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Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush Review, Photos, Swatches

Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush
Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush

Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush ($26.00 for 0.23 oz.) is described as a “deep mauve with a hint of shimmer.” It’s a softened, medium-dark plummy purple with cooler undertones with a warmer, golden shimmer-sheen. The shimmer is very fine so that it creates more of a sheen on the skin than visible shimmer. MAC Animal Instincts (LE, $21.00) is warmer, browner. MAC Lavish Living (LE, $27.00) is more shimmery. theBalm Cabana Boy (P, $21.00) is brighter. NARS Outlaw (P, $30.00) is warmer, redder. NARS Oasis (P, $30.00) is warmer, less purple. MAC Plum Foolery (P, $21.00) is pinker. bareMinerals The Indecent Proposal (P, $22.00) is slightly warmer. NARS Sin (P, $30.00) is darker, richer. See comparison swatches / compare dupes side-by-side.

The upcoming Afterglow blushes are supposed to have sheer, buildable coverage with a “soft, creamy texture” that is “extremely blendable.” I can see this one becoming a popular shade, as it seems like a shade that will be very wearable on cool and warm-toned skin tones. The coverage is buildable from semi-sheer to mostly opaque, with the overall color having a muted quality to it, so it is hard to overdo. I don’t know that the color is rich enough to show up as well on deeper skin tones, but it may be worth a look (I lean towards steering you to check out NARS Sin (P, $30.00), as it starts off more pigmented and is richer overall, making it a better pick for deeper skin tones). It has a very silky, finely-milled texture that sits well on the skin without looking powdery, and it blends and diffuses without a lot of effort. The powder has a thinness to it, which gave me pause when I was swatching, but it seems to shine in practice (when you actually apply it and start blending it out). The shimmer in this gives it an exceptionally satiny, lightly luminous effect that is great if you like the idea of shimmer but don’t want to see it. The color wore well for eight and a half hours on me before fading slightly.

Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush
Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush

Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush
Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush

Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush
Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush

Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush
Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush

Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush
Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush

Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush
Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush

Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush
Urban Decay Rapture Afterglow 8-Hour Blush

Makeup Look
On face:
  • Guerlain Parure Gold Foundation
  • Urban Decay Naked Loose Setting Powder
On eyes:
  • Urban Decay Fireball
  • Tonic
  • Dive Bar
  • Backfire Eyeshadows
  • Urban Decay Chaos Eyeliner
On lips:
  • Urban Decay Failbait Revolution High-Color Lipgloss

95 Comments

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Saira Avatar

Hello Christine!
Great review as usual 🙂 One question though, can you please tell me how it compares to theBalm’s CabanaBoy?
Thanks

Katherine T. Avatar

This is a pretty, moody-looking mauve, might go well with some of my darker, vampier lippies. Oh, I like the looks of that blue (Dive Bar) on your eyes, it’s moving to my buy list. After seeing 50,000 shades of brown this year, I’m so glad this collection has some color!

Lisa Avatar

I wasn’t initially looking forward to this one, but after reading your review I’m definitely going to check it out. It looks gorgeous on you! Here’s hoping the other shades perform just as well!

Mariella Avatar

Ooooh, this is the one I’ve been hoping to see reviewed although now, I’m a bit unsure – I’ve tried Nars Sin in-store and it just doesn’t show up on me much (and I’m pretty pale) – that could be because of people running their finger over the counter sample and creating a “film” of oils that prevents the colour from coming off the pan. And I have Plum Foolery but this looks SO much nicer so I’m still really wanting it.

Tamara Avatar

Not sure if you noticed that the start of your review references the “Bittersweet” blush and not the Rapture…? Just wanted to point that out because I think you’re a perfectionist.

Tamara Avatar

I forgot to mention that I loved the review and appreciate your blog- I sent my comment off and realized it may have come across as snarky!

🙂

Diana Avatar

I was definitely drawn to this color when you released the round up and now I know its because I already own NARS Oasis. I may end up trying this out since it seems to have finer shimmer than Oasis but we’ll see. This color looks fabulous on you Christine!!! Hope you had a good weekend and a happy Easter (if you celebrate, if you don’t then happy sunday!)

xamyx Avatar

This is the one I absolutely love! Then again, I have NARS Sin & Oasis, MAC Animal Instincts, and NARS Outlaw has been on my radar for a while, so I guess it makes sense, LOL!

VeronicaV Avatar

How does this compare to Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer in Telluride? They look close and I’ve been putting off buying it. I really need to get something in that color because it looks awesome on me, and I’m not a blush girl.

Sarah Avatar

This is gorgeous. I already have Nars Sin though and it seems fairly similar so I’m wondering if I should skip this one. I’d like to try the formula of this new collection but may try and find a less-dupable color!

CJ Avatar

I think Urban Decay hit a goldmine with all things named Rapture. Love the regular and sheer lipsticks and will definitely get this blush. Gorgeous on you as usual Christine!

Andrew Avatar

I’m so glad to see UD release individual blushes again! This looks like an awesome every day shade; I’m a big fan of somewhat dusty, plummy rose shades. I just can’t tell if these compacts have mirrors or not.

Andrew Avatar

Hmmm, I’m a stickler for packaging. They did a great job with it but for a higher end brand I really prefer a mirror. I can’t even tell you why haha. I loved Mac’s ombre blushes they released with the Toledo collection and had been coveting Azalea Blossom since it was first released years ago, but I just couldn’t bring myself to get it since the compacts didn’t have mirrors.

Everyone has their hang-ups I guess!

Farhana Avatar

I have medium tan skin and Sin was my first ever Nars blush and I still love it. But I’ve been totally intrigued by Rapture since you posted the first pics. I know I probably don’t need it since I have Sin, but your review makes me want it anyway! LOL

Nancy T Avatar

This is a definite MUST for me after reading your glowing (quite literally though!) review! I could pretty much tell from the swatches the other day that this one would be great! And it is!

Bonnie Avatar

YESSSSS!!!!!! I’m so glad my favorite shade (by far!) in the bunch got your stamp of approval!!! Since the initial swatch didn’t seem nearly as pigmented as the others, I feared it would be a dud. Now Rapture will be mine! 😀

The Silver Nail Avatar

Looks gorgeous on you! Question, if you could only pick one between this one and Clinique’s Cola Pop, which would you choose? I want one but can’t really swing both. Thanks for all the great reviews!

Lotus Avatar

Beautiful. You look beautiful. Failbsit on you looks like my natural lip, but Im thinking Assasin might be a dupe for that one Lip Gunk I looooved so much, Tart, I believe. I’m looking forward to trying those and did just receive one of these blushes in Quickie, and the NARS Starscape! I’ve not tried Quickie yet, but I’ve been eyeballing everything and relying on your reviews, so I’m sure it will be great! I checked this review to view similarities to Sticky Sweet! 🙂 I recall you referring to Dior quads as having too many blue shades, but you really wear them well. And that MUFE look with the MJB Highliner? Insane! Blue is amazing on you. I’m happy to see you in it! Thanks for the excellent reviews! <3 🙂

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