Shock Absorber Sports Bra Top Review

In case you’ve wondered why posts have been a bit thinner on the ground lately, it’s because I’ve just moved from the UK back to the US. I’m home for two weeks, in which time I have to go through all the boxes of my old clothes and papers from high school to sort everything and get rid of everything I don’t need anymore. I’ve also been seeing old friends and generally going a million miles an hour. But I’m hoping that after this week, posts should pick up the pace and I’ll hopefully get back to posting around twice a week. So thank you for your patience.

As promised in my last post, here is my review of the sports bra I found that works really well for me. You may remember that I found the Panache Sports bra didn’t work for me in a 30H because I needed a 28 band to match my underbust measurement. But I had heard that Shock Absorbers run really tight, so I decided to try a 30H again. These bras are commonly available on eBay and usually at very low prices and in loads of colors. Just make sure you know which you’re getting--I am still a bit confused as to which Shock Absorber is which. There are sometimes references to "Level 4" or "Max Support". The one I have usually seems to be referred to as the "Max Support" bra, but in many of the eBay listings it was also referred to as the Sports Bra Top, and looks like this in photos:

I like the term Sports Bra Top to refer to this version because it looks more like a top than the other version, which looks more like a bra. That one has more formed cups, and looks like this:

When I got my Shock Absorber I immediately knew it was going to be a success. The support was really top-notch. This bra relies on compression (basically smashing your boobs to your body) rather than encapsulation (holding your boobs tightly in a boob-shaped structure) and I’ve found I really prefer compression, so I’m happy with the Shock Absorber compared to the Panache encapsulation bra.

Here is the bra on its own:

You can see that I have some side-boob where I spill out from the bra. But, because the Shock Absorber spots top is wire-free, I had always planned to wear it with a balconette bra. I just really prefer an underwear to separate my boobs so they aren’t touching in the middle. Here it is with a Panache Harmony Balconette underneath.

With the balconette underneath, the Shock Absorber is stellar and amazing! I have absolutely no motion whatsoever when I run. It is the same level of amazing support that I get in the Title Nine Frog Bra I used to wear. I could definitely run in this Shock Absorber and feel very comfortable. I wore it for an intense horseback riding lesson this morning and the support was perfect and I didn't have any bouncing at all--quite a feat when you're cantering!

The Shock Absorber is much tighter in the band than the Panache. The 30 fit me perfectly. I needed a 28 in the Panache, but I definitely wouldn’t have been able to fasten a 28 in the Shock Absorber. Even with the 30, it is pretty hard to do up. It fastens with two sets of two hooks in back with a circle in between, like this:

 I found the easiest way to do it up is to first fasten the bottom hooks, then push the straps closer to my neck and do up the top set of hooks. And, importantly, it is really easy to take off. I don’t mind struggling to do up a sports bra, but I HATE struggling to take it off when I’m all sweaty after exercise, which is why I wanted to upgrade from the Frog Bra, which has to go off over your head. Undoing the hooks after exercise is super easy and a big relief compared to wrestling something off over my head.

I would highly recommend the Shock Absorber sports top, especially with a wired bra underneath. The support is better than anything else I’ve tried on, and best of all, it is available at great prices on eBay. For me, having something that works and is accessible at low prices is really the push I need to exercise more. So if you’re hoping for a similar push, give this bra a shot!

Product Review: Clean and Clear Deep Action Exfoliating Scrub

Ahhh, I still remember the first time I used Clean and Clear back in my tween days... Back then they didn't have the fancy scrubs with micro beads in them, (kids have it so good now). I bought this product two days ago, and I'm already obsessed! I use it daily in the shower to exfoliate my face, under some nice warm water. A tip for y'all: exfoliating treatments and face scrubs work wonders in a warm shower as your pores tend to open up leading to better, more noticeable results. The scrub leaves a tingling effect once you dry your face, and believe me when I say it feels so refreshing. It's also very affordable too; you can find it at your local drugstore for under $6.00. This product, especially at that great price, is a must have!

 

A Present from Pashley...

At the recent Tweed Run, The Boy and I were having a light-hearted lament about the Princess Classic (my model of Pashley) not coming with a Propstand as standard. This came about as we were trying to prop-up Frankie with an impromptu stand (a heavy twig!) before heading off for the group photo - but with little success. Overhearing our discussion & watching us battle with the bike, a very kind Gentleman came over and offered to park my Pashley alongside his against a tree.

 "We really must sort out a Kickstand for you", he said looking at Frankie...

I didn't think anything of this at 1st... and then after a little chat about it all he introduced himself to me: Adrian Williams, MD of Pashley Cycles!    

 Adrian presenting a Pashley Saddle Bag prize at the end of the Tweed Run
Photo courtesy of Ian (The Boy) James

To say I was stunned would be a total understatement! It was a pleasure to meet Adrian, along with John who works with him at Pashley. This meant a lot to me - it almost goes without saying! Of course, it was also wonderful that they didn't take our lamenting about the lack of Kickstand on the Classic as an insult, but as "something to consider".

We exchanged details & both he and John offered to send me a stand for Frankie... and true to their word, a wonderful present arrived in the post this week...

isn't the stamp on the envelope the cutest thing?

Determined to sort it out this weekend, I wanted to attach the Pletscher to my frame - and I'm pleased to say I did it!

I'm sure to some this seems like a piece of cake (and it was very straight-forward attaching it), but this is the 1st time I've done a bit of DIY on my bike - and I'm chuffed with it! Tightened, in place and on without incident, this was a bit of a proud moment for me.

Frankie looks wonderful standing on her own at last... wouldn't you agree? 

Thank you very much Adrian and John for the lovely gift... we love it, a lot! x

Nothing Says Summer Like Pink & White

If you were to catch me on any given summer afternoon, this is what you can expect. All it takes is a bright top for pop, some white skinnies for contrast, and a classic statement necklace for an added burst of color and style. Finish up with some open-toed wedges to give yourself the perfect summer look for any girl on-the-go! 

 

www.bloglovin.com

Panache Sports Bra (30H) Review

Having been won over by all the hype about the new Panache Sports Bra, I really wanted to try it for myself. Panache bras often work best for me, and I had really high hopes for this one. It ended up failing on me, but only because of sizing.

For the past few years, I’ve been wearing an ungainly combination of two underwire bras (one too small, covered with one that is too big) with another too-small non-wired compression bra on top when I run or exercise. As annoying as it is to wear three bras, the results are stellar—I get absolutely no boob motion at all. This is thanks to the legendary compression of the “Frog bra” from Title Nine. I think for women with smaller boobs, the Frog bra might be the ultimate end of the search for a great sports bra. It’s not being made any more, but if you check out the product page youcan see how beloved it was! And for those with medium-sized boobs (D-G) the Frog bra would still work great with an underwired bra underneath. But I was hoping to break free from the necessity of wearing multiple bras to exercise, so I thought the Panache might be the best option because it’s underwired but doesn’t have the pointy shape of the underwired Freya Active.

The Panache Sports bra is available on many sites (Amazon, Figleaves, Nordstrom, Bare Necessities, HerRoom, etc) but is pretty expensive and doesn’t seem likely to go on sale anytime soon. So I waited around for when Figleaves had a promotion code and used that to get 20% off. For anyone on a budget, I would recommend keeping an eye out for a similar voucher code to make the price a LITTLE more reasonable.

I certainly wasn’t disappointed with the appearance or shape. I got the bra in a 30H (the largest cup size available) and the shape was really amazing. I would have no problem wearing this bra out in public, even to do things other than exercising, since my boobs looked so rounded in it. Since I am usually very embarrassed by the thought of people seeing me exercise, having a bra that gives a good shape is a really big help to get me out there.

The bra itself is also really cute—it doesn’t look at all like a boulder-holder and the construction isn’t visible from the front, but covered with fabric so it looks more like a sports top than the D+ engineering marvel that it is.

Unfortunately, despite how good it looked, the bra didn’t deliver. I didn’t get any more support than I do in a normal bra and there was loads of bounce going on even just jumping up and down in my bathroom.

The bra includes clips on the backs of the straps to connect them into a racerback shape. When I clipped them together, it did help eliminate a little more bounce, but there was still far too much motion for me to be able to run in the bra. I also found it was extremely difficult to clip and un-clip the racerback attachment. One of the things I look for in a sports bra is ease of removal—when I’ve just arrived home all sweaty after a run, the last thing I want to do is wrestle with my bra to get myself out of it. So the racerback clips just didn’t do it for me.  

Now, I don’t want to give the impression that this bra doesn’t work. You might remember that although my underbust measures 28”around, I choose to wear a 30 band rather than a 28 for greater comfort andequal support. Unfortunately, the Panache Sports Bra doesn’t allow for me to size up in this way. When I pulled the band tighter behind me and then jumped, the bounce was completely gone. So if this bra came in a 28HH, it would be amazing and ideal! Unfortunately the cups don’t go up that high, but for those who do fit in the size range, I think this bra could do the job. Just keep in mind that if your underbust measures 28”, you’ll NEED a 28 band in this bra to get the proper support and encapsulation to stop the bounce. I hope to see Panache expand the size range of this bra because it has so much potential, and is not really a bra that you can wear in a “sister size”--it is perfect only in a band size that matches your underbust measurement. You don't need to size down, as it doesn't run big--you just need to wear the exact right size. 

My next post will talk about the success I had with a different sports bra! 

The Perks of Drinking Cherry Juice

Lately, I’ve been focusing in improving my diet by eating new, healthier foods that I wouldn’t normally eat. I decided to do some research on one fruit in particular… Cherries. I am absolutely obsessed with cherries, but I had never tried drinking cherry juice. I had no idea that there were so many perks to drinking cherry juice; I was awestruck. I headed to my local grocery store (Whole Foods) to grab a jar of “Just Tart Cherry Juice” to try these benefits out for myself. Now, let me advise y'all that while drinking it warm is definitely not my cup of tea, putting some ice in it definitely improves the taste. The tart yet sweet natural flavoring adds a little kick to get you going. I’ve been drinking cherry juice for about two months now, and I have already noticed some changes to my health!

Here a 5 benefits to drinking cherry juice:

1. It helps boosts your immune system.

2. It is LOADED with antioxidants
3. Helps you get a better night's sleep due to its melatonin  content
4. Great anti-aging benefits
5. Helps with weight loss too! 

Start the Summer With a Fresh Face!

Yes, the HOT weather is back yet again! Why not pamper yourself on these hot days with a refreshing facial mask? I love using Freeman Beauty Masks as my brand of choice. I am left breathless after a treatment by just how refreshed and rejuvenated my skin looks and feels. I present you with three of my favorite masks that I will be using all throughout this summer season. I picked three because each one represents a different skin type, letting me switch things up depending on how my skin feels on a particular day.Enjoy!!!

Value is $3.99 each

Dead Sea Minerals Facial Anti-Stress Mask

Unwind from the grid by treating your skin to a much needed respite with this nutrient rich mask. Dead Sea Minerals and sea salts replenish and balance moisture while purging clogged pores. Lavender and Bergamot help achieve an aroma-therapeutic bliss to rinse away stress for smooth and radiant skin. Perfect for all skin types.

 

Feeling Beautiful Mint & Lemon Facial Clay Mask

This lemony cool clay mask delivers relief from inflammation caused by breakouts. Clays absorb oils to minimize shine and large pores. Mint and Lemon cool and refresh. Perfect for breakout prone and oily skin.

 

Pomegranate Facial Revealing Peel-Off Mask

Immerse skin with super nutrients found only in nature! This Pomegranate-infused mask gently purges dirt and excess oils from skin for a cleaner, refined surface. An 8-antioxidant blend of Acai, Goji, Mango, Mangosteen, Cranberry, Noni, and Blueberry guard against free radicals and environmental stress. Get gorgeous as you reveal fresher skin. Perfect for all skin types.

Descriptions courtesy of Freeman Beauty Mask

Benefit Foundation & Urban Decay Brush Review

      It's that time of year again! The time when I like to change up my foundation. I've been getting a little sun-kissed lately, causing my skin tone to change slightly. Looks like I'm putting that pale, winter face aside and jumping onto the summer band wagon. It was  about time to change up my makeup too. This past weekend, I headed to Sephora in search of the perfect shade of foundation. I ended up purchasing an item from the "Hello Flawless" collection by Benefit. 

 

      

      The shade I decided upon was "I'm So Money Honey." It matched my skin perfectly, while adding a beautiful glow at the same time. Now this isn't my first time using this foundation, I actually bought it last year. I was extremely satisfied every time I wore my makeup! It truly gives the you a look glowing, healthy skin with the illusion of a plumped up effect. I do have a few breakouts here and there that need to be covered up, and this foundation does the job splendidly. As the Sephora makeup artist was swatching the foundation onto my face, a couple of other girls were watching us; they also fell in love with this awesome product.

      I also purchased a new foundation brush by Urban Decay (because the one that I had was about five years old... I know, eek!) It's the "Good Karma Optical Blurring Brush." Let me tell you, this brush does wonders! It blends in my foundation almost to the point where my skin looks airbrushed. Overall, I'm pleased with this perfect combo and will most likely purchase them again when the time comes.

Hands are darker than my face...

Urban Decay Brush Find It: Here Benefit Foundation Find It: Here  

Bold Flowers

With bold and colorful patterns, floral pants are a huge hit for this spring/summer! Pairing them with a chic crop-top adds an extra flair to the overall look. When wearing floral pants, always try pairing it with a solid color; avoid print-on-print (sometimes there is such a thing as way too much). To easily determine which solid color would go best, look to the background color of the pants. For instance, the background color on mine was black, so I went with a classic black top. In another picture I wore a coral top, helping to add some additional contrast to the look. So wear those floral pants with pride, and be different for once this season. Hope all you sweeties out there are having a wonderful Hump Day!

Big thanks to my photographer: Disco Cigs Photography. Be sure to check him out and LIKE his page! He truly is one of the most talented photographers in Atlanta :)

 

  Outfit Essentials:  Crop Top: Charlotte Russe Similar HereFloral Pants: Wet Seal Here Heels: Forever 21 Here  (currently sold out)     

Beauty Tip Tuesday: How to Fix Dried-Out Gel Eyeliner

Have a crummy looking pot of gel eyeliner? Don't throw it away, just fix it! Your probably wondering, how could you possibly fix that dried out, old product? Well, here's a simple trick that I like to use to give my old liners new life. All you need to do is pop it in the microwave for around 10 to 15 seconds; the heat will melt the gel eyeliner, and leave it looking as new as the day you bought it. After having used this trick multiple times, I haven't wasted another pot of liner in forever! My favorite gel eyeliner is by Maybelline, and it is definitely not a product I want to see go to waste. I hope this trick helps some of you ladies out there really get your money's worth out of any gel eyeliner you buy from now on! .