October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer affects so many people and it's a sad fact that even in this technologically advanced age we are yet to find a cure.  Thankfully there are really good charities that are working tirelessly to make cancer a disease of the past, and breast cancer charities in particular are offering amazing support to sufferers and their families who are facing the reality of what the disease means and how it will affect their lives.

Whilst we work toward the goal of a cure, we need to be vigilant about the symptoms of breast cancer and the best way of doing this is by regularly checking our breasts.  Education and knowledge is key to enabling the best chance of catching the cancer early and our survival.  Positively, more and more women each year are successfully hitting back at breast cancer and surviving, which is brilliant news and a great message to keep up the hard work of continuing the fight.

Brilliant companies who recognise the importance of breast cancer charities are showing their support this Breast Cancer Awareness Month by selling certain products specially created for the cause and donating a part of the proceeds.  I've been checking out what gorgeous products we'll be able to buy so we can also show our support and get a nice little self-gift in the process!

The first product to catch my eye is the specially created 'Pink Blush' Housewarmer Candle Jar by my ultimate favourite candle makers, Yankee Candle.  If you've not yet given their candles a try, now's your chance.  These candles have the best fragrances around and the beautiful scents last forever.   

Price:  £19.99 - £1 donation to Breast Cancer Care

Boux Avenue are also getting involved this month by donating proceeds from the sales of 21 pieces, including the gorgeously feminine Lyla range.  The hot pink is stunning set against the delicate black lace.  The brief looks super comfy too!

Price: Bra: £26 - £1 donation.   Brief: £16 - £1 donation to Breast Cancer Care

Another of my most favourite brands is Nails Inc. and they have created a very cute sparkly pink polish called 'Pinky Pink'.  The idea is to paint just your little finger in the polish to fashionably show your allegiance to the cause.

Price: £11 - £1 donation to Breast Cancer Campaign

The name behind quality and fashionable jewellery, Tresor Paris has released some really pretty pieces. My favourite pick is the La Bande Rose Studs.  I have these studs in just the crystal and they are stunning earrings.  They really catch the light and make you look and feel a million dollars which I think fits perfectly for Breast Cancer awareness.

Price: £19-£24 with 25% donation to Breast Cancer Care

Remember when I reviewed the brilliant Panache Sport Bra?  Well they brought out the exclusive, very girly pink coloured version.  This is my favourite sports bra of all time so to get this in pink would be so cool!

Price: £35 with 10% of proceeds to Coppafeel

I think if you're wanting some of these like myself, we'll have to get snapping them up.  Remember, the whole of October is dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness so ample opportunity to get raising those much needed funds for charity.

For more information on breast cancer, visit the lovely people at Breast Cancer Care.

Becky x

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Panache Sport Bra v Freya Active

I was chuffed to recently win a fab Panache Sport bra.  Winning something is always nice and it's all the sweeter when it's underwear related!

Panache Sport Moulded Underwired Bra

I'd recently reviewed a bra from the Freya Active range so it was interesting to see how these would compare.  My Freya bra is an unpadded underwired (30GG) whereas the Panache bra is a moulded underwired (28H).  I have tried out Freya's moulded version before though so I was still keen to compare the two brands.

Freya Active Moulded Bra

The Panache moulded has a very similar shape to both Freya's moulded and soft cup sports bras in that they are all offer a high level of coverage by encapsulating most of the breast tissue.  The Freya underwired's cups are not as highly cut, looking the most 'bra-like' out of all of them.  The Panache style looks more sporty in a crop top kinda way.

My Freya feels more lightweight than my Panache with it's soft, slinky feeling cups but I love the feel of Panache's fabric; it's very soft with a microfibre texture.

Freya Active Undewired Bra - lightweight and slinky

Panache Sport is a well designed piece of sports wear with every area well considered.  There is underwiring but you'd barely know it because of how well the wires are encased (which I'm told includes the clever use of silicone).  I felt absolutely no digging in whilst wearing it, despite how snug the bra fit.

Me wearing Panache Sport Moulded Bra

Freya Active Underwired has a significantly wider back fastener to the Panache, being 4 hooks deep by 4 hooks.  Panache Sport, although still a supportive width, is 3 hooks by 3 hooks.  Both hook and eye fastening pads are soft touch and non irritating; Freya is a soft handle cotton like, thin pad that lends itself well to exercise mat work, Panache has a thicker inner padding which is good for extra comfort.  Freya's Moulded bra is different to it's underwired version and Panache's in that it has a racer back in addition to an adjustable band.

Tight but well fitting and supportive

There isn't much difference in the straps; both are wide, padded and half adjustable with Freya Active's straps being slightly wider in the adjustable section.

I'm actually really liking the Panache Sport.  At first I thought the 28 back was a bit too tight but unlike Freya's 28 which I found impossible to fasten at all, I got into the feel wearing it and I appreciated it's fit.  It's super comfy and I like the combination of the underwires with the benefit of the moulded cups which altogether help reign things in.  I also can't help but feel more attracted to the look of the Panache bra as opposed to Freya's moulded bra.  It could be because the black colourway makes it look more stylish but it does seem to lift and support my boobs a lot better.  I'm really impressed with it - and it's very touchable!

Panache has recently joined forces with Breast Cancer charity Coppafeel and created a stunning bright pink bra with proceeds of it's sale going towards The Boobettes project; a group of women affected by breast cancer who are educating and advising women how to check their boobs and know the signs of breast cancer.  This is a brilliant campaign for which I hope they raise lots of funds.

Panache & Coppafeel Pink Charity Bra

Becky x

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