Our editorial team tests 5 trendy lifestyle products

Every month new, innovative products come onto the market that should make our lives easier – at least that's what they promise us. But which lifestyle innovations really keep their word and which are just hot air? We will start with these five products in January.

Radio play experience for kids

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Product: The tigerbox TOUCH is a streaming box for children from 3 years. It is easy to use, secure and free of advertising. A total of more than 6,000 radio plays, books and songs are available in the tingertones media library or as a tigercard.

Price: 80 € for the tigerbox touch

A tigercard costs between 5.99 euros and 9.99 euros. The prices of the tigertickets are between 9.99 euros for one month and 74.99 euros for one year (6.25 euros per month).

Application: The listening adventure is activated by inserting various tigercards. The currently more than 80 tigercards are suitable for collecting and exchanging and differ from the content of the media library, which is activated via the tigerticket.

Result: The tigerbox touch is of high quality. I particularly like the wood look and the clear design. By dispensing with playful, child-like elements, the box also appeals to older children. Very important: the silicone coating protects against shocks and there is even a night light mode in the dark. The sound quality is also good and especially impresses my children. What I personally miss is a search function. The radio plays can only be played by scrolling through the favorites. This is of course sufficient for children, but tedious for adults. It should also be emphasized that the content is curated and free of advertising. You can tigerbox TOUCH So leave it in the hands of children with a clear conscience and switch off a large group yourself.

More movement in the home office. Back pain, goodbye!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Product: pileME – Online Pilates Program

Price: one-time 75 euros (the costs are reimbursed by some health insurance companies)

Application: Simple but effective. The eight-week online Pilates program can be accessed with a laptop, TV or mobile phone. There is a new 45-minute training session every week. In addition, the online platform offers a great deal of knowledge and information on all aspects of full body training, combating back pain and the body in general. The individual videos should be performed between two to four times a week. Other sports are of course allowed in addition to the program. The aim of the program is to keep your back healthy and pain-free – perfect for all those who now sit longer in the home office and get too little exercise due to the fact that they no longer have to commute to work and the gym is closed. In addition to online access, you need a non-slip mat and a towel. Then you can start.

Result: I've been working from home for more than ten months. Thanks to my dog, I still get some exercise during the day – but that's usually about it. Motivating yourself is not always easy. Thanks to the Pilates program "pilaME" by the Pilates trainer Christina Frisch and presenter Alina Merkau, I rediscovered the fun of home workouts. The hours are exhausting and not only strengthen my back – which hurts much more often since working from home – but also my whole body. In addition, I particularly liked one thing: the additional information that provides me with valuable knowledge and thus makes it clear again how important exercise is in everyday life. The program is suitable for both beginners and advanced pilates.

Healthy through the winter

⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Product: "Madena Symbio" is a dietary supplement that is supposed to strengthen the immune system. It is well known that a large part of this is located in our intestines – which has come more and more into the spotlight in recent years. The capsules contain vitamin C, lactobacillus bifidus cultures and inulin. We know the former, the latter are small bacteria for a good intestinal flora and the latter a dietary fiber, which in turn serves as bacterial food.

Price: 50 capsules cost around € 21.

If you start with the small dosage, the jar will last for a good three weeks. This is not cheap, but also not expensive, because anyone who has ever dealt with bacteria for the intestinal flora knows that they always have their price.

Application: One should take 2 to 6 capsules daily with liquid with meals.

Conclusion: At the beginning of the year, I always look for something to boost my immune system and do something good for my body. And to be honest: After the holidays and generally in lockdown, our intestinal bacteria had to suffer from a lot of stress, sugar and alcohol. With the capsules, I at least have the feeling that I am reassuring them a little – and then eating more consciously again so as not to destroy the positive effects of the capsules again immediately. By the way, the intestinal flora not only plays a role in defense, but also in allergies and mood. I can use everything right now. So far I tolerate the capsules well and feel fit, but it is still too early to describe a long-term effect. But I always prefer to use natural food supplements and remind myself to pay more attention to my health. For that alone, in my opinion, it's worth it.

Less harmful

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Product: IQOS 3 Duo is a tobacco heating system

Price: IQOS 3 DUO currently costs 69 euros and can be tested for 30 days. A pack of heets with 20 tobacco sticks costs 6 euros.

Application: The so-called heets, i.e. the tobacco sticks, are heated with the holder. The resulting tobacco vapor can be inhaled like a cigarette. The innovative thing: the tobacco is not burned, but only heated up strongly. The nicotine-containing tobacco vapor produced by IQOS contains 95% fewer harmful or potentially harmful pollutants than the smoke from a cigarette. This does not mean that IQOS is risk-free, but it does mean that it is a healthier alternative to conventional cigarettes. The holder's battery lasts for 2 heets, after which it has to be recharged in the pocket charger.

Result: Every year at the turn of the year, thousands of smokers decide to quit smoking. Many fail miserably every year. I've been part of the club for years. I know that the glowing stick does nothing good for my body, on the contrary, and still I light one up again. So the hopes I placed in IQOS were all the greater: If the cold withdrawal doesn't work, then maybe the gentler and healthier one is definitely it, as various studies have already shown so far. Granted, it's not the same as smoking a real butt, unfortunately. It tastes different, smokes less, you smoke (definitely felt) for a shorter time than with a normal cigarette and it doesn't feel like a real cigarette either – for me it was really getting used to, which I got used to surprisingly quickly. In addition, smoking with IQOS looks more elegant, because both the holder and the charger are of very high quality. But the best thing for me is: No smell of smoke on your hands, in your clothes, in your apartment or on your hair. Still, I don't smoke less, just healthier. In the long run, the change alone is not enough for me, at least, but I would say that the intake of harmful substances is much lower overall than before and with a little more willpower, non-smokers could be something this year. At least it's healthier now.

To you, ladies!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Product: "Brut Barcelona" dry sparkling wine from Born Rosé

Price: approx. 15 euros for 0.75 l

Application: That is self-explanatory. Open the cork, have the nicest glasses ready and enjoy!

Result: A fine drop that power women and super moms have simply earned. Deliciously tangy, with fine aromas of Pinot Noir, a glass of "Brut Barcelona" is the festive highlight of the day. You have to celebrate yourself sometimes – especially when you have mastered another day of homeschooling, multitasking or social distancing. Clear purchase recommendation!