NARS Endless Orgasm Multi-Use Face Palette Review & Swatches
Endless Orgasm
NARS Endless Orgasm Multi-Use Face Palette ($49.00 for 0.48 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette that features six cream shades that can be used on eyes, cheeks, and lips (and I’ve rated them across these three areas and then taken an average score for the ratings seen below). The formula is supposed to be buildable and can be blended “with a fingertip or a brush” to be applied as a standalone product or layered with other products.
The problem with these multi-tasking formulas is that they often don’t work well across all the areas, and in this case, it didn’t perform well on any area. It was just varying degrees of amused horror (insta-crease formula on the eyes, horrifying in its quickness but not really a surprise), vague surprise (they weren’t the worst product on my lips), and distinct disappointment (wow, they don’t even apply well as a blush???). The way the formula performs makes me wonder if this was tested with consumers or solely as a backstage look where nobody cared if something creased or was a little patchy going down the runway. It’s spectacularly bad and yet is supposed to mark the 20th anniversary of Orgasm blush.
As a Cheek Color
The cream-satin formula is creamy, fairly emollient, and moderately tacky, though it did seem relatively lightweight and didn’t seem overly tacky or wet on my skin, even initially. I think that tacky, thinner formula doesn’t play well with brushes, as when I tried to apply any of the shades with a stippling brush, there was almost nothing transferred to my skin. From wearing all of them, I don’t think they dry down fully, but they weren’t noticeably sticky when I touched my skin to test (but they didn’t seem like they dried down either).
When I used my fingertips to apply, which are my tool of choice for cream blushes (easy and quick to clean when doing so many swatches!), I get much, much more noticeable payoff and can build it up slightly with decent blending but some of the color seemed to darken my pores. The shimmer made it less noticeable at a normal viewing distance. The cream doesn’t play as well with underlying base products, like liquid foundation or setting powder, and tends to either become a bit patchy (if I’ve used more of the NARS product) or lift up (if I’ve used the right amount). With a brush, it didn’t transfer product, so there was no lifting to speak of… but nothing to see either. With fingertips, the best method was patting onto the apples and doing about 1.5 seconds blending or less and then walk away, hoping that was sufficient. Blending any more just resulted in a patchier mess and less and less coverage (it just disappeared).
They lasted between four and six hours on bare skin (how I normally test cheek color for wear), and when I trialed a couple over base products, they did migrate more noticeably at the four-hour mark.
As an Eye Color
I did not find them usable on the lid except for the barest wash of almost no-color, random shimmer, and they definitely had a tendency to look more the same than different. The wear was particularly dismal, as they did not dry down well and gathered in any lines/creases on my skin within 15 minutes of wear. It was hard to use these with precision as they didn’t apply well with brushes, and my fingertips offer very little in the way of precision (too big, I guess).
As a Lip Color
I actually found that they worked best as lip colors, though they’re not a stellar lipstick formula when compared to the myriad of lipstick formulas available these days. They had more medium to semi-opaque color payoff when applied with fingertips, and the color went on fairly evenly. The shimmer/sparkle distributed evenly and left a shiny, sparkly finish behind that didn’t emphasize my lip texture as much as expected but did accentuate it. Once on, they felt drier, thin, and featherweight, and I didn’t find them uncomfortable to wear. They lasted one to two hours and weren’t hydrating (but also not drying).
Endless Orgasm
LELimited Edition. $49.00.
Orgasm Ecstasy
Orgasm Ecstasy is a pale white gold with a pearly sheen. It had medium pigmentation when I applied it with fingertips, and it was buildable on lips but not on cheeks or eyes. The texture was emollient, thin, and lightweight with moderate tackiness. There was a very low-level sheen on eyes and cheeks; it wasn’t as dewy as other shades in the palette.
When applied as a cheek product using fingertips, I had to pat it onto the area I wanted most of it, just barely diffuse the edge, and then needed to leave it alone as more blending resulted in the product getting transferred (and stuck to) to my fingertip rather than my cheek. It did not perform well over foundation as it lifted and created patchiness that only worsened over time. On bare skin, it lasted for five hours before migrating noticeably.
As an eye product, it creased within 15 minutes, though it seemed to blend out okay. As a lip product, the color went on unevenly, sank into lip lines, and emphasized my lip texture. It stayed on for an hour as a lip product and was non-drying.
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Nudelight (Top) (PiP, ) is cooler (95% similar).
- Viseart Champs-Elysees (P, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Tarte Sunlight (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Persona Laguna (P, $24.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- LORAC Star Reader (LE, $23.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Rêve Salé I (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Pied de Poule #2 (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Good as Gateau (LE, $12.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- ColourPop High Tide (LE, $6.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Tarte Daylight (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polydecene, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, IsocetylStearate, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax/Cera Microcristallina, Silica, Synthetic Beeswax, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tin Oxide. May Contain (+/-): Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
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.
Orgasm Ecstasy
LELimited Edition.
Deep Orgasm
Deep Orgasm is a coppery plum with strong, warm undertones and a pearly sheen with a strong mix of pink and gold pearl. It had sheer to medium coverage that was best applied with fingertips to achieve semi-sheer or better coverage; brushes achieved almost no payoff whatsoever as it did not pick up well with a brush and transferred to my skin even worse. The texture was emollient, thin, and tacky with a semi-dry down where it didn’t feel as wet or as creamy on my skin; it was barely tacky as a cheek product, noticeably emollient on my lids, and totally dried-down on my lips. I could only get it to look decent by gently patting it onto the apples and barely spreading it out and hoping it didn’t look too unblended in photos or else it turned patchier the more I fussed with it. Don’t bother trying it over foundation as it lifted and/or created patchiness (depending on how much one applied). It lasted, at best, five hours as a cheek product on bare skin.
As an eye product, it creased within 15 minutes of application and never stopped moving around. As a lip product, it had almost semi-opaque applied with fingertips, and the color applied evenly with only minor emphasis of my lip texture. It was lightweight, thin but didn’t feel clingy, though it only lasted for two hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Makeup Geek Anarchy (DC, $6.00) is more shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Love Drought (LE, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Violet Argente #2 (Eye Color) (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Scene to Be Seen (Outer) (LE, $34.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Bed of Roses #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Shiseido Berry Dawn (08) (P, $29.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Sequin (DC, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- KVD Beauty Stupid Autocorrect (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Amulet (P, $18.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Essence Goldy Cassis (P, $5.99) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polydecene, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, IsocetylStearate, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax/Cera Microcristallina, Silica, Synthetic Beeswax, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tin Oxide. May Contain (+/-): Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
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.
Deep Orgasm
LELimited Edition.
Super Orgasm
Super Orgasm is a light-medium pink with warm, gold shimmer. It had semi-sheer pigmentation and did not build up on eyes, cheeks, or lips. It had an emollient, creamy texture that was tacky and thin with a drier finish on my skin, though it remained more noticeably emollient on my lid space (where it just moved around like a perpetual slip ‘n’ slide) but was totally dry on my lips (but not clingy).
Applied with fingertips, I was able to get semi-sheer pigmentation to translate on my bare skin, and then I had to just barely blend along the edge for fear of disturbing the product. If I spent too long trying to get it into place, the product started to disappear (as if it was sticking and adhering to my fingertip more and more). It wore well for five hours before moving around noticeably.
As an eye product, it creased within 15 minutes and was hard to apply evenly as it just moved around but didn’t stay in place well. As a lip product, it went on somewhat evenly but settled into my deeper lip lines. It lasted for an hour and a half as a lip product.
Top Dupes
- Milani Bella Bellini (P, $7.99) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Benefit Bella Bamba (DC, $29.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Morphe Sissy (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Marguerite (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Please Yourself (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- By Terry Light & Tan Vibes #2 (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- KIKO 103 Golden Peach (P, $12.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Huda Beauty Angelic (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Too Faced Just Peachy (PiP, $16.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Sandy B (P, $19.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polydecene, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isocetyl Stearate, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax/Cera Microcristallina, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Silica, Synthetic Beeswax, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate. May Contain (+/-): Carmine (Ci 75470), Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
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.
Super Orgasm
LELimited Edition.
Double Orgasm
Double Orgasm is a soft, pinky beige with a sparkling, shiny finish. The texture was emollient, tacky, but thinner and lightweight. It looked so promising on–sparking, shiny, and luminous–but the wear time was a dismal five hours before it started to move around noticeably on my skin.
It was worse over foundation, as it just created a patchy, lifted mess that degraded further over the next four hours. It had semi-sheer to medium coverage (not buildable, though, one layer was your best shot and you better have taken it) applied as a cheek color using my fingertip, no color payoff when I used a brush (true magic!), and it had to be patted quickly into place with minimal effort to diffuse/blend or else it started bunch up on itself and disappear. It lasted five hours on its own as a cheek highlighter.
As an eye product, it creased within 15 minutes and was hard to evenly disperse the larger sparkles on the lid to begin with. As a lip product, it applied with semi-sheer to medium coverage when I used my fingertip, and it applied fairly evenly but some product settled into my deeper lip lines. It only lasted for an hour and a half as a lip color but wasn’t drying.
Top Dupes
- Lisa Eldridge Supernova (P, $16.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Makeup by Mario Ethereal Eyes #10 (LE, ) is warmer (95% similar).
- Kaleidos Cold Brew (Radiate) (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- bareMinerals Custom Made (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Tarte Heat Wave (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Viseart Highlight #2 (PiP, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Girl Next Door (PiP, $36.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Vivacious (LE, $4.50) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Wet 'n' Wild Fit for a Queen #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Hello Kitty Apple Pie (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polydecene, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Isocetyl Stearate, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Polyethylene, Silica, Microcrystalline Wax/Cera Microcristallina, Synthetic Beeswax, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Tin Oxide, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate. May Contain (+/-): Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
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.
Double Orgasm
LELimited Edition.
Orgasm Fever
Orgasm Fever is a soft bronze with warm undertones and a sparkling, golden finish. It had semi-sheer color payoff that wasn’t buildable except on lips, where it was more medium to semi-opaque in coverage. The texture was emollient, creamy but tacky, and difficult to work with as it did not work with brushes at all (no payoff transferred from brush to skin/eyes/lips).
Using fingertips, I was able to pat it onto bare skin, just barely brush along the edges (with the edge of my fingertip) to diffuse a bit, but then had to move away from it or else it started to bunch up on itself and disappear. It stayed on decently for five hours as a standalone cheek product but did not last as long over foundation (where it had already created some patchiness during application).
As an eye product, it creased within 15 minutes and did not blend out evenly. As a lip product, it applied somewhat evenly, emphasized my lip texture a bit, felt thin but wasn’t drying, and lasted for two hours.
Top Dupes
- Anastasia Sunset Aura (P, $25.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Gilded Glow (P, $48.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Givenchy Palette Ors Audacieux #3 (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Estee Lauder Solar Crush (LE, $47.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Surreal (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- LORAC Candlelight (PiP, $19.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Glorify (LE, $42.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Temptation (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Urban Decay Trick (DC, $19.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Spanish Flame (02) (LE, $53.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polydecene, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Isocetyl Stearate, Polyethylene, Silica, Microcrystalline Wax/Cera Microcristallina, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Synthetic Beeswax, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Tin Oxide, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate. May Contain (+/-): Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
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.
Orgasm Fever
LELimited Edition.
Orgasm
Orgasm is a light, rosy copper with warm undertones and a soft, satiny sheen. It looked nothing like the powder blush, which I did find a little strange (surely they could have thought of one more themed name!). The texture was emollient, thin, and a little oily in a way with some tackiness, though it felt mostly dried down on my cheeks, totally dried down on lips, but never dried down on my eyes (based on how it moved everywhere and creased immediately).
It had medium pigmentation applied with fingertips to my cheeks, but I had to be very careful to barely blend out the edges or else it would start to disappear–the more one blended, the less visible the product was. If I used a brush, there was no color payoff at all. It managed to last for five hours as a cheek color on bare skin.
As an eye product, it creased within 15 minutes. As a lip product, it applied with medium pigmentation that was somewhat buildable, dried down quickly, and distributed evenly, though there was some emphasis of my lip texture. It lasted for two hours as a lip product and was non-drying.
Top Dupes
- Too Faced Bellini (PiP, $16.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC It's Snowing (LE, $20.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Tarte Muse (LE, $30.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Parka Princess (LE, ) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- YSL Pink Cascade (06) (P, $30.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- NARS Unlawful (P, $30.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Le Metier de Beaute Smoky Quartz (LE, $30.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Laura Geller Pink Grapefruit (P, $28.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- MAC Margin (P, $24.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Nudiste (LE, $55.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Ingredients
Hydrogenated Polydecene, Octyldodecanol, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, IsocetylStearate, Polyethylene, Microcrystalline Wax/Cera Microcristallina, Silica, Synthetic Beeswax, Punica Granatum Seed Oil, Polyhydroxystearic Acid, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Tin Oxide. May Contain (+/-): Iron Oxides (Ci 77491), Iron Oxides (Ci 77492), Iron Oxides (Ci 77499), Mica, Titanium Dioxide (Ci 77891).
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.
I just… I don’t understand why brands let products like this slide. Do they hope people will think “this is pretty, I’m going to buy it”, and not care at all about the product itself? It’s obviously a cheap way to make an extra buck out of a product that is supposed to be a bestseller. Come on, Nars. You can do better.
Ooooppffhh…this is bad. And I had such high hopes for this one. But goodness Christine, you make a bad product look absolutely stunning on you.
Dismal. I thought this palette was rather attractive, but since it was a multi-purpose thang, I was definitely waiting for a review. I’ve seen other reviewers comment on how impossible this palette is using only as a cheek product. No thanks.
Maybe they should have called this the “We Faked It” palette.
Rachel, I’m dying!!! ???
OMG you win best comment!
Hahahaha ?
Oh My Goddd???
Perfect!!! Great name if Makeup Revolution dupes this!
Best comment!!!!
Definitely best comment!!
Holy crap! That made me laugh!!!!!
Don’t know how I missed this when I first read the review – best comment! 😀
After watching Mel Thompson’s video review of this disaster, I knew we were going to have one of those epic fail reviews of it here, too! Her experience with the products was the same as yours. So, that leaves the door open for some questions: What was Mr. Nars even thinking with this gawdawful collection? Have we heard of enough different types of Orgasm described yet? In face products? Enquiring minds want to know!
I saw Mel’s review and thought the same thing! Terrible.
Mr. Nars hasn’t been involved with the development of the brand for awhile AFAIK, and it shows.
Lovely packaging though.
Me too! I’ve been eagerly awaiting this review after seeing Mel’s review.
I went to Mel’s review after reading your comment, Nancy. What a terrible product this is. I am sick of (whatever)-gasm or any meant-to-shock sex names on makeup products. I’m so over it.
I bought it the second it released at Sephora, opened it, and immediately went to return it. Far too much money to spend on garbage
Products at this price point receiving such poor reviews is unacceptable. They’re coasting off their brand name and the name of these products/shades that have brought them success in the past. This is nothing against you; thank you so much for warning us against these products!
I purchased it and I’m returning it. The formula is both oily and dry, if that makes sense. The only way I could get it to semi work on the cheeks was with a damp beauty sponge and even then, it was too fussy for me. I had so much hope for this….:(
Am I right in guessing that the F is NOT in honour of the orgasmic theme of this palette?
Ok, so at least I’m not the only weirdo that had this thought. 😀
LOL! I am so fed up with these names. And really, the quality is “effing” dreadful! So I guess it all fits, in a strange sort of way…
Hi Christine! This is my first comment here, but i’ve been reading your reviews for years. I just wanted to tell you that I find your work amazing, you have such dedication and love for your website, reviews and photography. The other day I’ve found a comment from someone trying to rush you to upload a review, and I got so angry, because your work is AWESOME. It has quality, real opinions and beautiful images of every effing product that comes out. I don’t even live in the States, but if I need a review or opinion on something I wanna buy, I come to you. Sorry for my english and sorry for the length of this!
Thank you so much for understanding & having patience, Carla! Much love ?
Hi Carla Porciuncula. Actually, I don’t think that people are consciously trying to rush her, I just think we makeup lovers can get so excited about new products that we just can’t wait to see what Christine has to say!! 😀 We know she’ll always be open-minded, thoughtful, and extremely thorough in every one of her reviews (which is exactly why we get so excited to read them…lol). Your English is great, by the way!
You’d be surprised at some of the comments that I don’t publish / emails I get – I have received as far as death threats and threats of bodily harm to me/family (a recent, memorable one was wishing death to my dog) for not reviewing something, taking too long to review, etc.
I definitely feel the pressure of how I’m not meeting everyone’s needs as quickly as they would like (or at all) on a regular basis – especially since I’ll have worked a long time to get one review done but then 75% of the comments might be asking about other products and when those are going to be reviewed so it was really nice to hear from a reader who understood why it takes me longer sometimes 🙂 I’m sure that most readers understand but it’s still extremely encouraging to have it expressed instead of assumed (which could be the wrong assumption!).
OMG, how can people be so cruel??? I really hope you are able to ban the people who make such awful, hateful comments. The Mellan quote just turned my stomach. I’m sure you take heart at knowing how many of us love you (and Mellan). 🙂
Sometimes you can, a lot of times you can’t – depends on where it’s coming from / where they’ve made the comment from! It’s the internet — it’s pretty common to receive comments like that (read any YouTube comment section, LOL), unfortunately.
Edited to add: But my point was just hearing from a reader was really nice and encouraging – and I didn’t want them to feel like they shouldn’t have spoken up 🙂 It’s extremely meaningful to me and comments like it help me make it through each week. Positive reinforcement goes a long way!
Honestly, I am so naive. Of course you get emails, comments that are not published. I know there have been comments in the past regarding certain products and the length of time to review but I really had no idea that they were in anyway threatening. I really am shocked by that for some reason. Even though I love makeup, wearing it, talking about it, shopping for it, in the end it really is “just makeup” and certainly not something to be so upset about that you threaten another. Even more props to you, Christine.
Please take care of yourself and try to get some you-time in as well! I worry that you work too hard and don’t get enough sleep, but death threats (and threats to Mellan!?!), that is so incredibly, unbelievably wrong. Haven’t they noticed that you put up new reviews every single day (including/especially weekends) and almost never take a vacation? How could they not see how many hours go into each review (especially with palettes). When you say a blush ‘lasted for 8 hours before fading slightly’ that means that you wore it for at least 8 hours and you only have two cheeks! You work incredibly hard at this and and do an incredible amount of both emotional and physical labor for the beauty community. Please do take care of yourself, burn out is real!!
Sorry if this got too personal: I teach math, so I worry all the time about students not getting enough sleep and then trying to do math. (It makes them feel stupid, but [almost] everyone is stupid when they’re under-slept! [The almost is a famous mathematician who slept 2-4 hours a night for the last 40 years of his life. He told a lot of jokes about coffee.])
Hey Rek,a
Thank you for the well wishes! I appreciate it. I don’t take vacations – at most, I work less to visit my parents in California (which I haven’t done since Mother’s Day 2018, I believe) or when they visit me, though I typically put in 16-18 hour days for every day I’ll be gone prior. The wearing of products is the easiest part, haha!
Nothing like an epic fail to brighten my day. They must have known during the creation and testing process how dreadfully inoperable the formula was. Shame on all involved with its creation. Does anyone think they were trying to make pan versions of their multiples?
And BTW, Cherie, was it? There IS a Notorious RBG lipstick by a (n indie?) company called, no lie, Lipslut.
I wanted to love this. In theory a multi-use cream palette sounds ideal for quick easy looks and travel. And colors looked lovely in the pan. Thanks for saving me $50!
Ugh the shades are so gorgeous what a shame
Yikes no one is really liking these. I don’t do cream products that often and certainly wasn’t looking to try this. It just sucks for people who really like the colors, it’s basically nothingness
How disappointing. I love cream products and Nars packaging so much.
An epic fail: that’s what you get when you try to make products that work on the lips, face and eye. It just never works out well. And to me it’s a kind of karma because of the awful name…..
Another product to hit your most disappointed list for the end of the year.
What a lot of time you invested in this product Christine to try and make it work in three areas of the face for such a dismal result.
As a member of the Orgasm Cult I was all prepared to buy this palette the day it was released but now I’m so glad I waited.
This palette had so much potential! Once I read it was a cream product I checked out though. I’m just not big on cream products and clearly Nars did not get this right.
I so love reading your F reviews!
Uh, F for Fail and F for several other adjectives I cannot use in polite company.
I suspect Nars just expects us to see the pretty pink packaging and shimmery gorgeousness and expects us otherwise loyal consumers to ‘fake enthusiasm’ for this mediocre offering. 😛
No thank you, you can see yourself out,, sir.
I was thinking maybe they’re banking on the clueless husband/bf market ??
Wow, so wasn’t expecting this. But thanks Christine you saved me the disappointment of a failed orgasmic experience once again.
That’s so disappointing that the don’t perform well because after buying and loving the ND bloom face palette I’ve been really into playing with cream products, and I think all of those colours are gorgeous!
Your review describes exactly how I felt when I swatched this palette at Sephora. It’s truly a darn shame because I was so excited to see it in store only to find out that it was a cream formula. The only cream formula that I can handle is the one from Rituel de Fille because they’re quite unique and most of the time stay put. The worst part of this palette was that there was barely any pigment even if you swatched with fingers because the product would disappear once it was blended. It was such a wtf moment that even one of the Sephora employees told me to not bother with the palette because it was crap and recommended another highlighter/blush palette. The only good thing out of this collection is the oil lip tint. Btw, I always love reading your reviews because they’re one of the most honest out there and there’s no need to sugarcoat bad items just because they’re from a top name brand. Sometimes you just have to tell it like it is. ?
I’m absolutely gutted, I adore cream products. I wear a very thin layer of foundation (Shiseido sheer glow) so I think for the first time I will take a gamble and buy an F rated product. We can’t return makeup for any reason in the UK so I shouldn’t really take the risk but it swatches so beautifully!
Just keep in mind that while it might work better with sheer foundation/on bare skin… it doesn’t work WELL by any means either.
I wear sheer foundations (various Korean cushions, Westman Atelier, Nars Sheer Glow, Koh Gen Do Aqua) and I happen to LOVE this palette. I have combo skin (dry cheeks and slightly oily t-zone) and have no issues with longevity. I also, again personally, find the shades start sheer but are buildable, which IMO makes them easy to use for quick makeup.
Didn’t Nars used to have a good cream blush formula? (it was before I really wore makeup) Kind of wish they had have used that old formula rather than trying to make a new multipurpose product, which really never seem to work out good on all areas or in this case on every area.
They used to have a standalone cream blush formula many moons ago – it’s been so long that I barely remember them but don’t remember them negatively!
Thank you so much for the time you spent on this!
Yikes, I don’t think I have ever seen you give any NARS palette an F across all shades, so this must be absolutely terrible ?. Mel Thompson reviewed it on her channel as well and also said it was a complete fail, as it did not work at all.
What a shame, as it is such a beautiful palette and NARS is usually so good with their products. :/ Good thing it is limited edition.
“I’ve … taken an average score for the ratings seen below” … F F F F F F … 🙂
I wouldn’t have been interested in these anyway, even with a good rating. I gotta say, your makeup skills are impressive — you make these products look good!
This is so sad that it’s almost funny. What were they thinking? Those names…..?
Thank you for the work you put into reviewing this, Christine! This whole Orgasm collection seems like a very lazy alternative to improving on a product (the original blush of yore) that was already not groundbreaking by any means. I used both the Orgasm and Super Orgasm blushes before I went cruelty-free, and neither one knocked my socks off. It would be more justifiable if NARS would actually put the effort into making the products work, but they seem to be just banking on the hope that people would buy anything that they market as a spin-off from the original blush (especially after sending a troop of influencers to St. Barths to hype up the launch) because it was considered ‘revolutionary’ back in its day.
I don’t understand the hate/negative reviews this is getting… I personally love it and haven’t had any issues with performance or longevity. Granted, my makeup style is more along the lines of Katie Jane Hughes and Pony, than say, one of the many social media Morphe influencers. I like natural dewy skin with pops of color and shimmer, and this definitely gives me that! I think the negative reviews are mainly people who didn’t read the description and don’t really wear or work with creams to begin with. Just my two cents…
Hi Andi,
Did you read my review above or just glance at the ratings? I think I was pretty thorough on where and how it didn’t work for me, and it had nothing to do with any personal expectations as I always rate and review products based on what the brand said it was supposed to do! I used them on eyes (on bare skin, over sheer foundation, over medium-coverage/set foundation), cheeks, and lips to arrive at my ratings. I know I definitely read the description — parts of it are quoted or summarized above! 🙂 It definitely wasn’t a “style” or a “preference” issue for me – it was through and through a performance and quality problem.
A lot of reviews I’ve read are about ease of application, longevity, and that some shades don’t show up at all for some people. I’m really happy it’s working well for you but perhaps you might consider that products don’t always work for everyone but that those are their experiences rather than dismiss them — perhaps you could share how you apply them 🙂 Please be respectful of other readers’ opinions and experiences as that is part of what makes the Temptalia community so great!
Hi Christine,
Sorry if it came off that way! I was more so referring to the reviews/comments I’ve seen on social media from people who clearly only swatched the palette or don’t like/use creams in general.
For one, I don’t usually powder my skin since I don’t typically have longevity issues. If anything, I’ll only powder around my nose. I always find creams wear better on me if I don’t powder since I like to work them into the skin; same for eyelids. What I’ve been doing thus far is applying the shades in this palette to my cheeks and eyes after complexion products, then dusting powder blush or bronzer on top (I dust my blush or bronzer over my eyes as well since I feel like it ties everything together). My husband( who is oilier than I am) and I have both been loving this palette, so I’m sad to see people blasting it when it’s so versatile. If I was still freelancing, I’d 100% add this to my kit.
Thanks for sharing your techniques, Andi!
WOW, seems like we have had a lot of F’s recently. Not surprised by the review and frankly I feel like the Orgasm range and permutations of the names, has run it’s course. I think it is time for Nars to move on, grow up and drop the silly and offending sexually oriented themes. We all know you want to be hip and edgy but you really aren’t and never have been so let it go.
I see this palette as a metaphor for how I have been feeling about makeup lately and the feeling that unless we get something truly unique, excellent quality and inclusive for all skin types and tones, the beauty industry is languishing. Have we exhausted where beauty can go?
Amazing at how unamazing the product is.
IMHO the naming deserves an F too.
I should’ve waited for your review before I purchased! I have yet to try it on myself, and now I’m hesitant, lol. Do you think that using a primer would help?
For eyes? I’m not sure! Maybe extend to some degree but you’d likely need to use a combo of primer + powder to get the best longevity.
Oops, yes I meant for the eyes ? I guess if using a primer + powder combo doesn’t work for me on the eyes, it will sadly go back. Thanks for all your hard work on these reviews, Christine!
I used it on my eyes over the NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base and it lasted a couple of hours without creasing, but it still creased. I assumed based on the texture that it would crease and it didn’t bother me, but I know that everyone has different expectations.
Using it on my eyes is actually my least favorite way to use it. I am loving it on my cheeks and as a highlighter!
Really love your detailed reviews. 🙂
By the way is the shade Orgasm same as the Oversized Orgasm Blush?
The shade in this palette isn’t the same!
Thank you! Most probably have to get both! 🙂
Another one where I’m shocked at the rating. NARS doesn’t always come though, but an “F” is unexpected for the brand. Sad. Sometimes I think brand should just slow down and not put anything out for a little while.
Well that’s money saved! This looked so beautiful I was really tempted.
I purchased this palette from EU Nars website and then I accidentally found numerous reviews what a waste of money it is… initially I was afraid, that I have basically thrown the money in the trash…
Actually, when I received it, the biggest surprise (even for myself) was that I like it. And it’s not like QUITE like it, but I like it even very much!
For me, ths colors work really well on both- cheeks and lips (I don’t plan to use it on eyes) and the colors all blend very well. Yes, the colors are not that extremely pigmented, but gives the “myself but better” look. Works great on bare skin as well as on NARS’ Tinted Moisturizer. Also the shades blend together well.
I’m really surprised how come that there are so many diametrically different opinions on this (circulation of bad batch?!), but if you initially decided to have this palette, it’s worth to go and test it out yourself if to buy or not!
thought I am the only one. I bought the palette as well and love it so far. I am rather pale and have often trouble with too much pigmentation because no matter how light handed i try to apply rouge it ends up like a porcelain puppet’s face. I love the sheerness and gentle glow. I apply it with only fingers a little bit over my sunscreen, powder it and touch up a little bit on top of the poweder and find it neither patchy nor hard to work with. But I am no expert, so take it with a grain of salt. I am just in love with my little gem.
Thank the makeup gods that I read your review before purchasing! What a dissapointing mess THAT would have been. I’m so dissapointed in Nars, I expected So. Much. More.