I’ve waxed lyrical about Wonderbra’s Ultimate Strapless on more than one occasion, but after a good six months of my questions about an apparent increased occurrence of allergic reactions in wearers being ignored, I’m forced to rethink my recommendations. My former reviews will now link to this post, and I will no longer recommend the Ultimate Strapless.
It started when a friend said that her replacement Ultimate Strapless had caused blistering underneath the silicon strips. The blistering was painful and left marks. I wrote about it and reached out to Wonderbra to ask if the silicon recipe had changed: that my friend had worn and loved one US before without any trouble. No reply.
It wasn’t just my friend though. Here are some complaints taken from messages to me AND messages left unanswered on the Wonderbra Facebook page.
“I absolutely LOVED the wonderbra ultimate strapless, and it was fine. Then I got new ones and it leaves me rashes and blisters in the shape of a bra (exactly where the non slip silicone is), so I’m sure it’s a new highly allergic formula of silicone. Such a pity, it was by far the best bra ever.” S, B4J reader.
“I have worn this bra all day today and just havnt felt right but couldn’t put my finger on what it was. My back begin to ache I just though I was tired. Whilst I was washing up my back felt as if the bra was scratching me so I took it off and took a look in the mirror to my horror my back is all blistered and my front is raised and has a rash where the silicon has been on my skin. I searched on google and came across this thread.” G, B4J reader.
“the Ultimate Strapless caused my skin to blister on my ribs where the band goes and I now have scars!!!!” E, Wonderbra UK fan.
“I wore the bra all day yesterday and when I took it off I had a row of very raised blisters containing fluid at quite a high pressure, on either side of my ribcage where the cups meet the back of the bra. My doctor confirmed today that the blisters are not the result of the bra rubbing me and are very likely to be an allergic reaction to one of the materials in the gel strips. They are likely to take at least several days to go down and as a result I’m now unable to wear a bra at all.” K, Wonderbra UK fan.
So what do you say Wonderbra? Has the silicon recipe changed or is it a series of bad batches? And most importantly, how can purchasers experiencing allergic reactions contact you directly for refunds?
Readers, I’ll keep you posted.
Busts 4 Justice 
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Just, a few days ago, I read about US and thought I must give it a chance. Oops! Now I have to rethink! I’m glad I didn’t buy a pair before reading this.
I’m also waiting for answers…
Wow that’s not good. Those blisters could leave scars. I’m not in the market for one, but if I was, I don’t think I’d pick this one by the looks of it. Thankfully, I already have a really good one that doesn’t fall or slip down and covers a lot better than the one in this picture you’re showing.
Disappointed to see this, this bra was always on my to-buy list.
Hopefully you’ll hear from Wonderbra soon and all will be well!
Was there any particular version/colourway of the bra that caused this? I bought the nude one but haven’t worn it for long yet so yet to see but just wondering if it was a certain colourway or if it’s a batch problem?
Hi, I bought this bra in the UK in john lewis. I travelled to Singapore on holiday and have just taken it off in my hotel to see that I have a rash where the bra sits and some very painful blisters!! I am so angry as now my holiday is ruined as most of my dresses are strapless. Wonder bra should not get away with this. I am happy to send you photos, there must be something we can do to stop them selling this product! As soon as I land in the UK I’m going to head to John lewis and complain! The only problem is I’m not back until the 13th June! Please respond or email me at rashna_begum@outlook.com
This happened to me thurs eve i went to john.lewis bought a bra wore it fri for.a wedding got home at 11eve tool my bra off and i have long line of blister all around the bra line where the polyester …its so painful,its throbbing and now im working without wearing a bra.returned the bra at john lewis and the manager said i have allergic reaction to it…they refunded me
Hi Mae,
I’m sorry to hear of your experience, I can definitely relate!
Can you contact me regarding this, John Lewis has refused to accept that they should stop stocking this bra and have basically said it wasn’t the bra’s fault but actually me! If I could prove that it’s happened to more than one person than we can get them to take some notice.
I recently purchased a Marks & Spenser’s Tee-Shirt strapless bra and have had the same reaction on my very first day of wear- angry, red welts all along the skin where the silicon grip touched me.
I wore the ultimate strapless bra to a garden party yesterday. When I got home late in the evening it felt quite uncomfortable on so I took it off about an hour before I went to bed. I woke up this morning and had a shower and it wasn’t until I went to apply my deodorant that to my horror I came across numerous raised blisters filled with fluid on my side just below my breasts. I obviously went into a complete state of panic at the site of them and not only am I extremely angry, it has also left me in a lot of pain and completely unable to wear any item of clothing or a bra as it touches the blisters and aggregates them even more than they already are. Never again will I ever purchase a bra from wonderbra and I can only hope that what has happened to me will stop others before they experience the same thing.
Hi the same exact thing happened to me, when I read your comment it felt like I had written it! I was on holiday in Singapore and it ruined my holiday! The day after it happened I was due to attend a wedding and I was in so much pain with the blisters. I have complained to john lewis and it is being dealt with right now, I have been left with horrible scarring which looks awful. I can’t believe they get away with selling such a product!
Wow. This happend to me also. And I bought this from John Lewis a week ago so I could take on holiday with me. I have had the ultimate bra before a few years ago and loved it so much I bought another one. This one something is different about it.It blistered me so much on either side it hurt and welted up. Then left scars and marks around the sides. I even took pictures. I not sure weather to contact grossard or john lewis or both. I only found this when I googled to see it I was the only one this has happend to. Did you submit photos ?
I too have got a huge blister and scratch mark on both sides of my rib cage following wearing this bar to a wedding. It’s painful and has scarred. Have Wonderbra done anything about this yet? Have they even issued and apology?
Same thing for me!! I’ve noticed a lot of dark marks and blisters where the US bra lies…..I didn’t want to believe it was the bra because it fits so well but I have to stop wearing it
Googling “wonderbra+rash” led me here. Same thing happened to me, and the blisters took days to come off. Now it has been one month and a half, and I still have dark marks in the shape of silicon stripes on my back. This will certainly take a while to disappear. The bra holds very well though, perhaps just a bit too “snug” as to induce rashes…
I wish I’d found this thread before replacing my ‘old’ and very comfortable strapless wonderbra with a new one….After wearing my new bra for a day I have blisters which are really painful.
Hi Samantha,
Sorry to hear about your experience! I had the exact same thing happen, I replied to this post some time ago. Where did you buy the bra? I can’t believe it is still being sold in shops!
Also would you contact me directly as I am trying to raise awareness about this and stop it happening to other women. I was on holiday when it happened to me and it ruined my trip.
Hey Rashna – you can reach me at busts4justice at g mail com x
I have had the same experience. Had the old version of this bra and thought it was amazing. Have had to replace this due to wear and purchased both a black and nude strapless wonderbra. I now have blisters every time I wear these bras causing discomfort at the time and also in the days following (especially as we who are well endowed can not wear no bra).
I’ve had the same experience! I’ve just emailed Wonderbra to complain about it. I bought the bra for a wedding on Saturday and it felt a bit uncomfortable, but I assumed that was just normal bra tightness, but this morning felt under my ribcage to find HUGE RED whelts forming into blisters all along the strapline. They’re really painful and itchy. Not acceptable at all – Woinderbra should be removing these from sale.
I feel you pain literally… i have blisters too and my wedding is in 7 wks x
Wonderbra is not the only bra that has this problem. I purchased a strapless Soma bra. This was the best strapless bra I have ever owned! Perfect in everyway, except the silicone non slip strips on the band. I now have raised, itchy, painful welts on my back in the exact location of the silicone. It has been 3 days, still suffering. The bra goes back today!
Due to my upcoming wedding i decided to go to Debenhams and get myself and my bridesmaids fitted correctly for good bras. whilst in there the assistant confirm the size I required. unfortunately they ivory colour I required was not in stock so had to order mine and the bridesmaids online.
Today I have been for my dress fitting and wore the bra to ensure the fit was correct with the dress, at this time was great,unfortunately due to my busy family life i didn’t have time to change the bra, after several hours it felt i little uncomfortable so took it off, on doing so it revealed the bra had cut into my back and caused several small blisters….
What do I do now my wedding is in 7 wks 😦
Hi ladies – the same thing has happened to me. The first time on my wedding day 24/08/2013. this ruined my honeymoon as I had angry blisters all over my back and sides. I put it down to my dress…. fast forward 2 years and I wore the same bra on Saturday 11th July 2015. I took it off and the same angry blisters, they are so sore!!! I am still scarred from the first set of blisters in 2013… so upset and angry. The bra is clearly dangerous. What can be done? I have written to Wonderbra today and await a response but expect I will be fobbed off….
I too am currently sporting two huge blistered and painful welts on my rib cage from a strapless wonder bra. I do hope that the company are taking complaints seriously, I hope that they don’t scar. 😪