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.
The highlights – claims vs my reality
| NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation Claims | Do I agree? |
| Medium to full coverage (applies seamlessly for optimal buildability) | Yes. It has a solid, medium coverage that can be built to full coverage. The pumps for this foundation are very small, but I still only use 2 pumps for my entire face and get medium coverage. Then I built it only on my dark spots. For my darkest hyperpigmentation issues, it is a little shy of full coverage. However, if you have those types of issues, you will likely need a color corrector to achieve full coverage with most formulas, and you are likely used to that. |
| 24 hours of shine control | Kind of. I’m dry, so shine control is much easier on me. As I’ve gotten older, however, I typically have to blot my nose halfway through the day, which I don’t have to do when I’m wearing this foundation. I can’t say for certain that it would last for 24 hours, though; 10 hours is the longest I’ve worn this foundation. That is typical for me. |
| Color true wear | Yes, but you have to wait for it to dry completely to judge the shade. That is typical for matte foundations. Once it sets, the color doesn’t change. |
| Soft focus effect that blurs imperfections and texture | Yes, but if you have dryness or any texture from eczema, it has its limits. |
| Improves the appearance of skin over time | I’m unsure, and I can’t honestly see myself using it daily for 2 weeks to find out. The ingredients they are claiming will improve texture are niacinamide, peptides, and microgreens. All of these ingredients have scientific research backing their ability to improve the skin. However, since those ingredients are in lower percentages in this formula, I would be hesitant to say they are doing much heavy lifting. However, I am not a cosmetics chemist. |
| Serum-like formula feels ultra light | Yes, although the foundation’s texture isn’t as runny as a serum, it feels incredibly light. If you build it to full coverage, it does feel heavier, but not bad. |
Swatches – **NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation ($55)
For shade reference, my best foundation matches are the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation in Tahoe and the old formula (pre-2026) of the Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in 4W4 Hazel.
Tahoe in the Natural Matte Longwear Foundation is still the best shade match for me overall. I did try Phoenix, and while the undertone is better, it is a touch too light for my preference (my face is darker than my hand). I would’ve liked to swatch the shade **Moorea, to at least consider it, but it is only available directly from the NARS website.
 | $ SalePrice $ 55.00 RegularPrice |
| NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation, Tahoe | |
 | $ SalePrice $ 55.00 RegularPrice |
| Nars Natural Matte Longwear Foundation | |
Comparison Swatches – NARS Natural Radiant and Natural Matte Longwear Foundations in the Shade Tahoe
Skin Prep: What Helps This Foundation Work Best for My Dry Skin?
This foundation doesn’t suit my dry skin without some manipulation. That is typical for a matte foundation, so it is not a bad thing, just something to keep in mind. Since I have dry skin, I already use a heavy oil-based moisturizer every day. When I’m wearing this foundation, I apply skin care more heavily than usual. I also use a glycerin-heavy serum daily, which I believe also helps the foundation wear well on me. I can feel this foundation set down, and it has a tight feeling. I do eventually stop noticing it, but in fairness, I also expect a matte formula to feel that way. I have not found it to be too uncomfortable.
The reason I am willing to add the extra skincare is that matte foundations wear better and transfer less, and I don’t have to set them with powder. Despite the matte finish, the minimal, if any, transfer I have experienced from the NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation is the closest I have come to the Estee Lauder Double Wear formula that was recently reformulated (2026). So, I will prep my skin as needed to make the most of the foundation’s transfer-proof nature. It does, however, look dry compared to a satin or natural-finish foundation. If I have a long day or I’ll be out and about, I’d be willing to wear this for its longevity and transfer resistance, but day-to-day, I still prefer how the NARS Natural Radiant Longwear sits on my dry skin. In terms of matte formulations, I like this one, but I’m not sure I like it enough for the $55 price tag. However, as EU regulation changes become mandatory (June 2027), my top foundation will eventually be reformulated. So I’ll have to see how this stacks up against the new version of the Natural Radiant Longwear once it’s available. Assuming they don’t decide to discontinue it entirely. I am excited to see how different I get along with the NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation once it gets hot outside, but that takes a little longer to happen here in Massachusetts 😆.
Let me know if you have questions. Have a good one! 🙂
Will you be trying the NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation? If you’ve already tried it, let us know your skin type and how it worked for you.
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
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Nikki From HR 