NARS Cosmetics is a reliable brand in that they never really tried to reinvent the metaphorical wheel as much as they tried to improve it. This spirit is very much alive and felt in the Velvet Matte Foundation Stick.
To be honest, we don’t think the Velvet Matte Foundation Stick is a particularly revolutionary product. Besides a blender (that you might just barely use, actually) on the other end of the packaging, it looks pretty much like any other stick foundation on the market—but with a few essential improvements to the equation.
Besides the general portability of the product, it’s also important to acknowledge how nice and natural this product looks on the skin, unlike many stick foundations which end up looking like masks. It also keeps a strong grip on the skin, so you get the best wear time possible out of one application.
But then, on the other hand, this foundation stick definitely has weak points. First of all, it has difficulty with gliding on bare skin—instead skipping and dragging on the face, making for a slightly uncomfortable application. Also, despite not looking heavy, it definitely feels heavy on the skin, leading to an exacerbated appearance of oiliness as well.
So no, we do not think this is a revolutionary new foundation stick formula. As with most other products out there, it has its strengths as well as easily perceptible weaknesses. But it’s definitely worth a shot, if that’s what you need to know.
SUITABLE FOR: All skin types, but moreso for normal to dry skin.
