NARS • Sheer Glow Foundation • Liquid

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ambyxox on 12/8/2012 8:48:00 PM more reviews by ambyxox

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Other, Curly   Eyes: Brown    

I admit when the MUA at Sephora suggested I only use my hands to apply I thought-no way lady, this isnt the foundation for my sensitive acne prone skin. But took a sample anyway to try out..I did as she suggested and applied some product on with clean fingers. I am in love with this foundation. I didn't need much and thankfuly there's still plenty of sample product left. I really, really like how it feels light weigh and gives the perfect healthy glow. I will be purchasing the full size bottle and rotating between my MUFE HD because that was my staple before trying this gem out. Nars rocks for this one!!

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jellyjelly on 12/7/2012 2:03:00 AM more reviews by jellyjelly

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

Awesome light-medium coverage foundation that looks natural. I have the color Fiji but I have tried my friends' colors in a shade lighter and darker than Fiji and they have all worked when I was in a crunch.

BUT unfortunately it has bad flashback for anyone that isn't super pale. Many youtubers comment on how great it is for photoshoots but I believe they are either fairly pale or not using harsh flashes. Any photographer can light the situation better and make the product shine...BUT for the average straight picture with a direct flash it looks awful. Keep it for daytime

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bebemona on 11/20/2012 11:56:00 PM more reviews by bebemona

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

LOVE IT!
It's matched my skin perfectly and looks awesome. It gives you a very natural coverage. It can be used alone and worn everyday :)

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kateelizabethx on 11/20/2012 5:30:00 PM more reviews by kateelizabethx

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Hands down the best foundation I've used and I've been through a lot MAC, Chanel, Dior - you name it I've tried it! I've used it for over a year now, in the shade Deauville (Light 4) and its the perfect colour for my skin.

I usually apply a thin layer of Clarins Beauty Flash Balm before I apply the sheer glow with my fingers, finally blending with a brush. Its a speedy application, very easy to blend and it lasts all day (my skin is quite dry so I don't use powder). It has a lovely radiant finish!

I love the packaging, so sophisticated! I love the matte effect, even though it does get dirty quickly, but which packaging doesn't? I'd definitely recommend buying the pump, you can lose alot of product otherwise which is, to me the only downfall but at the end of the day its only £3 or so and you can use it over and over.

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madmilly on 11/19/2012 6:27:00 PM more reviews by madmilly

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

lets start of with saying that my skin is achne prone and fairly oily during all seasons. I had heard amazing reviews about this foundation even on oily skin! I picked up a bottle which is fairly expensive. Loved the neat packaging it looked very classy. The screw lid meant loss of product but it didn't matter if the product inside was amazing. With high expectations I applied the foundation over my primer and set with a powder the colour was fine. throughout the day my skin because so greasy it made my oily skin 50x worse even my boyfriend & dad said I looked oily ! It even started to slide of my nose and chin ! Ewwww. I didn't give up and kept trying it out for 3 weeks, it's just awful. The coverage isn't even good either : looks great at first then HELLO AWFUL SKIN. I'm sticking to my Estée Lauder and mac foundations . Although I do adore the nars lipsticks , when it comes to this foundation I will not buy again my bottle is in the bin because it made me look crap!!! Please don't buy it's expensive and not great coverage . Other foundations out there which are wort the money

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macchimanda on 11/19/2012 12:03:00 PM more reviews by macchimanda

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Black    

NARS Sheer Glow is my holy grail foundation. For reference I have combination skin. Firstly, the shade range is amazing: light to deep shades with varying undertones. For NC 42 I'd recommend the shade Syracuse and for NC 45 Cadiz. This foundation blends effortlessly and looks like skin. I find that since it is so blendable I can wear the same color almost all year round. It has a dewy finish so I'd recommend it to anyone who has dry or combo skin; if you have oily skin this foundation may not be for you but always try a sample and make sure to set it with powder. It has medium coverage but it is very buildable. Though a bit pricey, a little goes a long way. The lasting power is good and I only blot once every 4-6 hours. I set it with Ben Nye's Banana powder to make it last longer. My only complaint is that the bottle does not come with a pump, however, you can purchase the pump separately from the NARS website. The hassle of buying the pump separately is something I could live without. Otherwise, a great foundation and highly recommended.

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arielelizabeth on 11/18/2012 6:48:00 PM more reviews by arielelizabeth

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Blue    

This is a really nice foundation. I was kind of put off by the name because when it comes to foundation, 'glow' often means shiny. It's luminous but not shiny. It photographs really well. It doesn't look oily or dry; just healthy. Sheer Glow is pretty full coverage, so if you want something light I wouldn't go for this one. It's also what I consider nighttime and/or photography foundation. It's thick so it works well for a night out or a photoshoot. On me, it stays really well. I really like it, but it's not HG. I'd recommend it though!

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mom2sam on 11/18/2012 1:37:00 PM more reviews by mom2sam

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

Great foundation once you figure out how to use it properly! The first time I bought this foundation, I disregarded the insert. I was unhappy with the result and I returned it. After other failed attempts in trying to find a great foundation, I saw a review on this that said you have to follow the instructions. So I bought it again, read the insert and followed the instructions. WOW - what a difference!

Just one pump of foundation covered my whole face perfectly. Shake the bottle very well. Then, you HAVE to warm it up in the palm of your hand first until the consistency changes somewhat and press it gently into your skin, patting and pressing the entire face. I admit it takes more time than other foundations, but for going out at night, it is totally worth it. Once you have it patted into the skin, I use a foundation brush very lightly to blend any areas that still needed it. I had flawless coverage - even around the nose where my pores tend to be larger. I use chanel powder to set and NARS orgasm blush.

As for breaking out, the trick here is to really cleanse well after wearing it to make sure you get everything out of your pores. After using a good cleanser and rinsing, I go back over with my olay rotating face brush after washing it off with water and make sure everything is off and follow with toner.

I didn't give it a 5 because it is cumbersome to apply, but if you have the time, it is totally worth it. Price was on the expensive side. The 3 on the packaging quality is because it does not come with a pump. This can be purchased separately for about $7 and is reusable.

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SarinaT on 11/17/2012 6:01:00 PM more reviews by SarinaT

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

I really wanted to love this product but it was just not for me, despite being recommended for dry skin I always looked patchy with this foundation, and by the end of the day i look ill and tired (completely not the look im going for). When its first applied it looks ok, but by the end of the day it looks as though its completely come off. Also I have sensitive skin and it did break me out but if you are eager to try the product out and cant get hold of a sample perhaps try the DUPE for this which is the Neutrogena Healthy Skin Foundation just to see if you like the finish.

Im shade Punjab in this which is perfect

Im tawny in Estee lauder and 4 natural in bobbie brown

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chriseileen on 11/16/2012 5:17:00 PM more reviews by chriseileen

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

I have combo skin, but this doesn't make it appear any more oily. I actually like the shine it gives my cheeks without using highlighter, all I need to do is blot the t-zone and I'm pretty satisfied with the outcome. I recommended this product to a friend and she ended up purchasing one as well. I use to always purchase "matte" finish foundations such as MUFE Mat+, Chanel Mat Lumiere, and even the Nars Sheer Matte version, after awhile I found them to be too drying because of my combo skin. I prefer and will repurchase this product throughout the seasons. (P.S I use the Clairsonic Mia as apart of my a daily facial cleanser routine)

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Carmelacapobianco94 on 11/12/2012 7:19:00 PM more reviews by Carmelacapobianco94

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

This product is definitely very sheer. It is also very dewy so you would need a translucent powder on top of it. I just felt this foundation made me look very pale and yellowy. I wasn't pleased with the consistency and i will not be purchasing this product ever again. If you want a good foundation, makeup forever hd foundation is the way to go.

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bmwgallardo on 11/12/2012 12:41:00 PM more reviews by bmwgallardo

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I decided to buy this product as I have been hearing lots of good things about Nars. It is very sheer so if you want full coverage you would have to build it up. Anyways, it applies really well like silky and it doesn't feel like it clogs up my pores. The only problem is I suffer from eczema and have dry skin, as with most foundations, my dry skin is very noticeable, therefore, I suggest that if you do use this to make sure you have fully exfoliated and have moisturised as this isn't a moisturising foundation. Besides from that, I would definitely buy it again!

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jaj5020 on 11/12/2012 12:02:00 AM more reviews by jaj5020

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

Deauville or Ceylan is pretty much a perfect winter color match for me. I'm naturally pretty pale with yellow/olive skin tones. It blends really well, and the finish is semi-matte on me. The SA at sephora recommended using my fingers, because it helps warm and blend the foundation. I usually use a flat top brush though, and I'll pat on extra foundation with my fingers where I have acne scars/discoloration. It's probably medium coverage, and builds pretty well.

It lasts all day, and I don't really need to set it with powder. I use a primer underneath. It does accentuate flakes a little. It's doesn't transfer on clothes, other stuff, even without powder. It also looks great in pictures.

Last winter, I used a mix of MUFE HD 117 and 120. The 117 was a little on the pale side, and the 120 was a little too dark for most of the winter. So far I'm liking Sheer Glow better because the finish is more natural in real life, and I don't need to mix shades. Also, the MUFE HD would look really bad on flakes, and even with powder, it'd still transfer.

I don't like the packaging. I wish it had a pump (apparently you can buy one.

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scoochms on 11/10/2012 5:52:00 PM more reviews by scoochms

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

I love love love this foundation. I have acne prone skin, which is semi-under control currently, but I have red acne spots that are taking a while to fade. This foundation covers up most of my acne spots while still not being too thick or mask-like. I feel like the luminescence of my skin is still able to shine through. Also, I've been using this foundation for a few months now and it hasn't made me break out. Awesome product! I will definitely repurchase despite the price ($42 at Sephora).

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FerociousWallaby on 11/10/2012 3:33:00 PM more reviews by FerociousWallaby

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

So. I really wanted to love this foundation, and I really was until I realized this *perfect skin match* was waging war on my face!

At first I was ecstatic because I found a perfect match for my pale, pale, pale skin. I bought this in Siberia- MAC NC15 is a bit too dark. Shortly after I started using this, I started getting cysts, but not regular acne cysts. They were akin to what I get when I eat processed soy products... I've never had acne like this in my life and I was HORRIFIED! I stopped using my new primer, I cut out food with even the smallest amount of soybean oil but the cysts would reappear as soon as the old ones went away- it took 6 months to figure out what the heck could be doing this to me.

I pulled up ingredient lists for the Sheer Glow and for my old foundation (MAC Select). The Nars is silicone based with the second ingredient being Cyclopentasiloxane. This ingredient is not present in the water-based MAC I had used for years. Never had a breakout from the MAC.

Other than the skin reaction, this is a great foundation. It photographs beautifully and provides good coverage (it is not sheer). I applied it with a damp sponge, my fingers, dry foundation brush and a damp foundation brush and all produced a nice result.

It can highlight dry patches, so if you have very dry skin (like me :( ) exfoliate and moisturize before you apply.

I am very sad Sheer Glow didn't work for my skin, but if your skin isn't bothered by CPS, give it a go!

Edited 11.30.12: After stopping this foundation for weeks, I have realized that this foundation didn't just give me the reactionary cysts, it DESTROYED the texture of my skin! I had finally, at 29 gotten my skin nice, even with postpartum hormones but this makeup caused my skin to be perpetually rough! Without altering my routine, my skin is back to being smooth and now I have minimal spots (stupid hormones!) again. Three cheers for California Baby Calendula Cream!!

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*TOP REVIEWER* michkal on 11/5/2012 5:59:00 PM more reviews by michkal

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I hear such good things about this foundation, but I just can't get it to work for me. It sits on top of my skin and emphasizes any uneven texture. In this way, it reminds me of MUFE HD and Armani LSF. If you like either of those two, you might like NARS. Another problem I have with this foundation is the shade selection. I have light skin with yellow undertones (MAC NC20/25). There is no shade in this foundation that looks right on me. I have tried deauville (too light), ceylan (too light and too yellow), fiji (too yellow), punjab (dark and off somehow), and santa fe (too dark). With the exception of deauville, the other shade are so yellow/orange/peach. I have combination skin, and this foundation doesn't wear well on me. My face gets oily, and the foundation slides off easily. Even though this doesn't work for me, I can see it working well for someone with normal, smooth skin who is looking for something that will give moderate coverage and a dewy finish.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ChaseSpearing on 11/5/2012 12:05:00 PM more reviews by ChaseSpearing

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I do not like this foundation. The name makes you think it will be natural looking and glowy! NOPE.

The foundation itself is very liquidy and easy to blend, but also causes quite a bit of waste because the foundation does not have a pump.

For $44 USD you should really get a pump. The cap it comes with is also bulky and just like ALL NARS packaging, every speck of makeup or dust sticks to the surface. It comes off easily with a makeup wipe, but it's still irritating.

Like I said, it does spread very easily. But this foundation does not like brushes, it doesn't matter what type I used it ended up looking streaky and cakey. This works best, for me, with something like a Beauty Blender. (But I am convinced that little sponge can make any foundation look much better.)

This foundation sets relatively and you would think with a name like "sheer glow" it would set to a glowy, or at least satin finish. It does not. It goes completely matte. For the first few days of using it I thought someone had switched the bottles and I had gotten Sheer Matte instead.

It does set to a matte finish, but it does not stay that way. Even with my NARS Pro Prime, within 4 hours this foundation started clinging to the dry patches between my eyebrows and collecting around my nose and chin in a very greasy fashion. Not cute. I figured with my drier winter skin this would last much longer but it just didn't.

This product is so raved about everywhere and I was SO excited when I finally got the chance to buy it. I was so disappointed in this, I'm glad it works for other people but it just isn't for me. Sad day.

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*TOP REVIEWER* uraznbabygurl on 11/2/2012 3:38:00 AM more reviews by uraznbabygurl

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

I seem to experience what everyone else does not experience, especially with the Sheer Matte vs Sheer Glow comparisons. I have read many reviews and watched a lot of YouTube videos on the comparisons. Pretty much, Sheer Glow seemed to be the unanimous winner of the two. While I think that it is a very nice foundation, I'll be sticking to my Sheer Matte.


What Sheer Glow has over the Sheer Matte is its blendability. This foundation is one that you can just use your fingers and blend away. Sheer Matte, IMO, takes a little bit more work. Also, I do NOT find their finishes similar. If I were to rate the finish on a scale, (1 = extremely matte, 5 = natural, 10 = extremely dewy) Sheer Glow comes at a 6-7 and Sheer Glow would be at a 3-4. Sheer Glow's finish is really beautiful. It gives that hint of radiance and really mimics young, fresh skin. Unfortunately, it gives *me* that uncomfortable, tacky feeling on my skin no matter how I apply it. It also doesn't last very long on my very oily skin. I'd recommend this to anyone who has dry to slightly oily skin.


I've also heard that Maybelline Fit Me and Neutrogena Healthy Liquid foundations are dupes to Sheer Glow. I have tried both, and I will say that they are *not*. Both are thinner and oilier than Sheer Glow. They also do not have as great of a shade range as Sheer Glow (although I match 210 in Maybelline Fit Me products). If you're looking for a better match in Sheer Glow, it's definitely worth the splurge.


Sheer Matte and Sheer Glow's shades ran similarly, in my experience. I wear Fiji in Sheer Matte & the same for Sheer Glow. I'm NC27ish with yellow undertones, for reference.

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TheHateress on 10/25/2012 11:26:00 AM more reviews by TheHateress

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Dark, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

This is my HG foundation! As a darkly complected woman, I find that the majority of foundations that are geared towards my shade have a horrid red undertone that renders them unusable. NARS Sheer Glow in Tortuga is perfect for me and has golden/yellow undertones that melt perfectly into my skin, and flawlessly even out my skin tone.

I often apply with a tapered foundation brush, or a medium duo fibre brush. Despite the name, the coverage is medium to full and is buildable, and gives me a natural dewy finish. I find that the product last for upwards of 12 hours.

The $42 price tag may be off-putting for some, however one bottle lasts me nearly four months, so I find it a reasonable investment in my outer appearance.

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violas on 10/24/2012 6:28:00 PM more reviews by violas

Age: 36-43   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Hazel    

Love this Foundation and that NARS offers fair colors. Siberia is the best and it helps to neutralize the pink tones I sometimes get. I used to refuse to wear foundation as it looked too made up and the coverage was obvious. This is truly sheer foundation with good coverage yet looks like your own natural skin just better and even toned. You don't need to apply much but it does build nicely. I'm oily and it doesn't fade or melt off. It seems to just meld into your skin and at the end of the day, you don't see tired old make up on your skin. It still looks fresh. Like the feeling of the formula and it lasts awhile. Wish they included the pump though.

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