Left to Right, Top to Bottom – Devotee, Mistinguette, Orgasm, Laguna, Deep Throat, Goulue
Sometimes, as a beauty blogger, a product comes along that you just can’t resist. This was one of them. I actually had a lot of N-Dulge points to spend and I was going to buy a NARS blush, but I hadn’t picked one, when I got wind of this on the Twittersphere. With my points, I actually paid less for this than I would have if I’d bought one blush at full price.
Before I get started on the actual product, I feel like I need to take a moment here to address the controversy that has surrounded this palette. There has been some negativity towards NARS for this collaboration, due to the controversial nature of Guy Bourdin’s work. For those of you unfamilliar with Guy Bourdin, he was a french fashion photographer who has long been criticized for the portrayal of dead women in his images, and a suggested ‘glamourisation’ of violence towards women. Whilst obviously this is something I am very uncomfortable with, NARS have chosen to collaborate because as an artist he was a great source of inspiration for Francois Nars. A lot of people have chosen to abstain from buying or reviewing products from this collection because of the nature of Bourdin’s work. Whilst I respect that decision, and understand it completely, I decided to purchase this palette because of the product inside, and I decided to remove all thoughts of Bourdin from that decision, and I hope that you can respect that decision too.
So this contains six shades, one highlighter, a bronzer and four blushes. The highlighting shade is called Devotee, and I believe it’s a new shade for this palette. It’s a pretty frosty highlight so you only need the tiniest amount, but it’s super flattering and I can’t imagine a skin tone it won’t suit! This is fairly similar to Kevin Aucoin Candlelight highlight.
Next up is Mistinguette which is also new. This is a bright, blue toned, Barbie pink blush, which looks downright terrifying in the pan. You only need the tiniest amount of this on the brush, but it really perks up the cheeks and is nowhere near as scary once it’s on and blended! I’ll be reaching for this on mornings when I’m super tired to add some life into my cheeks! It’s the only matte blush in the palette, and it’s fairly similar to MAC Well Dressed, but also NARS Gaiety.
NARS never seem to make a blush palette without including Orgasm, and this is no exception. Arguably NARS’ most notorious product, this is a peachy, corally pink blush with golden shimmer running through. It’s incredibly flattering on the cheek, it warms up the complexion and adds a lot of glow. Sleek’s Rose Gold blush is similar, but I find that Rose Gold can be hard to wear, whereas this is so easy.
Laguna bronzer made the cut too, which I’m glad about since it’s the best bronzer from NARS for my complexion, but I do already own the full size of this. In terms of travelling though, it’s great since it means I don’t have to take my full size with me. Laguna is my favourite bronzer, it’s a light brown with a hint of shimmer, but it still works as a contour or an all over colour-giver. It has yellow undertones, but it doesn’t look orange or muddy on the cheeks.
Deep Throat is another of NARS’ more famous blush products, this is in the same vein as Orgasm, but lighter. This also has a light golden shimmer running through it, but it’s nothing heavy. This is kind of the daytime version of Orgasm. It’s very natural looking on the cheeks.
Last but not least, Goulue, which is the darkest blush in the palette. It’s a berry toned pink perfect for autumn, and it looks great with a dark lip. There is a slight sheen to this but it doesn’t transfer to the cheeks.
In terms of formula, it’s infallible. All these colours are intensely pigmented and last all day easily, they really reflect the quality you would expect for the individual prices.
Full size Laguna retails for £26, Blushes and highlights are £21.50, and the palette is £45, so although the individual colours in the palette are 2/3 of the full size, you’re still saving a heck of a lot of money.
This palette is the ultimate travel palette, you wouldn’t need to pack anything else! Like all NARS palettes it’s slim and lightweight, and very compact so it won’t take up much room either. I also adore the massive mirror inside, I’ve been reaching for it all week, for eye makeup to plucking my brows!
What do you think of the One Night Stand Palette?
P.S. If you want to see photos of these blushes on, I’ll be doing a What’s on my face with this palette soon!