I always liked the idea of tinted moisturizers but could never get too excited about any of them on my face until I tried the NARS Pure Radiant version. They were always too thick, too orange, too smelly, they made my sensitive skin turn red and itch for days…
Having tried and loved NARS Sheer Glow foundation, however, I had some hope when I saw that they were releasing a tinted moisturizer back in the spring. I wasn’t disappointed.
First, the color selection is incredible for a tinted moisturizer line (nine shades), but if you can shop for it in person and try it on before you make a purchase, do it. Looking at swatches online and even reading the color descriptions and reviews from beauty bloggers and Makeup Alley members still didn’t ensure that I chose the right shade online–I ended up with the wrong one anyway.
Once I found the right shade for my skin, though, it was bliss. It doesn’t oxidize on my skin. It blends right in, taking most of my redness and skin imperfections with it and leaving a glowing, healthy finish.
I do still need concealer under my eyes, but it’s a tinted moisturizer so I expected as much. It’s sufficiently moisturizing and I have worn it without moisturizer underneath to save time, but my skin is very dry and it always felt slightly uncomfortable that way. Normal-to-oily skin types could probably get away without anything under it.
The SPF isn’t too shabby, either. You get SPF 30 with this product, which surpasses the amount in most other tinted moisturizers (they often contain SPF 15 or 20).
The price is the only bad thing here, even though a dime-sized amount of product can cover your whole face. It’s $42 for 1.9 oz. If you are a VIB at Sephora, you may be able to save 15 to 20 percent during their friends and family sales.
For a much less expensive alternative, Maybelline Dream Fresh 8-in-1 BB Cream gives a similar result and costs $8.99 for 1.09 oz. Watch the sales and use coupons to get it for almost nothing. I had a $3.50 coupon from Ulta and a $1.00 coupon from Maybelline, and Ulta had this product on sale, buy one, get one half off. There are five shades to choose from in the Maybelline line.
Photo: NARS
