NARS Luster & Torrid Liquid Blushes Reviews, Photos, Swatches
Luster
NARS Luster Liquid Blush ($30.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is a medium orange with warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. I expected a lot more shimmer, since the powder version of this shade has it. It had a thin, spreadable consistency that was a little runny but ended up being a lot easier to blend out and apply to the skin than I expected. It had semi-sheer to semi-opaque, buildable pigmentation that lasted for eight and a half hours on me.
The new formula is supposed to “effortlessly glide on[to] skin for a lasting glow” where “one pump delivers the perfect amount of natural-looking color.” It’s supposed to have “buildable” coverage that’s “blendable” and “lasting.” It has a thin, almost watery consistency that spread easily, blended out well, and looked natural in finish on the skin with semi-sheer to medium, buildable coverage. One pump seemed like twice as much product as necessary in my experience, though. I liked using fingertips or a stippling brush for applying the product to cheeks but would dispense on the back of my hand or a metal palette first. It dried down quickly but did not feel immovable, so a little buffing along the edges was still doable. The formula wore between eight to nine hours on me, depending on the shade.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Rare Beauty Nearly Apricot (P, $21.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop Excuse My French (LE, $12.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Anastasia Miami (PiP, ) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- ColourPop Get Leid (P, $8.00) is darker (95% similar).
- ColourPop She Devil (LE, $8.00) is less shimmery, warmer (95% similar).
- Tarte Fame (LE, $29.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Tarte Fortunate (LE, $29.00) is lighter (95% similar).
- Melt Cosmetics Cali Dream (P, $22.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Illamasqua Lover (P, $26.00) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- YSL Corail Affranchi (07) (P, $40.00) is glossier (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.5 oz. - $60.00 Per Ounce
The new formula is supposed to “effortlessly glide on[to] skin for a lasting glow” where “one pump delivers the perfect amount of natural-looking color.” It’s supposed to have “buildable” coverage that’s “blendable” and “lasting.” It has a thin, almost watery consistency that spread easily, blended out well, and looked natural in finish on the skin with semi-sheer to medium, buildable coverage. One pump seemed like twice as much product as necessary in my experience, though.
I liked using fingertips or a stippling brush for applying the product to cheeks but would dispense on the back of my hand or a metal palette first. It dried down quickly but did not feel immovable, so a little buffing along the edges was still doable. The formula wore between eight to nine hours on me, depending on the shade.
Browse all of our NARS Liquid Blush swatches.
Luster
PPermanent. $30.00.
Torrid
NARS Torrid Liquid Blush ($30.00 for 0.50 fl. oz.) is a medium, orange-coral with warm undertones and barely-there pink pearl. It had semi-sheer to mostly opaque pigmentation when applied in thin layers. To build up the color behind medium coverage, I recommend applying a thin layer, letting it dry, and then intensifying the coverage where you want it. The blush was thin, not quite runny but thin and watery enough that it would drip if you let it! I needed less than half a pump to get medium coverage on both cheeks. It applied evenly, blended out without much effort, and stayed on well for eight hours on me.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Kosas Velvet Melon (High Intensity) (Blush) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, lighter, glossier (95% similar).
- Huda Beauty Sassy Saffron (P, $21.00) is darker (95% similar).
- Edward Bess Secret Affair (P, $43.00) is darker (95% similar).
- MAC Oh You Pretty Things (LE, $24.00) is lighter, warmer (95% similar).
- MAC Fleeting Romance (P, $23.50) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Anastasia Desert (PiP, ) is less shimmery (95% similar).
- Cover FX Spiced Cinnamon (Left) (PiP, ) is less shimmery, cooler (90% similar).
- Surratt Beauty Parfait (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Nude Glow (Center) (LE, ) is less shimmery, brighter (90% similar).
- ILIA Stutter (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, more muted, glossier (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.5 oz. - $60.00 Per Ounce
The new formula is supposed to “effortlessly glide on[to] skin for a lasting glow” where “one pump delivers the perfect amount of natural-looking color.” It’s supposed to have “buildable” coverage that’s “blendable” and “lasting.” It has a thin, almost watery consistency that spread easily, blended out well, and looked natural in finish on the skin with semi-sheer to medium, buildable coverage. One pump seemed like twice as much product as necessary in my experience, though.
I liked using fingertips or a stippling brush for applying the product to cheeks but would dispense on the back of my hand or a metal palette first. It dried down quickly but did not feel immovable, so a little buffing along the edges was still doable. The formula wore between eight to nine hours on me, depending on the shade.
Browse all of our NARS Liquid Blush swatches.
These look so pretty! And they’re both so flattering on you? Do they apply well over a base? Sometimes liquid and cream blushes don’t blend over my foundation or pull it up but these are so nice I may give one a try.
I meant an exclamation point and not a question mark after “these are so flattering on you.” D’oh!
Easy over bases or bare skin, actually! I felt like it was one of the more forgiving liquid/creams for over a base (liquid/cream foundation or setting powder).
Ooh, these look so pretty! I’m usually wary of liquid blushes because it’s so easy to go overboard but these look nice and blendable. I hope they expand the color range to more of the classic shades, but I already have my eye on both of these!
I think if it goes over well with customers, we’ll see more shades in it!
I was kind of hoping this wouldn’t swatch well but Luster looks so gorgeous! This is my kind of colour right now!
Luster is very spring/summer appropriate!
These are really pretty corals.
They are!
Torrid is my jam! Not sure how well it will hold up during heavy sweating in the upcoming monsoon season, though? Liquid blushes can streak badly on me when I sweat, not sure why they don’t do as well as powders do. ?
Which formulas have you tried?
Luster is beautiful! Perfect for my skin tone. Nars Luster powder blush is one of my favorites.
It will be lovely on you!
Wow, these are more pigmented than I thought they would be!
They definitely have some buildability!
Loving these, will have to try in store to select the best color for my skin tone.
Let me know what you end up trying, Betty!
Your minimal look here is so nice.
Thank you, Wendy!
Luster is lovely…they all are…and I only have it in this fingernail sized pan in an old palette, Philip lim, was it? Never understood a blush shade that only takes an eyeshadow brush…maybe I’ll use that stuff tomorrow. I had better try before I buy, as powder is usually better for me. This formula looks like another cheek hit for Nars.
That sounds like a tiny little pan o’ blush!
Wow! These are both beautiful! and if they last for 8 hours I’m sold.
They dried down nicely!