NARS Samoa Matte Bronzing Powder Review & Swatches
Samoa
NARS Samoa Matte Bronzing Powder ($38.00 for 0.28 oz.) is a muted, medium-dark brown with subtle, warm red undertones and a matte finish. It’s a “cooler” toned bronzer in the sense that it doesn’t lean orange or golden. It had semi-opaque, buildable coverage, which is a little higher coverage than described but not that far off.
The texture felt incredibly smooth and silky with light glide, which helped keep it from being too powdery or dry, so the powder applied evenly and sat well on bare skin. It didn’t seem to darken as much as I’ve seen with other matte bronzers from the brand in the past, and it was much more blendable and easy to work with. It lasted nicely for eight and a half hours before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Urban Decay Nooner (Bronzer) (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- NARS Falaises (LE, $40.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Cover FX Suntan Bronze (Left) (PiP, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Kevyn Aucoin Capri (Right) (P, $58.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Tantalize (106) (P, $49.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Sweet Tea (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Phytosurgence Rosy Heatwave (8) (P, $25.50) is darker (95% similar).
- Urban Decay Jawbone (LE, $26.00) is warmer (95% similar).
- Haus Labs Medium Level 8 (P, $38.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Angle (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$38.00/0.28 oz. - $135.71 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to be "buildable" and "long-lasting." The pigmentation was more semi-opaque to opaque rather than truly buildable, but the texture was forgiving so it could be used with a lighter hand or a less-dense brush for more buildable coverage if desired.
The consistency was smooth, velvety, and had some glide to it, which helped the powder apply and blend out exceptionally on bare skin without darkening too noticeably (as matte powders often can). There was a slight bit of powderiness in the pan, but it wasn't too softly pressed, just the right balance to make it blendable and yielding but not messy to work with. The formula also sat well on skin without looking dry but still kept its matte finish. They wore between eight and nine hours on me before fading noticeably.
Browse all of our NARS Matte Bronzing Powder swatches.
Ingredients
Talc, Dimethicone, Octyldodecyl Stearoyl Stearate, Isostearyl Neopentanoate, Brassica Campestris (Rapeseed) Seed Oil, Opuntia Ficus-Indica Flower Extract, Camelina Sativa Seed Oil, Zinc Stearate, Polybutene, Magnesium Myristate, Caprylyl Glycol, Isopropyl Isostearate, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopherol, Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl Oleate, Citric Acid, Phenoxyethanol, [+/- (May Contain/Peut Contenir): Iron Oxides (Ci 77491, Ci 77492, Ci 77499), Mica, Red 7 Lake (Ci 15850)].
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
Oh this looks like it would tip toe the line of blush/bronzer on my darker skin. It’s a beautiful tone!
This looks like a nice blush shade for my NC45 skin.
Because I’ve hit major pan on my UD Jawbone, seeing a 95% dupe for it that earned an A is fantastic news! I like that this one has a more satin looking finish to it as well.
This is a lovely bronzer for warm toned complexions, a beautiful soft finish to it too.
I pooh-poohed this collection, but have to say this and some of the other bronzers are really beautiful. I was never a fan of Laguna, though, despite it being the star of NARS’ bronzers.