The Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation is another NARS product that I wanted to share my thoughts on since there is still time left to shop their summer sale. On their website, you can get 20% off by using the promo code SUMMER. The sale ends at 3AM EST tomorrow (September 14, 2024). I know this is an older foundation to post a review for, but that’s kind of my thing lol. With how fast beauty releases move, it does seem old. However, it’ll only be 3 years old next year. It was released in January of 2022. 🙂

I briefly discussed this foundation in my Patrick Ta Major Skin Hydra-Luxe Skin Perfecting Foundation review. So you may already know that while the two foundations aren’t dupes, they are both glowy skincare-heavy foundations. I don’t think I remembered to mention it in the Patrick Ta review, but I do still prefer satin and matte finish foundations. So, while I can appreciate the formula of this foundation (and the Patrkc Ta), it isn’t my first choice for formula. Getting back to the current review, the NARS Light Reflecting foundation provides medium coverage, blurs minor blemishes and redness, and wears incredibly well for a glowy formula. I’m over 40 and have dry, eczema-prone skin, so keep that in mind as you read my thoughts.

I prefer how this foundation looks when I apply it with my fingers, but it still works nicely with a brush. It seems a little heavier with brush application and accentuates any bumps or eczema patches that I have more. Using a mattifying powder helps solve the texture issues and turns this into a more natural finish, so that is how I like it the best. When it is unset, it is very luminous on me. I do use heavy moisturizers, and that could be why. Despite its luminous appearance, I am always shocked by how well it wears. It has minimal transfer, doesn’t sink into my lines or pores, and the coverage is still intact at the end of the day. It also doesn’t seem to get any shinier on me throughout the day.

---

This blog uses affiliate links (marked with **).  I may earn a small commission when you purchase through links on my site.  Learn more here.

My Shades

**The NARS Light Reflecting Foundation comes in 36 shades and retails for $54. I can get away with both Syracuse and Tahoe. I usually buy Tahoe in every NARS formula, but it was October when I purchased Syracuse. At that time, Tahoe looked very orange on me, and it is more orange than Tahoe in the Natural Radiant Longwear formula. The shades dry down darker, so give it time to set before you decide on a color.

I have tested this foundation with different powders and prefer it with either the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder in Dark or the bareMinerals Mineral Veil in Sheer Tan. In the pictures above, the shade Syracuse is set with the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder in Dark, and the shade Tahoe is set with the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Powder in Shore. In the picture below, the shade Tahoe is set with the bareMinerals Mineral Veil Pressed Setting Powder in Sheer Tan. I prefer MAC and bareMinerals because they tone down the shine more than the NARS powder. BareMinerals gives the most matte finish out of the three, and MAC falls somewhere in the middle.

---

Swatches (Syracuse and Tahoe)

Unfortunately, I didn’t have the shades Syracuse and Tahoe at the same time to swatch them next to each other.

NARS Light Reflecting Foundation Syracuse vs Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation in Tahoe

NARS Light Reflecting Foundation Tahoe vs Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation in Tahoe

---

Packaging Problem

The NARS Light Reflecting Foundation does seem to have some inconsistent issues with the pumps breaking. My bottle of the shade Syracuse never broke or had any issues. However, the shade Tahoe pump broke while in my makeup bag. Luckily, I was still inside the return window and could exchange it. The new bottle hasn’t had an issue.

---

Final Thoughts – TL;DR

NARS Light Reflecting Foundation Claims	Do I agree?
Blurs imperfections (blemishes, dark spots, redness)	Yes
Smooths the look of textured skin	Kind of. It is more smoothing than other glowy formulas I have tried, but I do think it draws attention to my texture.
Improves skin clarity after 6 weeks of daily use	I’ve never used it daily, so I can’t say either way
Medium, buildable coverage	Yes, if they mean it is buildable to a max of medium coverage
Natural Finish	No, this is a luminous finish in my opinion
Breathable, all-day wear	Yes

**NARS Website

	$ Sale Price $ 54.00 Regular Price
NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation, Tahoe

**Bloomingdale’s

	$ Sale Price $ 54.00 Regular Price
Nars Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation 1 oz.

**Blue Mercury

	$ Sale Price $ 54.00 Regular Price
Light Reflecting Foundation Tahoe MD2

**Nordstrom

	$ 54.00 Sale Price $ 54.00 Regular Price
NARS Light Reflecting Foundation in Tahoe at Nordstrom

**The NARS Light Reflecting Foundation is worth considering if you prefer a natural, radiant finish. I like that I don’t look as made up in this foundation as I do in my higher coverage options. Unfortunately, once I set it with enough powder to tone down the shine, it doesn’t look quite as natural. I still prefer the Natural Radiant Longwear formula for its more satin-to-matte finish and increased coverage.

---

Are there any older formulas that you’re still using?

---

If you’d like to check out more of my content, here are some places to start. 

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

Disclaimer:  I purchased all products featured with my own money.  This site receives a minimal commission from participating in the WordAds program and using affiliate links.  For my full disclosure policy, click here.