NARS Claudette Blush Duo Review & Swatches
Claudette
NARS Claudette Powder Blush Duo ($45.00 for 0.77 oz.) is a new, limited edition blush duo that has one of the firmest/stiffest textures I’ve had the displeasure of attempting to use. I had to scrape off layers of product, effectively turning it into a loose powder, to get any product to come off of the surface of the pan for swatches/application. Once broken up, both powders were usable, but this was way worse than a case of just the initial layer being firmer–it seemed stiff the whole way through.
Ingredients
Claudette
LELimited Edition. $45.00.
Croisette
Croisette is a brighter, medium pink-coral with moderate, warm undertones and a matte finish. In order to get pigmentation/usability from this product, I had to scrape off layers of powder using a metal spatula, which made it more like a loose powder. The actual powder was too firmly-pressed into the pan to be functional–even when I tried to use heavy pressure and my fingertip to swatch, I could not get color to transfer onto my arm.
After breaking off some of the product, I was able to get more opaque coverage–like the actual product seemed pigmented but the texture/formula were off–that adhered so-so to my skin. It wasn’t the most blendable blush to work with. This shade lasted for seven and a half hours before fading noticeably.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Essence Beloved (P, $2.99) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Tarte Endless (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery, cooler (95% similar).
- Haus Labs Pomelo Peach (P, $38.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Guerlain Ors et Merveilles #7 (LE, ) is more muted (95% similar).
- Tarte Crave (LE, $29.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- NARS Freedom (P, $30.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- OFRA Sweet Stuff (LE, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- NARS Paramount (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, more muted (95% similar).
- KIKO 108 Orange Coral (DC, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- ColourPop Lil Bashful (PiP, $12.00) is lighter, warmer (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• MICA• DIMETHICONE• OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE• ISOSTEARYL NEOPENTANOATE• ZINC STEARATE• POLYBUTENE• CAPRYLYL GLYCOL• ISOPROPYL ISOSTEARATE• ALUMINUM HYDROXIDE• HEXYLENE GLYCOL• TOCOPHEROL• LECITHIN• GLYCERYL STEARATE• ASCORBYL PALMITATE• GLYCERYL OLEATE• CITRIC ACID• PHENOXYETHANOL • MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR/(+/-): IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499)• RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850)• 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.
Croisette
LELimited Edition. $30.00.
Ninotchka
Ninotchka is a muted, medium-dark orange with warm, brownish undertones and a matte finish. The texture was smooth to the touch but very firm and stiff to work with, effectively yielding no color payoff when I tried to apply it–whether fingertips or brushes.
The only way I was able to make anyway progress was pushing off layers of product, which was like turning the pressed powder into a loose powder. Once broken up a bit, I was able to get mostly opaque coverage that applied decently bare skin, but it was thin and harder to blend out than most blushes. It stayed on for seven and a half hours before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Linda (LE, $39.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- NARS Bounty (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC That's Peachy (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Foxy (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Kosas Papaya 1972 (High Intensity) (Blush) (PiP, ) is lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Shook to the Coral (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Cali Dream (P, $22.00) is cooler (85% similar).
- Tarte Fame (LE, $29.00) is lighter (85% similar).
- By Terry Tropical Sunset #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, brighter, cooler (85% similar).
- ColourPop Bonus (DC, $8.00) is lighter (85% 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• MICA• DIMETHICONE• OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE• ISOSTEARYL NEOPENTANOATE• ZINC STEARATE• POLYBUTENE• CAPRYLYL GLYCOL• ISOPROPYL ISOSTEARATE• HEXYLENE GLYCOL• TOCOPHEROL• LECITHIN• GLYCERYL STEARATE• ASCORBYL PALMITATE• GLYCERYL OLEATE• CITRIC ACID• PHENOXYETHANOL • MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR/(+/-): IRON OXIDES (CI 77491• CI 77492)• RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850)
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.
OUCH! Don’t you hate it when a company that you still have sentimental attachments to comes out with something SO bad??
Certainly.
Well that sucks.
Would have loved to see a swatch of what actually came off with just a finger swipe 🙂 the colors are beautiful otherwise, but horrible with such a crappy formula
Nothing to see… like literally nothing transferred!
I saw Mel Thompson say it was hard pressed and I also felt the same using it this morning. I can see how this will bother a lot of people. However for me, since I only like a hint of blush (K-beauty style) I think it works really well. Because of this it will last longer than the amount of time that we have left in the universe though. 😄
Always love a good ‘F’… 😂
Thanks for my chuckle of the day, Wednesday (and it IS Wednesday so this is particularly fitting!)
Oh my! And this was one I was looking forward to. Nars seriously missed the mark on quality control on this one.
Nooo!! Sounds very similar to a terrible Nars bronzer I have- hard pan re-develops every few days and I have to go in hard.
Considering this whole collection is a tribute to Nars’ mom…yikes.
Ugh what a shame.
Re: hard press: I got the Dual Intensity 4 pan cheek palette and used the usual suspect brushes. Nada. Zip. Zero. I bunched the brushes. Still zero. Took it back to Sephora (I never do that…). The SA, obviously knowing this was a hard, hard press, literally scrubbed the surface off with a super dense brush. Home to mama, and loved ever since. I hope that could be possible for those who bought this uh, beyond epic and inexcusable fail. Bet his mum is thrilled, since this collection is dedicated to her.
I was certainly prepared for this duo to receive a failing grade after watching Tara Lynn’s review of this. One could tell that she truly hated using it, and for the same exact reasons! The shame of it all is that Nars is KNOWN for making some of the best blushes in existence.
I love Tara Lynn. Even though we are complete opposites in terms of skin tone and texture lol
NARS used to be THE cheek brand. I still have my pre-reformulated blushes, bronzers, and highlighters (I know they’re old but they’re still holding up). I’m starting to feel about them the way you feel about Urban Decay.
Nars usually makes my favorite blushes. Glad I didn’t buy this one before the review!
This is so disappointing. I love the shades and the packaging is so pretty.
Wow! I literally gasped when I saw the rating .
Just wow.
Ugh. I already had this in my cart and was waiting to pull the trigger. I’ve loved Nars fir so long and the packaging is exquisite but not pretty enough to forgive an F.. Thank you for the information so I don’t waste my money! Haha! Moral of the story: ALWAYS wait for the Tempatlia review!
This is so sad. My first blush was NARS orgasm. I hate when brands go down rather than improving over the years… how can it be when production is more advanced and cheaper nowadays.
Thanks for trying so hard (can’t imagine the pain to scratch layers out…) to get the swatches.
I’m old and outgrowing buying m/u. Too bad Nars is outgrowing making it successfully.
After reading this review, I had low expectations for this blush duo but, after trying it out this morning, I’m pleasantly surprised. These blushes are definitely a firmer press than other Nars blushes but with firm pressure I was able to get finger swatches. I wasn’t expecting to get much on my brush (MAC 129) without really digging in but that wasn’t the case; I could see the blush on the brush applying normal pressure. I definitely didn’t have to dig into the product. I really love how these colors look on! The color shade is pretty pigmented while the other shade is more natural.
There’s a enough mixed reviews out there that I would suggest checking it out in person if possible and see what can be picked up on a brush. If I had to rate this, I’d probably give it a B+.
I’m using a Koyudo blush brush and I also am able to pick up the product without digging. I have to wonder if there are some that are harder pressed out there than others.
Christine – thank you for saving me GBP 30 – was just about to hit order after seeing few youtube reviews – all gushing about this blush and the entire claudette collection.