Zooming marvellous - Our favourite lockdown essentials

I don’t know about you, but thanks to this pandemic my life has been completely transformed, and as a result so have my needs. With the vast majority of people now working from home, having the right tools at hand is essential to make working from home as comfortable and as efficient as possible. I've rounded up  some of my favourite items for working from home. 


Live Streaming Kit
Perfect for Zoom calls, this hands-free kit is great for helping you look your best while you make calls or film videos.  The phone holder is excellent, and you can angle it to suit your position. The back light is very simple to use, and has three settings which you can adjust at the touch of a button to show yourself in the best light!

Available from Kikkerland for £25.

Lazy Arm Tablet Version

I was very wary of this product, as I have just invested in a new tablet and the idea of it being held in the air by a piece of plastic was not very appealing, however, it was surprisingly strong, so  I needn't have worried!

Available from I Want One of Those for £8.99.

Baola Swiss seating ball
This is a luxury, art-inspired Swiss seating ball. Baola like to keep things unique, and have teamed up with artists across the world to create these stunning seating balls, that bridge functionality with comfort whilst being stylish. 
It takes some getting used to (I felt rather ridiculous at first), however, once you get the hang of it, you do feel that you're doing your posture a favour. I plan on ordering more of these fabulous balls so the rest of my family members can also benefit from great posture. I also love the re-washable outer cloth, which is fab and bright.

Available from Baola.co for £129.

Hayo’u Crystal Duo
Known as the “Master Healer”  I thought I would give this a whirl as I want to look my best on those Zoom calls. The beauty restorer quartz is a new addition to the range, and I love anything that is the new improved version.

It claims to soothe tired and stressed skin, improve energy flow, support circulation and lymphatic drainage, to lift, plump and sculpt and to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. That is the holy grail of skincare. 

We have spent an awful lot of time indoors this year thanks to the pandemic, and lately I have felt the dryness return to my skin, but after using the beauty oil with the Hayo’u, I felt that it alleviated the dryness.

For the ultimate self care experience, light a candle and relax while using the product for the perfect 'me time' moment. Available from www.hayoumethod.com for £59.

Cabi virtual stylist
The pandemic has also changed the way we shop;  we can no longer try on garments in store. In steps Cabi, the virtual stylist. You can choose from over 2, 500 stylists who will guide you through an online personal styling session and assist you to select clothes and accessories that flatter you.

Cabi provides a designer women's clothing collection and is the nation's largest social selling apparel company. The brand has become known for its unparalleled quality provided through a unique shopping experience, and network of U.S., Canadian, and U.K. cabi Stylists who form a tight-knit community of collaboration.

After much consideration, I decided to select the Autumn Teal Leaves dress, it is a stunningly vibrant colour and very flattering if you have pale skin and dark hair. 

The dress is not too formal or informal, it strikes that middle balance of smart casual perfectly. It is very elegant and the colour is quite striking. I love the fact that is two dresses in one, there is a camisole slip dress and the outer, long sleeved, easy-fitting maxi layer with a ruffle detailing.  It’s a maxi which is great to hide that “lockdown” belly. It is a very easy to wear dress.

The Autum Leaves dress is available from  www.cabionline.com for £119.00.


Bamigo 'Taylor' pajama bottoms
Some days call for pajamas and thanks to this fab, sustainable men's clothing brand, you can dress in comfort without worrying that you're destroying the planet.

Designed to offer optimal fit, comfort and style, they are the ultimate working from home item.  A soft elasticated waistband (perfect for lockdown belly) and convenient pockets, make them ideal for lounging. 

They are made from bamboo, which is a sustainable and durable alternative to cotton, bamboo allows the skin to breathe, ensuring a fresh feel throughout the day, whilst looking effortlessly stylish.

Available from: bamigo.com for £49.99.

Raj Gill