Forget Foundation—This Is the Product You Need for Natural, Glowing Skin

Yes, that's right, I'm still on the hunt to find the best products for glowing, radiant skin. You might notice that I write about this topic a lot, as it's truly become a mission of mine to test out every highlighter, primer, tinted moisturiser and foundation on the market to see which ones will deliver the dewiest results. During this quest, I've come to realise that foundation isn't really for me. Instead, I much prefer a lightweight base that doesn't feel heavy on the skin. So, I've turned my attention to skin tints and tinted moisturisers to find out which ones to add to my collection. Next on the list? Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser (£37).

I'm sure you're already familiar with this product, as it's become somewhat of a cult buy in the tinted moisturiser stakes. I'm a big fan of Nars products, from the brand's iconic blushes to its creamy concealers, but I had yet to give Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser a go, until now. As soon as I got my hands on this product, I couldn't wait to test it out to see if it would live up to its promises of delivering a radiant, natural finish, so keep scrolling to read my review and see how I got on.

My Review of Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser

The Formula

First things first, let's talk about the formula. As described by the brand, this tinted moisturiser "hydrates and smooths" the skin, with the added bonus of SPF 30. Of course, I would always recommend applying a dedicated SPF before makeup, but I still like the fact that this gives extra protection. Not only does it contain SPF, but the oil-free formula also includes vitamin C and French Polynesian Kopara to hydrate and brighten the complexion. I'm a big fan of makeup with added skincare benefits, so after reading about the formula online, I seriously couldn't wait to get this on my skin.

There are 16 shades available, and at first, I was a little unsure which to go for. Luckily for me, the website has a really handy shade-matching tool that can help you find the best option. I opted for two shades in the end (light 1.2 and light 3), as sometimes I like my makeup to look a little warmer. After testing them both out, I'd say that light 3 is my favourite, but I also like mixing them together on days when I'm not as tanned.

I swatched the product on my hand at first and was immediately impressed by how lightweight it felt. I applied it to my skin with both my fingers and a brush, and both methods were so easy thanks to how blendable the formula is. I've been suffering with patches of dry skin on my face lately, but this glided on and didn't cling to anything, which was a big win. If I'm being totally honest, after wearing it all day, I completely forgot I had any makeup on whatsoever. That's how lightweight this is.

The Coverage

As with most tinted moisturisers, I wasn't expecting heaps of coverage. However, I was pleasantly surprised by how my skin looked after applying a light layer. Not only did it even out my skin tone, but my blemishes and dark circles were a lot less noticeable. Don't get me wrong; I would probably still add some concealer under my eyes, but I didn't feel as if I needed to apply anything else to the rest of my face. Normally, when a foundation has more coverage, I find that you can really see the makeup on the skin, but my complexion still looked really natural with this.

The Verdict

So, how would I rate this tinted moisturiser? If you asked me to give it a score out of 10, I'd definitely give it a solid eight. The formula itself is incredible; it was so easy to apply and I loved the way that it made my skin look. That being said, did I feel like it gave me a really glowy finish? Probably not. Yes, my skin looked more radiant, and yes, I felt like my complexion had a natural, subtle sheen to it, but if you want that super-dewy look, then I'd recommend mixing in some glow drops to the formula or using a dewy setting spray over the top. I personally love using my Drunk Elephant B-Goldi Bright Drops before applying the tinted moisturiser for my desired finish.

Although it's not really, really dewy, I still love the way my skin looks when I use this, and it's safe to say that this product has become a staple in my collection for those no-makeup makeup days. At £37 it's certainly not cheap, but a little goes a long way, so in my opinion, it's a worthwhile investment.

Pros:
- Lightweight formula
- Glides onto the skin
- Good coverage
- Gives a natural finish

Cons:
- More of an investment
- Not as glowy as expected (but definitely radiant enough for me).

Shop Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser:

Shop More Tinted Moisturisers:

Opening Image: @tylynnnguyen