We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
If you're anything like me, you've been let down by foundation after foundation over the years. Whether it's a full-coverage formula that turns my skin into a pitted pancake or a barely-there film that does nothing to cover my spots, I struggle to find something that'll conceal my imperfections *without* smothering my skin.
After all, that glowy, trendy no-makeup look is great for clear skin, and the mid-2010s matte finish is perfect for studio lighting; but the struggle to find a daylight-friendly foundation that still hides my zits without settling into my pores and fine lines is all too real. So when I found out that NARS was offering an all-new Soft Matte foundation, my ears pricked up.
That's partly because it solves my own personal makeup needs (Im human, okay?), but also because of some of the trends I've spotted all over TikTok. 2016 makeup is making a comeback, but the beauty community has learned a lot since our peak brow pomade years – I reckon the days of leaving the house with Neopolitan ice cream-level contour and cracking matte foundation are behind us forever, so NARS' best-of-both-worlds offering comes at the perfect time.
Designed to provide an impressive 16 hours of wear(!), NARS' foundation combines the coverage you'd expect from a matte foundation with the silky-smooth finish you'd ordinarily see from a tinted moisturiser or a serum foundation. That's because its hydramatte balancing complex combines pigment with botanical extracts, giving a second-skin foundation that won't budge throughout the day (yes, please).
The oil-absorbing powders in its formula reflect light brilliantly, giving you that serum glow *without* any shine. So whether you have dry skin that foundation loves to settle unflatteringly into or oil levels that always cause your makeup to separate, fear not: this bad boy has got all skin types' backs.
Of course, skin type is one thing, but skin tone matters even more – good thing this option comes in an impressive 34 shades, right?
It also helps to protect against blue light, free radicals, and pollutants. So, to summarise: there's a best-of-both-worlds foundation from a brand that's beloved by beauty buffs and regular customers alike, it comes in a wide range of shades, and its second-skin finish belies its impressive coverage. It's ideal for a wide range of skin types too – no wonder I'm so sure it's about to blow up, right?
