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.

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).

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• Formula Overview
• Look

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• Tom Ford Beauty Soleil d'Ambre (Highlighter) (LE, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
• Hourglass Absolute Strobe Light (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
• Guerlain Electric Look #1 (LE, ) is more 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).
• Natasha Denona Light (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
• Looxi Beauty La Belle (P, $7.50) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
• ColourPop Queen Frostine (LE, $15.00) is less pigmented, cooler (90% similar).
• Charlotte Tilbury Moonlit Glow (P, $48.00) is lighter, cooler (90% similar).

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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.

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A Softer, Warm Summery Look featuring Anastasia Daytime

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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
• Formula Overview
• Look

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• Tarte Moment (LE, $29.00) is darker, cooler (95% similar).
• Melt Cosmetics Cali Dream (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (95% 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).
• ILIA I Put a Spell on You (P, $34.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
• Sleek MakeUP The Surf (PiP, ) is more shimmery, cooler (85% similar).
• MAC Ripe Peach (LE, $32.00) is brighter (85% similar).
• Chanel Light Peach (P, $50.00) is less shimmery, lighter, cooler (85% similar).

View Swatches

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.

Look Using this Product

A Softer, Warm Summery Look featuring Anastasia Daytime

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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
• Formula Overview

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
• Formula Overview
• Look

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• NARS Born to Be Alive (LE, $30.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
• Half Magic (Don't) Be a Doll (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
• Essence Pretty Peach (P, $5.99) is more shimmery, lighter (95% similar).
• MAC Just a Pinch (P, $31.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
• ColourPop Soul Mate (LE, $12.00) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
• Hourglass Luminous Glow (LE, $40.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
• Tarte Shimmering (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
• ColourPop 25/8 (P, $8.00) is less shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
• Hourglass Iridescent Rose (LE, $40.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
• Persona Georgia (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).

View Swatches

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.

Look Using this Product

A Smoky Blue & Taupe Look featuring Anastasia Sunset

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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
• Formula Overview

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
• Formula Overview
• Look

Top Dupes

View Swatches View All 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).
• 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).
• MAC Rosy Cheeks (P, $31.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
• MAC Here You Go (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker, less pigmented (85% similar).

View Swatches

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.

Look Using this Product

A Sparkling, Smoky Look featuring Marc Jacobs Steel(etto)

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Bonus: Video Overview ♫

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Tell All Powder Blush

NARS Tell All Powder Blush

NARS Tell All Powder Blush

NARS Tell All Powder Blush

NARS Tell All Powder Blush

NARS Now or Never Powder Blush

NARS Now or Never Powder Blush

NARS Now or Never Powder Blush

NARS Now or Never Powder Blush

NARS Give It Away Powder Blush

NARS Make You Mine Powder Blush

NARS Make You Mine Powder Blush

NARS Make You Mine Powder Blush

NARS Make You Mine Powder Blush

NARS Come Hither Powder Blush

NARS Come Hither Powder Blush

NARS Come Hither Powder Blush

NARS Come Hither Powder Blush

NARS New Fling Powder Blush

NARS New Fling Powder Blush

NARS New Fling Powder Blush

NARS New Fling Powder Blush

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Exposed Spring 2019 Cheek Palette

NARS Tell All Powder Blush

NARS Tell All Powder Blush

NARS Tell All Powder Blush

NARS Tell All Powder Blush

NARS Tell All Powder Blush

NARS Now or Never Powder Blush

NARS Now or Never Powder Blush

NARS Now or Never Powder Blush

NARS Now or Never Powder Blush

NARS Give It Away Powder Blush

NARS Make You Mine Powder Blush

NARS Make You Mine Powder Blush

NARS Make You Mine Powder Blush

NARS Make You Mine Powder Blush

NARS Come Hither Powder Blush

NARS Come Hither Powder Blush

NARS Come Hither Powder Blush

NARS Come Hither Powder Blush

NARS New Fling Powder Blush

NARS New Fling Powder Blush

NARS New Fling Powder Blush

NARS New Fling Powder Blush