Top 5 December Beauty Products

Can we believe that we are less than a week away from 2016, as usual the year has flown by. I always think there is not enough hours in the day never mind how quick these last few days have been.

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas with loved ones, eating and drinking yourselves to sleep every night, but get ready for the rave of fitness in January, you have 3 days to consume all of your Christmas chocolates haha.

For my last blogpost of 2015 I decided show you my top 5 beauty products of December.

I have either used the products everyday or just realised my love for them and need them as a staple in my makeup kit.

1st I have SMASHBOX CONTOUR STICKS

These come in a pack of 3 containing a highlight, bronze and contour, they are pretty much self explanatory. Starting of with contouring the hollow of your cheeks, adding the bronze just above which helps blend them both in an ombré effect and the highlight just above to add the light onto the face. These steps can be applied anywhere on the face that you are choosing to contour.

In this pack also has a sharpener which is the correct size for the pencils and a mini step by step booklet of how to use.

I also use mine with the beauty blender and this helps blend each colour well together but your fingers will work just as well as they are very creamy and easy to blend.

To view my blogpost on Contouring click HERE 

2 - BOBBI BROWN SPARKLE EYE SHADOW (in Sunlight) 

This eyeshadow has been my go to Christmas products. Every Christmas my glitter obsession comes out and I just want it on everything! 

This product is easy to encorporate with any look at it is a transparent glitter so it does back on with pigment it layers a shade of glitter, so it can be used over any colour eyeshadow or on its own of course.

Best applied with fingers in a tapping mention as it packs on the glitter in a more intense light.

3 - NARS RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER (in Vanilla) 

I have previously blogged about the product HERE more in depth but I had to put this in my top 5 as I have used this every day since I brought it.

I never used to really use under eye concealers on a daily basis but form my Christmas 3am shifts I was starting to detect my dark circles from lack of sleep and this was just a miracle product for me. The creaminess blended easily under the eyes without creasing as it set to a more powdered finish although it kept the radiant glow and just beautifully evened out my skin tone and covered the darkness.

4 - KIKO UNLIMITED STYLO (in MOCHA 13)

KIKO opened in Derby in Novemeber and from previously purchasing eyeshadows in Marbella and loving the pigments I decided to get a basketful and this was one of my favourites.

It goes on the lips so creamy and silky but dries to a matte effect lipstick and does not budge! This just lasts all day, and the best thing is, it doesn't get that dry tacky feeling that some matte lipsticks can. I was honestly amazed of how this worked and just couldn't get my head around it.

I soon got over it and just wore this every day with it being such a perfect winter shade, slightly purple undertone to this shade also.

Oh and you can not go wrong with the price, just less than £5!!! I need more.

Last but not least number 5 - LOREAL TRUE MATCH FOUNDATION 

This is my staple foundation in my personal makeup bag for the past month! 

I have never really found my favourite premium brand foundation, I actually prefer high street ones believe it or not! 

I don't know what made me buy this £9.99 foundation but I'm so glad I did.

I always go for a medium to full coverage foundation and this was perfect as it also evened out my skin tone and gives a gorgeous healthy glow as this foundation is made to adapt to your skin type, so at first when I applied this it did feel like it would be a powdery matte finish but I was wrong, this settled to a luminous glow which blended easily and lasts all day.

Thes 5 products are what I would highly recommend as I always give my honest opinion and hope you love them as much as I do if I have tempted you to buy any of these.

So with this being my last blog post of 2015 I hope you have a lovely new year and wish you all the best for 2016.

Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming business ventures included makeup masterclasses and one to one lessons.

I will also be emailing out the first of my Monthly Makeup Newsletters including, offers, images and makeup updates and lots more, so if you want to join my mailing list please leave your email below or visit my website and fill in the mail box with your email.

Www.makeupbysophiedowning.co.uk

JANUARY OFFER - 10% of makeup application bookings for the whole month 

Don't miss out ladies

Contact me on 

Makeupbysophiedowning@yahoo.co.uk

Facebook.com/Makeupbysophiedowning 

Love Sophie x

Review - Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

Decided to blog about my most recent concealer which is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Vanilla.

Its always been at the top of my list but have always thought I don't need it desperately like other things, but my gosh I was wrong! I will re purchase this as soon as it runs out without fail! 

I love how creamy and smooth this is to apply, I use this under my eyes only as it has radiance in which should not be used over any spots as this would just highlight them and make them shine in all the light, that's not what you want a concealer to do, so this is made for under eyes only.

The product is of course 'creamy' and very luxurious to apply under the eyes, it's not only medium to high coverage but also enriched with hydrating skincare benefits that smooth out the complexion, hiding fine lines and any signs of fatigue, along with the light diffusing radiant technology.

What more would you want in your concealer? 

When choosing under eye concealers always go 1-2 shades lighter to highlight the area which will also give you face more structure in the way and shape you apply, such as a triangle under eve so that  contouring will compliment this. 

Top tips for this is to apply using the brush provided in a triangle shape under the eye to the apple of your cheek, tap and blend with your fingers and set over with translucent powder to set the product and prevent creasing and over shine (especially people with oily t-zone)

This concealer sells at the retail price of £21.00 but for all of the benefits this gives it is definitely worth it.

If you was to give this a try before you buy a great opportunity would be to book on to one of my masterclasses or a 1-1 makeup lesson to learn more tips and tricks and apply it the correct way.

Or if you are going out and need your makeup doing why not book a full makeup application, saves you time and gives you the chance to try all new products

Contact me on makeupbysophiedowning@yahoo.co.uk

Or follow me on Facebook - Makeupbysophiedowning 

Sophie x

REVIEW: NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette

My Instagram feed was full of people receiving this palette for christmas as a gift. I couldn't wait that long so I treated myself at work as soon as it hit the shelves. Thats my problem with makeup products...

It was perfect really because I've been meaning to buy more blushes for my kit as I always find people stick to the same shade of pink and I wanted a wider variety for my clients to have the option or experiment with a change.

This palette contains blushes that are sold individually at Nars but put into one and of course a hell of a lot cheaper!

- Miss Liberty (Highlighter)

A shimmery peach shade is a perfect highlighter for your cheekbones and brow bone, it contains white sparkle which gives out that illuminating glow for a finishing touch to your makeup looks.

- Sex Fantasy (Blush)

Limited Edition Soft Lavender Pink Shade which warms to all skin tones but does give out that cold purple undertone which i was worried about, it has a matte finish but a soft smooth application and feel on the skin.

- Deep Throat (Blush)

One of the very popular blushes from Nars. A warm coral peach with flecks of gold and pink shimmer, very good pigment and can be build able on the skin from the smooth silky texture. Perfect for day and night!

- Final Cut (Blush)

Limited Edition bold peachy coral with warm orange undertones that gives out a flawless glow (especially in the summer on bronzed skin) Again another great pigmented blush that is build able, one of the colours to experiment with!

- Laguna (Bronzer)

The famous bronzer that Nars is known for! Ive been meaning to bag this bronzer but now I not only save money, I get it combined in this beautiful Limited Edition collectable palette.

From Left to Right - Miss Liberty, Sex Fantasy, Deep Throat, Final Cut and Laguna
(Daylight Shot)

(With Flash)

The Virtual Domination palette comes in a gorgeous white case with patterned overlay. The thick casing means its perfect for travelling so is less likely to break up into crumbs (fingers crossed) Its very bulky but doesn't look cheap, also includes a mirror inside. I also love that its different packaging to the average black cased Nars products as the White gives it that special edition theme.

Every year Nars brings out Limited items and I will most definitely be getting my hands on the next lot after this being as good as I expected.

Have you got this palette? If so what did you think to it?

Sophie xxx

REVIEW: Nars Lipgloss

The one brand I have always been missing out on, for my big make-up kit was Nars!

Everytime I went I didn't know where to start, what I needed or what was a good product. I did my research and there was a few I narrowed it down to, so I still have a list for what I want next.

My first 2 purchases were the original Lipglosses in 'Turkish Delight' and a Multiple Stick in 'South Beach' (I will soon do a review on my multiple stick)

This gloss is highly known for it to be Kim Kardashians go to Lipgloss. 'Turkish Delight' is a Sherbert Pink shade. I mainly use this over a nude/pink lip crayon which is perfect for giving an extra dimention. I didn't think this shade was highly pigmented enough for me as I love a bold colour on my lip. I would use this without a base colour though as its has a sheer candy pink look when applied on its own. Perfect for those who love a more natural lip and it is also enriched with Vitamin C.

Obviously there are tons of shades to go and buy but I do not regret buying this one. 

I just LOVE the feel and finish that these glosses give on the lips. 

Ive never been a big lipgloss fan for a good few years now as I love my lipsticks. Just because I hate the sticky, tacky feeling that they give on my lips especially on an everyday basis and getting my hair sticking all over my face but with this gloss I do NOT have this problem. I need every colour in this product. It feels like satin on the lips, luxurious creamy formula which glides on evenly and stays put for hours so when I top up I still don't have that sticky feeling on my lips which in my opinion makes these the best glosses I have ever brought.

The gloss goes on with a medium thickness so it is build able especially for the pigment when you want more.

I would highly recommend these glosses as my go to product so I say go out and treat yourself to one.

£18.50 may be a little pricey for a gloss but if it's the glossy look you love or you want to find a non-sticky gloss then it needs to be done.

Sophie x