NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation Review | Before & After

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Priced at

^£29

+ Buy From

• Sephora UK*
• NARS*
• Cult Beauty*

Get the low down on the NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation. I was super excited to try it because I love the Concealer in this range! Here’s what you need to know! I have swatches and before and after photos for you.

The foundation is now available in the UK at Boots online*.  The price is £28. The new base launched first in the US at Sephora*. 

You probably know that I am not really a fan of a matte finish, but I absolutely love the Soft Matte Complete Concealer, even though I really didn’t expect to. It has a lovely creamy texture, and softly airbrushes the skin without making it look dry or cakey. Having tested out the foundation, I am pleased to say, it’s a pretty glowy matte, and nothing flat or one dimensional. Yay.

What is NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation?

• Full coverage
• All natural-looking matte finish
• Optimal Diffusing Powder, also found in Soft Matte Complete Concealer,
  maximizes light diffusion to absorb & and refract light for an instant blurring effect
• Resists shifting shades thanks to an exclusive Anti-Oxidation Complex
• Transfer proof
• Shine-proof
• Offers comfortable 16-hour wear
• New Hydramatte Balancing Complex balances excess sebum
• Helps protect skin from pollutants, free radicals and blue-light damage
• Keeps skin hydrated with a combination of micro-algae and Bio Hyaluronic Acid
• Superior Oil Absorbing Powders create a smooth, mattified, second skin look
• Available in 34 shades for all skin tones

The shades

There are 34 shades of the Soft Matte Complete Foundation.

NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation Swatches

I have three shades to show you – Yukon Light 2.5, Gobi Light 3 and Salzburg Light 3.5:

My most recent NARS match is Deauville in the Longwear Radiant formula, but I don’t have that one in my samples.

Before & After Photos

I wasn’t sure which shade to test first. Here are all three lightly swatched on the side of my face. Gobi is too yellow and so I think it’s between Yukon and Salzburg.

I opted to test Yukon first but I feel it may be a little cool and ashy on my skin tone. I will let you judge by these before and after photos. I have also included a photo of Salzburg on my skin, which I think suits me better.

My Review

The NARS Soft Matte Complete foundation is so easy to apply, and I simply used my fingers to blend in quite a small amount. The coverage is really good so you don’t need too much product, and a little goes a long way. It’s really easy to blend and the formula provides instant coverage that still looks really natural.

In terms of the finish, it provides a soft, luminous velvet matte that I really like. It’s not at all dewy, but it isn’t flat and it’s amazing for smoothing out enlarged pores. It really does give a nice baby skin effect. If you are looking for a flawless, yet natural look, then I think you will love this.

As well as being great on pores, it’s also excellent on swiftly covering pigmentation and redness without looking mask-like. I am really impressed.

I left it unpowdered and my natural radiance came through after an hour or two, but no actual shine broke through, which those with oily skins will be very pleased it about. I am combination for your reference.

What I really love about this, is that it really doesn’t feel like foundation on the skin. It has a very light texture that’s undetectable to the touch.

Where to buy it

The foundation is now available at:

• Sephora UK*
• NARS*
• Cult Beauty*