If You're Going To Splurge || Illamasqua

I like spending money on good quality products, and I am a big advocate for cruelty free and vegan products. Illamasqua are such an underrated brand in the blogging world, and to be honest ya'll don't know what ya'll missing!

Sangers Lipstick
Could this be the most perfect red lipstick ever? Yes. It just might be. I love Mac's Ruby Woo, but the extremely matte texture doesn't sit right on my lips. Sangers is a similar blood red shade, with a matte texture but it keeps your lips looking fresh and hydrated at the same time. I adore how this lipstick can transform any look, and how long lasting it is.

Infinity Gel Liner
Okay, so I've been wearing winged liner for roughly 10 years now and it's taken me 9 of those years to find the perfect liner to create my wings with. Infinity gel liner is perfect, it's a matte black texture that lasts all day; through sleep, the lot (okay sometimes I drunkenly fall asleep with my makeup on). You can guarantee that this isn't going to budge, it's waterproof too!

Woo Lip Liner
One day visiting the Illamasqua counter in Sheffield, I left with a few goodies including this soft nude lip liner. I wasn't really into lip liner back then but the shade had me hooked from the first time our eyes met, now I'm addicted!!

Things I love that didn't make the cut
Vapour Eye Shadow // Forgiveness Eye Shadow // Sealing Gel // Lush Lashes // Pristine Lipstick // Facade Lipgloss 

Eyeliner Duo

Hi Hi Hi

There are so many types of eye liner, the list is honestly endless. I like to use different types of liner for each look, and today I'm all about the gel.
I've been partial to a good eyeliner since before I could walk. Not really, but it has been about 8 years! This combo is my current fave, and probably the best out there in my opinion.

I've heard so many good things about these two, and for Christmas I was gifted the Illamasqua Gel Liner by my grandparents and the Mac 210 brush I purchased myself a while back. Until I got my hands on this beaut liner I was using Mac's Fluidline in Blacktrack, which don't get me wrong is a very good gel liner; I just find it dries out too quickly for my liking!

Illamasqua's gel liner is super black, and does not budge! Personally I prefer to go over my initial drawing of my liner again to add even more darkness to my look.
This gel liner can also be used as an eye shadow base and in the waterline for added drama.

Now, onto the Mac 210 brush. I love this little skinny beaut. I get maximum control with this brush and even though it takes a tad longer to apply liner with than lets say an angled brush, my god it's worth it! It's really worth paying a little more for this teeny brush as it's the best I've come across thus far.

Gel Liner // 210 Brush

What is your favourite eyeliner duo?

Illamasqua Sale Haul

Hi Hi Hi

I have no self control when it comes to makeup, or anything to be quite honest! Illamasqua went into a Beauty lovers dream of a sale a couple of weeks ago and well...I picked up a small selection!

Here is what I purchased and where you can find them :)
Reflection Palette // Fidelity Medium Pencil // Lush Lashes // Cream Foundation (sold out) // Growl Lipstick // Assert Lip Pencil

I did also pick up Vapour Eye Shadow but for some reason I completely forgot to add it to the photos!

Did you pick anything up from the Illamasqua Sale?

What I got for christmas 2014

Hi Hey Ho

Time for a very cliche blogger post now. A what I got for Christmas 2014 :)
My family and friends have been very generous this year, and I've been able to pick some delicious things and open many surprises!

I've decided just to share my beauty/makeup items because that's what my blog is all about! I did get some Drop Dead clothes, thigh high boots, Wood Wick candle and lots of other bits and bobs too.
P.S
This deffo isn't me showing off or anything, I just wanted to share what I've been lucky enough to receive.

Wave Wand // Gel Liner // Bulletproof // Glam Glow // Venus // Complexion Sponge // Sealing Gel // Sweet Mint // Glitter Helper // Red Velvet


What did you get for Christmas 2014?

love love love you all

Party Inspo

source

Hey Hey Hey

It's the middle of December, which means we are well and truly into the party season! 

Sometimes it can be super hard picking a makeup look that is 1. affordable, 2. easy and 3. looks glamorous. 

Here are some of my favourite looks, done by myself to inspire you!

I am not naming any products, but if you wish to know any then please just comment below, I will be glad to help!

What makeup are you wearing to your big Xmas event?

lots and lots of love

Eye shadow Wants

Hey Hi Ho

As an eye shadow addict I find myself making little lists everywhere (mainly my phone but hey) of ones I've seen and am lusting over.

At the moment these beauts are filling up those lists, lets be honest now you've seen them you deffo agree that this chick needs to own every single one of them!

 Makeup Geek Bitten // Makeup Geek Peach Smoothie // Makeup Geek Envy // MAC Saddle // MAC Shroom // MAC Soft Brown // Illamasqua Sex // Illamasqua Daemon // Illamasqua Obsidian

What eye shadows, or makeup bits are you craving at the moment?

Lots of love

perfect party pout products

Hello beautiful people

"put on some red lipstick and live a little"

What's more classic than a red lip, everyone can rock one in some shape or form. I've picked my fave red lip products that I think are perfect for the Party Season ahead of us!

Don't worry, they aren't all high end; something for everyone and every budget!

Lime Crime Velvetine in Wicked 

£13.50 from Cocktail Cosmetics

W7 Mega Matte Lips in Hasta La Vista*

£1.99 from Fragrance Direct

Mac Pro Longwear Lip Creme in Prolong

£18 from Mac Cosmetics

Illamasqua Lipstick in Sangers

£18.50 from Illamasqua

Barry M Loud Mouth Extreme Lip Colour in Diva

£3.99 from Barry M

Makeup Revolution Lipstick in Dare

£1 from Makeup Revolution

What are your favourite red lip products for the Party Season?

*products were sent for reviewing purposes

lots of love

I'm blue da ba de da ba die

Hello beautiful people

"I have a blue house, with a blue window"

When I was 9 I won a competition with my brother singing this song. We were on a Keycamp holiday and we sang this down one of those 90's cassette players with the microphones on...you know the ones I'm on about!!

Anyway, thought a cute little story would be a nice start to this post. 

I love the colour blue, especially when it comes to eye makeup; I'm definitely NOT afraid of a bit (okay a lot) of colour!

I become inspired by weird things, this makeup was inspired by the Sharks colours; the swim team from Pretty Little Liars. Yeah, told you it was weird things!!

Digging out my brand new, still in box Mac Waveline I started to draw on some proper winged out liner. Which then turned into a semi smokey eye/dramatic mermaid look, which I loved teamed with ultra dewy & highlighted skin.

Other products I used included some Mac & Urban Decay eyeshadows, a NYX jumbo eye pencil and an Urban Decay 24/7 liner. 

For lips I went over the top glossy nude to add to my watery goddess look. I use Illamasqua's Woo liner, Mac's Fleshpot lipstick and Mac's Myth lipglass.

What do you think?

None of these photos have been edited or filtered so you can see the true beauty of these colours/makeup :)

What is your favourite eye colour to use?

lots of love

Weekly Wishlist

Hello beautiful people;

"wish I may, wish I might"

This week I have been lusting over so many pretty things in the Illamasqua sale which you can find here, so everything in this weeks wishlist is from the sale!

So going from left to right & top to bottom we have:

Fundamental Palette - £15 RRP £34

Magnetism Lipstick - £10 RRP £18.50

Enrapture Liquid Metal - £7.50 RRP £17.50

Lipstick Palette - £15 RRP £34 

Illamasqua sales are always so good and all of this could be yours for less than £50!! Their basically giving it away!!

Have you purchased anything from the Illamasqua sale?

lots of love, effstarbeauty xoxo

Red Lipstick Collection

Hello beautiful people;

"Red lipstick all on the paper, let me take a hit while you sit and rush"

A year ago I associated myself and red lipstick with looking like a cheap street walker, my oh my how times change.

Again, this is going to be a very MAC heavy post for obvious reasons (iheartmac).

Being a blonde means that I can't just wear any red lipstick, I do prefer a blue toned one in winter and an orange toned one in summer!
My all time favourite red lipstick is Sangers by Illamasqua, it looks amazing all year round and has a darker tone for a really versatile vampy look! I can't imagine this lipstick could look bad on anyone!

Mac Ronnie Red - blue toned with a matte finish (limited edition)
Mac Diva - blue toned with a matte finish
Mac Lady Danger - orange toned with a matte finish

Urban Decay 69 - blue toned raspberry red with a satin finish (this lipsticks do not budge, invest in some!)
Illamasqua Sangers - cool toned red with a matte finish
MUA Shade 8 - warm toned with a gold shimmer and semi-opaque finish

Mac Prolong - blue toned in the prolongwear finish (another lipstick that doesn't budge)
Natural Collection Crimson - slightly warm toned red with a semi-opaque finish. Incredible quality for the £1.99 price tag !

Sorry for all the photos in this post, I thought they would be helpful!
What is your favourite red lipstick?

lots of love, effstarbeauty xoxo

Lips Tutorial

Hello beautiful people;

"he said he wanted nudes"

I love a nude lip, I love the whole Pammy A pornstar look especially on a night out with a seductive dark eye look!

But rather than looking like a cheap 90's hooker I've found an addictive combo that I cannot get enough of. So if  you fancy learning how to rock this look keep reading!

Firstly you need to know what you're going to need. 

The items I have used are the brands etc that I like, you can easily get this look using brands & similar colours in your budget! 

MAC cremesheen glass in Boy Bait

MAC lipsticks in Myth & Velvet Teddy

Lavera Lip Liner in Plum Brown

OR

Illamasqua Lip Liner in Woo

Step 1. Apply Lavera lip liner around lips and fill in slightly. I do over draw mine a little for a fuller look

Step 2. Swipe on a small amount of Velvet Teddy lipstick & smush those lips together

Step 3. To the centre of the lips apply a small amount of Myth & again smush away

Step 4. Apply a bit more Lavera lip liner to darken the edges

Step 5. Slap on as much or as little Boy Bait as you like

Step 6. Pout like a goddess

And for good measure here are some ridiculous "goddess" pouts that I thought you'd all enjoy!

Hope you all enjoyed this post!

If you recreate this look tag me on twitter @effstar

Or Instagram @effstarbeauty

lots of love, effstarbeauty xoxo