NARS Zen Blush Review & Swatches
Zen
NARS Zen Powder Blush ($30.00 for 0.16 oz.) is a muted, very light brown with more olive-leaning undertones, though it seemed a bit warm-toned overall. The texture was soft, lightly powdery in the pan, but it applied evenly to bare skin and blended out nicely without looking too flat or too dry applied.
It had opaque pigmentation in a single layer, which seemed to deepen slightly once applied and blended out (likely due to the natural oils on my skin when meshed with the matte finish of the product). It seemed slightly warmer than the previous version of Zen that I have. This shade stayed on well for eight hours before fading visibly.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
Top Dupes
- Laura Mercier Tres Modern (LE, ) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (90% similar).
- Milani Sun Kissed (02) (P, $9.99) is darker (90% similar).
- Hourglass Eternal Bronze Light (LE, $52.00) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Terra (P, $70.00) is darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze (Original) (PiP, ) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- NYX Nude 'Tude (P, $6.50) is more shimmery, darker, cooler (85% similar).
- Colour Pop Bon Voyage (P, $8.00) is darker (85% similar).
- Guerlain Terracotta Gold Light (LE, $60.00) is more shimmery, lighter, warmer (85% similar).
- Colour Pop Spectacle (LE, $8.00) is warmer (85% similar).
- Fenty Beauty Inda Sun (P, $30.00) is darker (85% 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)] •
Zen
PPermanent. $30.00.
NARS Zen Powder Blush
NARS Zen Powder Blush
NARS Zen Powder Blush
NARS Zen Powder Blush
NARS Zen Powder Blush
NARS Zen Powder Blush
NARS Zen Powder Blush
NARS Zen Powder Blush
Not sure how Nars imagines this to be a “blush” when it is an obvious bronzer shade? 🤷♀️
If I thought it was deep enough to work on me, I WOULD get it to use as a winter shade of bronzer because it doesn’t run orange, but almost an olive tan? I do love the tone of it!
I have this blush and I LOVE it. I’m golden olive, neutral and between NC30/35/37 and it shows up on me. I love using this for my “professional” days or when I want a natural look. You may want to ck it out sometime.
Thanks Cherie! Because my winter coloring is NC35-ISH, this could be a lovely winter bronzer, I’m thinking.
Thank you Cherie!
I quite like this one!
Me too!
This is another beautiful shade of blush by Nars but on my NC30 warm skin tone i would probably use it as a bronzer.
This is a lovely shade that could do double duty as a bronzer. It actually reminds me of the Light shade of PF Butter Bronzer.