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Loved my lip colour yesterday, MAC Funbathing Cremesheen lipstick. It has this beautiful shimmer to it and looks so glossy, I adore Cremesheens! Ignore the dry skin on my face, I'm all flaky just now but Clarins Multi-Active Day and Night creams are coming to my rescue! This reminds me, I really should start up LOTD Challenge again (Lip Of The Day), I'm just too lazy though to get into wearing a different combo every day and documenting it, oopsy!
As I mentioned in my Simply Be post, I really want to write more fatshion articles and I had it all planned out in my head, then in one swoop, Evans kinda stole my thunder.
Let me explain first. I've never bought anything from Evans, ever. I suppose it's partly because I still fit into their similar but slightly more 'me' sister company, Dorothy Perkins. Although really it's because I rarely see anything that I must buy. Without being mean, they tend to be what I'd call stereotypical 'fat people clothes', you know the type; tunics, huge t-shirts and boot cut jeans. I'm a dress-girl, I like pretty, I like vintage looking, kitsch prints, florals, sticky out skirts, frills, polka dots and bows. I don't want to be wrapped in a poncho just because I'm larger than some people. And that's why Dotty P's appeals more, because I can buy that style there and it happens to be the same dress that a size 8 girl is wearing; more trend conscious or to 'my style' anyway. I must admit, I do think Evans are getting slightly better-the preview of their A/W stuff looks fabulous, lots of pearls, fake fur and vintagey looking dresses. They do seem to be listening to their customers and trying to be more on-trend, rather than just designing the same crap every year in different colours/patterns. Plus there's another Beth Ditto collection coming in Autumn and I know that proved really popular last time.
Anyway, back to my planned out post and I was going to say that what is really missing from the plus-size market are boutique brands like Vila, Eucalyptus, Liquorish, Rare, Vero Moda and my most favourite Darling. Most of them only go up to a size 14 and this really upsets me. I want kooky and kitsch as much as the skinny girl! So I'm sure some of you already know about this, but if you don't frequently click onto the Evans site then it will be news to you. There are 5 gorgeous new dresses by Ruby Belle and instead of going up to the usual size 14, they start (yep 'start') at a 14 and go up to a 28 (smaller than the usual Evans range I know). I'm pretty excited about this! Ok, so there's only 5 dresses, but it's a massive step in the right direction. I'm loving the flamingo print (although I wish it wasn't quite so sparse-too much unflattering white for me in some bits) and I think the boat print dress is utterly adorable and probably the most flattering (even if I do prefer the pink version available in the main range (from Fever Designs) which also happens to be cheaper at £39.99 shown below). The 2 with cap sleeves are probably most typical of what I'd wear, although they look to be those dresses that are supposed to be worn bigger on top and I fear they only work on flatter chested girls. I have a couple of similar styles from Florence & Fred at Tesco and I even bought them in a size smaller than usual but they gape at the armholes and I'm so used to filling out dresses on top that I'm not entirely comfortable with that shape, it doesn't really flatter.
The dresses are priced at £55 each, so not the cheapest, although this is what you'd expect to pay for a boutique brand. I'm on a no-buy for now, but I'm hoping the boat and maybe the flamingo strappy one will stick around for when I do have pennies!
Ok, so first off, I completely misunderstood the concept of his product. I bought it a few months ago when I had a No7 £5 voucher to use and thought I'd give this new cleanser a go. I read 'hot cloth' and imagined it was some sort of self heating cleanser-you know like those really cool packets of face masks that heat up once applied to your face? When I read the directions, yep you actually need to 'learn' how to use this cleanser! I still imagined it had some sort of heating action, perhaps once the cloth was applied.
What is it?: No7 Radiance Boosting Hot Cloth Cleanser available from Boots
Packaging: It comes boxed and you get a giant 200ml pump dispenser bottle and a muslin cloth-a smaller version of the one my sister uses for cleaning up my nephews sick, but don't let that put you off! The cleanser is priced at £8.75 and considering how little you need to use, I think this is good value for money. I really love the bottle, because you can clearly see how much product you have left and because the pump moves the cleanser 'up' the bottle, you aren't left with product in the bottom that can't be reached. I found one pump dispensed exactly the right amount of product for one application, good so far.
What it says: Close your eyes, using your fingertips, gently massage over dry skin in upward circular motions. Run the muslin cloth under comfortably hot water, wring out the excess and place cloth over your face and relax whilst the hot cloth gently opens your pores. Then, using the cloth, lightly polish off the cleanser in circular motions, to remove any impurities. To finish; splash your face with cold water, to close your pores, and pat dry.
What I say: The cleanser itself is a very rich, creamy consistency and has a floral scent that some may dislike. It was overpowering at first, but kinda grew on me. I favoured using this in the morning, rather than at night when I'm removing my makeup too; I prefer something like a foaming cleanser for that. Now to the bad points, the cloth doesn't retain any heat whatsoever, so by the time I've run it under very hot water and wrung it out and got it onto my face, it's barely warm. I don't find this in any way relaxing or pleasant. Also where are you expected to do this? I personally always cleanse in front of the mirror above the sink in my bathroom. So I'm left standing like an idiot with a cold cloth over my face, just standing! Not my idea of a relaxing treat! Then you use the cloth to 'exfoliate'. If I'm going to exfoliate I want a real grainy, scrub that you can literally 'feel' scrubbing away the dead skin cells etc. This cloth falls somewhere in between, it's not pleasantly smooth, yet isn't quite rough enough.
Verdict: Afterwards, my skin feels incredibly soft and smooth to the touch and I think it does look more 'radiant'. I am also pleased to report that it didn't aggravate my (much improved btw) acne-prone skin. However I just can't be bothered with the nonsense of applying it. It adds 5 extra minutes to my cleansing routine that I don't need, the experience isn't relaxing and I have to rinse the cloth out afterwards. It's not even something I would use in the shower for example, because you still have to stand up with this cold cloth on your face! Overall verdict, it's a nice cleanser but the application is too much of a fiddle and would discourage me from re-purchasing.
P.S. I've just bought the No7 Gentle Foaming Cleanser to try, which I'm hoping will suit me better. I'll review once I've given it a good trial.
Loved my lip colour yesterday, MAC Funbathing Cremesheen lipstick. It has this beautiful shimmer to it and looks so glossy, I adore Cremesheens! Ignore the dry skin on my face, I'm all flaky just now but Clarins Multi-Active Day and Night creams are coming to my rescue! This reminds me, I really should start up LOTD Challenge again (Lip Of The Day), I'm just too lazy though to get into wearing a different combo every day and documenting it, oopsy!
Let me explain first. I've never bought anything from Evans, ever. I suppose it's partly because I still fit into their similar but slightly more 'me' sister company, Dorothy Perkins. Although really it's because I rarely see anything that I must buy. Without being mean, they tend to be what I'd call stereotypical 'fat people clothes', you know the type; tunics, huge t-shirts and boot cut jeans. I'm a dress-girl, I like pretty, I like vintage looking, kitsch prints, florals, sticky out skirts, frills, polka dots and bows. I don't want to be wrapped in a poncho just because I'm larger than some people. And that's why Dotty P's appeals more, because I can buy that style there and it happens to be the same dress that a size 8 girl is wearing; more trend conscious or to 'my style' anyway. I must admit, I do think Evans are getting slightly better-the preview of their A/W stuff looks fabulous, lots of pearls, fake fur and vintagey looking dresses. They do seem to be listening to their customers and trying to be more on-trend, rather than just designing the same crap every year in different colours/patterns. Plus there's another Beth Ditto collection coming in Autumn and I know that proved really popular last time. 
Anyway, back to my planned out post and I was going to say that what is really missing from the plus-size market are boutique brands like Vila, Eucalyptus, Liquorish, Rare, Vero Moda and my most favourite Darling. Most of them only go up to a size 14 and this really upsets me. I want kooky and kitsch as much as the skinny girl! So I'm sure some of you already know about this, but if you don't frequently click onto the Evans site then it will be news to you. There are 5 gorgeous new dresses by Ruby Belle and instead of going up to the usual size 14, they start (yep 'start') at a 14 and go up to a 28 (smaller than the usual Evans range I know). I'm pretty excited about this! Ok, so there's only 5 dresses, but it's a massive step in the right direction. I'm loving the flamingo print (although I wish it wasn't quite so sparse-too much unflattering white for me in some bits) and I think the boat print dress is utterly adorable and probably the most flattering (even if I do prefer the pink version available in the main range (from Fever Designs) which also happens to be cheaper at £39.99 shown below). The 2 with cap sleeves are probably most typical of what I'd wear, although they look to be those dresses that are supposed to be worn bigger on top and I fear they only work on flatter chested girls. I have a couple of similar styles from Florence & Fred at Tesco and I even bought them in a size smaller than usual but they gape at the armholes and I'm so used to filling out dresses on top that I'm not entirely comfortable with that shape, it doesn't really flatter.
The dresses are priced at £55 each, so not the cheapest, although this is what you'd expect to pay for a boutique brand. I'm on a no-buy for now, but I'm hoping the boat and maybe the flamingo strappy one will stick around for when I do have pennies!
Ok, so first off, I completely misunderstood the concept of his product. I bought it a few months ago when I had a No7 £5 voucher to use and thought I'd give this new cleanser a go. I read 'hot cloth' and imagined it was some sort of self heating cleanser-you know like those really cool packets of face masks that heat up once applied to your face? When I read the directions, yep you actually need to 'learn' how to use this cleanser! I still imagined it had some sort of heating action, perhaps once the cloth was applied. 
What it says: Close your eyes, using your fingertips, gently massage over dry skin in upward circular motions. Run the muslin cloth under comfortably hot water, wring out the excess and place cloth over your face and relax whilst the hot cloth gently opens your pores. Then, using the cloth, lightly polish off the cleanser in circular motions, to remove any impurities. To finish; splash your face with cold water, to close your pores, and pat dry.
What I say: The cleanser itself is a very rich, creamy consistency and has a floral scent that some may dislike. It was overpowering at first, but kinda grew on me. I favoured using this in the morning, rather than at night when I'm removing my makeup too; I prefer something like a foaming cleanser for that. Now to the bad points, the cloth doesn't retain any heat whatsoever, so by the time I've run it under very hot water and wrung it out and got it onto my face, it's barely warm. I don't find this in any way relaxing or pleasant. Also where are you expected to do this? I personally always cleanse in front of the mirror above the sink in my bathroom. So I'm left standing like an idiot with a cold cloth over my face, just standing! Not my idea of a relaxing treat! Then you use the cloth to 'exfoliate'. If I'm going to exfoliate I want a real grainy, scrub that you can literally 'feel' scrubbing away the dead skin cells etc. This cloth falls somewhere in between, it's not pleasantly smooth, yet isn't quite rough enough.
Verdict: Afterwards, my skin feels incredibly soft and smooth to the touch and I think it does look more 'radiant'. I am also pleased to report that it didn't aggravate my (much improved btw) acne-prone skin. However I just can't be bothered with the nonsense of applying it. It adds 5 extra minutes to my cleansing routine that I don't need, the experience isn't relaxing and I have to rinse the cloth out afterwards. It's not even something I would use in the shower for example, because you still have to stand up with this cold cloth on your face! Overall verdict, it's a nice cleanser but the application is too much of a fiddle and would discourage me from re-purchasing.
Want it? Yes. Need it? Ummm, probably not! The latest Barbie t-shirt (£20) has hit Miss Selfridge and it happens to include an image of one of my all-time favourite vintage Barbie dolls 'Gay Parissiene' or 'Parisienne Pretty' as she was renamed with her re-release last year. I got completely sidetracked today, looking through my Barbie book and I found this cute little booklet where the original clothes set for this doll was an extremely inexpensive $4! If only I could buy it for that nowadays!
