Summary: I tested bestsellers from CAKES body® boob solutions with some of my favorite summer tops and dresses to see if it was possible for me and my 32Gs to ever go braless. I tried the lifting boob tape, the sticky bra, and both the adhesive and non-adhesive original circle nipple covers over the course of hot, sweaty summer fun, and overall I was impressed! While there was a bit of a learning curve, once I got the hang of it I was able to enjoy everything from dog walks to date night completely bra-free!

What I love:

  • No uncomfortable underwire or super tight bra band? Sign me up! Especially once I got the hang of how to use them, I was over the moon at the sheer comfort factor of wearing CAKES.
  • I preferred the adhesive options, which were more supportive for my larger bust. Even after hours of wear, removal was not painful (not even over the nipple!) and didn’t irritate my sensitive skin.
  • I love that cleaning and reusing is super simple — just a rinse with soapy water, a thorough air dry, and back to the beautiful storage bags to keep them clean and ready to go. I was super impressed that they didn’t ever seem to lose their stickiness, either.

Things to keep in mind:

  • While the boob lifting tape and the sticky bra provide a *little* more lift and support than the nipple covers, these work best under a fitted top for larger busts.
  • The grippy not-sticky covers weren’t something I found myself reaching for, but if you’re looking for nipple covers to replace those awkward foam ones that come inside of sports bras and swimwear, you’ll love these.

I have always had a complicated relationship with my boobs.

Ever since they arrived seemingly overnight in the 5th grade, I have struggled with every aspect of managing life with a large bust: I’ve tried every style of bra on the market, layered up with built-in shelf tanks and compression sports bras, constantly trying to balance my own physical discomfort with a growing awareness of how people perceived me and my perma-cleavage. At 5’2″ tall, my large breasts dominate my shorter torso and narrow rib cage, and everyone I encountered seemed to visibly clock it.

“It was embarrassing and physically uncomfortable to have the bust of Jessica Rabbit well before I was ready for it.”

It was embarrassing and physically uncomfortable to have the bust of Jessica Rabbit well before I was ready for it, and I spent most of my life just trying to downplay, hide, and cover up my chest. My mom always says she lost a cup size with each pregnancy, and after a year of enduring the weight and spectacle of my cartoonishly engorged chest while I was breastfeeding, I couldn’t wait for my cup size to shrink. And it did… right back to 32G.

Now in my 40s, I’m experiencing all those little changes that come for us as we age, and it’s had a wild impact on my relationship with my breasts. Because even while my skin has lost some elasticity and is starting to show sun spots, and I’m aware of a sudden need for reading glasses and how my joints ache after bending my knees for too long, my breasts have miraculously changed very little. Which means that for the first time in my life, I feel less self-conscious and critical about my cleavage and more excited about it — possibly inclined to even celebrate it a little.

“Now in my 40s…I feel less self-conscious and critical about my cleavage and more excited about it — possibly inclined to even celebrate it a little.”

Which means that when my daughter made me try on a low-cut pink dress while we were shopping recently, I didn’t automatically nix it based on a neckline I’ve historically avoided. “Oh Mommy,” she told me in the fitting room. “You look like a Barbie!” (This, reader, is a compliment when coming from a 7-year-old.)

Everything about this dress, from the color to the spaghetti straps to the keyhole sweetheart neckline that promised to reveal a part of my chest that hadn’t seen sunlight since I was a child, was cause for me to pass it up. But I was feeling grateful for my breasts, so I bought it.

And then I got home and realized that the cute little plunging keyhole showed both of my battleworn strapless bras. In like, a bad way.

On the brink of returning the dress in utter defeat, CAKES body entered the chat. Spoiler alert: I’ve now worn the dress multiple times, comfortable and supported and completely bra-free. All thanks to CAKES.

About CAKES body

CAKES body started as a side hustle for twin sisters Taylor Capuano and Casey Sarai back in 2022. They invested just $5,000 each in developing their original product —  non-adhesive, reusable silicone nipple covers. After a viral TikTok campaign and successful bid for investors on Shark Tank, the brand has grown into a full catalog of boob solutions, all designed to be comfortable, skin-safe, and flattering.

“The brand has grown into a full catalogue of boob solutions, all designed to be comfortable, skin-safe, and flattering.”

The brand’s women-for-women ethos doesn’t stop there: CAKES™ CARES Mission has donated over $1.5 million to women’s health causes and workplace advocacy. They partnered with Moms First, Start Early, and TOOTRiS, to launch their Childcare Credit initiative, which helps eligible employees cover up to $36,000 per employee per year in childcare expenses (we love this!!). They also advocate for breast cancer change beyond simply raising awareness, partnering with BCRF, the largest private funder of breast cancer research, and The Previvor on multiple initiatives in education, advocacy, and science. (Read more about it here).

I’d seen their products on social media, but I wasn’t really sure what to expect — or whether CAKES were going to be up to the challenge of a larger cup size. There seemed to be women with D cups on their site wearing these things, so I tried to keep my expectations level even as my hopes climbed sky high.

Testing CAKES boob solutions

Everything arrived in beautiful branded packages, neatly tucked into plush velvet pouches and wrapped in clear storage plastic. I know we’re generally not into tons of plastic packaging around here, but they’re part of the long-term sustainability plan for each CAKES product. The hard shell plastic keeps the silicone nipple covers and sticky bras in their original shape, and the plastic wrap protects the adhesive sides from picking up every dust particle and pet hair floating in the wind. Totally brill.

Two pairs of silicone nipple covers in pouches are displayed with pink and red CAKES Body branded boxes, a card, and a cylindrical container on a white surface.
A person in a pink top holds a red box labeled "CAKES body." A framed diagram and a plant are visible in the background.

Each product came with a small booklet of instructions, along with a QR code for more tutorials and information. Here’s what I tried and how they worked out for me — including which product was the clear standout that made wearing the Barbie dress dream come true.

Grippy CAKES™ circles, $33 and Sticky CAKES™ circles, $33

The original CAKES nipple covers come in three sizes — itty bitty (AA-A), OG (B-DD), and (+) (DDD+) — and nude shades in Honey, Caramel, or Cocoa.

Grippy Not Sticky™ circles are non-adhesive nipple covers, and Sticky Not Icky™ have a skin-friendly adhesive with a non-sticky nipple-safe center. Both are made from comfortable, derm-approved silicone that adheres effortlessly with the help of our own body heat.

Two round, beige silicone nipple covers are displayed on a white surface, with pink and red CAKES branded drawstring storage bags in the background.
Woman holds two nude-colored silicone bra inserts over her eyes and puckers her lips, posing playfully in a pink top.

To be completely honest: I am not the target market for the Grippy cakes. As far as I can tell, these are true nipple covers — something I have never once needed or wanted in my life. As fraught as my feelings about my boobs have been over the years, for whatever reason, I’m team Free The Nipple, all the way. I’ve ripped out and trashed every awkward foamy cover they inexplicably sew into sports bras and swimwear, and I prefer my bras unlined. Maybe it’s because I have such substantially sized breasts, but I’ve always felt like anything that’s meant to offer coverage and shape just looks like a chest plate of armor at best, or like an odd lump where my nip should be at worst.

I tried them, but I will likely never wear them. They stay on the skin immediately, with no trouble, and come off with a simple tug. The Grippy CAKES aren’t for me, but I can see that they’re doing what they’re supposed to do well, and would be ideal for someone looking for a reusable, seamless, comfortable nipple cover.

“The Grippy CAKES aren’t for me, but I can see that they’re … ideal for someone looking for a reusable, seamless, comfortable nipple cover.”

Sticky CAKES are definitely more my speed — though in hindsight, I should have gone with the largest size. For reasons I cannot explain, I went with the OGs. Just an inch more of adhesive silicone would probably let me get more of a lift out of these. Still, what we managed on the first try was notable!

A woman in a pink dress holds a silicone breast prosthesis in one hand and gestures with her other hand, standing indoors.
Woman in a sleeveless, light pink dress with spaghetti straps, standing indoors. The photo is cropped from shoulders to waist.
In both images, you can see my breast without any lifting on the left, and the effects of the Sticky cake on the right.

So how do you put them on? I found the best way is by adding them after you’re dressed — and the crucial point, for anyone above an A cup, is to be wearing something fitted.

First, reach into your top and lift your breast. Then tuck the Sticky CAKES over it, so that the adhesive sticks to the underside of your boob. Pull gently up, lining the non-sticky nipple nook over your nipple, and press the rest of the adhesive to your skin. You might need to adjust and re-tuck a bit, depending on your comfort and neckline. But once they’re in place, there they will remain — until you peel them off, that is!

CAKES Tape™, $48

Oh, how I wish I could show you how I use this stuff, because once I figured it out I felt extremely impressed with myself — like an inventor, or a sculptor, finally experiencing a breakthrough.

The tape is as if Duct tape and Sticky CAKES had a baby, by which I mean, they are extremely effective adhesive strips but are also oh-so-soft and comfortable on your skin. And unlike Duct tape, they do not hurt at all to remove.

Maybe I’m just leaning on this comparison because about ten years ago, I was part of a bridesmaid crew that actually did tape up a friend’s breasts with Duct tape just minutes before she walked down the aisle in a backless, slinky number that was not designed for underwear.

But clothes that are not designed for underwear are exactly why CAKES exists.

Two pink cylindrical containers labeled "CAKES" next to four beige silicone pads in clear plastic packaging on a light fabric surface.
Woman in a pink dress with spaghetti straps stands indoors, smiling and shrugging with palms up.
Creating a bespoke bra shape with the sticky tape was a challenge, but the outcome was well worth the effort!

Using the same method we improvised then, I made a horizontal support band along the underside of my breasts with the longest strip, two vertical lifting supports on the outside of my breasts with the medium strips, and then the smallest strips directly over my nips for a little shaping and lift support. And voila! Exactly what we’d achieved in that bridal dressing room, without any of the anticipatory dread about ripping off my skin when it was time to undress.

I will say this: Like long strips of anything sticky, the process of applying these is not as straightforward as the nipple covers. Expect to have to fiddle, especially when it comes to applying the tape so that there are no creases. If you have larger breasts, do the whole process after getting dressed for more support.

CAKES Cleavage™ bra, $46

Let me share a little behind-the-scenes secret here: When I heard that CAKES wanted us to try some specific products for review, I was open to all of them — except this bra.

“When I heard that CAKES wanted us to try some specific products for review, I was open to all of them — except this bra.”

A sticky bra designed to push up and together? Hard pass. I’ve spent my life trying to push my breasts apart and tone them down. The absolute last thing I need in this world is a bra designed to hold them up and smoosh them together, like my daughter making her Barbies kiss.

But CAKES called my bluff and sent me a bra, which, as the hard-hitting journalist I am, I felt inclined to put to the test.

And reader: I was wrong. The sticky bra was the standout boob solution of the bunch.

First of all, it was the most straightforward and intuitive to put on. Once I’d already gotten dressed, I simply reached into my top and, just as I had with the Sticky CAKES, applied the adhesive to the underside of my breast and lifted up. And then I did it to the other side.

The bra has a center clasp that provides the instant cleavage magic, and I have tried it successfully both with and without clasping it. I got the most lift and support from this backless, sticky bra either way, and I know it’s going to be my secret weapon for all my future clothes that weren’t designed with bras in mind.

Two adhesive silicone bra inserts are displayed on a surface next to a red CAKES body box and a red storage pouch.
Woman in a pink dress smiling and holding a red box labeled "CAKES body" in front of her, standing indoors next to a plant.
The sticky bra was the one product I didn’t want to try… and it ended up being my absolute favorite.

Final thoughts: Are CAKES’ boob solutions for you?

Honestly, I was skeptical that these products were going to do much for me and my gals. I was over the moon to get to experience the freedom of going braless in a cute dress — to actually spend hours without having to adjust the pinch and pull of a strapless bra as it slipped slowly down my body all night. And if they worked for me, I’d imagine CAKES would be a true boob-solution for most women, especially anyone under a G cup.

“If they worked for me, I’d imagine CAKES would be a true boob-solution for most women, especially anyone under a G cup.”

But you should know something about me: I am comfortable manhandling my boobs and forcing them to work in whatever situation I want them to. I have an arts background, and I’m good with my hands. So when I first pulled these products out of their cute packaging, I went into this ready for rehearsal. In other words, I knew that to make CAKES truly work for me, we were going to have to practice together to figure it out.

So if all you need is a seamless, comfortable nipple cover that you can reuse forever, YES, you will love the Grippy CAKES. If you’re in the moderate to DD size cup range, you’ll probably find tons of uses for the tape and the sticky bra. And if your cup spillith over, I don’t think you’re necessarily SOL here, but I think you need to approach CAKES with a plucky, can-do attitude.

As for me, I think the price is right, the fit is shockingly comfortable, and I have been able to nix a bra for the first time in my adult life without feeling like I was going to knock somebody’s eye out. So that makes CAKES a winner to me.

Stephanie H. Fallon is a Contributing Editor at The Good Trade. She is a writer originally from Houston, Texas and holds an MFA from the Jackson Center of Creative Writing at Hollins University. She lives with her family in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and she is the author of Finishing Lines, where she writes about her fear of finishing, living a creative life, and (medical) motherhood. Since 2022, she has been reviewing sustainable home and lifestyle brands, fact-checking sustainability claims, and bringing her sharp editorial skills to every product review. Say hi on Instagram or on her website.