Vanity Claire | Birmingham Fashion and Beauty Blog

ClaireDecember 26, 2013

Seventeen Stay Pout Lipstick | ‘It’s A Kiss Off’ Review & Swatches

Merry Boxing Day boys and girls! Today I’m finally getting around to reviewing a product that has been sitting unopened in my makeup bag for a couple of months now. The lovely ladies at Seventeen were nice enough to send us over a box of goodies a while ago, and one of the delights in the box was this Stay Pout lipstick in the shade ‘It’s A Kiss Off’.

The Stay Pout range only launched a couple of months ago, and contains 15 shades that all promise to be long-lasting lipsticks with a touch of stain for ‘hours of kiss-proof colour’. Ooer.

From the sticker on the packaging, I thought that It’s A Kiss Off was going to be quite a bright pillar box red, which was why I hadn’t got round to opening it because I already have a fair few reds in my collection. But it’s actually a much pinkier red when swatched, making it a much more wearable shade for people who find a full red lip a bit intimidating. It’s also got a slightly frosted finish, which should appeal to people who like a bit of shine in their lipstick as opposed to a matte look.

The lipstick applies really nicely, giving a good slick of colour with one swipe. Once on the lips, it feels smooth and moisturising, without that dreaded flaky feeling you can get with other lipsticks.

As far the ‘kiss proof’ claims of the lipstick, I HAVE NO IDEA OBVIOUSLY (Christmas single bitterness, me? No…) but I found that it does transfer onto glasses and things quite easily (who needs a boyfriend when you have Lambrini?)

This isn’t too much of a problem though, because the stain aspect of the product meant that I was left with a good amount of colour still on my lips despite eating and drinking.

Overall I prefer lip products to be either very matte or very glossy, so the finish of this lipstick isn’t really to my taste. In terms of the quality of the product itself though, I can’t really fault it and I’d be keen to look at other shades in the range to find ones that suit me a bit better.

You can buy the Stay Pout range for £4.49 from Boots, which I think is a really reasonable price for a high street lipstick. It’s also worth looking out for a lot of the great offers there often are on the Seventeen brand – for example, I think right now you get a free brow kit if you buy £8 worth of stuff. Boxing Day bargains galore!

Have any of you tried the Stay Pout range? What do you think?

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ClaireDecember 23, 2013

Top 15 Fashion & Beauty Blogs of 2013

Hola chicas! We hope you’re all in the festive spirit and already three stone heavier from excessive mince pie consumption. As we get towards the end of the year we’re feeling all nostalgic and looking back at our first year as part of the blogging community. Here is our list of our ultimate favourite fashion and beauty bloggers that we’ve discovered in the year 2013…

Stone’s Got Style

The beaut Vickie Stone from Stone’s Got Style began blogging around the same time as us this year, and we instantly fell in blogger lurve with her quirky style and frankly quite bonkers personality.

Lydia Faye Jones

Lauren and I both have what can only be described as an embarrassingly large girl crush on Lydia Faye Jones. Always groomed and effortlessly chic , she’s basically everything we wish we could be but aren’t because we can never be bothered to brush our hair enough. Lydia has a wardrobe so stocked with Topshop and Zara that it will make you weep with jealousy.

JessicaWabbit

Jess is not only one of our favourite fashion bloggers, she’s also one of the nicest people to speak to on Twitter and a genuinely lovely girl. If you read us regularly then you also might have already seen the brilliant guest post that Jess wrote for us a while back. The way she puts outfits together is amazing, and she can wear any look perfectly.

i2 Style

Holly is much much more than just an (incredibly) pretty face; she also has heaps of industry knowledge and experience, and a gorgeous styling portfolio. Her blog’s full of beaut outfits, photos and inspiring wishlists. We were lucky enough to meet her at a recent event and can confirm that she’s just as lovely in person as she seems online!

It’s All the Rage These Days

Another complete girl crush of mine, Leanne Lim Walker can singlehandedly be blamed for my obsession with trying to dye my hair white. She’s utterly stunning and also a brilliant fashion photographer in her own right. I spend far too long ~~perving~~ reading her blog, It’s All the Rage These Days, and am also borderline obsessed with her Youtube channel.

A Fashion Fix

There aren’t many girls that can pull off that pink PVC Topshop skirt, but Hannah Crosskey is one of the few that does – and she looks freakin’ amazing. Her outfits are aways perfect, managing to combine edginess with a classic groomed finish.

Glam Beautys

Liza was one of the first bloggers that we started speaking to, and she remains a firm favourite of ours. There’s nothing about the world of fake tan and contouring that this girl does not know, and her tutorials are all amazingly helpful. Her blog’s going from strength to strength at the moment, and it’s brilliant to see such a genuinely nice person doing so well.

Tease Flutter Pout

Laura from Tease Flutter Pout is another of our go-to bloggers when we need some honest and informative beauty and makeup reviews. Her lifestyle posts are also a personal favourite of mine, bringing into the spotlights issues such as the media’s influence on self-esteem.

Clo’s Beauty Spot

Clo’s Beauty Spot is without doubt one of my favourite blogs to read, but I love her YouTube channel even more. When Lauren and I first discovered her videos, we sat watching them in separate rooms and could hear each other guffawing away like lunatics through the wall. As well as being straight up hilarious, her outfits are also beaut and her reviews are honest and thorough. All round winner.

Crystal Cosmic Chic

For bold fashion and an extensive vocabulary that would put Russell Brand to shame, you should definitely visit Crystal Cosmic Chic. As a Visual Merchandiser, Nokhuthula’s got a brilliant eye for fashion and her outfit photos are always worth a look. We bumped into her at The Clothes Show and she’s one of the loveliest – and possibly tiniest – people we’ve met recently.

Holly Mixtures

Who can resist a girl who documents the adventures of her runaway Angelina-inspired leg? Nobody, that’s who. Holly’s blog makes me literally cry with laughter, but she also knows what she’s talking about and looks fantastic too.

Amy Valentine

With bright pink hair and the best legs in the blogging land, Amy Valentine is another girl crush creeping her way into this list. This girl looks absolutely flawless in everything she wears, and her writing’s warm and witty.

Byootee

Harriet’s a trained MUA and beauty therapist, so I really trust all of her tutorials and reviews. If good makeup is really the secret to her stunning looks then I’m willing to give up food for the next year to fund a makeup collection filled with MAC.

The Love Cats Inc

If I had a pound for every time I leave a comment on Helen’s blog praising her amazing fringe, then I’d probably have enough money to hire someone to come and tame my own fringe every day (and thus I could stop pestering Helen and give the girl a break). As well as having top notch bangs, she also has a perfect sense of style, always looking effortlessly on-trend and perf.

In the Frow

Did any of your uni lecturers look like this? No, ours neither – but Victoria from In the Frow has a PhD and lectures in fashion. She’s also stunning and comes across as lovely and down-to-earth on her YouTube channel. Her blog has bounded along at amazing pace since launching just over a year ago, and it’s very well deserved as each post is perfect fashion inspiration (fashpo? Can I pretend that’s a thing? Well I’m GONNA).

What do you all think of our Top 15 picks? Have we chosen any of your favourites, or are there some bloggers you think are missing from our list? Let us know in the comments below!

ClaireDecember 19, 2013

Help Me, I’m a Dinosaur: Combating Dry Skin in Winter

I’m pretty sure everybody in my life is sick of hearing me complain about my dry skin. At least 4 times everyday someone will hear me shouting ‘I HATE MY SKIN’ and ‘I AM A SCALY WENCH’, and it must get quite annoying. However, the fact of the matter is that I am a scaly wench and my winter skin is driving me up the wall.

Prepare yourself for what can only be described as the most boring post known to human kind – BUT I hope that it will give help and advice to anyone who’s struggling with looking like a T-Rex.

My skin has never been this bad before and I’m blaming it on a combination of getting old and cold weather. Unfortunately, my normal moisturising routine hasn’t been working. Usually I use either Dove or Nivea, but if you have very dry skin that is broken in areas – these are both a no-no. Anything with perfumes and chemicals irritates bad skin and to be quite honest, these just aren’t strong enough to cope with very dry, dinosaur-like skin.

After trying lots of different combinations and even having a bath in olive oil (I don’t recommend trying it, you come out smelling of salad), I’ve found the best combination that is slowly starting to improve my skin.

Aveeno Daily Moisturising Lotion

This is weirdly hard to get hold of, it’s a bit hit and miss whether Boots and Superdrug has it in stock. If you do manage to get hold of it, then you are a lucky thang and your skin will be as soft as a baby’s botty. It’s an emollient based lotion that combines oatmeal and some other nonsense to make a brilliant moisturiser that I suspect of wizardry. I had this recommended to me by my doctor and it’s a great lotion to use everyday. It treats already dry patches fairly well, but if you have really stubborn bits of eczema or dry skin – you may need something stronger. Other plus points include that it is fragrance free and it is not as thick as E45 cream, meaning it’s great for everyday use.

There was also an article in the Daily Mail recently about how a lot of creams and skincare have the chemical Methylisothiazolinone in them – this can cause allergic reactions and flare up eczema, so if you are have skin probs then you might want to check the label of your moisturiser!

Derma Care Hydrocortisone Cream

This stuff is magical when used on smaller areas of dry skin. You’re not meant to use it for more than 7 days, you can’t use it on sensitive (i.e. face) skin and you’re not supposed to use it on large areas. Saying that, even with a ridiculous amount of limits and rules (fight the power), it’s really good for patches of dry skin or eczema. I’ve found that it works almost instantly and that you can notice a difference within a couple of hours of using it. My hands are the bits that seem to get hit the most by dry skin, so it’s great to use on my tiny chubby fists. If you’re finding that your regular moisturiser isn’t doing the job and suspect yourself of eczema, definitely give this a whirl. It’s £3.49 from Boots – not bad, eh!

Sudrocream Antiseptic Healing Cream

No skincare list would be complete without Sudocrem. I literally use this for everything: spots, blisters, cuts, scrapes…and any other injuries I manage to inflict on myself. I am currently using this on my horrible cracked dinosaur skin, particularly if I have got a bit too vigorous with my scratching and broken the skin. It works really well, which is no surprise because Sudocrem is magical and brilliant.

Stylingo Top Tip: Slather Sudocrem on your face before bed if you’re suffering from a break out. Tiny little Sudocrem wizards will work tirelessly as you sleep to get rid of any unwanted blemishes.

If you still are looking vaguely T-Rex like and want to go even further than these 3 products, then E45 Bath Oil is really good too (much better than the olive kind). Hitting your skin with a double whammy of an oil bath and Aveeno, you will literally love your life more than someone who loves life a lot. It’s also worth mentioning that keeping your diet in healthy oils is important too – lots of nuts, avocados and healthy fats have a massive impact on the way your skin looks. I’m a hugey fan of avocados but I could probably do a bit better on the fish and nut scene. If you want to find out more about what you need to eat to have better skin, this BBC Good Food article is really good.

Anywhoo, I hope this is at least a little bit helpful if you’re suffering from dinosaur problems this winter. These 3 products are my favourites and are the only ones that have been working properly to fix my horrible skin. It’s not quite there yet though, so if you do have bad skin that nothing will shift – you may need to head to your GP like I will have to do soon! Cry.

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ClaireDecember 18, 2013

Outfit of the Day: Primark Tartan and Leather

Leather-sleeved coat: eBay / Tartan leggings: Primark / Boots: eBay

Hey chicas. Excuse my chronic case of Bitch Face re-surfacing here, I think it was just a case of the Sunday night blues when these snaps were taken. I featured these tartan leggings in my recent haul post and I’ve already got so much love for them. This is also potentially the first year I’ve genuinely liked my winter coat; this wool and PU leather mixed coat manages to fight my usual coat gripes by being a good length and also not too bulky for my petite frame – plus it was a complete and utter bargain from China.

Oversized tee: Boohoo (old) / Chain: eBay (similar)

Teamed with an oversized t-shirt and my trust Jeffrey Campbell dupes (which are so stupidly comfy it’s ridiculous) I was pretty pleased with this a smart/cas outfit. But the question of the day, as always is:

What on earth do YOU all think?

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ClaireDecember 17, 2013

The Baroque Trend: Best of the Highstreet

Good day to ~~Baroque Obama~~ friends,

I am a big fan of the baroque trend. Anything that means over the top, luxurious and grand is most definitely up my street. You might have noticed this in my outfit of the day from a while ago, where I basically wore a cathedral ceiling (have a nosey at my ootd here). This winter, the baroque trend has been quite gothic and dark (big surprise, are winter trends ever not gothic and dark?), but there are some seriously beautiful things on the high street at the moment.

If you’re looking to foray into Baroque territory, there are a few key things to remember. Firstly, the more textures you can get on your body the better and you get top marks if these include lace, fur and velvet. Gold is also your bessie mate: anything with any form of jazzy gold will make sure that you look tip top and brilliant. If you try and imagine yourself as a mixture of a highly decorated church and a 16th Century vampire, you’re kind of on the right track.

Anyway, as a firm believer that more is more in every aspect of my life, I love the Baroque look. And the high street has some amazing pieces that tick the Baroque boxes perfectly. Whether you are a poor tramp or want to splash out a bit more cashola, there is definitely something for everyone out there.

Wowsers, this all looks a little bit mad in one collage! I personally wouldn’t recommend wearing the Missguided Alter Tshirt with the River Island Jewel Baroque Leggings for example…although I’m sure there’s some brilliant gal in the blogging world that could pull that off! I personally love the green sequin playsuit and the chain print sweatshirt. As a consistent lover of a good gold chain necklace, I’m also hugely keen for that River Island chain necklace – it is huuuuuge and fabulous.

What do you think of the Baroque trend? Are you keen for the over the top glamour or is this not really your thing?

Let us know your favourite picks! 🙂

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ClaireDecember 16, 2013

December Fashion Haul: Glamorous, Abandon Ship & Primark

Hey there all of you fine pieces of ass! Now normally it annoys me ever so slightly when people post a ‘haul’ and it actually only contains a couple of items. And yet… that is exactly what I’m going to do for you today. I know, I know, one rule for you and another for me; I’m a bloody nightmare.

Due to poverty I haven’t been buying much recently, but here are a few bits that I’ve managed to pick up when I’ve been able to collect enough pennies from bins, gutters, etc.

Cropped fluffy jumper: Glamorous

I picked up this little beauty from The Clothes Show last weekend. My obsession with all things fluffy has been strong this winter, and I lusted after the similar Topshop version of this jumper for a good while, but at almost £40 I just couldn’t justify it. When I spotted this at the Glamorous stand my little heart started singing with joy, and I managed to bag it for a mere £20 (RRP £35, huzzah!)

Kitten body: Abandon Ship Apparel

Another Clothes Show purchase. As soon as I laid on this body I was almost borderline hysterical with laughter and joy – and while I wouldn’t usually recommend hysteria as a good mindset for shopping, I haven’t looked back. I can’t find this on Abandon Ship’s website anymore, but they have a range of other Satanic kitten-themed clothes that I strongly suggest you check out.

Cigarette trousers: Primark

I actually picked these up about a month ago from Primark so I’m not sure if they’re still in stock. They have a kind of embossed effect that makes them a little jazzier than your usual black trouser. I think they were only around £11 and I’ve already got a lot of wear out of them.

Tartan leggings: Primark

Finally, finally, I hop on the tartan bandwagon. Topshop have had an amazing pair of thick tartan leggings in store for a while, but again I couldn’t indulge myself with Toppers prices. These aren’t quite as nice, but at £6 they’re around a quarter of the price so I’m definitely able to cope. They’re a nice thick material so avoid that tacky look that printed leggings sometimes have, and I quite like the strong blue tones in the tartan. I’m looking forward to wearing these rolled up with some chunky black boots and pretending I’m cool.

Fur collar: c/o New Look

I’d been after a fur stole/collar/scarf thing for ages and was delighted to stumble upon this one in New Look. Despite the fact that it’s still – as Lauren and I keep telling anyone who will listen – very mild for December, this has been a welcome addition on many early mornings.

Miscellaneous: Primark

Whilst in Primark at the weekend I had to pick up a few boring essentials such as tights, socks, a hair clip and the elusive black vest (I must have about twenty yet can I ever find them?!). I also picked up these brogues, which I already have the brown version of – never let it be said that I don’t step out of my comfort zone.

What do you all think of this mini haul?

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ClaireDecember 15, 2013

Fashion Evening at Lilly-Lou

At the end of last week, Lauren and I were lucky enough to be invited to a night of glamour and cupcakes (FYI our favourite types of night) at the beautiful Lilly-Lou store in Shirley, Solihull. We were invited by the gorgeous Holly from i2Style, who we’ve been Twitter chums with for ages, and who works in the shop (which, by the way, is just as gorgeous – monochrome bling as far as the eye can see!)

Lilly-Lou specialises in all manner of evening dresses that are perfect for proms, weddings, parties or any other swanky occasion where you want to be looking smokin’ hot. There’s even a kids’ range with the most perfect princessy dresses for weddings or Communions.

(This picture is the only proof that Lauren and I were actually at the event; we came straight from a full day at work so were not feeling photo-friendly.)

Holly and the rest of the Lilly-Lou ladies put loads of effort into creating a really fun event for us all. Also attending the night was the stunning Rachael Barker, aka Miss Birmingham 2013. She looked absolutely amazing in one of the Lilly-Lou cocktail dresses, and was lovely to speak to as well. She also had one of the best heads of hair I’ve ever seen in my life, and has convinced me that I need to give nano-rings a try.

Also showing off their wares on the night was Annette from Tilly-Minx Vintage, who sells original vintage jewellery including necklaces, brooches and bracelets, and also hand crafts intricate combs, tiaras and corsages. There were also representatives from Always Charity, which is an amazing business set up to support the Lymphoma Association.

On top of aaaaaaaall of this, there was also champagne, cupcakes and a beautiful Christmassy performance by Megan-Louise and Keeley from Perfect 5th Events (Jingle Bell Rock was a personal highlight, though I had to resist the urge for a bit of Mean Girls-esque thigh-slapping). It was also attended by some other bloggers, including the lovely Emma whose blog you can read here, as well as others who we unfortunately didn’t get a chance to chat to!

Overall it was a lovely evening showcasing some brilliant local talent. The dresses at Lilly-Lou are absolutely stunning and the girls who work there are all lovely – I’m fully confident that anybody who goes in there looking for a dress will receive nothing but the best service and help. Here are the lovely ladies with Miss Birmingham:

A huge thank you to everyone at Lilly-Lou, particularly Holly, for organising such a fun event!

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ClaireDecember 14, 2013

Outfit of the Day: ASOS Tshirt Dress & Black Beanie

‘Ello ~~homos~~ homies,

I hope you are all having a cracking weekend, I’m lurking around my room at the moment wondering who is going to put the kettle on and make me a cup of tea.

I’m also about to head into town and do the last of my Christmas shopping, if by Christmas shopping I mean buy myself things and conveniently forget about my family. And then I will be hopping on a train, listening to Beyonce’s new album and heading back to Cheshire to visit my forgotten family. Whoops.

And this is what I’m wearing to my very exciting and not at all selfish shopping trip.

Your Eyes Lie (at ASOS) Totem Pole Tshirt Dress | Miss Selfridge Black Leather Jacket (old)| House of Hoxshore Beanie | White (kind of) Converse

I’ve had this tshirt dress for a while now, I actually wore it to the Birmingham Bullring’s birthday partay (which you can read all about here). It’s from a brand called Your Eyes Lie, and is stocked by ASOS. It’s suuuuuper comfy and has totem poles on it. Need I say more? It’s on sale at the moment, so if you like it – definitely hop over to ASOS and invest!

I paid with my horribly dirty and tea stained connies, black tights, my black leather jacket and my House of Hoxshore beanie – which I actually bought at the Clothes Show (read our Clothes Show roundup here).

Primark Gold Chain (old) | New Look Ring (old) | Rimmel Apocolyps | Barry M Nail Paint in Black

Ugh, how horrible and paley pale am I at the moment? I can’t tan at the mo because my skin is rejecting any form of anything and I basically have grown scales. Keep your eyes peeled for my ‘How To Not Look Like A Dinosaur In Winter’ blog post, where I’ll be clobbing you over the head with industrial strength dry skin tips. Anywhoo, there is my face and there are my hands. For all you hand perverts.

What do you think of this outfit? Anyone else reaching for the beanie to keep their noggins warm?

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ClaireDecember 12, 2013

Primark Spring/Summer 2014 Collection: First Look

Good afternoon you saucy wenches! People who have been reading us for a while might remember a post that we did back in July on Primark’s A/W 2013 Collection. For those who don’t remember or have more important things to do with their lives than read back, I basically ripped into the whole collection and claimed that I would never ever ev-uh be seen dead in the array of PVC, tartan and gaudy gemstones that the autumn/winter collection was offering.

Fast forward a few months, the post remains one of our most read blog posts ever and it turns out that I’m a big fat liar. I eventually came to love nearly all the trends and pieces that I slammed upon first seeing (except for kitten heels, I never went quite that far into the dark side). When I saw that the initial images of Primark’s Spring/Summer ’14 collection had been released, then, I decided to approach them with a much more open mind.

And I have to say, I’m feeling pretty positive about the coming season!
The Primark S/S14 collection seems to feature a lot of bold colours, prints and shapes. I’m convinced that this daisy dress with its cute Peter Pan collar will become one of those sell-out Primark pieces, just like the collared tartan dress was this season. Trousers also look set to remain big news, and of course my wardrobe’s crying out for another garish pair just like this. The mixed print makes them really fun while the paneling should help keep them pretty flattering (or so my thighs are hoping). I’m delighted to also see a few more co-ords dotted around next season; this jacket and short combo will work amazingly both separately or together. The subtle floral keeps it from looking too overpowering, and I’d quite like to swish about work wearing this.

It seems as if S/S 2014 will see Primark finally get on the skort trend! I think this is frankly superb news; I’ve always been put off buying any of the cheap skorts online simply because I have no idea how flattering they would be on my shape. Primark bringing out affordable versions is therefore the perfect way for unsure people like myself to experiment with the look. Baby pink features quite a lot in the collection, which I do think works quite nicely in some pieces – this skirt, for example, will look pretty fit during the summer – but looks horrific in others (there’s a baby pink biker jacket that I just can’t bring myself to expose you to). Check also looks like it’s hanging around in S/S, though in a simpler version than the wintery tartan that we all grew to love (eventually, in my case).

The few accessories images that have been released have made me pretty excited. I still don’t really love big gemstone necklaces like this, but I’m addicted to gemstone rings so hopefully there are other statement pieces to go alongside this. In the shoe department we have little baby pink slipper shoes (top marks for cuteness, bottom marks for practicality) as well as clumpy mary-janes that will look perfect with some frilly ankle socks (thank goodness I invested in about eighty-three pairs this autumn). I am SO happy to see the holographic trend seeping in in the form of this bag – it’s not quite as nice as the ones I’ve seen in Topshop and River Island, but at half the price it’s still a welcome addition to the collection.

In general, the pictures from the Primark Spring/Summer 2014 collection look pretty promising. It seems that some key trends are going to be catered for in a wearable and affordable way. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing more pieces and will be sure to throw my opinions on them in your faces as soon as I spot them. All of these images were nabbed from Look so you can peruse the whole range of images there if you so desire.

What do you all think of this collection?

ClaireDecember 11, 2013

The Best Smokey Eye Palettes for Under £20

Hello hooligans,

There’s nothing more exciting to me than a smokey eye palette. Apart from maybe biscuits and a nice cup of tea. And potentially when there is a new Catfish episode on. But you know…smokey eyes are definitely up there.

I’ve collected quite a few palettes over the years, but these are the ones that I am regularly using at the moment. As regular readers of our blog will probably know, we’re quite the keen beans for cheap and cheerful makeup. Sometimes cheaper brands can be a bit more of a miss than hit, but when you find the gems – they’re definitely worth spending your pennies on (and I mean pennies in the literal sense).

Aaaaanywhoo, these are what I think are the best smokey eye palettes for under £20. If you accidentally have spent all of your money on mince pies and Chrizzy pressies for ungrateful rellies (shortening words, all the cool kids are doing it), then you may want to continue reading. And for under £20…you may as well just buy them all and treat your eyelids to a smokin’ good time.

The Bodyshop Smoky Eye Palette – £15.00

The Bodyshop makeup is genuinely really good quality and everything that I’ve owned has been top notch. This palette is my favourite of these four and it’s my go-to for when I go out and pardy. It comes in four shades, with one gold cream shadow. What I like most is that the darkest shade is matte – I’m not a big fan of looking like a disco ball on every occasion. Even the shimmer shades are quite subtle and the pigmentation is excellent and the staying power is fabulous. The palette also comes with brushes, but typically I have lost them both. Whoops.

Bourjois Smokey Eyes Trio – £7.99

This little palette has loads of brilliant reviews and I actually received it as a part of the EXCELLENT free gift that I blogged about here. This one is in Gris Dandy and has three lovely gun metal silvery shades. I’m usually not a big fan of silver based smokey eye colours because browns tend to suit my complexion better, but this one is worth making a compromise for. The pigmentation is brilliant and it has amazing staying power. My only criticism of it is that it doesn’t include a highlighter shade, which I like to have in a palette.

Elf Natural Beauty Book – £6.00

If you can get over the sheer size of this palette, it’s actually very good. They did not lie when they said it was a book, I can tell you that chums. It’s not entirely necessary…they do have some fun information about how to apply the eyeshadow, but let’s all be honest. Anyone with fingers and/or hands can apply a smokey eye. It also comes with an eye primer, which I don’t have anything to say about really. It’s ok, but I wouldn’t say it’s anything too special. The brushes were a bit crap too, but palette brushes tend to be a bit pointless. The pigmentation is good and I particularly like the shade range. It’s a good one for daytime!

Collection Smokey Eye Palette – £4.19

I did a full review on this palette, which you can read all about here. This is a great little palette, particularly if you’re just foraying into smokey eye territory and don’t want to commit to a more expensive eyeshadow kit. There’s a good shade selection and the pigmentation is really good for what you pay.

SO CHUMS. If you are a poverty stricken human being or simply just want to add to your makeup collection without spending too many dollar bills, you may find these a bit exciting. I really like them and my fave would look WUBBISH without spreading these on my eyeballs (by that I mean eyelids. I’m not mad).

What’s your favourite smokey eye palette? Have you tried any of these?

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