I have a pretty open attitude when it comes to makeup experimentation, but if there’s one area I don’t mess around, it’s complexion. Though my skin is pretty clear now (thank you Accutane!) I have some lingering acne scars and lots of lingering skin trauma, so I need my base to be locked and loaded all day long.
Usually, I don’t stray from my favorites that get the job done. But when Nars launches a new complexion product, I’m going to give it a shot. The legendary brand is behind some of the most iconic base products of all time (does Orgasm blush or Radiant Creamy Concealer ring a bell?) The brand’s newest addition to the foundation family, the Light Reflecting Foundation, has already gone viral on TikTok and cemented itself as a mainstay, so it makes perfect sense that the brand would expand the franchise with the new Light Reflecting Makeup Setting Mist—and I put it to the test.
Ahead, everything you need to know about the launch, plus my honest review.
The Product
Given the success of the Light Reflecting Foundation—TikTok loves it for a glassy, natural glow—it only makes sense that Nars would want to add to the family. On May 31, the brand did just that by launching the Light Reflecting Makeup Setting Mist, alongside the Light Reflecting Hydrating Primer.
The Light Reflecting Makeup Setting Mist builds on the gleamy glow of the foundation with the same dewy finish. The multitasking mist not only sets makeup for up to 12 hours, but also locks in hydration for up to 24 hours. The mist is water-, sweat- and humidity-resistant as well.
The mist uses the brand’s invisible lock technology to form a microfine veil that keeps makeup in place and keeps the color true without changing, all day long. Nars also added a “radiant retention complex”—a combination of cacao peptides and moringa seed—to protect skin from blue light and pollution. Other notable ingredients include microalgae spirulina extract for extra hydration, and Portulaca Vita to soothe and calm skin.
Nars Light Reflecting Makeup Setting Mist
My Review
Setting sprays sound straightforward, but they’re easier to mess up than you would think. So many of them leave my face feeling sticky, too dry, or looking like an oil slick (or, worst of all, just don’t work). So with that said, I’ve been hesitant to stray from my reliable favorite—but Nars’ Light Reflecting Makeup Setting Mist may have de-throned my old faithful.
First of all, it feels amazing. It has a continuous spray that feels more like a soothing face mist than a sticky setting spray. It’s easy to evenly coat my face without any wet spots, and it doesn’t feel sticky or tacky when it dries down. Like its namesake foundation, it has a gorgeous radiant finish that makes my makeup look even better. It can get a little too radiant depending on what other products I use, but a light dusting of powder on my forehead and chin quickly fixes the problem.
Most importantly, it keeps my makeup in place all day long. I like to say my face eats makeup—no matter how much I apply at the start of the day, I aways look patchy by 6 PM. However, this keeps my foundation looking even and glowy until bedtime. I’ll be keeping this spray in my routine all summer and beyond.