Saturday, February 4, 2012

NARS Spring 2012: Gaiety Blush

Confession: I was never part of the NARS blush fanatic bandwagon. I suppose now and forevermore, people will sing praises and worship the almighty that is NARS Orgasm, but I personally never understood the draw. The shimmer in that blush feels chunky and I don't find the NARS texture particularly great. Plenty of people look great in Orgasm though, I just have to search for my peachy-pink HG somewhere else. 

More often than not NARS blushes also go on patchy for me, but I find myself drawn to them from time to time because like MAC, they are the purveyors of exciting but palatable colors (as opposed to the theatrical standards of Illamasqua and MUFE). 

Now, I was initially really excited and gushy about NARS Gaiety. When I purchased it, my cool pink blush phase was going on full force (though currently I am starting to sense a leaning towards peach) and Gaiety cannot fit that description better. 


L-R: NARS Gaiety, Dior Rosy Glow

The thing is, by the time I tried Gaiety I was already well acquainted with Rosy Glow. Now, as you can see in the above swatch, Rosy Glow is just a tinge lighter in hue than Gaiety but they are very similar when applied. I find the texture for Rosy Glow far superior to Gaiety. Rosy Glow is finely milled while the NARS one feels chalky to the touch. I think Gaiety applied fine but there's just something about Rosy Glow that stands out.

Rosy Glow also stays on the whole day for me. Eleven hours after application it still looks like I just swiped it on. Sometimes I can't believe that blush.

NARS Lhasa on eyes, Gaiety on cheeks, Mexican Rose on lips

Well, if I had to pick only one, no prizes for which I'd choose! 

NARS Gaiety retails for $28 and is available at major department stores. I purchased mine from narscosmetics.com.


*Dear readers, I need your opinion on future blush posts! I've been applying it the way I would wear it to go out, but I don't know if it shows up enough in pictures for you to see how the blush looks. I would be thankful if you sound off in the comments, whether you like it as is or would prefer if I lay it on a bit more to show the color (though I might be in danger of looking like a clown). Thank you for your feedback!

32 comments:

  1. I really want NARS Gaiety, but I'm firmly on the NARS blush bandwagon - I own 12 at last count :)

    As for the application, I think you should show it how you wear it every day. There's no point overblushing just for the sake of a photo/swatch. I come to your blog because I want to see your take on things :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. That looks so good on you! I wish I could pull off that colour!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like to see the realistic /as-worn application. I'm never going to layer it on like a clown so it's weird to see it worn that way by other bloggers. The hand swatch shows the color more densely!

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is indeed a lovely blush! I love NARS blushes, along with Armani and Tom Ford.

    ReplyDelete
  5. It looks lovely on you; it's a really pretty flush! and I totally agree, NARS blushes or quite chalky compared to the others I own.

    I think taking a picture of how you'd actually apply it is fine! We can actually tell how the blush looks like on the skin. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey Xiao, thanks for sharing! I don't own any NARS blushes yet. I have actually swatched the Danmari palette when I was in the US a couple of months ago, and I basically ran away screaming:"glitterbomb!" So yeah, it's a little confusing. I like how this one looks on you, though I can see why Rosy Glow wins this one.

    I don't think it's a problem to give readers a general idea of how a blush normally looks. It would be weird if you go out of your way layering it on, because I don't suppose anyone do it on a daily basis (if ever). Blushes are VERY hard to photograph though. A lot of the differences you spot in real life do not transfer into photos. I get your pain...

    ReplyDelete
  7. and I thought I was the only one who doesn't like Orgasm. I have it, rarely wear it, I don't find it all that great on me. On a positive note, I've been eying both those blushes and now I can skip one. :) Rosy glow for me!

    I prefer to see how you wear it to go out because that's the natural use of it. A swatch on the hand is good enough for a more intense color show. I mean, could you imagine if you layered Rouge by Chanel to show more color? clown face!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Seems like the consensus is how it looks as is! I'm personally relieved :)

    Clare- :) even not on that wagon I own about 4 huhuhu

    Anonymous- Thanks for the feedback!

    Jamilla- Eee. Armani blushes are too light on me, and I really don't like the TF texture :(

    Maggie- Thank you for the feedback and the kind kind words :)

    Sunny- ahahaha. Well it looks good on a lot of people, perhaps just not us :)

    Evelyn- Hehe did you click the link? I did exactly that in my first ever post on Messy Wands in jest :P

    ReplyDelete
  9. xiao, I can always see the blush on your FOTDs so no need to go all Baby Jane on us. : ) Your skin is fair enough that the pinks, peaches, and roses look exactly as they should. If I were to show blush on my face, I'd have to look like a drunken floozie because my skin is already rosy, but yours is the perfect pale canvas for whatever you wish to put on top.

    Oh, and thanks for killing the NARS Gaiety lemming. It's not like I don't already have eleventy billion deep pink blushes, anyway, heh.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I would prefer swatches in the "as you would normally wear them"-strength. I think that yours do give an adequate impression of colour and pigmentation. Love your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yay! I'm not missing out on a great blush! Although I think I'm missing out on Dior Rosy Glow. Hmmmm. Worthy of breaking the blush ban?
    And I can see your blush fine too!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yes, I also prefer to see it worn as you would normally wear it. Glad that's the consensus!

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'm so happy you compared both of them because I haven't got access to NARS but it looked similar to Dior based on swatches. Now I know to skip the NARS and go for the fabulous Dior (I love the texture/finishing a lot as well)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Another one in the camp of 'show it just how you wear it'. Your blush always looks gorgeous in pics - don't change a thing. NARS spring colors were made for you! Glad to know I'm not missing out by not getting this blush - I've waffled back & forth. However, Rosy Glow...Hmmmmm

    ReplyDelete
  15. I own all of the blushes that NARS has released and never have I thought that Orgasm had any glitter in it. Shimmer yes. But not glitter. Perhaps you were thinking of Super Orgasm? That has glitter.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Pretty color! I love NARS blushes. I have a few but not this one! I"ll have to go check this one out.

    simplybeautifulyou.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Wow, Lhasa looked kinda dull to me when I swatched it in store, but the vibrancy of the purple is really visible on you! Beautiful!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Zuzu*s Petals- yay!

    Anonymous- Thank you for reading :D

    Tracy- Hahaha Tracy you know I'm not the right person to ask. Go talk to Liz!

    Project Swatch- I'm glad too!

    birkinbagbeauty- Glad it was helpful for you :) It was the first thing I thought of as soon as I saw Gaiety.

    lov2read68- Thank you :)

    cewek- Ah! Thanks for the correction. I'll fix it immediately :) I think I thought it was glitter because I felt like the shimmer from Orgasm was kinda chunky. Orgasm looks great on a lot of people. I'm just bummed I'm not one of them :(

    Mary- :)

    ReplyDelete
  19. I was quite drawn to Gaiety but sanity asserted itself when I remember all the sticky icky Nars packaging in the drawer I don't go near with, with a barge pole. I'm so glad its near to Rosy Glow. That one's such a winner! :D Oh and I think your application is fine. I like seeing how makeup looks on people, in a natural manner vs heavy handed because there are always swatches for that.

    ReplyDelete
  20. lol I actually had read your post back then when I was considering buying Rouge! It gave me hope that I could use it and not look like a clown. I do love it, just with a light hand. :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. I like how you apply your blush in photos. It's subtle but definitely still visible. Plus, you provide swatches in addition to face photos so we can still see how it looks when applied heavily. I wouldn't change a thing! =)

    ReplyDelete
  22. It looks great! I like the photos :)
    http://happychinadoll.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  23. I really want to get this one... I just got Dior's and loving it -well, I just got it and the SA applied it on me, so today is my trial day, but liking it this far.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thanks for the comparison to Dior Rosy Glow.

    As for your blush application - i think you have done it perfectly in all your posts :). That is how intensely I do it for myself (sometimes even lighter than that actually).

    x Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  25. finally a comparison of the two! thank you i was looking everywhere for something like this. which do you think has more "red" to it? i don't want it to turn darker as the day goes on. thanks in advance :)

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anon- I'm sorry I don't quite understand the question :x Dior Rosy Glow seems to be the cooler of the two based on the swatch. I've heard people saying that it *does* react and adjust to their skin so it might look entirely different on you? I'm not sure if I answered your question sorry! ><

    ReplyDelete
  27. Looks good on you. i just got this blush and am super excited to try it!

    ReplyDelete
  28. I love your makeup application exactly the way you do it! Aside from your great beauty, your techniques are a great draw for me to come to your blog when I need to be tantalized. I have made at least a few purchases already based on your lovely presentatipns and it has only been a few months since your blog crossed my path. So please do not feel the need to up the ante, your applications are perfect and showcase the blushes wonderfully.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I should add, that despite Rosy Glow's better review... I did aquire Gaiety after reading this and am not sad for it! Your cheeks made it too cooly irresistable. Perhaps I shall splurge on Rosy Glow as well sometime soon.
    Also, If you are feeling peachy....perhaps try Nars Madly; it is hard to pinpoint it's hue, but it has a wonderful warm sandy pink peach quality about it. I have been using it as a subtle bronzer on my winter pale skin and enjoying it very much. It is a soft colour but very pigmented so start with a delicate hand.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Naomi- yay hope you like it!

    Rebecca- THANK YOU for your immensely kind words. Your description of NARS Madly is super awesome, I'll definitely have a look when I get to a counter.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Love the color. I've been looking for it everywhere. I swatched it once at sephora. gorgeous color.

    ReplyDelete
  32. I think you should continue applying your blush exactly as you wear it - if it looks too heavy people might think the blush less flattering than it is, and the shades show up just fine.

    ReplyDelete

Hi, lovelies. Due to excessive spam, I would appreciate it if you refrain from including self-promoting links in your comments! This ensures that your comment will be visible and keeps the section clean. I look forward to hearing from you!