nars light reflecting foundation in gobi

everyone would agree that this foundation was the talk of 2022. like everyone, every youtubers, every beauty influencers, talked about this foundation back then. obviously, i became curious. but at that time, mask is still mandatory here where i live, so i wasn't sure about replenishing my expired makeup stash. plus this foundation wasn't available here, the closest that i could get it from was from singapore. anyway, my husband went to singapore so i asked him to get the sample since i wasn't sure which shades to get, but he misread my message and bought it instantly! luckily, the shade is okay-ish for me, so pheww...  

the description from their website: this innovative blend of makeup and skincare instantly blurs imperfections, smooths the look of textured skin, and helps conceal blemishes, dark spots, and redness. visibly improves skin's clarity ingredients that help defend against environmental aggressors and blue light, it immediately strengthens skin's barrier to help maintain its moisture. suitable for most skin types, including sensitive skin. medium, buildable coverage with a natural finish. breathable, all-day wear. 36 shades. vegan formula. non-acnegenic, won't clog pores.

gobi L3 - light with neutral undertones.

the packaging: it comes in usual NARS black box with the big NARS text at front. there's description on the side and back of the box in english and french as well as the ingredients list. they put a sticker to indicate the shade code and name on top of the box. the foundation itself comes in transparent glass bottle with black plastic cap. there's a black pump to dispense the foundation, which is an upgrade since nars previous foundation didn't come with a pump. you have to buy the pump head separately. however, i think the pump is a bit faulty as mine started to wobble after a few use. it might get broken before i even finish the foundation at this rate. it comes in 30 ml which is the regular size of a foundation.

the shade: there are 32 shades to choose from, ranging from very light to very deep. however, if you look at the color chart, you can see that there's barely much difference on the medium shades. it seems to jump to the deepest one. mine is L3, which is a light with neutral undertones. NARS website provides instant matching as long as you agree to turn your camera on, and somehow, i always end up with punjab, which is too dark and too yellow in my opinion. anyway, even though i can get away with this shade, i think it's a tad too light. maybe i should try L4, deaville next time.

the product: the foundation is on the runny side so it's easy to spread around. i use one pump for my whole face and it's enough. anyway, even though it's runny, it's not as runny as my syca face tint, so obviously it has more coverage on first swipe. 

the result: again, with this one, i've tried several method. with brush, sponge, and even with a cushion puff. the brush, just like the skin tint, it leaves some streak marks, so i don't use brush if i have other options. i prefer sponge since it's easier and faster to blend the foundation with it, but the sponge absorbs too much foundation. as for the cushion puff, i think it's okay to blend with it, but maybe use other method first before blending it at the end with the puff. for the coverage, this one gives light to medium coverage. even though i think it's buildable, i usually only use one layer of foundation. however, it still won't cover my acne scars. it will cover the redness on my face and evens out my skin tone. i still need to use my concealer to cover my acne spots. as for longevity, i use this while i went to singapore and the weather at that time is quite various. it will be hot in the morning to afternoon and then pouring rain around 5 PM onwards. i use this in the morning and since it's still mandatory to use mask on public transportation, usually the area around my nose and the one that gets in touch with my mask vanish earlier. and then usually the area around my mouth and jaw next. but the area on my upper cheeks to my forehead will intact until 8 hours or so. at first, it gives satin finish, but then it gets oily easily when the weather is hot, so perhaps a mattifying primer will be needed if you have oily skin.

i have to say that i'm not quite fond of this foundation. yeah sure, it looks great and okay for the first few hours after being applied. it looks natural, like second skin, but then, it gets oily and it vanishes after being in contact with my mask. it doesn't hold well under hot weather either, so i don't think it's suitable for the place where i live in. i've brought this with me to finland as well and i find it more long-wearing there, so if you live in cold weather, then it will work for you. honestly, since this is quite pricey, i suggest you ask for a sample first before committing to buy this. as for me, i don't think i'll repurchase as i have a long list of base products that i want to try next.