Combining makeup with skin-loving ingredients, the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation promises to not just beautify but care for your complexion too.
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Skin tints may have reigned supreme in 2021 but the script is flipping in 2022 with two major foundation launches arriving in January!
First? Queen of the darlings Charlotte Tilbury released her Beautiful Skin foundation (which I reviewed here) and NARS followed suit not long after with their new Light Reflecting foundation.
I’ve worn both heavily over the last several weeks and found that despite coming on the scene with similar claims (offering skincare benefits along with medium coverage) they both react very differently on my skin throughout the day. I was pretty vocal in my review of Charlotte Tilbury’s newcomer that I wasn’t a big fan and didn’t think the Beautiful Skin foundation lived up to the hype it was receiving around the internet. Today’s review is going to be of an entirely different tone because no – I was not on the fence over the NARS Light Reflecting foundation nor was I disappointed.
In fact I can cut to the chase and profess outright how much I really do love the way this foundation is formulated and its performance level.
Keep reading below for the full scoop on the NARS Light Reflecting foundation — including a dramatic before and after!
NARS Light Reflecting Foundation
Available In An Expanded 36 Shades
Like always, we must start our discussion with a look at the NARS Light Reflection foundation shade range. There are currently 36 shades available, which is two more than their last release the Soft Matte Foundation. The difference? The addition of two deep shades – one with cool and the other with neutral undertones. I’d say those are both positive additions to the NARS family lineup!
What I particularly love about NARS foundations is once you find your shade (with the exception of these two new ones), you can wear the same name across their full line. There’s no awkward staring at a line of bottles at Sephora or zooming in on color bubbles online. Personally, I wear the shade Punjab — a light medium with yellow undertones.
70% Skincare
We’ve been seeing more makeup/skincare hybrid products emerging over the last year or so. Concealers, powders and even bronzers formulated with skincare ingredients to care for your complexion throughout the day. But the NARS Light Reflecting foundation really pushes the boundary to new heights! It doesn’t just contain some skincare ingredients — it’s actually MORE skincare than it is makeup… which is pretty fabulous if you ask me.
I know I can’t be the only one who worries about the condition of my skin over time and it’s really wonderful to know that this foundation steps up to defend against the environmental stressors I most worry about (i.e. pollution, blue light, sun damage) while also beautifying everything!
Noteworthy Ingredients
- BIOMIMETIC OAT: Reduces the appearance of redness
- JAPANESE LILYTURF: Strengthens the skin’s moisture barrier
- CACAO PEPTIDES: Strengthens the skin’s defenses against environmental wear/tear
- MILK THISTLE: Reduces inflammation, firms the skin and defends against signs of aging
CLINICAL RESULTS
Prior to its release, the NARS Light Reflecting foundation endured clinical testing to determine any benefit it may have to the skin. 31 women participated in the study and they found that the foundation immediately improved their skin’s tone and after 6 weeks had significantly improved the clarity of their skin — even after the makeup was removed.
Light, Liquid Consistency
The variety of foundations from NARS cover a full spectrum on consistency. The Light Reflection foundation is definitely on the lighter side — most like the Soft Matte foundation.
Natural, Medium Coverage
Excuse the cringe of the before photo above but hopefully by sharing a comparison you can see how the NARS Light Reflecting foundation makes a dramatic difference in the appearance of the skin! The “After” photo above is me wearing only the foundation and there’s remarkable improvement in evening any discoloration but also smoothing and blurring my tired skin’s texture.
Long Wear Time
Here’s where Charlotte Tilbury’s Beautiful Skin foundation tanks but the Light Reflection foundation excels! The foundation holds up beautifully throughout the day with ZERO touchups! It remains light on the skin (no icky afternoon cake face) and stays smooth without settling into pores and lines. Super impressed with its longevity!
Best Winter Foundation?
I’ve tried several hydrating foundations through the years that I lean on in the winter months when the life is sucked out of my skin! The problem with most is that they add moisture to the skin but tend to fall about after about 5 to 6 hours or feel quite heavy through the day. So I was very very impressed by how the NARS Light Reflecting foundation manages to protect my skin against the harsh winter weather while also helping me go from day to night without any performance issues.
WHERE TO SHOP
I purchased my bottle from NARS directly but the foundation is pretty readily available from:
NARS LIGHT REFLECTING FOUNDATION RUNDOWN
The Pros
- 36 shades with varying undertones
- 70% skincare ingredients
- 81% natural ingredients
- Hydrating
- Protects from blue light and environmental damage
- Smooth, blurring finish
- Lightweight, breathable coverage
- Long-wearing with no unwanted settling in lines and pores
- Terrific for all skin types
- Vegan formula
The Cons
- Everyone should be wearing a dedicated SPF daily – but it’s worth noting that there is no SPF coverage included
- While it ties the Natural Radiant foundation in price at $49, it is pricier than the Soft Matte foundation at $40
Overall Grade: A
There’s obviously a lot to love about the NARS Light Reflecting foundation!
When the Soft Matte foundation arrived in 2020 I honestly didn’t think NARS would be able to top it but it turns out I was wrong. The Light Reflecting foundation has so many of the excellent properties we’ve come to love and expect from NARS in terms of appearance and performance – but it manages to really raise the bar much further by adding significant value as a skincare product.
It’s a daily foundation that you can trust to help care for and defend your complexion against damage from blue lights, pollution, aging, etc. Definitely one I’ll be purchasing again – and again!
Shop the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation
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XOXO
Kelly
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