NARS Sheer Glow vs L'OREAL True Match

For many, a good foundation is the first step to achieving a flawless makeup look. There are lots of different foundations available now for a variety of skin tones and textures. It's getting easier to find a foundation to suit an individuals specific needs. Those with problem skin may prefer a full coverage foundation, whereas people with dry skin may want a more moisturising foundation, or if you have oilier skin you could opt for a matte or waterproof foundation! Nowadays the options are endless and its not too hard to find a foundation to give you the perfect base!

In this post I'm going to concentrate on my two favourite foundations and give a brief comparison of the two. When looking for a foundation I tend to look for something thats not too heavy  and won't leave my face looking cakey. I also need something thats going to last for the majority of the day without sliding off and I prefer a more 'glowy/dewy' base over a 'matte' look.
The two foundations I have found give me the best finish are NARS Sheer Glow Foundation and L'OREAL True Match foundation. I like these foundations because I find them to both be really similar and they both give my face a "glow" while managing to even my skin tone and look quite natural.

NARS Sheer Glow is a great medium coverage foundation that leaves your skin looking flawless! The foundation comes in a 30ml bottle with a sleek black lid. The packaging is probably the one disappointment I have of this product, as the bottle doesn't have a pump and I find it a bit messy to pour it out. However you can purchase a pump from the NARS counter which does make it easier to dispense the product. The foundation comes in 20 shades; mine is Santa Fe which is a medium shade with peach undertones. The brand says that the foundation contains anti-oxidants to protect against free radicals and has turmeric extract which improves skins radiance and tone. The formula is water based and I like using a makeup brush or beauty blender to apply it to the skin. It's recommended for normal-dry skin types, but I would describe my skin more on the oily side and I find that I like that it gives a medium coverage with a natural 'glowy' finish. However I do use the foundation with a primer underneath and set it with a powder for it to last the whole day. I wouldn't recommend it if you want your foundation to look matte or if your skin is extremely oily. There is a matte version of the product available which some people may prefer. The foundation melts into the skin and is easy to blend and build up if need be. NARS Sheer Glow retails at £31 so it is a more high-end makeup product, but it is a lovely foundation and when used sparingly can last for a long time!

When looking for an affordable drugstore foundation I found the perfect dupe of the NARS Sheer Glow in the L'OREAL True Match foundation! If you're looking for a foundation with the same finish and consistency as the NARS but for less than half the price, then L'OREAL True Match is for you! It retails at £9.99 and there are usually regular offers on it in local drugstores. There are 23 shades and the brand claims to now match 98% of UK skin-tones. I have the foundation in 3.D/3.W-Golden Beige. Like the NARS foundation this one also has a velvety formula and gives a natural luminous finish. In comparison I would say that that L'OREAL foundation has slightly less coverage than the NARS and gives a more dewy look to the skin. It is light and natural and evens out skin tone leaving you looking fresh. The brand boasts of its 3 shade enhancers for shade matching precision and also has a downloadable app (shade genius) to help you find the best match for your skin tone. Again like the NARS Sheer Glow I use this foundation with a makeup primer and powder top coat to enable it to last for the day. The L'OREAL True Match packaging is more practical as the bottle includes a pump which enables me to dispense the foundation easily without using too much.

Below I have photographed swatches of L'OREAL True Match and NARS Sheer Glow on my hand. When comparing both foundations next to each other you can see that although both are very similar in colour, the L'OREAL has a slightly more yellow undertone than the NARS. Also the L'OREAL foundation comes across a bit more 'creamier' texture than the NARS foundation.

So both NARS Sheer Glow and L'OREAL True Match have exceeded my foundation expectations and I would definitely recommend either one! The differences between the two are minor and at the end of the day it would come down to your personal budget and preferences. I would say the NARS gives a slightly fuller coverage than the L'OREAL and although they both give your skin a healthy 'glow', the L'OREAL is a bit more 'dewy'. Both foundations are very blend-able and theres no caking with either. I prefer to use my L'OREAL True Match as an everyday foundation and NARS Sheer Glow when my skin is a bit more problematic or for special occasions. Whichever foundation you choose it will leave your skin feeling healthy and hydrated and give off a gorgeous natural glow in photos!