A couple of months back I started a series titled “Patty’s Current Foundation Obsessions”. Part 1 was Makeup Forever’s Face & Body; Part 2 was Dior’s Forever Foundation. Part 3 has actually been a work in progress. When I started the series, I had a foundation locked and loaded for part 3, but then something happened: I no longer liked it! I had a sample of it and I adored it; I attempted to purchase it on two occasions but my local Sephora was OOS. I eventually bought it full-sized, but by then the weather had changed, my coloring had changed and my obsession was over. I’m tucking it away until after summer is over. I’m convinced our love wasn’t just a short fling, I’m positive there is a long-term relationship there. Meanwhile, I have become obsessed with the new tinted moisturizer by Nars (Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with Broad spectrum SPF30).I am really loving this new breed of tinted moisturizers. I’ve always been drawn to tinted moisturizers but they have consistently let me down. They were more moisturizer than tint, where I wanted something with more coverage that was moisturizing. They always left me sticky and dewy with little to no coverage. Enter Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer, the TM of my dreams!! It provides enough moisture to make me feel like I’m doing something good for my skin with buildable coverage.
This is what the Nars site has to say about this product:Your skin – almost bare, but better. This advanced, oil-free formula provides a translucent veil of color and sun protection while helping to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots in just four weeks. Infused with lush, naturally derived botanicals and ingredients to immediately help thirsty skin feel hydrated. Kopara from French Polynesia and mineral rich seawater revive and re-mineralize skin for a softer, smoother, and brighter natural glow. Skin is transported.
- Advanced sun protection
- Hydrates and helps reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots for a brighter natural glow
- Oil-free. Dermatologist tested. Non-comedogenic. Synthetic fragrance free.
Consumer Testing Results:
- 84% felt their skin was more radiant and luminous
- 81% felt the product smoothed out the surface of their skin
- 81% felt the product gave them immediate hydration
From Francois Nars:“I love being at my home in French Polynesia, so I wanted to bring as much of the islands into this product as I could. The Galaxaura, for instance, is a mineral-rich, deep sea algae that grows in the warm tropical waters of the Polynesian islands’ tidal zones.”
I’m not one who can see skincare improvements easily so I don’t know if it’s helped my hyperpigmentation but I am convinced my skintone is more even. I also love that this has SPF30 so I don’t have to reach for a separate SPF. Those who know me, know that I enjoy the sun. I’m not the girl practicing ultra-safe sun protection wearing a hat, sitting under the umbrella and sporting an SPF100! I prefer to wear an SPF of 15-30 and not worry about reapplying unless I felt like I was burning. I live a pretty social life outdoors during the summer that includes pool parties, beaches and sailing trips. I’ve worn this now to a couple of pool parties on very hot, sunny days and with the exception of some slight coloring (which again, I don’t mind), I felt perfectly sun-safe. Even my nose which burns easily didn’t get burned.
For me, the SPF is the cherry on top of what I have decided is a phenomenal foundation! It is described as sheer with buildable coverage. It’s definitely buildable but I would describe it as more moderate coverage. I’ve tried this with just about every foundation brush I own as well as with my fingers and each time it’s a WINNER! My preferred application method for this one is with my LeMetier de Beaute foundation brush or my fingers. I set with my Makeup Forever HD Powder and I’m set. I get all day wear with this whether I’m indoors or out. This comes in a squeeze tube with a flip top, and a pea-sized amount is enough for my whole face, adding a big more when and where needed.
So far I would say this is a pretty perfect foundation. It feels good on, it contains beneficial ingredients for my skin, has a reliable SPF and it makes my skin look perfect. What more could a girl ask for?
These come in a total of 9 shades:
Finland – lightest with a neutral balance of pink and yellow undertones
Alaska – light with a neutral balance of pink and yellow undertones
St. Moritz – medium with a neutral yellow undertone
Annapurna – medium with a neutral peachy undertone
Cuba – medium with a neutral balance of pink and yellow undertones
Malaga – medium dark with warm caramel undertones
Seychelles – medium dark with golden olive undertones
Martinique – medium dark with warm red undertones
Polynesia – dark with warm chocolate undertones
When I initially obtained a sample of this at Neiman Marcus, it was given two, labeled as M1 and M2 (St. Moritz and Annapurna). When I eventually attempted to purchase this at Sephora, I realized these had names instead of numbers on the packaging. Upon further inspection, I discovered that at least with the Sephora display, they also had the “M1, M2″ labeling, but my box did not. I wanted to mention this just in case anybody obtains a sample and the sales associate uses the letter/number combination instead of the actual name.
I wear St. Moritz and it matches me perfectly. I can also get away with mixing a small amount of Annapurna with St. Moritz if I want to make it a bit darker. I think because this is a TM, the colors are very forgiving. When I obtained my sample from NM, I told the Sales Associate that I wear Santa Fe in the other Nars foundation and she had a chart that matched me to St. Moritz or Annapurna.
Ingredients: Kopara: Hydrate and retexturize; Kopara are natural polysaccharides found in a unique ecosystem at the rim of the French Polynesian atoll, Moorea, known as the “Magical Island.” Two of these sustainably sourced polysaccharides have been found to have a synergistic effect to improve the condition of the skin. They encourage natural skin cell renewal while simultaneously hydrating the skin for a smoother, softer, healthier looking complexion. Ascorbyl Glucoside: Brightens and protects the skin. Mineral-Rich Seawater: Revitalizes and remineralizes the skin, keeping it fresh and energized. It is rich in calcium, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, manganese, selenium, and zinc.Water, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Titanium Dioxide, Butylene Glycol, Propanediol, Diethylhexyl Succinate, Glycerin, Nylon-12, Cyclomethicone, Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Aluminum Hydroxide, Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sorbitan Sesquiisostearate, Stearic Acid Phenoxyethanol, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Fragrance, Dimethicone/Vinyl, Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Trisodium, Edta, Aluminum Distearate, Talc, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Polysilicone-2, Vibrio Alginolyticus Ferment Filtrate, Tocopherol, Alteromonas Ferment Filtrate, Maris Sal (Sea Salt), Hydrogen Dimethicone, Bht, Algae (Algae Extract), Sodium Metabisulfite, Curcuma Longa [Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract], Potassium Sorbate, Geraniol, Limonene, Citral, Linalool [+/- (May Contain): Ci 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), Ci 77491 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77492 (Iron Oxides), Ci 77499 (Iron Oxides)].
These retails for $42USD for 1.9oz of product.
Two very enthusiastic thumbs up for my new FAVORITE foundation!
I had a sample but it was the wrong shade. I’ll try to see if I can get one now in Finland since Alaska was too yellow. Patty knows foundation, that much I know!
I have to try this again. The MA wasn’t there the day I was looking so I couldn’t really get a feel for what shade I’d be but the reviews for this are pretty darned good across the board, from print media to blogs.