NARS Exposed Cheek Palette Review & Swatches
Exposed
NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette ($59.00 for 0.60 oz.) is a new, limited edition palette that features six, wet/dry cheek colors ranging pale peach to deep pink. My experience with this formula is consistent with much of the other wet/dry cheek products NARS has launched over the last few years: they’re pretty pigmented dry, so wet application just intensifies the coverage more quickly and can make the finish become more shimmery/shiny. For deeper shades (like New Fling), I find that using a dampened brush can sometimes make it a little harder to get smooth, seamless edges, particularly when used over complexion products (instead of bare skin). I highly recommend using moderately dense brushes with this type of formula (gel-powder kind of hybrid), as the texture has a denser, firmer feel in the pan, but there’s no powderiness in the pan and the formula is pretty blendable on skin.
The formula is similar to last holiday’s Hot Tryst, but I found the spring palette to feel a little dustier/drier and ultimately, a little firmer in the pan. Still easy enough to work with, especially for those who gravitate toward the gel-powder type of formulas.
Exposed
LELimited Edition. $59.00.
Tell All
Tell All is a soft, champagne gold with warm undertones and a metallic sheen. The texture was soft, slightly drier to the touch, and didn’t feel quite as firmly-pressed in the pan as the other five shades. It had opaque pigmentation applied dry as well as wet, though the wet application intensified the finish to look brighter and shinier. It stayed on nicely for eight hours applied with a dry brush and eight and a half hours applied with a wet brush.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Soleil d'Ambre (Highlighter) (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Milani Moon Glow (P, $10.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Kosas Papaya 1972 (Highlighter) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Main Attraction (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- bareMinerals The Brilliant Sunset (LE, $26.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Guerlain Electric Look #1 (LE, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Hourglass Absolute Strobe Light (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- Too Faced Sweet Peach Illuminator (PiP, ) is darker (90% similar).
- Dior #001 (DC, $56.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Marc Jacobs Beauty Tantalize Glo (Highlighter) (LE, ) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.16 oz. - $187.50 Per Ounce
From NARSā website, their blush formula is described as ābeautifully pigmentedā and āsoft [and] blendable.ā 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.
Look Using this Product
Tell All
LELimited Edition. $30.00.
Now or Never
Now or Never is a soft, peachy orange with warm undertones and a satiny sheen. It had nearly opaque color coverage when applied dry, so it was no surprise that a wet brush definitely yielded opaque coverage in one go. The blush had a smooth, denser consistency–firmer but not stiff or difficult to blend out–but pickks up best with a flatter, denser blush brush than a very airy or fan-like brush, especially for dry use. I don’t think it has to be used with a dampened brush at all, unless one wants very intense color and a smoother sheen. It lasted well for eight hours applied dry and eight and a half hours applied with a wet brush.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tarte Moment (LE, $29.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Cali Dream (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (95% similar).
- ILIA I Put a Spell on You (P, $34.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Milani Luminoso (P, $7.99) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Mercy Me (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Warm Soul (P, $29.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Laura Geller Cantaloupe (P, $26.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Makeup Geek Honeymoon (DC, $9.99) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Sleek MakeUP The Surf (PiP, ) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
- MAC Ripe Peach (LE, $32.00) is brighter (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.16 oz. - $187.50 Per Ounce
From NARSā website, their blush formula is described as ābeautifully pigmentedā and āsoft [and] blendable.ā 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.
Look Using this Product
Now or Never
LELimited Edition. $30.00.
Give It Away
Give It Away is a slightly muted, medium-dark brown with warm undertones and a pearly sheen. The texture was smooth to the touch but firmer and denser overall (as anticipated based on the type of gel-powder hybrid feel of it!) and will work well with denser blush brushes (over fan brushes) to pick up color well dry. A fan brush works just beautifully if you want to use the formula wet, though, and ends up working better because it gives a more gradual, airier application. It had opaque pigmentation regardless of dry or wet application, but it was a little bit shinier when applied with a wet brush; oddly, this color seemed to get lost against my skin tone and between my lighting–it kept photographing lighter than I anticipated. It wore well for eight and a half hours both wet and dry on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- MAC Pleasure Model (LE, $31.00) is less shimmery, darker, warmer (95% similar).
- Chanel Brun Roussi (LE, $70.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Darling (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- NARS Fervor (Right) (PiP, ) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Stryke (LE, $8.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Phoenix (LE, $39.00) is more shimmery, darker, warmer (90% similar).
- Tower 28 Best Coast (P, $20.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- NYX Bronzed (P, $6.50) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- elf Barbados (P, $7.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- MAC Hushed Tone (P, $31.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.16 oz. - $187.50 Per Ounce
From NARSā website, their blush formula is described as ābeautifully pigmentedā and āsoft [and] blendable.ā 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.
Give It Away
LELimited Edition. $30.00.
Make You Mine
Make You Mine is a light-medium coral with warm undertones and a satin sheen. Applied dry, it had buildable pigmentation from medium to semi-opaque applied dry, and it was easy to blend out. Applied wet, it had more semi-opaque to opaque coverage that adhered well but wasn’t quite as effortless to blend out. The texture was slightly drier, more firmly-pressed, and seemed less yielding compared to other shades in the palette. It lasted well for eight hours applied both dry and wet on my skin.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- NARS Born to Be Alive (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Essence Pretty Peach (P, $5.99) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
- MAC Sippin' on Stars (LE, $31.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop No Vacancy (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- ILIA Dreamer (P, $34.00) is warmer, glossier (90% similar).
- ColourPop My Sun and Stars (DC, $10.00) is more shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- NARS Bowery (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- ColourPop Soul Mate (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Hourglass Diffused Heat (P, $40.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- MAC Just a Pinch (P, $31.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.16 oz. - $187.50 Per Ounce
From NARSā website, their blush formula is described as ābeautifully pigmentedā and āsoft [and] blendable.ā 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.
Look Using this Product
Make You Mine
LELimited Edition. $30.00.
Come Hither
Come Hither is a medium-dark pink with subtle, warm undertones and fine, golden shimmer. It had buildable pigmentation from semi-sheer to semi-opaque when applied dry, and then more intense coverage–more semi-opaque to opaque–when applied with a dampened brush. The finish became a bit more shimmery when applied with a dampened brush as well, but it wasn’t quite as blendable as it was dry. The consistency was denser, firmer, and a little drier to the touch, so using a moderately dense blush brush would be best when working with the formula dry. It stayed on well for eight hours (dry) / nine hours (wet) on me before fading slightly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Lissome (Bottom) (LE, ) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- Buxom Havana (P, $22.00) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Blush (Original) (LE, ) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Hourglass Vivid Flush (LE, $40.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Stellar Beauty Beam (P, $25.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Laura Geller Rosewater (P, $26.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC No Shame (LE, $30.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Hourglass Pure Effect (LE, $40.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Love is the Drug (P, $40.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Too Faced Pink Wink (PiP, ) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.16 oz. - $187.50 Per Ounce
From NARSā website, their blush formula is described as ābeautifully pigmentedā and āsoft [and] blendable.ā 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.
Come Hither
LELimited Edition. $30.00.
New Fling
New Fling is a medium-dark, raspberry pink with subtle, warm undertones and a pearly sheen. It had nearly opaque pigmentation in a single layer when applied dry, though the firmer, denser consistency made it easier to adjust brush pressure to pick up just a bit of product (as there was no powderiness). The color had full coverage in one layer when applied with a dampened brush, though it wasn’t as blendable this way. It wore well for eight and a half hours when applied dry and nine hours when applied with a dampened brush.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- By Terry Tropical Sunset #3 (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- NARS Panic (Left) (PiP, ) is lighter (95% similar).
- Buxom Goa (P, $22.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- NARS Outlaw (P, $30.00) is darker (90% similar).
- MAC Rosy Cheeks (P, $31.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Here You Go (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, less pigmented (85% similar).
- CoverGirl Deep Mauve (DC, $9.99) is less shimmery, more muted (85% similar).
- MAC Dollymix (P, $24.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).
- Laura Geller Plumberry (P, $26.00) is darker (85% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.16 oz. - $187.50 Per Ounce
From NARSā website, their blush formula is described as ābeautifully pigmentedā and āsoft [and] blendable.ā 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.
Now or Never and Make You Mine have especially caught my eye. I look forward to checking out in store.
These are beautiful! I have a question though: Iāve always wondered how you swatch blushes on your cheeks? These photos were taken in the same session it seems, and there are six colors and you only have two cheeks, lol… so do you reapply your foundation to go over and erase the previous color before applying a new one? However you do it they always look immaculate! And honestly seeing products on your face make me want to buy them all… you make everything look good!?
I don’t apply foundation on the apples of cheeks (well, I try not to, there might be a smear on occasion where I swished left instead of right without realizing it!) – I buff up to and around (the edges), then apply the blush, then remove the cheek color and refinish the edges surrounding it. Sometimes this means removing foundation all around the area, too, depending on the type of blush/product!
Wow, ok! Your skin looks so flawless and glowing I wouldnāt have known! Makes sense for swatching though. I say again, these blushes look to die for on you?
It’s almost like built in daily exfoliating, LOL! š
Those top 3 shades are just perfect for me! The bottom 3, I have dupes of. Sooo….I just don’t know? That one very beautiful bronze nude Give It Away looks like a winner for summertime “no-makeup” makeup days, though!
Well, weak. Me, I mean. But, with one more Ulta card bill payment, iāve got this covered via Ultabucks, so literally it doesnāt break a low buy, which has been a no buy thus far. Very spring-y and girly. Actually, knowing the level of blush skill Nars has, it could have been a smidge better. In.
Thanks for the review Christine! This palette really caught my eye given the range of colors and was hoping for a good score as I only have 2 other blushes in my collection (hourglass mood exposure and clinique ginger pop).
Any chance you’ll review Jouer’s new Bouquet d’amour blush palette? Was hoping to compare the two palettes before I buy.
Sorry, I don’t have that!
NARS blush palettes are great value if you have a small collection. They are typically really pigmented so you use very little product, so they last for literally years. I got the winter release of this palette/formula (Hot Tryst) and even expecting it to be pretty good, was delighted by how nice it was.
I have Bouquet D’Amour and it is lovely.
It’s much pinker and in my opinion, has a better range of shades than the Nars release. The shimmery orange is GORGEOUS!
I have it and such an amazing palette. The pigment is great, color blends and it works for all skin tones. As fair as I am even the orang looking one works
This is really beautiful, but I am trying to keep it to purchasing only 1 cheek palette this year, and I think it’s going to be the Natasha Denona 4-pan one. I don’t really have cream products and I’m starting to get more into them.
A stunning palette of vivid shades and fabulous if all of the shades work on your complexion.
Omg! Christine, I was completely sidetracked by those gorgeous earrings. They are stunning on you. Such a fun look! Your makeup is always beautiful, but those earrings; whew! Any details you can share about where you bought them or about the artist? Sorry to be off topic, but this is a fashion must. ???
They’re by Kate Spade, but I bought ’em a year or two ago, and they were limited!
Those earrings are fairly easy to find on Aliexpress still under the “kiss me” gray market brand. I feel a little funny recommending this route but hell, they are discontinued through the official source so why not! You may have luck with search by photo. Good luck!
I’m almost curious enough to see how they compare in terms of quality/construction, LOL.
Sometimes you encounter the kind of cheap and bad counterfeit you think of as flogged by the side of the road – PradO wallets. But increasingly these kind of products are identical to the name-brand aside from missing tags/labels (though even this will sometimes be present) as they’re made in the same factories, with the same materials, during what’s called an overrun or “fourth shift”. The manufacturer may say “limited edition” but ShenZhen factories quietly keep making it anyhow. Patent and copyright laws are different in China (and sometimes just ignored). For example, Hero started making $1 versions of the $15 Lamy Safari fountain pen. Xiaomi makes Xiaomi duplicates of many western electronics. But I have also bought electronics that are literally the same as the manufacturer version – including the packaging. I also have jewelry that I get as many compliments on as I get for the stuff I bought “properly”.
I’m not at all surprised – but thank you for bringing it to my attention as I always feel bad that some earrings are long gone!
This is a really beautiful palette. I don’t know whether I could pull of that brown shade, but it’s utterly gorgeous.
I love Nars cheek palettes. I think they really do a great job with blushes. I’m not buying blush this year but if I was I would definetly pick this up.
I want this and the tryst palette
I broke down and bought this palette this week. I love all of the blush shades with the exception of Tell All. Iām just really not into highlighters in geneal and this one is just too glittery for me. This palette has a nice range of shades and they blend easily and seem to work for a wide range of skintones.