Restocking My Makeup Bag at the NARS Covent Garden Store

This is a post I've been meaning to write for a while now, but I only just got around to it. I recently visited the NARS store in Covent Garden to restock a few of my makeup essentials, including primer, foundation, concealer, and a nude lipstick, because I'd completely run out of them. While I do enjoy the convenience of shopping online, when it comes to makeup, I definitely prefer going in-store.

The service mirrored my first experience at the NARS counter in Westfield, Stratford: attentive, personalised, and refreshingly thorough. I wasn't even planning to go makeup shopping, but since I was in the area, I thought, Why not?

The consultant who helped me was so attentive. She listened to what I needed, then we tried out swatches together to make sure everything worked for my skin tone. By the end of it, I'd basically built a whole face of makeup just from testing products, which I thought was pretty fun.

Primer Update

I learned that my go-to NARS Radiance Primer SPF 35 had been discontinued (RIP 🥲) and replaced with the Light Reflecting Hydrating Primer. I loved the Radiance primer because it gave me a radiant, hydrated finish without a cast and doubled as my moisturiser + SPF on days when I was in a rush.

So, I picked up the new Light Reflecting Hydrating Primer instead. And although it doesn't have SPF, it's just as good because it contains hyaluronic acid, is breathable and lightweight, and still provides a hydrating finish.

Foundation

Next on my list was finding the right foundation that matched my skin tone. After swatching, I realised that my perfect shade in the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation was New Caledonia, not the Marquises as I'd been using before.

Both are part of the Light Reflecting Foundation range, offering medium-to-buildable coverage with a naturally radiant finish that lasts up to 12 hours.

However, the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation in the shade New Caledonia is just a touch deeper, ideal for deep warm undertones with an olive tone (perfect for me, thanks to all that sun I soaked up while in Nigeria),

On the other hand, the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation in the shade Marquises is a slightly lighter and well-suited for medium-deep to deep skin with warm undertones.

I also grabbed the NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser SPF 30 in Havana, which gives a radiant, sheer-to-buildable coverage and the perfect addition to my travel makeup bag 😉.

Concealer Shades

This part was interesting because I've always worn the shade Amande in the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer Range, but after swatching, it turns out Chocolat and Cafe are actually a better match for me.

While in-store, I chose Chocolat because it blended seamlessly with my skin tone and gave great coverage for blemishes, especially under-eye circles.

Later on, I ordered the shade Café in the Soft Matte Complete Concealer online to add to my travel makeup bag. I love that it offers full coverage, making it perfect for concealing dark spots, under-eye circles, and the occasional breakout. Having these two shades provides flexibility, allowing me to choose between brightening and subtle correction.

The Perfect Nude Lippy

The last thing on my list was a nude matte lipstick with a pinkish tint. I wanted something matte but not flat, with a pink undertone, and the beauty consultant recommended the Powermatte Lip Pigment in Somebody to Love. It is a rose-brown shade with full coverage and a gorgeous matte finish.

By the end of the session, with all the swatches done, I practically had a full face of makeup, plus the lipstick tied it all together perfectly.

Honestly, this is why I love shopping for makeup in person. That personal touch, expert guidance, tailored recommendations, the ability to try products in real time, and maybe find something new, makes all the difference.

So my question is, have you tried any products from NARS? If so, which are your favourites and why? I'd love to hear your thoughts!