Matte, But Make It Skin: NARS Launches the Natural Matte Longwear Foundation
The dress code was all black, which tells you exactly what NARS was going for: nothing to distract from the skin. Beauty editors, makeup artists, and content creators gathered at The Villa Studios in The Cornerhouse, San Juan for the launch of the new Natural Matte Longwear Foundation, and the whole event was built around one idea: this is a matte foundation that's supposed to look like skin, not sit on top of it.
Quick rundown on the product first. The NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation (P3,150) promises 24 hours of shine control and weightless wear, with medium-to-full coverage and a soft-focus effect that blurs the look of imperfections. What makes it interesting beyond the longwear claims is the skincare angle: it's powered by what NARS calls the Pore-Refining Trio, a technology that's meant to visibly improve skin texture over time, with improved pore appearance in as little as two weeks per the brand's clinical study. The formula itself is serum-like, with an unexpectedly lightweight and breathable for something that ends in "longwear". It stays buildable without caking into that flat, obviously-matte finish we've all been trying to avoid since 2016.
To show us what the foundation can actually do, NARS flew in Supphachat "Tee" Thawisin, NARS Thailand's Senior Training Manager, for a live masterclass on a model. Tee's résumé is genuinely impressive. He started doing makeup in high school, was one of only three artists globally selected to film YSL makeup tip videos in Paris, one of eight chosen worldwide for a global Coachella campaign, and he led the NARS Senior Makeup Artist team in Thailand to the Top Performer Award two years in a row. But what struck me most was his philosophy: makeup should enhance, not transform. Use only what is needed, but use it intentionally. Do less, but do it right.
That philosophy showed in how he applied the foundation. Here are his top tips, straight from the demo:
Prime with moisturizer first. Well-prepped skin is the real base. A matte longwear formula will cling to whatever texture you give it, so hydration comes before anything else.
Apply in thin layers with your hands. No brush, no sponge. The warmth of your fingers helps the serum-like formula melt into skin, and thin layers let you build coverage only where you need it instead of blanketing the whole face. This is where the buildability of the formula earns its keep.
Set smart. Tee's trick is mixing translucent powder with a touch of light highlighter before setting, so you lock things in place without killing the dimension of the skin. Not a powder person? A setting spray works, too. For Tee, a look isn't finished until light, shadow, and texture come together. Even a matte base needs depth, after all!
The result on the model was exactly what the campaign line promises: skin that looks like skin, just calmer, blurred, and even. Everyone at the event got to pick out their own shade by swatching. With 39 shades in the range, finding a match wasn't the usual struggle, so expect wear-test thoughts once I've properly put mine through Manila humidity.
The NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation retails for P3,150 and is available in 39 shades at NARS boutiques, LOOK, Rustan's, and Lazada.
Are you team matte or team dewy these days? And if you've been burned by drying longwear foundations before, is a "natural matte" enough to win you back?
