I Tried The New NARS Matte Foundation on Dry Skin—These Are My Honest Thoughts

Matte vs. Dewy Foundation: What’s the Difference?

If you’re unsure about the difference between matte and dewy (or luminous) foundation, take one look at 2016 makeup and you’ll know immediately. Matte reigned supreme—and for some, it worked well. For others, it was cakey and drying. Well, that’s because foundation back then was marketed as one-size-fits-all. Thankfully, in 2026, we have different formulas, finishes, and textures based on our skin type and desired outcome. 

“A dewy finish foundation is going to look like freshly moisturized skin but not greasy or overly shiny,” explains makeup artist Sophia Porter. “It gives a fresh glow, and looks very healthy. This is great for dry skin types. Matte foundations are going to have a smooth, shine-free, porcelain-like finish. People with oily skin really can benefit from matte foundations.” 

Can NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation Be Worn On Dry Skin?

Foundations of the past used to be so extreme. You either had totally matte, which could look drying and make blemishes and peach fuzz stand out—or you had super dewy, which could make you look like a greaseball. Now, we have finishes like satin, which meet somewhere in the middle of dewy and matte. And most importantly, mattes have been revamped to maintain the traditional benefits of its finish, while now keeping the skin looking nourished and refreshed. 

Current leaders in updated matte foundation formulas include the ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Impeccable Blurring Second-Skin Matte Foundation and the MAKEUP BY MARIO SurrealSkin Natural Finish Foundation. When both of these launched, I was apprehensive to try them. But I immediately realized these contemporary formulas are made for multiple skin types. 

As a dry skin girlie, I prepped for NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation application the way I would other contemporary matte foundations. I started out with a physical exfoliant like the GROWN ALCHEMIST Polishing Facial Exfoliator, followed by a hydrating serum like the GLOW RECIPE Watermelon Glow Niacinamide Dew Drops, then the RODIAL Dragon’s Blood Hyaluronic Velvet Cream. One thing I accidentally forgot? The MUTHA Face Oil. Normally, I’d also swipe light strokes of a luminizer all over my face. I can’t live without the CHARLOTTE TILBURY Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick. For this review, however, I wanted to keep things as raw and real as possible, so I skipped that final step.

Bare skin before applying NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation.

Review Of The NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation

If you’re looking for an expert description of the new product, Porter describes it as, “A thin, fluid formulation that can glide on easily and is good for layering. It doesn’t dry down super fast, and there’s enough time to work with it to blend. You can build this up, but I can see it looking heavy if one isn’t careful about how much they’re using.”

Going into it with Porter’s insight and my skin prep, I took three pumps (I realized you only need two) and placed them on the top of my hand. Using the KOSAS Face Detailer Brush (the current, multifaceted all-star of my makeup collection), I picked up a tiny dab of product and started softly painting from the bottom of my face, upward. With matte products especially, you want to go gentle and light. Even with an updated formula, too much can look too cakey. I applied in gentle, soft strokes until my entire face was “painted,” and I took a moment to let the product sink in.

Skin after applying NARS Natural Matte Longwear Foundation.

My first thoughts? Wow, I look airbrushed! I also looked significantly younger (check out that before and after). And, my skin didn’t feel dry upon touch. I could still feel a plump moisture upon my cheeks. Up very close, however, I did notice a tiny bit of cakiness, along with visible pores between my eyebrows. And without setting spray, the product moved quickly when I accidentally touched my forehead. That said, it’s definitely a photo-ready formula. Next time, I’ll enlist the help of my face oil and luminizer and see where things go.  

“I found that stippling the foundation in with a dense brush seemed to help lessen the appearance of any dehydration or dry patches,” Porter explained. “Using a wet blending sponge over the top can be helpful as well, but overall you may have to finesse this product if your skin isn’t perfectly plump. This goes for any skin type, as this type of formula isn’t forgiving with dry patches. However, where it is sitting nicely on the skin, it does give that blurring effect.” 

Final Thoughts

NARS has always had a strong reputation in the complexion category, and I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this new launch. I love that it comes in 40 shades, and is packed with skin-loving ingredients. Because I’m used to dewy foundation formulas, using mattes of any kind can take some finessing. But playing around with various products to find the right concoction is part of the fun! In the future, I would definitely apply face oil and luminizer beforehand to ensure the most moisturized-appearing base.