While I often go into ruts of boredom with makeup releases, there is always one product that is guaranteed to grab my attention. Foundation. Ok, maybe two – Concealer too. Oh wait, three – Lipstick. Oh hell, blush too LOL! But foundation is most certainly at the top of the list.
The NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation was released a few months back. When I first sampled it, I was quite taken aback. This is one of the fullest coverage foundations I’ve ever come across. It even beats the Bobbi Brown Skin Long-wear Weightless Foundation in terms of coverage. Because full coverage foundation isn’t my thing, I decided to pass on it.
Then, one day, I was given the opportunity to learn a little more about it, so I popped along to the store. The first thing I’d note is that because the coverage is so high, getting a proper shade match is key. I did not realise it until I went in-store.
I usually wear NARS foundations in Mont Blanc or Light 2. This has been quite consistent for me in most of the different textures and formula. I knew that if I stuck to Light 2, I was quite safe in getting a colour match. However, maybe because of the intensity of the pigment that delivers the coverage, Mont Blanc made my skin look a little odd, and even dull. The makeup artist suggested instead that I try Light 3 – Gobi. I wasn’t very sure, because it looked more yellow in tone than I like. But I gave it a go anyway.
Much to my surprise, it turned out that Gobi was the proper shade match for me in the Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation!
The trick to wearing the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, is to use just VERY little. I was told to use just one tiny bead of product and I rolled my eyes a little. Come on, seriously. It was so tiny, it could just about cover my nose!
But I was wrong. The texture of the foundation is rather creamy and it spreads very easily over a very wide area of your skin. One tiny half pump is more than sufficient to cover my whole face, and then some!
The dollop on left is one full pump of foundation. I think NARS realized how much coverage the product offers, so it controlled how much the pump dispenses each time. On right, it a teeny bit of product, blended. You can see how high the coverage is.
So, how easy is it to use the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear foundation?
Actually, very easy.
It took me a little while to get used to it, and I don’t use it everyday, because I favour lighter, sheerer foundation formula. However, there will always be that odd day when you need something a little more “powerful”, and something that can literally take you through from morning to night, and then some! That’s where this foundation comes in to play.
There are 2 tricks to using the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear foundation:-
- Use just a tiny bead of product. Pump a tiny bead on the back of your hand, then use your finger, gently touch to the product, and then blend into your skin. You will notice how far one tiny tiny drop takes you.
- Use your fingers for best results. For this foundation, you really need to use your fingers for best results. I was advised this by the makeup artist, and in this instance, they are absolutely correct. The warmth of your fingers helps the product meld better with your skin, and it also helps you spread and sheer the product out better. If you use a brush or sponge, you will find yourself using too much product, and you may end up with a mask-like base that isn’t flattering. If you prefer that Instagram-style makeup, then maybe you’d like it 😛 But from what I gather based on people who don’t like this very much, they are using far far too much product.
What I realise is that this is one of those foundations that look and wear better as it melds with the oils of your skin. Do note that I have skin that tends to dry, so I cannot tell you how this will fare for oily skin types. For me therefore, it can look a little off the first few minutes that I put it on my skin. But in about an hour, it comes into its own, and thereafter, I just look, for want of a better word, incredible. LOL 😀
I like how it isn’t drying at all, and for me, it does not settle into my pores or any fine lines. While the name is a Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, it isn’t dewy the way some foundations can be. It doesn’t look shiny, nor oily. It just looks like crazy smooth skin, and it is very long lasting on me.
When I wear this one, I skip concealer, because it offers such high coverage. I have to be careful to use just very little product. This foundation feels, to me, like how the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer would feel, when used all over.
You can probably see in these photos, what I mean about the coverage. My skin doesn’t look flat and matte,, all redness is eradicated and blemishes are ALL concealed with just one VERY thin layer of product. It does look much better in person LOL! Gobi may look a little pale, but it settles very well and looks far more natural once I have the rest of my face on, as you’ll see below.
Once I have the rest of my face on, it doesn’t look as flat right? LOL This was the foundation I used in this FOTD.
As I said, I don’t use this one very much, simply because it isn’t everyday that I wear such high coverage foundation. But there will always be days when you feel like looking a touch more flawless than you usually do, and this one fits the bill for those days. I like it. I just have to be a little more careful with it 😀
IN A NUTSHELL
The NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation is a longwearing high coverage foundation. You only need a very tiny bead of product and I would recommend that you use your fingers to blend it into your skin. Work in sections of your face, and you will find that you only need the tiniest bit of product on your fingers to get amazing coverage. For this reason, it is very important that you get colour-matched properly or you may end up with your base that looks too much like a mask. By way of example, I usually wear Mont Blanc or Light 2 bases, but in this one, I wear Gobi or Light 3. There are 33 shades so there should be one to suit most skin tones. I do like this, for days when I want to put forward a flawless face, that does not budge for the whole day because it really just looks better as the day wears on.
PROS: A tiny bit goes a very long way, A bottle will last forever and a day!, Not drying, Does not settle into my fine lines or pores, Does not look matte and flat, Very high coverage eradicates the need for concealer, Radiant finish without being greasy or shiny, Looks better as the day wears on
CONS: Coverage is very high so may not suit everyone, Pricey, You must test in store to ascertain the best colour match
WHO WILL LIKE THIS: Anyone who wants a high coverage foundation that is lightweight on skin, longwearing, not drying and does not settle into lines or pores, May suit drier skin types better
PRICE: RM195 | US$49 for 30ml
WHERE TO BUY: Nars stores, Online (US), Net-a-Porter, Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus
Have you tried this NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation? Do you like NARS foundations?
I have been quite lucky thus far with NARS bases. I like Sheer Glow and the Velvet Matte Skin Tint. But I am also careful to pick the ones that work with my skin type 🙂 I might be feeling generous on Instagram soon, so keep your eyes peeled and get yourself shade-matched! 😉
Paris B
It looks great but my previous experience with NARS foundations is that it just doesn’t last very long with heat + humidity.
I have read some reviews that say that this isn’t best for oily skins. For mine, it stays put all day long and it’s really hot and humid here 🙂 But I think mileage varies as with all product 🙂
I’m glad you found someone who shade matched you perfectly. I think finding the right person who did that made all the difference in the world. Maybe its just my luck, but most cosmetics counters/stores I’ve been to always matches me few shades lighter. Do you have a fave SA/MUA for Nars? I’d like to go get shade matched one of these days.
You are absolutely right about finding the right person, more importantly, someone who will TALK to you and gauge your comfort level. I have found the best service at Nars to be at the Pavilion KL store. You can try Alan, who is very nice. I cannot remember the lady who did mine this time. I think her name might be Maggie? I’m so not sure yikes! LOL! I don’t go enough to have a fave SA anywhere because I pop in and out at odd times (and am not loyal enough to any brand) but Alan is quite good if you can catch him. He does really lovely makeovers too 😉
Hi! It helps me a lot when I leave the foundation for 15′ – half an hour on my face and then test it and see the results in daylight, outside the store. I have a mirror in my bag or I borrow their mirror, if they are not too busy with other customers at the same time.
Ahhhh I’ve been debating whether or not to buy this because reviews says that it’s not for oily skin. But I feel like Nars is the only foundation that has the right amount of yellow in their foundation and I want to give Nars another chance lol
I have read the reviews that say it’s not for oily skin, so I’d highly recommend you proceed with caution! What you can do is to go and ask to test it on your skin for a colour match, then give it a few hours to see how it fares. If you like the texture, but don’t like the finish, consider the Bobbi Brown longwear foundation. That one comes in yellow shades as well, is longwearing and full coverage like this one and isn’t meant to be “radiant” so maybe it’ll last better 😉
Nice to know more about this product and how little to use of it. Sounds very value for money, you know? LOL.
However, I tend to lean towards sheer coverage and dewy foundation. So, I would give this a miss. I’m sure those who love heavier coverage will find this useful.
Yep! It can last you forever and a day! 😀 like you, I prefer a lighter, more dewy finish for base too. It was interesting however, that this was weightless enough, despite being full coverage. It did quite impress, and I have to say, makes a great base for instagram makeup LOL!
It sounds promising! I am using NARS creamy concealer and it’s my HG! But I don’t have any NARS foundation so really would like to give it a try.
NARS concealer is my HG too! 😀
I haven’t tried a lot of NARS bases besides the Sheer Glow (the hype of it way back when), but I just might bite the bullet after reading your review.
The list of things Paris made me purchase has been growing steadily through the years and will definitely continue expanding. #ParisTheBeautyAndMopInfluencer
Yay for mop influencer! HAHA! 😀 It is my goal to influence everyone beyond just beauty because hey, life is so much more than that! 😀
Hi Paris, am always a silent “stalker” and more often than not, you are my enabler. Lol. Am glad you did a review on this. Been wanting to get this foundation, after hearing some rave reviews on it. Glad that you like it, since most of the time, you are quite on point. Maybe this will be the time when i finally get this foundation. Lol.
@vonnestagram
Hi there! Thanks for delurking! I have certainly noticed that many people like this foundation, but I also find that so many people use way too much! Seriously, a tiny little bit is more than enough so it’ll last you forever LOL!
I’ve always been intrigued by NARS foundations, but it’s such a pain to get when I live on the other side of the sea (Sarawak hehe). As someone who is also on the hunt for a semi-matte but not bam in your face kind of glowy finish, this was a much appreciated review. Also, the fact that it’s full coverage and works with fingers cause I get so lazy sometimes to bother with brushes or beauty blenders!
So thank you for a shot at the giveaway 🙂
IG Username: @bubblyfruitcake
You know something Debo, I have resorted back to using my fingers to apply most of my bases, and I’m rediscovering how easy, quick and better it looks! LOL!
I know Smashbox has this fingerprint sponge thing for people who are icky about getting foundation on their fingers, but I can’t help but feel that it won’t quite work the same ? It’s a nice idea though
I didn’t know what that was, so I googled it and erm isn’t that just like those silicone “sponge” things people were using a few years back? LOL! I’d just go with fingers (not sure why anyone would be icky about getting makeup on their fingers – most top makeup artists use their fingers all the time, just like artists!) and then clean it off. 😀
NARS what’s not to like. Their blushes are my ultimate favourite. I would definitely love to own this foundation. I always visit your blogs for comprehensive reviews. Keep up the good work.
Thanks Genie 🙂 Their blushes are certainly worth mentioning! I only wish they’d change their packaging
I tried their sample at first but then it feel almost the same feel when I wear my dior foundation,, full coverage and not feeling natural at all but good bcs i can see my skin looking so flawless ?.
After reading this I feel like i want to give a second chance to this nars since I’ve never have nars foundation before and i want one to be in my collection. ?
I haven’t tried the Dior one (I think they do a full coverage one too) and if you follow the online recommendations, this foundation will leave you looking like you’re wearing a mask! LOL But always remember, less is more! Even for other brands 🙂
I have been looking for a full coverage foundation for a long time now! The product seems promising! Hope to try it soon!
Just be sure you get a proper shade match! 😉
Hi Paris,
Just wanted to post this comment in case any other oily-skinned girl wanted to know – this is my HOLY GRAIL foundation. I picked it up when I was in the US and yes the color match is super important (I’m a Fiji in Sheer Glow but a dead-on Deauville in Natural Radiant), but actually found it a tiny tiny bit too drying in the winter. Back then Sheer Glow was my favorite.
But now that I’m back, I’ve found myself gravitating toward this for a flawless yet natural looking base! It’s actually been difficult for me to use all my other foundations because of how much I like and rely on this. It lasts pretty decently (I’d say 12 hours pretty flawlessly) on my oily face but I also take great pains to moisturize and prime correctly before. I use the Innisfree No-Sebum primer on my T-zone and I also don’t touch my face during the day, haha. I’ve asked many male friends how this looks and have gotten very good responses, they say it looks natural and not too obvious. I’d strongly recommend this!
I actually use more than you, Paris, (probably two pumps) because I have lots of acne hyperpigmentation and I prefer a full-coverage look, but this is amazing. I’m so happy Malaysia carries NARS!
Hi Vee, thank you so much for sharing your experience with oily skin and this Nars foundation! So happy to know that it works for you and oily skins too! I love how longwearing it is, but not drying, and how really amazingly flawless it can make my skin look, while looking natural. Really very impressive! 😀