Dior Independent (823) Rouge Blush Review & Swatches
Independent (823)
Dior Indpendent (823) Rouge Blush ($44.00 for 0.23 oz.) is a medium-dark taupe with neutral-to-warm undertones and a satin finish. It had semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation with a drier, more powdery texture that had some excess that kicked up in the pan. I’d recommend tapping off excess to ensure precision during application.
I applied this more as a contour powder in order to avoid unnecessary comments about it looking “bruised,” due to the way this type of hue interacts with my skin tone and undertone; the shadowy quality of the color certainly makes it usable as a contour shade for some skin tones and as a more barely-there neutral blush for deeper skin tones. The color went on evenly and blended out easily. It wore well for eight and a half hours on me before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Chanel Notorious (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Richer Golden (P, $35.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- elf Fair-Light (P, $9.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Sephora Tranquil (26) (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia Shadow (P, ) is less shimmery, more muted, warmer (85% similar).
- elf Vacay Mood (P, $7.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Phytosurgence Rosy Horizon (10) (P, $25.50) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Anastasia Fawn (P, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Anastasia Dusk (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Inglot #504 (P, $15.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$48.00/0.22 oz. - $218.18 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "silky" and "lightweight" texture that's long-wearing and have "buildable" intensity. The blushes had a smooth, lightweight consistency that was finely-milled, though not as silky as I would have expected, without being too powdery nor too firmly-pressed into the pan.
The majority of the shades I tested had medium, buildable pigmentation that was hard to over-do but could definitely be intensified for higher coverage if desired. They applied evenly and blended out without issue, and they seemed to sit well on my skin with a semi-matte finish or higher. The more shimmery shades were still more low-level and had a sheen rather than overt shimmer that yielded a more metallic finish.
On my skin, most of the hues I trialed lasted eight hours before showing signs of fading. There was a soft, floral scent to the powders.
Browse all of our Dior Rouge Blush swatches.
Ingredients
This does look really good as a contour powder.
I have Tranquil and use it as a contour when I do contour. It isn’t a shade that I would wear as a blush for the very reason you stated, Christine. It would look like a bruise on me, so I am set with Tranquil and I also have ABH Fawn.
If I hadn’t ever discovered Nyx Taupe, I would HAVE to go for this as my contour powder, because it has enough depth and a shadowy effect. It is beautiful!
Hi Christine, thank you for your swatches and review! I stumbled upon this on the Dior site last night and was really curious how the color would look & it’s best use. I think the color is really pretty, although probably not for me.
Happy to help, Bonnie! 🙂
Intriguing color — if one were into blush layering, this could do interesting things to paired blushes.
I submitted MAC Prolongwear Fashion Fix as a dupe!
I almost jumped on this because I wanted Chanel Notorious way back when but I have a suitable dupe and would only be using it as a contour eyeshadow, not contour cheek product.
I was going to say…this is probably the closest to Notorious I’ve seen in awhile from a higher end brand. Shame Chanel refuses to bring that one back. Gorgeous color, though. I’ve stopped wearing contour due to time constraints in the morning for full face, but this will look lovely for cooler skin tones that struggle to find contours that aren’t too warm.
I love Dior products. Unfortunately where I live (Peterborough Ontario) there are no stores that carry Dior…….much to my dismay. How may I receive Dior products?