This review delves into the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, a $49 product boasting 33 shades and promising medium buildable coverage with a natural, radiant finish. We explore its claims of 16-hour wear, lightweight feel, and transfer-resistance, examining its performance on mature and dry skin. The foundation's ingredient list includes skin-benefiting extracts like raspberry, apple, and watermelon, but its sale in China raises concerns regarding its cruelty-free status for those opposed to animal testing in that market. A shade comparison with other popular foundations is included to highlight the undertone differences and aid in selecting the perfect match.Our comprehensive review covers application techniques using both sponge and brush, assessing coverage, finish, and longevity. We investigate how the foundation performs throughout the day, noting its behavior in relation to fine lines, wrinkles, and transfer. The ultimate goal is to provide a realistic assessment of the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation's suitability, especially for those with mature or dry skin types, and to offer advice on whether a sample test is recommended before purchasing a full-sized bottle.
Pros And Cons
- Comes in 33 shades
- Medium buildable coverage
- Lightweight and breathable
- Fade resistant
- Transfer resistant
- Sweat resistant
- Doesn't look or feel cakey, heavy, drying, or masking
- Contains skin care ingredients (raspberry, apple, and watermelon extracts)
- Oil-free, fragrance-free, non-drying, dermatologist tested, and non-comedogenic
- Good shade match (for some)
- Good blurring on cheeks
- Comfortable to wear
- Looks nice from a conversational distance
- Settles into fine lines and wrinkles
- Looks like it's sitting on top of the skin up close
- Not full coverage
- Not as luminous as expected
- Doesn't blur pores
- Not transfer resistant
- Color may shift to more yellow over time
Read more: Hydrating Foundation for Dry Skin: Top 5 Picks
Product Details and Claims
The NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation retails for $49 and contains one fluid ounce of product in a glass bottle. It boasts 33 shades to cater to a wide range of skin tones and undertones. The brand claims it offers medium buildable coverage, suitable for all skin types.
NARS highlights its natural finish and promises 16 hours of wear. It's described as lightweight, breathable, fade-resistant, and transfer-resistant, with a formula that doesn't feel cakey or mask-like. The foundation also includes skincare ingredients like raspberry, apple, and watermelon extracts to benefit the skin.
Importantly, NARS sells in China, meaning it's not considered cruelty-free by those who oppose animal testing in that market. While the brand states it doesn't test on animals in the US, Chinese law mandates testing for products sold within the country.
Shade Comparison and Swatches
To compare the NARS foundation, swatches were shown alongside other foundations in a similar price range and lightness. These included MAC Studio Fix Fluid (NW10), MAC Studio Sculpt (NW15), Estée Lauder Double Wear (1C01), and Too Faced Born This Way (Porcelain).
The NARS foundation (Yukon 2.5) showed a more peachy undertone compared to the pink undertones of the other light shades. This is important for choosing the right match for individual skin undertones.
The reviewer mentions she would have preferred the shade Montblanc (one shade lighter), but it was unavailable at the time of purchase.
Application and Initial Impressions
The foundation was applied to one side of the face using a sponge (EcoTools) and the other side with a brush (e.l.f.). The initial application with two pumps provided light coverage, and the brush application offered slightly better coverage but still needed building.
The reviewer noted that the coverage was buildable but didn't reach full coverage, remaining at a medium level even after additional pumps. Despite the name "Natural Radiant," the initial impression was of a relatively matte finish, with less luminosity than expected.
The foundation showed good smoothing capabilities, blurring the cheeks nicely but didn't fully conceal pores around the nose and chin areas.
Long-Term Wear Test and Final Thoughts
Over the course of the day, the foundation settled into fine lines and wrinkles, becoming noticeable even at conversational distance. Priming may help, but the reviewer notes that even after using setting spray, the foundation didn't fully meld with the skin.
The foundation transferred onto fingers and clothing, contradicting its transfer-resistance claims. The reviewer found the color match satisfactory initially, but noted a shift towards a more yellow tone over time.
Overall, the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation received a C-. It offers comfortable wear and a decent look from afar, but its settling into lines, transfer issues, and less-than-perfect close-up appearance prevent a higher rating. A sample is recommended before committing to a full-size purchase, especially for those with mature or dry skin.