NARS Fort de France Highlighting Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Fort de France
NARS Fort de France Highlighting Powder (2018) ($38.00 for 0.49 oz.) is a pale gold with warm, yellow undertones and a metallic finish. The color payoff seemed to be more medium to semi-opaque when I swatched it on my arm, but when I went to apply it to my cheeks using a tapered highlighting brush (standard tool!), it applied intensely with nearly opaque coverage in a single layer and a very high-shine, metallic finish. Thankfully, it did not accentuate my skin’s natural texture despite having so much shine!
The powder felt smooth to the touch with a thinner consistency that really did seem to “melt” on the skin, as promised by the brand. It applied nicely to my skin and blended out with very little effort. It started to fade noticeably on my cheekbones after eight and a half hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- ColourPop A Smile and a Song (LE, $10.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- rms beauty Grande Dame (P, $38.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Tarte Daylight (LE, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Anastasia Moonstone (LE, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- NARS Rêve Salé I (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Original (P, $38.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Incandescent (Top) (PiP, $75.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Mistress of All Evil (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- LORAC Daylight (P, $23.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Becca Moonstone (P, $38.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.49 oz. - $77.55 Per Ounce
The new powder highlighter formula is supposed to "melt seamlessly into skin to enhance your natural glow" with "buildable radiance." The texture had a smooth feel that was finely-milled but firmer, almost stiff in a way, in the pan (not in a bad way), and it was not at all powdery. There was a dryness and thinness present in the texture that made it less like traditional powder highlighter formulas (including the brand's original range of highlighting powders), and none of that translated into poor performance.
That being said, all of the shades applied better on the cheeks than the they did applied to my arm. I also noticed that finish became more and more luminous--almost blindingly at times!--as the powder was buffed and blended on my cheeks. They were very reflective and shiny on my cheek bones with semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation. I had no trouble blending and diffusing any of the shades on my skin, and despite having a firmer feel in the pan, I could use fan brushes and other feathery brushes to pickup product. The powders lasted between eight and nine hours on me.
Browse all of our NARS Highlighting Powder (2018) swatches.
How do you think this would look on a light, neutral skin tone? I’ve seen reviews suggesting it would be too dark.
I don’t think it would be too dark, but you might interpret “light” as much lighter than I do (I’m NC20ish).
Thank you, Christine and Ginny! I’ll have to go swatching ?
I just remembered where I heard it was too dark for light skin! It was Puffin’s Wife! I just need to get myself to a tester! Thanks again, Christine! You’re the best!
Based on Christine’s arm swatch it does not look dark at all to me. I’m pale, like NC10 and I would wear this. But I like a highlight to blend in with my skin, rather than be too white-ish. So, it depends on what you’re looking for.
Golly, (miss Molly ) you must be an old time Beatles fan, bec you surely don’t go back to the 1958 Larry Williams version. Adorable handle.
kjh, thank you.. It’s always a pleasant surprise when someone gets the reference! 🙂 And yes, I’m definitely a big Beatles fan.
You can see how lovely it is even in a photograph. It’s probably even more lovely in person.
It’s really beautiful.
This is a lovely shade. I have to lay off on purchasing blushes for awhile as I have purchased quite a few lately. Luckily this one is permanent so I can pick it up later.
Man I only wish I needed a highlighter. This is beyond gorgeous.
I know! My biggest complaint with the formula isn’t about the formula but the range… it’s very covered ground at this point, and I get why they released these shades since they’re permanent, but I’d love to have seen one or two less obvious shades.
Wow! Beautifully simple! Looked really perfect on you.
Tank you, Jel!
The finish on all 3 that you’ve reviewed so far is so lustrous and molton metal like, yet doesn’t emphasize texture, that I know I’ll want to get at least one!
This is a really pretty highlight! It looks slightly natural, but still adds a pop to the skin!
If you had to choose between this one or the Amrezy highlighter which would you go for? I definitely want to get one…but I can’t decide!
The NARS formula is more interesting as it’s different. Amrezy is something I’ve seen a dozen times in the last year, so there’s nothing about it that’s interesting to me personally.
Thank you! I’m from Australia and everything takes forever to launch here so I always check for your reviews. The Amrezy palette was just released here but sounds like NARS is worth waiting for… it looks so beautiful on your skin!
Hello Christine! I reallllyyy need your help! I am love wet highlights that have no shimmer or glitter! Just a sheen and light reflex on the cheeks! I have purchased so many highlighters and they alllll have shimmer, i waisted all my money on highlighters that claim to not have any shimmer! I watched kathleen lights review on this highlighter and she mentioned that it has no shimmer. So please pretty please could you tell me if thats true, so that I can actually purchase it and finally find my dream highlighter! If not can you please recommend me any highlighter that gives the results I want! Thank you so much!
I don’t know if I’d say NO SHIMMER at all – it’s very shiny and smooth, so it doesn’t read like shimmer particles on the skin.
Is there any ingredients for these highlighters? I can’t find them anywhere.
Sorry, NARS only sent the product, not the boxes.
Hello again Christine! Since you have been reviewing products for a long time, there is no better person to help me out. Please tell me names of highlighters that are glossy and have no shimmer! I have been on a long hunt and I cant get myself to find any.
No shimmer? Then you’d really just be looking for something that was glossy, is my guess, so you’ll likely have to compromise on wear. Maybe something like RMS Living Luminizer? It’s been a long time since I’ve used that, but I remember that being glossier and very “natural.” That’s not a type of product that has much interest here so I haven’t reviewed much in that category, sorry!