One Stop Plus (OneStopPlus) Ladies V -Neckline Dress with Floral Print Review

May 7, 2012 – 11:32 am

Just a quick one to appease those who have missed my fashion posts lately.

As I’ve said on Twitter, lately plus size fashion really isn’t inspiring me at the moment so that’s why I haven’t posted regarding the fashion side of things much. But a few weeks ago I got offered to review an item of clothing from One Stop Plus / OneStopPlus, which is a brand I’d heard of and browsed their pages, but never made a purchase from (I’m stuck in my ways, don’t like trying out new things.) So when the opportunity arose I thought, “why not?” And gave it a go.
I’m glad I did.

OneStopPlus One Stop Plus V-Neck Dress Review Plus Size

I chose this dress, which is a v-neck floral tan and black knee-length dress. It’s made of a jersey-type material. Often I find that jersey materials can be a bit rubbish, I’ve had dresses from Simply Be completely lose all shape and go really baggy half way through the day on me (happened at Alton Towers once, I was not happy,) so I tried it with some trepidation.

OneStopPlus One Stop Plus V-Neck Dress Review Plus Size

Actually, this jersey is pretty good. It holds its shape and doesn’t go all big and baggy after a day’s use, which is a huge relief. Especially as it’s a v-neck, you do not want it losing shape, lest you end up flashing everyone! I like the detailing around the bust, I think it’s cute.
This dress is perfect for those with small chests like myself, the v-neck doesn’t dip far enough to show your bra but it does show a bit of skin. I don’t think it’d be as nice for girls with bigger busts, just because of the shape and material, you may want something a little bit thicker/more structured.

OneStopPlus One Stop Plus V-Neck Dress Review Plus Size

For those who don’t like their upper arms this dress does a fantastic job of keeping your bingo wings in check without hurting you. The sleeves are not tight – I hate tight sleeves, when sometimes you feel like the seams are going to split because of the tightness, this dress doesn’t do that – yay! Personally I’m not sensitive about people seeing my arms, but I wanted a dress with long sleeves due to the weather lately, so these 3/4 length sleeves are pretty bang on what I wanted.
As you can see the dress hits me just above the knee, (I can wear knee-length boots now guys, going to the gym to improve my fitness before I qualify and get healthier has had an unexpected perk in that my calves are now mostly muscle rather than fat, and they’re now only 17″ down from 21″! Anyone who knew me when I first started blogging will know how annoyed I got that I could never find knee-length boots to fit my calves, not anymore! So happy.)

Dress @ One Stop Plus/OneStopPlus.
Leggings @ Simply Be.
Boots @ Simply Be.

So, what do I think of OneStopPlus.co.uk? Hmm. Seeing as this is the only item of clothing I’ve tried of theirs so far, I can say that I’m pretty happy with the quality of the dress, (and the price, at £35 although it’s not cheap I’d say the price matches what you get, not too expensive but not a bargain really.) I’m browsing the site at the moment, especially their sale section, and thinking that when I get paid if anything inspires me I might try another one of their bits.
I’ve also just seen that you get 10% off your first order, which is definitely persuading me.

*Dress kindly provided by OneStopPlus for my consideration, leggings and boots were purchased myself. My opinions are – as always – honest and unchanged regardless of the product’s source, you know this disclaimer by now. I have not been paid to write this review in return for this products.

By Devon | Posted in Fashion | Tags: , , , | Comments (3)

Soap and Glory Lid Stuff in Off The Wallflowers Swatches and Review

May 2, 2012 – 4:57 pm

Recently I sent a Tweet out to @SoapandGlory regarding the dismal state of their cosmetics section in my local Boots store. Not a complaint, but I was raising it as I was disappointed that a brand I really like was getting represented in a crappy way due to the store not looking after the section properly.
The person running their Twitter thanked me and said she’d get someone down there to have a look and see if this was the case. In thanks, she offered to send me the following eyeshadow palette as a sample. Not to review necessarily, but more of a thank you. I felt it was fair for me to review the product anyway, as Soap & Glory is a brand I haven’t written about (although I love their Hand Stuff cream, as a student nurse having to wash my hands and use gel all the time that moisturiser is amazing and I’ve been meaning to write about it since I got it in December. I’ve since gone through two tubes…) So yes! Onwards!

Soap and Glory Soap & Glory Off The Wallflowers Lid Stuff Swatches and Review

Soap and Glory’s Lid Stuff is a simple, 4-shaded eyeshadow palette that comes in three different flavours. Personally I would have gone for What’s Nude or Smokey Dokey as those shades are more my thing, but I admit I was pleasantly surprised when I tried out Off The Wallflowers.

Soap and Glory Soap & Glory Off The Wallflowers Lid Stuff Swatches and Review

First thing I noticed was the packaging, on the back it says this;
“I’M IN NO BRUSH. We chose not to include a cheap spongy shadow brush because not only would it drive the price of this palette up, we thought you’d rather opt for a proper one.”
You know what? I rate that. The palette costs £10 so it’s pretty cheap and I know that if it had a cheap spongy brush I’d throw it out anyway, a smart and clever move by Soap and Glory. (Please tell me that none of you use those horrible sponge applicators?)

Soap and Glory Soap & Glory Off The Wallflowers Lid Stuff Swatches and Review

From left to right; Sugar Violet, Minky, Dandy Plum, Wild Blue.

The swatches are as above. As you can see I had a bit of trouble with the Sugar Violet purple, the above swatch is several layers and it still doesn’t look smooth. It just did not agree with me, just didn’t want to apply properly. Stubborn colour. The other three I’m very happy with, especially Dandy Plum and Minky. Though, Dandy Plum isn’t really a plum colour, it’s brown on the skin. Brown, but with a red-purple base, the shimmer is definitely a purple-brown, you can’t see the purple so much in the swatch above, but the close-up of the shadow I took is probably close to its true colour. I definitely don’t own a colour like it, so that’s quite nice.

Soap and Glory Soap & Glory Off The Wallflowers Lid Stuff Swatches and ReviewSoap and Glory Soap & Glory Off The Wallflowers Lid Stuff Swatches and Review

Soap and Glory Soap & Glory Off The Wallflowers Lid Stuff Swatches and ReviewSoap and Glory Soap & Glory Off The Wallflowers Lid Stuff Swatches and Review

Does what it says on the tin: 7/10.
Quality: 7/10.
Colour/pigmentation: 7/10.
Packaging: 7/10.
Price: 9/10.
Re-purchase: Yes.

Overall: 7/10:

For £10 you can’t really get better than this. Admittedly, I know Soap and Glory mainly for their skincare range, their moisturisers and oily skin-helpers are among some of the things I keep in my arsenal of spot-and-oil-busting products, so it was interesting to try out their cosmetics. The shadows all last for a long time, apart from Sugar Violet. I don’t know why, maybe the formula is slightly different, but it just doesn’t go on well and it rubs off fairly easily. However, the remaining three stick around for a long time – even without a primer. The pigmentation of the other three is near perfect – a buildable but pigmented selection. The eyeshadows are tiny, at 1.5g each, meaning you’d be hitting the pan fairly quickly if you use these shades a lot. However, for a tenner, I wouldn’t complain.

I think I might try the Smokey Dokey kit, which I’ll probably pick up from Boots when I get a spare tenner, and hopefully that one won’t contain a dud like Sugar Violet.

Being one of the first items I’ve tried from the cosmetics side of Soap and Glory I can say, they’re definitely heading in the right direction and I hope to see more from them in the future.

*Products kindly provided by Soap and Glory for my consideration as a thank you gift after pointing out one of their stands being badly maintained. My opinions are – as always – honest and unchanged regardless of the product’s source, you know this disclaimer by now. I have not been asked, persuaded or paid to write this review in return for these products.

By Devon | Posted in Eyes, Kits/Sets, Make-up/Beauty | Tags: , , , , | Leave a Comment

Percy & Reed No-Fuss Flawlessness Dry Conditioner Review

April 29, 2012 – 3:22 pm

When I heard about Percy & Reed offering a dry conditioner (similar to dry shampoo, in a spray can,) I was surprised. “Does dry conditioner exist?” That was my first thought. Well, obviously it does. Remember that I went to the Asos and Percy & Reed event last month? Well, after trying out their dry shampoo I thought that I’d invest in the dry conditioner when I got paid. So I did! £12 spent at Asos and this is what I found;

Percy & Reed No-FussFlawlessness Dry Conditioner 2

The same fantastically designed packaging as the rest of the “Hair.” range, “forget water, there’s a martini waiting!”

After my insane obsession over the Percy & Reed Dry Shampoo I picked up the conditioner with high hopes.
I wasn’t quite sure how to use it though, there’s no suggestion of when to use it and the Percy & Reed website isn’t much help either. No matter! I figured it was best used in the same situations as the dry shampoo. So after my boyfriend slept over last night and before I walked him to the station I decided to combat the bed/unwashed-head by using the dry shampoo and conditioner in conjunction with each other. After using the shampoo I grabbed the conditioner and shook it up, as per the directions, and it made the same clink-y sound that the shampoo makes, as though it’s spray paint. I applied it evenly through the mids to the tips of my hair, working it through with a brush, and was quite impressed.

Percy & Reed No-Fuss Flawlessness Dry Conditioner

Although the dry shampoo usually takes care of most of the greasiness I find that my hair is usually still a little limp and doesn’t feel very silky, which is what dry shampoo normally does. By using the dry conditioner afterwards it helps to combat that, reviving hair and leaving mine soft to the touch, as though it had actually been washed.

Alright, so it wasn’t the same as washing my hair properly, but it was a definite improvement on just the dry shampoo alone.
Both of these (the dry shampoo and dry conditioner) now live happily in my handbag, as they work equally as well after doing a long shift on the ward or when you’re just too busy to give your hair a full wash.

Does what it says on the tin: 10/10.
Quality: 10/10.
Colour/pigmentation: N/A.
Packaging: 1/10.
Price: 7/10.
Re-purchase: Yes.

Rating: 8/10. The product itself is fantastic. However, the lid to the spray doesn’t stay on very securely and seems that it’ll pop off quite often in my handbag (and it already has a few times so far,) I can probably fix it with an elastic band or something but it is quite annoying. Second, the lack of suggestions as to when to actually use it is a little annoying, especially if you don’t use dry shampoo. Dry conditioner is a new product to me so I really wasn’t sure what to do with it. I think my way works in the end though.
Other than this the product is perfect, the spray doesn’t smell bad or choke you (it smells the same as all of the other Percy & Reed products – fresh and clean, which is exactly what you want with a dry shampoo/dry conditioner,) and the effects are definitely positive.

The above still applies, HOWEVER, after only ONE day in my handbag the spray mechanism broke and the dry conditioner leaked all over my bag and books, leaving me with only a half-full can which doesn’t work. Those at Percy & Reed have said I can send it back to them directly for a replacement, but as this also happened to my mini-shampoo (which I didn’t mention because I thought it was a faulty one,) before I bought the big one (which is now wrapped up in a plastic bag in my bag in case it happens yet again,) I’m not sure if it’s worth it. I’ve had to go over the rating again and changed what was a 8/10 to a 5, for the fact that they are NOT handbag friendly at all.
Yes, these products are lovely, amazing even, but DO NOT keep them in your hand bag.

Overall: 5/10:

By Devon | Posted in Hair, Make-up/Beauty | Tags: , , , , , | Comments (2)

Vita-E Vitamin E Moisturiser Review

April 27, 2012 – 6:33 pm

I recently saw on Twitter a company asking for bloggers to come forward and try one of their new products. So I replied and shortly after received a sample of Vita-E cream, which is a natural vitamine E moisturiser.
I’ve been using it for a little while on my hands, as with the frequent handwashing in nursing it can leave my hands feeling dry, Vitamin E is apparently a powerful antioxidant.

Vita-E Vitamin E Moisturiser Review

If I’m honest, at first I was a bit sceptical, it didn’t really seem to be doing much. However after using it for almost a week of being in placement I noticed that my hands were considerably less dry and the skin around my nails didn’t tear as easily as it usually does. I can’t really think of anything else that would have protected my hands, so I’m going to say it was probably the cream.
It’s un-scented and reminds me of the cream you put on baby bottoms :) Which is a compliment. You know, the huge jars of creamy white which you slather on in big dollops? No? I know what I mean anyway.
The ingredients list is short; Vitamin E, Polar Wax, Solan-E, Novol, Liquid Paraffin, Bronopol, Sorbitol and Purified Water. I don’t know what most of that means, but the skin is very good on sensitive skin. My Mum has dry skin and she’s used it and really likes it.
Surprisingly, despite my oily skin on my face this hasn’t actually aggravated my face’s spot-prone nature. I can’t say it’s stopped any spots, but it’s definitely not caused any more than I would normally have.

Rating: 6/10. I gave this cream a proper test, probably the most difficult that I’ve ever given a product (apart from when I did a gym test of Urban Decay Primer Potion – That was fun!) And to say that it managed to survive and even help my hands is a bonus. It didn’t really do much for my face, however it didn’t do any bad things so I can’t really mark it down. It’s marketed as an all-over body moisturiser and it does its job.
I’m not sure about the long-term benefits that vitamin E has on the skin, but I’ll probably carry this in my bag for when I’m at placement and keep using it regardless. It’s a shame it wasn’t in a little tube rather than a pot, but that’s okay. It just means I have to carry it in my bag instead of in my pocket.

*Product kindly received as a PR sample for consideration as a company representative asked for volunteers via Twitter. Opinions are – as always – honest and unchanged regardless of the product’s source. I have not been asked or paid to write this review in return for this product.

By Devon | Posted in Make-up/Beauty, Skin | Tags: , , , , | Leave a Comment

April Glossybox

April 27, 2012 – 4:33 pm
April Glossybox Review

I swore I’d unsubscribe from Glossybox but by the time I got around to it they’d already taken payment for my April box.
So reluctantly I opened it with the decision to review.

April Glossybox Review

Glossybox seem to have somewhat made up for their farce of a box they called their “Harrods Edition,” with an organic/natural selection this month.
Featuring one of my favourite brands, and one that I posted about just yesterday – Inika.

April Glossybox ReviewApril Glossybox Review

Inika Cosmetics Certified Organic Eyeliner in Graphite
You all know I love Inika, I don’t have much to say about this product in that case. The colour is a dark grey, which I probably won’t use, but I like Inika and the quality of the product, as always, is fantastic. It doesn’t snag, the formula is creamy and lasts a long time. The one I received is full size which is worth £11.75 and there is a 25% off discount if you enter GBX0412 at the checkout on Inika’s website. If you’d like to see more Inika reviews you can check out my collection, which is expanding as we speak.

Rating: 9/10. I love Inika, but I probably won’t use the colour. Can’t fault Inika for that.

April Glossybox Review

Caudalie Vinosource Thirst-Quenching Serum
An ultra-concentrated, natural and plant-based serum is what the leaflet tells me. It’s a very liquid and very runny, pale, milky fluid which doesn’t really smell that nice.

Rating: 1/10. I tried using the serum on my face and it made absolutely no difference to my skin whatsoever. The smell lasted quite a while and I felt my skin was quite oily after using it so had to wash my face. I can still smell it and I really don’t like it. It’s a 10ml sample size and the full. 30ml size is £29. No thanks.

April Glossybox Review

Ayuuri Natural Body Wash in Coconut
I have way too many shower gels/body washes as it is, but there’s always room in my life for more coconut-scented things! I really loooove the smell of this. My one contains coconut, aloe vera and jasmine, apparently designed to moisturise the body and calm the mind. It works well as a bubble bath as well as a body wash :D

Rating: 7/10. Beauty boxes need to stop giving out shower gel each time, it’s getting boring. However, as the actual product itself is really nice I can’t mark it lower than a 7. The size is 200ml, which is a full sized sample worth £4.95.

April Glossybox Review

Figs & Rouge Lip Balm in Rambling Rose
I was happy to see this, a brand I haven’t heard of. Figs & Rouge’s Lip Balm can also be used on the face and body – or so the packaging says. I wouldn’t risk that with my oily skin. The balm is like petroleum jelly (Vaseline,) but I find the formula to be a bit thinner and it’s a little bit lumpy. It has an odd texture in the pot but feels fine on the skin. I tested it only on the back of my hand because the smell of rose makes me feel sick.

Rating: 4/10. The smell is just too off-putting for me. I don’t know if anyone got any of the other versions available, but if anyone got the tea tree and peppermint version I’d happily trade you for the rose one. Mine has only had my (clean) finger tip dipped in it to do a swatch on the back of my hand.

And the perfume sample isn’t worth reviewing – I didn’t like it.

This now brings the history with Glossybox to here;
My first one, fantastic, I use the hand gel daily on the wards, used the shower gel and my Mum loved the lip tint and hair oil.
Second one, The “Harrods” Edition. Terrible. Products were not even remotely tailored towards my ‘beauty profile.’ Giving someone with oily skin this stuff was just stupid.

This one? Actually, it’s okay. Maybe it’s because I like Inika, maybe because I like the smell of coconut, but I’d say that this box brings Glossybox to a 2:1 ratio of acceptable/good:bad. Then again, I look at what I got from the box and remember that I paid £10 for this :/

At the end of the day, I already know and own a lot of Inika’s products and I could just buy coconut shower gel in Tesco… But still, not bad. I don’t like the smell of rose, so if anyone has the tea tree and peppermint version of the Figs & Rouge Balm I’ll happily trade.

I’m considering keeping my subscription for one more month, if the good:bad ratio gets 2:2 then I’m done. I don’t know really. I’ll see how I feel in May.

Overall rating: 6/10. Not sure whether I’ll stay subbed or not. Maybe I’ve just been unlucky.

By Devon | Posted in Bath, Beauty Boxes, Eyes, Face, Lips, Make-up/Beauty | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments (6)
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