings.

William Morris once said: ‘Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.’

He probably wasn’t talking about sex toys that double up as lamps, but this new Obii toy by tech startup Biird definitely fits that bill.

Obii, which launched today, is a clitoral stimulator made of squishy silicone. It provides powerful suction, pressure waves, and vibrations.

You can opt to use the suction part directly on the clitoris, or turn it over and place the soft, ribbed underside anywhere on the vulva for a gentler vibration.

When you’re shopping, though, you can flip a toggle marked SFW to be asked ‘here for the lamp?’ and see the toy in a whole new light.

Winning a Red Dot Design Award last year, Obii sits on a mood-lit platform and is encased in a clear dome.

The light can pulsate or constantly shine depending on your mood, acting as a charger for the Obii toy as well as an ambience-creator.

The idea behind this is to bypass stringent restrictions from some countries and companies that don’t allow sex toys to be sold or advertised.

For example, Facebook explicitly restricts advertising that promotes products that are aimed to ‘enhance pleasure’ and Twitter restricts ‘ the promotion of adult sexual content’.

Commenting on Obii, the founders of Bird said: ‘When we first started developing the brand and our first product, we were struck by how there are still restrictions of sexual expression surrounding us.

‘We’ve worked in the adult toy market for a combined 20 years, and find it deploring that companies are still unable to openly show what they are selling.

‘The sex toy industry was valued at $35.7 billion dollars in 2018 and sex toy sales have risen during lockdown, so the demand for such products is obviously there.

‘People want to search and talk about them freely, so we can’t understand why we kept running into the same barricade time after time.

That’s how Obii really developed. We needed a product that was first and foremost about delivering pleasure but it needed to be smart to get around draconian advertising restrictions.

‘Obii is a lamp or is it? We’re inviting people into a special club where we’re all in on the joke and Obii is here to shed light on the situation. So, are you here for the lamp?’

Obii has a special summer launch price of €78 (£70) can can be bought at biird.co.

Do you have a story you’d like to share?

Get in touch at MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk.

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The possibility of a trip away with friends has been the light at the end of the tunnel for a lot of people, over the past few months. 

But it seems Airbnb is looking to crack down on groups throwing big house parties at its properties.

The rental platform is putting measures in place to stop people under the age of 25 renting large properties close to where they live.

New restrictions mean young people looking to rent will need at least three positive reviews.

But it’s worth pointing out that this is currently only the case for youngsters looking to rent places in America. 

The company said in a statement: ‘Reducing the number of unauthorised house parties on Airbnb has always been a priority, and it’s more important now than ever.’

It also stresses that guests under the age of 25 are still free to book private rooms and hotel rooms, regardless of where they live. 

Airbnb added: ‘There will always be people who work to find ways around our trust and safety protections, and we know that people over the age of 24 are perfectly capable of booking a home for the wrong reasons, too. 

‘But based on the positive impact this policy has had on unauthorised parties booked by guests under 25, we believe this is the right action to continue to protect the safety of our community.’

The move comes after Airbnb rolled out the same initiative in Canada, which resulted in a meaningful ‘drop’ in unauthorised house parties.

Airbnb also points out that 99.95% of its bookings have no safety-related issues reports – but the platform is keen to get this figure closer to 100%.

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Potatoes – we love them for their versatility.

You can fry, mash, boil or roast them and many people swear by their own recipes to create the crunchiest, fluffiest, and crispiest potatoes.

One man swears his secret ingredients (sorry, they’re not secret anymore) guarantee crispy roast potatoes every time.

Foodie Justin Taylor shared his recipe on Facebook, saying that honey and mustard can be used to make the ultimate Sunday roast potatoes.

The 40-year-old who works as a supervisor for an outdoor company wrote on his Facebook: ‘Honey and mustard roast potatoes. Then Nutella bricks for dessert’.

He then shared images of his delicious looking spuds, pictured next to some gammon.

And the ‘taters certainly look crispy.

Justin said you only need three main things to make the perfect pairing to your meat and vegetables.

You’ll need potatoes of your choice, some honey, mustard, and of course seasoning to taste.

To get started, grid the pepper into a bowl and then add the mustard – blend them together, then add the honey.

You’ll want to pre-heat a roasting tray with oil and two tablespoons of butter and salt while you prepare the rest.

Put the potatoes to the tray and baste with the honey mustard mixture.

Cook until 20 minutes before they’re ready and baste them again.

Continue to baste every five minutes to keep them crisp. And voila, you have the crunchiest potatoes with a soft interior.

Enjoy!

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You might remember Luis Padron – the man who paid thousands of pounds to look like an elf.

The 28-year-old from Buenos Aires, Argentina, wants to look like something out of a Tolkien book and has been getting work done for several years.

To date, he has had 32 plastic surgery procedures to keep his otherworldly look on point. 

Luis is currently in lockdown with his sister Mariana, who is training to be a plastic surgeon and will soon work on Luis’s face.

But first, Luis is getting to grips on maintaining his fantasy look while living in lockdown. 

Having left most of his belongings in LA, Luis has to work with what he has.

Luis said: ‘It’s really hard to maintain my elf look, but I try and do my best and it doesn’t look bad!

‘Me and Mariana are brother and sister so we fight sometimes, we laugh sometimes, we’re trying our best to spend the time to get along and you know, just try to make the best of this time until the quarantine ends.’

Luis has had a vampire hairline transplant to look more like Dracula, changed his eye colour five times and recently went to South Korea to have his jawline reshaped. 

Luis continued: ‘I did my entire jawline in South Korea. They broke it in five parts, then reshaped it and put everything together with eight nails and that one really hurt!’

But Luis has even bigger plans to transform his look and once Mariana has completed her training, she will have Luis as her patient.

‘I have done a lot of surgeries but the big one is coming,’ Luis added.

‘It’s a face implant, an entire jawline, cheekbone eyebrow, under my skin.’

This will certainly be a game changer for Luis and will change his entire facial structure. 

Luis’s goal is to make people see that there can be magic in life and that you can do anything. 

He said: ‘My goal in life is to make people see there’s a potential of magic and it just depends on you.’

Do you have a story?

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Eating healthier can be a bit dull because honestly, no one wants to eat salad every day.

One mum has revealed how she makes some simple tweaks to reduce the calories in some of her favourite meals.

Australian mum Rhian Allen, founder of The Healthy Mummy, says that there are lots of hidden ingredients in meals that add a lot of calories and fat but they can be swapped out.

She explains that it means you can still create food the whole family will eat but make each meal lower in calories.

Posting on her website, Rhian says: ‘As a busy mum of two, I know how easy it can be to go overboard with your daily calorie requirements! You think you’re being healthy and making great meals but the weight isn’t shifting. 

She continues: ‘When it comes to making meals and you’re trying your best to make everyone in the family happy, sometimes you may not realise the portions are too large or you use ingredients that could be swapped with healthier options.’

Laying out seven meal options, Rhian shows how she tweaks some of her family’s favourites.

Chicken schnitzel fingers with sweet potato wedges

To reduce the meal from 623 calories to 356 calories, Rhian used a smaller quantity of chicken, used sweet potato instead of white potato and served with yoghurt rather than store-bought lemon aioli.

She also cut the amount of oil used to cook the chicken. For the higher calorie meal, she used two tablespoons but says that’s too much.

Creamy mushroom & bacon ravioli

Rhian recommends cutting the portion of beef ravioli from 185g per person to 125g per person.

She then used 50ml of reduced fat cream, rather than 100ml of regular cream and instead of 54g of bacon (2 rashers) she cut it down to one trimmed rasher.

Instead of 10ml (2tsp) of olive oil, she carefully measured 1 tsp to cook the meal.

Greek beef burgers

To reduce the calories in this meal, Rhian recommends cutting down the amount of beef mine and switching to a wholegrain bread roll.

She also says to avoid butter on the role and limiting the cheese used.

Mexican lasagne

Rhian cut the mince used in the higher calorie lasagne (for four people) from 800g to 400g.

She switched the kidney beans for a can of salt reduced kidney beans.

She then used light sour cream and reduced the 150g of full fat cheese to 130g reduced-fat cheese.

She also decided to remove the 250g white sauce from the lasange.

Supreme pizza

To make her reduced-calorie pizza, Rhian switched a store bought pizza base to a pita bread and cut the amount of ham, salami and mozzarella by 40g.

Cherry choc slice

To make a lower-calorie sweet treat, Rhian used 60g of dark chocolate instead of 150g of milk chocolate.

She cut the amount of shredded coconut from 85g to 50g and instead added two tablespoons of chia seeds.

She also cut them into 10 squares instead of six to make a smaller portion size – enough to give a sugar hit but helping to reduce the calories.

Creamy mango & passionfruit ice blocks

Rhian has an unusual swap here, cutting out 200g of full fat vanilla yoghurt for 150g of silken tofu.

She also swaps 200g of thickened cream for 250mls of almond milk.

She uses 40mls of maple syrup instead of 60mls, which keeps it sweet without adding unnecessary calories.

To make her lower calorie lollies, she blends the tofu, 200g of mango, 240g passionfruit, almond milk and maple syrup and then pours it into moulds and freezes overnight.

Do you have a food tip to share?

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Exercise is something I have always had a difficult relationship with. Only recently has it become something I enjoy – whether to relieve stress, pass the time, or live a healthy lifestyle. 

Things hit an all-time low when I began secondary school. My nerves about starting ‘big’ school led me to seek comfort in eating, and by the age of 12 I was wearing 34” waist trousers. My weight was soaring, and to make it worse, puberty had begun to ravage my 5’4, 11 stone body. It also confirmed something I had feared: I was attracted to men. 

I knew I could eventually lose the weight if I wanted to, but I couldn’t diet my way out of being gay. And like many LGBTQ children, concealing my sexuality in school was an undercover mission. I was a sensitive, naturally flamboyant boy who surrounded himself with girls, making it much easier for bullies to pick up on.

There was also a lesson in my planner which, when I saw it, caused my heart to skip a beat: Physical Education. 

The changing rooms amplified my anxieties. I felt ashamed and intimidated when I looked at the skinny bodies around me, so I hid in the corner.

If they weren’t traumatic enough, spending three hours a week playing ‘boy sports’ like football and rugby with people I either didn’t know, or who frequently teased me for my rumoured sexuality, added more fuel to my hatred of exercising. 

Being overweight, in addition to my interests in female popstars and fancy stationery, meant I was never any boy’s first pick when choosing teams. 

Battling the embarrassment of being picked last, paired with being the butt of jokes from my peers and my alpha male teacher, made me reluctant to try in PE at all. I felt belittled, self-conscious and alienated. 

PE lessons, and exercise in general, became something to avoid. Often I would pretend to feel ill or hide in the toilets to miss lessons. 

I pleaded with teachers to let me join my girl friends, who were either playing netball or practising athletics, but 95% of the time the answer was no. The jealousy of seeing them all together was overwhelming. Why couldn’t I join them? It would make everyone’s life easier, including my teachers. Why was I separated because I was a boy?

On the rare occasion that I did join the girls, not only did I feel better about myself, but my attitude towards exercise changed. Being around my friends motivated me and allowed me to concentrate. Isn’t encouraging children to be active, and teaching them to enjoy it, the purpose of PE?

These few positive experiences were not frequent enough to overhaul my view of exercise, though. The years of stress led to a resentment of exercise even after I had left school, and I rejected any kind of sport throughout my teens and early twenties – even things that I knew would have improved my wellbeing, physically and mentally, like a morning jog or a friendly game of volleyball on holiday.

Instead, the thought of working out took me back to a place of feeling inadequate, uncomfortable, and anxious. 

Same-sex PE lessons are still a common fixture in schools across the UK. For many LGBTQ+ children, they create an additional opportunity for bullying to arise, whilst isolating them from their friends of the opposite sex. A 2017 report by LGBTQ+ charity Stonewall found that 19% of LGBT children surveyed are bullied in school changing rooms, while 14% endure it during school sporting activity. 

The national curriculum does not specify whether PE classes should be split by gender, and it doesn’t assign specific sporting activities to genders either. It does include examples of team games such as football, badminton and tennis, but ultimately the choice is down to the individual school as to who plays them.

In Out for Sport, a 2012 report by The Equality Network of Scotland, findings suggested that many gay men felt they were offered a limited range of sports in school, leaving them no option but to play football, rugby and other ‘male’ sports, despite their desire for alternatives, which were deemed out of bounds. 

Schools that limit pupils to stereotypically gendered games send a negative message to those who don’t excel at them, or enjoy them: that they are bad at exercise.

Many children, especially those that are LGBTQ+, end up lacking in confidence and less likely to pursue other forms of exercise they may actually enjoy. In a report by the National Union of Students, 42% of LGBT respondents stated the reason why they don’t participate in sport at college and university is because of previous bad experiences in school. 

Not all schools enforce same-sex PE lessons. Some offer pupils a choice of activities, and they can do what they want – regardless of gender. A 2014 report by Northumbria University found no scientific evidence to support the idea that boys and girls should be split in PE lessons, and went on to suggest that segregation has negative consequences for their mental and physical development.

Additionally, inclusivity guides by charities such as Stonewall and LEAP advise schools to offer mixed-gender teams and classes to create a positive culture in PE for LGBTQ+ children.

At school, because I was a boy who didn’t enjoy kicking a ball around a field, I was deemed poor at exercise. This mentality stayed with me into adulthood.

I now exercise for my own benefit, without fear of judgment from others. But for many years, same-sex PE lessons denied me, and still deny many children, the freedom to enjoy exercise. 

By offering a choice of activities and groups, whether the child is LGBTQ+ or not, schools have the power to transform kids’ attitudes towards exercise at a crucial stage in their lives. 

Sooner rather than later, they need to assume responsibility for this power – and use it effectively.

Do you have a story that you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk

Share your views in the comments below.

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In the immediate aftermath of the death of George Floyd and the boom of the Black Lives Matter movement – everyone had something to say.

We saw an unprecedented level of engagement with the issue of racial injustice, with everybody and their mum tweeting hashtags, ‘gramming black squares, sharing reading lists and educational materials.

And it wasn’t only the public, celebrities and influencers – the coroporate world got involved too. They couldn’t not. There was pressure and scrutiny from all sides, with employees calling for change, clarity on diversity and apologies for past behaviour.

Suddenly, huge brands, corporations and businesses were wading neck-deep into a topic that they would normally try to avoid with a barge pole.

Many of their responses went much further than simply posting a black square.

The Quaker Oats Company announced it was ending its Aunt Jemima breakfast foods brand after acknowledging that the brand and logo are based on a racial stereotype.

Airbnb launched Project Lighthouse in partnership with civil rights organisations, which includes a team dedicated to investigating and preventing discrimination on its platform through new policies.

Netflix added a permanent Black Lives Matter genre, celebrating Black history and the work of Black creators.

Then, of course, there was the desperate scramble to erase previous mistakes and problematic histories.

‘Blackface’ episodes of Little Britain, The Office, 30 Rock, Scrubs, and many more, were removed from streaming services, with producers, creators and actors sharing apologies for their involvement.

As much as individuals have been decried for superficial, performative responses to racism – so have many businesses. The fear is that the reactions and changes that have been made over the last few months will turn out to be little more than lip-service – rolled out to protect a brand’s image – and companies will return to business-as-usual as soon as the focus is on something else.

But can businesses ever get their responses to racism right? Is there a way for huge corporations to make meaningful changes that will positively impact those affected by racism?

Kristian Hoareau Foged, a senior analytics and strategic communications consultant, says it’s about so much more than public statements.

‘The public statement of support is important – there’s a lot of power in symbols – but if the only time and money your company spent responding to the murder of George Floyd was a couple hours’ wages for your social media manger, then you haven’t done enough,’ Kristian tells Metro.co.uk.

‘Silence is deafening, but hypocrisy and inaction is intolerable.’

Kristian says that making responses meaningful requires both internal and external commitments by businesses. The businesses that were praised in the first round of responses were the ones that also put their money where their mouth was, Kristian cites Glossier and Lululemon as good examples of this for making donations to relevant charities.

‘But,’ he adds, ‘the internal piece that comes now is even more important.

‘Businesses aren’t governments. They can’t regulate and set standards for others, but they can do so for themselves. The companies that respond meaningfully are those that are taking a long, hard look in the mirror and trying to understand how their systems may reflect a society that is systemically racist – and what they can do to address them.’

The difficulty with corporate responses to racism is that inequality and racial injustice is perpetuated by the way the corporate world is structured and operates. Just look at the hierarchies of power in any large business, and the lack of ethnic diversity at board level and in CEO positions.

In the UK, only one CEO of a FTSE 100 company is Black, and 37% of FTSE 100 companies have zero non-white members.

But Kristian says there is no quick fix to this. A statement about ‘diversity and inclusion’ just won’t cut it.

‘It’s about really engaging with the hard work it takes to deconstruct racist systems that very much exist in the corporate world,’ says Kristian.

‘Recruiting diverse talent, and removing the unseen barriers that there can be for them – such as not being in a financial position to accept an unpaid internship – is part of that, but we also need to look at internal cultures and how inclusive they are, how biases and microaggression affect promotions and career progression.

‘Making Black Lives Matter in your business cannot stop at the door, it needs to run through every level of your business. It’s not just hiring black people, it’s treating them equally to their colleagues (including equal pay).’

Kristian says that an interesting example of this is Nike. The sportswear giant was widely praised for their strong statement advert in support of BLM and a pledge of $40 million to support the Black community in the US. But then they faced backlash because none of their executive team and only 8% of their VPs are Black.

Last month, Nike CEO John Donahoe sent an email to employees stating that the company must ‘get our own house in order’, and stating that he will be sharing efforts to accelerate diversity and inclusion in the coming weeks.

‘These number are far from ideal,’ says Kristian, ‘but they’re also a company that is improving in the space, and have a consistent track record of supporting Black causes and paying huge sums to black athletes – not least paying Colin Kaepernick when the NFL had blackballed him.

‘And internally, while it would be almost expected for them to have a more diverse executive team considering their customers’ demographics, VP isn’t exactly a junior role and the company at least has pay equity between non-white and white staff.

‘To me, the companies that are taking the criticism, reflecting on it and continuously working to improve are the ones responding meaningfully.’

Ultimately, Kristian says that businesses can’t be separated from society as a whole, and it will take so much more than a clever statement to start to unpick the entangled inequalities that so much of the corporate world is built on.

‘There’s an old adage in corporate communications that you can’t communicate your way out of a crisis you acted your way into,’ says Kristian.

‘The systemic racism in society also flows through business, and it takes a proactive effort to address it. And your business will benefit from doing so; not just because it’s the right thing to do, or because it protects your reputation, but because research for over 20 years has told you that your business will perform better.’

One company that seems to have a strong handle on this idea is Ben & Jerry’s. The ice cream brand was widely praise for their no-holds-barred response to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Where other brands skirted around the issue or posted diluted images of Black and white hands together, Ben & Jerry’s went for the jugular, calling for the ‘dismantling of white supremacy’ – language that feels radical coming from a corporate statement.

‘The first question that we ask ourselves is – are we adding to the conversation?’ Rebecca Baron, Ben & Jerry’s European head of activism, said.

‘We vocally support movements where our voice would have impact, rather than just try to make ourselves look good.

‘The second question is – will we continue to have an impact beyond this statement? Are we living these values when the media attention has moved on elsewhere? We believe in using our voice and our relationship with our fans to drive systemic change in partnership with the movement. If we’re not doing that first, what right do we have to speak up about this?’

Rebecca explains that businesses occupy a unique space in terms of resource and influence. She says the role that corporates and brands can have in driving systemic change can be invaluable, when used in the right way.

‘At Ben & Jerry’s we work really closely with activists and NGO partners in the spaces we’re working in to build activism campaigns,’ she adds. ‘These partnerships help make sure everything we do is in service of what the movement needs.

‘It often happens that the most impactful way you can help achieve progress is not necessarily the thing that’s going to grab you the headlines.’

The very fact that this global food brand employees people in specific ‘activism’ roles, is a signal of a different approach – of a commitment to community issues and a purpose beyond simply increasing revenue and profile.  

‘We have Activism Managers, recruited from activist backgrounds, whose whole job is dedicated to working with movements to help them achieve their aims,’ says Rebecca.

‘For us, this often means using our unique tone of voice and platform to mobilise our fans in support of actions – like we have with “Lift the Ban”, working for the right to work for people seeking asylum in the UK.

‘Our fans are our superpower – a bunch of really great folk who want to make the world a little fairer, who we can tell about our campaigns and who will take action with the movement.’

As the public engagement and interaction with the Black Lives Matter movement starts to dwindle and our timelines begin to forget the injustices, the question we need to ask ourselves now is – how do we maintain momentum?

For businesses, this is the moment where they will reveal whether their reactions to the movement were based on a trend, or if they are actually committing to creating lasting change, even without that same level of public scrutiny.

‘People often don’t realise that there are thousands of activists driving change long before and long after the cameras have gone,’ explains Rebecca.

‘Any kind of social change requires commitment; it can be long, hard, painstaking work where people (and businesses) will make mistakes. It requires you to put in the effort even when no-one is paying attention.

‘You can’t get into this work to be “relevant” or ride a trend. But you can’t let that put you off. If we really believe in a cause, we will keep working until we see justice done.’

With so much of the corporate world still stagnating in archaic systems that sees the same white, middle-class talent rise to the top again and again, it would be foolhardy not to have any skepticism when you hear big businesses talking about ‘activism’.

But for some, it seems the last few months may actually be a catalyst for change that goes beyond the performative. Change that runs deeper than an Instagram post or an apology, changes that could alter the make-up of corporate structures for good.

But for this to happen, businesses need to be ready to engage with work that doesn’t produce an instant return. This won’t sit comfortably with organisations that are used to making every decision with one eye on revenue and profit.

Do you have a story to share? We want to hear from you.

Get in touch: metrolifestyleteam@metro.co.uk.

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After NASA discovered a ‘new’ Zodiac sign, Ophiuchus, it supposedly threw the other star signs off-kilter.

While some are cynical about its actual existence, Ophiuchus covers November 29 to December 17 and sits in between Scorpio and Sagittarius.

This shift would mean that all of the other signs would have to budge over to make room for it.

If, before all this, you knew in the depths of your heart you’re a Scorpio or the like and even have a tattoo of the sign, fear not.

Firstly, NASA’s claims aren’t necessarily new or even true – NASA clearly pointed out that it studies ‘astronomy not astrology’, when the same conversation erupted four years ago.

But, if you trust their word and want to identify with a different zodiac, Groupon’s got you covered.

The discount provider is offering free laser removal to 25 people who’ve got the ‘wrong’ inkings.

Celebrities such as Rihanna, who is a Pisces, and Rita Ora, a Sagittarius, are just some of the stars that have tats of their signs.

While they’re likely to not need tat removal discounts, the rest of us who may now be freaking out about the core of who we are – a freebie is welcome.

All you have to do to be eligible for Groupon’s offer is send a snap of your star sign inking, along with your ID which shows your birthday. 

You need to enter by Friday, 17 July and winners will be picked by Monday, 20 July.

Visit the Groupon website for more information.

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Coronavirus lockdown brought to light a lot of people’s unusual (and sometimes unpleasant) habits.

But a new study has dug deeper into household routines.

Research carried out by cleaning company Maid2Match found a third of men (32 per cent) have never changed their bed sheets at home.

The survey – which featured 1,000 men and women from the USA, Australia and the UK – also revealed that more than half of men (53%) said they performed a chore badly on purpose and a quarter (26%) admitted to feeling like they didn’t get enough praise for completing housework.

It also seems that – despite it being 2020 – women still carry out most of housework, with two thirds of women (66%) stating that they do the majority of or all chores. 

The study also found that married men do less to help out around the house than single men. 

Men who are married spend, on average, 35 minutes a week doing chores, compared to two and half hours from married women, whereas single men dedicate an hour and 20 and single women spend an hour and 50 minutes.

However, it seems answers did vary with different nations. British men appeared to be the most involved with daily housework, followed by Australian men then American men.

Toby Schulz, CEO and co-founder of Maid2Match, commented: ‘We were quite surprised at how traditional the majority of families and couples still are with how they designate cleaning responsibilities. We have a significant number of male cleaners working for us, but it appears that outside of the cleaning industry, the duty of chores still falls mainly on the woman’s shoulders. 

‘Considering how much society has evolved over the last seventy years, where just as many women work full-time as do men, it seems unfair that they are still the ones who are picking up the dirty socks or vacuuming the house at the weekend.’

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Wearing a face mask when you head out and about to do your food shop, objectively speaking, a good idea.

We know that they make a difference in reducing the spread of coronavirus. And if that isn’t enough to convince you, you could soon be fined for not wearing a face mask in shops – so stick one on.

But there’s one downside to face masks, and that’s the impact they can have on our skin.

Many wearers report redness, irritation, and breakouts – all of which have been dubbed maskne (mask plus acne, get it?) – while wearing face coverings.

Don’t let that put you off wearing your snazzy patterned mask, and don’t fret – there are simple solutions to tackle maskne, prevent it happening, and treating mask-induced redness, irritation, or blemishes if they do rear their heads.

Why does maskne happen?

Oh, a whole bunch of reasons. Fun.

First off, it can be due to simple irritation and friction. Think about it: you’ve suddenly got a bit of fabric sitting on your face for long periods of time. It might be a touch scratchy, which can cause microabrasions and redness.

Then you’ve got the increased sweat and oil that you keep on your face tucked under your mask. You’ll have noticed that you might feel a touch hot with your mask on, and can’t do your usual blotting or wiping. That sweat, dirt, and oil can sit and collect on the skin, sparking breakouts.

You should be washing your mask in between wears, but if you miss it out of your laundry load you’re also adding bacteria to your face, which again can trigger spots and redness.

Ellie Child, a beauty expert for Cosmetify, explains: ‘A lot of medical staff have reported that they are suffering from breakouts, redness and irritability around their mouths due to constantly wearing a mask at work. Essentially, the lack of air circulation combined with the tightness and friction from the mask can in some instances cause minor abrasions and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.

‘Combine this with the sweat and oil that the mask can also trap and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.’

How to tackle maskne

Buy the right mask

If you know your skin is a touch sensitive, have a think about the fabric of your chosen face coverings – and make sure your mask fits you well so it doesn’t constantly rub or press into the skin.

Lucy Xu, skin specialist and Founder of the London Premier Laser Skin Clinics, says: ‘When choosing a mask, I would spend a little bit more to ensure that it is a good fit, large enough to cover the face, offers the right type of fabric which is breathable, soft on the skin and non-irritating.

‘Opt for natural fabrics such as cotton or washable silk as these types of fabric will reduce the friction of the mask on your face which should help to prevent any irritation from rubbing.’

Keep your masks clean

You need to be washing your reusable fabric masks between each use – so make sure you buy a proper stash so you’re not constantly waiting for the washing machine to finish its cycle.

‘I would advise buying a couple which will allow you to rotate the mask every day so that you are wearing a clean mask each day while the other is in the wash,’ says Lucy. ‘This will not only prevent you from catching Covid-19 but of course will keep your skin clean and free of any unwanted bacteria.

‘Keeping your mask clean is imperative for ensuring that you are keeping your skin clean and free from any harmful bacteria that could cause you to breakout.

‘Furthermore, the air from breathing in a confined space will build up underneath the mask and will begin to suffocate the skin, this mixed with sweating and long periods of wearing the mask will act as a breeding ground for bacteria leading to potential breakouts and congestion, so it’s super important to ensure that you remove your mask when you aren’t wearing it to allow the skin to breathe and to get some air into the mask.

‘I would also advise machine wash your mask after every use on a hot setting with good detergent.’

Ditch the heavy makeup

Under your mask, anyway.

It’s not like anyone can see the bottom of your face when you’re masked up, so there’s no need to introduce dirt and grime to your skin in the form of smeared on foundation and bronzer.

You can always master your eye makeup and focus on that rather than wasting your foundation.

Wash your face when you get home

After your shopping trip, you should already be removing your mask, bunging it in the wash, and washing your hands. You might as well make time to wash your face, too, to get rid of all the sweat and oil that’s built up while you’ve been out and about.

Use a gentle cleanser than moisturise afterwards to nourish the skin after mask time.

Keep your skin moisturised

Dry skin is more prone to irritation, which can lead to soreness and red blotches.

Now might be the time to invest in a more heavy-duty moisturiser, both for wearing under your mask and loading up on after you’ve removed it.

‘Anything with hyaluronic acid is also a bonus as maintaining moisture levels within the skin is key in preventing the skin from drying out,’ adds Ellie.

Up your skincare

You don’t need to go too hard on the products, but lockdown is a great time to figure out a consistent skincare routine that works for you – and helps to counteract the effects of wearing a mask.

‘If your skin is prone to inflammation and breakouts then you may want to invest a little more time and money into your skincare to ensure that whilst we have to wear masks you are looking after its morning and night to ensure that it is regenerating for each day,’ says Lucy. ‘I would advise if you don’t already, double cleansing each evening before bed to ensure that your skin is clean after wearing the mask, you can use a cleansing balm, milk or oil but just ensure you double cleanse using warm water and a muslin cloth to remove any unwanted bacteria from all areas of the face and neck.

‘I would also start to use face masks [the skincare kind] more regularly, perhaps a few times a week, these will work to draw out any impurities and bacteria which has surfaced onto your skin from wearing the mask and will work deep into the epidermis. A clay mask is best for acne-prone skin.’

Only wear the mask when you need to

It sounds obvious, but it’s worth saying: don’t sit at home with your mask on all day. It’s not necessary and only increases your likelihood of developing skin-related issues brought on by your face covering.

Take your mask off when it’s safe and you’re not around other people to give your skin a break and some fresh air.

Lucy advises: ‘Only wear the mask when you need, so getting on and off public transport and also if you are in any highly congested areas.

‘Other than that, ensure you are removing your mask as much as possible to allow your skin to breathe and to ensure your mask doesn’t become too sweaty.

‘Once you take the mask off put it in a safe place away from anywhere it could gather bacteria, perhaps pop it in a material pouch or draw string bag for safety.’

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When Jill Mraidi, 46, noticed a strand of hair on her son Qasim’s toes as she put on his socks, she didn’t think much of it.

But hours later, little Qasim’s toes were bright red and bulging. That single strand of hair had wrapped itself around the four-month-old boy’s toes and was cutting off circulation.

Had Jill, from Orlando, Florida, not spotted this in time, she was told Qasim’s toes could have been cut off or would have needed amputation.

The mum-of-four is now sharing an important warning to parents to be aware of the risks of hair tourniquets.

Jill said: ‘Qasim was being fussy and pulling at his socks, so we took one of them off to look.

‘I vaguely remember a small piece of blonde hair that was barely visible but disregarded it thinking it could have nothing to do with what I was looking at.

‘I panicked when I saw his toes because it looked like they were being sliced off so I kept looking but I couldn’t find the cause.

‘I immediately called for an appointment with his paediatrician and they got us to the clinic within two hours.

‘My paediatrician looked at it and knew right away what had happened.

‘He proceeded to pull out a medical book and flipped to a page that had a picture of a baby with Tourniquet syndrome, and I agreed that’s what it was.’

Jill was horrified to learn that often the injury is seen as a sign of abuse or neglect, and that doctors can inform authorities of hair tourniquets if they think they’re a cause for concern.

‘I was mortified and perplexed at the same time as I am a former child protection investigator (CPI) with the Department of children and families (DCF) here in the state of Florida,’ said Jill.

‘Our paediatrician explained that was one possibility.

‘As we have been seeing him for over 10 years since the birth of my child, he agreed this was not the case with us.

‘However, had he not known us he may have called it in. The thought of this is horrific because any innocent parent could have become the target of a DCF investigation.

‘Also, we had seen our paediatrician a few days prior and even went for physical therapy assessment the day before, but nothing was present.’

Three years later, Jill says she’s incredibly lucky to have noticed her son’s swollen feet and saved his toes as a result.

She’s sharing her story to encourage other parents to carefully check for any loose hairs when dressing their babies and young children.

Jill added: ‘The paediatrician was so thankful that we got him in as quickly as we could.

‘In our case, it potentially saved him from having three toes amputated.

‘He has healed completely with no remaining scars.’

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An eight-year-old who was born without legs says she’s never seen her physicality as an obstacle to her sporting dreams.

Paige Calendine has always been passionate about gymnastics and has been involved with sports since she was just 18-months-old.

She told ABC6 News: ‘My parents signed me up to gymnastics because they wanted me to have body strength and then when I started I had a little struggle.

‘But then I started getting better and when we go on these bars we started working on routines.’

Since then, Paige has worked hard to advance as an athlete and currently trains with the Zanesville gymnastics team in Ohio. 

Recent footage shows the young athlete with her coach, Esther Weibel, during a training session at the gymnastics centre. 

Esther Weibel said: ‘Paige has been working out here since she was a little girl, she started competing for us just this season as a XceL bronze.

‘She’s a big part of our XceL team. She practices with all the XceL levels together. XceL is like an alternative program within USA gymnastics. It’s more free for creativity and skills, so we can kind of make the routines more individual to each child.’

Earlier this year, Paige took part in the Arnold Sports Festival and she hopes to start competing again, as soon as it’s possible.

Paige said: ‘Gymnastics is one of my things that I should keep with me for a very long time and keep coming and get back to [the] schedule and compete again.’

But it’s not just gymnastics the young athlete is interested in – she also has plans to start other activities, such as swimming, cheerleading and archery, in the future.

What an incredible little lady.

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Get in touch at MetroLifestyleTeam@metro.co.uk.

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