NARS Orgasm X Blush Review & Swatches
Orgasm X
NARS Orgasm X Powder Blush ($30.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a brighter, medium-dark pink-coral base with fine, golden shimmer throughout that gave it a more luminous finish. It was significantly warmer, deeper, and had a smoother sheen compared to the original Orgasm blush.
The consistency felt slightly drier to the touch, almost papery (and I mean that in a neutral way), but it was incredibly easy to pick up with a brush–without being powdery–and blend out the color for a glowing finish that wasn’t prone to emphasizing my skin’s natural texture. It had rich color coverage that stayed on nicely for eight and a half hours before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Fenty Beauty Yacht Life (P, $25.00) is darker, glossier (95% similar).
- ColourPop No Way (LE, $8.00) is more shimmery (95% similar).
- Natasha Denona Bloom (P, $19.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Becca Flowerchild (P, $32.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- Giorgio Armani Mania (40) (P, $38.00) is lighter (90% similar).
- Laura Geller Fruit Punch (P, $28.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- theBalm Hot Mama (P, $21.00) is more shimmery, warmer (90% similar).
- Dior Lupine (468) (LE, $45.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- ColourPop More is More (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, lighter, cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Extraordinary (LE, $29.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
Formula Overview
$30.00/0.16 oz. - $187.50 Per Ounce
From NARS’ website, their blush formula is described as “beautifully pigmented” and “soft [and] blendable.” NARS' blushes, since they've been released in such a massive range of shades over the years, can vary from shade to shade to some degree. Most shades are pigmented with firmer, slightly stiffer consistencies that can also run on the thinner side, which allows greater control when picking up product but some of the more matte shades could be a bit more blendable or easier to work with.
Some of the more newly-released shades have softer, more yielding textures that are a bit creamier and are easier to blend out, though most of NARS' blushes are fairly blendable. The wear typically ranges from eight to nine hours with a few shades falling above or below this range.
Browse all of our NARS Powder Blush swatches.
Ingredients
TALC • OCTYLDODECYL STEARATE • OCTYLDODECYL STEAROYL STEARATE • ZINC STEARATE • TIN OXIDE • CAPRYLYL GLYCOL • PHENOXYETHANOL • [+/- (MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): IRON OXIDES (CI 77491) • IRON OXIDES (CI 77492) • IRON OXIDES (CI 77499) • MANGANESE VIOLET (CI 77742) • MICA • RED 28 LAKE (CI 45410) • RED 30 LAKE (CI 73360) • RED 33 LAKE (CI 17200) • RED 34 LAKE (CI 15880) • 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 is a nice blush. It shows up well on my NC45 skin. The hint of shimmer is great and not at all the glitter bomb of the original Orgasm.
I love it too. It pulls really orange on my fair skin which is exactly what I wanted. I think this is a shade that looks great on everyone and it’s def pigmented enough for everyone.
Glad to see it’s improved over the original version (which shows as a C+ on the description after a search but a B- in the actual body of the text.. either way – meh). I never really liked the OG and not sure if it’s the name that steers me away from using it more. I really like NARS products in general, but it’s so off-putting when they sexualize their products. I so wish they wouldn’t do that. Although they probably do because it sells.
Hi Valerie,
Orgasm has been released many times, so on its product page, the rating is an average of all of the individual ratings it has received. It may have scored higher or lower in various releases.
Thanks for explaining that. I think it has come up before in the context of ratings on the email summaries different from review and that’s why.
And B-/C+ is mediocre either way.
Compared to the OG Orgasm, I really love the depth of this shade more. That, plus the more refined looking sheen have this one on my WL for spring! I only wish they’d have given it its own name instead of Orgasm *again*.
I think this one is much better than the original, with its more subtle finish. A perfect coral pink.
That’s a really beautiful blush that I think will suit a lot of skin tones. I have several dupes so I’ll pass, but if I did’t, I would get it for sure.
This looks like a perfect Spring / Summer color .
I like this version more than the original , the original version just didn’t flatter my skin texture or color , too much shimmer .
I never did like the original Orgasm blush as it turned really gold on my pale skin without the pop of colour with a light hand and the more I applied it the more gold it looked. lol Happy to test out Orgasm X out in person as my Torrid blush is getting really old.
I have this. Its a stunning blush on my skin tone. I did love the original, but this gave my face a lift.
I’m NC30/NC35, golden olive.
Pretty, but I’ll stay with the original.
Pretty, not compatible with my rosacea, though.
Love this blush. Many Instagram beauty gurus who received it in PR described it as having an orange undertone, but when I applied it I found (just like you did) that it’s a true deep coral. I love it so much, especially since the original Orgasm never showed up on my NC42 skin.
This blush is so gorgeous! It’s definitely my new favorite. I always wanted to like the original but it didn’t show up that well on my light golden skin tone and the texture was not fine enough. This version though is a true coral red, very fresh and vibrant. Not orange. With a very fine golden sheen that looks really beautiful. A little goes a long way but if applied sparingly & evenly across the cheekbone it looks like a sheer flush of red with a pretty highlight on top….just like on Christine in the photo.