NARS • Sheer Matte • Liquid

Where To Buy?

Flysy on 5/21/2012 11:07:00 AM more reviews by Flysy

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Oily, Tan   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Other    

As a 38 y/o with very sensitive and oily skin..this worked great!
For reference I am African American with very yellow undertones. My mother is part Hispanic. My perfect shade was C5 studiofix..and that went bye bye many years ago. MAC Prolongwear Foundation was great but I had to mix NC42 & NC 45 to get somewhat of a match. In MUFE Duo Mat I was a 209...It would still oxidize and turn orange. Clarins Instant Smooth #6. Lancome Dual Finish Caramel III(these broke me out) As you can see, I know my products. Yes, it is more of a satin finish. But now I have the perfect shade with no irritation, breakouts, or orange look.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Sharvoxy on 5/21/2012 more reviews by Sharvoxy

Age: 44-55   Skin: Oily, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

If you are a light, clear yellow (vs yellow beige or yellow olive) then Fiji is a very pretty option (and it's gorgeous in Sheer Glow). If you are used to applying EL DW, then this will be child's play though it requires some careful attention. If you are very oily and need a durable, long-lasting finish, look elsewhere.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

keleb7977 on 5/14/2012 3:15:00 AM more reviews by keleb7977

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Lovely choice of colours. They have some yellow bases which was fantastic as its hard to find a foundation that doesn't look either pink, purple, grey or orange. But this unfortunately didn't come as a bonus as the makeup is useless on my skin. It has zero coverage and the little bit that does go on wears off almost immediately! Huge dissapointment for me and total waste of money. It will end up in the junk pile of no good cosmetics in the back of my cupboard cause I can't bring myself to throw it away after what I spent on it!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

graycelou on 5/6/2012 4:21:00 PM more reviews by graycelou

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

As with most makeup lovers, I am on a constant search to find the best of everything! I live in the South and because of the hot, humid weather, I tend to opt for mineral powder makeup with an SPF vs a liquid. However, If I am going out for the night or have an event to attend, NARS Sheer Matte is my favorite liquid foundation to wear! The coverage is medium to full and feels so light and comfortable on the skin. With a good setting powder or spray, this foundation lasts for around 12 hours without a touchup. I wait tables and have worked double shifts with this foundation on and don't have to worry about is slipping off of my face. Even though $42 is a bit pricey for a foundation, it has been worth every penny!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Destiniezepeda on 3/27/2012 6:10:00 PM more reviews by Destiniezepeda

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Bought this right before a trip to Vegas last July and I must say at first I did like it, but it started getting really chunky after only two months and felt terrible on my skin. It also had an odd smell to me which I didn't like. The packaging was horrible, but I visited sephora recently and noticed they added a pump to it. I would not recommend this product or buy it again.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

corrick91 on 2/26/2012 2:35:00 AM more reviews by corrick91

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

Oh my effing god! So I was under the impression I bought "sheer glow" I went to sephora and asked for a sample of sheer glow, I brought it home and fell in love with it, last weekend I decided to asked for the full product! Well I was so sad, it was a disaster, I applied it and it was so dry and blotchy and made my face look horrible! I called sephora and told them I would be returning it. Since it looks horrible ....well turns out when the associate handed me punjab, she gave me sheer matte! Instead of sheer glow. I just read it and it says sheer fricking matte! Well I came here to review this crap of product, it sucks for people that only have tzone oil problems. It's horrible! Going back tomorrow to get sheer glow, and return the glitter packed orgasm blush! Too much glitter in natural lighting ew the blush is not as awesome everyone makes it sound like, unless your into glitter on your face. So nars SHEER foundation is for me, but not their blushes!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Journey03 on 2/22/2012 11:45:00 PM more reviews by Journey03

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black, Relaxed, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I would have to agree with the majority of MUAers. This foundation sucks. I got it in Barcelona and at Sephora, it was a perfect match, but of course since the SA was snobby and didn't provide a sample I went ahead and bought the full product. I tried it on a fresh face the next day in natural lighting and it was awful. The color was off.. i needed something a tad warmer - not so yellow and it lasted only a few hours before it started to flake, peel and accentuate my fine, dry lines around my eyes, nose and mouth. It was HORRIBLE. And for $42 friggin dollars, no pump?!?!?! Seriously....??? It totally sucks. I haven't returned it,, figured I would mix it with the 99 other foundations i purchased that didn't match and hopefully use it up but never buy again. All the raves on youtube about how this is the perfect foundation, blah blah blah- not for me it wasn't. I tried various application techniques, primers and moisturizers to see if it would work better, but no such luck. I will not be repurchasing- at all.
UPDATE: I ended up returning this and got the Smashbox 15 hr hydrating foundation.. much better.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

tabbycam on 2/17/2012 8:15:00 PM more reviews by tabbycam

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I don't know that I've ever worn a foundation for such a short period of time. I literally had this for less than a week and then I rushed out to the store to pay ANOTHER $42 for Sheer Glow because this just did such a poor job for my skin type.

It is thick and instantly drying, and by the time you manage to patchily cover your face you have wasted so much product. The effects after this labored application process present yet another problem. Skin is left with visible dry spots, dry spots I really didn't even think I had. Aside from the difficulty in actually putting this foundation on and the flaky skin issue, it looks decent initially. However, by the afternoon I noticed it just looked awful - sunken into pores, and it did not keep oil at bay at all for me strangely. I do not have very oily skin (which I'll admit was maybe my issue with this foundation) but I wanted a matte look and this foundation somehow made my skin look more oily than it usually does! Worst of all, I couldn't apply a touch-up of powder to attempt to look less oily without increasing the visible dry spots this already powdery foundation created.

If you have VERY oily skin, perhaps this foundation could work for you. However, if you have dry or combination skin, or even just kind of oily skin, I would find a different option.

The positive of this foundation, for me, was the color match. I used Siberia and it was genuinely the first time I've felt like a color just melted into my skin! So Sheer Glow was perfect because it kept that color while giving me more moisture.

(For the record: I have combination skin that can develop dry spots if I don't exfoliate, and I am very pale, mostly neutral but leaning more towards yellow than pink.)

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

adamj2004 on 2/12/2012 2:34:00 PM more reviews by adamj2004

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I'm sorry but I have to agree with pretty much everyone else :( I hate this foundation. It never set evenly, was patchy, and left my skin very dry, accentuating dry spots I didn't even know were there. And it should come with a pump for the price. That is ridiculous. I know you can purchase a pump separately but for that price I shouldn't have to :( I got a pump from a sweet MUAer swap and after trying this foundation for the last time today, I dumped it all out and used it for my Colorstay foundation which is the only time I've found use for this. Sheer Glow is SO much better.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

bink180 on 2/10/2012 10:51:00 AM more reviews by bink180

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I went to Sephora last weekend after one of friends who has the most wonderfull skin, recommended it to me. I went in to get a sample because I wasn't confident in spending $42 for a 1oz. bottle.
I have combination skin and I have yellow-undertones in my fair skin. I got the sample in Deauville but it might have been mis-labeled and I might have gotten it in Fiji instead. Because when I tried it yesterday, it was unbelievably yellow and I looked like a Simpsons character.

I probably should go back and get another sample in the actual Deauville shade.

Deauville= neutral balance of pink and yellow
Fiji= light with yellow undertones

Although, I also didnt like it because it had terrible coverage and it was a little too matte for my skin type so i wouldn't recommend it.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

happynappy1 on 2/8/2012 5:31:00 PM more reviews by happynappy1

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Dark, Cool   Hair: Black, Kinky, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Edit: Wrong undertone, too drying. Will not repurchase.

I am test-driving this foundation today.

I am NW50, combo/oily with hyperpigmentation.

The color match: Gorgeous! I'm wearing the darkest shade (Khartoum) and it gives me a lovely little glow. It's not at all heavy or mask like and along with some blush, looks like my skin but better.

The finish: It's called "Matte" for a verrrrrry good reason. Hardly any oil breakthrough (and I'm at the end of an 8-hour day). I've blotted once with Mac Blot around lunchtime.

Buy again? Probably not. I'm going to test-drive Sheer Glow tomorrow. This foundation is dryiiiiiiiiiing. I mean dry! I'm over 40 so perhaps in my younger years, I could pull off something this matte but not now. Other than that, really fine product.

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

kahealani63 on 2/3/2012 4:08:00 PM more reviews by kahealani63

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight   Eyes: Brown    

I really like this foundation. It's medium coverage and oil free. I recommend it to those who are combination/oily. I have looked all over for a good foundation, and I honestly believe that this works the best for my skin. I give the packaging quality a 3 because it doesn't come with a pump. HOWEVER, if you would like to spend $6.00 on Nars official website, you can purchase a pump for your foundation bottle. I don't think a lot of people know that, but if you have this? Now you know. When I first bought this foundation (sometime last year) I was disappointed that there was no pump. The Sephora sales associate didn't tell me that when she did a swatch/consultation. The foundation itself is pricey ($42) for a 1oz bottle. But I have to say that a little goes a long way. I suggest using it with a stippling brush. I usually use a pump and quickly buff it on my face. The more you buff the better. It does dry fast, so you have to work quickly. I just repurchased my second bottle last week. My first bottle lasted me 10 months. So that's a good thing right? If you don't know how you would feel about spending $42 dollars, just hit up Sephora and ask for a sample.

BTW the foundations run more on the yellow side. So it's perfect for asians. A lot of their foundations are yellow undertones.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

bux on 1/28/2012 4:31:00 PM more reviews by bux

Age: 19-24   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

Hard to blend, and cakey on my skin. The shade is great, but the finish is too dry for someone of my skin type. The packaging is miserable and you wind up with too much or too little. This stuff needs a pump!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

roxyanne on 1/24/2012 11:57:00 PM more reviews by roxyanne

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I really like this foundation and beleive me I have tried foundations from alot of brands. I usually like a medium to full coverage but I am fine with the medium coverage because of how it looks on my skin. I have super oily skin and so I don't need any shine in any of the face products I use. My skin naturally makes its own shine. Like I said this is definitley a foundation that I would purchase again. I do wish that it had a pump but I can look past that fact. I feel like when I use this product I don't get as shiny as fast either.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

eimearsg on 1/15/2012 11:47:00 AM more reviews by eimearsg

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

i love this foundation ! it makes my skin look sooo flawless! i tried the sheer glow first and discovered its staying power sucked so i went and got the sheer matte and it works way better for me ! have to apply it with the fingers but it still looks really flawless ! i got matched to stromboli which is a little yellow for me ! when im getting it again ill proably get punjab or santa fe ! its not a major problem i just want it to look more natural next time round.
its staying power is really good ! i get about 6-8 hours out of it ! havnt really got anything bad to say about this foundation tbh, the reason its not my HG is due to the coverage, i would say its light and i prefer medium, but on days when i want a lighter more natural look i would deffo be reaching for this foundation !

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

furbag on 1/14/2012 6:53:00 PM more reviews by furbag

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

This is a great foundation. A little goes a long way. It looks so natural and wears well throughout the day. I wish it came with a pump dispenser but it's not a huge deal. It set well even with moisturizer and sunblock underneath.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

hannahr20 on 1/11/2012 11:11:00 AM more reviews by hannahr20

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

I completely hate this foundation.. After seeing most people hyping over Nars products I thought I would give one of the foundations a go. NEVER AGAIN.. Yes it was pricey but that doesn't bother me.. It didn't rub into the skin well at all it dried straight away so quick application is needed! The bottle is awquard as hell.. It didn't come with a pump so i found it difficult to get out. On the plus side I bought this shade in Deauville which matches my skin very well. Other than that it was awful.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

oliviadilorenzo on 1/7/2012 12:22:00 AM more reviews by oliviadilorenzo

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Normal, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

I recently bought the sheer matte formula in stromboli. The color matched my skin perfectly. I perfect medium olive tone which I have been looking for, for a while. Completely matched the description on the website. I wasn't wicked impressed with the consistency though. It was a little runny for my liking & it doesn't blend in as easily as I am used to. I have to take a little extra time to make sure it is 100% blended in to my skin. I usually like a medium-full coverage, this was definitely more medium coverage. I am purchasing the matching powder (beach) within the next week so I am sure that I will acheive the coverage I am looking for. Overall I do like this foundation & I will be purchasing again!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

ladymeag on 1/6/2012 2:20:00 AM more reviews by ladymeag

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Grey    

I have very fair skin. I've gone though very nearly everyone's lines - Clinique, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Illamasqua - you name it, I've tried it. The only lines that could handle my skin were the ones that offered a true-white (like paper) foundation intended for stage or severe fashion use. I've often been left blending white with the lightest pigmented shade to get an acceptable shade for my skin.

No more! NARS Sheer Matte in Siberia is very nearly dead-on for my skin. The coverage is builable, which is great, and combined with the Snow powders from either the pressed or loose I'm set for the day. I don't have any trouble with this being long wearing in rainy Seattle (if you're not familiar with Seattle weather, I take a lot of mist to the face.) The matte formula doesn't have any shimmer in it so I don't wind up with an overly glow-y look to my already pale skin, which is a definite plus.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

constantonian on 12/27/2011 3:06:00 PM more reviews by constantonian

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This is the only foundation that I brought for a month long trip to a tropical climate country. If that doesn't say enough about this product then allow me to expound upon it. At this time in my life, my skin has been on very good behavior, so I require very little coverage. I've been aiming for that no makeup look so this is great for a flawless yet natural finish that covers just enough redness and evens put my complexion wonderfully. I know for a fact that this would not have satisfied me when my skin was more unruly, but I'm very happy with this product currently and find my other medium-full coverage foundations to be too much.

I apply this with my fingers as suggested by the NARS representative. Usually I would use a flat top kabuki regardless, but I find that matte foundations apply better when warmed up with the fingers. One pump does the trick and another half for light spot concealing with a patting motion. Finish off with a finely milled powder and I'm shine free for a good half day. By mid day a nice, healthy glow peaks through and I don't really touch up or blot unless I've been walking around outside in the humidity.


The price is a little rough on the wallet, but the quality is there. One thing I don't appreciate is the pump situation. The fact that they sell the pump separately is ridiculous. Adding insult to injury, the pump is only available in select stores, not including Sephora, and via their website, which charges for shipping if I remember correctly. One lippy off for that. Oh and because their reps were uncommonly pushy and kind of snubbed me when I only bought the foundation and not the ridiculously overpriced Botan brush which was actually rather stiffed and prickly. An ex-NARS manager now MAC MA friend informed me that they are all like that due to company training or something along those lines. *shrug* whatevs.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No