Best Beauty Products of 2016

What a perfect way to end 2016
A blog post on my all time favourite beauty products from 2016.

These won't all be 2016 released products, this is mainly my overall products that I have used the most this year or have made a reappearance from my deep black makeup hole.
So these are all products that would be an advantage to your collections at any time of the year and they just wouldn't get old!

I could easily get carried away with hundreds of products on the post but I will keep it to a minimum of 10 as these would then be my main 2016 collection to tell you about.

1 - Bobbi Brown Sparkle Eye Shadow
This had to be number 1 on my list!! I literally use these all the time.
I love how natural but statement speaking these little shadows are
The best way to explain these are that they have hardly any colour pigment but its like a pressed glitter which come in multiple shades and make a massive effect on top of any eye look.
Check my full REVIEW…

REVIEW: Beauty Advent 21-25

The last part of my amazing 2016 Christmas Advent reviews.
I hope you all had a wonderful christmas and that you haven't stopped celebrating yet! We still have the rest of the week so lets keep the festive spirits going.
Its sad when you know christmas is all over but Ill just keep on going until new year :D

So its about time I ended my Beauty Advent reviews just going over my final thoughts and opinions on the products and overall list my favourites of the month…

Day 21
PUR Correcting Primer
I go through so many primers and I do admit, I have my favourites for certain skin types ect.
This one from PUR corrects and uneven skin pigments, dark circles, and mattifies for a perfect canvas.
I will admit I don't use primers every day, but this is one that I have been applying under my foundation just to give that smoother and flawless look for everyday.

Day 22 
Leighton Denny Mini Nail File
Since looking after my own nails, using strengtheners and my own colour polishes, having this mini file is a saviour in my handbag.
Since having my false nails removed for good, its easy for your own nails to get those jagged edges so I can save them before they get caught.
And its a beautiful crystal file and not those ones that just snap.

Day 23 
Studio 10 Firming Serum
WOW, this serum is worth £70, again like the other ageing products, my skin is not at that stage where I have deep wrinkles and lines so I can't see a massive effect. Its nice to know that I can keep on top of it for the future but right now I don't need something so strong.
Although this serum is described to have a miracle effect, reducing wrinkles by 16% in 15 minutes and helping long term effects within 2 weeks of using.
Reduces age spots, improves firmness, hydration, dark circles and increases luminous skin.

Day 24 
Burt's Bees Lip Balm
If this works as well as the hand cream ill be over the moon!
This lip balm is to help repair and hydrate your dry, cracked lips.
When wearing this balm it does have a menthol feeling which makes your lips feel tingly from the coldness but I can really feel this working and my lips feel totally smooth when applied which prevents me cracking them even more.
Ive been applying before bed every night so that I am sleeping with it on.

Day 25
Shay & Blue Fragrance
I was surprised I had a christmas day window as most calendars just go to Christmas Eve but again it was something I looked forward to on christmas morning while I was waiting for everyone to wake up.
This fragrance is very natural smelling, nothing to strong or sweet just refreshing. I did seem to smell quite a musky aftershave scent which put me off a little. So this wouldn't be a go to fragrance for me, just because I prefer sweet/oriental fragrances.

I hope you have all enjoyed going through my Christmas Beauty Advent with me.
Thanks to M&S its been a fun and interesting product journey that I will for sure be doing next year!

Here are my favourites from the calendar that I would consider buying again…
Day 1 -  Burts Bees Hand Cream
Day 2 - Rodial Super Acids Peel
Day 6 - Eyeko Liquid Liner
Day 8 - Alpha H Liquid Gold
Day 13 - Skyn Iceland Eye Cream
Day 14 - Rosie Lip Stick Gloss
Day 16 - Philip Kingsley Elasticizer
Day 18 - Rituals Body Lotion

Keep an eye out for my 'BEST BEAUTY PRODUCTS of 2016' which will be published on 30th December to end the year on a Beauty high!

Sophie xx

Why You Are The TEMPLE!

Theres 2 types of people out there…
Woman 1 - Someone who cares for themselves, is a go getter and knows what they want in life, plans their days with aims and accomplishments…

Woman 2 - or Someone who thinks about what others are doing before themselves, rushes when it comes to 'me time' and just glides through day to day life without focus.

Who would you rather be?
I hope you are thinking the first one!
These 2 types of people are a world apart and its time to turn your attention to the first option.
2017 can be your fresh start to focus on positivity and mindset, mastering these will help you become your amazing self in no time.

The reason I am publishing a post like this is that I believe YOU are the Temple in life and lots of people loose focus on themselves due to day to day life jobs and people that surround them with any negativity.
Yourself and Life are two completely different things.
The way you act, feel and appear has a separate outlook on your day to day life. Imagine this on a monday morning…

REVIEW: Beauty Advent 16 - 20

Over half way though the countdown now and we are in the christmas week.
In other words, Panic Week. Those impulse buys just incase and all last minute gifts that we thought would be ok to leave so late.
Yes, you know what Im talking about haha.

Well I'm here to do another review for my last 5 gifts in my M&S Advent Calendar.
Everyday I'm still excited to see whats in them and I love that it goes to christmas day and not just christmas eve :D

DAY 16
Philip Kingsley Elasticizer
This man is hugely known through the hair care industry with his recommended duo hair washing products and special treatments.
The elasticizer is best for fine-medium hair types as it is claimed to deeply condition and add that bounce and shine which helps prevent breakage and hairs less breakage.
When I gave this a try it did feel like a thick consistency which really sat on the hairs to make them stronger so I will carry on using and see how better my hair gets with the condition.

REVIEW: Beauty Advent 11-15

Another 5 reviews to blog about since 10th December in my M&S Beauty Advent Calendar.
This is so much better the chocolate. Trust me!!
Every morning I'm still excited to open the next window and see what hair/beauty product I've got, so lets go more in depth with my 11-15 products.
I do load my advent products every evening on my instagram - @makeupbysophiedowning

DAY 11
Emma Hardie - Cleansing Balm 
So you all know my love for skincare. And a cleansing balm is something i have tried in the past but I've always stuck with my Cleansing oil.
It was great to test out a different texture when removing makeup, but with cleansing oils i find it easy to put on a cotton pad and wipe my makeup off from scratch where as I need to take the bulk off first then use cleansing balm as you do need water to make this work into the skin.
Although the feeling of a cleansing balm is much more silky to get your hands into.

REVIEW: Beauty Advent 6-10

Nows time to review my next 5 days of my M&S Beauty Advent calendar which I am still in love with.
I get excited every morning to see what I have received, whether its something new to me or a product that I have had my eye on.
So far so good!

Heres my product reviews from day 6 - 10.

DAY 6
Eyeko - Liquid Liner
Always used to struggle with finding liquid liners. I went through a stage on fine brushes, gel pots and I'm now settled with my liquid liner pens. Although this wasn't easy to find a pen either!
So many pens dry out within weeks or just have to be a certain size and length to be able to applier easier and quicker for us all.
I have found my favourite so far but I am open to testing this one out and see how I go.
4 days after using, I am still pleased with this Eyeko pen, its well pigmented, doesn't fade, lasts all day and dries quickly which is an overall TICK!
Lets just see how long it lasts me without drying up…

REVIEW: Beauty Advent 1-5

You can't have a December Christmas Countdown without an advent calendar, no matter if its Chocolate? Gin? or Beauty Products.
You know what I went for!!

After my blog post on 'Beauty Advent Calendars 2016' I narrowed down the options and thought M&S Beauty Advent was the one for me.
Just the fact that I wasn't stuck with one brand throughout the countdown and they have unique and even unknown brands to me which this was of course the best way of trying new things.
At the price of just £35 from £250 you can't really go wrong!

This weeks ⌗SundaySkincare

If you have me on Facebook  you may have noticed me upload a photo of me sitting in a face mask this afternoon. Not the most usual thing you see at 3pm on a Sunday afternoon.
Maybe more winter walks, hungover bed photos or family get togethers seem more normal, but no, i had a mission plan this week.

As I had the full day off I decided not to set an alarm…
Waking up at 9am is the perfect time for me, as when I wake up too late I feel like I can't get enough done. So I had a healthy winter breakfast of porridge and blueberries before setting off for a 2 hour gym session and getting back home for half 1.