NARS

A friend of mine who loves makeup but is terrified of blush emailed a few days ago looking for recommendations for a blush that wouldn’t leave her looking (and I quote) “like a lady of the night.”

As soon as I remembered how much she likes NARS, I thought about NARS Madly ($27).

It’s one of those shades that I overlooked for way too long. Based on how light and uninspiring it looked to me in the pan, I always just assumed it wouldn’t do much for my tan.

You’d think I’d know by now not to judge a blush by its cover. Thank goodness I finally decided to give it a try. In a word: amazing. AH-MAAAAY-ZING!

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Say the uber-pigmented NARS Lovejoy Blush seems a little too dark and intense for you, but you still want the same two-in-one blush/bronzer effect. Never fear, Luster Blush ($27) is here!

Like Lovejoy, Luster adds color, shimmer and warmth in a single swipe, and the way that it lights up cheeks makes it a good companion for a fading summer tan.

It’s one of those shades that I overlooked for years based on the way it looks in the pan — kinda ordinary and nondescript — but I’m glad I finally gave it a swipe and a chance. When I did, I fell instantly in love.

A sheer golden apricot with fine golden shimmer, it’s sheerer than both Lovejoy and Orgasm, and I think that makes it even easier to blend and apply.

NARS blush swatches for comparison from the left: Luster, Lovejoy and Orgasm
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Combined, some words are even greater than the sum of their parts. Take Nutella and doughnuts, for instance. Both tasty treats by themselves, for sure, but stick them together and BOOM!

Magic (super high-calorie magic).

I think the same principle also applies to NARS Lovejoy, a $27 powder blush from the NARS permanent line.

NARS Lovejoy does more than combine two — wait, three great words. It also combines two of my favorite products, blush and bronzer.

And seriously, with a name like Lovejoy, how could it have been anything but good?

Around this time every year, with the last vestiges of my summer tan fading from view, I start reaching for bronzers more and more often to add some extra warmth to my face. Not as a replacement for blush, but in addition to it.

But on days when I’m too rushed (or too lazy) in the morning to deal with both, NARS Lovejoy’s mix of rosy plum and bronze pigments and golden glitter totally hits the spot. Its power comes from its ability to combine a rosy flush with a natural-looking bronzy glow, so it’s kinda like getting a two-for-one, with a bronzer and blush in a single pan. I think it really sings on olive skin tones, but I’ve also heard cool-toned gals gush over it, too.

Because NARS gave Lovejoy more than enough pigment, I think it’s easy to overdo. It pays to apply it with a feather light touch, and I like the results I get when I use it with a synthetic skunk brush (for a sheer, natural-looking veil of color).

One layer is usually enough to give my cheeks a flush like they’ve just been pinched, and because I don’t have to use much, the pan should last, oh, roughly three lifetimes. 🙂

Even if you fear sparkly stuff, don’t be scurred of Lovejoy’s golden glitter. It may look intimidating in the pan, but those flecks are super fine and don’t shine a spotlight on pores or fine lines. Just enough shimmer to keep skin looking glowy and fresh.

And to top everything off, Lovejoy lasts all day long on my combination skin.

Ahh, Lovejoy… I love that you bring me so much joy.

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