Review: Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

A glowing, satin-finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage. Replete with skincare benefits and the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula, skin is hydrated, more luminous, softer and smoother. Used daily, Sheer Glow Foundation improves skin brightness, radiance and texture. For normal to dry skin types.

• Minimizes visible discoloration
• Brightens and clarifies overall skin tone
• Improves skin luminosity and radiance
• Hydrates for softer and smoother skin
• Dermatologist tested. Non-comedogenic. Fragrance free.   

Source

Product: 5/5

Value: 4/5

Packaging: 4/5

What to like: Easy to apply, blends like a dream, photo-friendly, zero cakiness, beautiful finish and coverage for people with decent skin

What to not like: Absence of a pump, not suitable on the slightest oily skin, transfers, not long wearing under humid weather/on oily skin

Will I repurchase: Yes

Here's a picture of my bare face only with a thin layer of mattifying primer, and a picture after I have applied  only the foundation.

Before                                                            After

I really like how this foundation brightens my complexion without making me look ghastly and it photographs beautifully. The name Sheer Glow does not suggest sheerness in coverage at all. It evens out my skintone, covering redness, light spots and undereye dark circles quite nicely even without the help of concealer.

Anyhow, I have to mention that I don't have too many problems with my skin to begin with. Even after applying the foundation, the scars are still slightly visible but I don't feel the need to conceal them because I'm just really happy with how my skin looks - naturally flawless. So if you're someone who prefers a lot of coverage, this might not be enough for you.

The finish isn't completely 'glowy' or 'dewy', it gives more of a mix of satin + matte finish, which is gorgeous. My skin looks more luminous and fresh.

There's a huge variety of colour to choose from. My shade is Light 5 Fiji, which is described as light with yellow undertone. When I first tested this at a counter, the artist matched me with Light 4 Deauville which is light with neutral balance of pink and yellow undertone. It didn't look too different from Fiji when I tested it at the back of my hand but Deauville does match my face. I went ahead and purchased Fiji instead because the skin from my neck downwards is a little more yellow if compared to my face which has neutral undertone. Also, since my face has a little bit of redness, I don't need to further enhance it.

I like to focus on the centre of my face because that is usually where I need the most correction. With this foundation, I find using fingers is the easiest way to apply due to the foundation's consistency. Also, the warmth of my fingers does help with the blending.

The foundation may look too light but once blended out it matches perfectly.

This liquid foundation is neither too runny nor thick. It felt like a creamy-runny texture. It doesn't dry too fast so it's easy to work with. I can't exaggerate enough on how it blends like a dream. It feels not the most lightweight stuff on the skin but light and comfortable enough for me to sing praises. Only very little product is needed to cover the entire face, I can't say exactly how much since it doesn't have a pump but it's probably about 1.5-2cm  in diameter.

Here's a picture of before: only with foundation, and after: with a little bit of undereye concealer, translucent setting powder, bronzer, blusher and highlighter.

Before                                                               After

And with some eye makeup, lipstick and lipgloss.

Before                                                             After

Last month when my skin was really oily, this foundation was an absolute horror. Currently it's becoming normal so this foundation wears very nicely on the skin now. When Nars says this foundation is for dry to normal skin types, he's not joking. I only see a slight shine at the 5-6th hour wearing this but the shine doesn't make me look disgusting, if anything it only makes me look more radiant. A mattifying/oil controling primer might have helped with the lasting power, I can't be sure how well it'll wear without a primer because I just cannot skip primer in my routine. Oh, in an air conditioned area, I don't get oily as quickly if compared to a non-air conditioned space.

The foundation comes in a glass bottle with a black rubber-surface plastic cap which is a dirt magnet. Apart from that there's really nothing much to praise/complain about the packaging.

The 2 problems with this foundation are:

1. For how much this foundation costs (USD 42 for a standard amount of 30ml, approx. RM 128), I seriously think a pump should be included. Otherwise, cut down on the atrocious price!

2. I live in a hot and humid country so sometimes sweating is inevitable... especially when I do my makeup in the toilet in my workplace =.= When I use a tissue to gently blot of sweat on my face, I see traces of foundation on the tissue. As much as I love this foundation, sadly it transfers and I have to be really careful not to rub clothes on my face especially when I try them in malls.

This is another problem I encountered but I guess it's nothing to do with the foundation but only my skin's condition. I think it's essential to point it out though.

3. A month ago, my skin was really oily. Wearing this foundation only made things worst as my skin would oil up even quicker (about 3 hours max) and when it happens the foundation would oxidise, start melting and my skin would feel really itchy. Conclusion? Oily skin please stay away! If you work in an air conditioned, dry space most of the time AND you have oily skin, you may give this a try but I cannot guarantee if your skin will love this foundation.