Vanilla Beauty x

My boyfriend's parents were very, very generous and bought me Nars Sheer Glow for Christmas. I have been lusting after this for a long, long time and can't believe I finally have it. Before putting this on my Christmas wishlist, I read more reviews/blogs than I should probably admit to before deciding the only way to know if I'd like it was to try it.

 I did something risky and didn't get matched but rather guessed my shade. As my skin tone resembles snow, I knew I'd be either the palest or second palest shade. I googled colour swatches about 5 times (using this blogpost) and checked the colour description on the Nars website before settling on Gobi. Gobi is Light 3 - light with a yellow undertone which describes my skin perfectly. If you are pale with a pink tone then Mont Blanc will be your shade. Siberia is one for the pale neutral girls.

I really love the packaging of this foundation. Any high-end foundations I would expect to be in glass bottles and look expensive and this definitely doesn't disappoint. You get 30ml or 1 fl. oz for £31 which I think is pretty good. Packaging wise, the only let down for me is the lack of pump. Pouring it out makes me a bit nervous but MAC foundations also don't come with pumps - must be a high-end thing!

The formula itself is quite watery which you would expect as it's a sheer foundation. Although it's sheer, coverage is definitely buildable and two thin layers can give a medium coverage. Lately I have been putting a base layer of concealer on my acne scars but for purposes of reviewing this foundation, I didn't. Sheer Glow is also non-comedogenic which is perfect for acne prone skin!

As soon as I put this on my skin and started blending it out, I could tell it was a luxury foundation. This blended out amazingly. A really small amount of foundation gave a thin, even layer and I added a little extra on areas of discolouration and scars. I think it's covered my scars amazingly, far better than any drugstore foundation (sorry True Match). The colour is absolutely perfect for me which is something I have never found before. My only issue is that it's clung to some of my dry patches which have emerged as a result of my acne cream but I am due a good face scrub. The foundation gives silky, real looking skin. It also doesn't transfer which is a big bonus.

Above is the finished product with a little added concealer on blemishes. I didn't powder my face as I wanted to see what it would do without being set. I did my make up at about 10.30am and as I write this it is 5.30pm and my face is slightly glowing (as the name would suggest) but nothing too extreme. It's a glow that's definitely welcomed considering how dull my skin has been looking. In future I think I will set it, just to keep from too much shine. I'm really impressed that it hasn't set into my expression lines which happens a lot with my thicker drugstore foundations.

Overall, I think this foundation is amazing. It's definitely lived up to the hype and I would recommend it to anyone who's thinking about it!

True Match is rumoured to be a Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk dupe which I think is pretty impressive. The formula is quite thick but nowhere near as thick as MAC Studio Fix. This foundation blends like an absolute dream. You do need quite a moisturised face underneath or it will cling to dry patches, but with a good moisturiser and primer underneath that's not an issue.

Beauty Blender: I use my Beauty Blender probably 50% of the time (you can see from the colour it's well loved). I actually have 2 Beauty Blenders and a TopShop sponge that's similar which I think they have stopped selling. You can't buy Beauty Blenders from high street stores which is a shame, but you can find them quite cheap from Amazon or on the Beauty Blender website. You can buy dupes from any drugstore though - Real Techniques and Models Own do them at a fraction of the price. I find that Beauty Blenders work better with some foundations than others, and it's a bit of trial and error to work out what looks best. Beauty Blenders are made to be used wet as they absorb less of the foundation and make it easier to blend out, leaving you with an amazing finish. 

Foundation brushes: I don't actually use foundation brushes anymore. When I first started getting into make up, these were all I used but now I'd rather use my Beauty Blender or buffing brush. I feel like foundation brushes give you brush strokes on your face and that's just not what I want. I do occasionally go back to them if I'm feeling like mixing it up a bit. If you like foundation brushes, the Primark one is such good quality and so cheap (£1.50 or £2 I think). If you're just starting out in make up it's definitely one to try out if you don't want to spend too much money on a brush. My No 7 one has been going for about 5 years now, I think that says it all. The Real Techniques pointed foundation brush is way too small to be used as a foundation brush but works really well for concealer under the eyes. 

Detailer brush: The detailer brush is the perfect size for applying concealer to spots, I use it with my Erase Paste and it's a dream combo. You can also use this as a lip brush. Real Techniques brushes are such good quality and don't come with a big price tag. I got the Core Collection from Boots for £21.99 which is amazing for a set of 4 brushes. They don't shed and wash without losing shape or quality.

Buffing brush: This is probably my favourite way to apply foundation at the moment. Although this is meant to be used for powder foundation, I use it with liquid foundation. I stipple the foundation onto my skin and then buff it out. Buffing your foundation means that it's really sinking into the skin instead of sitting on top of it and looking cakey, it also makes it last longer. Out of all these brushes, this is the one I'd recommend to anyone. You get a flawless, even finish and make up that lasts.

What do you use to apply your base? I'm always on the lookout for a new face brush!