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NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette Review, Photos, Swatches

NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette
NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette

NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette ($69.00 for 1.01 oz.) includes a highlight/contour duo, bronzer, and four blushes. Two of the blushes (Robotic and Blasphemy) are limited edition and exclusive to the palette, while the other products are part of the permanent range. For those keeping track of value, this palette contains: $36 worth of contour/highlight duo, $40 worth of bronzer (it is actually larger than a full-sized bronzer), and $90 worth of blush, which yields a total value of $166; this is good as far as palettes go, and it’s particularly good for high-end and for the NARS brand. I do think that a contouring duo is risky, since it will not suit all skin tones, and of course, we have seen Laguna umpteen amount of times, so that might be a waste for those who have a few NARS palettes already! Otherwise, it’s a decent to good palette that will be best for those who like buildable blushes, rather than richly pigmented ones.

Paloma Highlight is a very pale beige with subtle, warm undertones and a matte finish. It feels very soft and silky in the pan, and it gets a little powdery on my arm, where my skin is a little drier, but it didn’t look powdery on my face (which is more normal). It wore well for eight hours on me. Chanel Jardin de Camelias (LE, $80.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). Guerlain Mythic (P, $59.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). MAC Blush Pink (LE, $35.50) is darker (90% similar). YSL Golden Contouring Highlight (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). YSL Rosy Contouring Highlight (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar). Tarte Highlight (Tarteist) (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Tarte Halo (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar). Hourglass Ethereal Light (P, $48.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Make Up For Ever H104 (P, $23.00) is lighter (90% similar). NARS Nico (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). NARS Highlight (PiP, ) is lighter (85% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Paloma Contour is a muted, rosy brown with warm undertones and a matte finish. The texture was drier than the highlight, even though it was soft and blended out decently (could have been easier to apply!). It started to fade after eight hours. MAC Sculpt (P, $16.50) is cooler (95% similar). Viseart Sculpting #2 (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar). NARS Gienah Highlight (PiP, ) is darker (95% similar). NARS Madly (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Natura (P, $37.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). MAC Scone (LE, $28.00) is warmer (90% similar). NYX Sculpt (P, $5.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Tarte Sculpt (PiP, ) is warmer (90% similar). Burberry Earthy (P, $42.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar). Too Faced Chocolate Soleil (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, warmer (85% similar). Surratt Beauty Grisaille (P, $32.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar). KVD Beauty Sombre (PiP, ) is cooler (80% similar). ColourPop Aphrodisiac (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar). MAC Harmony (P, $24.00) is cooler (95% similar). Too Faced Medium Cocoa (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, better quality (80% similar). YSL Rosy Contouring Contour (PiP, ) is lighter, cooler (80% similar). Gucci Beauty Fair (01) (P, $62.00) is lighter, cooler (80% similar). Zoeva Unfinished (PiP, )(80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Laguna is a medium-dark brown with golden shimmer and a pearly sheen. It had good pigmentation, was lightly dry and dusty, but it applied well enough and wore for seven and a half hours on me.

Robotic is a light-medium pink with soft, cool undertones and a subtle, silver shimmer over a semi-matte finish. It had good pigmentation with a lightly dusty, though soft, texture that blended out easily on the skin and wore well for seven and a half hours before fading. Kevyn Aucoin Grapevine #1 (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar). Dior Rose (001) (LE, $56.00) is warmer (95% similar). MAC Well Dressed (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, brighter (95% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Velvet Bloom (LE, $80.00) is cooler (90% similar). ColourPop Olive (LE, $8.00) is darker (95% similar). Tarte Dollface (P, $29.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC I'm a Lover (P, $23.50) is less shimmery (95% similar). Givenchy It-Girl Purple (P, $44.00) is brighter (90% similar). Dior Lolli'glow (002) (LE, $45.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Clinique Pink Pop (P, $21.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar). Make Up For Ever #210 HD Blush (DC, $26.00) is glossier (90% similar). Makeup Geek Head Over Heels (DC, $9.99) is more shimmery, brighter (90% similar). Too Faced Justify My Love (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Dior My Lady (002) (LE, $60.00) is warmer (90% similar). theBalm Down Boy (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Estee Lauder Audacious Plum (P, $34.00) is darker, more muted (90% similar). Surratt Beauty Guimauve (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). MAC First Waves (LE, $34.00) is warmer (90% similar). Guerlain Happy Glow (LE, $54.00) is warmer (85% similar). By Terry Tan & Flash Cruise #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Blasphemy is a muted, light-medium rosy pink with a satin finish. It had so-so color payoff with a drier, lightly dusty texture that builds up to semi-opaque coverage. On me, the color lasted for seven and a half hours. NARS Unwritten (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar). MAC Cheeky Bugger (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Makeup Geek Spell Bound (DC, $9.99) is warmer (95% similar). MAC I'll Hold My Breath #2 (LE, )(95% similar). Laura Mercier Rose (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Urban Decay Fetish (DC, $26.00) is darker (90% similar). MAC Dainty (P, $29.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Tarte Empowering (LE, $29.00) is darker (90% similar). Tarte Love (LE, $29.00) is cooler (90% similar). ILIA Before Today (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Tarte Prim (LE, $29.00) is warmer (90% similar). CoverGirl Medium Rose (DC, $9.99) is more shimmery (90% similar). MAC Mocha (P, $24.00) is darker (90% similar). KVD Beauty Piaf (Shade) (DC, ) is warmer (90% similar). Salt New York Rose (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Lesson in Love (LE, $24.00) is lighter (90% similar). NARS Loves Me (LE, $30.00) is darker (90% similar). NARS Manava (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar). Hourglass Radiant Magenta (P, $40.00) is darker, brighter (85% similar). Guerlain Ors et Merveilles #8 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Luster is a medium-dark, gold-shimmered orange with a hint of brown and warm undertones. It had semi-opaque color coverage with a lightly powdery texture that seemed to help blending, as it was easy to apply, but the color was prone to sheering out. This blush wore for eight hours on me. ColourPop Extra Sprinkles (PiP, $12.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Anastasia Peach Nectar (DC, $28.00) is more shimmery (95% similar). elf Candlelit (P, $9.00) is cooler (90% similar). NARS Frenzy (Right) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). MAC Peaceful (LE, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). NARS Esoteric (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). MAC Cheeky Bronze (P, $34.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar). MAC Perfectly Poised (Outer) (LE, $34.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Too Faced Luminous Peach (LE, ) is lighter (85% similar). ColourPop Parasol (LE, $10.00) is lighter (85% similar). Dior Amber (002) (LE, $56.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Sol Body Skinny Dippin' (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar). Laura Mercier Rosegold Shimmer (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). NARS Soulshine #2 (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar). Laura Mercier Spellbound (LE, $45.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Wet 'n' Wild Hummingbird Hype (LE, $4.99) is more shimmery, lighter (85% similar). MAC Style Cast (LE, $24.00) is lighter (85% similar). MAC Trace Gold (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). Too Faced I Will Always Love You (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar). Becca Tigerlily (DC, $34.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

Dolce Vita is a slightly muted, medium-dark reddish plum with warm undertones and fine gold shimmer that gives it a satin finish. It had good pigmentation with a soft, silky, and blendable texture that lasted for eight hours on me. Tom Ford Beauty Soleil d'Ambre (Blush) (LE, $60.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Flesh Beauty Pulse (P, $26.00) is lighter (90% similar). Chanel Lively Rosewood (5) (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Dior Dolce Vita (555) (P, $48.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Bite Beauty Cerise (P, $24.00) is more muted, glossier (90% similar). Patrick Ta Oh She's Different (Powder) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar). LYS Beauty Empower (P, $16.00) is less shimmery (90% similar). Makeup by Mario Wildberry (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). MAC Love Thing (P, $29.00) is lighter (85% similar). Salt New York Wine (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). MAC Glamour Feast (LE, $21.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Milani Merlot Moment (P, $8.99) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Danessa Myricks Spicey (P, $18.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Anastasia Velvet (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). NARS Seduction (P, $30.00) is warmer, darker (90% similar). Becca Nightingale (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (95% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Neolita (P, $37.00) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (95% similar). theBalm Pinstripe (P, $22.00) is more muted (90% similar). NARS Soulshine #3 (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery (90% similar). Bobbi Brown Sand Pink (DC, $30.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.

NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette
NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette

NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette
NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette

NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette
NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette

NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette
NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette

NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette
NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette

NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette
NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette

NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette
NARS One Shocking Moment Blush Palette

NARS Paloma Contour Blush
NARS Paloma Highlighter

NARS Paloma Contour Blush
NARS Paloma Highlighter

NARS Paloma Contour Blush
NARS Paloma Contour Blush

NARS Paloma Contour Blush
NARS Paloma Contour Blush

NARS Paloma Contour Blush
NARS Paloma Contour Blush

NARS Laguna Bronzer
NARS Laguna Bronzer

NARS Laguna Bronzer
NARS Laguna Bronzer

NARS Laguna Bronzer
NARS Laguna Bronzer

NARS Robotic Blush
NARS Robotic Blush

NARS Robotic Blush
NARS Robotic Blush

NARS Robotic Blush
NARS Robotic Blush

NARS Blasphemy Blush
NARS Blasphemy Blush

NARS Blasphemy Blush
NARS Blasphemy Blush

NARS Blasphemy Blush
NARS Blasphemy Blush

NARS Luster Blush
NARS Luster Blush

NARS Luster Blush
NARS Luster Blush

NARS Luster Blush
NARS Luster Blush

NARS Dolce Vita Blush
NARS Dolce Vita Blush

NARS Dolce Vita Blush
NARS Dolce Vita Blush

NARS Dolce Vita Blush
NARS Dolce Vita Blush

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Make Up For Ever HD
  • Guerlain Les Voilettes Loose Powder
On eyes:
  • Giorgio Armani #16 Eye Tint
  • Giorgio Armani #17 Eye Tint
  • Giorgio Armani #18 Eye Tint

46 Comments

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Alyssa Avatar

Is this palette the same size (physical size, not necessarily oz) as their previous cheek palettes? In all the photos I’ve seen I thought it was bigger, but now that I see it in your hand it looks about normal size! I have the Virtual Domination palette from last year so I’ll probably skip this anyway though.

Karen Avatar

Hmm, two blushes I am already wanting, Laguna is always nice and I actually don’t have it right now, highlight/contour – don’t really use those, but I could always try, then two blushes that are limited edition. I wasn’t sure that Robotic would work for me, but we have similar skin tones and it looks nice on you. And Blasphemy looks lovely – is it anything like Amour? I have Amour in my Sephora cart right now.

Andrew Avatar

Amour is absolutely wonderful! I got it in a duo (I’m wanting to say from the Andy Warhol collection) and I actually de-potted the highlighter from last year’s Virtual Domination palette and replaced it with Amour. It’s very flattering across almost all skintones and it’s very forgiving. To be completely honest I would save my money and get the Amour single versus this palette; it’s perfect for everyday wear and it’s also wonderful for layering!

Karen Avatar

Thanks Andrew! I broke down and got the palette yesterday, and thinking about ordering Amour tonight so that I can get a 100 pt gift I’ve been eyeing. Amour looks like just what I need in my life. But we can never have too many Nars blushes, right?

Katherine T. Avatar

I’m well stocked up on these colors, so I’m taking a pass. Paloma looks very matte for a highlighter, looks like a setting powder, but it’s nice to have such wearable colors in one handy palette

Bonnie Avatar

Christine how do you think Luster compared to Peach Nectar in terms of emphasizing pores?
Also, do you like this or the despair palette better? I got the Depair palette and when I saw Sephora release this one I was wondering if I should’ve got this one instead! But maybe I need both, lol! I wish this one rated a little better, but it’s not bad and I really like some of the blushes.

Andrew Avatar

If it helps, my skin runs from medium in the Summer to pretty fair to light in the Winter, and I love Laguna. I don’t like anything with noticeable shimmer year-round but Laguna is the one bronzer that I can use and it doesn’t make me second-guess. No matter the season Paloma was just totally underwhelming. I got it as soon as it came out, tried it for about two weeks, then exchanged it at Sephora. I was taken in by the fact that they were both matte shades, but they weren’t very long-lasting and they just didn’t fit my skin too well.

For reference, in the Summer I’m typically a MAC NC20-25/Chanel Les Beiges 20. In the Winter, I’m a MAC NC-10-15/Chanel Les Beiges 10.

Rachel R. Avatar

Thanks, Andrew, that is helpful. If they don’t work well on you, they don’t sound like they’ll work on me. I don’t wear MAC and don’t know my number, but I match Bobbi Brown Alabaster, NARS Siberia, anything marked “very fair” pretty much year round.

I may swatch them in store someday, but I’ll pass on this palette, I think.

Katherine T. Avatar

I have Burberry Earthy, it makes a nice nude blush on me, but it is very fragrant so if your skin is sensitive to fragrance, you might want to skip. Otherwise, I like the color.

KJH Avatar

Don’t forget, ladies/gents, that Nars has an F&F later. Googling from previous years, it has been very late Nov. or early Dec. Just as w/ S, it has been 20%. No guarantees, though, but I don’t see why they would not. I’m going with Despair. And I think they reissued Almeria, but it now seems to be called Almerla. (Maybe a site typo…). Missed that the first time around. And I’m probably in for Gilda & Gina direct from Nars as well. Both the baked & original Nyx Taupe blushes are grayer than Paloma. Neither Laguna nor Benefit Hoola appeal to me: muddy, too yellow.

BonnieBBon Avatar

Wow this rated lower than I expected. I’m still eagerly awaiting mine, I may regret jumping the gun but as you know Blasphemy gives me emoji heart eyes ? watch on my pasty skin it’ll look like a sunburn instead of all glowy and beautiful like on yours lol

Susan Avatar

Those true blushes are all gorgeous on you.. Wish they were available in a palette by themselves. I can highlight and contour with products I already own. I would like a cream bronzer though to go with my cream products. Have to admit that I haven’t actually searched for one though.

Andrew Avatar

First of all, thank you for posting this before the VIB Rouge event this Friday! I was contemplating this palette, but I think I’ll pass. Even on my light (NC 20 in MAC, N 20 Chanel Les Beiges) skintone Paloma was pretty underwhelming. I already have Laguna from last year’s palette and Dolce Vita as a single, but I wanted this palette since it seemed like the perfect travel-ready face palette. If it had been an A-rating then I would have considered it, but MEH.

Secondly, is it just me or does Dolce Vita seem really subdued in this palette? It’s almost like it’s Diet Dolce Vita. The single permanent version I have is rich enough to go from a light, natural flush of berry pink to a full on rich cranberry. Dolce Vita in any form, lippie, pencil, or blush, is one of my NARS all time favorites, but this iteration just seems totally underwhelming.

Anyway, thank you for getting this review up! I’ve been waiting for it to pop up and, now that it has, it’s *technically* saved me money. I already know that the funds I had put aside for this will go to something else, thus the *technically* haha. Thank you Christine!

Claire L Avatar

Ooh, I love Luster! I got Despair as I was worried that this palette would be too warm for me but now I regret not waiting for this review! All of these shades look very wearable. Maybe I’ll buy this one as well!

G Avatar

This dolce vita blush w/ gold shimmer? Mine has silver shimmer (barely) weird. How does this dolce vita compare to the stand alone dolce vita, Christine? 🙂

Nancy T Avatar

This has quite a bit of variety here, and twi products I really love in one place, Dolce Vita and, yep, Laguna! What can I say? I still love Laguna, and ran out of mine awhile back, so this isn’t a bad deal. Luster would make a good highlight for me, I think. Leaving Paloma and the 2 LE blushes. Only the Paloma contour part would work at all on me, the 2 blushes I worry a bit about, though. It’s a “maybe”?

Denise Avatar

I bought this the second you posted it was available, which fortunately coincided with Sephora’s F&F sale. Since the only NARS in my collection was Orgasm blush, one eyeshadow, and a couple lip pencils, I decided this was a great addition. And it is! My skin is fair to light with cool undertones, but this palette works for me. I really dislike the packaging, but am afraid to depot lest I break anything.

Tali Avatar

After purchasing Nars other blush palette and receiving it today and realising the blushes are so pigmented (I accidentally applied WAY too much haha!) and amazing I decided to buy this one too after reading this review! The value of this one is too good to resist and I’ve become an absolute sucker for Nars blushes. Ive always been curious about Laguna bronzer and Nars contour shades. The only double up I already have is Lustre but thats okay because it’s become one of my favourite everyday shades.

Lauren Schroer Avatar

I have never used a NARS cheek product…this might be a worthy investment! Even if it is $92 CAD…thank goodness for the upcoming Sephora sale!

DB Avatar

I bought this palette yesterday and I love it! The blushes are much more wearable everyday for me than previous Nars palettes which I never saw as being worth the cost for me. The contouring duo also fortunately works well on my skin  (light-medium, neutral) when Paloma II is blended over the under-half of the cheekbones (or where mine should be…) rather than directly into the hollow like I would do with KA Sculpting Powder. I’ve not tried Laguna before so I’m looking forward to looking bronzed! Any tips welcomed!

I’m wondering if I should buy a back-up of this given that I like it so much… Does anyone know how long it takes to finish a Nars blush/bronzer?

Also, Christine I saw online pictures of a version of this palette which looks like it has a deeper contouring duo in. Do you have any info about this?

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