Bravissimo Cleo Beige Bra

I admit I would probably try to avoid buying this bra again, but I wouldn't rule it out completely.  On the positive side, it has lovely back support, and no pressure on the shoulders either. I haven't gotten to have many size 30 bras, but I have tried some on that fell short of this.  Its easily the best I've ever tried in that respect, but for someone size 32 or higher this may be less abnormal.  On the negative side, I don't feel it really supports my breasts, just sort of letting them hang out in their soft cups without really in any way helping.  

I've used it pretty hard, and there isn't any sign of undue stretching or breakage.  On the other hand, it got stained with sweat fairly early on and I've been unable to remove this.  I imagine its because its cut somewhat higher under the arm than others, something I was less fond of, but it remains a blemish and prevents me from easily wearing it with many tops.  

On the subject of wearing it with clothes - despite being beige it can stand out a bit compared to your skin under thin tops, although anyone who sees you wearing it alone might think you're naked if they're not paying attention.  Yes, from personal experience! It has a small amount of lace which can be tucked in well enough, but its a fairly high cut and also it separates your breasts a bit, limited the types of collars you can have.  In terms of the over-separation, it doesn't look as good, and I had rubs on my skin at the top of the frame for awhile, which has settled into a slight discolouring of the skin.  Still, it was the best fit in a 30FF/30F that was neutral toned to go under my light silk dress, and for that it worked admirably.

Finally, its just incredibly stupidly unsexy. I knew this was at least likely even when I tried it on, but that is an additional negative in my book. I've had other plain bras that did look better, even if there is a limitation on how good plain can look.

Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 4
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 5
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 5
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 7
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 8 (With bras as a whole being ten, but having a skin tone one lower)
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1 

*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: YES
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Female, Teenagers, People with large breasts, People with small ribcages, People wearing thin clothes, People wearing light coloured clothes

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.

Pantene Colour & Volume Shampoo

This is a slightly odd choice at the moment, and one I should possibly revisit later. I only have vestigial amounts of colour left in my hair, something I may need to change - its only anyway highlights.  However they do say if you have any colour, then colour shampoos are good, and volume is equally something my fine hair needs.  Its sadly also curly, so wants moisturising, frizz control, and to tame flyaways... you can see why I'm searching for a new shampoo!

It cleans fairly well, but not as well as others I've tried.  It does add a little volume, but not as much as Aussie.  It does absolutely zero in the other categories - though, to be fair, they aren't on the label.  I can't say I see the point, it feels like just slightly not a normal shampoo. I may try again if I put highlights back in...

Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 4
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 3
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 5
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 5
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 10
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 2 

*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: YES
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Female, Teenagers, People with coloured hair, People with fine hair

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.

Pantene Ice Shine Shampoo

I'm feeling guarded but optimistic about this shampoo so far. Its one of several I've purchased in my bid for a new shampoo, and its the best of the lot. I think I'd like to try some that are specialist for curly hair, still. My fair is both curly and fine, and suffers from issues with frizz / flyaways and being limp like wet noodles.  This shampoo does go some distance towards making my hair feel more moist, slightly shinier, and when used with enough product creates a long lasting frizz free mess of curls.  This is significant - some shampoos cannot be rescued by product, this one can. It doesn't on its own or with conditioner control frizz, however, even with hairspray. I'm not quite sure why - it almost seems to make it worse. It also does a good job cleaning. It leaves me perplexed, and its not my ideal, but it does have a definite worth!

Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 4
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 5
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 6
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 7
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 10
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 2 (Given for good packaging) 
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 3 

*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Female, Teenagers, People with fine hair

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.

Boots Provitamin Volumising Shampoo

I'm less than impressed, I must be honest. Boots does many own brand things well, even exceptionally, but this shampoo is not it.  It does clean fairly well - which is admittedly the main purpose of shampoo and one many fail on.  Also, as a volumising shampoo it made no technical claims about frizz, flyaway hairs, or shine.  So its failure to impart any of these things may be a label technicality issue. Most people who want volume, however, have fine hair. Most people with fine hair have frizz or flyaway issues. Equally, you can't have everything. I guess my final complaint, though, is it isn't really very volumising either! It weighs quite heavily on my hair as compared to other similar shampoos (Aussie, Pantene). I haven't tried other 'own-brand' shampoos, mostly because they have a bad reputation especially for tricky hair. My hair, by disclaimer, is both curly and fine, also described as 'infinitely hard to deal with.'

Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 2
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 3
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 7
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 4
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 10
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1 
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1

*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: YES
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Female, Teenagers, People with fine hair

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.

Nivea Invisible Black & White Roll On Deodorant

I have mixed feelings about this one, and had hoped to have a sounder appreciation for it by the time I reviewed it.  It doesn't leave any obvious white marks on clothes for me, and certainly doesn't have a high incidence of yellow ones.  It does have some, however, somewhat noticeably on pale tops (i.e. light blue) rather than white.  I also need more than one application a day if I'm very active - whilst other people I know claim it builds up on their skin like a protective layer of flaky... skin? Its at least reasonably odour controlling, but could be better.  Its happily cheap on offer and it doesn't sting on sensitive skin as far as I can tell. I do want to try and improve my lot, but its not useless.  

Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 3 (1 on offer)
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 5
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 5
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 8
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 10
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1 
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1

*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Female, Male, Teenagers

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.

Andrex 'puppies on a roll' Toilet Roll

I promise this is my last toilet roll review for awhile! In a general sense, its useable enough. It has durability, it has an ok texture. Its on the softer side, but less prone to shedding than many of those, although still annoying. The cost isn't all that cheap, even on offer, but on offer its about acceptable, maybe.  I'm not sure what the advantage to having puppies printed on a toilet roll is... this seems odd. I don't think my toilet roll is where I want a dose of "cute."  Still, its not altogether bad, which is close to high praise from me within its category!

Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 3
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 5
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 7
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 9
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 10
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 3 
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1

*Do I think its the best in its field: NO
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Female, Male

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.

Springforce Toilet Roll

This is, in my opinion, the absolute best value for money toilet roll out there at the moment. Its still cheap - only just above the value ranges.  It possibly lasts longer. Its certainly less flimsy, larger, a better overall texture. Its not "silky silky soft" which drives me crazy anyway. It doesn't shed - once in a great while you get a pack that does slightly, but its rare. It is technically a Tesco brand, but its one they've done a good job with.

Cost 1-10 with ten the most expensive: 2
Value for money 1-10 with ten being the best: 10
Durability 1-10 with ten being the most: 8
Usefulness 1-10 with ten being the most: 10
Importance 1-10 with 10 being the most: 10
Smile Factor 1-10 with ten being the most: 1 
Cool Factor: 1-10 with ten being the most: 1

*Do I think its the best in its field: YES
*Could I live without it: NO
*Target gender, age range, and possible further demographic targets : Adults, Female, Male

Disclaimer: No financial interest in this company and no-one else asked me to do this review.