NARS Isadora Blush Review, Photos, Swatches
NARS Isadora Blush
NARS Isadora Blush ($30.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a medium, rosy plum with warm undertones and lighter pink shimmer. Buxom Dolly (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar). Essence Goldy Cassis (P, $5.99) is warmer (95% similar). Dior Plum Pop (11) (LE, $48.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar). Patrick Ta She's Blushing (Powder) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Pink Glow #5 (LE, $60.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). NARS Coucher de Soleil III (LE, ) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Corol #2 (LE, $24.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). NARS Deep Orgasm (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (90% similar). Surratt Beauty La Vie En Rose (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Surratt Beauty De Cherubique (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Black Up NBL 04 (P, $26.50) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar). MAC Scene to Be Seen (Outer) (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar). ColourPop Brut Flute (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). MAC Plum Foolery (P, $24.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar). Estee Lauder Alluring Rose (P, $34.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Lethal Cosmetics Ornamental (P, $15.50) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). Laura Geller Tropic Hues (P, $28.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar). Laura Geller Roseberry (P, $28.00) is less shimmery, darker, more muted (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Ravish (Discontinued) (DC, $60.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar). Makeup Geek Covet (P, $10.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
NARS’ Powder Blush formula is described as “beautifully pigmented, natural, healthy-looking color” with a “blendable application.” It had medium, buildable coverage (up to semi-opaque) with a slightly drier texture. It didn’t seem like it was going to be problematic, but I had trouble applying this one on my cheeks as the color looked patchy and applied unevenly (but didn’t want to blend or diffuse), so it ended up looking splotchy even after trying to buff it in with a clean buffer brush. I was dismayed by how it applied, but it applied similarly every time I used it (four times; including over foundation). The shimmer was fine enough and did not emphasize my pores or skin’s natural texture. The color started to fade after seven and a half hours of wear.
Isadora
LELimited Edition. $30.00.
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NARS Isadora Blush
NARS Isadora Blush
NARS Isadora Blush
NARS Isadora Blush
NARS Isadora Blush
NARS Isadora Blush
Totes love this range of blush, but have better dupes. I’m so glad it is fall and I’m wearing TF Ravish with a bit of Clinque Pop Black Honey on top as my current go to. Finally the By Terry Sun Designer palette has been usurped.
Ravish <3 <3 <3
What a shame that there are problems with the texture/blend of this one as it looks like such a stunning shade for autumn and, for a warmish colour, it actually looks like a shade I could wear.
I was surprised! Usually NARS’ shimmery blushes are pretty easy to apply, so I was really taken aback that this was a struggle to even out.
So sad it performs badly–what a gorgeous shade!
Me too! It is a lovely color for fall.
Saved, yet again. Thanks.
At least, plenty o’ dupes to choose from!
It’s a shame that this was so patchy/difficult to blend, because it’s a beautiful color with a nice bit of sheen!
It had so much potential at a glance! When I applied it for photos, I thought maybe it was just a weird skin day or something, but nope (other blushes applied fine, too, lol).
That really is too bad!
Oh no! I like the color and the satin finish, too bad about the application 🙁
Same here! It would have been a real beauty if it applied well!
With such a common shade out here, I just don’t understand *how* Nars could muck this one up so badly. I can actually see the splochiness of it. Just weird for a brand that had been pretty good at doing blushes! ?
It was more dupable than I thought! Sometimes one forgets how many products exist out there, LOL! I was so sad with how it applied, though.
IKR?!? Clinique Black Honey for me! ?
Si, si! Cola pop is the only Clinique I’ve bought in 20+ years. What a nice product. Def on for Sephora sale.
Thanks for this review. I believe you just saved me some money. This and the dual intensity palette are the only two things from NARS holiday that caught my eye. I can go remove this from my on-line shopping bag.
So glad I could help, Tatiana!
Wow Christine – it’s amazing that this blush is so average. The shade is lovely and NARS is generally good at blushes. This is why we have you -to help us sort the wheat from the chaff.
I was really surprised!
Damn, I really liked the look of this blush.
Me too!
How does it compare to Dolce Vita?
You can compare any two by using our “Compare Any Two” feature – it is located in the sidebar on desktop, below the review on mobile, or through the navigation on the Swatch Gallery. Dolce Vita isn’t similar, IMO – it is much, much darker, less warm-toned, and less shimmery.
Awww, sad to read it goes on patchy 🙁 The color looked pretty.
Same here!
Christine, will you be reviewing the Nars Give in Take palette? (that name drives me crazy – is it a deliberate error in the use of the expression or am I missing something?) I really love your eye look in this review and am curious about that palette.
Hopefully, but it isn’t available until November 1st (or at least, near to there), so it is pushed back so I can write reviews for currently available palettes.
What a pity! Money saved, though. It is such a lovley shade, I would have bought it, but I really dislike blending issues.
Right? Bummer!
Sadness, this is a shade I don’t have any dupes for in my stash and the swatches looked really promising 🙁
Awww! 🙁 There are a lot of dupes for it, though!
Man, I love the color and sheen to this one, but dry and patchy is a no-go. 🙁 I can’t believe NARS screwed up a shade like this. I guess I’ll be sticking with Sleek Pomegranate.
mine isn’t dry or patchy at all, nor were any of the ones I tested at sephora or NARS counters while I was on the fence. If you get a bad one you can always return it (depending on where you buy it obviously.)
Christine:
I’m really stunned that you had application issues with this blush- maybe there was something wrong with the one you got? I tried this at a bunch of counters before caving and ordering it from NARS, and mine is perfect- it’s the same consistency as all my other NARS blushes, and creamier than most of them! I love this color, I didn’t need any more blushes but at least on my fair skin it is like a light raspberry that shifts to pink, it’s GORGEOUS. For me this is an A+, I also got Impudique which you rated as perfect, and honestly I think Isadora is more interesting and more beautiful and really just blends so incredibly well, even better than NARS blushes normally do. All the testers I tried at counters were equally creamy so I’m really thinking something might have been wrong with yours (maybe humidity damage because that tends to really ruin powders?).. I don’t know, I just really think this color is something special the way it shifts but has no glitter, and I was really scared when it wasn’t on the sephora site and I had to order direct from NARS… I know you didn’t like it but I wish it was a permanent color.
Mine was shipped from NARS, and I’m not sure why there would be humidity damage (it was mailed late December, not a warm time!) as I live in Arizona, which is pretty dry! I’m happy yours is great – however, I can only go off of what I personally experienced!
The review is solely based on quality, not the color, hence why Impudique had a higher rating – had nothing to do with the color or how it compared to the color of Isadora, just with respect to the quality. 🙂