Between NARS, Lancome, and Bobbi Brown, I feel like I’m starting to find my “happy place” when it comes to which high-end makeup brands I enjoy. Lancome’s Teint Idole Ultra 24H Foundation is my all-time favorite foundation, but during the summer I don’t necessarily want something with medium to full coverage. I was using the NARS All Day Luminous Foundation for Spring, so I decided to switch it up and find something promising a matte finish for the summertime. That’s when I decided to bite the bullet and splurge on the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint. If you can’t tell, I don’t really like to invest in a high-end foundation if I think it will have sheer to light coverage. So, did I think this product was worth it?

NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint

Product Details

• Available to purchase at Sephora or any NARS makeup counter
• Contains SPF 30 sunscreen
• $44 for 1.7 oz (50 mL)
• Available in 12 shades
• Oil-free
• Medium, buildable coverage

The Claim

As indicated on Sephora’s website, the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint “wears comfortably” and helps to control shine throughout the day. The formula contains rose fruit extract which is meant to help minimize the appearance of pores over time. The product also claims to:

• Blur imperfections and smooth the appearance of fine lines
• Even the look of your skin tone
• Provide a soft matte finish and deliver antioxidant benefits

The Pros

• Provides a naturally matte finish
• Applies well with fingertips or a beauty blender
• Comfortable to wear all day
• Didn’t experience a color change/oxidization
• Easy to use packaging
• Little product needed per use (2-3 pea-sized amounts)

The Cons

• Doesn’t stay matte all day
• Can cake up with heavy coverage
• Packaging gets dirty easily
• Small color range

Overall Rating

A

Would I Repurchase?

Without a doubt.

The one drawback that prevented this product from getting an A+ rating is the usual complaint from those of us with oily skin: the length of time until you have to blot. That’s not to say it doesn’t control shine–it absolutely does.

I originally purchased the NARS Velvet Matte Tint in the early days of Summer and found that it kept me shine-free for much longer than anticipated. During the triple-digit, high humidity days of Summer, there isn’t much out there to beat the heat so the product understandably has a shorter life-span in terms of maintaining a matte finish. Below is a swatch of the product in the shade Seychelles. It looks very warm in the photo, but it blends out to a natural shade.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t have high expectations with this product based off of my opinion of the original NARS Pure Radiant Tinted moisturizer. Generally speaking, tinted moisturizers aren’t exactly my jam. I’m certainly not a heavy, full coverage kind of person for daily use, but I feel like it’s a waste of money when a product has extremely sheer coverage. I like to find a happy middle ground, something that can provide buildable coverage if necessary. The NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tin is light (not sheer) coverage that is buildable up to a medium coverage before it starts to appear cakey and like it’s sitting on top of your face rather than blending in. If you can find your shade in this product, I recommend trying it at least once.

I originally thought I would run out of product in a short time frame because of the narrow packaging, but don’t be fooled. Although the product isn’t a liquid consistency, only a few small drops are needed to cover your face. I used a Beauty Blender initially, but through trial and error, I noticed the product works best (and has a more natural finish) when you simply apply with your fingertips. It covers more than I expected, so my advice is to use less than what you think you need. While I can’t speak to whether or not the product has minimized the appearance of pores, at the very least it gives off that effect while wearing the foundation.

Curious about what products to use in conjunction with the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint? Below is every face product I use, with the setting powder only being used when I want an extra layer of oil-control.