NARS • Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer • Tinted Moisturizer

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FiendGirl138 on 5/14/2012 6:51:00 PM more reviews by FiendGirl138

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

This is my new HG! It provides just enough coverage without looking like makeup. It doesnt make me break out and it stays fresh looking longer than other tinted moisturizers, bb creams,etc that Ive tried. And I have tried ALOT. I use Strobe Lotion underneath and it gives me the perfect dewy look. Keep in mind my skin leans tward oily, so dewy can be a bit difficult to achieve. But seriously,the combo of these two products is fabulous!! I apply this like a moisturizer but I find it isnt super moisturizing so I use my regular moisturizer, then I either apply Strobe under the Nars or I mix them together. Both ways work fine. I do use concealer with this and finish with a light dusting of powder. It doesnt disappear on me halfway through the day, it really stays put. Also, I took home 3 color samples and found all three looked fine....so I dont think color matching will be difficult for most people. *I do agree with a previous reviewer that the colors tend to lean yellow. This works fine for me, but yes pinker skintones should definitely test in person.

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bos101 on 5/12/2012 4:33:00 PM more reviews by bos101

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

It seems to be a very nice product in it's texture, but I have found the shade that was selected for me 'Alaska' (I am NW20 in Mac/Deauville in Sheer Glow) just seems to make the colour of my skin look a flat yellow colour. I have only worn it a few times,so I plan to try it with a variety of blushes/bronzers etc to see if I can lift it a little, but I would'nt have thought that was the point to have to use other products to stop it looking so flat. I much prefer Liz Earle's tinted moisturiser, that's amazing for me (medium shade). I'll keep trying this and hopefully I'll be able to come back and ad another lippie. I'm a little disappointed though, not with the texture, just the colour range.

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sparrows on 5/12/2012 12:25:00 AM more reviews by sparrows

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Dry, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I love this stuff. I really do. I have been on the hunt for years for something this light, and that has SPF in it that doesn't break me out. I hate the feeling of makeup on my face, and for that reason, every moisturizer with SPF I have ever tried has felt way too heavy for me. I'm so glad I tried this product because it's exactly what I've been looking for. It's light feeling, it has enough coverage for my clear, but dry skin, and it has a pretty good SPF! It is expensive, but a little goes a long way, and I have tried a lot of products and this is the only one with SPF that I have been 100% satisfied with. The only drawback (and why I only gave 4 lippies) is that the range seems best suited for people with yellow undertones to their skin, so someone with pink undertones might not be able to find a good match.

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leahrenae on 5/10/2012 2:19:00 PM more reviews by leahrenae

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Medium Brown, Warm   Hair: Brown, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

This product is something I use daily. It's great for my dry skin (super moisturizing), blends very well, and stays on me all day (I usually lightly buff MAC MSFN over it). I chose the color 'Cuba' which matches my skin perfectly. Definitely something I'd purchase again. It's expensive, but I believe it's worth it. You don't have to use too much to get a nice coverage, which is sheer since it's a TM. great for summer time or when you don't want a lot of coverage.

I think the color selection is vast...especially for women of color. Sometimes it's very difficult to find a shade match. With this, however, most woman of color should be able to find something that works.

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*TOP REVIEWER* KBaylie on 5/3/2012 10:57:00 PM more reviews by KBaylie

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Tan, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I loved how this didn't break me out, had spf in it, and gave me amazing coverage, but it made me super oily! I looked as if I had rubbed cooking oil on my face. Not a pretty look. Good thing this was just a sample. I hope they come out with a matte version.

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*TOP REVIEWER* ReggieJackson on 5/3/2012 1:57:00 PM more reviews by ReggieJackson

Age: 36-43   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

I have been using this for 5 days and so far so good. I was given samples of Alaska and St Moritz. The Alaska is perfect on me. I was having problems with dry, flaky skin. This gives me a dewy glow. I put some Smashbox Halo on top and it looks very natural. I love the spf in it! I will update if anything changes, but I will buy some as soon as they get more in! For people who are breaking out, it could be the Algae extract. I usually break out pretty fast, so I am hoping I will be okay. Update June 15th. I was using a BB cream for awhile, but I still have lots of sample left of both Alaska and St Moritz. Both look good and I am really loving this product! I will buy when the samples run out. You have to love Sephora for their generous samples!

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chelab90 on 4/30/2012 5:21:00 PM more reviews by chelab90

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Dark   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Prior to using this product in Martinique, I was using Bobbi Brown's Tinted Moisturizer in Deep. This product is far superior IMO. While the BB Tinted Moisturizer slid right off my skin, this seeps right in leaving my skin feeling buttery smooth and moisturized. I find the lemony scent pleasant and not too overwhelming. I really enjoy using this product on those nights when I would like a little more evenness, as I don't use foundation. Even when I'm dancing the night away, I find that this product doesn't slip with sweat.

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monty713 on 4/29/2012 8:36:00 AM more reviews by monty713

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

Love this! Purchased "Alaska", texture is silky, smooth, lovely! No perfume-y scent and improved the look and feel of my skin. Doesn't feel like I have makeup on and very easy to build in areas where a little more coverage is needed. I like this much better than Laura Mercier TM. Excellent for dry/sensitive skin.

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sparklingBG on 4/27/2012 11:34:00 PM more reviews by sparklingBG

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Dark, Warm   Hair: Brown, Relaxed, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I tried a sample of this product in Seychelles and I am VERY impressed by the texture/appearance. As a person who doesn't wear a lot of make-up, I like the fact that this product is really light. I wish it was more moisturizing however, this product works well with the Clinique moisturizing products I am using (I live in a cold climate). I do have acne scars on my forehead. While this product doesn't cover all of them, it does a good job with creating a more even appearance. I have noticed the spots in the centre of my face are lighter. I'm hoping this product works well in the summer.

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dietgrrl on 4/27/2012 9:38:00 AM more reviews by dietgrrl

Age: 19-24   Skin: Very Dry, Tan, Neutral   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Early 20s female with dry/sensitive skin, prone to flaking and congestion. Majority of flaking is concentrated on forehead and eyebrows, and occasionally nose; mild seborrheic dermatitis is suspected. Skin tone is medium to dark and warm (East Indian).


Hooray! Pure Radiant is one of the best foundations I've found for my skin type. Prior to Pure Radiant, every foundation and tinted moisturizer I've tried has left my skin looking cakey and dry and has accentuated flaky patches. No matter how moisturized my skin is prior to application and how sheerly I applied the foundation, my skin always looked aged and dry. The best fit I had found prior to PR was Clinique's Almost Foundation (discontinued), but even that left my skin a little cakey (although not flakey).


Pros: Pure Radiant is the FIRST foundation/TM that has not left me looking like I'm wearing 10 layers of powder and cream on my skin. This foundation/tinted moisturizer manages to not aggravate the appearance of flakes as well as blend seamlessly into the skin. The sheerness allows the foundation to be built up in layers and is perfect for those of us who prefer more natural looking coverage. The actual foundation has a liquidy-smooth consistency and, in my experience, is easier to smooth onto the face and blend in than other liquid foundations. The finish is a natural yet glowy (but NOT sparkly at all) finish that looks like real skin but illuminated. (Again, there is NO shimmer/iridescence so you don't have to worry about looking like a disco ball in direct sunlight.) I preferred applying this with my fingers rather than a brush, but both will work with good results. As far as I can tell, no breakouts related to this product.


Cons: Color choice. Oh lordy. I purchased three colors: St. Moritz, Annapurna, and Cuba. All three lean heavily warm. Annapurna and Cuba are very similar in color, but Annapurna is more orangey whereas Cuba is more yellowy (and just a bit darker). Annapurna was the right shade for me in terms of darkness, but it was wayyyyyy too orange on my skin. Cuba looked a little better, but it was a bit too dark.


The jump from St. Moritz to Annapurna/Cuba is HUGE. Granted, these are really sheer foundations so they tend to blend in and match even if your actual skin tone is different, but NARS *really* needs to put out at least one or two shades between St. Moritz and Annapurna. I also noticed that if you mix two shades together, it doesn't apply as seamlessly as it would if you applied each color on its own. YMMV though.


Finally, the coverage can be lacking if you have moderate-to-severe acne. I broke out recently (unrelated to Pure Radiant, I'm pretty sure) and I have found that Pure Radiant isn't providing me enough coverage anymore, so I haven't been using it lately.


Afterthoughts: While I'm currently hunting for a new foundation with more coverage now that I'm all spotty, I am still giving this 5 stars because this foundation does so many things excellently and I can completely see this being a great choice for someone with similar skin as me.

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ambersmiles on 4/27/2012 7:35:00 AM more reviews by ambersmiles

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

PROS:
- decent coverage for a tinted moisturizer
- not cakey
- blends well
- doesn't break me out

CONS:
- made me look more oily than I actually am!!!!
- shade Alaska was too orange for my skin tone
- Expensive

WIll not buy again for the simple fact that it made me look like a grease ball

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Alfordalice on 4/26/2012 6:21:00 PM more reviews by Alfordalice

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

I didn't love this. It just didn't really do anything helpful for my skin at all. There are way, way better products out there.

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Sanida on 4/26/2012 6:01:00 PM more reviews by Sanida

Age: 25-29   Skin: Dry   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

I have been using the Ten o Six/Bonne Belle tinted moisturiser for absolute yonks now but realised after a little break from it that the colour was way too dark for me. Then I did some reading about the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser and thought I would try it out.

The MUA at Mecca Cosmetica put it on for me and I was pleasantly surprised. My skin was glowing and dewy, yet it looked like I had nothing on. This glow lasted for about 4 hours, and then it dulled a little bit but not to the point of disappearing completely. I'm used to this because my skin is pretty dry. I also have sensitive skin and this didn't break me out at all.

I will come back to report further, as I am about to apply it myself for the first time.

Alaska is my colour, and it's a perfect match so I was really happy with that. :)

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kmichael on 4/24/2012 10:17:00 PM more reviews by kmichael

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Hazel    

Man, this was kind of a bummer. The lightest shade is a little too orangey for me, and it's rather heavy for a TM - too much coverage and sits on the skin. I'd say it's more of a light foundation than a TM. Not dewy enough, either. It would be nice if I was looking for a natural finish light foundation with decent coverage, but I really wasn't.

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fading_visions on 4/24/2012 4:58:00 PM more reviews by fading_visions

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

I wish I liked this. I really do. I love the idea of tinted moisturizers that leave a lovely, radiant glow with a weightless formula but I still haven't found one.

Alaska was pretty much a dead ringer for me; I love that they have a large range of shades. I liked the coverage it gave, my skin looked great and it wasn't obvious.

My only gripe is that I can feel it sitting on my skin hours later. I don't like when I can feel product on my skin and it feels like it continually draws out oil and everything just feels more and more gross over time. I really do wish I liked this product, but I guess at least my bank account thanks me!

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indoorkitty on 4/23/2012 2:09:00 PM more reviews by indoorkitty

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I'm an NC 40 by Mac's system; realistically I might be a hair lighter, I wear MatchMaster in 3.0 fwiw. I have really clear yellow tones (of South Asian descent), and oily/combo skin with some dry patches.

I went with St. Moritz; it sheers out to the right shade on me. The next shade up, Annapurna, looked too red on me, and the one up after that was too dark.

I love this. Gives a nice sheer finish, covers up my acne pigmentation, doesn't feel like anything on, lasts ~ 12 hrs or more (with primer, I use either LM Illuminating or MAC P&P spf 50; I wrote 12 as I've not worn it for longer) and makes my Mom think I've been lounging in spas.

My only gripe is that it takes a little bit of effort to remove. I have to bust out the oil-based cleanser and wash/tone that off too. Other than that, it's really really great.

I highly recommend checking out samples before you commit to this, it doesn't quite wear or feel like any other TM I've tried.

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Jellyblob on 4/21/2012 4:07:00 PM more reviews by Jellyblob

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I'm usually not a fan of TMs and was only at the NARS counter to check out their blush GAIETY (which I purchased) when the SA asked if I'd like to try their TM. I told her that I didn't like the non-existent coverage that TMs give and would be happier with my own moisturizer and a sheer foundation instead. She urged me to let her put it on me and I relented. Boy was I glad I did! This TM has a high SPF and it looks so amazingly natural on my skin! It feels slightly cool on contact with my face and blends like a dream. Best of all, it has better coverage than my sheer foundations!! Doesn't settle in my pores or fine lines. It isn't as expensive as it may seem, when you consider that you get 50ml instead of the usual 30. Already purchased a second tube just in case I run out. LOVE!!

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thmz19 on 4/21/2012 1:14:00 AM more reviews by thmz19

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Spring has arrived and summer is fast approaching, and with this tinted moisturizer, anyone can achieve an immaculate complexion in the sun. This tm has fantastic coverage, its obviously not going to cover up the worst blemishes, but skin should take a breather from foundation. My skin's condition has improved also since switching from my Armani Luminous Silk to Nars. My acne has toned down and I do see an improvement in brightness and evenness. The color range is not very extensive among the medium shades, but the the formula blends so nicely and naturally, i think people can get away with not having a perfect match. Besides, the colors are very flattering and will neutralize any redness. I also love the fact that this tm is good for the skin because of the antioxidants and the mineral waters from the french Polynesian waters. Sometimes putting on foundation leaves me feeling guilty because i know my skin can't really breathe. So putting on the Nars tm every morning leaves me guilt free. The finish is very natural. I wouldn't say its matte or dewy because i feel it really mimics and captures the same finish as natural skin. As the saying continues, this tm is like your skin, but BETTER. I defnitlly recommend giving this a try, and at least getting a sample. Give your skin the best thing it ever had!!

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KimberlyDeseray96 on 4/19/2012 4:42:00 PM more reviews by KimberlyDeseray96

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Black   Eyes: Other    

THIS PRODUCT SUCKS!!!! If I could give it a 0 I would. Total waste of my money. It went on so smoothly and looked great, but know why? It's loaded with silicones and broke me out TERRIBLY. I had no pimples at all before starting this, just some acne scarring. It took awhile (a few weeks) for it to completely destroy my skin and for me to figure out that this was the cause. No point in buying a product that makes you feel hideous in the long run. Ladies do not make the same mistake that I did!

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chrissieO on 4/14/2012 2:27:00 PM more reviews by chrissieO

Age: 36-43   Skin: Very Oily, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

Background:
Having been “blessed” with very oily, acne-prone skin, I am relatively new to the world of tinted moisturizers/BB creams; normally I opt for powder or liquid foundations that typically offer medium coverage. Unfortunately my skin gets clogged very easily if I am using products that have comedogenic ingredients, or if I am using so-called ‘non-acnegenic’ foundations that offer heavy coverage (e.g. ELDW) but with with daily usage eventually break me out in cystic acne. In my quest to lighten the load on my face, I decided to try my luck with tinted moisturizers – and that is how NARS pure radiant TM came into my life 3 weeks ago.


What I have used before:
I have also tried Laura Mercier oil-free (in Tan, I think), Bobbi Brown oil-free (light-medium), Tarte Smooth Operator (Agent 14) TMs as well as EL’s DayWear BB cream (medium). LM turned me into a shiny grease ball even before I was out the door even with powder on top), Tarte’s was too rich/too shiny and broke me out in 3 days, BB’s application needed too much hocus-pocus with moisturizers/blending techniques because it grabbed onto dry areas on my face (I have these due to my topical anti-acne treatments of BP and salycilic acid), and EL’s BB cream looks too ashy/fake tan-like on me. Thank goodness, NARS TM is another story!


NARS TM shade/coverage:
I use the shade St. Moritz which is a perfect match to my skin tone - I guesstimate to be around NC35-ish as I do not use MAC makeup since Studio Fix gave me a bad breakout. For reference, I am Stromboli in NARS Sheer Matte (my perfect colour match during the winter), apricot (3+) in Sisley Phyto-Teint Eclat, B50 in Chanel’s Perfection Lumiere, and 410 Bisque W in Lancome’s Teint Idole Ultra 24h. It is definitely gives a medium-light (but not sheer) coverage, if fact I think it has the most coverage among the TMs I have tried.


Here are the currently avaiable 9 shades from fairest to deepest, with a MAC skin colour/tone guide based on reviews here on MUA/friends’ hauls. Your best bet is to sample in person.



1. Finland (light1) netural pink&yellow NC15, NW15? more neutral, beige
2. Alaska (light2) netural pink&yellow NC20-25, even up to NC30; may also match NW25-30; more yellow-toned than Finland


3. St. Moritz (medium1) neutral yellow NC35-NC37; bit dark for NC30, too light for NC40+

4. Annapurna (medium2) neutral peach NC40
5. Cuba (medium3) neutral (pink&yellow) NC40-NC44


6. Malaga (medium dark1) warm caramel NC42-NC45
7. Seychelles (medium dark2) golden olive NC??
8. Martinique (medium dark3) warm red NW43-45


9. Polynesia (dark) warm chochlate NC/NW45+; may match up to NW50


What I like about NARS TM:
- very nice finish: it truly give a subtle glow (unlike the greasy “glow” of LM’s TM);
- with only one midday touch-up with MAC’s blotting powder, it still looks good by the end of the day even on my very oily skin. I should add that my oiliness is being curbed by applications of a blemish control toner (Paula’s Choice Clear Toner), my HG primer (Hourglass), and Mattify! powder (in T-zone only).
- the “my-skin- but-(much)- better” look it gives all day; I should mention though that it does not cover redness, acne marks well so a concealer is still needed
- allows me to skip moisturizer, and spf; yey, less products on my face!
- applies easily: spreading a pea-sized drop with my fingers if in a hurry, or a dabbing 2 pea-sized drops with a wet sponge (best method to prevent smudging off concealer)
-versatile: I can use it as my principal coverage as per above, or I can use it as a moisturizer under a powder foundation to get a more all-over coverage. I have also used this TM to add a tid-bit of a glow to my day look when using a somewhat flat looking powder foundation: on top of a powder foundaiton, I pat VERY little (1/4 pea-size) of this TM on my forehead, and into the V-shape area of my cheeks marked by the outer corners of the eye and nostrils, but of course I omit the nose; this definitely saves me from the fate of looking like a Twilight vampire in the sunlight, something that I can always count on when I try to use an illuminator during the day.
- is moisturizing enough for me; I am very oily though so it may not be moisturizing enough for drier skin types.
- contains a physical sunblock (titanium dioxide) that is photostable so it offers decent protection from both UVA and UVB rays without having to reapply it every 2hrs or so (and I have yet to meet a person who does that with TMs and foundations out there that contain only chemical sunscreen ingredients)
- gives a softness to my skin that stays even after I take this TM off


What are the cons with this TM:
- the price; $49 CDN is pricey for a TM especially because I will need to purchase at least one darker shade to match my skintone over the course of the summer; however if I consider that I do not need a separate spf and moisturizer, the price is not so bad
- shade range: though I have found a perfect shade (St. Moritz), the shades from one to the next not only jump a lot in depth, they also vary in undertone; I have tried Annapurna, the next shade after St. Moritz, and it looked not only darker, but dinstinctly more orange on me (I am very yellow toned though so this may not be a problem for others)
- the fact that despite stating this TM is non-comedogenic, it contains a moderately comedogenic ingredient (tocopherol, the more comedogenic form of vitamin E) as well as a highly comedogenic, though thankfully minor, ingredient (algae extract). Of course, ingredients are only potential porecloggers until proven so by zits but some of the reviewers here have already complained about acne due to this product....

UPDATE 7/Dec/12: In 8 months of daily use, has not clogged my pores, and no breakouts. Greatly improved the softness of my skin. For summer, I had to buy 2nd shade (Cuba) to mix with St Moritz. Despite the cost, HG!

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