NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation Review & Swatches
NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation ($38 plus $10 for the compact) is kinda my new best friend. Scratch that, it’s kinda life changing. I don’t reach for cream foundations often…granted I like BB Creams and I like cream foundations! I just don’t like compact cream foundations because they are often quite heavy and provide a little too much coverage and dare I say even though they promise a matte finish they feel quite oily and greasy. Plus they transfer all crazy-like.
Cream foundations are ever evolving and some brand or another is always trying to improve on the compact cream formula but very few succeed. When I originally heard about the NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation I was skeptical.
After trying it my mind is a little blown.
Take a look!
NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation is a available in 15 shades and promises a lightweight, luminous finish with a formula that contains an advanced emulsion that allows for the product to blend easily while remaining weightless, buildable, and moisture rich.
Vallauris Medium 1.5 and Deauville Light 4
You might wish to turn away if you have more oily skin or larger pores. My best friend Jai purchased this (he has larger pores/oily skin) and disliked it. He felt like it accentuated his larger pores and didn’t look as smooth on his skin as it did on mine (remember he’s a dude, he shaves so he’s working with a less than smooth surface) and he also felt it was a bit too moisturizing.
I happen to have drier yet smoother skin and smaller pores. I did scared when he told me too hydrating….hydrating translates as grease to me especially when it comes to cream foundations. After testing it for a few weeks I was very surprised how much I liked the texture, how smooth the product applied, how incredible it made my skin look.
Surprisingly it has a smooth slightly whipped consistency that’s soft, easy to apply, and blends out to a picture perfect finish which doesn’t cling to my drier areas. He wasn’t joking it is indeed moisture rich but it doesn’t feel heavy nor does it create shine or oily on my skin. At one point I found myself applying as a concealer of sorts because the texture reminded me of my beloved and long gone Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer.
My skin looked brighter after an application more radiant and the smooth, semi-matte finish was quite flattering overall. I really like using my fingers for application but I also enjoyed using the double sided brush for application that came with the recent Tarte Beauty Without Boundaries Set as this gave me a super airbrushed appearance.
You do need to pay special attention when prepping so you’ll get the smoothest, softest appearance when using this. For myself moisturizer in the AM followed up with primer was essential. And remember a little goes a very long way…! It’s quite pigmented so build slowly for the best results.
Now…
I dislike two things here. One, can we please get a compact with this? Having to pay ten bucks more because the foundation is sold without a compact is cra…! I calls ’em like I sees ’em sorry NARS. Secondly, the compact is rubber and boy does it get dirty fast. We all know NARS has a packaging that just attracts powder and grime but when you’re working with a formula like Radiant Cream you’re bound to make a mess quickly of this compact! Sadness!
Secondly, wear time….
Unfortunately like most cream compact foundations this wears super short on me and around hour four I feel like I didn’t apply foundation at all. That’s rather sad as I do like my foundation to give me a strong wear for my money especially since I am not interested in reapplying it as the day progresses. It’ll vary for folks I’m sure but when it comes to cream compacts my skin just sucks ’em up and they fade rather fast.
Overall, NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation is one of the best cream compacts I’ve tried in a very long time. Coverage is excellent, the formula is a delightful texture, and it gives my skin a perfect flawless finish. I would wish for more wear time but blame it on my skin’s chemistry I guess! As far the $10 compact that can easily be fixed…are you listening NARS?
It’s available now on counters or at Sephora and Sephora.com.
Tried it?
Do share!