NARS Dolce Vita Blush

NARS Dolce Vita Blush ($28.00 for 0.16 oz.) is described as a “matte dusty rose.” It’s a dark berry rose-red. It’s red, but it’s not red-red; it’s pink, but it’s not your average pink–there’s a muted quality, but there’s still depth. MAC Supernova is pinker, less red. MAC Mocha is a bit lighter, but it’s similar, especially when worn. NARS G-Spot is more orange/warm.  I kind of feel like Dolce Vita is a very underrated NARS blush; it’s one of my favorites, because it’s low-key but dramatic. It’s everyday with a twist.  It can be a barely-there rosy blush with a flick of the brush or kind of a plummy-berry-rosy-red shade when built up.

The color payoff is rich and you can true-to-pan color with little product, but it doesn’t feel like you have to be as careful as you have to be with some other blushers. It’s a bit more foolproof.  Dolce Vita has a supremely flattering finish, because it has a subtle sheen that’s not shimmery or frosty, but it doesn’t give a flat look because it’s too dusty or matte.  If you love your skin-but-better, this is that type of finish.  I think the color is suitable across skin tones and under tones, and the only comment I’d make about wearability is that those with a lot of natural redness in cheeks might find this accentuates it.

It has a soft, finely-milled texture that applies smoothly against the skin, and it is beautifully blendable with a fluffy or stippling blush brush. I didn’t have any stiffness or difficulty diffusing and blending out the color once I applied the initial payoff.  When I tested out Dolce Vita for wear, it managed eight hours well with some minor fading along the edges after eight and a half hours.

The Glossover

	Dolce Vita A
	If you love your skin-but-better, this is that type of finish. I think the color is suitable across skin tones and under tones, and the only comment I'd make about wearability is that those with a lot of natural redness in cheeks might find this accentuates it.
	Product 9.5/10 Pigmentation 10/10 Texture 10/10 Longevity 9/10 Application 4.5/5
	Where to Buy
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NARS Dolce Vita Blush

NARS Dolce Vita Blush

NARS Dolce Vita Blush

NARS Dolce Vita Blush

NARS Dolce Vita Blush

NARS Dolce Vita Blush (Diffused Flash)

NARS Dolce Vita Blush (Studio Lighting)

theBalm Shady Lady Vol. 3 Look

Quickie look I did the other day to test out theBalm’s eyeshadows.   Happy Lunar New Year!!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base (neutral eyeshadow base), theBalm Envious Erin Eyeshadow (white gold), theBalm Come-Hither Heather Eyeshadow (grayish plum), theBalm All the Way Annie Eyeshadow (plum), Burberry Trench Eyeshadow, Urban Decay Rockstar 24/7 Liner (plum), Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara (black)
• Face: Kiehl’s Tinted Moisturizer (Medium), Burberry Pressed Powder (03)
• Cheeks: NARS Dolce Vita Blush (reddened plum)
• Lips: Clarins Lilac Pink Rouge Prodige Lipstick (pinky plum)
• Brushes: 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 222 (fluffy crease brush), 263 (angled eyeliner brush), 116 (dense blush brush)

For eyes, start by applying Smudgeproof as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. Using the 239, apply Envious Erin eyeshadow on the lower lid. Lightly blend Come-Hither eyeshadow in and above the crease with the 222. Layer All the Way Annie eyeshadow into the crease with the 239.  Blend Trench eyeshadow with the crease shade and highlight the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Rockstar liner on the lower lash line and blending Valiant eyeshadow underneath. Finish by sweeping lashes with Inimitable Intense mascara.

For cheeks, apply Dolce Vita blush on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply Lilac Pink lipstick for a complementing lip.

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Bright Makeup: Lotsa Teals

Here’s a quick look I did using two of the new Benefit eyeshadows, plus one of Urban Decay’s new Stardust eyeshadows (to be reviewed in full later). Really loving the way Dolce & Gabbana Nude Blush looks, though. Pain in the behind to photograph a swatch of it, but boy is it gorgeous on.

Is it really only Tuesday? I feel like it should be Friday. Not that I want time to go by that quickly, but it’s been a tiring week… and it’s only Tuesday!

You will need the following…

• Eyes: MAC Soft Ochre Paint Pot (neutral beige base), MAC Teal Pigment (teal), Benefit Shamrocker Eyeshadow (mint), Benefit Mermaid Eyeshadow (green-teal with gold), Urban Decay Atmosphere Eyeshadow (teal), MAC Gorgeous Gold Eyeshadow (green-gold), MAC Femme-fi Eyeshadow (neutral highlighter), Urban Decay Binge 24/7 Liner (dark blue), MAC Plushlash Mascara (black)
• Face:  Bobbi Brown Extra Tinted Moisturizing Balm (Light-to-Medium Tint)
• Cheeks: Dolce & Gabbana Nude Blush (soft beige-pink)
• Lips: Cle de Peau #26 Lipstick (coral), Benefit Zone Out Lip Gloss (sheer gold)
• Brushes: 226 (fluffy crease brush), 219 (pointed crease brush), 249 (flat, firm brush), 239 (fluffy shadow brush), 116 (dense blush brush)
• Substitutes: N/A

For eyes, start by applying Soft Ochre paint pot as your eyeshadow base all over the eye area with the 249. With the 239 and water-based mixing medium (or water), apply Teal pigment all over the lid area. Using the 239, apply Shamrocker eyeshadow on the inner third of the eyelid. Next, apply Mermaid eyeshadow on the middle third of the eyelid and lightly blend with the inner corner. Darken the outer third of the lid with Atmosphere eyeshadow with the 239, gently brushing it into the lower crease. Lightly blend Atmosphere eyeshadow, with the 239, on the outer corner and lid. Lightly tap and brush Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow directly above the crease to soften. To finish the eyeshadow look, sweep Femme-fi eyeshadow as a highlighter on the brow bone. Bring everything together by applying Binge eyeliner on the lower lash line and Gorgeous Gold eyeshadow lightly patted below the lower lash line with the 219 brush. Finish by sweeping lashes with Plushlash mascara.

For cheeks, apply Nude blush to the apples of the cheeks and sweep upwards towards the temple with the 116.

For lips, apply #26 lipstick first, and then layer Zone Out lipgloss for a complementing lip.

Check out more photos!

During Sephora’s Friends & Family Sale last November, I picked up two NARS blushes and Orgasm Lip Gloss. I opted for Deep Throat, even though I’ve owned it before, because I wanted to give it another shot. People say for those who don’t LOVE NARS Orgasm Blush to give Deep Throat a try instead. I don’t have Orgasm blush, but I do have Super Orgasm blush, which does work really well for me. I don’t find it too glittery at all! Dolce Vita caught my eye mostly for its name (some are suckers for packaging, I’m a sucker for product names, sigh!). I also bought Orgasm Lip Gloss, because so many of you recommended it to me–especially because it was similar to Cle de Peau’s #2 Lip Gloss.

Can you believe I’ve only worn Deep Throat blush once? And Dolce Vita has gotten a lil’ more love with two or three uses. They’re in my blush containers, which I so rarely access with all of the newer cheek products that come out lately (MAC, I’m looking at you!). Deep Throat is a darker, deeper pink with peachy-gold shimmer (and it isn’t the chunky shimmer like Super Orgasm, for those wondering). Dolce Vita looks surprisingly good on my skin tone; I was quite worried it would be too pigmented and more muddy than pretty on my cheeks. It would make a nice everyday blush for me, actually. It doesn’t have any shimmer (that I could tell), which is a bonus for those who are hunting for shimmer-free cheek colors!

Orgasm Lip Gloss is not quite a dupe for Cle de Peau’s #2 Lip Gloss, which is not to say that it isn’t a pretty color, though! I find the luxe lip gloss to be much more shimmery and golden-toned with just a slight pink-peach base, whereas Orgasm Lip Gloss has a darker gloss base and less noticeable shimmer. They’re both fantastic glosses, and Orgasm Lip Gloss is a nice way to get close to Cle de Peau for half the price.

Photos and swatches…

NARS Dolce Vita Blush

NARS Orgasm Gloss

Deep Throat, Orgasm gloss, Dolce Vita