NARS NARSissist Cheek Kit Review, Photos, Swatches
NARS NARSissist Cheek Kit
NARS NARSissist Cheek Kit ($49.00 for 0.24 oz.) includes three cheek products–a highlighter, blush, and bronzer. I can’t tell you how frustrating it was to start photographing and swatching this only to realize that lo and behold, it’s Orgasm and Laguna yet again. NARS has a full range of blushes, and even more, a lot of them are amazing. I wish NARS would work on introducing fans to new shades rather than throwing the same two at us over and over again. If you picked up the One Night Stand palette over the holidays, you already have all three shades within that palette. The permanent versions of Orgasm and Laguna that I have are both softer, less stiff, and easier to work with than the palette versions included here. I didn’t care for the brush; it was somewhat scratchy and rough against the skin. I used it for application, and it agitated the skin on my cheeks to subtle but reddened bumps (something I experience with MAC’s 129 as well).
In terms of value, it’s hard to really pinpoint it, since you are getting a brush with it. If we just pretend the brush isn’t part of the equation, it works out to be $204.17/oz. as compared to $181.25/oz. for a full-sized blush (and $128.57/oz. for full-sized Laguna). You can also purchase a duo of Orgasm/Laguna for $41 (or $117.14/oz., as it contains 0.35 oz. — more than this palette in total!), or the mini-sized version for $24 (0.17 oz. total, or $141.18/oz.).
Devotee is a pale, pink-tinged beige with a frosted finish. The texture is soft, lightweight, and easy to blend. It had buildable color payoff to about semi-opaque, but it is designed to be a highlighter than a blush. I was surprised, but it just barely emphasizes pores, and if you really blend it out a lot, it becomes very glowy and luminous without the emphasis. It wears six and a half hours on me, which is short of average. Urban Decay Naked (P, $29.00) is similar. Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight (P, $44.00) is warmer. NARS Debbie Harry Highlighter (LE, $29.00) is cooler-toned. See comparison swatches.
Orgasm is described as a “peachy pink with golden shimmer.” It’s a warm, medium pink with a stong golden shimmer-sheen. Too Faced Peachy Keen (LE) is similar. Guerlain Blush G (LE, $65.00) is also similar. Milani Dolce Pink (P, $6.49) is very similar. Guerlain Peach Boy #2 (P) is slightly less pink. Benefit Sugarbomb (P, $28.00) is softer. See comparison swatches.
Laguna is a medium-dark tan brown with warm, orange-yellow undertones and a golden shimmer-sheen finish. I reviewed this in full here. I find the quality of the Laguna in this palette to be the same as it was in the previous palette I tried (NARS Hearts New York); the quality of the individual pan is slightly higher. It lasts well for eight hours, had good color payoff, and a fairly soft texture. Urban Decay Toasted is darker, browner. MAC Lush Light Bronze is warmer. MAC Refined Golden is browner, darker. MAC Soft Sand is slightly warmer, lighter. Burberry Summer Glow is more yellow-toned. See comparison swatches.
Limited Edition
Limited Edition
Permanent
Permanent
NARS NARSissist Cheek Kit
NARS NARSissist Cheek Kit
NARS NARSissist Cheek Kit
NARS NARSissist Cheek Kit
NARS NARSissist Cheek Kit
NARS NARSissist Cheek Kit
NARS NARSissist Cheek Kit
NARS NARSissist Cheek Kit
NARS Devotee Highlighting Blush
NARS Devotee Highlighting Blush
NARS Devotee Highlighting Blush (New Lover Lip Pencil on lips)
NARS Orgasm Blush
NARS Orgasm Blush
NARS Orgasm Blush
NARS Laguna Bronzer
NARS Laguna Bronzer
NARS Laguna Bronzer (with OCC New Wave on lips)
Offtopic: but OCC New Wave looks fabulous on your lips.
Thank you! 🙂
NARS, I’m starting to think you just want us to get laid because all you do is promote Orgasm. It’s getting really old. Yes, it’s pretty. Yes, it’s popular. But you could make other shades even more popular too!
I feel like a lot of people–certainly a lot of NARS fans–have tried Orgasm, either loved it or hated it, have it, or have one of the 234789234 dupes for it. But the brand has so many other blushes that could use more attention!
Maybe enough people will pass on this, and I’ll actually be able to get it! I have Laguna & Orgasm, and I like both enough to not mind another set. Since this is an actual cheek palette, I don’t have an issue with these shades, as they do cover a broad spectrum. I do, however, see the problem with sticking them with every full-face palette, but I normally don’t bother with those, as most often, I hate the cheek product shades.
Well, it’s been a week that it’s been online and few seemed excited for it to come out. I can’t imagine finishing a blush, let alone the four or five Laguna/Orgasms I have already!
The brush almost looks scratchy in the picture as well. I don´t know what it is with high end brands lately, but after seeing this and the limited edition brush von Guerlain, I´m really not impressed. Both can do better than that. Meh!
Agreed!
Hi Ivana,
I think we’ve all learned so much about what a good quality brush should feel like (thank you Hakuhodo, et al) that we have become more resistant to the mediocre to poor quality brushes that many brands are still trying to sell us. Sometimes I wish they’d just skip the brushes and stick with the color cosmetics. Perhaps they think it is a good “up sale” product to suggest to a customer who might be in need of a brush. Although the so-so quality of the brushes mark them as being expensively made, they are priced quite high for what they are. If an SA can convince a customer that they “need” a particular brush to apply the product, they can easily double the amount of the sale.
Some love soft brushes, others like them coarser. Also, not all products play well with all brushes. I have far too many brushes by the standards of many, even makeup aficionados, but I prefer using certain combinatioms together, althoughni don’t necessarily like the way a brush feels on my skin. I’m still looking for a brush that works with NARS bronzers, so this could be it!
It’s like someone said they put Orgasm in every cheek palette. It becomes quite discouraging to pay the prices they ask for those when you already have one of the shades. I wonder why NARS do it. It’s not like they need their best seller blush in every cheek palette for them to become a hit. I’m sure this one would’ve been sold out in no time whether orgasm had been added or not.
It’s been available at Sephora for a week now and still in stock!
LOL, really? Given all the fuss on Nars instagram account I though this palette would be a quick goer. I’m so glad to be wrong. Maybe this will force them to rethink their face palette projects.
Devotee looks pretty, but Orgasm looks orange on me and Laguna is unfortunately too dark to be useful for me (not NARS’s fault, certainly).
I know what you mean about the shade selection – I don’t even own any NARS yet, and it’s not readily available here, but even I, when I saw the product names here, was like ‘zzzzzz’. 😛 it’s particularly a shame that it’s coming so close on the heels of another palette with the same, *and* that the quality is even less than in the standalone products!
Make an effort, NARS!
One of the things I don’t like about Laguna’s constant inclusion is that it doesn’t work for everyone, and even more over, not everyone wants a bronzer (or needs one). There’s a reason bronzers are often so much larger than blushes – a lot of customers just need one or two, not a dozen!
Totally agree. I absolutely love NARS but do not like Laguna (I use Zen blush to contour) OR Orgasm (they have so many blushes that are better, imho). I get frustrated with them in general for having palettes that are basically repurposing of existing shades (NARsisst e/s palette is a great example)
Laguna doesn’t work for everyone either, as a bronzer 🙁 I feel like it is less universal compared to Orgasm (and neither are universal, but Orgasm is more so, IMO, of course).
I really like the look of Devotee! I wish Nars made a cool toned highlighter like that separately (and permanent) other than New Order. I think it would be really popular.
It would be nice if they made it permanent!
I have a feeling it will be made permanent in the near future. The fact it’s been included in 2 back-to-back LE palettes is out of the ordinary for NARS.
My problem with this is the same problem I have with the Sleek Face Form – if this is supposed to be highlight, blush and contour… WHY. THE HELL. HAVE THEY INCLUDED A BLUSH WITH A LOAD OF SHIMMER? Like, half of the goodness of Orgasm (and Sleek’s Rose Gold) is that the blush basically works as a highlighter as well.
The constant laguna/orgasm promotion is pretty damned frustrating too. Why didn’t they include a nice matte or something?
Jeeeeesus.
That is true – you don’t really need more highlight on top of Orgasm!
I agree with you, especially as Laguna isn’t a dark enough bronzer for my skin tone, meaning I would not even buy any of these palettes.
Bummer! 🙁
I thought this was a good idea but what is the pan size of these blushes. The same as a single shadow or one of the mini blushes? To me it looks like 3 mini blushes considering the palette size.
They’re pretty small! Smaller than you’d think, I suppose. Workable as a blush pan, but not a huge value savings.
Yeah mini blushes they are then. >_< Considering they charger $15 for the minis your not saving any munge here with a $5 Brush. I got and Orgasm mini in a beauty perk package and it really hard to get a medium blush brush into it. lol
But Sleeks Face Form in Light would be pretty close dupe to this in both shades and finishes.
Same size as the pans in any of nars’ mini duo blushes. I am returning mine. Too small and already have more than one orgasm and Laguna. Shame, though… I looove devotee and hope it’s permanent by the time I hit pan on it in my GB palette
Orgasm is the only pinky coral with a golden shimmer/sheen that works on my skintone (warm, peachy, but without any yellow, NW20). Most of the similar shades like theBalm Hot Mama and Benefit Coralista doesn’t show up at all, they just give my skin an unnatural yellowish frost. I’m not a fan of very shimmery blushes, but for some reason the shimmer in Orgasm isn’t very obvious on me. It used to be my go-to blush, and seeing this swatch makes me realize that I have to start wearing it more often. So, so pretty!
It’s a really lovely color, but I’d just like to not see it in every palette!
Orgasm and Laguna are beautiful, but yes, it’s frustrating that it’s these two again… I haven’t purchased any Nars cheek kits because they tend to include Orgasm – which I have – and Laguna is way too light for me. Devotee doesn’t look super unique so yet again, I’m going to skip this palette.
Exactly 🙁
Well, I’m not at all sold on the blushes, but this post has convinced me that I need the New Lover lip pencil. That is gorgeous!
Haha!
I was really digging the whole “Oh, it’s another NARS Palette – MUST HAVE” but then, the blush/bronzer combo kinda threw the whole thing off. NARS, chill out on that Orgasm/Laguna duo!
Agreed!
No! I have these shades so many times over. Christine, any feedback ever from Nars..given that your reviews have impact…as to why so many repeats? I really do like the brand but have cut back so much from buying….due to the repeats. I guess I shouldn’t even comment..as there are plenty of other options to purchase. Thanks for the review.
They’ve never gave any reason as to why!
I don’t get it. Haven’t they ever thought that everyone would already have Orgasm and/or Laguna by now since they are their best selling products? Wha?
You’d think that the majority do, and if they didn’t, there is always the duo – mini or full-sized – of the two!
Ohhhhhhh NARS why oh why must you ALWAYS put Orgasm in a palette??? I’m one of the women that orgasm just doesn’t work for my skin tone. NARS pay attention and create the same options as the High Street Sleek Cosmetics offers. Three different blush, contour and highlighter palettes based on ones skin tone and it cost 1/4 of what you want.
It would be nice to see more options, at the very least!
I love most of the NARS line, except Orgasm and Laguna, and yet like you said, they are in every palette… So I never buy any of their face palettes. I’m not sure what the strategy is – if you put it in every palette, then as soon as a customer buys one palette, they aren’t going to want to buy too many more because they will already own those shades. So you progressively alienate your customers. Right?
And Christine, you look gorgeous in that last photo. Hot pink is your color!
Those are my thoughts! I’m like, “Doesn’t everyone have Orgasm or has already tried it?” Or just has something very similar since SO many brands have a shade like it.
Thank you, Sarah! 🙂
Yeah see I’m one who would love to try more NARS blushes but I’m not interested in Orgasm! I am interested in Laguna but I won’t get this palette because I have zero use for the blush. If it was Sin and Laguna…I’d be all over it. They’re beating a dead horse with that blush.
On a somewhat related note, do you know when Sephora will get Kauai? I’ve been stalking their site but there’s no sign of it. Is it not due for release yet?
No idea! Maybe February 1st?
It’s interesting that Devotee is paraben free. I wonder if they’re going to carry that over to the rest of the range?
This whole palette reminds me of Urban Decay Flushed. Is this kit permanent?
I won’t be getting it because Orgasm was an unflattering frost explosion on me. If only they offered a couple of versions of these (one with Oasis and Casino might tempt me).
This kit is LE!
…How disappointing! It’s same old, same old.
To be honest, though, I was going to pass on this as soon as I read the shade names: Orgasm is the only NARS blush I own, and it is also the ONLY blush I own to fade within 6 hours. All my drugstore blushes perform better! It’s so frustrating, especially because I have 14-hour days. And you are so right, how many contours does one need?
Oh no! That really sucks about the wear time, Kris!
Christine, I can’t tell you how disappointed I am in this product! I already own all three of these shades, and actually, Orgasm and Laguna twice. I feel like this would have been an amazing product if they came out with an actual contouring bronzer rather than Laguna with its orange shimmer. I would buy this over and over again if it were a proper contouring palette.
In fact, I wouldn’t mind if they released a sort of permanent collection of these, as they did with the duos!
It would be nice if they developed a more contour-friendly color (something cooler-toned in general).
That blush and highlighter looks fabulous on you! So pretty!
Thank you!
oh wow how innovative, it looks basically like very other blush palette ever made. and the brush! talk about cutting corners. considering how expensive that brand is in my country, that’s really just not good enough :/ disappointing because I usually love NARS.
I like NARS’ eye brushes, but I haven’t had as much luck with the face brushes (haven’t tried them extensively, though).
Ugh, even I have Orgasm and I wear blush maybe once every two months thanks to my naturally quite flushed skin. (It also looks terrible on me. Give me Gaeity any day.) Give it up, NARS.
I’m sad for you that you got everything set up for photos only to find it’s same old, same old.
I didn’t see any labeling when I was initially setting it up, and I didn’t even have a press release at that time, so I was like, OOOOH! In the pan, I was like “Hmm….” and then I swatched, and I was like, “NOOOOO! NOT AGAIN!”
Can you tell me what lipstick you are wearing in the Orgasm swatch picture? Thanks! And I love your reviews!! 🙂
NARS New Lover
I agree with some of Christine’s & other reader’s comments – NARS needs to stop pushing Orgasm & Laguna. They have so many lovely shades! Who wants a ‘different’ palette with the same two shades in each one? I get it, they’re ‘cult classics’ – make a duo & be over with it. I have the Danmari palette which has Orgasm, Super Orgasm, and Casino instead of Laguna, and I’m not busting my butt to try and get my hands on Laguna instead.
I’d like to see a palette with Exhibit A, Taj Mahal, Mata Hari, Taos, Amour… And Lovejoy how about? How exciting/ vibrant would that be! I guess it wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste though.
LOL! They have TWO duos of Orgasm/Laguna! Mini and full-sized already!
Last Summer, NARS did 2 LE duos, one of which was Oasis/Laguna & another that had a matte bright pink, and I don’t remember which bronzer… However, these duos sat on shelves for the better part of a year at Sephora, while the permanent duos fly off shelves.
I don’t think brands consider the habits of makeup hoarders, and figure if one likes Orgasm and/or Laguna, they’re going to use it regularly. Also, alot of people do adhere to expiration dates, so that Orgasm/Laguna duo from last Summer will have been tossed by now!
I thought so! But two! That’s ridiculous… People will buy Orgasm & Laguna no matter what because of the cult status. I think it’s just overdone with us beauty hoarders by now.
i think this would be a nice gift for a girl just getting into makeup! or who is new to nars and wants to try it.
i already have orgasm and laguna, but that highlighter looks lovely!
Or maybe the mini duo, since it’s cheaper 🙂
Yet again Laguna and orgasm. The last cheek palette from NARS was the guy Bourdin one and all the 3 are in it. Wonder why a repeat albeit a codensed version! 🙂
I know, right? 🙁
Pass. My first NARS product was Orgasm in a Sephora Favorites set, and I fell in love. I guess I can understand if they want to repromote their most popular product every year, but this is what, the fourth palette it’s been in since Holiday sets starting rolling out? I gave two minis of the darn color away as stocking stuffers this year, and I still have three more in palette and single form floating around.
Laguna is the same old problem. I can’t use it at all, and I have three of them in my collection as incidentals.
The only positive I can see is the inclusion of Devotee. I adore this shade. Its really a stunning highlight.
Devotee is really quite nice!
I honestly think I’m going to feel really annoyed and bitter everytime I see a NARS post, especially one about their blush, now that they’ve done away with Gina and Gilda. Thanks for discontinuing my favorite everyday blush, NARS!! RIP Gilda. 🙁
THEY DID?????????????
When? WHY?
Are they actually DC’d, or just sold-out on the site? I’d been waiting for ages to order New York, but it was never listed. I asked CS if ot was DC’d, and they said it wasn’t, although 2 months later it still isn’t there. I endednup turning to ebay…
I just know they aren’t on their site anymore. It’s been probably 2 months now since I first noticed they weren’t listed. Nordstrom online still has them, though. I might try calling their 800 # tomorrow to ask.
I won’t buy another Nars palette if it has orgasm or laguna in it. I won’t buy another Nars palette unless if has introduced new colors of blushes or eye shadows. I’m sick of constant repeats and Nars is one of my favorite brands already I own almost everything.
I like how NARS offers palettes with permanent shades… but I think they need to mix it up – there has to be both, you know? Or they could make the palettes with permanent stuff permanent, and then roll out new/LE shades in limited edition palettes.
This is a great idea for traveling, but like everyone else, I already own Laguna and Orgasm. I think both products are just okay, so I would like to see other shades included.
Especially since they already offer a Laguna/Orgasm duo, I feel like this is unnecessary!
I’ve never owned any NARS products (I had to double check with myself, but yes it’s true!!) so this is interesting to me! But the quality is concerning. Plus I really wouldn’t use Laguna that much… yeah I’m better off just buying Orgasm on it’s own!
Definitely a better idea 😉
This one makes me instantly think of Sleek’s Face Form, but the price difference is quite large – would it be worth it?
I don’t think it would be personally.
Thank you for all the swatches. After this post, I couldn’t resist purchasing!
No problem! 🙂
I was seriously considering picking up this palette since I’ve hit pan on my beloved Orgasm blush and don’t own Laguna or Devotee, but I wasn’t impressed by Devotee’s swatches! And if the brush isn’t awesome, this isn’t a great value whatsoever. Thanks for the review and for making me put my money towards something better, Christine!
My pleasure, Luiza! xo
Would this Nars cheek kit be good for someone that never own any Nars blushes? It seems like a better value! I never own any blushes from Nars, would you recommend as a starter kit or buying one of their blushes in their line?
I’d actually recommend their duo of Orgasm/Laguna (or one of their other duos) – you could even get the mini to see how you liked the formula.
That really is a bummer…. I mean, seriously, don’t they have other blusher and bronzer shades to include?? Do they have to include orgasm in every kit and palette?? Thanks for your review and swatches!
They have so many other great shades they could include!
These are literally the exact same colours as Sleek Face Form, which is infinitely cheaper.
your eyes look beautiful! what eyeshadows are you wearing?
I think that was Clarins’ Essentials palette! It’s an older photo.
Passed on this palette. Theses signature cult favorite shades are nice but I already own 3 pairs of each in different palettes! Plus Devotee I didn’t really care for from the One Nite Stand Palette.
Wish they’d would be a bit more creative like for example pairing Taj Mahal with Hungry Hearts or New Order. or Love Joy and Gina.
Yet another NARS blush palette with Orgasm & Laguna *big wet fart*
2014 is the year I’ve officially started to boycott NARS. It’s about damn time they started working for customers’ cash. There is no longer any originality or creativity put into this brand.
I got the last, zippered trio from Nars and… I don’t like Laguna, at all. I have about the same complexion as you and I find it just looks dirty – is it just me?
I don’t think it looks dirty on me, but maybe it’s the brown-ish tone to it that you don’t like?