NARS Velvet Matte Stick Foundation Swatches + Review

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The all-on-one foundation stick trend has landed at NARS and it’s got my fave finish… MATTE! The NARS Velvet Matte Stick Foundation ($45.00 // Sephora) is the first foundation stick to have a built-in blender that makes the product an on-the-go makeup bag essential. Let’s see how it works out for me on my oily skin!

what is it

The NARS Velvet Matte Stick Foundation is said to have a medium (but buildable) coverage, a creamy soft-matte finish and suit all skin types. 20 shades are available.

Matte Rebound Powders enhance the glide and comfort of wear, while mattifying the look of skin. Matte Rebound Powders enhance the glide and comfort of wear, while mattifying the look of skin. Elastomer micro beads provide extreme flexibility and elasticity to help prevent creasing by adapting to movement without settling into lines or wrinkles. Ginger root extract and vitamins A, C, and E support natural antioxidant protection and defend skin from environmental damages while helping to improve the appearance of smoothness and evenness.

review

This foundation feels creamy to the touch applies smoothly and evenly. No matter what way I applied (fingers or directly from the stick) it was easy to blend out when using a brush or beautyblender. I don’t like the sponge side for all-over blending but it does a good job when you want to add more coverage just to certain areas and then use that sponge to blend it out.

My skin is incredibly oily, especially in my t-zone. I tried this foundation using nothing as a primer and then again using my usual combo of prepping my skin with Urban Decay De-slick and Make Up For Ever Step 1 Matte. I also set it (as I usually would) with Urban Decay Velvetizer. Without my primer routine I was oily in less than 30 minutes. It’s just what it is for me. The foundation still had everything covered up and wasn’t breaking apart or settling into fine-lines, but I NEED that matte look. When using my usual primer routine I did find that it took a bit longer for oil to break-through, but it still did.

CLICK to see my Sweat-Proof FULL COVERAGE Makeup Routine!

One of my concerns with the Touch-Up Blender was being able to clean it correctly but it wasn’t hard and NARS also offers a replacement that you can attach onto the stick to get a new one or if your old one was lost. I love that feature! The sponge is also listed as being antibacterial.

While this foundation did not keep me matte it didn’t allow the oils to break it up and it was easy to blot and touch-up with a powder. I wouldn’t recommend it for someone who is as oily as me but I think for everyone else it’d be a go! It’s creamy enough for those that even have dry skin and hopefully if you are dry and wanting a matte finish this will do well for you. Please let me know in the comments if it did!

swatches

NARS Velvet Matte Stick Foundation is swatched heavily below on my bare arm (no primer). The shade that matches best with my current skintone is Barcelona (Medium 4) but though in the Fall/Winter months I’d definitely be more Fiji (Light 5).

availability

NARS Velvet Matte Stick Foundation is available now at Sephora and Sephora.com. You can also pick it up beginning September 1 at NARS Boutiques, narscosmetics.com and department stores such as Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s.

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