Nikki From HR

I have been testing the NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation for a little over a month now. Since it was released in the winter, I really had to put it through its paces to figure out what was happening due to cold, dry Massachusetts weather vs my skin. For starters, I’m in my early 40s and have dry, eczema-prone skin, which I know isn’t the ideal skin type for a foundation like the NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation. However, my go-to foundation is the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation, which I would have also thought wouldn’t work for my skin type, but it does. I do have some issues with the Natural Radiant formula sometimes sinking into pores and lines, so I was curious whether this new Natural Matte Longwear Foundation would address those without drying me out.

TL;DR – scroll down for a chart that sums everything up.

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As with many matte formulas, this dries quickly and has a dry-down that sets, which helps its longevity. If you don’t blend soon enough, you may have trouble moving it around, but I have fewer issues with it becoming patchy when I’m well moisturized. Not surprising for a matte finish on dry skin, but I want to give you the full picture. It blends out well with both a brush and my fingers, but it looks and sits nicer on my dry skin when I apply it with my fingers. NARS is famous for recommending their foundations be applied with fingers, so that makes sense. But again, it does work well with a brush; it just looks a little nicer on me when I use my fingers. I’ve used the Smashbox Blurring Foundation Brush (synthetic), Chikuhodo GL-7 Liquid Foundation Brush (natural goat hair), and the **It Cosmetics Complexion Perfection Brush #7 (synthetic) without issues.

As I’ve mentioned in the past, creasing will happen, especially as we age and expression lines and wrinkles deepen. With the NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation, I do see a tiny bit of settling in my smile lines towards the end of the day (at the 8- or 9-hour mark), but you cannot see it at a normal viewing distance. For me, that is great considering I do not set this foundation with any powder. It looks good on my forehead all day, but my forehead isn’t as dry as my mouth area, so keep that in mind. When I first started using this foundation, I had recently switched from my go-to Olay Peptide Serum to the Innisfree Green Tea Ceramide Milk. At that time, I thought this foundation was drying me out. Within a week of switching back to my Olay serum, I no longer felt dry after wearing the NARS Natural Matte Foundation. So skincare really does seem to make a difference with this formula. Another note on skincare: I know many people are sensitive to Niacinamide, and this foundation does contain a small percentage of it. So if any amount is an issue for you, this will be a pass.

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The highlights – claims vs my reality

Continue reading “NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation Review (Tahoe and Phoenix Swatches)” →

There have been mixed reviews for the Maybelline Lifter Serum Concealer ($13.99, 18 shades), and I’m honestly shocked by the negative reviews that I’ve seen. Due to the polarizing reviews, I wanted to give this some extra attention before posting my review, but my thoughts haven’t changed. For my dry, eczema-prone, early 40s skin, the Maybelline Lifter Serum Concealer is a hit! It is easy to use, has a satin finish, wears incredibly well with minimal creasing (even without powder), and has great coverage. I do agree with the complaints that it is not full coverage; it is pretty solid medium coverage. However, I do think it builds to a high-medium coverage. Of course, if you don’t have much to cover, you’ll likely experience it as a full-coverage concealer because it has a lot of pigment. In my opinion, as this formula blends out, it also sheers out, so it just never fully covers my dark under eyes or hyperpigmentation. But it still does a great job, and with the satin finish, it looks really nice under my eyes and as a foundation. Update March 25, 2026: Creasing is worse if I apply too much product, which isn’t unusual for most formulas. However, I still don’t think it is that bad.

TL;DR – scroll down for a chart that sums everything up.

As I’ve mentioned in the past, creasing will happen, especially as we age and expression lines and wrinkles deepen. With the Maybelline Lifter Serum Concealer, I can get about 3 hours of wear before it settles into the deepest crease under my eyes, but you can not see it from a normal viewing distance. For me, when the pigment starts collecting in the lines so much that I can see it from a distance, I’m not happy. When worn unset, the Maybelline Lifter Concealer stays put really well for me. I do pat out minor creasing that I see, but it wasn’t necessary until almost 6 hours of wear, and it isn’t a big deal for me to do that. When I pair this concealer with my go-to NARS Light Reflecting Powder, creasing was a little worse by the end of the day (about 10 hours), but it was nothing super noticeable. The LA Girl Yellow Brightening Setting Powder (not affiliated) pairs really well with this concealer, and I only had creasing in the deepest crease under each eye. However, it is a drier, more mattifying powder than NARS Light Reflecting, so the combination does sacrifice the beautiful satin finish.

While I personally think the formula is easy to use, I do want to warn you that it dries quickly for a concealer that isn’t a matte finish. It has a dry-down and sets, which help its longevity, but if you don’t get to blending soon enough, you may have some trouble moving it around. I blend it soon after I put it on my face, so I can’t say for certain, though. It has a thicker texture with a slight tackiness, but I haven’t found it to be an issue for application or wear. It blends out well with both a brush and my fingers. I do prefer how it sits on my dry skin when I use my fingers to apply this concealer. It dries down more matte when I apply it with a brush. I’ve used both the Morphe M131 Round Paddle Concealer Brush and the Sigma F64 Soft Blend Concealer Brush without issues.

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The highlights – claims vs my reality

Continue reading “Maybelline Lifter Serum Concealer Review (80, 85, 90 Swatches)” →

The Maybelline Moisturizing Serum Lipstick ($7.99-10.99, depending on retailer) is supposed to deliver the look and color intensity of a bullet lipstick while moisturizing like a serum. The formula is vegan and claims to provide comfortable wear and 8 hours of moisture, with no feathering. While Maybelline is marketing the Serum Lipstick heavily for its added hyaluronic acid and oil blend, which helps add moisture, I don’t find this formula to be moisturizing. It also doesn’t dry my lips out, so that is good. In fairness, I do have dry lips, and I find that lip products with lanolin provide the best moisture for me. I also tend to get along better with formulas that do not contain hyaluronic acid. Some Lipstick formulas I like more for moisture than this one are the old-school Maybelline Color Sensational formula (which contains lanolin), the Estee Lauder Pure Color Creme Lipsticks, and the Pat McGrath SatinAllure Lipsticks. The Revlon Super Lustrous Formula is about even with the Maybelline Moisturizing Serum Lipstick in that it doesn’t dry my lips out, but I don’t think of it when I want something moisturizing.

Continue reading “Maybelline Moisturizing Serum Satin Lipstick Review (Swatches 101 Upstate, 102 Out ’Til 4, 103 Make It Work, 104 Maybe It’s… Intense, 105 Speed Walk, 106 Maybe It’s… Soft, 107 Blind Date, 108 Fit Check)” →

The DIOR Backstage Rosy Glow Blush line uses pH-activating technology that, in theory, makes the blush look different on each person, resulting in a custom color. For holiday 2025, DIOR released 3 shades, and I decided to try shade 830 Fiery Red. I have not tried any of the shades from the permanent collection, so I’m not sure how this formula compares. The brand’s major claims for this blush are that it is long-wearing and buildable, and I agree. This particular shade is supposed to give a blurred finish, unlike the other 2 holiday shades, which have a pearlescent finish. It is not as smoothing as some other blushes that I’ve tried, but I don’t think it accentuates texture either. While the DIOR Backstage Rosy Glow Blush is technically fragrance-free, the formula contains raspberry ketone, which gives it a scent. I can smell it when I open it and apply it, but I don’t notice it while I’m wearing it.

Continue reading “DIOR Backstage Rosy Glow Blush (Fiery Red 830 Holiday 2025)” →

I thought it would be nice to do a repeat of 2023 and 2024’s recap of the most-viewed posts on my website. I find it interesting to see what was popular on my website, even if I didn’t publish that post in 2025. So, I’ll share any updated thoughts on the products from my top 10 most-viewed blog posts of 2025. To view the original post/review I am referencing, click on the numbered title.

But first, some info for my new subscribers. In 2025, I created several indexes on my website, making it easier to find items by product type rather than through the long alphabetical brand listing page. Here is a list of all the index-type pages for your reference.

• Blush Index
• Brands A-Z
• Bronzer & Highlighter Index
• Brush Index
• Concealer Ranking
• Eyeshadow Index
• Eyeshadow Primer Round-Up
• Foundation Round-Up
• Lipstick Index
• Makeup Storage and Organization Ideas
• My Favorite Makeup
• Powder Round-Up

It has helped people find products more easily, so I’m glad I took the time to do that. I regularly update the indexes, so if you visit those pages, you will see the date they were last updated. If you ever have questions for me, you can leave a comment at the bottom of any of my posts. I am also available by e-mail (editor.nikkifromhr@gmail.com). 

To both new and longtime subscribers, thank you for your time and support. 🙂

OK, here are the top 10 most-viewed blog posts of 2025!

1. Setting Powders That Work for My Dry Skin (2025 Update) – Posted April 9, 2025

After many years of testing different powders for my dry eczema-prone skin, NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder remains my favorite. The only other powders I regularly use in addition to the NARS are the bareMinerals Original Mineral Veil Pressed Powder under my eyes for crease-prone concealers and the Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder on the rest of my face. Check out this round-up for more information on each, featuring the following powders:

• Best for Blur and Slight Luminosity: NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder
• Best Talc-Free Matte Finish (adds no coverage): bareMinerals Original Mineral Veil Pressed Powder
• Best Matte Finish (adds coverage): Maybelline SuperStay up to 24HR Hybrid Powder Foundation
• Best Talc-Free Natural Finish (adds no coverage): Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Pressed Powder
• Best Natural Finish (adds light coverage): MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
• Best Talc-Free Loose Powder (adds slight radiance): Hourglass Veil Translucent Loose Setting Powder
• (Honorable Mention) Talc-Free Natural Finish (adds no coverage): Westman Atelier Vital Pressed Skincare Powder
• (Honorable Mention) Natural Finish and Slight Luminosity (adds no coverage): Revlon PhotoReady Blurring Powder

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2. Best Hydrating Concealers for My Dry Skin – Posted June 14, 2025

The Lancome Care and Glow Serum Concealer is my go-to pick when I am at my driest, or I’m looking for comfort over coverage. My go-to for a non-drying concealer (but without added hydration) that gives me medium coverage is the Estee Lauder Futurist Soft Touch Brightening Skincealer. The Estee Lauder Skincealer may build to full coverage for some people, but on me, it creases too badly when built up. If you’re curious, my other favorite concealers that I turn to for coverage but are absolutely not hydrating for my dry, eczema-prone skin are the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer and the Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer (only in summer). Check out this round-up for more information on hydrating (or at least not drying) concealers, featuring the following products:

• Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer
• Lancome Care and Glow Serum Concealer
• Givenchy Prisme Libre Skin Caring Concealer
• Estee Lauder Futurist Skincealer
• Armani Luminous Silk Concealer
• MAC Studio Fix Pro Conceal and Correct Palette
• Too Faced Ethereal Light Illuminating Smoothing Concealer
• Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear All Over Concealer
• Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Concealer
• Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Concealer

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3. What’s Old at the Drugstore (L’Oreal Colour Riche Lipsticks – Worth It, Worth It Medium, Worth It Intense) – Posted September 21, 2024

Continue reading “Top 10 Posts of 2025 (And What I Think Of The Products Now)” →

At the end of November 2025, CoverGirl released the TruBlend Skin Enhancer Baked Luminous Blushes and Bronzers ($12.99). So far, they are getting a lot of buzz, and many people are comparing them to the Hourglass and Laura Geller powders. I understand the comparison, but baked powders have been a part of CoverGirl’s line before. In 2016, CoverGirl released baked blushes and bronzers under its Trublend line, so the brand is no stranger to baked formulas. This release is more of a reboot for them.

Their Trublend Blushes were a favorite of mine back then, and I am equally happy with the Trublend Skin Enhancer Baked Luminous formula in 2025. Since these powders are swirled together in multiple tones, each compact will vary in shade. So keep in mind that if you buy these, yours may look different from what you see here or elsewhere online. These powders are pigmented, easy to blend, and smooth on the skin despite having a slight sheen. Neither of the shades I have (Strawberry Drizzle 420 and Caramel Truffle 320) has noticeable glitter particles, even under harsh overhead lighting. It is common for these types of powders to appear more glittery in the sunlight, though, so that remains to be seen in better weather.

Continue reading “CoverGirl TruBlend Skin Enhancer Baked Luminous Blush and Bronzer (Strawberry Drizzle, Caramel Truffle)” →

Today I wanted to talk about some of the eyeshadow primers that I’ve been testing over the last couple of years. My all-time favorite eye primer was the Too Faced Shadow Insurance, but they reformulated it and added fragrance, so I had to move on. If you read enough of my eyeshadow reviews, you can probably tell that the MAC Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base is my favorite, with the Urban Decay Primer Potion bringing up a close second. Let’s get into some details if you are interested in any of the primers I’ll discuss today. Eyeshadow primers aren’t just good for people with oily eyelids; they can also help intensify eyeshadow colors, help glitter/mica particles adhere better, and improve the longevity/wear time of your eyeshadows. I do have dry skin, but because my eyelids are slightly hooded, I can get oily in the crease because the lid folds on itself. So I have to wear an eye primer to prevent the eyeshadow in my crease from disappearing.

The formulas featured today all claim to increase wear time, prevent creasing, and intensify color. I don’t prefer chunky shimmers or glitter eyeshadows, so I don’t use glitter glue. All but the Milani and e.l.f. Eyeshadow primers claim to either last for 24 hours or increase eyeshadow wear for 24 hours. Although the Milani Stay Put Eye Primer claims to extend wear, it only promises up to 8 hours of wear, while the e.l.f Lock It Down Primer doesn’t list a specific time claim. The MAC Eye Base Primer claims to prevent fading as well, but that could also be folded into the wear-time claim. There are some smoothing claims from Urban Decay and Milani, and the Pat McGrath Intensifeyes Longwear Primer claims to blur skin texture. To me, the MAC Eye Base is the most smoothing for texture, despite it not appearing in its claims. I have tested every eyeshadow primer on this list with several formulas, from my most affordable eyeshadows (Wet n Wild, Milani, Colourpop, CoverGirl), to my most expensive (Chanel, MAC, Pat McGrath, Tom Ford). My main concerns are longevity without color fading and the formula’s ability to prevent creasing. Based on that, I’d rank these from best performance to worst performance in this order:

1. MAC Prep + Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base (can make mattes harder to blend)
2. Pat McGrath Labs Intensifeyes Longwear Primer (performs well for me, but something in it irritates my eyes, so I no longer use it)
3. Urban Decay Primer Potion (dries out faster than other formulas, causing it to crease more as it gets older)
4. e.l.f. Lock It Down Eyeshadow Primer (can cause some fading with some shadows, and a big issue is that it does not work with my Pat McGrath Eyeshadows)
5. Milani Stay Put Eyeshadow Primer (does not prevent creasing for more than 3 hours for me with one exception)

Last updated December 3, 2025

Continue reading “Eyeshadow Primer Round-Up (Pat McGrath Labs, MAC Cosmetics, Urban Decay, Milani, and elf Reviews)” →