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NARS Sheer Matte Foundation

What it is:A soft, matte finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage.What it does: This Sheer Matte Foundation enhances, without masking, your overall natural complexion. The weightless formula absorbs oil and keeps skin shine free all day long. The complexion brightening properties improve skin brightness, radiance, and texture, leaving the complexion with a luminous, fresh finish.What else you need to know: Suitable for normal, normal-to-oily, oily, and very oily skins types. Research Results:- 100% say it helps control oil and shine during the day- 90% say it evens out skintone- 90% say it leaves skin feeling soft and smooth- 84% say skin looks brighter and more radiant
Average Rating:
3.896 out of 5
3.9
 out of 
5
Open Ratings Snapshot
743 reviews
5 stars
352
4 stars
173
3 stars
77
2 stars
71
1 star
70
Questions & Answers:
71 Questions | 117 Answers
Sort by reviews for NARS Sheer Matte Foundation
Review 1 for Sheer Matte Foundation
sliceofpie
Location:Riverside, CA
Skin Tone:Medium
Eye Color:Brown
Age:25-34
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
-05.22.13
I love how light it is, build-able coverage and allows my skin to breathe, but it does require touchups otherwise it does get shiny
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 2 for Sheer Matte Foundation
madisonave8
Location:New York, NY
Skin Type:Oily
Skin Tone:Olive
Eye Color:Brown
Age:25-34
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Oxidizes?
-05.19.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage
I bought this foundation because I needed something with medium coverage and would mattify. I have very very oily skin and I was really hoping this would be the one. I'm not sure if this happened to anyone else but when the foundation set the color changed to a much darker color. I'm holding on to this because I am a little darker during the summer time and it is very comfortable to wear. I would say on my skin it lasts about 4-6 hours with a setting powder.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 3 for Sheer Matte Foundation
yhmong
Location:Mississauga, ON
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Light
Eye Color:Brown
Age:18-24
1 out of 5
1 out of 5
-05.17.13
Quick Take: oil-free, drying, cakey
I guess it's just not for me. I got combo skin and the staff suggested that it would be great for me to choose this foundation. It's too drying, even on my t-zone. I love NARS products, I got their blush and eyeshadows and I absolutely love them, but not this one at all. It's going back.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 4 for Sheer Matte Foundation
kelseybee
Location:Calgary, AB
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Light
Eye Color:Green
Age:18-24
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
New Fave Sheer Foundation!
-05.12.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage, long wearing, oil-free
I am obsessed with the foundation! I purchased after being letdown by UD Naked foundation and was directed to NARS from a sales associate.
She colour matched me to Stromboli, as I a get a lot more tan in the Spring/Summer. I wasn't sure about the colour because it has quite yellow tones but it looks GORGEOUS on. My skin gets quite oily in the warmer months, so the matte option is perfect. It is truly long wearing and super buildable. I can build it up to a full coverage look without it getting cakey.
This foundation is gentle and has not broken out my sensitive skin at all.
The only con is that I love when foundation has a pump. I thought that it would come with one as the ones on display at Sephora have a pump, but when I got it home I realized it didn't. I've heard that you can order one through the NARS website which I might do because I always dump too much product when trying to use it.
I am so happy to have been introduced to this stuff. I will definitely repurchase again.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 5 for Sheer Matte Foundation
TerraBeth
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Love nars!
-05.10.13
This has become my go-to foundation. Just the right amount of coverage & I love the matte finish! It's bow effect for my oily skin!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 6 for Sheer Matte Foundation
amiraa1
Location:Brooklyn, NY
Skin Type:Oily
Skin Tone:Deep
Eye Color:Brown
Age:25-34
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Amazing formula
-05.09.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage, long wearing, oil-free
The foundation was perfect for me and I found my match. Though in stores I was told that I was in between the darkest and next to darkest but I found the next to darkest color to suit me perfectly.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 7 for Sheer Matte Foundation
josha
Location:Boston, MA
Skin Type:Oily
Skin Tone:Dark
Eye Color:Brown
Age:18-24
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
AWESOME
-05.07.13
Quick Take: long wearing
I was a bit hesitant to get this because i was a big fan of bare minerals- not sure why i ever really used bare minerals now because NARS is amazing- lightweight and really doesn't feel like i have makeup on! LOVE IT and the person who helped me was AMAZING. Very happy!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 8 for Sheer Matte Foundation
KristinLo
Location:W Babylon, NY
Skin Type:Dry
Skin Tone:Fair
Eye Color:Hazel
Age:25-34
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Little bit goes a long way
-05.07.13
I love this. I get full coverage on my face with 1 little pump, (I bought the pumper from the NARS website). The foundation stays put and is very natural looking. I love this.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 9 for Sheer Matte Foundation
amhdeg
Location:round rock tx
Skin Type:Oily
Skin Tone:Light
Eye Color:Brown
Age:35-44
1 out of 5
1 out of 5
Not for me
-05.05.13
Very surprised because I do love NARS products! The product did not run smoothly and the coverage was poor! Did return it!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 10 for Sheer Matte Foundation
boydm
Location:Merriam, KS
Skin Type:Oily
Skin Tone:Fair
Eye Color:Green
Age:18-24
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
love this.
-05.05.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage, long wearing, oil-free
Best foundation I've ever used. I have very oily skin with a little bit of acne scarring, so I wanted something with full coverage to control oil. A little bit goes a long way, it covers well and stays put all day! It's also very light, feels like nothing is there. I find myself only touching it up once a day. Very pleased, my foundation search is over. :)
+2points
2out of 2found this review helpful.
Review 11 for Sheer Matte Foundation
tea2009
Location:Bosque Farms NM
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Medium
Eye Color:Brown
Age:25-34
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Nar sheer matte
-05.04.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage, long wearing
I loved the full coverage this foundation provided but after a couple hours i got found that I got oily. This foundation is suppose to stay matte but didn't. Also the color was not a good match it left me a bit orange even though I got matched at sephora.
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 12 for Sheer Matte Foundation
whitdes
Location:Baltimore, MD
Skin Type:Dry
Skin Tone:Deep
Eye Color:Brown
Age:18-24
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Pretty ok
-05.03.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage, oil-free
My color is Macao and this one did not look as good as sheer glow did on me. I think my skin was to dry and this one has a smell, not unpleasant but not flattering either. But good coverage and worth it if the sheer glow doesn't work for you. Would recommend for people with oily skin.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 13 for Sheer Matte Foundation
crystaleden
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
One of my faves
-05.03.13
I was color matched to Syracuse. I have to say it is the perfect yellow toned medium dark foundation for my skin tone. The formula is perfect for my oily skin. It sets matte and wears all day (I still have to blot through out the day). I apply this foundation with a damp beauty blender or with the real techniques buffing brush and they give a flawless finish.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 14 for Sheer Matte Foundation
SkyliaVanArden
Location:NYC
Skin Type:Combination
Age:13-17
3 out of 5
3 out of 5
Okay...
-05.01.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage, long wearing, cakey, hard to apply, heavy-ish, makes me break out, beautiful finish
The final effect is gorgeous BUT
1) does not come with a pump. (hard to get out of bottle)
2) breaks me out (my other friend confirmed this with me...)
3) cakey
**most foundations look cakey, I have yet to apply one that didn't cake up except for maybe Dior or Burberry (?)
Pros:
1) Gives the illusion of flawless skin
2) stays on all day (with the help of my Peter Thomas Roth SPF 20 Moisturizer--> I highly recommend this).
3) best price to quality ratio
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 15 for Sheer Matte Foundation
Toy1
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
The Ulimate Foundation
-04.30.13
This foundation is the best all around from controling oil to matching my complextion. Being a person with a few dark spots on my face it also brightens my skin. I love love love this foundation.
-1point
0out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 16 for Sheer Matte Foundation
CanChan
Location:Charlotte, NC
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Medium
Eye Color:Brown
Age:45-54
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
Beautiful airbrushed coverage
-04.30.13
Quick Take: buildable coverage, long wearing, oil-free, matte, lightweight, excellent coverage
My skin has been going through a "transformation" for over a year. Finding a foundation to give me the matte but not drying look I wanted was difficult to say the least. My faithful Lancome, Estee' Lauder, were not providing the desired coverage. Clinique "Stay Matte" came close but this was the winner. It does not take much and using the " Airbrush Precision Foundation brush" from the Sephora Advanced Airbrush set makes my hormonal challenged skin look flawless, matte and very polished. When applied sparingly using the Airbrush Precision Foundation brush I am able to achieve this look while NOT emphasizing fine lines and blemishes like so many I have tried before. This combination is a keeper!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 17 for Sheer Matte Foundation
moosh177
Location:Brisbane, Australia
Skin Type:Oily
Skin Tone:Olive
Eye Color:Brown
Age:25-34
1 out of 5
1 out of 5
Only try if you have perfect skin
-04.29.13
No matter how I apply this, it looks streaky, unblended and pools in my pores. I've looked up tutorials online and nothing works. The shades are beautiful and yellow based - and lighter than sheer glow - but this was a waste of money for me. Another issue is the consistency, any watery eyes will leave makeup streaks down your face. Even though I have super oily skin, sheer glow has a wayyyyy better finish.
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
Review 18 for Sheer Matte Foundation
ellabee1094
Location:San Francisco, CA
Skin Type:Combination
Skin Tone:Olive
Eye Color:Brown
Age:18-24
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
AMAZING
-04.27.13
I love this foundation! My roommate recommended it to me and it's the best foundation I've ever used (I've tried Too faced BB Cream, Lancome foundation, Benefit compact). It look natural and my face is less oily. The only thing is that it's super expensive so I just use it for special days.
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 19 for Sheer Matte Foundation
ivalein
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
Awesome sheer mate foundation
-04.16.13
I was using Lancôme until I saw this Nars make up on my girlfriend. Smooth, silky, staying whole day formula is amazing. I love it bought my second one this time. I'm very happy with it. It also has a great coverage . Great job , I bought the same number pressed powder and it's with it flawless.
+1point
1out of 1found this review helpful.
Review 20 for Sheer Matte Foundation
lfisher56
Location:malibu, ca
Age:35-44
5 out of 5
5 out of 5
beautiful!
-04.12.13
Quick Take: the bomb
Great foundation. I have some acne scarring, and it covers it nicely, but without feeling heavy at all. I will never choose another brand besides Nars for foundation!
0points
0out of 0found this review helpful.
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