Beauty review: NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation

For an unabashed fan of the brand like me, any new release from NARS is always a cause for celebration. The iconic beauty brand just knows the recipe for a cult-favourite beauty product that reels you in hook, line and sinker, and the latest to join their range of next level foundations is the Soft Matte Complete Foundation.
A full coverage dream that pretty much checks all the boxes for the ideal full-coverage foundation heading into summer, the comfortably matte foundation – available in 34 shades - promises coverage that not only looks and feels like a second skin, but also stays put even under a mask.
An oil-free matte, full-coverage formula, it has been crafted to leave you with a skin-like finish that not only mimics a healthy-looking complexion but delivers it too, thanks to NARS’ Anti-Oxidation Complex and Hydramatte Balancing Complex. The Anti-Oxidation Complex helps prevent colour shifting while protecting skin from pollution and blue-light damage, while the Hydramatte Balancing Complex balances excess sebum and keeps skin hydrated via a combination of micro-algae and bio hyaluronic acid. Coupled with superior oil absorbing powders, the formula serves up 16-hour wear that creates a smooth, mattified, second-skin look that’s transfer- and shine-proof.
Like all things NARS, this beauty is designed to be applied with the fingers and blended and smoothed over the skin. Then, you lightly tap excess product into the skin like a concealer in areas that needed extra coverage. It has a lovely velvety texture for a matte formula, and it dries down super-fast and never looks cakey. I have found that a little goes a long way, so start small with a just a few drops and then add extra if needed.

Some reviews have said that only oil-free products should be used under this baby for best results, but after a bit of playing around I’ve found it is totally fine if you allow your skincare time to sink in before applying the foundation. This is what I do anyway for an easy makeup application, and the results have been 10/10. You definitely won’t need powder even after a day running around, which also makes this formula perfect for road trips and travel when things begin to open up.
I love that this product doesn’t skimp on coverage, but at the same time never feels like you’ve got a face full of foundation, which I think will mean it really comes into its own come the warmer months. And as someone who has been slowly stepping away from matte skin formulas as I’ve gotten older, it’s safe to say this foundation has pulled me back in.
NARS Soft Matte Complete Foundation comes highly recommended no matter what your skin type, and is available (RRP $64) at MECCA now.