NARS Orgasm Air Matte Blush Review & Swatches
Orgasm
NARS Orgasm Air Matte Blush ($30.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a light, warmer pink base with flecks of gold micro-sparkle throughout. The formula was terrible, in general, and it was even worse with the larger bits of sparkle (the other shades in the range didn’t seem to have noticeable sparkle) as it gave the base more to grab onto and create larger pill-like bits that had to be crushed and mashed on the skin to smooth out even half-decently.
The texture was lightweight, whipped, and mousse-like with an airiness and velvety glide but not the conventional moistness of a cream blush. It turned powder-like when it came into contact with skin, but it had no real time to diffuse or blend out as it just kind of stuck to skin and lifted up and away when one attempted to blend or spread it out. This occurred with fingertips, brushes, and sponges whether applied over bare skin or over prepped skin (from foundation to set foundation). The “best” results I had were gently dabbed on with a fingertip on bare skin and blended out with leftover foundation (on a brush), but it was still uneven and splotchy.
It had sheer coverage, but it wasn’t buildable as claimed. What little product transferred to my skin seemed to fade visibly after six hours of wear.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Tom Ford Beauty Warm (Winter 2016) Blush (LE, $60.00) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Seductive Beauty (Cheek Swish) (LE, $40.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- MAC I'll Hold My Breath #2 (LE, ) is less shimmery, darker (95% similar).
- Persona Carmel (P, $22.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Seductive Beauty (Cheek Pop) (LE, $40.00) is darker (90% similar).
- Chanel Rose Petillant (330) (P, $45.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Too Faced Peach Cobbler (LE, ) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Winter 2018 (Blush) (LE, $60.00) is less shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Sephora Free Spirit (P, $14.00) is darker, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop Soul Mate (LE, $10.00) is less shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.21 oz. - $142.86 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a "soft matte finish" with "sheer, buildable coverage" that is "perfectly diffused" and "beautifully blends and blurs for second-skin color that lasts." Per the brand, the formula can be applied with fingertips or a brush, and I didn't have good luck with fingertips at all. A brush was marginally better, but I failed to achieve even coverage with any method or tool that I tried.
The amount of pressure one needed to get a smooth application just did not lend itself for actual cheek application; I could get somewhat smoother, more even coverage on my arm, where I could really push and rub at my skin, but it's not practical to do that to one's cheek (which is less of a flat surface), particularly if one has any base products on (welcome to Lift City!).
The texture of the blush felt airy and mousse-like, but it immediately pilled upon contact of my skin, and I just couldn't get it to smooth out in practice. I tried applying the product to the back of my hand to try and warm it up, but it was quick to dry down and still quite pilled, and by the time I transferred product to my skin, there was almost no coverage available. If I tried to build up coverage, the initial layer just pushed or lifted off my skin, so everything looked worse the more I fussed with it.
What little product translated (and as poor as it looked on), it stayed there for six to seven hours before fading. They delivered on the sheer coverage, but they weren't buildable, blendable, smoothing, blurring, or long-wearing.
Browse all of our NARS Air Matte Blush swatches.
Ingredients
DIMETHICONE · HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE · C30-45 ALKYL DIMETHICONE · JOJOBA ESTERS · OCTYLDODECANOL · MICA · HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER · DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER · DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER · NYLON-12 · SILICA · PASSIFLORA EDULIS SEED OIL · SORBITAN OLEATE · MAGNESIUM OXIDE · ALUMINA · TOCOPERHOL · PHENOXYETHANOL · [+/-(MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE (CI 77163) · IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499) · RED 28 LAKE (CI 45410) · RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850) · TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891) · YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140)] ·
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable to the product you're purchasing, or the brand or retailer's website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
This product confuses me. I had the best application with the elf putty blush brush on my ARM. My body skin is drier than my face, that all I can think of. On my face, it practically evaporated as soon as I put it on. Bare skin, over powder, didn’t matter. I guess I could have tried with no moisturizer but I’m not going to do that for any makeup.
40% and a well earned F. Wow, this is just so BAD.
Wow, it’s like NARS has really lost the plot lately! Don’t they have quality control? Don’t they do some sort of testing before these things actually get into the marketplace? I have a soft spot for Nars and always feel a bit of a pang when they mess up (which is a lot lately).
Nooooo!! Nars is having a tough go of it lately. I had such high hopes for their new spring collection but it’s just been all bad.
Nars! This is an Orgasm blush, basically your most famous representative of the brand! Get your shit together! An established, luxury brand should have their formulations well sorted before putting out product. How did this even happen?!
I picked this one up and didn’t experience any of the issues you did. Nars best blush formula is the powder one, IMO.
Nars is just milking this ‘organism’ line to death and now the brand has really hit rock bottom.
Wow, I’m surprised for Nars and their Iconic Orgasm line, it sounds pretty but if it’s not workable it’s a no go.