When it comes to naming their products, NARS sure do they like their crazy long titles - I don't think you could possibly fit another adjective into this mad choice of name. On first impressions, this foundation makes a hell of a lot of promises. But after three weeks of use, it's certainly lived up to them all.
Until about a year ago, I was terrified of foundations. After a couple of orange-coloured disasters in my early teens, I thought I was done with the stuff for life. Even being colour-matched filled me with dread. For years I was quite happy jogging along with Benefit's cult classic 'Erase Paste' and whatever cheap compact powder I stumbled upon. They were simpler times.
When I started my job in retail last April, I was plagued with a series of bad breakouts. It's as if my skin knew that I needed to look my best and was punishing me for years of neglect. So I bought the BareMinerals introductory kit and dabbled in foundation for the first time since I was fourteen. Except thick foundation powder in the height of Summer isn't such a great combination. As I wrote here, I then moved onto Benefit's 'The Big Easy' liquid-to-powder CC cream which worked great for a while - it was thick consistency and ideal for 8-hour shifts. But once I got to university, I wanted lighter, natural-looking coverage. I was distinctly underwhelmed by the BareMinerals 'BareSkin' serum foundation and was in the market for a new product when the latest NARS addition was released. Devoted fans of the original 'Sheer Glow' foundation haven't exactly been singing this one's praises, but I never got on with the cult classic when I used to steal it from my Mum's dressing table. An update of the hugely successful foundation with a matte finish? I couldn't resist and indulged when I attended #BeautyChatLIVE last week.
After three weeks of use, I'm seriously impressed. This foundation has withstood full days of lectures and some big nights out. It doesn't budge and looks very natural - it gives the skin a slight glow and is still suitable for oiler complexions. One of my old qualms about foundation is that it has a tendency to sit on the top of your skin and just generally looks 'cakey'. The new NARS formula is so easy to blend that I found using my fingers is more effective than a standard foundation brush. Personally, I don't set the foundation with a powder because it makes me look a little too 'done-up' for my liking but instead carry round my trusty Sephora blotting pads for oily T-Zone emergencies.
It's not the best for covering up break-outs but it does provide a great base for further concealing. My love of 'Erase Paste' is still going strong some seven years later! Although I absolutely love the packaging (even the bottle has a slight 'glow' to it), I do find the lid gets a bit grubby very quickly. I did my best to wipe it down with a make-up remover wipe for the above snap but it was just not having it - on the plus side, I suppose it's testament to this foundation's long-lasting power! Another advantage of this foundation is the pump that's included - sounds obvious but it's a NARS first.
Retailing at £32, NARS' latest addition isn't the cheapest foundation out there but it isn't the most expensive either. I've personally found a match I'm happy with as it combines a sheer, natural glow with the right amount of coverage and a matte finish. I can only sing it's praises. What can I say, it's love.