The Night Glow Effect makeup look with NARS focuses on sultry, radiant glam perfect for evening events. Here’s how to achieve it and what products to use:
Base:
1. NARS Radiant Longwear Foundation – Apply a thin, even layer with a damp sponge for full coverage and a radiant finish that lasts all night.
2. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer – Use under the eyes, on the bridge of the nose, and any blemishes for a smooth, brightening effect.
Contour & Highlight:
3. NARS Laguna Bronzing Cream – Blend into the hollows of the cheeks, jawline, and forehead for warmth and definition.
4. NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder – Lightly dust all over to set the base and add a soft-focus glow.
5. NARS Orgasm Highlighter – Apply to the tops of the cheekbones, brow bone, and the cupid’s bow for a luminous finish.
Eyes:
6. NARS Extreme Effects Eyeshadow Palette – Use deeper matte shades like “Staredown” in the crease, shimmer tones like “Pulsing” on the lid, and a bit of “Shadow Hill” on the lower lash line for depth and drama.
7. NARS Climax Mascara – Apply two coats for voluminous, fluttery lashes.
Brows:
8. NARS Brow Perfector – Shape and fill in sparse areas using short, hair-like strokes.
Lips:
9. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in “Cruella” – Outline and fill for a bold, matte finish.
10. NARS Afterglow Lip Shine – Dab a touch to the center of the lips for a glossy dimension.
Setting Spray:
11. NARS Light Reflecting Setting Spray – Mist over the face to lock in makeup and enhance the glow.
This look balances drama with elegance — luminous skin, defined eyes, and a bold lip make the Night Glow Effect a show-stopper. I love trying out new lipsticks, so if social media ads tell me a new lipstick is long-lasting or transfer-proof I’m going to be very tempted to try it out. Unlessss that ad is from a premium brand like Nars or Dior, because I’m sorry, a new product from any brand is a bit of a risk–they all claim to be incredible in a myriad of ways, but personal body chemistry, preference and use plays such a big role in how a product works for you, so dropping £20-35 on a product that I might hate is just too much of a gamble for me. Plus, drugstore products are so good these days, often it’s not necessary to opt for luxury, certainly not for day to day wear. However, the Nars Powermatte ads really made me curious, and since I got a great bonus at work this Christmas I decided to treat myself by picking one up in the shade Notorious. This was my social post for the competition. Thought I'd share it here too:
It's all about that base!
Look, guys, you are sometimes nice enough to compliment my skin in my reels, and I haven't spent enough time talking about my base makeup.
My absolutely core foundation is NARS Light reflecting foundation. If you see me with makeup on, there's about a 99% chance that's what I'm wearing. I like to put it on my hand (wash your hands first, kids!), then bounce my brush into it until the product is gone and then bounce it into the skin, too. I really love the finish when I do this, and it helps a little with my large pores!
I'm shade Mont Blanc if anyone is interested!
I also love using the Nars light reflecting pressed setting powder to set my under eye and any oily areas. Despite the name, this brings back the shine a little and helps keep your makeup in place.
Both of these are absolute essentials in my makeup bag, and I really need to make a video to celebrate them. Shout if you want one! This Saturday’s Harrods Beauty Carnival was an absolute treat for beauty lovers and professionals alike! The event was flawlessly curated, blending expert-led discussions with hands-on product experiences from top-tier brands. The atmosphere was electric, brimming with excitement as guests explored exclusive beauty stations, tested new products, and enjoyed luxe masterclasses.
One of my favorite brands was there, which made the experience even better. Not only were their products available for purchase, but they were also part of the coveted build-your-own goody bag selection, along with generous gifts with purchase. Naturally, I couldn’t resist adding a few staples to my collection: I snagged full-size Air Matte Lip Colors in *Dragon Girl* and *Lose Control*, a Power Matte High Intensity Lip Pencil in *Kiss Me Deadly*, Climax Mascara, Precision Lip Liner in *Ride It*, and the After Glow Shine Lipstick in *Aragon* with a matching mini liquid blush. I also picked up a travel-size Climax Mascara and two mini Power Matte Lipsticks in *Dragon Girl*—perfect for my kit.
A key moment was getting my foundation shade expertly matched, although I wish my samples had been labeled with the shade number for easy reference. Beyond the shopping, there was so much to experience, from beauty vending machines dispensing full-sized products to one-of-a-kind Carnival cocktails, making for an indulgent day of beauty.
Feeling inspired, pampered, and already excited for next year’s event! I posted this on my socials this week and thought I'd share with you guys too.
Happy 30 years of Nars 🎈 Today I'm elaborating a little on my post with my NARS look and telling you why finding their Light-reflecting Advanced Skincare foundation was such a breakthrough moment for me.
I'm in my late 30s and anyone who has been through their 30s will tell you, its a time when your face starts to change. I struggled with this a lot at first.
With a chronic illness, I found my face was reminding me that all those lost years were not going to be replaced.
But eventually I did embrace my new face & with that I had a bit of an overhaul of my makeup, looking for products that worked with, not against me and gave me a confidence boost.There were several things that have made this foundation my GOAT product of my new makeup era.
1. I started embracing my shine. I'm an oily girl, and I've spent my years battling it with Matte everything. But with my skin getting a little more dehydrated and my spotty chin just not giving me a nice texture under a matte, I realised a bit of shine can actually look healthy and started embracing it. When I shifted my focus to more radiant skin, I started noticing people who's skin I loved in their makeup looks, were often using this product.
2. Skin needs a little love. I have not always treated my skin as well as I should. In the battle against Acne, I have been way too harsh on it at times. And when I looked at this foundation and saw it is full of skin calming and skin barrier strengthening ingredients, I knew my skin was going to love it (and it does!). And to top it off this foundation is so lightweight. I can't feel it on and my skin feels able to breathe. I actually often find my skin feels improved after wearing this.
3. The products you use should give you confidence. This has been what my new makeup regime has really been about. Products that make me look in the mirror and say "YES!" And this foundation has been an absolutely game changer. I feel as though I look fresh and healthy in this foundation! NARS Soft Matte Primer – My New Must-Have for Shine Control
As someone with combination, blemish-prone skin, I’m always on the lookout for a good primer to keep shine at bay without clogging my pores or making my skin feel heavy. Enter the **NARS Soft Matte Primer**, which has quickly become a favorite in my routine. I picked it up after reading some glowing reviews and haven’t looked back since!
What I love most about this primer is how lightweight it feels. It’s designed to blur imperfections and mattify the skin, giving you that soft-focus effect without feeling cakey. It’s packed with oil-absorbing powders, so it’s been fantastic for keeping my T-zone under control throughout the day. The texture is really smooth and blends seamlessly, prepping my skin perfectly for makeup.
I also appreciate that it works well with my other skincare products, including my prescription retinol. Sometimes primers can feel a bit suffocating on the skin, but this one doesn’t irritate or clog pores. Plus, it does a great job of keeping my makeup in place without breaking down, even after hours of wear.
A fun fact I recently learned about NARS: the brand was founded by makeup artist and photographer François Nars in 1994 with just 12 lipsticks! His philosophy was always about self-expression and creativity, which you can see in every product. The Soft Matte Primer really speaks to that ethos—minimalistic yet incredibly effective.
If you're looking for a primer that controls oil without feeling heavy and helps smooth everything out for a flawless base, I highly recommend trying the Soft Matte Primer. It’s perfect for anyone dealing with shine and looking for that soft-matte finish that lasts! 
