Is NARS Foundation Water Based?

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Is NARS Foundation Water-based? 

No, NARS Foundation isn’t water-based. Rather, it is silicone-based and you’ll learn why in this article. Depending on the foundation you’re getting, the ingredient list will look similar and I’ll give you a couple of examples to make it clearer. 


A Short Guide to Identifying Your Foundation

When looking at the ingredient list of your foundation, scout for words like -cone, -methicone, or -siloxane near the top of the list.

If you can find one or more of these words at the top of the list, then it is a silicone-based foundation.

It doesn’t mean whether water is listed as #1 or not.

These ingredients are silicone so anytime you see them, it’s a sign you’re dealing with a silicone-based foundation.

The water is usually added to make the product liquid-y and flexible for easy spreading.

Otherwise, without water, it’ll be too rigid and unusable.

What about when you can’t find those words at the top?

Then that foundation is water-based. Even if the words exist but are at the base of the list, then it’s water-based.

It means that most of the ingredients are water-based and are more than the silicone in the primer.


Is Your Foundation Water-based or Silicone-based?

When you’re trying to understand if your foundation (or any makeup product for that matter) is silicone-based or water-based, the only pointer you have is the ingredient list.

Once you learn how to read the ingredient list, you’ll be able to decide if it’s water-based or silicone-based, depending on what the brand says.

In some cases, the brand may not mention this so this knowledge is going to go a long way.

Now, let’s talk about the NARS Foundation and its ingredients.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation Ingredient List

In this instance, we’ll be looking at the ingredients of the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation.

Other foundations will have a similar-looking ingredient list so you can consider this to be a typical list you’ll come across from the same brand:

Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene, Glycol, Glycerine, Polymethylsilsesquioxane, Dimethicone, Dimethicone/Vinal Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Triethylhexanoin, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Dis-Butydimethicone Polyglyceryl-3, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Sodium Glutamate, Sorbitan, Sesquiisostearate, 1-Methylhdantoin-2-Imide, Phenoxyenthanol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Triethoxycaprylylsilane, Polusilocone-2, Serralysin, Curcuma Longa, Glycuosyl Hesperidin, Ascorbyl Glucoside, Tocpherol, [+/- (May Contain): CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77492 (Iron Oxides), CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), CI 77499 (Iron Oxides)].

This can be found on the Narscosmetics website or Sephora, it’ll be the same.

Example of a Water-based Foundation

Laura Mercier Foundation Primer

It was difficult finding a water-based foundation. Most of the popular brands I checked, think Neutrogena, Clinique, Mac Cosmetics, were silicone-based.

Some proclaim water-based but they really aren’t.

Anyway, Laura Mercier Foundation Primer is water-based and here is the ingredient list:

Water (Aqua), Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Stearic Acid, Isodecyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, C20-22 Alkyl Phosphate, C22-20 Alcohols, Squalane, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Esters, Phenoxyethanol, Boron Nitride, Silica, Cetearyl Alcohol, Sodium Hydroxide, Allantoin Tocopherol Acetate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Hamaelis Viginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Cucumis sativus (Cucumber) Fruit Extract, Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Extract, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Retinyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Polyamino Sugar Condesate, Hydroxyethyl Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Chlorphensin, Benzoic Acid, Polysorbate 60, Polymethyl Methacrylate, Saccharomyces/Xylium Black Tea Ferment, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Potassium Sorbate, Green 5 (CI 61570), Yellow 5 (CI 19140)

Looking at the ingredient list, you’ll see there is no “-cone” near the top of the list. That shows that it is a water-based primer. 


Is NARS Foundation Silicone-based? 

Yes, NARS Foundation is silicone-based and not water-based as some would think.

Does that mean it is bad? Not at all. Both silicone and water foundations are okay and good.

It’s your choice.

However, sometimes your skin type may determine the kind of foundation you go for. So, let’s look compare both: 

Water vs Silicone Foundation

Pros of water-based foundation

  • If you have sensitive skin or are prone to breakouts, then a water-based foundation may be the best for your skin. This is because they are gentler and so will not irritate your skin, which can lead to more breakouts. Water-based foundations are also packed with skin-loving ingredients and are nourishing too so they can be great for dry skin too.

Pros of silicone-based foundation

  • Usually, silicone-based foundations will have -siloxane or -cone as the second or third ingredient. They are typically great for oily skin types. This is because they can mattify shine as well as protect the skin from outside elements. If you can get a patch test done before buying, that’ll be better as you’ll be able to tell which one is most suitable for your skin. 

Is NARS Foundation Good for Oily or Dry Skin?

Yes, Nars foundation is good for oily skin. This is because it is a silicone-based foundation.

Does that mean you can’t use a water-based foundation if you have oily or dry skin?

Far from it.

Water-based foundations can also be used if you have oily skin. In fact, it’s much better than silicone if you have sensitive skin.


Some Primer/Foundation Combo Tips for You

When you’re choosing your foundation, you have to pay attention to your primer. So, you should try and buy both at the same time. Why is this?

When you choose a water-based foundation and combine it with silicone-based primer, it’ll spill on top of another.

Then you’ll have problems with it throughout the day, especially during summer.

When you apply your silicone-based primer with your water-based foundation on top, for instance, the foundation is going to spill.

That is because there is a barrier created by the primer that will not allow it to mix or sink for a proper mixture.

It wouldn’t be smooth at all and it will look messy.

The Solution

The solution to this is to buy and use a silicone-based primer with a silicone-based foundation.

And if you choose to go with a water-based foundation, then buy a water-based primer for that.

That’ll make it easy to apply as well as make it smooth when you’re applying it. 

Also, you don’t necessarily have to use a foundation and primer from the same brand.

You can have a Foundation from NARS and a primer from Clinique. As long as you follow the rule above, you should be alright.

Final Words on NARS Foundation

As I mentioned before, knowing the type of your foundation will help you decide if you should buy it or not.

Your skin type will typically dictate this for you.

So, if you’re wondering if you should buy Nars foundation or not, then this article pretty much answers the question for you.

Is Nars foundation water-based?

No, NARS Foundation isn’t water-based. Rather, it is silicone-based and you’ll learn why in this article. So, if you have oily or dry skin, it may be suitable for your skin.

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