The best Nars foundations to buy, according to three beauty editors

Usually, the word ‘matte’ would make me run a mile, however, I was persuaded to give this Nars soft matte complete foundation a go, and boy am I glad I did.

Instead of a cakey, drying formula, this fluid was incredibly easy to apply and actually left my face glowing, without stamping on the shine. Although it’s definitely much different to the usual dewy lightweight face bases I opt for, my combination, often dehydrated skin, didn’t feel like it lacked any moisture.

Plus, being a heavier-weight formula, it also helped even skin tone, conceal dark under-eye circles and reduce redness almost instantly – something you definitely don’t get from most high-sheen formulas.

So, would I use it again? Absolutely. Now the weather is warming up, and the need for extra hits of hydration is reducing, I can see this Nars foundation becoming my summer go-to beauty buy.

Lauren Cunningham

As someone with oily skin, I tend to stay away from light-reflecting, radiance-boosting formulas. They look great on application but, after a few hours, the oiliness of my skin tends to double, and my face ends up looking like one big oil slick. If there’s one thing I really don’t need more of, it’s glow.

So, for that reason, you’d think a product such as the Nars light reflecting foundation would be a no-go for me, as it promises to improve skin’s radiance by 61 per cent. However, I had desperately been wanting more coverage from my base, and the matte foundation I had been using left my skin looking dull and flat. So, I thought I would give Nars’s option a go, in the hope it would restore my faith in radiance-boosting foundations.

When it comes to application, the Nars formula glided on smoothly and satisfyingly. As soon as it made contact with my skin, I could see my blemishes and redness disappear, but not in a caked way. It just looked really natural and, not to sound like a cliché, a bit like a second skin. It is obviously more hydrating and glow-boosting than my usual matte base, but it didn’t feel slippery, even on my oily skin.

A few hours after application, there was still a glow but not a greasy one. My complexion was even, blemishes were hidden and redness was toned down. While there were a few oil patches that would benefit from an extra dusting of translucent powder, I didn’t look anywhere near as shiny as when I’ve used other light-reflecting foundations, nor did I feel the need to use any extra concealer to touch up. A little goes a long way, too, meaning it won’t be gone in a flash. So, thanks, Nars – I’ve finally got back my non-greasy glow.

Philippa Pearne

The words ‘soft matte’ are what first piqued my interest – two of my favourite finishes in one. To preface, I am a Black woman with relatively oily skin, who also loves a velvety foundation finish. It has been difficult to find a great foundation that lasts all day and still leaves my skin looking plump and soft. So many of the longwear foundations on the market at the moment tend to look cakey upon application, are very matte (to the point of discomfort) and can dry out my skin. However, this particular one from Nars looked like I wouldn’t need to compromise on longevity to get the subtle lit-from-within glow I was looking for.

Nars has been a brand I have trusted for as long as I can remember, so, I knew I was in good hands. After swatching, I saw that my chosen shade, ‘New Caledonia’, matched perfectly. The formula was smooth and felt comfortable, drying down and settling effortlessly onto my face.

When it comes to coverage, I tend to go for medium to full coverage, to make sure all of my hyperpigmentation is covered, and this foundation did a good job of doing that. When it came to problem areas with darker marks, I did have to add a little extra foundation, to get better coverage, but this didn’t come as a surprise, as it is a medium to full coverage formula.

The finish was everything I hoped for – it didn’t pill and worked seamlessly with my skincare and other make-up products (powders and creams). This one ticks all of the boxes for me, and is perfect as the season changes. As the months go on, I may move to using Nars’s sheer glow foundation (£39, Narscosmetics.co.uk), as I prefer less coverage in the warmer months, but the soft matte formula is perfect for me right now.

Twiggy Jalloh