NARS Review

Dear readers,

Today I'm going to do a review on two products that I bought for a cosplay project:

- NARS Sheer Matte Foundation (Light 1 Siberia)
- NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder 

I woke up, got ready for the day, and then it finally arrived; my products! It didn't take long to ship at all, it arrived after 3 days. Since I have very fair (pale) skin and my skin has a cool/pink undertone, I was on the hunt for a good foundation that matches my skintone but is also very light, almost one shade lighter than my own skintone. I have watched a lot of reviews and saw swatches of the product. It seemed like a good color to me, since NARS says that "Siberia" has a nice balance between a yellow (warm) and a pink (cold) undertone. It was also the lightest shade in the range, so I decided to take the risk and spend my money on it. It cost €40 (I live in The Netherlands).

What does NARS say about these products?

NARS Sheer Matte foundation:

"An oil-free, soft-matte-finish foundation with sheer, buildable coverage that controls shine throughout the day while evening the skin tone. Replete with skincare benefits and the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula, it leaves skin more luminous, softer and smoother. Used daily, Sheer Matte Foundation improves the skin's brightness and texture."

• For normal, normal-to-oily and oily skin types
• Oil free; absorbs oil and controls shine
• Contains powerful anti-oxidants to protect against damaging free radicals and turmeric extract to improve skin's radiance and tone
• Dermatologist tested. Non-comedogenic. Fragrance free.

This is what the bottle looks like on the picture (Light 1 Siberia)

Packaging and ingredients

There were a few Pro's and Con's about the bottle, packaging, ingredients, etc. 

PRO'S:

- A nice, modern package with a nice matte black color

- Thick glass, probably won't break when you drop it (I do hope you won't drop it from a 2 meter height, because then it would probably break)

- A nice matte lid

- It doesn't contain SPF, which is nice for photos at Cosplay conventions

CON'S:

- There is no pump included, so there's a big chance that you spill foundation everywhere if you're not careful

- The lid becomes dirty very fast because of the matte color

Swatch time

The previous foundation that I owned was the Max Factor 3 in 1 Foundation in the shade Ivory (40).

I have compared a swatch from my old foundation with the new one. 

As you can see there definitely is a difference (the swatch on the right is from my old foundation)! I was really looking forward to trying it, so that is what I did.

Before

After

I am a bit dissapointed about the foundation color. On the photo it looks just fine, but when you take a picture of me with a very good camera and I turn my face to the light, you can see that the foundation is a bit too yellow on my skin. I was a bit worried about it already, and unfortunately it doesn't match my undertone.

Consistency:
It is almost a watery consistency, it is just a bit creamy, and it dries fast, so make sure you warm the product with your fingers a little bit and apply it with your fingers.

Shade:
I got the Light 1 Siberia shade, but there are more shades available right here.

Coverage:
To me it appears to be a light to medium coverage. It dried fast, and when I tried to apply a new layer of foundation, the first layer started "moving", it went out of place and got a bit powdery/flaky. When it is still wet it is easy to apply from the nose to the cheek.

Oil-Control:
Since I have normal skin (not too dry, not too oily) I do not notice it very well, but I applied moisturizer, and the foundation after. When the foundation dried, it didn't dry my skin, but it also didn't make my face look greasy, and I couldn't feel the foundation on my face.

Finish:
The finish is all matte. I have a bit of an oily T-zone from time to time, so I could still see a little shine on my nose, but I kind of like a bit of shine on my face.

Price:
In my opinion, the price was a bit too expensive. I didn't like the fact that it dried really fast and couldn't really build up the foundation. 

What I like about the foundation:
It has a nice finish, I can not feel the foundation on my skin, and it really does what it says about the finish. My skin also feels smoother. It takes away the redness on my skin.

What I don't like about the foundation:
Unfortunately, the shade is too yellow for me. In my opinion, it is not a buildable foundation. It becomes flaky/powdery on the places you try to apply more.

NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder:

Light Reflecting Setting Powder - Pressed enhances the look of foundation without a trace of color and prolongs makeup wear. This silky powder is infused with Photochromic Technology which diffuses light and adjusts to new sources of light throughout the day. Fine lines, wrinkles and pores optically fade as skin is visibly smoothed.Revolutionary microfine mineral powders are loaded with glycerin and anti-oxidant vitamin E to help guard against dryness and keep skin comfortable all day. NARS exclusive Light Reflecting Complex optimizes light reflection on the skin.Soft, silky and luxurious to the touch and undetectable on the skin, this weightless formula applies evenly and blends effortlessly. Ideal for touch-ups, it helps regulate shine throughout the day and seamlessly sets foundation. Paraben-free. Fragrance-free. Non-Comedogenic.

Packaging and ingredients

There were a few Pro's and Con's about the packaging, ingredients, etc. 

PRO'S:

- A nice, modern package with a nice matte black color

- It has a nice matte color, I like the mirror that is included

- A nice matte lid

- You get a free little bag to take the product with you wherever you go

CON'S:

- The matte color becomes dirty very fast

- You have to let the foundation dry before applying this product with a brush, because the foundation will get in the powder

Before

After (without flash)

With Flash

I really love this product! It works perfect for me, it takes away the redness on my cheeks, it gives my skin a bit of a glow/radiance, it makes me look a lot more awake, and on pictures with flash my skin almost looks airbrushed! It was definitely worth all the money I spent on it.

Finish:
Takes away redness, gives a natural glow on the skin, it's  perfect foundation finish, and also very good for photos (even with a flash).

Price:
In my opinion, the price was a bit expensive, but really worth my money. I had to pay €36 euros.

What I like about the powder:
It really gives the illusion of airbrushed, glowy skin. It took away the redness on my cheeks, and made me look a lot more awake, especially under my eyes!

What I don't like about the powder:
It didn't happen to me yet, BUT; there's a chance your foundation will get in the powder, if the foundation hasn't properly dried yet. It happens to almost every powder, but it is a bit of a shame to see a brownish color in such a nice, white canvas.

The products can be purchased right here

People from Europe should take a look on the European website 

I really hope this was helpful, and I will make sure to keep you updated on my foundation hunt!

Love, Annick