First off, I am a sucker for make up. Cheap make up that's decent quality to high end. It's always on the agenda. However, I hadn't invested in high end anything in a while so I thought this month it was necessary to make some necessary changes for my make up routine.
FOR SOME BACKSTORY: My regular foundation for a long time was the Kat Von D 'Lock It' foundation in Color: 42. That was my everything. I had really shitty skin for the longest time and really needed the coverage to hide everything. I have combination skin and because of that I have varying places on my skin that are both oily and dry. Back a year ago, I invested in some pretty pricey skincare after finally being able to afford it and never looked back. The quality and texture of my skin completely changed due to my investment and regimen. Because of this, the Kat Von D became extremely thick and slipped and slid on my face a bit-it was extra awful if I paired it with L'oreal Powder and a Mac Concealer.... I don't even know how to explain. For awhile because I needed lighter coverage, I used the Etude House Precious Mineral BB Cream for awhile, and while it was good-it's not as long lasting as I needed it.
And HENCE why I looked into just going all out with NARS. Way back in my modeling days (actually it was a couple years ago-2012-2014) I was using a NARS Sheer Glow foundation for the days when I had bigger events and photoshoots. I really liked the consistency of the foundation and the coverage was pretty decent.
The thing about NARS is that it is used by a lot of models and make up artists for photoshoots. I think even the founder of NARS was a photographer-so the products created really reflect light in certain ways or just genuinely look good in certain lights/environments for photoshoots. I've even see a couple of Japanese fashion models use the blush as well as a couple of other products. While the price point is cheap-the quality is always great and consistent and if you're really into fashion and modeling type stuff-their products photograph well.
This is why I decided to buy this foundation. While I don't model as much as I used to if at all, I want to eventually be more active and regardless, I needed make up that worked for me and made me feel confident. I kind of promised myself that I would put a lot more effort into my make up and outfits-even for school and enjoy the freedom of getting to dress how I want-because a lot of people are confined to uniforms and lately, my creativity hasn't been stifled so I've truly been wanting to take advantage of that.
So once I had the opportunity to invest in a new foundation, I considered NARS again knowing that it had once upon a time had worked for me. However, I really wanted to dictate where my glow/highlight was coming from and that's what offset me from purchasing the Sheer Glow foundation again. I decided to try the Luminous Weightless foundation instead in hopes it would be my new regular go to foundation.
To help improve my base make up further, I decided to purchase products that would all correlate and work together with each other. I've never actually had gotten the privilege to had my base make up be all 'one brand' before and it certainly improved the quality of my make up look.
Along with the Luminous Weightless foundation, I also purchased the Creamy Radiant Concealer and Soft Matte Velvet Powder to go along with the foundation. Everything works really well paired together.
Here are my shade ranges With Swatches:
Nars Luminious Weightless Foundation: Mont Blanc
Nars Creamy Radiant Concealer: Chantilly
Nars Soft Velvet Loose Powder: Snow
CONCEALER:
As I've aged, I've slowly turned into a reptile under my eye area. I have no clue as to WHY that area is scaly feeling but because of this, my usual Mac Concealer just wasn't doing what it used to for me. I heard the Creamy Radiant concealer also didn't get into people's fine lines and crease and that was really something I was looking for. Because I was using a cream/dry concealer before, it was picking up a lot more more try spots/patches... Sometimes my concealer was even streaky. Getting the Nars Creamy Radiant concealer helped combat all of those problems.
First off it's a liquid/cream texture that doesn't cling onto dry patches and is extremely blend-able. A little truly goes a long way and so far I am loving it. The doe foot applicator makes application extremely easy to apply as well. The concealer is surprisingly the shade of my skin. Why the heck isn't there a foundation in this shade? The only downside to this product is its price point-but you know what? If it works? It works. It's NARS so the price point isn't THAT shocking.
FOUNDATION:
THIS. FOUNDATION. IS. EVERYTHING. I absolutely ADORE this foundation. This is my new go-to foundation and I always look forward to applying my base make up now versus back when I used to dread it. The consistency of this foundation is almost like an oil/ink like foundation. While claim that one drop can cover your entire face isn't true-a couple drops really does get the job done. I used to apply foundation with my fingers (and I will NEVER EVER go back to this) but now I pump out the foundation onto the back of my hand and use Urban Decay's Good Karma Optical Blurring bush to apply it. Good god guys, let me tell you-it's like magic on my face.
It's literally like applying photoshop and filters onto my fucking face. I'm never looking back. This is my go to foundation.
As for the finish-the finish while matte does give you that luminous feel that is in the title claim. The finish for me is a little peachy but I was afraid of going with Siberia thinking it would turn out yellow on my pale face. I think I'm legitly too pale for everything to an extent. But regardless it brings life into my face and gives me great coverage.
Pros to this other than the product itself is that NARS has given us a FUCKING PUMP with this foundation. Let me really make a point with this because NARS Sheer Glow never came with one and dumping it out was not only a fucking bateria hole in a bottle but I wasted a ton of product in the past by pouring too much out. Having a pump creates less mess and really helps me waste less product that I'm spending a fuck ton of money for.
And when I say a fuck ton of money, I really do mean a fuck ton of money. This shit is 48.00 a bottle but trust me when I say that it is SO worth it.
POWDER:
Before anyone shits on me over this: Yes. I realize I have the old packaging powder. There's a point to this. That point being: LOOK HOW HUGE THIS FUCKING CONTAINER IS. Look. At. It.
I am not running out of powder for a very long time. I think there is way more product in the old packaging than the new. However, the new packaging is less messy so I can see the appeal-but trust me the old packaging is messy as fuck as not travel friendly *at all*.
But I won't be running out of powder any time soon so I'm not going to complain.,
Onto the product though-The only other high end powder I had ever purchased before this was the Mac Mineral Powder (which was okay). Before that I was using some talc-y as heck L'Oreal Mineral Powder and a horribly scented Covergirl Loose Powder... In which both broke me out horribly.
The NARS Powder however, does do any of this. It's so finely milled that is doesn't bunch up into your liquid foundation and doesn't make you look cakey. This also helps tone down the peachiness of the foundation because it's so white. Which really helps kind of bring my skin tone back without making me look washed out or like a ghost. It really helps set my make up as well. A little also goes a long way-like I said I will not be running out of powder for a long ass time.
The only downside is the packaging isn't travel-friendly and is messy as fuck.
Here are the results of me using the concealer, foundation, and powder for an overdone Liz Lisa-esque Himekaji Gyaru look that I did last weekend. I seriously barely edited this photo save for trying to make it look less grainy on my iPhone 5s quality camera...lol
I absolutely adore all of this stuff. It's long wearing and really had made a difference in my make up. Considering how much effort I put into my face, this was a much needed thing.
If you have a chance to seriously 'Treat YoSelf' as people say, then this is the stuff to splurge on. A lot of people swear by this brand and I am one of those people who certainly backs up that claim!
Until next time guys! <3
