The Strapless Bra Struggle: Testing 50+ Options to Find 'The One'

Welcome back, 

I'm unsure if it's just me, but I thought finding a strapless bra would be quite an easy thing to do. 

How wrong I was! 

After buying some clothes for my summer holiday, I realised I needed to buy a couple of strapless bras to wear under some of my outfits and decided nude and black bras would be the best option. Since I thought this would be relatively easy, having had a virtual bra fitting (more on that on the blog soon) not too long ago, I ordered a few strapless bras in both nude and black from different companies. 

Something to point out is that I do 99% of my shopping online, I have multiple health issues and am disabled, so trying on clothes in-store is a nightmare and something I avoid. So, all the bras I tried were bought online from various websites. 

My Search Begins: 

I tried multiway bras, bras with removable straps, and plain old strapless bras that don't come with any straps and all different brands including stores' own brands and prices, ranging from £12.00 up to around £50 for each bra. 

So as you can see, I gave it a good test. 

I bought all the bras in the same size at first and when the first lot of bras arrived I was hopeful I would find at least one because there were quite a few bras to try. How wrong I was, some of them were badly gaping at the top of the cup, some tight around my back and some loose around my back. After discussions with my daughter Alicia who helped me try the bras on, and online research, I decided to try the bras I liked the best out of a bad bunch in different back and cup sizes. 

Unfortunately, when they arrived, none of the bras were right, although I had changed the sizes of the band and cups according to the bras I tried from the first package, they still weren't right at all and the main issue I had seemed to be gaping at the top of the cup. 

As we get older, we lose breast tissue, fat and mammary glands from our breasts, meaning we don't have as much fullness at the top of our breasts, this was definitely the issue I was having, so it was back to the drawing board.

Several bras later, and still no luck, I was losing the will to live and had no idea what I was going to do, since not wearing a bra wasn't an option. I continued with my search and tried on many more bras but with each package that arrived, I felt less and less hopeful as nothing was right for me and I couldn't even try to modify any of the bras using "tit tape" or padding, I was at a total loss. 

Finally, I May Be In Luck:

A few days later, I decided to have yet another browse online, I visited the Marks & Spencer website and had another look. While searching, I came across the Seamless Non-Wired Bandeau Bra, which came in 4 different colours, White, Black, Rose Quartz and Topaz. Rose Quartz is a pale nude, and Topaz is a deeper nude, and the bra was priced at £12.00.

                                                          Seamless Non-Wired Bandeau Bra - Rose Quartz

                                                  Seamless Non-Wired Bandeau Bra - Rose Quartz

The bras came in sizes:

Small - 8 - 10

Medium - 12 - 14

Large - 16 -18

Extra Large - 20 - 22

I ordered two sizes as I was unsure, so I ordered a large and an extra large in the shade Rose Quartz. To be brutally honest, I wasn't expecting much, I'd read the reviews, which were mixed but more good than bad and hoped for the best. 

The bras arrived, the size large looked quite small but felt stretchy, so I tried both sizes on. The size large, which is 16 to 18, was difficult to pull down, I need assistance with dressing, and my daughter found it difficult to get it on and off me, so we tried the extra large one, which is a size 20 to 22. I wear a size 18 in clothes, and if it's sized in small to large, etc. I wear whichever size is 16 to 18, I've found it's usually large in most places.  

I definitely felt the extra large was more comfortable and fitted the best, and Alicia agreed. The bra came with padding at the front, which can be removed if you prefer, I kept that in. The bra felt nice and soft and was very comfortable and gave me good support too, which did surprise me but I was so pleased, so much so, that I ordered another nude and two black and returned the size large. 

The Wear Test:

I didn't have time to try out the bras at home before going on my holidays, so I just packed them in good faith and crossed my fingers that they would be ok, I took both of the nude and both of the black bras so had 4 in total. 

The first outfit I wore one of the bras with was a maxi dress that had thin spaghetti-style straps, and it looked fine, I wore it for the full evening and it was absolutely fine, it didn't slip or roll down, and the pads stayed where they were, and it felt comfortable, and most importantly, I felt supported, and it looked fine under my dress. My dress was pale in colour, with a white background with pastel flowers, and the bra was invisible, even though it is a ribbed material, it didn't show at all.

I wore all 4 of the bras on holiday under various outfits, including strapless dresses and tops, one-shoulder tops and dresses/tops with thin straps, and they were perfect, all my outfits looked fine, and the bras were comfortable and supportive, they were perfect! 

I plan to have a "holiday outfits" post on my Instagram soon, so if you'd like to check that out, keep an eye on my Instagram, which you will find HERE.

Overall:

I honestly cannot believe that after ordering and trying on over 50 strapless bras, I found one for £12.00 that is perfect for me and provides everything I wanted in a strapless bra, mostly comfort and support. The bras have been washed and washed really well, too. The pads do move around in the wash and can sometimes come out, but they are easy to pop back into place. 

I can't recommend the Seamless Non-Wired Bandeau Bra enough, it's a 10/10 for me.

If you would like to try the bra, you can find it on the M&S website for £12.00 HERE and if the Topaz colour is the colour you need, that is on offer at the moment for £7.50 HERE. 

Have you tried the M&S bra? Which is your favourite strapless bra and do you have a recommendation? Let me know in the comments below. 

Thank you for reading 

Zoë x

Transform Your Wellness Journey with Zen Ear Seeding

Welcome back, 

Today I have something a little different to share with you: an Ear Seeding Kit from  Zen Seeds. 

When Zen Seeds got in touch with me and asked if I would like to try one of their kits, I was intrigued because I hadn't ever heard of ear seeding before. Once I had read up about it on the Zen website, I thought it sounded such an interesting practice and wanted to share it with you as I thought it was something you might be interested in too. 

I will also have a discount code for you at the end of today's post so you can try out ear seeding too.  So keep an eye out for that. 

What Is Ear Seeding?

The following information is taken from the Zen Seed website:

Ear Seeding is also known as ear acupressure or ear reflexology. This holistic wellness practice involves placing small seeds or beads onto specific points on the ear.

​

The aim of ear seeding is to foster balance and harmony within the body, alleviating stress and targeting specific health concerns. Increasingly popular as a non-invasive, relaxing, and natural way to promote overall well-being, ear seeding is favoured for its potential to reduce tension, enhance relaxation, and contribute to a sense of inner balance and tranquillity.

​

Rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, the ear is viewed as a micro-representation of the entire body, likened to an inverted fetus. Modern clinical research supports its influence on neural pathways. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophy, health relies on the flow of Qi (energy) within the body. Qi travels along invisible pathways called meridians, which are present throughout the body, including the ears. By placing ear seeds on specific points along these meridian lines, it's believed blockages in Qi can be cleared, aiding a variety of health conditions.

​

Ear seeding not only unblocks energy meridians but also stimulates nerve connections between the ear and the central nervous system. Pressure applied to a particular point triggers a nerve impulse from the ear to the brain, which then sends healing messages to the affected organ or system. This stimulation prompts the brain to release pain-relieving endorphins into the bloodstream, offering quick relief from chronic pain and discomfort.

Some Of The Potential Benefits Of Ear Seeding Are:

Stress Reduction

Digestive Health

Addiction Support

Pain Management

Migraine

Menopause Symptoms

Back Pain

And much more

Zen Seeds Ear Seeding Kit - Silver 

The Zen Ear Seeding Kit comes in Silver or Gold, I have the Silver. Inside the kit is everything you need for around three or more treatments, the kit includes: 

• 20 x Silver Ear Seeds
• 1 x Silver Tweezers
• 1 x Acupuncture Point Probe
• 1 x Booklet
• 3 x Alcohol Wipes

Inside the kit, there is a booklet which has lots of helpful information including how to apply and remove the ear seeds and where to apply them depending on the problem you have plus lots more information on the placement of the seeds and how they work. The Zen Seeds website is also brilliant, it's easy to navigate and has some brilliant reviews on there and some really helpful information. 

The seeds themselves are tiny, I have the silver seeds and there are enough seeds in each kit to use for three treatments at least. The seeds come on a clear round plaster and are easy to peel off the packaging with the tweezers supplied in the kit, they adhere to clean, dry skin with ease and using the probe, are fairly easy to apply using the guide in the booklet to show where to place them on the ear. 

The ear seeds - silver

The tip of the acupressure probe

Once the seeds are all in place, it is recommended to massage each seed at least three times per day for five days. Should you want to try more treatments it is best to use your other ear and apply in the same way. 

It is NOT recommended to use the ear seeds during pregnancy as this can cause premature labour. 

                                                                         The ear seeds in place

Overall Thoughts:

I was really intrigued by the concept of ear seeding and the Zen Seeds Kit is a brilliant way of trying ear seeding for the first time. The website was so insightful and gave me all the information I needed to try ear seeding along with the booklet included in the kit. 

The ear seeding kit I received is great and has everything you need included, they are £24.99 for either a silver or gold kit. The seeds can be bought separately for £7.00 per pack,  meaning you don't need to buy a new kit if you want to continue using the ear seeds, you can also buy the other items included in the kit separately.  

If you would like to try ear seeding, you can buy the Zen Ear Seeding Kit from their website by clicking HERE and using the code ZOE10 will give you a 10% discount. 

I also have a video on Zen Seeds on my Instagram account, which you can find HERE if you'd also like to watch that. 

Have you tried ear seeding? Let me know in the comments below. 

Thank you for reading

Zoë x

 

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StriVectin Double Fix™ for Lips Plumping & Vertical Line Treatment - An Honest Review

Welcome back, 

In today's post, I have a review of the Strivectin Double Fix™ for Lips Plumping & Vertical Line Treatment, being a bit of a skincare geek, and getting older too, I am often on the lookout for products for certain areas of my face. 

The last few years, I have been more aware of my skin ageing and I have been looking into products targeted at the ageing process, one thing I have been concious of, is not wanting to have a lot of lines around my lips, particularly my top lip,  so I went on the hunt for the perfect skincare product to try and help with this. 

I had been researching for a few weeks and reading online reviews for a few different products, and one product that kept coming up whilst I was doing my research was the StriVectin Anti-Wrinkle Double Fix For Lips Plumping & Vertical Line Treatment, this is a double ended treatment with a lip gloss at one end and a cream at the other end, lots of people recommended this in online reviews and many of the blog/influencer reviews and reviews on Instagram and other social media posts I read only had great things to say about it. 

It seemed like a no brainer after reading so many good reviews, but the price put me off, £30.00 is a lot to spend on one item. But luck was on my side because as I was browsing the Boots £10 Tuesday a couple of days later,  the StriVectin Double Fix was in it, I couldn't believe my luck, I never have things happen like that usually and I was so pleased. 

What Is Boots £10 Tuesday?:

If you aren't aware of the Boots £10 Tuesday deals, I shall explain. Every Tuesday Boots has a range of products that are all priced at £10.00, some of the items are usually much more expensive and there are some amazing deals to have. Items included in the £10 Tuesday can be anything from makeup to baby clothes and everything in between and it really is worth a look. I have saved a lot of money from purchasing things from the £10 Tuesday and I always check it out each week, it really is one not to miss. 

Click ME for this weeks £10 deals, after a Bank Holiday the deals are available on Wednesday and not Tuesday so you can grab yourself a bargain today. 

The Strivectin Double Fix was on the Boots website priced at £29.99 at the time, meaning I would save £19.99, so, if ever there was a time to try a product, this was it, an almost twenty pounds saving, thank you Boots, it went straight in my basket! 

What StriVectin Says About The Product:

An innovative 2-in-1 treatment for lips and the delicate skin around the lip line, infuses new life into lips! On one side, the Plumping Treatment enhances lip volume to visibly plump and smooth. This non-drying, no-sting formula leaves behind a sophisticated glossy finish, perfect over lipstick or on its own. On the other side, the Vertical Line Treatment helps improve elasticity and firmness around the lip line, reducing the appearance of stubborn vertical lines in just 4 weeks and restoring lip contour.

Double duty performance:

 

• Reduces the appearance of fine vertical lines and wrinkles around the mouth
• Instantly plumps and hydrates lips
• Hydrates & enhances natural lip colour

As you can see from the photographs above, the Double Fix treatment is a pen style packaging with the line treatment at one end and the plumping lip gloss at the other end. 

The lip gloss comes with a doe foot style applicator. 

The line treatment comes with a brush applicator. 

I incorporated the treatment into my skincare routine and applied the lip treatment around my lips morning and evening after cleansing my skin. The gloss I wore alone or over my lipstick depending on the day, and I always added some after my evening skincare routine, so I did use it twice a day, everyday. 

The line treatment is a white quite thin lotion type product, to apply I brushed it around my lips and mouth area using the applicator it came with. It doesn't have a scent as such and dried quickly into the skin, it felt nice and moisturising and was easy to use. The lip gloss didn't feel tingly like some plumping glosses do, but it did feel nice and hydrating and left my lips feeling soft and nourished. The gloss doesn't have a colour to it as such,  so I could wear it over any of my lipsticks, or alone for a bit of something on no makeup days. 

The Results:

I used the StriVectin Double Fix treatment for around 4/5 weeks, which was basically how long it lasted before running out. There really isn't much product in it at all and I was disappointed by this, especially as this isn't a budget product and is what I would class as an expensive skincare item and although I paid £10.00 for it on offer, I have to review it for what it is, which is a £30.00 skincare product. 

I had high hopes for this product and even took before photographs so I could share my results with you all. I was that convinced it would work and I would have the most amazing result photographs to share with you, but sadly there was absolutely no difference and after using the whole product, my skin looked exactly the same, which meant there is no before and after reveal photographs I'm afraid. 

I am so glad I didn't pay full price for it and I hate to write negative reviews, but I saw so many brilliant reviews and claims of amazing results on social media posts and blog post reviews, and that is what made me want to try and eventually buy it. 

If you're a long time reader of my blog, you'll know, I'm always 100% honest about a product regardless of it being a PR sample or something I've bought it myself, and I am sorry that this review isn't more positive, but I am and always will be honest and write an honest and genuine review. 

Hopefully my next product review will be more positive.

Should you still want to try the StriVectin Double Fix for Lips Plumping & Vertical Line Treatment, you can find it at Boots stores online HERE. 

Thank you for reading 

Zoë x

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Sephora Collection - Cream Lip Stain Matte - An Honest Review

 

Welcome back, 

Today I have a review of two of the Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Matte liquid lipsticks for you. 

Previously,  Sephora was not available to buy in the UK, but they now have two stores in London, one of which opened in 2023, and they are opening a new store in the Trafford Centre in Manchester in the summer of 2024. But if like me, you can't get to any of the stores, fear not, in 2022, Sephora took over the Feel Unique website and is now online so we can shop til we drop at Sephora without needing to travel to their stores. 

Sephora Collection: 

The Sephora Collection is Sephora's own brand beauty range. Sephora's Sephora Collection is a diverse and extensive range of beauty and skincare products developed and curated by Sephora and typically includes makeup, skincare, beauty tools and haircare. 

The Sephora Collection offers a wide array of products at various and mostly affordable price points. Sephora has a commitment to cruelty-free beauty and many of the products in the Sephora Collection have been formulated without animal testing. The packaging of the products is sleek, modern and simple, nothing fancy just simple but it looks great, I have tried a few products from their makeup range and so far so good, I shall be writing more about the other products I have tried soon.

Sephora Collection Cream Matte Lip Stain:

What Sephora Says:

"Sephora Collection Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick is ultra-matte, full-coverage, long lasting, doesn’t transfer, and is very comfortable to wear.

Celebrate 10 years of no-transfer, extremely matte, and high-payoff colour with Cream Lip Stain.

SEPHORA COLLECTION transfer-free liquid lipstick, power in a bottle since 2011.
- The power to resist thanks to a long-lasting, maskproof, no-transfer makeup result.
-The power of extreme matte colour in a comfortable, non-drying velvet texture.
- The power of intense pigmentation in a thin but high-coverage colour layer.

You’ll never need to wonder how to make a matte liquid lipstick stay put: the answer is all in the long-lasting formula of SEPHORA COLLECTION cream lip stain lipstick. With a texture that feels creamy upon application, before melting into a light velvety veil of long-lasting lip colour.

Cream Lip Stain is:
- A non-drying lipstick with a comfortable and velvety texture that provides great coverage. Thanks to its formula enriched with avocado oil, this matte liquid lipstick provides comfort upon application."

My Thoughts:

I have really liked wearing liquid lipsticks for a number of years now and having tried a couple of the Sephora Collection Long Lip Last lipsticks quite a few years ago (which I cant find on the website, so I think they must have been discontinued) and trying one of the Cream Lip Stain Matte a couple of years ago and liking it, when shopping on the Sephora website, I thought I'd get a couple and see what I thought.

Swatch Photographs Are Not Edited 

I bought two of the lip stain matte, one in the shade Hippy Pink which is shade 69 and the other in the shade Watermelon which is shade 09. The swatches above don't really show how they look on my lips but that is my problem 100%, I have very blue lips due to a medication I use and because of this my lips can throw the shade of lipstick and it can look quite different on me than the swatches I take or I see online.

However, when I look at the lip swatches on the website, they do look very similar to how they look on me. Hippy Pink is more of a peachy pinky nude and Watermelon is a bright orangey shade with a hint of red. Both are lovely colours and to be honest nicer than I expected so I am not upset about it at all.

The lipsticks come with a doe foot applicator and are easy to apply without any messiness at all. They feel very comfortable when applying and do dry down to a matte finish, they don't feel uncomfortable on the lips once dry but if a matte finish isn't for you, applying a lip balm over the top helps but doesn't spoil the colour payoff or how lovely the lip stain mattes look.

I am really impressed by the lip stain mattes, and will be picking up a couple more shades, I like the look of First Dates and Pinky Red but to be honest with there being 40 shades to choose from I think I'll end up trying more than a couple. The lip stains do last well and didn't move throughout me drinking, but I did need to top up after eating which isn't a problem, they aren't huge and fit into my bag nicely with a compact mirror.

I have been looking for photographs of me wearing the lip stains and I have found one of me wearing the shade Watermelon 09 when we had gone away for the weekend to a Butlins 90's Reloaded weekend, so I shall pop that picture below for you.

Please excuse the matching t-shirts and my headband, this was one of the things we did to celebrate my 50th Year. I am wearing the shade Watermelon 09 in this photograph and as you can see, it is quite a bright orangey shade with a hint of red in it. It's a lovely colour though and I do love it, and I love the Hippy Pink too, they are both very "me" shades and I get a good amount of wear from them both. Hippy Pink is a good daytime shade, so I'll wear it if I'm going to the shops or out for lunch, but I'll wear Watermelon more in the evenings or on a summers day. 

I am really pleased with the Sephora Collection lip stain matte and think you would be too, especially if liquid lipsticks are your thing, and if you would like to give them a try, you can find them on the Sephora Website by clicking HERE priced at £12.99 each, you can often find discounts on the Sephora Collection own brand products, and if you have any specific discounts for example, teaching or NHS discounts, you will be able to save some pennies which is always a bonus. 

Have you tried the Sephora Collection Lip Stain Matte? Let me know in the comments, or if you haven't, check them out on the website and let me know if you could pick two shades up, which two shades would they be? 

Thank you for reading

Zoë x