A few months ago I decided to invest in a high-end foundation and chose the iconic NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Mont Blanc. Although I was quite happy with my favourite drugstore foundation at the time (Loreal’s True Match) I had money sitting leftover from Christmas and wanted to treat myself to a high-end beauty product before it all disappeared. I purchased Sheer Glow at the Space NK counter in Harvey Nichols Edinburgh for an eye-watering £31/30ml plus extra for a pump which I thought was more than a little cheeky.
First of all, I have to admit, I normally avoid ‘sheer’ coverage foundations like the plague but the hype surrounding this foundation was just too tempting to resist. Yes, it’s on the pricey side but good quality base products and skincare can be hard to find and, for this reason, I don’t mind splurging a little in search for a visible improvement in my uneven complexion.
Although I adore the shade Mont Blanc and it’s slightly pinkish undertones, I’m still not completely sure it’s light enough for my pale skin, but once again, I was convinced at the counter otherwise and begrudgingly left the shade Siberia behind. The foundation features a brightening formula and contains powerful anti-oxidants to protect against damaging free radicals and turmeric extract to improve skin’s radiance and tone. I use a damp Real Techniques sponge to gently buff the foundation into my skin and slowly build the product into my desired coverage. It’s almost like a BB cream as the coverage looks so natural, like your own skin but better, plus it allows the skin to breathe. The foundation is incredibly lightweight but still manages to cover any discolouration, enlarged pores and scarring. I find that my complexion actually glows with this foundation. At first, I wasn’t a fan of the dewy appearance it gave my skin as I’m a matte girl at heart who spends half my life trying to disguise my shiny nose and forehead, but after using Sheer Glow for a few months I have now come to love it’s natural, more luminous finish.
However, as my combination skin can be very temperamental, on days where my skin is particularly oily I do find myself reaching for my NYX HD Finishing Powder to improve its longevity. Sometimes I can feel it almost sliding off my face in hot weather or during a breakout which isn’t ideal. It also has a tendency to settle into the creases under my eyes and really highlight them. I’m not truly convinced it’s suitable for all skin types as the website suggests and because of this, I have really mixed feelings about this foundation. In order for me to repurchase a £30+ beauty product, I really do expect perfection otherwise I find myself browsing the Too Faced counter and gazing lovingly at their Born This Way foundation.
Sheer Glow is lovely addition to my ever increasing family of foundations as it gives a beautiful luminosity to the skin, however, I just wish it had a little more staying power. For those lucky enough to have ‘normal’ to even dry skin this could work perfectly for you but I’m still undecided if us oily/combination skinned girls can pull this off.
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