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NARS Craving Dual-Intensity Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

NARS Craving Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Craving Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Craving Dual-Intensity Blush ($45.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a highlighter and bronzer duo. The two work together well, and when applied dry, they can be quite flattering on the skin, though dry application doesn’t have the best staying power. Both shades tended to emphasize the skin’s natural texture and any imperfections when applied with a damp brush, unfortunately, as the shimmery finishes intensified. To reiterate what I’ve mentioned in previous reviews: NARS describes the damp application as a sheer wash of color, but the reality is that this type of application yields deeper, richer, more opaque coverage than dry, and it also makes it harder to work with, as it doesn’t blend as readily as the formula does used dry.

Craving (Left) is described as a “sparkling seashell pink highlighter.” It’s a pink-tinged iridescent white with a metallic shimmer-sheen finish and cool undertones. Applied dry, it was semi-sheer with a frosted, metallic finish, which didn’t emphasize pores and lasted for seven hours on me. Applied damp, it was semi-opaque with a metallic sheen, which did emphasize pores and stayed on for eight hours before fading. NARS Devotee (LE, $29.00) is more sparkly. Urban Decay Luminous (P, $29.00) is less pink. Lancome Moonlight Rose (LE, $42.00) is darker, pinker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Craving (Right) is described as a “shimmering beachy bronze.” It’s a medium-dark orange brown with warm undertones and a gold shimmer. Applied dry, it had opaque color coverage that was fairly blendable and had a lovely satin sheen that didn’t emphasize pores. It wore well for seven hours this way before fading. When I tried to apply it with a dampened brush, the finish was more like a high frosted sheen, which did give my skin a more noticeable texture, though the color lasted for eight and a half hours. NYX Beach Babe (P, $6.50) is lighter. Bobbi Brown Bronze (LE, $45.00) is more muted. Urban Decay Strip Bronzer (P) is darker. MAC Alpine Bronze (LE, $27.00) is less shimmery. Too Faced Sun Bunny #1 (P) is darker. Wet ‘n’ Wild Bikini Contest (P, $3.99) is less shimmery. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

NARS Craving Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Craving Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Craving Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Craving Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Craving Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Craving Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Craving Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Craving Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Craving (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Craving (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Craving (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Craving (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Craving (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Craving (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Craving (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)
NARS Craving (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)

NARS Craving (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)
NARS Craving (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)

NARS Craving (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Craving (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Craving (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Craving (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Craving (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Craving (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Craving (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)
NARS Craving (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)

NARS Craving (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)
NARS Craving (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)

NARS Craving (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)
NARS Craving (Both) Dual-Intensity Blush (Dry)

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
On eyes:
  • NARS Colombo
  • Jezebel
  • Brousse
  • All About Eve Eyeshadows
  • Sephora Sun Tan Eyeliner
On lips:
  • NARS Jane Lipstick

28 Comments

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Comments on this post are closed.
Nicole Avatar

I like this one too. It’s not my favorite so far. I think it would look nice in the summer. I have had Tom Ford’s” Flush” on my wish list for months. Since these are permanent, I am thinking of going by priority and grabbing that first. Christine, I noticed your review on that is a little older. But,you gave it fairly high marks. Do you still hold it in such high regards?

Susan Dowman Nevling Avatar

Much better than the prior NARS blush review. It looks good on you. I use _dry-Laura Mercier highlighter #1 and Edward Bess bronzer in the lighter color. My skin tends to be a bit fair.

fancie Avatar

This one wasn’t even on my radar but now I think I want it lol. I loved Devotee and was so sad to let it go when I got rid of the palette it came in. I’m glad the left side is similar because I was really digging the bronzer too lol. Might h have to add this one to my list

xamyx Avatar

This is the only duo I’ll consider buying, but not for a while. I can get a similar enough look with Tuomota & Luxor (Multiples).

Rachel R. Avatar

The bronze color is way to orange for me, although I do like the highlighter shade. These are pretty, but not a duo I would wear.

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