Never has the term “fool’s spring” been more fitting. When the sun came out early in the month, many of us began to prepare for the summer that felt just around the corner. Hundreds of you, like me, bought the most genius overnight bag for the weekends away that were surely about to happen, and the perfect nail colour for the new season.
But let’s be real: it’s not summer yet. A fact evidenced by just how many of you were also buying practical raincoats, stay-in-all-day satin pyjamas and – less glamorously – microwave rice cookers. Here are the Filter recommendations you loved the most this month.
The pilates pump
Anyday Hennriette Point
£49 at John Lewis
Jess Cartner-Morley declared the pilates pump to be “the new ballet flat” in her style essentials for March – and so many of you seem to agree. “Something about the way a ballerina flat leaves the top part of my foot flat lacks grace, visually,” said Jess. “I’ve found the solution in a new genre of ballerina/Mary-Jane hybrids, with a strap across the top – like the socks people wear at pilates, hence the name.”
The microwave rice cooker
Sistema rice steamer
£7.99 at Amazon
We were as surprised as anyone when this £11 microwave rice-steaming bowl managed to hold its own in our recent rice cooker group test. “Using its suggested ratios and timings, my basmati emerged after 15 minutes with individual fragrant grains, with no starchiness or chalky middle,” said our reviewer Joanne Gould. It also performed well for sushi and brown rice. It’s no YumAsia for complete rice perfection, but if you’re nervous about cooking rice in a pan, this is a great starting point. It does get incredibly hot, though.
The genius carry-on bag
Antler Essential overnight bag
£125 at John Lewis
£125 at Antler
This bag “has had complete strangers stopping me in the street and on the Eurostar platform recently”, said Cartner-Morley in her March style essentials. “The clever thing … is the integral back strap, which allows it to slide over the pop-up handle of your wheeled suitcase. This keeps it sitting securely on top of your luggage without everything falling over in chaos when you try to buy a coffee or get on to a train.” It also fits easily into a luggage rack or under the seat in front.
The natural deodorant that works
Fussy natural deodorant
£10 at Fussy
With more and more of us wanting to cut back on plastic, it’s no surprise so many of you loved Anita Bhagwandas’s roundup of the best refillable beauty products. And especially popular was this refillable deodorant from Fussy. “Unlike many ‘natural’ deodorants, it genuinely works,” she wrote. “Choose your recycled plastic case, and pick from several scents (I’m obsessed with Parma Violets) to create your own bespoke deodorant.”
The cappuccino nails
Nails Inc Turks And Caicos Beach nail polish
£8 at Amazon
Not only do “cappuccino-coloured nails look great with everything”, said Cartner-Morley in her monthly style essentials, but also the “shade is subtle enough that if – like me – you’re not exactly a dab hand on the DIY, a few application wobbles won’t show”.
The all-rounder raincoat
Rains unisex long jacket
£71.50 at John Lewis
Scandinavian label Rains “is one of the brands I reach for whenever the weather takes a turn”, says Ellie Violet Bramley in our guide to stylish raincoats. “Its long jacket has seen me through countless soggy commutes, playground trips and walks in the woods.” It’s machine-washable, too.
The birthstone ring
Stacking family birthstone ring
From £21.60 at Etsy
This sentimental gift idea was popular for Mother’s Day, but it would also make a lovely gift all year round, for mothers and friends alike. “If in a few years, my now three-year-old decided to give me one of these, her birthstone nestled next to mine, I can guarantee I would melt,” said Bramley in our gift guide.
The luxury loungewear
Satin pyjamas
£34.90 at Uniqlo
Lounging around must have become much more glamorous around the country after hundreds of you bought these satin pyjamas from our Mother’s Day gift guide. They even have pockets, so they’re practical too.
The low-plastic laundry capsules
Smol laundry capsules
From £6 for 24 at Smol
We’ve been overwhelmed with responses since we asked in this newsletter for your tips on cutting down on plastic. So many of you told us how much plastic you’d saved by switching to Smol refillable cleaning products, and now many more readers have cottoned on to this as well. Thank you so much for sending in so many great tips – read below for more we’ve received.
This week’s picks
Editor’s pick
It’s been nearly 11 years, but I can still remember the number of bouquets that filled my flat after the birth of my daughter. Don’t get me wrong: I love flowers. But in those magical, insane early weeks there are, with hindsight, other gifts that could have lightened the load a little.
A week’s worth of meals, for example; or a care package filled with treats. Someone did buy me the Mother’s Balm from this Neal’s Yard trio though – a moisturising treat for my skin. Don’t forget the new mums in your life.
Hannah Booth
Editor, the Filter
In case you missed it …
Feel like you need that extra bit of help waking up in the morning now that the clocks have gone forward? Our expert Sasha Muller tested 10 of the best coffee machines for the Filter – having reviewed them for the past seven years, he knows his way around a drip tray. Not interested in a machine, but want tastier coffee? He’s also given us all the kit you need to make great coffee at home – and what not to waste your money on.
Get involved
Our article on how to use less plastic resonated with you, and you’ve been writing in to tell us all the ways you’re cutting back on your consumption.
Libby Hutchings told us how she switched to plastic-free baby products for her two young children. “I used cloth nappies with my now five-year-old, and I’m now using them with my six-month-old. While I bought a lot of them new with my first, I also bought several secondhand and, with proper care, have been able to use the same nappies this time. The extra laundry isn’t that bad and any stains come out in the sun! Once we’re done with them I’ll sell them on to others as they’ll have loads of life left in them. And we use cloth wipes instead of wet wipes: they’re much kinder to delicate skin as well.”
And Elise Rayner emailed to tell us how she avoids plastic in her food shopping: “I use my local refill shop for lentils, stock powder, porridge oats and chocolate raisins. I only buy plain yoghurt in the largest tubs to avoid the small pots. If there’s a glass option instead of a plastic option, eg mayonnaise, I buy the glass. Cheese from the cheesemonger wrapped in paper.”
Standout service
Have you ever been surprised by a brand or retailer going above and beyond on customer service? Maybe they repaired an ancient raincoat for free or brought a much-loved kitchen appliance back to life with a new part.
If so, let us know by emailing us at thefilter@theguardian.com.
