About

A glowing, natural radiant finish foundation with sheer and build-able coverage that immaculately evens skin tone. Replete with skincare benefits and the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula, it leaves skin hydrated, more luminous, softer and smoother. It’s suitable for normal-dry skin types (if your oily or combo skin they have a similar version with a Matte finish)

The brand says that the foundation contains ‘powerful anti-oxidants to protect against damaging free radicals and turmeric extract to improve skin’s radiance and tone’.  They also claim that if used daily Sheer Glow Foundation improves the skin’s brightness and texture!  Well I’ve only used it maybe 5 times so far, so I can’t say if my skin has improved but everything they said about the foundation is true and works.

Foundation Summary

• Medium to Full Coverage
• Satin Finish
• Liquid Foundation
• Dermatologist Tested
• Non-Comedogenic
• Fragrance Free
• Light weight
• Silky Texture
• Melts into the skin easily
• No SPF
• Photographs AMAZING
• 20 shades (great variety especially for women of color)
• No Pump

First Impression

I’ve heard so many great things about NARS Sheer Glow Foundation I had to pick it up over the summer while I was in Toronto.  You don’t get NARS in Saudi Arabia 🙁 so it was a must get for me.  Firstly, when I checked out the foundations I loveeed how there was such a good color selection, they didn’t place them by undertone like they do at MAC but more by color groups.  I liked how they had colors for light skin and some really great color choices for women of color.  My mom is more brown (like NC44ish from MAC) and MAC foundations never quite match her correctly.  I spotted her perfect match and tried it on her jawline, it was perfection.

I myself got Vallarius – it was a choice between Punjab which is more yellow.  Vallarius is a bit of a pinker undertone as compared to my usual yellow undertone foundations from MAC but on my skin it looked great.  I guess it varies from brand to brand and texture.  NARS Sheer Glow Foundation is one of the best foundations I’ve ever used.  I’m absolutely in love with it (I have tried TONS of foundations).  I’s not sheer, so I don’t know why they have it in the name..it’s more of a medium to full coverage foundation.  If you wanted to wear it lighter for the day or you prefer not as much coverage, I’d suggest using a very little or mixing the foundation with a few drops of your moisturizer and then wearing it.

It’s not watery or creamy its in the middle of both and I wish NARS had created this foundation with a pump.  It comes in a glass bottle which you have to turn upside down to get the product out which can be annoying.

How to Make it Dewy

The finish of the foundation is gorgeous, its a soft satin finish if you just wear the foundation on its own. It’s not dewy by itself but it does make the skin look brighter and under daylight or flash it has a sheer glow to it.  If you want to create more of a high gloss dewy skin look I’d suggest layering MAC’s Fix + in between 2 layers of the foundation.  So apply the foundation then spray on some MAC Fix + then apply another layer of the foundation.  I like warming the product in between my fingers and then applying it starting at the center of my face and blending outwards.  A little goes a long way.  You can also of course use it with a beauty blender sponge, foundation or stipple brush, depending on the look you want to achieve.  The foundation feels very light on the skin, tho it is a medium coverage, remains soft even after hours of wear and I’d say makes the skin feel hydrated and looks smoother. It blends really well like its melting into the skin, not dry or hard to move at all!

I find that normally dewy foundations melt in the heat, in the Toronto summer heat it held up great without any powder but I feel hot weather in Pakistan, India or even Saudi I might wear a light mineralized powder on top to help it last longer in the heat.

Final thoughts

Recommend, I truly love it.  Its $55 in Canada but worth the investment.  What I love most about the foundation is the texture its medium coverage but feels super light.  Depending on how you apply it you can change up the look from light to medium to full coverage.  It blends beautifully and the look can be changed for soft and glowy to full coverage and dewy.  And best part of all its LIGHT WEIGHT, most medium to full coverage foundations feel heavy on the skin which really bothers me.  It’s like my skin can’t breath and I just want to wash it off.  That is not the case with this foundation.  It photographs beautifulllllly, probably because it doesn’t have SPF (do remember to wear a separate SPF if your going into the sun) and the amazing texture of the foundation.  Color range is great so all you brown girls who can’t find your color, check out NARS.

Under sunlight

Close up under sunlight

Three hours later, no sunlight (I’m wearing blush and highlighter in these photos as well)

Anyone tried this Foundation?  Share your thoughts below!