NARS Aroused Blush Review & Swatches
Aroused
NARS Aroused Powder Blush ($30.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a bright, medium-dark berry with cooler undertones and a matte finish. It had semi-opaque pigmentation in a single layer, but the firmer, thinner texture made it easier to pick up less product as it wasn’t powdery, which made pickup more precise.
I found that more rounded blush brushes tended to deposit color more strongly and made blending more challenging–it’s particularly unforgiving if one over-applies pigment. When I used a fan brush, I had a much more even lay down of product that remained blendable for longer, which tends to be my go-tool for deeper and more intense blush hues. It wore well for nine hours before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Kevyn Aucoin Grapevine #3 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- LYS Beauty Passion (P, $16.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- elf Caribbean (P, $7.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Chanel Berry Boost (6) (P, $45.00) is lighter, glossier (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Berry Juicy (03) (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Moira I Love You (P, $8.50) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Babycakes (LE, $12.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- Glossier Haze (P, $18.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- By Terry Tropical Sunset #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Mystery (60) (P, $38.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.16 oz. - $187.50 Per Ounce
From NARS’ website, their blush formula is described as “beautifully pigmented” and “soft [and] blendable.” NARS' blushes, since they've been released in such a massive range of shades over the years, can vary from shade to shade to some degree. Most shades are pigmented with firmer, slightly stiffer consistencies that can also run on the thinner side, which allows greater control when picking up product but some of the more matte shades could be a bit more blendable or easier to work with.
Some of the more newly-released shades have softer, more yielding textures that are a bit creamier and are easier to blend out, though most of NARS' blushes are fairly blendable. The wear typically ranges from eight to nine hours with a few shades falling above or below this range.
Browse all of our NARS Powder Blush swatches.
Ingredients
TALC • OCTYLDODECYL STEARATE • OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE • ZINC STEARATE • TIN OXIDE • CAPRYLYL GLYCOL • PHENOXYETHANOL • [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): IRON OXIDES (CI 77491) • IRON OXIDES (CI 77492) • IRON OXIDES (CI 77499) • MANGANESE VIOLET (CI 77742) • MICA • RED 28 LAKE (CI 45410) • RED 30 LAKE (CI 73360) • RED 33 LAKE (CI 17200) • RED 34 LAKE (CI 15880) • RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850) • TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891) • YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140)] •
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
It’s pretty, but too bright for me. I don’t think it could work even using the lightest hand. Also, I’m very turned off by the shade name.
On my medium olive complexion, I believe that this shade would clash and appear clownish on me. These intense cooler toned shades seem to look best on either much lighter or deeper complexions than my own. On those, this would look amazing!
In case anyone wishes to know, this is one of the few new Nars shades that Is online at Ulta. (If you still have your 20 or want to wait for another.). I think the U online choices are the the same ones Christine has reviewed: Behave, Savage, Thrill, and Aroused.
WOW but that is bright and intense. I like it but I’m not sure I’d get much use out of it, but you never know!
that’s pretty, and would look great on me. Adding it to the maybe list.
I really like this one and I have some deeper berries and very light berries and nothing quite like this. I am going to check it out when I go to Kalispell next week. If I can apply it without getting too much pigment I think it will be really pretty on my fair skin. I usually don’t have much trouble sheering things out so it is worth a try.
Gorgeous shade! Way too bright and pigmented for me, but what a great shade for darker skin tones.
I’m pretty sure I could pull this off! It is such a beautiful colour! Wow!
OMG colors like these make me DROOL! I’ve never tried a NARS blush but this will probably be my first