Reviews - Flattering50

SwimSpot: Stylish, Comfortable Swimwear

Flattering50 — Sun, 22 Mar 2015 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2015-03-22. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

I suspect I'm not alone when I say I don't enjoy swimsuit shopping in department stores. I'm usually shopping for a new bathing suit at this time of year, when my body, particularly my skin, has yet to recover from the cold, moisture-zapping winter months. Needless to say, the fluorescent lights in the store fitting rooms aren't friendly to chalky, wrinkly skin. As a result, I'm a huge fan of buying swimwear online. I love trying on swimwear at my leisure under the softer, more forgiving lights at home. So when the folks at SwimSpot recently contacted me to see if I'd like to review a swimpiece from their online site, I jumped at the offer.

LOTS OF SWIMWEAR VARIETY
SwimSpot features a wide range of swimwear, including tankinis, one-piece suits, swimdresses and cover ups.Tankinis have become my go-to swimwear since turning 50. The style is flattering and comfortable. Swimspot, which ships internationally, offers a large collection of stylish tankinis made by brands specializing in high-quality and moderately-priced swimwear, including Nautica, Athena and Splendid. Unlike some swimsuit sites that offer a few styles in different colors and prints, SwimSpot has lots of design variety. So many choices!

For my review, I picked the Festival Stripe Slimming Halterkini Top ($68). Flattering50 readers often ask me to show women over 50 in swuimsuits, so I bit the bullet and took the snapshot above. Gulp! I was drawn to the top's black-and-bright blue color scheme (a favorite combo), and the word "Slimming." The halterkini top's slimming effect comes from its Slim-Power lining. (In general, lining, which hides those little lumps and bumps, is this over 50 woman's friend.) I also appreciate the fabric's ever-so-slight gathering in the side seams along the torso. The tiny bit of ruching plays down the tummy area. And last, but not least, the top is made in the USA. Go USA manufacturers!

My new swim top arrived within a week of ordering and I'm completely satisfied. It is well-made and very comfortable. I love the halter style (it suits my narrow shoulders) and the natural wood rings.

SHOPPER FRIENDLY
In this day and age, I lose patience pretty quickly with shopping sites that are slow to respond to my clicking on the different categories and products. The SwimSpot site operates smoothly; it's a breeze to navigate. I also love the site's product videos. Despite the fact I do not and never have looked like a swimsuit model, seeing how a garment behaves in action helps my decision-making process. SwimSpot also has a section that makes swimwear suggestions according to body shape, which I always find helpful.

A site's Customer Service is super important to me. While a product's description, video and size information are all helpful, they usually don't answer all my questions. For example, most of the swimwear on SwimSpot come in sizes 4-16. However, when I consulted the site's Size Chart, I found my measurements actually fell between two sizes. I contacted the site's Customer Care center to ask which sizes I should go with. The Customer Care rep I spoke with was very helpful and friendly. She also helped me determine which of the tankini styles was the most supporter.

Here's a Moon Glow Slimming Tankini Top ($74) I thought was great with its trendy sheer overlay...

If like me, you do most of your online shopping on the weekend, you might be disappoint to find that SwimSpot's Customer Care is only available Monday-Friday, 9:00-5:00 Pacific Time. This was mildly inconvenient, but since I'm on the East Coast, there was time for me to call after work during the week. SwimSpot also encourages shoppers to email questions. I had such a good experience with the Customer Care rep that waiting for a weekday to talk to someone no longer bothered me.

COVER UP DRESSES AND TUNICS
The last thing I'd like to point out, again, because it's super important to me: SwimSpot has a Free Returns and Exchange policy. When shopping for garments online, I don't bother with sites that charge for returns and exchanges. There is no way a woman can know whether a dress or swimsuit is going to fit or be comfortable without she actually tries it on. Yes, Customer Service can be a big help, but it's still no guarantee. By the way, there is also Free Shipping on purchases of $75 or more | Designer Swimwear at SwimSpot.com. It should be noted that SwimSpot's free service is only available to places where the United States Postal Service operates.

I went to SwimSpot because I was looking for a new tankini. However, after my very positive experience, both in terms of product quality and Customer Care support, I plan to return to the site for a cover up. There are mini and maxi cover up dresses as well as feminine and sporty tunics, shorts and pants. Right now, you can Save 10% and get free ground shipping to the continental US orders of $99 or more! Valid with code SP10%OFF through 3/31.

Fake Bake: An Even, Natural-Looking Tan

Flattering50 — Sun, 01 Jun 2014 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2014-06-01. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

When I had kids in school, the summer season never started before the end of June, when the schools let out for summer break. Now, with my boys out of school, the summer season kicks off a month earlier—over Memorial Day weekend. This holiday weekend, my husband and I entertained a few close couples at the beach house on Long Island's east end. As usual, the water was too chilly for swimming (though we saw some intrepid tykes splashing about). However, my over 50 girlfriends and I were determined to celebrate the holiday in summery Capris, sun skirts and flip-flops. Several days before the weekend, I prepped for the beach by trying Fake Bake, a self-tanning lotion. This past week, I used the product again in preparation for a beach weekend visit with my dad, sisters and their families on the Connecticut shore. Here's my review of Fake Bake.

EASING INTO BARE LEGS SEASON
I’ve been using tanning lotion for years. They’re great for easing into bare legs season. I usually start just before Memorial Day and continue till the end of June. By July 4th, I’ve gotten a little color from beach combing or gardening and stop using tanning lotions.

When tanning lotions first hit the market, most women I know were turned off by the products' rotten odors and unnatural results (orange legs, anyone?). The minute I unscrewed the cap of Fake Bake, I knew the product's makers had solved the odor issue. Fake Bake smells like cake batter. The lotion's color coming out of the tube, however, was a bit alarming. It was dark brown--the color (and consistency) of chocolate pudding. I double-checked the label to make sure the product was designed for fair-colored skin. It was.

I followed the directions, which suggested applying the tanning lotion in a swirling motion. I knew from other self-tanning lotions that you have to be careful when applying the product to the knees, ankles and feet. It’s easy to apply too much lotion to these areas and end up with uneven, dark splotches of color. Fake Bake has added a "temporary organic color" to its lotion to act as a guide. The color helps women see how much lotion they're applying.

I liked the way the "temporary color guide" instantly gave my legs a little color. The day after my first application of Fake Bake, I took a shower. Since the "color guide" was supposed to be temporary, I wiped my legs with a paper towel before using a regular towel. I wanted to see if I could see the color on the towel. I could. It was like wiping off makeup. The product’s manufacturer promises that the color guide won't permanently stain clothing. I wasn't about to take any chances and made sure the freshly applied lotion was completely dried before I got dress. (The lotion dries quickly.) After two more applications, my legs had a subtle tan tone--just what I wanted. Since the color appears gradually, women can decide just how much fake tan they want.

Fake Bake is a good solution for women who want a little color, but don’t want to expose their skin to the harmful effects of the sun. I liked the touch of color instantly provided by Fake Bake's "color guide" as well as the subtle fake tan achieved after repeated application. The fake tan has been perfect for my early beach weekends. Now that June is here, I'll be wearing stockings and slacks less and bare legs more. Later in the month, I'm attending a wedding. If the wedding day is unseasonably cool, I'll wear nylon stockings. However, if there's a heat wave or just warm temperatures, I'll be wearing Fake Bake.

To learn more about the line of products, visit the Fake Bake website.

Product Review: A Sports Wear and Swimsuit Alternative

Flattering50 — Wed, 01 May 2013 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2013-05-01. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

Recently, I was invited to try activewear by HydroChic. HydroChic specializes in garments that are 50+ UV resistant and can be worn swimming. The waters off the Northeast’s coast are a bit too chilly for swimming in April, so I suggested doing a product review of the activewear’s performance on the tennis court—where I get my exercise these days. HydroChic accepted my offer and asked me to choose an outfit from its collection. The clothing line offers over 300 mix-and-match activewear garments for tennis, swimming and other sports and exercise activities. To read my review, click...

SPORTS STYLE
For this post, I chose two garments--the Personal Training Shirt and the Fitness Skirt-Chlorine Proof. I have never been—even way back in my ingénue days—a fan of the classic short, short tennis skirt. And now that I’m over 50, I absolutely refuse to wear the mini skirts! I’m not alone. Women of all ages at my tennis club are opting for a short skirt over Capri or knee-length leggings. (See the photo above of me on my way to a tennis match.) It’s the “it” tennis look this year.

After playing several sets of tennis, I can honestly report I love HydroChic activewear. Why? Because the garments are...

Ultra-comfortable for exercising. I didn’t feel the least bit restricted when I was chasing down tennis balls or reaching or bending. The tops come with a separate sports bra. The bra is both supportive and comfortable—a combination you don’t always get with sports bras.

Lightweight. I don’t want to wear anything heavy when I’m exercising. HydroChic’s material is lightweight, but strong and supportive.

Easy care. I just popped the outfit in the washer on the delicate cycle and then let it air dry. The lightweight material dries overnight.

Sporty-looking. I love my top’s colorblock design. It's sporty, stylish and slimming—which I’m all for!

SWIM IN COMFORT
HydroChic has activewear suitable for all sorts of exercise--running, jogging, walking, pilates, yoga and on and on. The sporty-looking tops can be matched with a variety of bottoms--skirts with or without leggings, shorts, skorts and pants. The clothing is available in many sizes, including Plus sizes. I know I'll be wearing my outfit on our sailboat this summer. The comfortable fit, ease of motion, and UV resistance are perfect for being out on the water.

What's really got me excited, though, is the fact you can wear the garments swimming. Personally, I don’t know any women over 50 who “love” wearing a swimsuit these days. In fact, I know some women who have given up on bathing suits all-together. For those who dread swimsuit season, HydroChic activewear might be worth considering. In fact, the company has just introduced a new line of Chlorine-proof activewear. It's especially made for frequent use in chlorinated pool. To view the entire collection of active wear, visit HydroChic.

NeriumAD: A Product Review

Flattering50 — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 00:00:00 GMT

From the Flattering50 archive. Originally published 2012-12-04. Products, prices, offers, and activities described here are historical.

In October, Amy, a Nerium International product representative, emailed and asked me if I’d like to try NeriumAD, an anti-aging skin care product. Apparently, the night skin cream is formulated to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, skin texture, and aging or sun-damaged skin. Since all those pesky signs of aging plague my over 50 skin, I said, “Absolutely!” Click “Read More” below to learn the results of my 30-day trial.

BEFORE NeriumAD
I’d never heard of NeriumAD, so I went online to learn about the product. The product’s key ingredient is an extract from the Nerium oleander plant, according the Nerium International website. Apparently, the plant’s anti-aging benefit when applied to the skin was an accidental discovery. The product, which isn't available in stores, is distributed by product reps like Amy, or what Nerium International calls "brand partners."

Before starting my 30-day trial, I needed to take photographs of my troubled skin areas. Where do I begin? There was an article about Yoko Ono, nearly 80, and her new menswear collection in the NY Times last Thursday. The article, entitled The World Catches Up with Yoko Ono, was accompanied by a photo of Yoko with her trademark massive black sunglasses perched halfway down her nose, concealing a large portion of her face like a plastic veil. I thought, “What great way to cover up signs of aging!” But I digress.

My top three aging skin concerns are wrinkles, a sagging jawline and age or sun spots. Compelled by the potential benefits of NeriumAD, I took "before" and "after" photographs of my skin up close, without makeup and under the harsh glare of kitchen high hats. Ugh! These days, my best photos are taken at least six feet away, not six inches away! However, I agreed with Amy that the only way to know the product’s true effects was with photographic evidence.

USING NeriumAD
I don’t have a lot of patience when it comes to using makeup and beauty products. Consequently, the fact that NeriumAD skin care is a simple, two-step process—first, wash your face and second, apply the product—was very appealing. The product created a thin mask on my face and dried quickly. In the morning, I washed off the product and applied my usual moisturizer.

THE RESULTS
Fine Lines and Wrinkles
The most dramatic change in fine lines and wrinkles was seen on my forehead. After applying the NeriumAD for 30 days, those wrinkles showed visible signs of looking smoother, less wrinkled. I wish I could say I saw similar results elsewhere on my face, but I did not.

Before

After

Hyperpigmentation
Women have reported improvements in overall skin tone and even the fading of age spots with this product. As the photos above attest, I was a freckly kid in my younger days. Now, several of those once-cute freckles (not shown above) have exploded into large age or sun spots. I'm sorry to say I didn't see any change in my age or sun spots.

Texture
After 30 days of applying NeriumAD, my skin was smoother and softer feeling.

FINAL THOUGHTS
In the final analysis,I would say that my NeriumAD experience was a positive one. I appreciated the simplicity of using this night cream. And while the product didn't solve all my aging skin troubles, I do feel it changed how my skin feels as well as the visibility of some wrinkles.

It goes without saying, that so much of a skin product's effectiveness depends on the woman--her age, skin type/condition and general genes. I also understand that there are different types of lines and wrinkles on a face. NeriumAD worked well on my forehead wrinkles, but not on others. But again, that's me.

If you're interested in learning more or purchasing this product, I recommend you contact Amy. She's is extremely nice and can answer all your questions. You can email her on her NeriumAD website. You can also learn more on the product's facebook page.