I Tried the NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation for Two Weeks. Here's My Take.

I only ever have two foundations at a time — one for travel and one for home — and I only replace them when I hit pan. My home foundation, the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation in New Caledonia, has been my go-to for over three years, and I repurchase without deliberating. But it so happens that NARS chose this exact moment to release something new: the Natural Matte Longwear Foundation, and I'd heard nothing but good things. I read the claims, binge-watched TikTok, used the online shade-matching tool, and still went into the store to double verify. 😂

So I got my shade, New Caledonia and wore it for two weeks, and here is what I actually think.

What NARS is claiming vs what I actually needed

So, the Light Reflecting Foundation I've been loyal to offers medium to buildable coverage with a natural, radiant finish. It claims to improve skin clarity over time (brightness, smoothness, overall texture), offering 16-hour wear suitable for most skin types, including sensitive skin.

The Natural Matte Longwear Foundation* is a different promise entirely. It has a natural matte finish, with medium to full coverage. 24-hour wear. Oil and shine control. Blurred pores. Serum-like, lightweight feel. Designed specifically for oily, combination, and normal skin.

The part that caught my attention most was this: it instantly blurs the look of imperfections while improving skin texture and pore appearance over time. More critically for me, it controls oil.

Now, that last one is doing a lot of work because oily, combination skin with hyperpigmentation is not forgiving of foundations that don't hold. By midday, if a foundation isn't committed, you know about it because the T-zone tells the truth.

So did it deliver?

The wear test

I wore it for a full day — running personal errands, grocery shopping, to the salon for a silk press, and back home. A long one.

Upon first application, I noticed the texture was serum-like, which I found interesting for a medium-to-full coverage product. It spread easily and evened out my complexion quickly, especially on my cheeks, visibly reducing the look of blemishes and hyperpigmentation without needing concealer. It felt lightweight and breathable, which is true to the claim.

It does blur, pores included, as they look softened with a smooth finish, and it photographs beautifully without looking heavy or overdone. My skin didn't feel congested even after hours of wear. I didn't notice significant shine until late evening, around 10 pm, which is impressive for my skin type. It maintained a soft matte finish throughout without looking flat or dry.

How it compares to the Light Reflecting Foundation

Where the Light Reflecting* gives you a dewy finish, this one controls shine. That said, I noticed that for a matte foundation, it gives a surprisingly radiant finish (not glowy, but not flat either. The coverage feels more substantial, more present on the skin without sitting or feeling heavy. While the Light Reflecting is beautiful in good light and radiant. The Natural Matte doesn't ask you to negotiate with the light.

New Caledonia reads consistently in both formulas; no colour change or oxidisation shift by midday. The shade held exactly as it went on.

Although I've been reaching for the Natural Matte, for longevity, oil control, and a finish that doesn't require management, the Natural Matte wins. For a more luminous, skin-like result on a lower-stakes day, the Light Reflecting still has its place.

Would I recommend it?

Definite yes ☺️

For oily and combination skin specifically, this foundation does what it says. The oil control is real, the coverage is honest, and the finish is polished without being flat. If you've been looking for a foundation that doesn't feel heavy, lasts past midday without requiring a touch-up, this is a serious contender.

Have you tried the NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation? Tell me everything in the comments, especially if you have oily or combination skin.

This product was purchased using a community reward voucher from the NARS Friends With Benefit Community. Links marked with (*) offer a reader discount. If you purchase through my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Read my full disclaimer for details.