Soft-Focus Skin in a Bottle? We Tried the New Nars Natural Matte Longwear Foundation on Dry Skin
In a beauty landscape where glow has long dominated, there’s something refreshing about a foundation that brings back the focus to natural-looking matte skin. With its pore-perfecting serum-like formula, the new Nars Natural Matte Longwear Foundation promises to deliver a soft-focus finish that feels polished, yet breathable, and most importantly, effortlessly wearable.
With its skincare-like properties, this new foundation sounds like the matte foundation dry-skin lasses have been waiting for. So, when Nars invited me to visit the V&A Waterfront store to get colour matched and try the new release, I was intrigued to see if this would be finally be the perfect matte foundation for my dry skin.
Let’s be honest, matte foundation and dry skin don’t usually mesh, especially in winter. But, if there’s any brand I would trust with a matte foundation experiment it’s Nars. So I got my shade, and wore it for two weeks, and here is what I think:
Does it really last all day?
The Nars Natural Matte Longwear Foundation is a medium-to-full coverage formula designed for 24-hour wear. It promises to resist transfer, sweat, humidity, creasing and water for up to 24 hours. Unlike traditional flat mattes, this 2026 release features a serum-light texture enriched with niacinamide and peptides to help visibly improve the appearance of pores and overall skin texture after two weeks of continued use. This skincare approach to the foundation also makes it suitable for dry skin, but the proof is in the pudding. I was most keen to see the skin blurring claims of the product on my dry skin to see if it truly stays breathable and flawless all day.
One of the features of the Natural Matte Longwear Foundation that most caught peek my interest was the promise to instantly blur the appearance of imperfections while also helping to improve skin texture and pore appearance over time. Those similarly afflicted with dry skin will know that dry skin with hyperpigmentation is not forgiving of foundations that don’t hold. By midday, if a foundation isn’t committed, there will be signs… Flaky, patchy signs.
I’m thrilled to report that the Natural Matte Longwear Foundation delivered it on its promises every time. I wore it for a full day on my first attempt, with no touch ups needed. The second time around I pushed it a little further with a day filled with meetings, running personal errands, and and a dinner date, and it stayed put. Each time, I had no issues with redness, dry patches or creasing, just a beautifully, even matte complexion all day long (in winter nogal!).
What makes this latest Nars launch stand out for me is its ability to balance matte coverage with a skin-like finish. Rather than flattening the complexion, the liquid foundation formula diffuses light and smooths texture, creating that blurred, almost airbrushed effect — but without looking heavy or overdone.
The texture feels lightweight and fluid, blending seamlessly into the skin while offering buildable coverage. Whether you’re trying to even out redness or want to create a more perfected base for the rest of your look, the foundation adapts beautifully without caking or settling. I found it easy to build coverage with the formula and I love that you can get consistent medium-to-full coverage every time.
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It spreads easily and evens out my complexion quickly, especially on my cheeks, visibly reducing the look of blemishes and hyperpigmentation without needing concealer. Even better, my skin doesn’t feel congested even after hours of wear and the product maintains a soft matte finish throughout the day without looking flat or dry. In fact, for a matte foundation, it gives a surprisingly radiant finish without looking glowy.
Hands-on with the Nars Natural Matte Longwear Foundation
Full disclosure, it did take a little help from my ‘friends’ to nail the technique of applying this foundation. By friends I mean Marco Luis, Nars’ Head of Makeup Artistry for South Africa (we’ve met once, does that make us friends?) At the Nars launch event for this latest complexion innovation, Marco shared so many great application tips, including getting hands-on with the product (literally).
Marco’s top tip for getting a flawless finish and all-day wear with this foundation is to apply it with your fingers. Skip the brush or sponge with this one, just add a little product to the palm of your non-dominant hand. The warmth of your hands will help the lightweight formula melt seamlessly into the skin, creating a natural-looking finish.
Nailing the application technique of this foundation is the key to achieving the promised pore-blurring 24-hour wear without the product feeling heavy or mask-like on the skin. Its long-wearing formula makes it ideal for busy days or special occasions. The flawless finish stays fresh throughout the day while allowing the skin to breathe. I love this foundation because it feels polished, but still natural.
Find your match
Available in 46 shades, Nars Natural Matte Longwear Foundation makes it easy to find your match. For example, if you know your shade in Nars Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation you’ll likely get away with the same shade in this new matte version. Of course, it’s always good to have an excuse to visit your closest Nars counter to get colour matched and have an expert weigh in.
I’ve been testing the foundation in shades Mont Blanc (L2) and Santa Fe (M2). Mont Blanc leans cool and pink and is ideal for brightening fair skin that has pink undertones. Santa Fe leans slightly deeper, offering a medium to medium-deep tone with warm undertones. It is ideal for adding warmth and depth without looking overly orange. Santa Fe balances out medium skin with a neutral peach base and can help neutralise redness. I’ve been struggling with redness during these cooler months so I’ve been reaching for Santa Fe most often and love the warmth it brings to my overall look.
If you’ve been searching for a foundation that delivers a modern matte effect that is soft, blurred, and never flat, then this new Nars formula is well worth exploring. It’s one of those foundations that quietly elevates your entire makeup look. The result is effortless and refined, and something you’ll keep coming back to for its reliability.
Nars Natural Matte Longwear Foundation retails for R1,205 and is available from Nars boutiques in Sandton and the V&A Waterfront, as well as ARC stores nationwide and online.
