NARS Orgasm Illuminating Loose Powder Review, Photos, Swatches
Orgasm
NARS Orgasm Illuminating Loose Powder ($28.00 for 0.09 oz.) is a medium, rosy copper with warm, copper shimmer and a luminous sheen. As a loose highlighter, the pigmentation was really in the amount picked up–it could be quite pigmented if applied with a fingertip or quite sheer if applied with a fluffy, fan brush. The color was much, much darker and warmer than any of the Orgasm products I’ve come across (to the point where I wouldn’t have thought it was in the family at all).
Per the brand, the formula is supposed to give a “naturally glowing look” that can be used on the “face and décolleté.” The finish was softly luminous–very lit-from-within–when worn at sheer to medium coverage, but when worn at higher coverage or layered, it could look luminous to softly frosted. It was hard to overdo, though, and it did not emphasize my skin’s natural texture. The loose powder was finely-milled and easy to blend out, but a tip to help with application would be to lightly pick up product onto your brush, then swirl in the cap, which will help to distribute the product better on the brush for more even application on the cheeks (that then requires less blending). The highlighter lasted well for eight hours on me.
Top Dupes
- Flesh Beauty Promise (P, $28.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Anastasia Taffy (LE, ) is darker, brighter (90% similar).
- NARS Maldives (P, $38.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Glacial Rose (LE, $50.00) is warmer (90% similar).
- NARS Drift (LE, ) is less shimmery (90% similar).
- OFRA Blissful (P, $29.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- Dior Coral Cruise (002) (LE, $50.00) is lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Laura Mercier Temptation (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery (90% similar).
- MAC Into Eternity (LE, $36.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- MAC Highlight the Truth (LE, $34.00) is brighter (90% similar).
That was also my thought when I first saw it, that it being so much darker than the original Orgasm! I read that you can also use this as an all-over finishing powder. Have you tried using it like that Christine? Would love to hear your thoughts about that if you did 🙂
I didn’t see anything from NARS’ description on their site about using it as a finishing powder – here’s what NARS says:
“This versatile powder can be used to illuminate and accentuate the high points of the face and decollete.” And then for “how to use”:
“For lighter skintones, apply Loose Illuminating Powder as a brightening blush, beginning at the apple of the cheek and blending up toward the hairline.
For deeper skintones, apply to the high points of the face to add a warm glowing highlight.
To add a veil of golden shimmer to the lip, tap Illuminating Loose Powder over Afterglow Lip Balm.”
Now we get to find out what this loose powder actually is, after Nars’ strange description! It is indeed a highlighter, a very pretty one at that, too. Sadly (or very fortunately), duped well within my own highlighters.
So is this a highlighter or an all over face powder? NARS makes it sound like it’s an overall face powder? Sometimes these powders confuse me. ?
From NARS:
For lighter skintones, apply Loose Illuminating Powder as a brightening blush, beginning at the apple of the cheek and blending up toward the hairline.
For deeper skintones, apply to the high points of the face to add a warm glowing highlight.
To add a veil of golden shimmer to the lip, tap Illuminating Loose Powder over Afterglow Lip Balm.
So it doesn’t sound like it was intended as all-over so much as it could be used on various parts of the face but not like, a translucent loose powder to set everything.
Wow! That’s is a very different colour from what I’d expect anything ‘Orgasm-y’ to look like, much browner and darker. (Apologies for the awful, made up word!). Thank you for repeating NARS’ instructions. I, like the other readers was under the impression that it was a finishing powder and was wondering how that would work even before I saw your swatches.
Sadly as I love the original blush, but also thankfully (for my bank balance), it is just too brown for me, so l will pass on it.
A really pretty shade and I think it’s versatile too.
I feel like there’s a million “come all over your face” jokes that could be made about this, but somehow I cant think of any…
There’s not a lot there, but like they say, it’s what you do with it that counts… 😉
LOL!
I bought the moment it was released and packed it with me on my business trip in France this week.
I’m overly impressed.
I rarely am with the claims of new releases.
I’ve used it as a blush and as a highlighter (with a brush, and pressed in with my fingers on my cheekbones), and on my lips to highlight, and I love it.
My complaint is the sifter. There is NO WAY to prevent it from spilling all into the lid while traveling. This should have been obvious, when they packaged it.
It’s very pretty, but I agree with you about the color. It would be a blush on fair skin such as mine, though, and look quite pretty.
I tried this at the Sephora store on my eyes and loved it SO MUCH as an eyeshadow! Shimmery rose-gold shades are my go-to for eyeshadow and this one is a very unique coppery rose gold with lots of depth, unlike anything I have in my collection so far. Pretty certain I will be purchasing it soon. As an eyeshadow pigment it will last forever, it’s so pigmented! I’m sure it will be lovely as a blush as well.
I’ve always been on a hunt to find a replacement for my coveted discontinued benefit one hot minute all over face powder. Do think could be a dupe?
I don’t have it any more, but it definitely seems close!