NARS powder blushes are a makeup classic. Almost everyone I know has owned one at some point. There are so many gorgeous colors to choose from, they are long wearing and the pigment is rich and intense. They recently launched them in a newly upgraded texture and formula that is designed to be longer wearing with an even more weightless feel. Richer true-color payoff in the iconic colors that NARS fans have come to know and love.
I have three shades to review in this post – the uber popular shade Orgasm, a gorgeous everyday rose shade Dolce Vita and a warm coral shade Gina. I’m not a huge powder blush lover anymore because I find many to be too powdery on my drier skin so I was anxious to see how they would perform. Here are my thoughts on the new formula and pictures of them on my skin for reference.
NARS Powder Blush Review
One of the first powder blushes I ever purchased (nearly 20 years ago) was from NARS and it was the iconic peachy gold color Orgasm. I’ve worn this shade on and off for years and in various textures and products. My skin was a bit more oily years ago so I preferred a powder blush for everyday. In the past few years, my skin has become more dry so I gravitate more towards cream and liquid blushes to give me more of a healthy glow. After testing the newly reformulated NARS powder blushes, I still would opt for a cream or liquid formula but these do have a ton of great qualities that are worth discussing. I definitely think they are still a fantastic blush option simply because of their performance, longevity and rich color payoff.
Texture
The texture of these blushes is very powdery so when you dip your brush into them there will be a bit of product dispersed everywhere. They definitely have a powder finish on the skin which I don’t particularly love. It’s not super dull and does settle down after wearing them for a bit, but I do still prefer a dewy, glowy or radiant finish to my cheeks.
Pigment
NARS blushes have always been known for their rich intense pigment and that still stands. The new formula states that there is a more true-color payoff and I definitely agree with that. Dolce Vita and Gina did look exactly on the cheeks as they did in the pan and swatch. Orgasm was not as richly pigmented and is best used as a topper. To be honest, I remember using Orgasm blush as my main blush color years ago so I was a bit surprised to find it so sheer now. Either way, it only gives a hint of color and shine to the cheeks. So for the other two colors, I recommend starting with a light hand and building it up to the desired intensity.
Longevity
The new formula is supposed to last up to 16 hours and I can confirm that are seriously long wearing. I did not test them up to the 16 hour mark, but I did have them on for 10+ hours and they did not BUDGE. Even out in the heat and humidity, these blushes did not move. Though I prefer a liquid or cream blush finish to my cheeks, I LOVE the staying power of these blushes so I plan to add a bit of moisture on top with a liquid highlighter.
Price Point
These blushes definitely fall in the mid-range price point category at $34 per blush. Based on their excellent performance, I do think it is worth the money if you find a color that you love.
Finish
There are two finishes available in the blush formula – a matte finish and a shimmer finish.
NARS Powder Blush Colors
Gina
Dolce Vita
Orgasm
Gina, Dolce Vita and Orgasm are the three shades I tested but there is a total of 20 shades available in two finishes – matte and shimmer. Here is a rundown of all the shades available and a description of each color:
Orgasm – peachy pink with golden shimmer
Orgasm Edge – matte peachy pink
Orgasm X – Shimmering deep coral with gold pearl
Orgasm Rush – Deep rose bronze with shimmer
Deep Throat – Soft pink with golden sheen
Behave – Matte pink mauve
Amour – Matte warm pink
Dolce Vita – Matte dusty rose
Infatuated – Matte deep plumberry
Sex Appeal – Matte soft peach
Forbidden – Matte beige coral
Torrid – Warm coral with golden shimmer
Obsession – Matte papaya coral
Dominant – Matte poppy pink
Teased – Matte fuschia
Exhibit A – Matte red
Taj Mahal – Burnished orange with golden shimmer
Foreplay – Shimmering red brown
Gina – Matte tangerine
Thrill – Matte cool light pink
NARS Powder Blush Swatches
As you can see from the swatches both on the face and on my arm, they really do stay true to the color in the pan. Gina and Dolce Vita are a matte finish and very richly pigmented. Orgasm is a shimmer finish and best used as a topper or highlight. The finish is also very smooth on these blushes and they blend effortlessly. They definitely still have a slightly powdery finish so I did add a spritz of a face mist after to tone down the powdered finish. But if you were a fan of the original formula, I definitely think you will love this new upgraded version.
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