NARS Melina Contour Blush Duo Review, Photos, Swatches
NARS Melina Contour Blush
NARS Melina Contour Blush ($42.00 for 0.28 oz.) is one of two new, permanent highlighting/contour duos for fall. The highlighting shade in the duos tends to be mostly matte, so it is not your typical shimmery, glowy highlighter. This is one of the deeper duos, so it should be good for someone who wants a more dramatic contour or for someone with a medium or darker skin tone.
Melina (Highlight) is a muted, medium tan with warm, yellowish undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-sheer, buildable coverage that was fairly blendable and soft on the skin without looking dry or powdery. The color lasted for eight hours on me. ColourPop Bon Voyage (P, $8.00) is darker (90% similar). KVD Beauty Shadowplay (PiP, ) is darker, cooler (85% similar). bareMinerals The Ocean View (LE, $24.00) is darker (90% similar). Laura Mercier Bronze (03) (P, $40.00) is darker (85% similar). Givenchy Ambre Saison (P, $52.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). ColourPop Skinny Dip (P, $8.00) is darker (85% similar). Tarte Contour Soft (Tarteist) (LE, ) is darker, cooler (80% similar). Dolce and Gabbana Desert (P, $51.00) is darker (80% similar). Kevyn Aucoin Desert Days (P, $48.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar). Laura Mercier Bronze (01) (P, $40.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar). MAC Aphrodite's Shell (LE, $34.00) is darker, cooler (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Melina (Contour) is a deep, dark brown with neutral-to-warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. The texture was soft, smooth, and blendable, while it had really rich color payoff. This should work on medium-dark and darker skin tones (I’ll be curious to hear if this works on very deep skin tones–do let me know if you’ve tried it!) better than other contours. On me, a little went a long way, but it was blendable enough that I could use it as a more dramatic contour. This shade wore well for eight and a half hours. Phytosurgence Golden Twilight (11) (P, $25.50) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar). Coloured Raine Mocha Queen (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Naturally Enhanced (LE, $34.00) is lighter (90% similar). Fenty Beauty Chocolate (P, $32.00) is lighter, warmer, glossier (90% similar). Kaja Hot Chocolate (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Billionaire Bronze (LE, $29.50) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). MAC Galaxite (LE, $16.50) is darker (90% similar). Coloured Raine Cocoa Goddess (P, $16.00) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar). MAC Raizin (P, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Moss Agate Sculpt (LE, ) is lighter, cooler (80% similar). MAC Swiss Chocolate (P, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar). Tower 28 Pacific Coast (P, $20.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (80% similar). Makeup Geek Chivalry (P, $10.00) is lighter, warmer (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Melina
PPermanent. $42.00.
Melina (Highlight)
PiPPermanent in Palette.
Melina (Contour)
PiPPermanent in Palette.
See more photos & swatches!
NARS Melina Contour Blush
NARS Melina Contour Blush
NARS Melina Contour Blush
NARS Melina Highlighting Powder
NARS Melina Highlighting Powder
NARS Melina Contour Blush Duo (your left) | NARS Talia Contour Blush Duo (your right)
NARS Melina Contour Powder
NARS Melina Contour Powder
NARS Melina Contour Powder
These seem to be able to apply with color, but not massive intensity, if you wish. They both look excellent on you. Love that infatuated red, no big surprise. Seldom met a Nars red I didn’t like. It’s one of his core competencies. The other stuff might be all over the place, but you can almost always rely on his red lips, in any formula.
Yes, they are definitely controllable – you can get true-to-pan color but you can also diffuse or use a lot less with a light hand!
I really like this!
Woohoo!
Wow, you look so fierce!
Thank you, Indya!
I love this look on you Christine, very nice! I have NARS Gienah Contour Blush and the contour pulls red or appears to be red on me. I was considering this one (Melina), hoping that maybe it would be more of a deeper brown on my complexion. I’m a NC55 in Mac Studio Fix Powder plus Foundation and the MAC Studio Fix Fluid. I normally wear the MAC Studio Fix Powder for my foundation, though. Any thoughts or suggestions for me?
Hey Tammy Lynne,
If Gienah’s contour shows up on your skin tone, I definitely think this would show up – and Melina’s contour is much less warm-toned and is also darker.
Great! I will give Melina a try. I’ve been eyeing it as soon as you posted it a few weeks ago. Yes, Gienah shows up on my skin tone but to me it looks kind of red. Thank you for your response. I appreciate all that you do!
Thank you Christine for this response! Like Tammy Lynne, I also have Gienah but it pulls red on my skin. I think I am joining to take a chance on Melina. Thank you both for this conversation! 🙂
Hi Alicia,
I took a chance and purchased Melina and I like it much better that Gienah. Melina doesn’t take on a red color like Gienah did. It’s very pretty and shows up well on my skin tone. I hope it works for you too!
Hmm, I’m not into matte highlighters at all, BUT the contour shade looks quite good! It is probably a little bit dark even for my darker end of medium skintone, but it definitely defuses very nicely, so I actually can see this shade working even on me, maybe?
Matte highlighters never resonate with me either!
Too dark for me but it’s got a certain JLO’ness about it.
It’s definitely one of the darker duos!
Wow, what a dramatic look!
It is!
I don’t really go for the contouring look – and I think it is a fad that won’t last.
But I LOVE your eye shadow look. Just gorgeous – these colours really suit you.
Thanks so much, Genevieve!
The first picture of you is so pretty!! I like this contour but I doubt if the highlight would even show up on me.
Thanks, Denise!
The entire look is very intense and hot on you. Gorgeous. Love the colors but much too dark for me. I use the Laura Mercier Highlighter in #1 if that gives you any idea.
Thank you, Susan!
Not really for me. But I do love your look here, so strong and sexy!
Thanks!
I’m very excited to see how this looks as a contour power on my skin.
Let me know how it works, Natalie!