NARS Dolce Vita Blush Review, Photos, Swatches
NARS Dolce Vita Blush
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.
NARS Dolce Vita Blush Review, Photos, Swatches
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)
I absolutely *love* the sheen & texture, but again the color isn’t quite for me.
Dolce Vita is absolutely gorgeous! I love dusty rose/berry shades.
I absolutely *love* the sheen & texture, but again the color isn’t quite for me. For some reason, I’m willing to try any color family when it comes to eyes, and most for lips & nails, but blush is something I am *very* picky with.
I think this color might suit medium to deep complexions best. The swatch of this color looks like it would make my NC20 skin look sunburned/feverish.
It’s very pretty! I can’t decide about this though, as the colour (on my laptop monitor at least) seems *extremely* close to my NARS Lokoum blush which is a cream formula. I’ve always said Lokoum gave me the sort of look that I thought Orgasm should but perhaps your phrase, “my skin but better,” is a more apt description. A lovely, everyday, natural flush. On my phone, your swatches show up more pink than they do when viewed on my laptop, so I may have to check Dolce Vita out in person (assuming my local Sephora carries it) to see just how similar they are.
This could definitely be a go-to blush for me in the winter. Such a pretty shade and I love blushes with a slight sheen.
i loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee this blush on you honey :d and it is rockingggg shade for our warm skin tone 😀 have yuo tried the NARS Dolce vita gloss ?? soooo pretty it is 😀 😀
you are looking stunning in this and that smile XOXO 😀
This is another one in my Nars blush collection and I agree, it quietly has a lot of power. When I purchased, I thought it was more muted, but there is a whole heck of a lot of pigment behind it and I need just a small amount of this to achieve the look I want. Due to it’s slightly muted quality, I use this frequently in the fal/winter when I want a pinky rose to give my face some pretty colour, but I do not want my cheeks to look summery.
This is my HG blush. Looks fabulous with everything, though on my skin it comes off as much more of a muted rose. It’s funny, this was my first high end blush when I was fourteen and just getting in to makeup…I was used to far less pigmented blushes and didn’t understand you need a featherlight hand with this one and abandoned it for a year or two thinking it was wayyyy too dark. Rediscovered it and figured out how to make it work and have been using it several times a week for five years…and I’ve barely made a dent in the pan. Definitely a worthwhile investment.
Your pictures capture the shade of this blush amazingly! I have a love-hate relationship with this blush for reasons you mentioned; I love it because it’s such a natural, rosy glow to the cheeks without the shimmer, but can be built up to be a bit more dramatic, but because I have a bit of natural redness, sometimes I find this accentuates that a bit too much. I grab this one a ton during the fall and winter for that rosy, cold flushed cheek. I think this shade scares people off because of how dark and brown it can look in the pan.
oooh, pretty. i’m a sucker for dusty rose blushes and lipsticks – as a result, i kinda have too many… :- how would you compare this to mac sur from mickey contractor – more pink, more “dusty?”
This is pinker for sure – I’d say Sur is a bit more neutral!
It looks lovely on you and surprisingly pink. But I think this might be too red for me. Plus, I already have MAC Mocha. 😉 I love the matching lipstick though, it’s beautiful!
For those concerned about how it looks on fair skin: I’m about as pale as it gets and it is my favourite blush! Just use a light hand; maybe save it for evening looks. I should note that It looks a bit different on me: less pink, a beautiful autumnal rose colour.
I’ve heard so many good things about this blush…and now I know why! It’s a gorgeous color. It’s a bit deeper/more red than I would normally go for, but I really like it! It would be great on me for fall/winter, since I’m usually more of a pale pink girl…that might read too summery in the colder months. Definitely going to have to swatch this in the store. It might just be next on my “need to buy!” list… 🙂
wow it’s so bright and pigmented. I feel like it might bring out the redness on my nose though….it’s pretty though
Looks a red one wears in a cabaret show….wow!
Oooh, this looks lovely and “right up my street”. I can see in the photos of you wearing it just what you mean about the sheen and I really love that look. Next on my blush purchase list!
I had this blush for awhile and it always turned out too red on me. Like I’d been slapped or sunburned… I took it back because I would have had it for the rest of my life. I want Outlaw from the fall 2012 collection. It will be mine! 🙂
@Bittenhoney you can get outlaw now, it’s a part of the permanent collection =)
I love Dolce Vita.I wore it today and it lasted me 8 hours at work, a nap and a pilates class after. I know i really should remove my makeup before taking a nap or working out but was too lazy 😉
I really like this blush, but I’m afraid I’d look too rosy with it – I already have a fair amount of pink in my cheeks now that I’m not a vampire anymore (hooray for iron transfusions). We’ll see.
Also, something I realized tonight: Burberry blush is more expensive, but it’s actually the same per ounce as NARS blush. You pay $42 for a Burberry blush, but get .24oz, whereas with NARS you pay $28 and get .16oz. If I did the math right, it’s the same thing. Since I adore Burberry, this made it easier for me to justify more purchases *g*
Dolce Vita was my 1st NARS blush purchase, and I swear by Dolce Vita blush + lipstick with eyeliner and mascara for my default professional look. That combo looks super natural on my NW50 skin, and I always get compliments.
It is a beautiful blush. I’m actually trying to figure out the purple liner your wearing in this face pic with the blush. It is gorgeous, I’ve seen you wear it before and I’ve been looking for a purple just like this in a liner. I know you listed the products out that your wearing but I’m an all BE kind of gal… just branching out now. I looked up the Tarina eyeliner and it has it listed as a metallic peacock green not purple. Could you please share with me what this purple is on your lower waterline? Ever so grateful for all that you do for us. You’ve opened a whole new world to me, thats for sure! I’d be lost in the makeup world if not for your site to help me make sense of it. Now I can go to Sephora and if something strikes my fancy I look it up here to see if it’s worth it. Thankyou!!!
Christine! I ended up buying this thanks to your review, and I wanted to let you know, I absolutely LOVE it. It’s a blush that’s totally out of my comfort zone (I opt for corals and peaches usually), and I never would have thought twice about it if it wasn’t for your review!
YAY! I’m so happy Dolce Vita is working out for you, Gina! 🙂