NARS Dual-Intensity Blush Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette ($59.00 for 0.32 oz.) includes four, limited edition powder blushes (one is more of a highlighter shade for most skin tones). The three blushes shades are richer shades, and two of the shades are quite deep, so I can see this working on a variety of skin tones. When working with the formula dry, I find it easy to apply and blend out, and they perform well overall. Damp application is harder to work with on my skin, as it doesn’t blend out as easily; it is better patted on with a damp fingertip or on bare skin (something about the damp brush/powder seems to disturb any base products more often than not for me). The wear ranged from seven to nine hours for me with damp application lasting longer overall.
I reached out to NARS recently for clarification with respect to the formula, because summer’s duos had contrary claims compared to the permanent duos. So, per that conversation: the Dual Intensity Blush formula is a wet/dry formulation that yields a “natural looking glow” with a dry application, whereas as damp application gives a “high-impact finish,” and the more water you have on your brush, the more “watercolor-like” the pigment will appear and with less water, it is “more saturated.” It seems like 1) the finish is more metallic/frosted with damp/wet application, and 2) the color will sheer out with a lot of water but appear more intense if just used with a damp brush. The best I can interpret is that there is just more leeway now with damp application not being specifically sheer/translucent from the get-go. I tried, and you really have to have a near-sopping wet brush before the blushes start resembling watercolors. My experience remains: it really is just medium to full coverage with a more frosted/shimmery finish applied dry, and then richer, deeper, and often more opaque color with a smoother sheen applied damp.
Summer Dual Intensity Blush I is a pale, silvery pink with cool, iridescent shimmer. It had semi-sheer coverage applied dry, and semi-opaque applied damp, while the finish goes from frosted to metallic. It wore well for seven and a half hours dry, eight and a half hours damp. I think the lighter color and sheerer nature of this shade made it easy to apply even damp. Giorgio Armani No. 07 (P, $62.00) is cooler (95% similar). Laura Geller Charming Pink (P, $26.00) is darker (95% similar). NYX Ice Queen (P, $5.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). Burberry No. 01 White (LE, $68.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar). Wet 'n' Wild Where the Dreamers Go (LE, $2.99) is less shimmery (95% similar). L'Oreal Ice (P, $12.99) is more shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar). Looxi Beauty Pandora (P, $7.50) is more shimmery (90% similar). NYX Snow Rose (P, $7.99) is darker (95% similar). Urban Decay Aura (P, $26.00) is cooler (90% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Summer Dual Intensity Blush II is a slightly muted, medium-dark rosy plum with warm undertones and gold, frosted shimmer. It is like a deeper, richer take on the brand’s signature Orgasm blush (but it is warmer, less pink-based). It had opaque coverage both wet and dry, but damp application had a stronger metallic finish and appeared darker. It wore well for eight hours dry and nine hours damp. MAC Love Thing (P, $29.00) is less shimmery (95% similar). MAC Sweet Vision (LE, $28.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar). MAC Sweet Samba (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar). Laura Geller Tropic Hues (P, $28.00) is lighter (90% similar). Tom Ford Beauty Pink Glow #5 (LE, $60.00) is darker (90% similar). NARS Realm of the Senses (Together) (LE, $30.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Gleeful (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar). MAC Cheeky Bits (P, $31.00) is lighter, brighter, warmer (90% similar). MAC Simmer (LE, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter, brighter (90% similar). ColourPop No Way (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar). Stila Berry Shimmer (LE, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar). Natasha Denona Bloom (P, $19.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar). NARS Adrenaline (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar). NARS Soulshine (Together) (LE, $30.00) is warmer (85% similar). Laura Geller Pink Buttercream (P, $28.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Make Up For Ever 9 Coral (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar). Ciate Matchmaker (P, $26.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Surratt Beauty De Cherubique (P, $32.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). elf Bermuda (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar). Becca Snapdragon (DC, $34.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Top 20 dupes listed, see the rest. See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Summer Dual Intensity Blush III is a deep, fuchsia-berry with cool undertones and a frosted sheen with slight sparkle. It is slightly sheerer and more muted applied dry than it is damp, though I find they look similar once blended on the cheeks. The texture of this shade was firmer and denser, and it seemed to make blending it out harder, so this one took some effort to even out on the skin, even dry. It wore well for eight hours dry, nine hours damp. NARS Panic (Left) (PiP, ) is lighter, brighter (90% similar). MAC Rosy Cheeks (P, $31.00) is lighter (90% similar). MAC Supernova (LE, $29.00) is warmer (90% similar). By Terry Tropical Sunset #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar). Laura Geller Plumberry (P, $26.00) is darker (90% similar). Wet 'n' Wild Dare to Soar (LE, $4.99) is more muted, warmer (85% similar). NABLA Cosmetics Reborn (PiP, ) is less shimmery, lighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Summer Dual Intensity Blush IV is a medium-dark, rosy brown with warm undertones and a frosted sheen. It was richly pigmented both dry and damp, but the damp application made the color appear a few shades darker and more metallic. The consistency was very smooth and blendable dry, and it was fairly blendable damp, but it did need extra effort/patience. This shade lasted for eight hours applied dry and closer to nine hours applied damp. NARS Fervor (Right) (PiP, ) is brighter, warmer (85% similar). Chanel Alezane (260) (P, $45.00) is more muted (85% similar). Charlotte Tilbury The Climax (P, $40.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). Clinique Fig Pop (P, $21.00) is lighter, brighter (85% similar). MAC Love Joy (P, $29.00) is less shimmery, lighter (85% similar). Laura Geller Golden Apricot (P, $28.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). ColourPop Construct (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). NYX Bronzed (P, $6.50) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). NARS Cheek Studio III (LE, $30.00) is lighter, warmer (85% similar). By Terry Savannah Love #5 (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar). Tarte Muse (LE, $30.00) is lighter (80% similar). Edward Bess Ciao (P, $45.00) is lighter (80% similar). See comparison swatches / view dupes side-by-side.
Summer 2016
LELimited Edition. $59.00.
Summer Dual Intensity Blush I
LELimited Edition.
Summer Dual Intensity Blush II
LELimited Edition.
Summer Dual Intensity Blush III
LELimited Edition.
Summer Dual Intensity Blush IV
LELimited Edition.
See more photos & swatches!
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
NARS Summer 2016 Dual-Intensity Blush Palette
These blushes are beautiful! But I think I have way too many blushes to justify this purchase!
Totally understand! 🙂
Lot of variety here, quite nice. Seldom met a Nars blush I didn’t like until these DIs. Probably the age factor for me. The DI e/s aren’t friendly to me, and the blush duos have seemed too shimmery. Regardless, these cover a lot of ground, have a pretty fair dupe for Aura, and the price is right. Gotta swatch to see if this is OTT on me. Have fan brush, will travel.
The Dual-Intensity Blushes definitely run more shimmery than not! I’ll be curious how it swatches for you, KJH.
Thank you so much for the swatches. I have always thought Orgasm was pretty but too light for my skintone. I agree that the second blush in this palette looks like a darker version. I cannot wait to get this palette.
My pleasure, LT! It’s a prettier version of Orgasm to me, but that’s probably just because I have seen so many Orgasm-esque colors over the years, lol!
God this is pretty, but I can’t justify buying LE right now. >_<
Awww! Hopefully you can still find it when you can!
It’s expensive enough…. I suspect it might still be around in the fall. 😉
Christine, do you think the finish of these blushes are likely to emphasize pores/textured skin? I’ve been wanting to try the Dual Intensity formula for ages, but I have pretty large pores and am leery of making them look like moon craters.
The formula can sometimes, particularly if you use them damp, but these shades were OK on my skin (I wouldn’t say I have small nor large pores, they are just pores to me, lol).
I really like these shades, but I’d have to swatch them in person just to be sure. I’m not particularly interested on damp application (too lazy for that), but I love the colour selection.
Haha! I understand. I don’t use the NARS blushes damp/wet either, since dry has enough pigment and works fine!
It’s a beautiful palette, but the blushes are way darker than I was expecting. I don’t think I’d use the bronze shade, even sheered out. I’m going to pass.
Yay for some money saved 🙂
Being as pale as I am, I’d have to use them all dry except the highlighter unless I was doing a super intense cheek look with light eyes and lips. I like that look on thinner people but I think I’m too pudgy to pull it off IRL. It’s very tempting though.
Maybe next time! 🙂
Wow, look at that pigment! The blushes will be great for medium to darker skintones, but I wonder if the white highlighter will look ashy on. Tthink it would’ve been better if they had substituted another blush or put in a gold highlighter
I think it has a more iridescent sheen, so it might not!
SO tempting!!! These are all perfect for both my skintone and my taste! Except possibly the rather pale highlighter. Other than that, though, utter perfection!
It layers well with the other shades, at least! 🙂
Wow, I love this palette!
Happy to hear it!
P.s. I see that the shades do have names as follows:
I – Soft Tulle
II – Damask with Gold Sheen
III – Peony
IV – Titian

I don’t think those are names – they are actually called I, II, III, and IV on the back. Usually, in the press release, NARS lists the shade name followed by a color description, which were the same as what you had in your comment. See the photo of the back of the palette and ingredient list! NARS tends to name their seasonal palettes with numerals, based on past releases.
I really like the look of this palette and so happy the performance was good 🙂
Yay! 🙂
The blush-loving (hoarding?) part of myself is really attracted to this palette, especially since this is a formula from NARS that I haven’t tried out and the colors are absolutely stunning. The rational side of me says that I am realllllly pale and these products are pretty pigmented/way too easy to overdo for every day use and I’d actually seldom wear them out of fear of clown-face. I suppose I’ll hold off until I can swatch and play with it a bit first, in person.
Definitely swatch in person based on your thoughts, Audrey!
Pretty, but as always, the wet application of these blushes sounds like an absolute nightmare.
I prefer them dry for sure!
I’m so torn! I want to get this palette because I haven’t tried the Dual Intensity blush formula yet…but I’m really not wowed by the shades. They’re pretty but they don’t seem very special. I must be under the weather with this kind of talk!
I like the finish on the Dual-Intensity blushes when they aren’t too sparkly. Have you tried formulas like Estee Lauder Gelee, MAC Extra Dimension, etc.?
They are gorgeous blushes and they look fabulous on you. I am not sure that I would use all the colours, but then again, having a variety of colours in a blush palette could encourage me to try something different.
Thank you, Genevieve!
Ok I definitely want this!!! I wish the dark pink was a little better but at least none of them are bad!
They’re pretty good! 🙂
Gorgeous!! I just ordered and can’t wait to receive it. Love the lip + cheek combo you did. Thanks for the amazing swatches as always.
My pleasure, Sabrina! I hope you love yours. I look forward to your review!
I don’t think these are for me survivor love the imprint on the Burberry dupe No. 1 White. To pretty to use.
Ahh, gotcha! 🙂
I really hate autocorrect.
I ordered this after watching a You tube video on how to apply these particular blushes. It was very detailed, the information she received came directly from NARS and I felt inspired to try her techniques she described for application. So I dusted off my FERVOR palette, which dry was just so-so for me and i have not been using. I dampened a brush swirled onthe back of my hand and applied. . . . . .WOW. What a difference! So I pulled the trigger on this palette to give it a try. I was hoping the IV shade was matte since it was marketed on the web site as a contour, so that’s a bit of a disappointment. I mean really who contours with shimmer all over??? Thanks for your review!
Hope you love yours, Lisa! 🙂
Veeeheheheeeery pretty!
It is!
I’m excited! This looks great for darker skintones like mine. Thanks for the review!
My pleasure, Alicia!
Would you happen to know whether this palette will be available on the Sephora’s website? If not, I think I will have to buy it on the Nars site then.
Also great reviews! I love how you are so on it with the beauty news and reviews! =D
Yes, it will be available on Sephora.
#s 1 and 3 are my kind of colors, and #4 is calling to me, too — it looks like it has a bit more red/pink in it than its dupes. And I’m really liking the Adoration duo in this formula. And I need some stronger blushes for when I’m wearing one of my grey/greige/taupe lipsticks. Hmm…
If you like Adoration, I could see you liking these!
This looks like such a pretty palette! There’s usually a shade or two that I’ll never use in a NARS blush palette but I could see these colors working well for me. Now I just need to decide between this and the Nordstrom anniversary palette
That’ll be tough! Which formula do you prefer?
Do you know whether this palette will be available at Sephora or at Nordstorm? If not, I guess I will have to buy it on the Nars website. Thanks!
July 1st at NARS Boutiques and narscosmetics.com; August 1st at Sephora, department and specialty stores.
I bought this palette mostly for the 2nd and 4th shades, they are gorgeous and your swatches look amazing! However, I cannot seem to get opaque coverage at all! Nothing near opaque actually, it is very very sheer. Like there is very little pigmentation both wet and dry. I was wondering if u have any tips for me like a certain type of brush? I have never used there Dual Intensity formula before, so hopefully this is just user error because I.really love the colors!