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NARS Panic Dual-Intensity Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

NARS Panic Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Panic Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Panic Dual-Intensity Blush ($45.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a vibrant duo featuring a bright pink and rusty coral. This seemed to be the least forgiving of the duos releasing as we’re working with much richer shades to begin with, so any weakness in blending is easily seen, and it is lacking that blendability that is so necessary when you have deeper shades like these two. The texture of the product dry is firm and a little stiff, so getting a really even, smooth layer of color dry wasn’t easy and required some buffing with a separate brush to get everything in place. Applied damp, it was hard to avoid splotchy color. Worth repeating, NARS described the formula to have richer color payoff applied dry with more of a wash of color applied damp, and the latter isn’t true whatsoever–applying with a damp brush results in much richer, deeper color and a more intense finish (typically more shimmery).

Panic (Left) is described as a “shimmering shocking fuchsia.” It’s a brightened, medium fuchsia pink with cool, blue undertones and a soft, frosted finish. Applied dry, it had mostly opaque color coverage, was somewhat blendable but not easy to apply, and the shimmer very slightly emphasized pores, but with enough buffing, it’s possible to tamp it down, while the color itself lasted for seven and a half hours on me. Applied damp, it was fully opaque with really rich color coverage but lacked blendability as it adhered and “dried” in place and didn’t want to diffuse/blend out after a few seconds. The finish is more noticeably shimmery on the skin and tended to emphasize the skin’s natural texture. The damp application lasted eight and a half hours. NARS Adoration (Right) (P) is warmer. Clinique Berry Pop (03) (P, $21.00) is brighter, darker. Tom Ford Beauty Narcissist (LE, $55.00) is darker. MAC Supernova (LE, $27.00) is warmer. MAC Feeling Flush (LE, $27.00) is more muted. Burberry Hydrangea Pink (P, $42.00) is less shimmery, darker. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

Panic (Right) is described as a “shimmering orange-pink.” It’s a brightened, medium coral with a hint of pink and a gold, frosted shimmer. Applied dry, it had mostly opaque color payoff with a fairly shimmery finish, so it did make my pores more noticeable, and the color stayed on well for seven hours before fading. Applied damp, it deepened and turned a reddish-orange coral with a more metallic sheen, and definitely made my cheeks look very textured as a result, though it lasted a bit longer than dry application at eight hours. It was also rather difficult to blend the color out when I tried using it damp. MAC Secret Admirer (LE, $20.00) is a cream product. Surratt Beauty Ponceau (P, $32.00) is less shimmery, lighter. IT Cosmetics Pretty in Peony (P, $24.00) is pinker. Clinique Ginger Pop (01) (P, $21.00) is less shimmery. NARS Realm of the Senses (Together) (LE, $29.00) is pinker. MAC Simmer (LE, $27.00) is pinker. Tom Ford Beauty Flush (P, $55.00) is less shimmery, lighter. See comparison swatches / view dupes.

See more photos & swatches!

NARS Panic Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Panic Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Panic Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Panic Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Panic Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Panic Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Panic Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Panic Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Panic (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Panic (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Panic (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Panic (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Panic (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Panic (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Panic (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)
NARS Panic (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)

NARS Panic (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)
NARS Panic (Left) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)

NARS Panic (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Panic (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Panic (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Panic (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Panic (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush
NARS Panic (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush

NARS Panic (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)
NARS Panic (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)

NARS Panic (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)
NARS Panic (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)

NARS Panic (Right) Dual-Intensity Blush (Wet)
NARS Pani (Both) Dual-Intensity Blush (Dry)

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
On eyes:
  • Le Metier de Beaute Obsidian Odysea Eyeshadow Palette
  • Sephora My Boyfriend's Jeans and Baby Blue Eyeliners
On lips:
  • NARS Anna Lipstick

75 Comments

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Comments on this post are closed.
Mariella Avatar

I wonder if this new “dual intensity” thing is going to be front and centre for Nars. Perhaps it isn’t a very good indicator but I’ve noticed that online at Sephora, many of their standard permanent duo and single shadows are now showing with a “just a few left” advisory. This could just be Sephora but part of me is wondering if Nars is planning to replace their tried and true formulas with “dual intensity” (sort of like Hourglass getting rid of their great old shadow formulation for this disappointing new one). I sure hope it’s not the case but you never know….

Katherine T. Avatar

Oh, no! Such a shame because the colors are so pretty. At this price, it shouldn’t take this much work, the blushes should be blending themselves. By happy coincidence, I ordered one of the dupes last night from QVC – IT Cosmetics Blush in Pretty in Peony (A rated by you!) and comes with a gorgeous French Boutique IT brush.

Kate Avatar

Despite my pale complexion, I like bright blushes, because I find that a “doll cheek” effect works for me and therefore this was the duo that appealed to me the most. However, I really can’t abide blushes that emphasize my pores or skin texture- with the extreme range of temperature here, my skin has more than enough problems! Too bad, because the colours themselves do look really pretty.

Meghan Avatar

It’s disappointing to see a flop release from Nars after such amazing ones like the Audacious lipsticks, Dual-Intensity shadows, and great holiday releases. This was a palette I would’ve had my eye on, but I’ll pass!

Christine Avatar

Part of it is just poor positioning/claims that don’t make sense, but I think they would have be better off making the texture a bit softer as blush brushes are often less dense than eyeshadow ones, so it doesn’t seem to work quite as well here.

Christine Avatar

Here you go!

THE MAKEUP LOOK
On face: Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation, Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder. On eyes: Le Metier de Beaute Obsidian Odysea Eyeshadow Palette, Sephora My Boyfriend’s Jeans and Baby Blue Eyeliners. On lips: NARS Anna Lipstick.

Apinya Avatar

I am disappointed as the colors in this duo are so beautiful. By the way, are you going to do reviews on the new MAC eyeshadow times nine palettes? I think they are very interesting in terms of value and concept. However, I think I am going to wait until I see your review.

Fran Avatar

It’s too bad about these! The colors are so pretty in the pan, and it seems like other shades in this formula at least apply well when used dry. Maybe I’ll have to spring for Berry Pop and Ginger Pop after all (currently only have Plum Pop), looking again at how pretty these colors are on skin.

El Avatar

My, those are bright, even by my standards! Lol. I think they might work okay for someone with medium-dark to dark skin, but even with decent quality those would overwhelm my pale face. Such pretty colours, though. Have you tried using them as eyeshadows at all?

xamyx Avatar

Surprisingly, I *really* like the pink side, and enough to actually put up with its “issues”. However, the orange side would be completely neglected, so I don’t know if this duo is worth buying…

The pink side, when applied to the face, actually reminds me a lot of the Multiple in Riviera, which is oneof my most favorite cheek products.

Nancy T Avatar

Thank you, you just saved me $45., these two shades were definitely on my radar. Sad thing is that Nars really should have nailed these blushes. But nope.

Emily Avatar

Since someone else brought it up…

The eye look is indeed gorgeous. Did you use anything other than the LMdB kaleidosocope? Because the muted crease color doesn’t resemble any of the colors in the palette.

Thanks in advance (I’m thinking of buying it, but not if it requires an additional shadow to create that gorgeous hint of brown–or is that orange + blue?)!

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