I thought it was about time I reviewed my NARS Radiant
Creamy Compact Foundation. I’ve mentioned it a couple of times before, in other
reviews, but now it’s time to put it in the spotlight and tell you my thoughts
on it.
Once I realised that my Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick
wasn’t working on my dry skin anymore I set out to find something more
moisturising. I was still on a cream foundation kick, which is what led me to
NARS. I’d watched and read a few reviews and most of them were pretty good, and
talked about how moisturising the foundation was. So I went to Mecca Maxima and
got the girl to try it out on my skin. It looked really nice and I was sold.
The foundation is $56, and you have the option of spending
an extra $15 to get the travel compact for it. I like this concept of buying
the compact and refill separately, because it means you’re not throwing out a
perfectly good compact every time you finish your foundation. It also means
that the cost is a little less, and you don’t have to spend the extra money if
you don’t want to. The actual refill comes in its own little case so it’s
protected without needing the travel compact. The refill just doesn’t have a
mirror or space for the sponge, which I’ve only used once anyway. I personally
didn’t buy the compact. I didn’t feel like I’d need it because I don’t have a
habit of taking my foundation in my handbag for touch-ups.
THE POSITIVES:
This is a really nice foundation. I’m in the lightest shade
(typical for me), and for a change it really is a great match. I thought it was
a little too yellow, but on the skin it’s not. It’s a really good match, with
just enough yellow to mute out my redness. It’s super creamy, so much so that
it’s almost liquid. I love that there’s 12g as opposed to the 9g I got with the
Bobbi, and it’s nearly $10 cheaper!
The foundation is very smooth, and once you’ve found the
right method to get the best effect (for me it seems to be a sponge, not my
Beauty Blender, just a regular disposable wedge), it looks really beautiful on.
It has a light coverage, but is buildable. I find it glides on much easier than
the Bobbi because of its more moisturising consistency.
THE NEGATIVES:
While it is buildable, it can start to look too cakey if you
use to much. You do have to be careful to not take it too far. Also, even
though it glides on much easier than the Bobbi, it also moves on the skin a lot
easier. I find I have to be quite careful when I apply under-eye concealer, as
if I accidentally swipe rather than dab, the foundation near it will shift, or
sometimes even wipe away completely. It can be a bit of a pain if you’re in a
hurry or simply don’t feel like putting too much effort in. you also have to be
careful when applying powder over the top, which you will need because it doesn’t
set as well as other foundations. I do like how my Elizabeth Arden powder looks
on the top of it, because it’s more of an illuminating setting powder, but I think
if you have dry, maybe even normal skin, using a mattifying powder might end up
making you look a bit cakey and dry. I have tried it with a normal translucent
setting powder and I really didn’t like the finish.
The other thing I don’t like is the fact that I had to try
so many different ways to find the one that gave the most natural and flawless
finish. As I said before I eventually settled for a normal wedge sponge, but I tried
my Beauty Blender, fingers, Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (which a densely
packed rounded buffing brush), a flat top buffing brush and a flat foundation
brush. All of them gave okay to good finishes, but only the regular old sponge
gives a finish I’m truly happy with. I’d much prefer it if I had a couple of
options for applying it to a degree I’m happy with.
THE BOTTOM LINE:
I really like this foundation. It’s not my holy grail by any
stretch of the imagination. I love the colour match and the finish I can
achieve. I don’t love that it took me so long to find the best application
method or the fact that it so easily wipes away, or even the fact that I have
to set my entire face with powder, because otherwise it won’t set. Would I repurchase
this? Maybe, if I can’t find anything I like better, but there are other
foundations I would like to try first. I think when it’s time to buy a new
foundation I might head back in the direction of liquids, to find a really good
moisturising one. I’m thinking about the Hourglass Veil one (or whatever it’s
called). Has anyone tried it, or one that it really moisturising? Let me know
if you have any suggestions. J
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