Category: reviews

beauty, body positive, reviews

TV – Plus Sized Wars – my thoughts

ramblingmads

Last night Channel 4 aired the one-off documentary Plus Sized Wars about the growth in plus size fashion and the role of bloggers in promoting body positivity.

As someone who has been both much larger than I am now and much smaller, I know how frustrating it can be to buy clothes that suit your figure and are nice.

The documentary follows the teams behind Evans, the UK’s biggest plus size brand and newcomers Yours and Taking Shape (an Aussie company recently launched in the UK).

For me Evans = frump. Which is an image they are trying to shake off with their Shape fitting service and hiring younger women to model their clothes. I have tried to shop in Evans, but the emphasis on baggy, shapeless clothes frustrates me. I tend to buy things from their sister shop Dorothy Perkins instead (they go up to a UK 22).

I wear somewhere between 16/18/20 depending on the item, cut and fit on the high street.  No two shops offer the exact same fit in the size.

The average UK woman wears a 16. So for most shops to not cater for larger sizes means they’re missing out and the plus size stores are racking in a fortune.

The bloggers and models they featured range from Georgina Horne of Fuller Figure Fuller Bust who is a curvy 16, to Tess Holliday (professional model not blogger) size 24, Callie Thorne of From the Edges of the Curve to several other girls I follow on Instagram (just go raid my feed for more) and for some truly gorgeous pictures follow these women.

I tend to shop online, I know I can always send things back, can try them on at home without the awkwardness of the changing room where the curtain is slightly too small.

Online is where plus size brands have found their market. From ASOS Curve to Boohoo Plus, Simply Be to Lady Voluptuous (I own two of the dresses in this range) and beyond. Without physical shops, overheads are low, so prices can be too. Many of these ranges are determined to avoid frumpy, poorly fitting, sacks for the larger body, and aim to deliver stylish, well fitted, trendy clothes. Which is what is wanted.

The show aired on the same day that former popstar Jamelia said on another TV show that shops shouldn’t sell larger sizes and fat women should be uncomfortable shopping. Presumably she has never had a friend, sister, daughter or mother with her who was above a size 12.

Leaving aside the fact that she’s not a doctor, many weight gains are caused by medical conditions and fat doesn’t equal unhealthy in every case, she has been lambasted for her comments. As a mother of two teenagers I hope her daughters don’t worry about their weight, or take onboard her comments. Enough teenage girls (and boys) harm themselves or even commit suicide because they don’t fit into a narrow body stereotype.

What we say hurts. One of the bloggers interviewed for the show last night spoke of how she had been badly bullied about her size and how it had taken her a long time to regain self-confidence.

I would love to see more examples of varying body types on TV and in print. Just to reassure those teenagers that they’re ok, they’re normal. That as long as you’re healthy it doesn’t matter what the number in your clothes is.

Overall I thought it was a balanced look at the plus size fashion world (although the woman from Milk modelling agency was pretty repellent) that tried to show a range of bodies like you might see every day, rather than the TV idea of fat – a size 12 to 14 rather than a 10.

Did you want Plus Sized Wars? What did you think? And what about Jamelia’s comments? Let me know below. 🙂

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beauty, beauty boxes, birchbox, make up, reviews, skincare

Birchbox – A Royally Good Box

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This month Birchbox is celebrating the fact that a woman who married into a dynasty full of cousin marriages, dodgy relatives and scandals is fertile enough to get pregnant with a ‘spare’ heir to the throne.

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As you can probably guess I’m a bit cynical about the Royal Family and think the obsessing over them is a bit insane.

Anyway, back to the beauty box.

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I got the blue box but some were pink. Presumably they contained the same stuff, which didn’t include a mascara (thank heavens – every other one seemed to). Instead there was a little cloth bag containing:

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleansing sample – I’ve got a couple of these now – not tried it yet.

Percy & Reed No Oil Hair Oil sample – I’ve used this before and it’s OK, but I prefer my Argan Oil.

Laura Mercier primer sample size, this month you could choose a Laura Mercier product and as the others were mascara and eyeliner I picked this.

Exclusive to Birchbox Lola nail polish in the ubiquitous nude shade (it’s everywhere at the moment)

Korres Bergamot Pear Bodymilk – sample size. The packaging is quite sweet, couldn’t get the foil seal off for that all important sniff test!

And a Befine warming clay face mask instead of the slightly rubbish ‘lifestyle item’ (last month it was a chapter sample of a novel & a teeny tiny note pad).

To be honest I was pretty sure it was all over for Birchbox as last month’s was really disappointing, but this one is a lot better. I can see myself using the products and the box is a good size for reuse. This was the standard size box but a letterbox size is also available.

P.S use this link to get yours 🙂

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reviews, steampunk

Review: The Time Traveller Times

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These slim volumes pictured above are the first four issues of The Time Traveller Times.

I discovered the existence of this indie periodical in the Facebook group British Steampunk Community. Steampunk is something I’ve been interested in for a while, even dressing up and attending an event at a steam museum.

For those who don’t know – Steampunk is a literary movement writ large. Most books and films that fall into this genre are Victorian in period but with steam-powered modern technology.

Examples range from Jules Verne to Cherie Priest’s Clockwork Century series. Films like Wild Wild West and The Adventures of Adele Blanc-sec feature traits too. Musically there are lots of bands but my recommendation is Steam-powered Giraffe.

Back to the TTT. Time travel is a popular SP theme – and the chap behind these fun and clever booklets has clearly done his research.

They feature the ongoing story of time travelling adventurer Captain Nik Ve and his crew aboard the ♎. As well as reports from both the past, issue one features Charles Darwin and the terrifying future epidemic Kangaroo Flu! Others will cover events ranging from the Black Death to the Space Race and beyond.

Currently they’re only available from the author via Facebook. As it’s a new venture he is currently testing the waters before exploring the best outlet. His name is Charles Samuel Watson and can be found on the British Steampunk Community page or at many Steampunk events taking place over the summer.

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beauty boxes, healthy, lifestyle, mindfulness, reviews, skincare, yoga

BuddhiBox – review

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BuddhiBox is a yoga lover’s beauty and lifestyle box from the US.

They don’t currently ship to the UK as a subscription but you can buy the boxes through Etsy. Which doesn’t make a huge amount of sense and costs a lot more than the equivalent on their website, before shipping.

I also had to pay a hefty customs charge, which means until there’s an easier way to order this box, I probably won’t again. Which is a shame because their Instagram is full of lovely things included in their monthly boxes.

Anyway, back to this one.

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It’s not a huge box but it is quite full. I said I didn’t mind which box I got, this is March’s. April’s is curated by a yogi called Jo and contains different items.

I received a small pot of rosewater ghee face & skin cream, which intrigues me as ghee is more commonly used in Indian cooking.

An organic sanitizer spray for use after yoga to kill any bacteria that transfers from the mat to your hands. I recommend giving your yoga mat a spritz of anti-bac every now and then and hanging it outside every now and then to air it so that feet smell doesn’t linger. This will probably end up in my bag, I like to carry hand sanitizer when commuting.

A fancy bottle of nail polish in Namaste, this has no formaldehyde and other not very pleasant chemicals and is a nude shade.

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There was also a small yoga strap, which is used to assist with poses.

A small malas or Buddhist prayer bead bracelet to aid in meditation.

A recipe card for a dish called kitchari, which seems to be a bit like dhal with mung beans and rice.

A yoga pose card – tree pose, which is one of my favourite poses as it’s a big stretch to the sky and you have to focus to maintain your balance.

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The card listing the box’s contents has a great quote on it “you are the sky. Everything else is just weather” – Pema Chodron. 

Loose leaf oolong tea, custom blended for BuddhiBox. It also has a reusable muslin tea bag, which is a clever idea. I don’t drink black tea or coffee, mostly just water and herbal teas so this will come in useful.

There are a couple of business cards from the different companies involved – some with discounts and then the randomest item. A temporary tattoo.

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I don’t really get the need for this item and would have preferred something else. This seems to be a bit of a trend because I’ve had at least one beauty box recently with temporary tattoos in them. I remember they were all the rage the summer I was 9, I think a cereal company were giving them away, but I don’t see many grown women feeling the need.

All in all it’s a bit mixed and not all of the items seem connected to yoga or meditation. As I said at the start this was pretty expensive so I’m a little disappointed at the contents. Hopefully they’ll start shipping internationally through their website soon and the prices will be comparative to the US.

ramblingmads

beauty, make up, reviews, skincare

Gaya Cosmetics Review

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Gaya is an Italian vegan (no animals were tested upon) cosmetics firm newly launched in the UK. At the moment their products are only available on Amazon. Their range includes skincare, make up and those all important brushes. 

Quick disclaimer: I was lucky enough to be invited to test two of their products in the run up to their full UK launch but my review here will be unbiased and my honest opinion of the products I tested.

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Primer  (£32.99) – this is not something I regularly use so I was interested in seeing what difference this would make to my make up routine and application.
The bottle is rather pleasing to look at, not too fussy a design – simple and elegant. A lot of my make up lots like either a kid’s colouring set (I do love an eye crayon or a chubby stick) or incredibly plain and boring, except all the glitter. This looks grown up and makes a nice addition to the dressing table (in my case, shelf).

I had to pump the nozzle a few times before anything came out, but as this was the first use I actually rather preferred that to it all oozing out.

You only need a really tiny amount so this will last ages, I applied it with my fingers, but you could use a sponge if you prefer.

It went on very easily, and left a smooth, soft finish. I applied it as per the directions, over my moisturiser, and it added another layer of moisture to my dry skin.

It did make applying my CC cream and foundation smoother, my moisturiser soaks in fast so this left a smooth, silky surface to work with.

I have really sensitive skin and this did not cause any upset, which was definitely a bonus to me. I will probably use it again and may even decide to buy it once I run out.

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The other item I was given to try was an eyeshadow powder in shade F23 (£12.99 currently discounted  – normally £18). This is a light gold/bronze shade, there is a wide range of other colours to choose from.

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As I like to layer my eyeshadow up, this was a great colour to work with.

Again the packaging is rather elegant with a wooden lid embossed in gold. This will also look grown up and rather attractive on the dressing table or shelf.

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The only problem I had was that as the pot was super packed with powder I had trouble getting it out of the tiny holes. I usually use eyeshadows in cake form, either in a palette or solo, whereas this was a very fine powder.

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Using a soft eyeshadow brush, not a sponge applicator, I swept it over my lids, building up the colour in layers. Finished with gold glitter liner and mascara, my eyes looked bright but not overdone or too heavy for daytime.

The pot is very generously filled, so you definitely get your money’s worth. Again I will most probably continue to use it, but may not purchase it as I own other eyeshadows in similar shades.

These are not cheap products but I feel you get value for money. From a quick google of their ingredients it looks like they go for quality and as they are vegan, not tested on animals and in good quality packaging, it’s understandable. I don’t know if I would willingly spend the money but you get what you pay for.

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beauty boxes, glossybox, make up, reviews, skincare

March Glossybox Review

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March’s Glossybox arrived today, so let’s take a look inside. The theme seems to be pink and black.

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NCLA nail polish in Like…Totally Valley Girl. This is very pink and I don’t really feel I will get much use from it.

Sleek Make Up Pout Paint in Rosette – another really pink product. Although giving it an experimental squeeze produced clear, very sticky, goop.

Essence Lash Princess Volume Mascara – clearly beauty box companies think we can never have enough mascara. The bottle’s pretty but due to the extreme sensitivity of my eyes I doubt this will be for me – one for the Give and Make Up box I’m putting together.

Naobay Moisturizing Peeling milk – apparently this is designed for removing dead skin from your face. Will have to give it a go.

Dove Youthful Vitality Shampoo and Conditioner for ageing hair – I am 28, as is my hair (I was born with a full head of dark curls that gradually went blonde) I am not ageing. My mum will be getting these – she’s almost 60 and was complaining about her thin hair the other day!

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All in all a mixed box. Next month is crunch time, which box will I keep and which will be cancelled?

Apparently next month’s Glossybox is inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood. As my profile pic is Rita Hayworth, that should be (hopefully) right up my street.

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books, reviews

Book Review – Frog Music by Emma Donaghue

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Based on a true story about a murder in San Francisco when it was still a new city, Donaghue spins a story involving circus folk, music, measles, baby farms, dancing girls and frog hunting.

Jenny Bonnet (pronounced Bonn-ay) was a teenage tearaway who spent time in a reform school before becoming a trouser-wearing frog hunter in the ponds and swamps around the fledgeling San Francisco, supplying the restaurant trade with that delicacy, frog legs.

When she was 27 she was shot dead in a guesthouse outside the city. No one was ever convicted of the killing.

Using old newspaper articles and court records, Donaghue fleshes out the story of Bonnet’s life and death. Narrated by Blanche Beunon, a French acrobat turned stripper and prostitute, who befriended Jenny shortly before her death, the novel depicts the struggles of immigrants, living hand to mouth in Chinatown.

The details of Bonnet’s life were scarce so this allowed Donaghue, whose last book was the harrowing Room, a lot of scope to write an imaginative, colourful narrative peopled by outrageous characters and a complex tangle of emotions and motives at its centre.

This book is well worth a read, whether historical fiction is your thing or not.

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beauty, beauty boxes, make up, my little box, reviews

My Little Super Box

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I quite like that My Little Box has a theme each month, last month it was My Little French Box and this month it’s My Little Super Box.

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The packaging is really cute and addressed to the Marvellous Madeleine, which is always welcome!

Inside is a whole bundle of goodies.

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As well as the usual mini magazine, there are superhero stickers, a t-shirt rolled up, and three full-size beauty products.

My Little Beauty branded cheek and lip tint in coral, I do like a two-in-one product.

Garnier Miracle Sleeping Cream – I don’t currently use a night cream so I might give this a road test.

Kerastase Cristal – a conditioner for dry hair and split ends. Not sure about whether my slightly greasy at the roots and grumpy at the ends hair will like this, but it’s worth a go.

On the little ‘what’s in my box’ sheet it gives the prices if you were to buy the individual products and trust me when I say the £13 this box cost is an absolute bargain.

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beauty, beauty boxes, latest in beauty, make up, reviews, skincare

Latest in Beauty – The Beauty Bible Loves

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I bought this on a whim. But it’s full of nice goodies and randomly came with three samples of Avon’s Cherish eau de parfum.

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A mix of sample size and full size products.

Pitrok Crystal deodorant wipes – not something I’ve come across before but probably incredibly useful, especially if you commute in the summer.

Crabtree & Evelyn Verbena & Lavender hand cream, handbag size and nice scent.

Merumaya Melting Cleansing Balm sample – you just get one but it seems to be really easy to use and a nice little tester.

Dr Organic Dead Sea Mineral Bio-Plasma Mask – I do like a face mask, and Dr Organic products are usually out of my price range.

Bellapierre Cosmetics volumizing mascara – I’m a bit fussy about mascaras but my mum and bestie do quite well out of that fact.

Rituals Miracle Scrub – a hand scrub which I will be road-testing not on my well moisturised hands but on my boyfriend’s sandpaper palms.

John Masters Organics detangler and shampoo samplers. I was thinking of changing shampoos, well I will be testing this next time I wash my hair.

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beauty, beauty boxes, glossybox, make up, reviews, skincare

Glossybox – treatment box aka sorry Mum

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This was an additional box I ordered thinking my mum might like it for Mothering Sunday which is fast approaching but it’s a good thing I bought another gift as I think I might keep this one.

The box contains mostly full size goodies.

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Sachajuan Hair Repair – for damaged and stressed hair.

Naobay Body Radiance Lotion – contains olive oil, avocado oil and shea butter. Not sure if I eat it or smear it on my skin.

Wild About Beauty Botanical Skin Prep Serum – apply on bare skin or over moisturiser to make you skin smoother and allow make up to be applied with ease.

Scentered Stress Less Therapy Balm – chamomile, neroli & mandarin, apply to pulse points to destress and soothe.

Vichy Liftactiv Supreme anti-wrinkle cream. I don’t currently have wrinkles but 30 isn’t too far away.

Urban Apothecary scented tea light candle – I love candles and this one smells yummy.

Little Ondine Twins nail polish duo. Cute design, red and cappucino coloured polishes.

Decleor Iris rejuvenating serum – a teeny, tiny bottle of something that smells rather good. My work wife loves decleor and is always recommending their products to me.

What is your mum (not) getting for Mother’s Day?

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