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NARS Olympia Contour Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

NARS Olympia Contour Blush
NARS Olympia Contour Blush

NARS Olympia Contour Blush ($42.00 for 0.28 oz.) features a highlight and contour shade, and they’re supposed to add “natural-looking dimension for the face with a lightweight luminous finish.” The finish is far closer to matte than luminous or satin for both shades, and depending on your skin tone and skin type, the more matte highlighter might not read very illuminating on the skin. The contrast on my skin tone did seem to give a slight illuminating effect without the shimmer or sheen, though. The powders lasted for eight hours on my skin before beginning to fade.

The Highlight shade is a very light–almost white–beige with neutral-to-warm undertones. In the pan and swatched on my skin tone, it has a smidgen of warmth. The texture was finely-milled and soft enough to be a little powdery in the pan, but it didn’t look powdery applied to the skin. It had good color payoff, and it was very true-to-pan. This is not your traditional highlighter–there’s no shimmer to it at all–as it is matte. It is going to resemble more of a very light-toned powder foundation than traditional highlighters — MAC Too Chic (LE, $24.00) is light and beige but much more shimmery. See comparison swatches.

The Contour is a rosy, medium beige-brown with subtle warm undertones and a mostly matte finish. The texture of this shade was soft, blendable, and finely-milled, albeit a little powdery in the pan again, but it didn’t appear powdery applied to the skin. Tarina Tarantino Neopolitan Lane (P, $25.00) is a bit brighter. Kevyn Aucoin Natura (P) is browner. NARS Douceur (P, $29.00) is browner, darker. MAC Blush All Day (P, $23.50) is pinker. MAC Baby Don’t Go (P, $23.50) is a touch darker. Burberry Earthy (P, $42.00) is darker, browner. See comparison swatches.

NARS Olympia Contour Blush
NARS Olympia Contour Blush

NARS Olympia Contour Blush
NARS Olympia Contour Blush

NARS Olympia Contour Blush
NARS Olympia Contour Blush

NARS Olympia Contour Blush
NARS Olympia Contour Blush

NARS Olympia Contour Blush
NARS Olympia Contour Blush

NARS Olympia Contour Blush
NARS Olympia Contour Blush

NARS Olympia Contour Blush
NARS Olympia Contour Blush

NARS Olympia Contour Blush
NARS Olympia Contour Blush

NARS Olympia Contour Blush
NARS Olympia Contour Blush

NARS Olympia Contour Blush
NARS Olympia Contour Blush

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure de Lumiere Foundation
  • Guerlain Les Voilettes Loose Powder
On lips:
  • Chanel Tocade Glossimer
On eyes:
  • : Sephora + Pantone Luminizer

74 Comments

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A Name Avatar

I want to like this, because I’m in need of a contouring shade and highlighter, so this is super convenient, but I’m worried the contour shade won’t work on my skintone. I use Nars TM in Groenland, does have any idea if it would work?

xamyx Avatar

You just saved me $40+, LOL! I have Douceur already, which I use sort of in the same manner I’d use this, as well as Nico, so I don’t think this is necessary… For now!

OT, but your eye makeup looks very intriguing in these photos!

Martyisblue Avatar

I love it! Looks very natural on you..! I’m wondering if you can achieve a more intense pigmentation with the biscuit color, just to define better the bone..

Christina Avatar

Very interesting. It’s almost blush-like. I wonder if people with fair skin can wear the contour shade as such for a natural looking “glow.”

Christine, I am so not used to seeing you without a lovely smile on your face. LOL! I know you didn’t so that we could see the contouring, but definitely not used to it. 🙂

Your eyes look pretty! Is it the luminizer you’re referring to the one that comes in the artistry set?

Allison Avatar

I saw this product on another blog this week, and was happy to see your review as well. Although it’s pricey for me, I’m considering it (a lighter/cooler shade combo, maybe) because I really need to learn more about highlighting/contouring and would prefer an all-in-one compact like this. Plus NARS is lovely.

meganlisa Avatar

These are interesting? A must have or practically speaking something many of us like in theory but never take time to use? How much extra time did adding this to your routine add? Or would you just use this instead of blush (that’s what you did right?).
I love your eye look. So lovely!

Christine Avatar

It takes maybe thirty seconds? About as long as blush or less! I didn’t use any blush in this, as I’m trying to show the product I’m reviewing and blush would definitely alter the coloring of both the highlight/contour shade here, but I would normally wear blush and contour together! It really just depends on the look you’re going for 🙂

Vanessa Avatar

Looks like both the contour and highlight would probably suit only fair skin. By the way, girl your skin is looking amazing!!! Is it your foundation or have you been doing something else?. Please spill 🙂

CatWink Avatar

Hi! I really like how you used the palette! Which brushes did you use or would recommend? I’m affraid of contouring, altthough I have Chocolate soleil and Naked flushed in my stash. Could you tell me where did you apply which shade; did you apply the highlighter on your forhead too? Is the palette good for beginners?

Christine Avatar

I just used an angled contour brush (I used NARS’ here, but any would work). I applied the highlight on my cheek bones and down my nose, and the contour in the hollows of my cheeks. Contouring isn’t difficult – it is mostly about picking the right color and making sure that it’s well-blended! Hope this helps! 🙂

Ryou Avatar

Yay, thank you for including the non-smiley picture to show off the contour! This shade is probably a bit too light to not look subtle on your skintone, but I think it would make it a really good shade for everyday contouring (where the absence of lighting and camera makes the subtlety so valuable).

Ryou Avatar

True, I can imagine the rosiness of the shade would better translate as a blush on you than as a contour shade. I’m sure those with lighter, cooler skintones would find this post very helpful. 🙂

Veronica Avatar

Hmmm, I am cooler with a pink undertone, but this may still be a tad too warm, still. I generally find the best contours on me have some grey to them, more taupe-y. This would work more like a blush on an NW10. It’s worth giving it a look in store, though. 🙂

Larissa Avatar

This shade is not quite the best for your skin tone, but you apply and wear it so well that no one should really notice. 😉 It really gives you some OOMPH and dimension in these photos, Christine! It makes me excited to see the rest of the contour blushes!

That said, as much as I love the contour shade, I’m not entirely sure a matte highlighter will work so well on my skin tone. I’m so pale that I wonder if it will simply blend away and look like nothing! The only other semi-comparable product I own is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Ethereal Light… which probably counts as somewhat of a matte highlighter? And it does give me a really nice, subtle glow where I want it. Hmmmmmmmmm….

Susan Dowman Nevling Avatar

Beautiful on you. I’m much fairer with a cool tone. I like NARS Albatros-that’s not spelled correctly but I think you get the idea. It has a very fine pearl finish but is a warm cream white. I think I’m so light that a bit of shimmer/pearl is needed to even show. I use a light bronzer for contout. The brand and color depends on the time of day and my mood and other colors worn.
I do love NARS cheek and highlighting products.

meghan Avatar

how would you say the bronzer shade compares to benefit’s dallas? i’m super fair and that KIND OF works as a contour, but i’d rather something a little lighter!

Samantha Avatar

Hia!

First of all, another great review from you! Thank you for doing this 😀

Secondly, may I dare ask which would you recommend? The Nars Contour Blush or the Kevyn Aucion Sculpting Powder? I can’t decide!!!

Thanks!

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