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).
- Sephora Tranquil (26) (P, $14.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Anastasia Shadow (P, ) is less shimmery, more muted, warmer (85% similar).
- Anastasia Fawn (P, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- Anastasia Dusk (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (85% similar).
- NYX Taupe (P, $6.50) is less shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- Inglot #504 (P, $15.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Benefit Hoola Toasted (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
- MAC Sepia (LE, $23.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
- Anastasia Mink (P, ) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (80% similar).
Formula Overview
$44.00/0.23 oz. - $191.30 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have "intense, ultra-pigmented color that lasts," though under "formula," the brand states that it has "bold, yet buildable color." Most of the shades I tried were quite pigmented, but the denser, smoother consistency of the powder made it possible to apply less for more buildable coverage as they weren't too powdery nor too stiff in the pan to work with. They applied easily, blended out well, and stayed on for eight to nine hours on me. The powders did have a floral scent to them, though I did not notice the scent when applied to my skin (more in the compact).
Browse all of our Dior Rouge Blush swatches.
Ingredients
Independent (823)
LELimited Edition. $44.00.
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?