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Original poster

NARS sheer glow foundation looks awful - am I doing something wrong?

19 replies

failing40s · 18/05/2022 10:40

Has anyone else found this with nars sheer glow? It just looks horrible on my (reasonably ok) skin. It's sinking into my pores, caking and not blending in. I've tried applying with fingers, a brush, a sponge. I absolutely love the nars tinted moisturiser I have, but the sheer glow just looks horrid.

I do have The Ordinary primer, but to be honest I'm not sure it makes much difference, plus most days I'm not going to be bothered with primer as well.

Any advice? I've got a near full bottle and it seems like a waste to chuck it.

OP posts:
BrandNewBicep · 18/05/2022 13:07

I couldn't get it to work on my skin at all. I have had more success with the Longwear Radiant foundation. Still find it tricky to blend and it stuck to dry patches. However, after using lactic acid it looks really nice now. Also struggled with their new one - Naturally Radiant I think. I found this to be the most blendable and dewy out of all of the foundations, but still didn't look great.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 18/05/2022 13:11

Take it back and tell them it doesn't work for you, they want your future custom. Even Boots do this with No7.

PAFMO · 18/05/2022 14:18

No, it's not you. It's awful. It's not sheer and it doesn't give glow. I bought some and it looked like I'd slapped lard on my face. Very strange stuff.

jeaux90 · 18/05/2022 15:15

It's not good at all especially on my dryer 50 year old skin. I now mix Vita liberata body blur for the face with Bobby Brown foundation.

If I just want dewy skin with less coverage the VL stuff is fab on its own.

Original poster
failing40s · 19/05/2022 08:26

Thanks for the replies - glad it's not just me. Thanks for the suggestion of taking it back @MrsPelligrinoPetrichor - I'll try that - even if I can swap it for the tinted moisturiser I'll be happy.

So any recommendations for a light to medium coverage foundation? I'm mid 40s and I don't really have any major skin issues other than I feel my pores are getting more visible, especially on my chin. I'm happy to spend a bit on it - nars type price range is fine.

@jeaux90 will check out the body blur you mention.

OP posts:
jeaux90 · 19/05/2022 08:32

@failing40s the vita liberata stuff for the face is wonderful at giving you a glow. Then I use Trinity miracle blur over the pores.

It's perfect for a natural glowy look.

As I said, if you need a bit more coverage just mix it in with a foundation (one that works!)

If you are near a Bobby brown counter go in, they were super helpful and I love their foundation they recommended for my dry skin.

Original poster
failing40s · 19/05/2022 08:37

Fab - thank you 🙂 I feel a trip to the shops coming on. We've got a Bobbi brown store where I live so will pop in there.

OP posts:
moomintrolls · 19/05/2022 09:01

Do you exfoliate regularly?

Original poster
failing40s · 19/05/2022 09:09

moomintrolls · 19/05/2022 09:01

Do you exfoliate regularly?

I used to regularly use an AHA toner for exfoliation, but a couple of months ago I signed up for Skin+Me and they don't recommend it while your skin is getting used to retinols. I'm in my 3rd month now so maybe I could go back to using it? I do a 'hot cloth' cleanser at night with a flannel though.

OP posts:
Original poster
failing40s · 19/05/2022 09:11

Should have said - I'm quite new to skincare stuff! I'm lucky to have had fairly unproblematic skin and it's only as I've got to mid-40s that I've been paying more attention to it!!

OP posts:
Sameiam · 19/05/2022 10:30

Weird, I like it! I dont put much on though, you can still see my freckles etc through it and I have to add concealer to dark circles.

jeaux90 · 19/05/2022 10:44

What's weird is I love the NARS under eye concealer but the foundation is awful.

PartyPlan · 19/05/2022 10:47

Go to the Estée Lauder counter and ask to try Futurist and Double Wear Sheer. They will colour match and give you a sample to take away that lasts days. The DWS is really quite sheer so that might work for you. Futurist is my current favourite, light to medium coverage and gives a nice finish.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 19/05/2022 11:09

PartyPlan · 19/05/2022 10:47

Go to the Estée Lauder counter and ask to try Futurist and Double Wear Sheer. They will colour match and give you a sample to take away that lasts days. The DWS is really quite sheer so that might work for you. Futurist is my current favourite, light to medium coverage and gives a nice finish.

Was just about to post the same! Brilliant stuff

IheartJKRowling · 19/05/2022 12:13

Another vote for the Vita Liberata Beauty Blur. I mix it with foundation or bronzer and it gives a lovely finish.

It's a mixture of primer and colour so it does really help blur your pores and is very flattering on a more mature skin.

LadyOfTheCanyon · 19/05/2022 18:57

I love sheer glow! Although the name is awful, you're right.

When my skin is in a retinol shed there's nothing I can use that looks great as the foundation clings to every last bit of snake skin but 95% of the time my skin is pretty damn good due to Vit C, glycolics and manual exfoliation.

LadyOfTheCanyon · 19/05/2022 19:00

Recent foundation I bought that I thought was pretty good was a Rimmel one in the blue bottle. Relatively sheer. Good colour match.

superplumb · 20/05/2022 08:15

I really like it but....I need to really prep ny skin beforehand. No dry patches at all because it clings. I also use a silicone type primer like benefit pore professional. Then it works. If they wont take it back try the mini version of the benefit primer from boots and moisturise really well beforehand.

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