NARS Virtual Domination Blush Palette Review, Photos, Swatches
NARS Virtual Domination Blush Palette
NARS Virtual Domination Blush Palette ($65.00 for 0.95 oz.) includes a highlighter, three blushes, and a bronzer. It is a Sephora exclusive and launches November 1st. All of these shades have been released before with Sex Fantasy and Final Cut being limited edition, and the other four are part of the permanent range. It’s a decent palette, and I like the value behind it, though I wish the quality was at least as good as the standalone versions that have been released. They don’t fall too short, but in general, the texture had a thinner quality to it that made it less luxurious compared to full-sized blushes. Overall, the palette had good color payoff, blendable textures, and most wore for around eight hours. I felt like the palette was too bulky/heavy for what it was, but it at least doesn’t feel cheap.
NARS blush retails for $30.00 for 0.16 oz., and Bronzing Powder retails for $38.00 for 0.28 oz. This palette has 0.60 oz. of blush, which is a $112.50 worth of blush. Now, go figure, but this palette contains more than a full-sized Laguna (and far more than the one included in the Algorithm palette!) at 0.35 oz. or $47.50 worth of bronzer! The palette contains a total of $160.00 of NARS Blush/Bronzer, so it is a great value. In terms of price, for the cost of just over two full-size blushes, you’re getting five shades (sometimes a better way to think about value if you rarely finish products).
Miss Liberty is described as a “soft shimmering peach.” It’s a light, golden peach with a white sparkle and warm undertones. The way the shimmer and sparkle of this one act, it looks almost like a wet sheen on the face, but there are noticeable sparkles on the skin–it is by no means a particularly subtle highlighter option. It seemed slightly lighter than the permanent version I have, though effect for most skin tones will likely be the same since it is so sheer. It wears for seven hours on me. This shade is part of the permanent range of Highlighting Blush. See swatches of all dupes / view dupes side-by-side.
Deep Throat is described as a “flirty sheer peach.” It’s a medium, coral with gold shimmer and hints of pink. The texture was soft, a little thinner than the permanent version, but it was blendable and had fairly good color payoff–it just looked a little faded compared to the permanent version. It wore well for seven and a half hours on me. This shade is part of the permanent range. See swatches of all dupes / view dupes side-by-side.
Laguna is described as a “diffused brown powder with golden shimmer.” It’s a medium-dark brown with warm, yellow undertones and a golden shimmer-sheen finish. It has more buildable color payoff than full-on, rich pigment. The texture was soft, lightweight, and blendable, though it can be a smidgen on the powdery side (which it seems in this particular palette). NARS has a tendency to put this in many of its palettes, so you may find you already have one (or half a dozen), and it is part of the permanent range. See swatches of all dupes of dupes / view dupes side-by-side side-by-side.
Sex Fantasy is described as a “pale lavender pink.” It’s a very light, cool-toned pink with a hint of lavender. It has a totally flat, matte finish. The texture is soft and finely-milled, but it is powdery (more so than the permanent version). On me, it lasted for eight hours. See swatches of all dupes / view dupes side-by-side.
Final Cut is described as a “peach coral.” It’s a softened, medium coral-orange with warm undertones and a matte finish. It had good color payoff, and the texture was soft and silky, and it was only a smidgen powdery. It wore well for eight hours on me. See swatches of all dupes
/ view dupes side-by-side.
Virtual Domination
LELimited Edition. $65.00.
Miss Liberty
PPermanent. $30.00.
Deep Throat
PiPPermanent in Palette. $30.00.
Laguna
PPermanent. $38.00.
Sex Fantasy
LELimited Edition. $30.00.
Final Cut
PPermanent. $30.00.
NARS Virtual Domination Blush Palette
NARS Virtual Domination Blush Palette
NARS Virtual Domination Blush Palette
NARS Virtual Domination Blush Palette
NARS Virtual Domination Blush Palette
NARS Virtual Domination Blush Palette
NARS Virtual Domination Blush Palette
NARS Miss Liberty Highlighting Blush
NARS Miss Liberty Highlighting Blush
NARS Miss Liberty Highlighting Blush
NARS Deep Throat Blush
NARS Deep Throat Blush
NARS Deep Throat Blush
NARS Laguna Bronzing Powder
NARS Algorithm Laguna Bronzing Powder Palette
NARS Algorithm Laguna Bronzing Powder Palette
NARS Sex Fantasy Blush
NARS Sex Fantasy Blush
NARS Sex Fantasy Blush
NARS Final Cut Blush
NARS Final Cut Blush
NARS Final Cut Blush
I love the variety of shades in this palette and the fact that, for once, it doesn’t contain Orgasm!
That’s true!
Oh my!! This looks like a steal!! Just the amount you get! And I don’t have any of these shades other than Laguna! Guess I’ll be getting this palette!!! :))
It is a good deal!
When is this available
Availability: This collection is available beginning November 1st, 2014 at NARS boutiques and narscosmetics.com and at department and specialty stores. (Note, Sephora exclusives will only be available at Sephora.)
Such a great deal, it’s a shame it has such a large portion of Laguna. 🙁 I’m not a bronzer girl, so I guess this is a pass for me! That’s alright, my wallet is happy at least. 😛
It is a massive Laguna, lol!
Colors sure are pretty, but I have little tolerance any more for low/er quality from high end brands. There are so many stellar “A and A+” products on the market that are a pleasure to use that why pay for and choose something the company doesn’t make up to par? These days I just won’t spend the money unless they hit it out of the ball park. I have so much makeup to choose from I already own, and only 365 days a year to have fun with it. I find myself only reaching for the products that perform top notch. The rest just sits there like “meh”. LOL End rant!
I definitely agree that there are too many really great products to spend much time with so-so products (particularly when they’re dupable!). I know that the last thing I’m going to reach for is a fussy shade unless it’s REALLY special and unique!
Aside from the giant Laguna, I really like the shades in this palette, but I am so annoyed that the quality is not the same as full-sized versions. I just don’t get it. Putting a product in a palette should not change the quality, color, and performance of that product. Thanks for the very informative and honest review.
It’s something that is more common than desired for sure 🙁
Everything about this palette screams (must-have) to me! Glad that they included shades other than Orgasm – this looks like a great way to try NARS blushes at a fraction of the cost!
It is nice to not see any Orgasm in this launch!
It’s a good shade range. Still, I’m happy to own three of the full sizes here (Miss Liberty, Deep Throat, and Sex Fantasy). Sex Fantasy is my least favorite NARS blush in full size as it doesn’t have the payoff I’d like (it is but one in a collection of about 20 NARS blushes). Miss Liberty seems much lighter and Deep Throat is just not as dimensional compared to the full size. But it’s still a good deal for someone who doesn’t want to buy a bunch of singles. Just wish they’d keep the quality more consistent with the full pans.
Same — I love palettes that are the same as individual. You know, like the 30th palette 😉
30th Palette Die Hard Fan Club Reporting For Duty! 😉
I think it’s beautiful, but the fact that all the blushes are on the pastel side makes it less must-havey for me.
I’m not 100% sold on the color mix either!
It is a pity that some of the blushes aren’t as good as the ordinary ones. I really would like to know how that comes.
I don’t even have Laguna, the only NARS blush I have is, yes Orgasm 🙂
I am thinking of getting the Hourglass trio, so I don’t think I’ll get this one. I do like it and the value is excellent, I do think I’ll swatch it when it arrives at Sephora.
I’m thinking the type of machine used might be different? Different factory altogether?
I originally was going to pass on this palette because I really wanted the Benefit set but this palette is such a good value for the money, and for some reason I just feel like if I won’t buy this, then I’ll regret it.
I hope you love it, Alex!
Hello Cristine
I just can not decide between tarte pin up girl palette or this one
Which has more colors that you’d wear all the time?
I would say the tarte , besides I bought las year the NARS Guy Bourdin so I can skip this, however I think this year holiday collections are just OK Thanks!
This has the same “issues” for me as many blush palettes – I don’t need both warm and cool blushes; I don’t look good in coral or brown or warm tones. And as for bronzers – I’m also not a bronzer gal and have more than sufficient of them for my needs (probably more than I would need even if I did use bronzer on a regular basis!)
Going by NARS’ choices, you’d think we all piled the bronzer on.
lol!
Oh I like this a lot! And I’ll take the bulky packaging, I’d rather have that than a flimsy cheap plastic thingie 🙂
Better than cheap, though I liked the past blush palettes in just the regular NARS packaging more!
I like the variety but I think the only one I’m jonsing for is Sex Fantasy.
Seems like a skip, I’m guessing!
Ughhh… was hoping there would be some nice cooler toned darker shades but all are very peachy and I already own deep throat and laguna.. Guess I will be passing on this one.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, Emily!
Even Sex Fantasy is surprisingly warmer on the skin than it looks in the pan. I have the full size and it’s not exactly a warm blush. But it looks like the kind of color you can use to cool down a look and weirdly it isn’t (for me).
Kinda disappointed in this release. Why couldn’t NARS come up with NEW shades instead of just re-hashing what was done in past palettes?
I was surprised there were no new shades!
It seems like several of the holiday collections are of lower quality, at least from your reviews. I remember you said the same thing about the Benefit blush palette and one of the Urban Decay palettes (I think Shadow Box, not a holiday, but still). I wonder why that is, I wonder if the cost of making the palettes means some quality has to suffer?
I don’t know if it might be that the way palettes are made is in a different factory or uses different machinery, or it could be that some companies skimp on palettes. It’s hard to say.
I’m going to skip this, I think. A little hubby birdie let slip that I’m getting the Tarte Pin-Up blush palette for Christmas. This is a great deal with pretty colors, but I don’t need that much blush, or all that Laguna bronzer, especially if they’re not up to usual quality.
What a nice gift to be getting 🙂
I own Laguna and deep throat. I have 2 of the dupes for sex factory and 1 of the dupes for miss liberty…. I’m trying to tell myself that a clearly don’t need this but it’s not working!!! I HAVE to have this. I have came back 10 times already today to look at this palette!
LOL! I hope you love it when you get yours then, Cara!
I’m going to pass on this. I don’t use bronzer and that Laguna is huge. Also, I don’t really like that pale pink.
Bummer – hopefully there’s something else on your radar!
i like the packaging.. but that’s about it. haha
Ouch!
I wonder if they’re changing the formula or something. If I’m reading the ingredients correctly some don’t have parabens now, whereas I was pretty sure they all did in the past. I think I’ll skip this and get some Tarte blushes, now that I’ve finally found a seller who ships to Australia.
I believe they did update the formula on some to remove them.
I wish NARS would put Final Cut in a duo or something. Besides Miss Liberty it’s the only shade that’ll do any justice on me. Plus I’m still mad at myself for skipping it before lol
The holiday sets feel like a Final Cut redo, lol!
This is a total skip for me. Bronzers tend to make my face look dirty, and some of the other shades look chalky. For $65, there should be better quality. I got the Tarte Chic-to-Cheek Blush Set for $ 35 (4 deluxe blushes in plum, pink, coral, and nude), and I’m totally loving all the shades, pigmentation, and portability.
Glad you’re loving the Tarte set, Katherine!
It’s me! I’m the weirdo that would use more bronzer than all the other pans…but it’d have to be the right shade of bronzer. I don’t think Laguna would be an all the time bronzer for me.
Oh, hey there! 😉
I could actually see why the bronzer is larger in a palette like this, if it wasn’t Laguna over and over again, LOL. Of course, bronzer is so specific to undertone and coloring, so then sometimes I can’t see it.
I like the colours, and the squares are pretty to look at in the pan (except maybe for Laguna on both counts, LOL!), but this palette doesn’t seem very exciting somehow. It is nice to see that they didn’t include Orgasm for once (although I tend to assume that ‘sampler’ holiday palettes are more aimed at new converts than old junkies, somehow 😉 )!
I feel like a brand who releases several sets should have everyone in mind – so some good, entry-level set(s) for those new to the brand, something that’s a decent value for those who like NARS but maybe can’t afford to buy much from the brand, and then something fun for collector’s/die-hard fans.
Laguna looks so lovely on your and everyone else. It looks so dirty on me 🙁
Awww! I don’t really like it on me, lol.
All I’m interested in is the Sex Fantasy blush but I’ve not been successful in tracking one down. I don’t see myself forking out for this just for the one blush though. I don’t think all the blushes would suit me and I just don’t do bronzer period. It would make a nice gift I think for someone with a darker skin tone who is looking to try some Nars blushes and who uses bronzer. I’ll keep on looking out for the Sex Fantasy blush and maybe I’ll get lucky one of these days! 😀
It’s hard to justify for just one blush!
sad that sex fantasy isnt of as high quality (still kicking myself over not buying it), but i am going to get it for that blush anyway 🙂
It is close, though 🙂
Whew! **wipes brow**. Finally, something I don’t need to add to my wish list; I have every one of these colors, separately.
Yayyyyy!
When is this product discontinued?