NARS promises that their iconic lipstick will be lightweight, long lasting and resistant to bleeding/feathering. I do think that Banned Red (pictured above) does have a decent wear time for a satin lipstick. I can get a good 4 hours of wear through drinking and a light snack before it needs to be touched up. Unfortunately for me, I do not agree that it is resistant to feathering. I have some very fine lines along my top lip that this formula creeps into. On the up side, I don’t think anyone else would notice the feathering, but it does bother me. They also say that it will leave your lips feeling hydrated, which I also don’t experience. I do think that this formula is comfortable to wear, but I don’t feel that it offers my lips any nourishment.
I clearly have a bronzer problem. In May, I talked about the new release of bronzers from NARS in one of my window shopping posts. I claimed I wasn’t going to buy the matte version. Well, that was true. At the time, I ended up getting the satiny version in the shade Punta Cana. But right before Christmas, I finally broke down and decided to try the matte version.
NARS Matte Bronzing Powder in Somoa
Despite typically preferring a satin finish, I like this matte formula better than their traditional finish. It is definitely a matte powder, but it gives a healthy look to the skin. The most comparable bronzer that I’ve tried is the Bobbi Brown bronzing powder (swatches here). They remind me a lot of each other, but the NARS formula is denser likely due to the oils in the ingredients.
Pictured below is Samoa (matte formula) and Punta Cana (regular formula) swatched. I thought it would be helpful to see the two side by side so you can see how the finish differs. Hopefully this is helpful if you are trying to decide between the two. The colors looks similar in a swatch but Punta Cana applies deeper and more neutral than Samoa on me. Punta Cana is much more like it looks in the pan, than it looks in the swatch.
L to R: NARS Samoa (matte) and Punta Cana
If you’re curious to see how Punta Cana compares to other brands, I posted a round-up of my bronzers over the summer.
What’s your favorite bronzer finish, matte or satin? Let me know in the comments below.
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Don’t let the title scare you away; regardless of skin tone, the information in this book can be helpful. The publishing of this book is a necessary addition to the few makeup guides still available in print. I found out about The Beauty Bible for Women of Colour by Funmi Fetto from Vikeejeah on Youtube. Vikeejeah and four other YouTube Creators collaborated to all cover three products mentioned in the book. Kelsee Briana Jai, one of the collaborators, created a playlist of all five videos for easy viewing. I’ll also leave that below for easy watching.
I do want to mention that some of the write-ups in the book are more helpful than others. Some anecdotal parts aren’t that helpful in terms of how a product works, but I haven’t noticed any items that I felt wouldn’t be workable for deep skin tones. Overall, I have enjoyed reading through this book and am excited to check out some products I haven’t tried before.
I thought it would be fun to showcase some of the products covered in the book that I have tried. The book does cover skincare and hair care, but I’ll only be focusing on the makeup portion.
Foundations
Two of the foundations in the book that I have used are the Estee Lauder Doublewear and Nars Natural Radiant Longwear foundations. I already have a review of the Estee Lauder doublewear foundation, so if you want more details from a dry skin perspective, you can check that review out.
As for the NARS longwear foundation, it is still fairly new to me, so I’m still getting a feel for it. You can tell in the swatches below how matte the Estee Lauder is in comparison to the NARS’ Radiant finish. The one issue I have had with the NARS formula was that it accentuated texture really badly until I got my shade right. It looks much better on me now that I’ve switched to the shade Tahoe instead of Huahine and Syracuse.
L to R: Estee Lauder doublewear 5W2 and NARS natural radiant longwear tahoe
Setting powders can be tricky for those of us with dry skin. Here are three powders that set my foundation for longevity without accentuating dryness or creating dryness where there was none.
Best for Luminosity: Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder (shades 4 and 5)
I like to pair the Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder with one of my favorite foundations, the Clinique Beyond Perfecting 2-in-1 Foundation. Because the Clinique foundation has a satin finish that feels tacky on the skin, I like to set it without taking away the satin finish. So by using this as a setting powder, I get the longevity and dried down feeling, but the glow of the powder keeps my skin from looking dry or looking matte.
Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder Shades 4 and 5
Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder Shades 4 and 5
Overall, this is my preferred setting powder but it can also be used as a finishing powder. If a foundation is accentuating my texture, I find that layering this powder on top improves the way it looks. Laura Mercier claims that this powder has a “diffused, soft-focus finish” and I guess that is the benefit that helps with the look of texture.
This powder comes in 6 shades and retails for $39.00
