Free ice-cream, glowing skin and camping wins: Filter UK writers reveal the unexpected perks of product testing

It’s our birthday! So to celebrate turning two, we asked our contributors to reflect on their year of testing pretty much everything – from beauty products to video doorbells. It turns out they’ve had some unexpected wins along the way.

Some managed to tick an extra thing off their to-do list. “After six months of testing IPL devices, epilators and then IPL devices again, I had no need to book in for my usual pre-beach wax this summer,” says Lise Smith. Rachel Ogden says testing toasters has meant knowing her smoke alarm “works just fine”.

Caramel Quin’s children, in turn, are grateful to have one fewer chore to do. “My teenagers got their clothes ironed while I was testing irons. I’ve pressed thousands of items of school uniform over the years, but it’s iron your own clothes these days … except when mum’s testing!”

Others learned an important lesson about value. “Testing so many products has cemented my belief that price isn’t always an indicator of quality,” says Sarah Matthews. Sabine Wiesel, meanwhile, was impressed by a Beauty of Joseon eye serum that came in at just a fraction of the price of some competitors in her test of the best eye creams and left her with a “brighter and rejuvenated-looking eye area”.

For Matt Collins and Sian Lewis, testing outdoor equipment has enhanced their camping experiences in unanticipated ways. Matt discovered a walking trail while trying out gear for camping with kids. “At lovely Holden Farm in Hampshire, I discovered the South Downs Way. Glorious. This ancient route had my son and me wandering beneath veteran oaks and along spring meadows at sunrise.” And Sian upped her cooking skills while testing the best camping stoves: “I’m usually an instant-noodles kind of person, but I’m now a dab hand at cooking on a dinky gas flame and have recently whipped up cornbread and egg muffin breakfast sarnies in the middle of the wild.”

Meanwhile, Jane Hoskyn’s once-white towel got a new lease of life after she purposely stained it to test eco-friendly laundry detergents. “It ended up a right old mess, so I had to dye it. It’s now a gorgeous deep forest green. Much prettier and more eye-catching than it was even before the stain test – it shows less dirt, too.”

Video doorbells unexpectedly helped Andy Shaw sleep more soundly. “If I wake up wondering whether one of my adult offspring has made it home from the pub, I only need to check the doorbell notifications on my phone. They’re so used to the surveillance that they wave at the camera when they come in.”

And finally, one of the biggest upsides seems to be an excuse to get loved ones together. “I spent a lot of time hosting ice-cream tasting sessions with my friends while trying to find the best ice-cream makers. More quality time with friends and free ice-cream for them – I’d say that’s a win-win,” says Danielle Amato. And for Zoë Phillimore, trying out toys and games for our guide to the best gifts for six-year-olds has led to a new family tradition. “My husband, kids and I gather around the kitchen table and play board games together on a Saturday night. Hardly groundbreaking, but it’s easily my favourite time of the week.”