It is a good time to be a foundation fanatic with new formulations springing up on a weekly basis, we've never been so spoilt for choice. Let's forget about all the new kids on the block and concentrate on two the most spoken about foundations ever: NARS Sheer Glow Foundation and NARS Sheer Matte Foundation. As most of us have a preference when it comes to finish and certain needs due to skin type, let me give you the low down on each so you don't end up with another expensive yet neglected bottle of base in your stash!
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation (£31 via House of Fraser)
Sheer Glow is a light to medium coverage foundation that offers enough coverage to hide light scarring, disguise redness and generally even out the skin tone for a flawless and some what natural base. One thing to keep in mind is that NARS Sheer Glow does not mean sheer as in transparent but rather sheer in the sense of ultimate, I know a good few have been put off by the title alone but this is not a glorified tinted moisturiser. It is fairly hydrating (perfect for drier complexions) and not typically recommended for my skin type (oily) but I don't find it to slip when primed then set with powder, and I consider myself to overly oily in terms of skin type. Rather I find the luminous quality this foundation possess to disguise signs of excess sebum rather naturally, as this gives a soft dewy and somewhat radiate glow to the skin, any signs of oil tend to be less noticeable than say with a full coverage matte foundation. If like myself you have enlarged pores or fine lines this formulation will not settle into such faults. Despite giving unbeatable radiance to the complexion this contains no obvious shimmer element to highlight such problems. Rather it glides over the skin providing a lit from within glow and a picture perfect canvas - this is why so many brides and bridal parties turn to this on their big day. In terms of wear when primed and set I typically get close to 9 hours of faultless and comfortable wear.
In a nutshell - light to medium coverage, dewy not shimmery, comfortable, long wearing when set, suitable for most skin types but additional work is required when working with oily complexions. Great for everyday wear and/or special occasions.
NARS Sheer Matte Foundation (£31 via Space.NK)
NARS Sheer Matte Foundation is a medium coverage foundation (it can be layered on for a fuller finish without caking) that again offers enough coverage to hide light scarring, disguise redness and generally even out the skin tone for a flawless base. Much like the aforementioned foundation above, the one thing to keep in mind is that NARS Sheer Matte does not mean sheer as in transparent but rather sheer in the sense of ultimate. It is fairly hydrating for a matte foundation yet not overwhelmingly so. It has a creamy and somewhat thick texture (on the skin it does not feel heavy at all) and I don't find it to slip when primed then set and I consider myself to overly oily in terms of skin type. Being a matte formula you do run the risk of matte foundation being a little flat and mask like but I can safely say this is not the case with Sheer Matte. Yes it does create a smooth, even matte base but rather than being flat and dull, the matte finish is natural and effortless. I personally prefer matte foundations as I find they work best with my oily skin and tend to be more forgiving on less than perfect skin textures. Unlike other matte foundations this lends itself well to dry skin, the creamy texture is not prone to clinging to dry areas nor will it settle into lines or enlarged pores nor cake throughout the course of wear. NARS base products really are a dream to apply, this light weight creamy base glides over making it a breeze to buff into the skin be it with a brush or with your fingertips. In terms of wear, when primed and set I typically get close to 9 hours of faultless wear, I find the matte aspect somewhat controls oil especially on my t-zone. It really is a revelation within the matte foundation world as it is so breathable and natural looking once applied which I find hard to find.
In a nutshell - medium coverage, buildable, matte but not flat, natural and breathable finish, long wearing and can help control excess oil. A great everyday foundation for normal to oily complexions, perhaps better suited for special occasions for those with a drier skin type.
Hopefully that makes the selection between two foundation heavy weights that little easier.
I've never tried either of these but it's good to know that the matte version sounds like it'd be perfect for my skin! Such a lovely review x
ReplyDeleteBlushhx
I have Sheer Glow and absolutely love it, the Matte version sounds so good too - uhh, there go the pennies....
ReplyDeleteLauren x
Britton Loves | Lifestyle Food Fashion Beauty - www.brittonloves.blogspot.co.uk
Odd, for my oily skin I was recommended with Sheer Glow, and I loooove my Sheer Glow - I'm on my second bottle!
ReplyDeletewww.angerawrs.co.uk
Odd, for my oily skin I was recommended with Sheer Glow, and I loooove my Sheer Glow - I'm on my second bottle!
ReplyDeletewww.angerawrs.co.uk
I've not tried either, but this review did impress me with both foundations! x
ReplyDeleteJasmine || blogsallbeautyy.blogspot.co.uk
I have sheer glow and I really love it, even though the shade isn't spot on. The matte version does sound interesting though x
ReplyDeletewww.pintsizedbeauty.com
I haven't used any Nars products before, because in South Africa we don't have this brand... Which totally sucks
ReplyDeleteCANDICE | BEAUTY CANDY LOVES
This was such a helpful comparison, thank you. I love Sheer Glow, but panicked at the Matte title of their latest offering, my skin is relatively dry in areas and so I was a little concerned about it sticking to the dry areas, I definitely think i'll have to give it a go for myself now!
ReplyDeleteHeather, porcelainbeautyx
I love matt foundations the recent drugstore L'Oreal one was a no-go for me so interested to try this one. I'll certainly add it to my list.
ReplyDeleteGill xx EyelinerFlicks
I've been toying with purchasing a Nars foundation for a while now but was undecided on whether to go for Glow or Matte, after reading this I think Glow would probably be a bit of a better choice for my skin type! Really useful post, thanks Adrienne x
ReplyDeleteCharlotte / Colours & Carousels
Sheer glow is my Nars foundation of choice! It definitely suits my skin better than matte. Your breakdown between the two was a really interesting read!
ReplyDeleteTessa at Bramble & Thorn
I'm really oily and I can't get Sheer Matte to work for me at all. It settles into pores and then separates during the day. What primer do you use with it? I've only really tried my go-to one (No 7's Beautifully Matte one) and it's no use at all.
ReplyDeleteI've just got the Sheer Glow foundation and I love it! Definitely better for my skin as it doesn't really get oily x
ReplyDeletehttp://cocoamay.blogspot.co.uk
I love my Nars Sheet Glow but I haven't tried the sheet matte version just yet x
ReplyDeleteBecoming Becca
I will always come back to nars sheer glow. <3
ReplyDeleteWomanouk.com
Glad that these could both work on my drier skin type! I'll have to check them out at the NARS counter :)
ReplyDeleteErin | Erin and Katherine Talk Beauty
I've been dying to try the Nars sheer glow for absolutely ages now and you've finally made my mind up! I'll HAVE to go to a Nars counter and get matched because I really like the look of this product!!
ReplyDeleteLove Kerrie❤xox
Kerrie @ beautybykerrie.blogspot.co.uk
I do like Sheer Glow, and don't find it too dewy on my combination skin,however I'm really tempted by Sheer Matte as I'm always after something to minimise my shine! xx
ReplyDeleteMagpie Jasmine | Zoeva Brush Set Giveaway
I was always worried to try Nars Sheer Glow as my T-zone gets a bit oily but now I really want to give it ago. X
ReplyDeletediagonsally.blogspot.com
I'm glad you did this post because obviously the hype regarding Sheer glow has got to me and I'd like to try it but I've always wondered whether Sheer matte would be better for me as I much prefer matte finishes. I know everybody says that Sheer glow isn't really a dewy/glowy foundation, despite the name, but I still thought that Sheer matte might be better for me, I was just a little concerned because I have dry/very dry skin x
ReplyDeleteBecky @ The Little Blog of Beauty
I bought Sheer Glow a few months ago but it was the wrong colour so I had to sell it! :( I think I might repurchase for the summer, but the All Day Luminous Weightless one is great too which I'm loving at the moment xx
ReplyDeleteKaran//studentbeautyhack
Thanks for this comparison! I have Sheer Glow and oily skin, like you it wears fine when primed and set with a powder. Be really interested to try Sheer Matte though to compare xx
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