Vanity Claire | Birmingham Fashion and Beauty Blog

ClaireApril 13, 2014

Everyday Makeup Routine: The Update

Last summer, back when this blog was in its first stage of infancy (I think we’re now in the hormonal teenage phase, how else can my obsessive watching of Twilight be explained?), I did a little everyday makeup post. That was almost a year ago now and I’ve spent lots of time, money and effort since then scouring the globe (or Boots) for new things to put on my face to make it look like another face – so I figured it was about time I did an updated version for y’all.

I know, pant-wettingly exciting isn’t it?

The Products

Face:
To start I mix Seventeen’s Stay Time Foundation in shade Natural with a similar sized amount of Seventeen’s Wow! 3 Way Higlighter to create a dewy base. I used to be a matte lover but this has 100% become my go-to base now, and if ever I decide to use a different foundation or BB cream I always end up regretting it and missing my glowy dazzling skin. I then use Seventeen Stay Time Concealer and Seventeen Instant Glow Cream Bronzer to contour – you can read my full post on contouring here. To set all this magic and wonderment, I use a light dusting of MUA’s Matte Perfect Loose Powder. I wasn’t initially expecting much from this powder as I’ve used another MUA one which was, in a word, poo – but I’ve been so pleasantly surprised at how long it can keep shine at bay for.

Eyes:
Your eyeballs are apparently the window to your soul, so it’s important to dress your windows nicely. My favourite mascara of all time is still Benefit’s They’re Real and although I usually have a few on the go (mascara hussy alert) Benefit is always my failsafe. I then always add my cackhanded attempt at an eyeliner flick with Collection’s Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner, which remains the best eyeliner I’ve ever used. The Barry M Natural Glow Eyeshadow Palette also gets used everyday, though not for its eyeshadow purpose – the darkest shade in the palette is what I use to fill in my brows.

Lips:
Nice and simple, my go-to lipstick for everyday use is MAC ‘Pret-A-Pretty’, which I reviewed in full here.

The Brushes

I think there’s some sort of quote about an artist only being as good as his tools or some shit, but I don’t remember it properly. So: ‘brushes and that are dead important” – you can make that my quote if you like. Everyday I use my Real Techniques Powder Brush for setting my powder, my eBay stippling brush for applying highlighter to my cheekbones, my MUA eyebrow brush for my brows (obv) and my Real Techniques Beauty Blender for my foundation and contouring products.

And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is the stuff I trowel on my face each and every day. Nobody said it was easy being a girl, did they?

What are your everday makeup products? Let me know below!

ClaireApril 12, 2014

Outfit of the Day: Missguided Bardot & H&M Maxi Skirt

Good day to you fine fellows.

I recently went to an exciting black tie event, which was even more exciting because it was a boxing event and I got to see grown men biff each other.

Unfortunately, I was in the throes of poverty at the time. In fact, I’m sure we’ve all been there – that horrible place that involves choosing between food and new clothes. Usually, new clothes would win hands down for me, but in this scenario I was forced to forgo clothes in favour of a few munchies (hunger pangs and all). Because I couldn’t buy anything new, I went for a classic combo of a top and a skirt.

I’ve had this Missguided Bardot body for a while and I can definitely say that it is an absolute staple in my little wardrobe. It’s a useful one if you just want to dress up an outfit a little bit, or if your shoulders are feeling particularly hot on occasion.

I’ve also had this H&M Maxi Skirt for eons, but it’s another brilliant one. The slit up the side makes you think ‘ooo-er aren’t I a saucy madam’ and it’s pretty useful for both daywear and night time clothes fandangos.

Put them together and you get a pretty alright outfit. That Necklace is actually from Primark and I absolutely love it. It’s such a statement piece and for £5, you really can’t go wrong. It’s surprisingly well made too, and I can see it lasting for quite a while!

What do you think of this outfit? THOUGHTS?

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ClaireApril 10, 2014

SS14: The Sunglasses Edit

I have to say that I am a big sunglasses fan. Anything that covers the majority of my face is a winner in my eyes. However, I don’t usually seem buy sunglasses, because lets be honest and open with each other. When does it actually get sunny enough to think ‘Good lord, I am blinded by the rays of the sun, let me delve into my handbag and retrieve my eyeball protectors’? Yes I thought so. Virtually never.

This year, however, is the year of the sunglasses. And here are two of my recent purchases/gifts:

New Look Round Sunglasses | Elsie and Fred Chunky 60s Sunglasses

Sunglasses are definitely not an afterthought anymore, and the right pair can definitely finish an outfit perfectly. But what sort of sunnies should we be buying for SS14 and what beautiful eye protectors are on the highstreet at the moment? These are questions that I am about to answer, mon amie, so don’t you go worrying.

Round sunglasses

Round sunglasses are a must if you are planning on being seen in public at some point this summer. Yes, you might feel a bit like a prat and/or like our dear departed John Lennon, but round sunglasses are great. In fact, the rounder the better. NO HALF MEASURES.

Wire Frame Sunglasses

I think the idea with this sunny trend is to channel Harry Potter – i.e. draw a little lightning bolt on your head and pretend everybody is a muggle and I’m pretty sure people will think you are bang on trend.

Tinted Sunglasses

Tinted sunglasses are soooooooooooo 90s and cool I can’t even cope. Think Olsen twins. Think Spicegirls. Think ‘I’m not sure how much this is shielding me from those pesky UV rays but god damn it I look brilliant’.

Topshop Hex Sunglasses | Jeepers Peepers Blue Sunglasses | Pink Tinted Ray Bans | Mango Mirrored Lens Sunglasses |

Anywho, what sunglasses do you want to put on your face this summer?

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ClaireApril 9, 2014

Outfit of the Day: Denim Dress & Ugly Shoes

Dress: New Look / Shoes: Primark / Chain: eBay /

I’m not sure if it’s because our local New Look is so big that it’s sometimes a struggle to get around without having to stop for a bit of a sit down and a restorative vodka, but for a long time I just couldn’t really be bothered to shop in there. However, we’ve ventured into New Look quite a few times recently and it’s a dang good job too, as they’ve got a smorgasbord of amazing summery bits in at the mo. Yeah, a bloody smorgasbord.

One thing I picked up recently is this denim dress, which is so 90s it makes me want to erect a ladder outside my bedroom window so my mates can climb up and see me a la Clarissa Explains It All (though knowing my luck I’d just get thieves). Or gather around a campfire and tell ghost stories like I’m one of the kids in Are You Afraid Of The Dark. Or go to a mall and discover my long lost twin like in Sister Sister. Enough Nickelodeon references? Okay, moving on…

Rings: New Look, Primark and c/o Elsie and Fred

I teamed the dress with my new ‘ugly shoes’ from Primark (see my full post on this love-it-or-hate-it trend by clicking here) and my usual lashings of tacky gold.

What do you all think of this outfit?

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ClaireApril 8, 2014

Makeup Mini Haul: Rimmel on Boots 3 for 2

Did I mention that I was going to South Africa this week? No? Well I am. And good heavens am I excited.

In fact, I am so excited that I might accidentally shoot Claire in the bathroom because I think she’s an intruder (…too soon?). Inappropriate jokes aside, I am really looking forward to it and I have also been doing a helluva lot of shopping. You can see the clothes I bought for my little trip here. Unfortunately, because I spent a million GBP on clothes, my makeup budget was slightly lacking, which is why I obvs had to hit Boots and take advantage of some 3 for 2 excellence.*

* You may notice that I have 4 things. I don’t know why that happened either. I probably forgot how to count again.

Rimmel is one of my go to makeup brands, which you might think is slightly surprising considering my absolutely slating review of Rimmel’s Scadaleyes Rockin’ Curves mascara (read all about the uselessness that it is here). Even so, I love their foundations, their powders and have found that you can’t go wrong with their eyeliners either. Which is why I decided to get a few of their bits to take away with me.

My absolutely favourite foundation, I won’t rave on too much on here but you can read my full review over here. It’s going to help me keep my face on when it’s a bit on the sweaty side over in SA, fo sho.

A nicely finger printed photo, soz guys. Anywho, this is another one of my staple makeup products and I love it. It does help to keep my discoball face at bay and it’s cheap too!

It’s surprisingly hard to find a waterproof pencil eyeliner anywhere, so I literally grabbed this before I could say ‘Huzzah and thanks to Queen Lizzy’. I’m actually planning on using this on my eyebrows so I don’t look like a complete lunatic when I slow-mo run out of the sea.

This Rimmel mascara is actually alright, definitely a step up from the terrible Scandaleyes one. It’s not exactly the best in terms of length or volume, but the waterproof side to things is good enough and again, will help me not look like an albino rabbit on the beach.

So girls, please share with me your Boots 3 for 2 purchases but try not to give me too much holiday makeup advice, I don’t have the time or money to buy anymore and I will probably cry into my pillow and/or accidentally rob Duty Free on my way there.

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ClaireApril 7, 2014

S/S 14 Mini Trend: The Ugly Shoe

We live in a crazy world, ladies and gents, and I would say that the craziest thing in this world – aside from the fact that Kit Harrington has not yet noticed me as his soulmate (fix up Jon Snow!) – is fashion. The fact is that sometimes following fashion means you have to wear things that you think make you look like you belong in some sort of asylum. Oh sure, it would be great if pretty dresses and nice bags were always the height of fashion so we could parade around looking normal, but then how would we confuse elderly relatives?

So one of the oddest trends stealing the show this season is the ugly shoe. Yes, I do believe that is the official fashion name. Characterised by a cleated sole, numerous straps and buckles and preferably a bit of height, these are definitely the ‘it’ shoe of S/S14. Whether you opt for platform, flatform, jelly, canvas, velcro or even holographic versions, make sure you keep it as clunky and cumbersome as possible. You win extra style points the more it looks like you might have raided a Spice Girls dressing up box.

Here are a few of my favourite ugly shoes from around the ‘net:

1. eBay / 2. Topshop / 3. New Look / 4. River Island / 5. eBay / 6. Pretty Little Thing

And just in case you think I am actually mocking this trend, I want you to know that I am 100% not. Those ones in the top photos are my own little babies – Primark for a superbly purse-friendly £14, in case you were wondering.

What do you all think go this trend, love it or hate it?

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ClaireApril 4, 2014

Company Style Blogger Awards: Best Blogging Duo

It’s Friday, Friday… gotta nominate Stylingo on Friday! Er, what do you mean that’s not how the song goes?

Anywho it is Friday, and we know you’ve all got tequila to be drinking, so we’ll cut to the chase – the Company Style Blogger Awards are running for their third year in 2014 and the nomination part of the competition is now open. We would simply LOVE to be shortlisted for an award and luckily there’s a category that’s perfect for us: Best Blogging Duo or Team.

To nominate us all you need to do is visit this page on the Company website and nominate us by popping in our URL and the category you’d like to nominate us for. It’s really quick and easy to do and would mean the world to us.

Oh and I’m not saying we’re into the whole bribery thing… but we promise to always invite you in for a cup of tea and a biscuit if you nominate us. ALWAYS. Y’dig?

Please let us know if you nominate us – and you’re a blogger entering the awards this year then good luck!

ClaireApril 3, 2014

Rimmel ScandalEyes Rockin’ Curves Review

It’s been a while since I have royally slagged something off. I think I can blame my recent rants about pretty much everything on the fact I’ve not had a proper complain here on Stylingo.

Thankfully, I can finally come to some sort of rant closure and finally I have something to properly complain about. And that something is bloody Rimmel Scandaleyes Rockin’ Curves mascara. In fact, it’s not just complaining. It’s full on hatred.

This is without a doubt the worst thing I have put on my face, even worse than that time I thought mixing yoghurt and porridge oats would be a pleasant face mask experience. Since my love of lists is almost as much as my love of complaining, here is my beef in list form.

What in god’s good name is the brush about? It’s literally the stupidest thing I have ever seen. Why would you make a curly wand like this? WHY. It means that at any one time, you can only get a few of your lashes. It means that your hand flaps about because you don’t know what’s going on. It basically means that whoever designed this temporarily lost their minds and/or should be sacked.
I was promised curves. Where are they? My eyelashes look like a big ball of utter wank (pardon). They look like tiny stubby midgets balancing on my eyelids. What they don’t look like is rockin’, or curvy.
Why is my face crumbling like pastry? I have never experienced a mascara that crumbles like this. By the end of the day, it looks like I have been down t’pit. It is also extremely annoying and slightly uncomfortable when it flakes off and falls into your eyeballs. No, Rimmel. No.
Why is the packaging so embarrassing? I’m sorry, but snakeskin and a pitiful attempt at a ‘cool’ logo makes me want to throw up. It also makes me wonder why I bought it in the first place, I must have felt some kind of 3 for 2 Boots pressure and temporarily lost it.
Why have you given me eyeball disease? I can’t rightly blame this on the mascara, but I have a sore eyeball now and I strongly suspect it is because this pathetic excuse for a mascara has been flaking all over the place and making me touch my eyes more than I usually would. Owwy.

So anyway. The only positive I can give Rimmel Scandaleyes Rockin’ Curves is that it makes my blonde eyelashes black and therefore makes me look like less of an albino. That is all.

Don’t bother buying this girls, it will be the most upsetting thing you ever do.

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ClaireApril 1, 2014

Currently Watching: eBay Wishlist #5

Mint Floral Jacquard Playsuit
Printed Trousers
Holographic Clutch Bag
Leopard Print Pointed Flats
‘Vague’ Crop Top
Atlas Face Watch

So I was sitting in my living room earlier and speculated aloud “I’m not sure what to blog about tonight”. Our housemate Katherine (aka The Bonus Jonas) piped up with “How about ‘Why I Am Ugly And Shouldn’t Have a Blog’?”

I KNOW. This is what I have to deal with on a daily basis.

Anyway, I decided NOT to write on the topic of why I am ugly and shouldn’t have a blog, and instead decided to share my latest eBay wishlist with y’all. Like the voyeur that I am I’ve been perving on loads on eBay lately. All of the above cost under £20 and that atlas watch is a mere £1.24!

What do you all think of this wishlist? What are you loving on eBay lately?

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ClaireMarch 31, 2014

March Haul: New Look and Primark

Oh hey, didn’t see you there.

You might have read my holiday wishlist post the other day, and well, I may have gone a bit wild on the shopping side of things on Saturday. In fact, I should never have been let loose on the Bullring. I was like a maniac and I’m pretty sure at least one shop assistant ran away in fear.

Anywho, while I didn’t get everything on my wishlist, I did get some absolutely lovely pieces that I may or may not sleep with and/or stroke at night. In happiness. And yeah I’ll say it. Love.

Primark Crotchet Skater Dress (£5)

New Look Neon Print Shift Dress (19.99)

New Look Floral Shorts (£14.99)

New Look Dogstooth Crop Top (£12.99)

Primark Turquoise Embossed Skater Skirt (£8)

Primark Nude Sandals (£4), Primark Nude Vanity Bag (£5), Primark Brown Backpack, Primark Holographic Clutch Bag (£8), New Look White Chunky Sandals (£24.99), Primark Headbands (£2.50)

Anywho you lovely ladies, hope you have enjoyed this little haul post! If you have a haul post to share, stick it in the comments so that Claire and I can have a massive pervy look.

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