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The best last-minute Valentine’s gifts for her – from beauty and jewellery to homeware she’ll love
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Don’t panic! You’ve still got just over a week to grab a Valentine’s Day gift for that special someone.
But if you’ve still not got a clue what to get then you’re in luck, as we’ve collated our favourite picks of the best last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts for her to give you some inspiration.
From beauty products to jewellery, pampering essentials to homeware, these bits and pieces are sure to win you some serious kudos, and definitely won’t look like panic buys, either.
Appealing to all budgets, our hand-picked selection features a whole host of things to treat them this year – whether they prefer something traditional or something they didn’t even realise they wanted.
The best bit? Many of these picks will arrive in time for the big day, so you can stress less and think of the more important stuff, like writing the card.
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We’ve got our eye on the bottle of Trevethan Cornish Gin, which will make the perfect luxe, flavoursome base to Valentine’s Negronis, Martinis and G&Ts.
And if affordable jewellery is at the top of your (and their) list, then brands like PRYA and Estella Bartlett make stunning, quality pieces that won’t break the bank.
Ready to treat them? Explore our curated selection of the best last-minute Valentine’s Day gift ideas below and find them something they’ll really love.
Best last-minute Valentine’s Day gifts for her
Estella Bartlett Lilac Beaded Flower Bracelet
Dainty, adorable and utterly affordable, this Lilac Beaded Flower Bracelet from Estella Bartlett is a gorgeous gift for those who love their jewellery on the brighter side.
Featuring adorable daisies beaded with Miyuki beads alongside gold-plated beads and colourful gemstones, including Tiger's Eye, Rose Quartz, Jade, and Freshwater Pearls, this playful piece will bring a smile to anyone who wears it.
Trevethan Cornish Gin 70cl
If they love a tipple then this bottle of Cornish-crafted Trevethan Cornish Gin, boasting a 1929 recipe revitalised by chemist turned master distiller John Hall that's sure to spark chemistry.
Oozing art-deco glamour and rooted in its 1929 family recipe, Trevethan 1929 Dry Gin pays homage to the golden age of cocktail culture,. Enjoy flavours of 10 botanics: Juniper, Coriander, Angelica, Cassia, Orange, Lemon, Cardamom, Vanilla and hand picked Cornish Elderflower and Gorse Flower
BYOMA Bio-Collagen Radiance Facial Mask
Give the gift of stunning skin with this BYOMA Bio-Collagen Radiance Facial Mask, a peel-off facial treatment designed to promote a glass-skin look in as little as 20 minutes.
A brand-new release from the brand, this gel-to-peel-off mask is ideal for dry and irritated skin, set to reduce redness and boost firmness and the skin’s ability to retain moisture.
Fairfax & Favor Loxley Black Crossbody bag
Treat them to a stunning bag they'll treasure forever with the Fairfax & Favor Loxley crossbody.
Beautifully made from sustainable leather and suede, this elegant and timeless bag features a smart, structured shape with the brand's signature shiny light gold shield lock, structured top handle, internal smartphone pocket and adjustable, removable shoulder strap so you can create the right look for you.
Gigi & Olive Vintage Crystal Teardrop Ice Bucket 1960's
Add a touch of mid‑century glamour to your hosting setup with this 1960s crystal ice bucket.
Its timeless, hand‑engraved design makes it perfect for chilling champagne, wine or cocktails during dinners, parties and celebrations.
Nespresso Vertuo Pop Coffee Machine by De'Longhi
Upgrade their morning coffee with this Nespresso Vertuo Pop Coffee Machine by De'Longhi in Pink, set to add great flavour and a pop of colour to their kitchen.
Create exceptional long coffee or authentic espresso at the touch of a button, mix and match your flavours with a huge selection of Nespresso pods and enjoy quick, quality coffee every single day.
NEOM It’s All Rosy Duo (Worth £31)
A gorgeous pampering duo, the NEOM It’s All Rosy Duo is a wonderful way to help them unwind.
New and limited edition, this set, which is worth £31, features a travel candle and Hand Balm, both in the brand's stunning All Rosy fragrance which smells of freshly picked petals.
Oliver Bonas Pierre C'est Chic Mug
A new mug is always a good idea, and this adorable one from Oliver Bonas is an excellent choice.
This mug features a dancing cat parade with the brand's Pierre the Cat character on the front, 'C'est Chic' in green lettering beneath and a contrasting blue rim.
PRYA Maia Initial Necklace
If you're not sure what jewellery she likes, the likelihood is she'd love an initial necklace. We love this 18k gold-plated one from PRYA – and it comes in at just £30.
Featuring a classic dainty link chain and a beautifully crafted initial pendant of your choice, it's perfect for layering with other favourites or wearing alone for a subtle personalised statement.
Peachaus Yew striped ethical-cotton pyjama shirt – indigo blue
Yew striped ethical-cotton pyjama shirt – Indigo blue
Yew striped ethical-cotton pyjama shirt – Indigo blue
Yew striped ethical-cotton pyjama shirt
Indigo blue
Boasting comfort and quality and equal measure, this gorgeous Peachaus pyjama shirt will become an instant favourite in their collection.
Boasting a lightweight, oversized fit and crafted from ultra-soft ethical cotton fabric, this shirt is the perfect, versatile choice for bed to beach to bar.
M&S Set of 2 Heart Shaped Champagne Flutes
From celebrations to casual tipples, these sweet Heart Shaped Champagne Flutes are an adorable gift they'll love using again and again.
Each flute is made in a playful heart-shaped form from tinted glass, while a spot pattern made from coloured glass dots adds a fun finishing touch.
PHLUR Afterglow Eau de Parfum 50ml
This stunning new perfume from PHLUR has already earned me plenty of compliments, and she's sure to love it too.
This scent opens with the refreshingly fruity accords of zesty citrus and ripe apricot, followed by deeper notes of creamy coconut milk and lavender milk’s calming, floral smoothness. At the heart, vanilla provides lingering sweetness which moves into a spicy base of sandalwood and cashmere woods.
Kipling Furry Heart Charm
A cute token to help her carry some love with her, this Kipling Furry Heart Charm is an affordable choice to make her smile.
Lightweight and easy to attach, it'll look gorgeous hanging from their bag or keys.
Oliver Bonas Tall Tulip Glass Candlestick Holder
Bring a touch of fun to your home decor with this Tall Tulip Glass Candlestick Holder from Oliver Bonas, the perfect way to display candlesticks and light up your tablescapes.
It features a colourful, wavy tulip design in glass, looking stunning in any room of the house.
Damson Madder Coated market bag in blue fog multi check
Treat her to a chic and practical new bag with this Damson Madder market bag, set to become a staple in her tote rotation.
With a durable coating and finished with a branded DM logo patch, it’s an excellent choice for everyday errands or market trips.
Saltair Driftwood Multi-Lipid Body Butter
Saltair products have been selling like hot cakes since arriving in the UK, so there's every chance this Driftwood Multi-Lipid Body Butter is at the top of her wish list.
Ultra-hydrating and restorative, this body cream promotes healthier, more radiant-looking skin, boasting a luxuriously creamy finish that absorbs easily for an instant moisture boost.
Cutter & Squidge Valentine's Heart Shaped Cookie Pie Trio
Grab a bundle of treats from Cutter & Squidge and enjoy something delicious this Valentine's day.
This bundle features three delicious heart-shaped Valentine’s cookie pies in Red Velvet, Double Chocolate and Raspberry Ripple.
Drowsy Silk Pillowcase in Damask Rose
Treat them to the ultimate bedtime luxury with this Drowsy Silk Pillowcase, designed to upgrade every slumber.
Woven from pure 22 momme mulberry silk, this stunning pillowcase reduces the friction that causes long term damage to hair and skin at night, while the hypoallergenic finish is perfect for sensitive sleepers.
Silk'n Lumilips LED Lip Mask
If they've got their eye on some beauty tech then the Silk'n Lumilips LED Lip Mask will no doubt make their day.
Visibly revitalising the lips and surrounding skin, this lip mask is an innovative LED tool that promotes a plumper, smoother and more luminous look, with two modes to choose from for the perfect finish.
Valentine’s success is just a click or two away…
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The older we get, the more we begin to cherish a proper night’s sleep and revel in being tucked up in bed nice and early with a gripping book.
But achieving a good night’s sleep isn’t as easy as it may sound, and there are numerous factors that can prevent us from getting a decent amount of shut-eye.
Thankfully, there are a number of things you can do to improve the quality of your sleep — 11 of them in fact, according to a wellbeing expert.
As the founder and creative director of NEOM Organics, Nicola Elliott has been working in the wellbeing industry for nearly two decades, and during that time has learned an awful lot about four things in particular — sleep, stress, energy and mood.
Among the knowledge compiled in her book, The Four Ways To Wellbeing, she shares 11 golden rules for optimum sleep, devised with the help of researcher and specialist, Nick Witton.
It’s all useful stuff, but one of the most interesting tidbits is something called the 3-2-1 rule, which Nicola describes as a ‘useful technique’ to prepare you for restorative slumber.
Here’s a closer look at what it entails and why it’s worth giving a go…
What is the 3-2-1 rule?
Despite being a simple and straightforward routine, it might take a little getting used to at first.
Essentially, it starts three hours before you go to bed, stipulating a different thing to avoid beyond each time frame.
First off, three hours before bed, you discontinue all food and drink consumption for the day. Alcohol is included in this rule, but water or non-stimulating herbal teas are allowed.
Then, two hours before bed is when you stop doing any work or strenuous exercise.
Finally, an hour before you go to bed, you switch off the screens (yes, that means putting your phone away) and also dim the lights in the room.
Why should you give it a go?
According to Nicola’s book, a regular routine such as this allows us to feel ‘more in control of our lives’ and can also ‘lower stress’.
‘You might feel like you haven’t got time to put a routine into place or that it’s one more thing to “do” but that’s probably a sign you need one,’ she explains.
Breaking down the benefits for each of the steps involved, Nicola notes that eating late at night (especially sugary or high-carb foods) can disrupt sleep and keep you up for longer, as it ‘stimulates our digestive system and inhibits the release of melatonin’ .
Nutritional therapist Alice Mackintosh adds: ‘Eating earlier gives the body time to stabilise blood sugar before bed, meaning we don’t get peaks and troughs that keep us up later, or disturb sleep cycles.’
How much sleep should we get each night?
According to NEOM’s golden rules, it’s a major misconception that we all need eight hours of sleep each night.
Nicola explains in The Four Ways to Wellbeing that we should all be sleeping in 90-minute cycles and aiming for either seven-and-a-half hours, nine hours, or 10-and-a-half hours.
However, she stresses that there is ‘no one size fits all’ model for sleep.
When it comes to stopping work and exercise two hours before bed, it’s all about limiting their impacts on your body.
As we all know thanks to Legally Blonde’s Elle Woods, ‘exercise gives you endorphins’ — and these endorphins fire up your brain activity, which obviously isn’t ideal before you lay down to rest. They also increase your core body temperature, which signals to your body clock that you need to be awake.
Strenuous exercise in the evening, such as running or a HIIT class could also disrupt your hormone balance, stopping the production of the sleep hormone melatonin.
‘Some form of movement is still important to help our bodies and brain unwind from the day though,’ Nicola adds. ‘Especially if you’ve been sitting in one position at a desk for long periods.’
And finally, ditching screens and dimming the lights. Unsurprisingly, this one is to do with the blue light that’s emitted by smartphones, laptops, tablets, e-readers, and TV screens.
Nicola writes that the light receptors in our eyes ‘communicate daytime signals to our brains to stay awake’ and these receptors are particularly sensitive to blue light.
She adds: ‘Natural blue light is what helps us wake up in the morning, but studies show that too much artificial blue light in the evening suppresses the production of melatonin, the all-important ingredient for facilitating the onset of sleep.’
LED bulbs also emit this disruptive blue light, which is why turning off the big light and switching to lamps and candles is recommended in this step.
The 11 Golden Rules for sleep
- Go to bed the same time every night and get up the same time every night — even at weekends.
- Sleep in 90-minute cycles so you either aim for seven-and-a-half, nine, or ten-and-a-half hours of sleep.
- Don’t snooze your alarm.
- Give yourself 30 minutes to wake up each morning
- Get at least one hour of direct sunlight before midday, ideally 15 minutes of those within the first hour of waking.
- Do at least 30 minutes of movement a day.
- Create an evening routine, use the 3-2-1 rule every night before bed.
- Set aside 15 minutes for relaxation at any point in your day.
- Make your bedroom a tech-free zone that’s as dark as possible and between 16 and 19C.
- Eat three regular meals evenly spread out throughout the day.
- Have your last coffee (or caffeinated drink) by midday.
And while the routine calls for dimming the lights and hour before bed, Nicola does state that ‘ideally’ it’s better to start doing this two hours before bed if you can.
It’s not just your bedroom light you need to be wary of either; LEDs are often also used in fridges, bathroom mirrors and other appliances, so you could ‘unintentionally be getting little bursts of blue light’ just by moving around your house.
As previously mentioned, there are 10 other ‘golden rules’ for sleep, which you’re meant to follow consistently over a 28-day period in order to turn the habit into an automatic behaviour.
However, Nicola adds: ‘We’re aiming for progress, not perfection. They might take a bit of time getting used to, but stick with it.
‘Personally, I found not drinking alcohol three hours before bed a bit hard at first, but I really have noticed a massive difference in my sleep and energy levels from just doing it.’
This article was first published on January 21, 2024.
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6 Feb, 2026 | Admin | No Comments
‘I ended my marriage as I thought husband was cheating – then I found out the truth’
A woman ended her marriage after believing her husband was on dating apps – but was devastated when she discovered it was their neighbour’s catfishing scam
5 Feb, 2026 | Admin | No Comments
Here’s what we’re buying from Patrick Starrr’s viral ONE/SIZE makeup range at Boots
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more
If one thing is certain in this life, it’s that Boots is going to continue to wow us with their breadth of brands dropping into store.
From K-Beauty best-sellers to viral favourites, rarely a week goes by without another iconic drop. Our newest obsession in the major high street store? ONE/SIZE Beauty.
Founded by Patrick Starrr, one of the OG YouTube beauty creators of way back when, ONE/SIZE is a beauty brand centered on creating high-performance makeup for all.
From the viral Mattifying Setting Spray to the Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder, ONE/SIZE’s viral hits are iconic for good reason, and now you can snap them up on your next trip into Boots.
Call us basic, but the viral On ‘Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray is a long-time favourite of ours, boasting a micro-fine mist that feels like nothing on the skin but keeps makeup matte and locked-in all day long.
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Ready to explore more ONE/SIZE hits? Explore the range available at Boots below.
ONE/SIZE top picks at Boots
ONE/SIZE On 'Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray 143ml
Designed to keep your makeup in place all day long, the On 'Til Dawn Mattifying Waterproof Setting Spray is your answer to 16-hours of sweatproof, waterproof, transferproof and smudgeproof makeup.
The micro-fine aerosol mist applies evenly every time, locking in your glam with a smooth, matte finish, while witch hazel and green tea extract help control oil and visibly blur pores.
ONE/SIZE Powder Melt Glass Setting Spray
If matte isn't your vibe, the Powder Melt Glass Setting Spray will be the setting spray for you. This hydrating setting spray seamlessly melts and sets powder for a smooth, glass-like finish and extended makeup wear.
The skin care-infused formula locks in makeup for up to 12 hours with a glassy film former while improving skin’s radiance and moisturisation.
ONE/SIZE Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder
Keep oil and shine at bay with the award-winning Ultimate Blurring Setting Powder, designed to deliver premium performance and clinically proven 24-hour shine control while instantly blurring skin texture.
The skin friendly formula controls oil, visibly brightens the complexion and provides all-day makeup longevity for up to 12 hours of photo-ready wear.
ONE/SIZE Secure the Sweat Sweatproof Aluminium-Free Primer 30ml
Sweatproof and aluminium-free, this Secure the Sweat Primer works to control oil and shine on the skin for up to 12 hours of locked-in looks.
The skin friendly formula uses plant-based ingredients to absorb sweat and excess oil for all-day makeup longevity and an ultra-smooth, matte finish.
ONE/SIZE Oil Sucker Extreme Mattifying Alkaline Primer
For extremely matte skin that wont budge, the Oil Sucker Extreme Mattifying Alkaline Primer will be your go-to.
This impressive primer delivers clinical oil control and visibly tightens to create a smooth canvas for lasting makeup wear.
ONE/SIZE Secure the Blur Makeup Magnet Primer 35ml
The Secure the Blur Makeup Magnet Primerinstantly smooths the look of skin texture and visibly tightens pores while controlling shine and gripping makeup with a magnet-like effect.
Hydrating on the skin, it creates a soft-focus blur for smoother makeup application that lasts all day.
Flawless makeup is closer than ever…
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5 Feb, 2026 | Admin | No Comments
Inside the UK’s biggest Tesco with Costco-style bulk buys and its very own Greggs
Tesco has long been my go-to supermarket, and I’ve always thought of my local branch as being pretty well-stocked. Turns out, it’s but a shadow of what the good people of Greater Manchester enjoy.
The country’s largest Tesco, in Walkden, is the UK’s biggest supermarket full stop – and one of the most sizeable in Europe.
Occupying an incredible 104,797 square feet, this Tesco is about the size of a Manhattan city block and twice as big as Bill Gates’s house.
Incidentally, that also leaves it eight times bigger than Manchester Cathedral, just 30 minutes to the east.
Technically a ‘hypermarket’, the store features many concessions, and more than a few features I’d never seen in any other Tesco.
Arriving at Tesco Walkden
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Honestly, my first impressions were a bit… meh. The store didn’t look nearly as vast as my imagination had led me to believe. When you hear ‘the UK’s largest Tesco’, the mind conjures up images of a giant retail metropolis, possibly resembling the exterior of the Death Star (only with a big Clubcard sticker on it).
However, from the outside, the store looks pretty much like any other Tesco Extra. It’s obviously large, but it’s tough to get an idea of the scale of it – that is, until I walked inside.
The size of the place really does hit you immediately. The ceilings seem impossibly high, and I count close to 40 aisles of groceries alone (there are over 60 aisles in total).
It took me two minutes and six seconds to do the 187 steps to get from one end of the shop to the other. Yes, I really did count.
While you’ll notice a lot of your everyday Tesco favourites, many of these have been supersized.
The bakery, for example, is pretty extensive, offering all the classics from sweet treats to pastries and freshly baked bread. Considering I was visiting around lunchtime on a Friday, it was still really well stocked.
The fruit and veg section also occupies a ridiculous amount of space, right in the heart of the store, and the F&F clothing rails could be an entire shop in itself.
F&F had a massive sale on too, and I was severely tempted by a navy zip-up, which was 50% off at just £11.
A lot of Tesco staples you’ll find in other local branches are on offer, but I noticed an abundance of ‘XL’ sizes and larger variety packs that aren’t as easy to find.
There are more than a few bargains to be found amongst the shelves, but I found the Home section to be particularly rich in cheap discounted trinkets.
A candlelight 3D bunny mug was a rather adorable purchase at £2, with some fitted sheets (£3), F&F tea towels (£2), and oven gloves (£2.50) also reduced to clear.
A beige ottoman (yes, this store even does furniture), down from £35 to £25 for Clubcard holders struck me as a pretty good price, with side tables, meal trays, and shelving all priced under £20, too.
In the wider store, a 32″ Sharp TV with 25% off for Clubcard customers (£139, down from £189) also stuck out, as well as the 40″ version below it with £30 off (£189, down from £219), and a Fly HoverVac 250 also with a third off at just £60.
What makes Tesco Walkden different
Now, the big question: what makes this big Tesco different from the rest?
Well, Tesco Walkden features a total of nine concessions (stores within stores, if you will) that include some you might expect (Tesco Mobile store, Tesco pharmacy, Tesco Café) and some you probably wouldn’t, like a Yo! Sushi counter, a Holland and Barrett, Vision Express, Max Spielman Photo Expert, Early Learning Centre and The Entertainer.
While I found the meal deal selection a little underwhelming, the reason for this immediately became apparent when I realised that this branch of Tesco literally has its own Greggs. Not just a counter, but an actual store. What a winner.
Tesco Walkden also has another unique offering: its ‘Bulk Buy’ section.
Reminding me of Costco, the Bulk Buys offer huge packs of all sorts of everyday essentials at an additional discount.
Some of the standouts here included eight rolls of ‘Plenty’ kitchen roll for just over a tenner, a 24-variety box of Seabrook crisps for £4.75, and what can only be described as a giant vat containing 10 litres of sunflower oil for £17.
While honourable mentions go to the XXXL Surf Mega box and 20 pack of Kinder Buenos, the two highlights had to be a huge 400g jar of Douwe Egbert’s coffee at £15, and 600 Tetley teabags at £12 per (giant) bag. Although, I’m strictly an Earl Grey man at heart.
Oh, and it also has an autonomous laundrette in the car park. That was a first for me, and I can definitely see the advantage of having a load on while you do your weekly food shop.
The store is clearly a hit with the locals, with one regular shopper telling me there’s actually a smaller branch closer to where she lives, but she prefers coming to Walkden, ‘for the bigger selection’.
‘Plus, it has a Greggs!’ she concluded, excitedly.
I mean, I get it.
What did I buy from the UK’s biggest Tesco?
Truth be told, not much.
Unfortunately, a sizeable commute by public transport hampered my ability to actually complete the big shop, as the last thing anyone needs is a whole chicken slowly defrosting next to them on the 1.41pm from Oxford Road.
However, I did make use of the Greggs to grab my lunch (including the obligatory vegan sausage roll), some delightful scented candles at £2, and a big tube of Pringles at £1.95 (Clubcard price).
And, yes, I also bought the bunny mug, but I swear that’s a gift.
How to get to Tesco Walkden
If you’re driving, the hypermarket has over 900 car parking spaces.
However, if you’re travelling by public transport, the store is just a 10 to 15-minute walk from Walkden Station. There are also a couple of bus stops practically right outside.
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5 Feb, 2026 | | No Comments
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s temporary home’s seriously dark history exposed
Following his exit from Royal Lodge, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has temporarily moved into Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate while he waits for renovations to be finished on his permanent home, Marsh Farm
5 Feb, 2026 | Admin | No Comments
I nearly died after taking fake Ozempic weight loss jabs bought on Facebook
Michelle Sword, 47, first started taking weight loss jabs in 2020 after she put on two stone following the breakdown of her 20-year marriage.
‘They came at a time when I really needed them,’ says the mum-of-two, from Carterton, Oxfordshire.
‘I’d always been a size 8 to 10, but the weight had been slowly creeping on as I turned to comfort eating… I no longer recognised myself in the mirror.
Within three months of buying her first pen of Ozempic — a medication containing semaglutide, which mimics a hormone in the gut that suppresses appetite — from a legitimate online pharmacy, Michelle had lost two stone.
‘Ecstatic’ to reach her goal of getting back to her previous weight and dress size, the school receptionist came off the drug.
But while she maintained the results through diet and exercise for a while, she soon slipped into the same ‘bad eating habits’ — and by 2023, the extra pounds ‘really showed’ on her petite 5ft 2in frame.
This time around, Michelle found legitimate Ozempic was ‘increasingly hard to come by’ online. So when she spotted a company selling the jabs on Facebook, it ‘seemed like a no-brainer’.
‘I panicked and wanted a quick fix,’ she admits. ‘I paid £150 through PayPal, and two days later got a month’s supply.’
Although she says the pen itself looked identical to the previous ones, with a blue plastic cover and Ozempic sticker, there was one warning sign that something wasn’t right.
Michelle recalls: ‘It just kept clicking. I didn’t really know what the dose was, so I just decided to stop after a few clicks.
‘When I looked at the inside of the vial, the liquid didn’t seem to have gone down that far, so I remember thinking I might have to take some more later.’
Dismissing her concerns, she proceeded with the injection. But just 20 minutes later, ‘everything went black’ and Michelle collapsed on the floor.
Luckily, her 15-year-old daughter had unexpectedly come home early and called 999 for help. Paramedics spent over an hour trying to revive the unconscious mum, before rushing her to hospital where she was revived.
‘My blood sugar level was 0.2 millimoles per litre, when it should have been between four and seven,’ she says. ‘I was virtually on the brink of death.’
Tests later revealed the pen was full of insulin, which had essentially caused a diabetic coma — and although Michelle’s condition eventually stabilised, this near miss led to her to swear she’d ‘never touch jabs again’.
Ozempic manufacturer Novo Nordisk says…
‘Patient safety is a top priority for Novo Nordisk and as counterfeits pose a real threat to safety, we are working in close collaboration with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to identify and eliminate counterfeit drugs from the UK market,’ the company says on its website.
‘Every counterfeit case we are made aware of is looked into and reported to the authorities according to the applicable regulations. We also work with a third party specialised in monitoring and taking down of illegal online offers to specifically address this…
‘Prescription-only medicines should only be obtained through legitimate sources and after consultation with a healthcare professional.’
She also hopes to ‘warn others’ about the dangers of fake weight loss drugs, following an MHRA report which revealed more than 6,500 counterfeit products claiming to contain Ozempic were seized in the UK in just over two years.
‘It’s absolutely disgusting there are people out there who prey on people’s insecurities,’ Michelle says. ‘And it’s also not helpful that social media platforms endorse these fakes either — with pop up advertisements and links to websites.’
Keen to make sure ‘no one makes the same mistake’, she warns that regulated medication always requires a prescription, so ‘if there are no eligibility checks, it’s probably a scam.’
Similarly, Michelle urges people to heed the red flags she ignored, from the website asking her to pay via PayPal, to the spelling errors on the product and instructions.
‘I feel stupid and fooled looking back now,’ she adds.
‘But if I can stop one person from seeking black market jabs, then my story is definitely worth sharing.’
How to spot fake weight loss jabs
There are three main factors to consider here, according to Chemist4U head of pharmacy, Jason Murphy:
- Price: ‘If the cost of the medication seems too good to be true, it most likely is,’ he tells Metro.
- Source: These drugs are prescription-only, meaning they can only be issued by specialised medical professionals after a consultation.
Regulated providers are required to assess factors like your medical history and weight, but unlicensed sellers – typically operating on social media and in salons – often skip this step, risking patient safety. - Appearance: The third indicator to look out for is the appearance of the pen itself, which Jason says should ‘come in well-designed packaging with clear, high-quality printing and branding’ and ‘feel solid and well made’. On the contrary, fakes may have spelling mistakes, blurry printing, incorrect logos, and feel cheap and flimsy, with flaws like uneven colouring, rough edges or loose parts.
A particularly important thing to look out for is a unique serial number, as counterfeits either won’t have one or what’s printed on the packaging won’t match the real manufacturer’s records.
Ahsan Bhatti, pharmacist and owner of UK online pharmacy Quick Meds, also comments: ‘These non-compliant injectables are a genuine risk to patient safety as we are unable to verify how they’ve been manufactured — whether they’ve been stored safely, let alone whether the dosage is even correct.
‘Ultimately, the only real way to ensure you’re in receipt of a safe and legitimate product is by ordering GLP-1 medication from registered, regulated pharmacy providers.
‘Under no circumstance should you trust weight-loss pens sold on apps such as TikTok, messaging apps or via unverified websites.
‘Anyone who suspects sellers of providing counterfeit goods, should report them immediately to the MHRA via its Yellow Card scheme.’
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When the medical team collected me from my mother’s house in January 2015, I was wearing my dead grandfather’s tasselled cowboy jacket with my bare torso exposed, a shoelace as a headband, and there was a smear of crimson blood across my forehead.
The blood was fake. The out-of-hours team had not been called for a physical health issue, but a psychological one.
I was 20 years old and had recently dropped out of the University of Brighton due to poor mental health.
Months of mania – fuelled partly by the stress of the perceived loss of my future and partly by an addiction to smoking enough cannabis to tranquilise Snoop Dogg’s dealer – followed.
Understanding Time to Talk Day
Time to Talk Day is an annual event in the United Kingdom dedicated to raising awareness about mental health and encouraging conversations about mental well-being.
The day seeks to reduce stigma and promote openness around mental health issues.
The event includes community activities, social media campaigns, and resources to facilitate discussions about mental health.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, support and resources can be found at https://www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/time-to-talk-day/
After the mania came the madness.
A sudden proclivity for tribal face paint, a repeated impulse to send videos of myself crying to my favourite authors and an obsession with running half-naked around my town at midnight leaving £5 notes under plant pots meant that my ‘I’m not crazy – the rest of the world is!’ mantra had worn impossibly thin.
Like many who suffer from psychosis, I had convinced myself that I was a god. A divine being sent to earth to stop a planet-destroying meteor by – wait for it – mapping the stars in the sky against the moles on my forearm.
It was my plan to throw myself from the top of Stonehenge. Instead of falling, I’d sprout wings and fly off into the night sky to stop the imminent meteor, thus proving my recent deification and saving the planet in one fell swoop.
I was resolute in my godliness. If I could be as depressed as I was after leaving university, sick and penniless, and turn that depression into waking up every day blissful, then I must be a god.
I also blamed, in part, my recently adopted ritual of standing barefoot in the garden and staring directly at the sun for five seconds – a practice that I’d thought was a forgotten form of photosynthesis – for my perceived anointment (in reality, it was burning my corneas and I now have astigmatism).
In the end, it was the restorative power of friendship that saved me
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Obviously, I hadn’t been anointed. I wasn’t happy, I was high on cannabis and psychosis-delivered dopamine.
But it’s a lot easier to cope with newfound divinity than with the truth: That I was unemployed, uneducated and having a very public mental breakdown.
My mother decided to call our local GP to inform them of my erratic behaviour. They arranged an immediate home visit. After an assessment, the medical team persuaded me to take anti-psychotics with the argument: ‘If what you’re experiencing is real, taking medicine won’t stop it, will it?’.
But it did stop it.
After taking my prescription, the descent back down to earth began with a slight gradient over the first few days, before plummeting harshly.
I became utterly sedate. Then bedbound. Then almost comatose.
I had experienced depression before, but this new version – the lowest low after the highest high – was a different beast entirely.
I lost the ability to perceive, think and feel. My internal monologue was silent, and, to add insult to injury, due to post-psychosis amnesia, a common side-effect of the illness, I had lost all of my memories, too
The only feeling that remained in the bleakness was a dull, underlying terror. Who was I? Would I ever know again?
I would play films on my laptop without watching them, so as not to feel alone with the silence of my mind.
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Over the next three months, from dawn till dusk, The Devil Wears Prada played from a half-broken laptop screen to an audience of none.
In the end, it was the restorative power of friendship that saved me.
My friends reached out repeatedly, only for me to swat them away – but my best friend Ruby didn’t take no for an answer.
I winced when she came round and entered my den. I hadn’t showered or left bed in a week. The room was a tip – dirty plates and underwear mosaics littered the floor.
She, meanwhile, was pristine in her normality. Matching clothes. Clean hair. Makeup.
Without hesitation, she climbed into my pit next to me. She said she wanted to be there, that she missed me, and knew I’d be better soon. She tucked herself in underneath the dirty bedsheets and played old Sex and the City episodes on the laptop.
At first, I couldn’t enjoy her company; but she persisted.
After a couple of weeks, I laughed. She reminded me that, in my madness, I’d stolen a plasma ball from Home Bargains and was convinced I could use it as a communication device to chat with Nicki Minaj.
We howled. The absurdity of the situation overcame the devastation, and silliness began to eschew sadness.
This became routine; Ruby would come round, tuck herself into bed, and regale me with stories of my exploits, always with tenderness, kindness and humour.
Find out more about Cal
You can buy Cal Speet’s novel Spiralling here
Eventually, my brain started to repair. Bit by bit, my memories returned and my humanity trickled back.
I started showering. I reached out to all my other friends. I got a job.
Miraculously, not only did the intense post-psychosis depression dissipate, but so did the pre-psychosis, low-level depression that had haunted me since my teenage years.
There is a hard line in my life between who I was before and after this period. It left me bruised, confused, but with a new perspective. My worst fears had been realised: I had publicly humiliated myself and seemingly destroyed my future, but I had survived.
Ten years later, after eventually graduating from university in Manchester, my novel Spiralling is set in that same city, published with HarperNorth.
A relationship comedy, the story follows Gabriel: A young man who suffers an emotional trauma, and attempts to rebuild after losing everything except for that glittering constant that I clung to at my lowest ebb.
Having a laugh with a good friend.
A version of this article was originally published in August 2025.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing Ross.Mccafferty@metro.co.uk.
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5 Feb, 2026 | Admin | No Comments
I tried Dunelm’s £40 heated blanket – and it’s the cosy upgrade I didn’t know I needed
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Despite nearing the end of January, the weather is still being its typical unpredictable self, with cold snaps catching us off guard and very limited sunshine coming through.
Sometimes it’s not cold enough to turn the heating on, but you still want that touch of cosiness and warmth of an evening (plus running the heating in 2026 can work out expensive).
So, a friend suggested investing in a heated blanket, and whilst my mind immediately thought of the one my grandparents have on their bed, I shopped around and discovered the Dunelm £40 Teddy Electric Throw and Carmen’s £62 Faux Fur Electric Over Blanket.
Dunelm Teddy Electric Throw
Dunelm’s Teddy Electric Throw is made from 100% polyester and has a super-soft teddy texture that feels instantly cosy.
The 278cm cable easily detaches, which means if there are any accidental spills, you can simply pop the throw in the washing machine. With six heat settings, it’s easy to tailor the warmth to your liking, whether you want a gentle toast or full-on snug.
Carmen Faux Fur Electric Over Blanket
The Carmen Faux Fur Electric Blanket is reversible, with a soft fleece side and a luxe faux rabbit fur side for an extra hit of warmth.
It offers nine heat settings, along with an adjustable timer that runs from one to nine hours, making it ideal whether you’re pre-heating your bed for the night or just need a quick blast of warmth while winding down on the sofa.
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Dunelm’s Teddy Electric Throw is made from 100% polyester and has a super-soft teddy texture that feels instantly cosy.
The 278cm cable easily detaches, which means if there are any accidental spills, you can simply pop the throw in the washing machine. With six heat settings, it’s easy to tailor the warmth to your liking, whether you want a gentle toast or full-on snug.
Even better, Dunelm estimates the running cost at just 3p per hour, so you can stay warm without worrying about your electricity bill creeping up.
The Carmen Faux Fur Electric Blanket is reversible, with a soft fleece side and a luxe faux rabbit fur side for an extra hit of warmth.
It offers nine heat settings, along with an adjustable timer that runs from one to nine hours, making it ideal whether you’re pre-heating your bed for the night or just need a quick blast of warmth while winding down on the sofa.
I’ll admit, at first I wasn’t sure what to expect. I thought they would both be mildly warm and bulky, and I’d have to sit right next to an electrical outlet. My husband and I dedicated an even amount of time to each of the blankets so we could compare fairly and see if there was one we preferred.
Needless to say, after a few evenings of trying them out with a tea in hand and making our way through Netflix, we realised they’re both great, but they have their own pros and cons.
Dunelm’s Teddy Electric Throw is noticeably lighter than the Carmen Faux Fur Electric Blanket, making it easier to drape over your legs or shoulders. You can feel the internal wires in both blankets, but it doesn’t take away from how soft or comfortable they are.
That said, because the Carmen blanket is thicker, the wires are slightly less noticeable. They’re also arranged differently: Dunelm’s run straight up and down, while Carmen’s snake through the fabric, which helps distribute the heat more evenly across your body.
Thanks to the generous cable length, both blankets are easy to plug in anywhere around the house – from curling up on the sofa to warming up the bed.
They’ve also been a bit of a lifesaver while working from my home office, keeping my legs cosy and toasty without needing to turn the heating up.
I did find that the Carmen Faux Fur Electric Blanket takes a little longer to warm up compared to the Dunelm Teddy Electric Throw, which could be due to the differences in fabric thickness.
However, when they both heated up, they immediately made you feel calm and restful. Both are cosy, practical and surprisingly indulgent, it turns out a heated blanket might just be the winter upgrade I didn’t know I needed.
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