NARS Taos Blush ($27) belongs to an elite battalion of blushes in my beauty brigade called the One Swipers, a group of blushes able to deliver all-day color from a single swipe across the pan.
What makes it special?
These One Swipers pack a lot of pigment, so a little goes a long way — which is great when they’re as expensive as a NARS blush. Taos, here, should last until forever, or at least until Bella and Edward break up (whichever comes first).
A platoon leader in the NARS permanent collection, Taos is one of those vibrant colors that I always notice when I walk by an open pan. A bright rosy red with golden shimmer and a wisp of coral, it’s like NARS Torrid’s darker red doppelganger.
I’ll wear it year-round, typically with neutral eyes and lips, but I find myself reaching for it more often around the holidays because of how much I like the way it looks with red lips.
When darker divas ask for blush recommendations, Taos is one of the first blushes that comes to mind, and I think it looks fan-freakin’-tastic on dark complexions, on both warm- and cool-toned babes.
Considerations
Being so heavily pigmented can also make Taos a little tricky to apply. One too many sweeps from my favorite fan or skunk brushes, and Taos can take cheeks from having a rosy flush to looking like the cheeks of a scary circus clown, so whenever I use it, I try to remember to “dilute, dilute, dilute” the color by grazing the brush across the back of my hand (or a tissue) first before bringing it to my cheeks.
Christmas came early!
Talk about epic collisions of awesomeness! It’s really happening! Christopher Meloni, the former Detective Elliot Stabler, has officially joined the cast of True Blood, and he’ll be a regular, too, playing an elder vamp who holds the fate of Bill and Eric in his well-muscled undead hands.
Christopher will always be Detective unStabler to me…but I think I can find some room in my heart for another handsome vamp. 🙂
I can’t wait! It’s a perfect pairing, like MAC Blacktrack and Lady Danger.
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Chris25 says
December 14th, 2011 at 5:29 pmI have Taos in my collection. I don’t know how I lived without it before I had it…crazy.
Karen says
December 14th, 2011 at 5:47 pmI know! It is one really special blush.
Do you have Torrid? That’s another good one.
Chris25 says
December 14th, 2011 at 5:56 pmTorrid is my fave NARS blush! If I didn’t own it… well, a riot wouldn’t be the word for what I’d create…. 😛
Karen says
December 14th, 2011 at 6:03 pmI know what you mean. I went through a spell where I thought I lost mine and I totally FREAKED OUT. Eventually I found it in El Hub’s car, of all places! 😀
It’s such a pretty summer shade… love it with corals, teals and golds, especially.
Kimberly says
December 14th, 2011 at 5:42 pmI’ve had my eye on Taos for months, I just haven’t bought it yet! I think it’s one of NARS’s prettiest blushes.
Karen says
December 14th, 2011 at 5:49 pmHi Kimberly,
It’s one of my NARS faves to date. I love how it looks so scary in the pan, but it looks so natural once you put it on cheeks.
What are your other NARS blush faves? I have a few, but right now I’m crushing on Taos and Madly.
Lauren Pavelka says
December 14th, 2011 at 5:55 pmThat is a gorgeous color on you!! My skin is far too light for it, but it’s amazing on your skin tone. 🙂 I hope you will check out my beauty blog and enter my holiday giveaway!!
Margaret says
December 14th, 2011 at 5:57 pmIt looks super pretty in the pan, and swatched as well. I think Taos will go on my never ending wishlist.
Let says
December 14th, 2011 at 5:57 pmTaos looks really pretty. I have swatched it in Sephora so many times, yet I haven’t bought it. Maybe I’ll buy it during next year’s Sephora F&F sale…
Karen says
December 14th, 2011 at 6:05 pmHi Let,
Oh, I hope you give it a try sometime soon on your cheeks! It’s a really beautiful shade.
Wanna know something funny? I already have a new Sephora F&F wish list going and it’s pretty darn long… LOL!
Let says
December 14th, 2011 at 7:51 pmLOL Karen that’s awesome! I already have some items on my shopping list too for next year’s F&F. They are mostly NARS stuff, thanks to your swatches lol 🙂
For now, I’ll just play with my only red blush, Illamasqua Panic, which I believe is brighter and so much more difficult to wear haha…
Karen says
December 14th, 2011 at 8:00 pmIt never hurts to be prepared. 🙂
That Illamasqua color is a good one! What’s your fave brush to apply it with?
Let says
December 14th, 2011 at 9:41 pmSince I don’t have any stippling or fan brush, I just use a random powder/blush brush that my mom got me a few years ago. The brush is a bit scratchy, but I could pick up just enough amount of pigment with it. 🙂
Karen says
December 14th, 2011 at 9:57 pmHey, if it works, why not, right? 🙂
Olfactory Obsessed says
December 14th, 2011 at 6:15 pmI have Taos. It’s great for brown gals like me!
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Karen says
December 14th, 2011 at 6:20 pmIt’s a great shade for women of color! What brush to you usually apply it with?
Mary says
December 14th, 2011 at 6:58 pmThat looks so great on you. This is def going to be my next purchase from NARS. What are you wearing on your lips?
Karen says
December 14th, 2011 at 7:22 pmThanks, Mary! I’m wearing the Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Cream in Cherry Flip. It’s coming out in Feb! I’ll have a review up in just a few. 🙂
Tiffany says
December 14th, 2011 at 7:34 pmTaos is one of my faves!
Julliah says
December 14th, 2011 at 7:41 pmI’m way to pale for this color, though it looks great on you!
Karen says
December 14th, 2011 at 7:54 pmHi Julliah,
Thanks! 🙂 Maybe try it just for fun one day? You’d definitely have to use a fan brush and a very, very light touch. You never know…
Do you wear NARS often? What are your fave blushes for pale gals?
Jackie says
December 15th, 2011 at 1:44 pmI’m blueish-white-pale and I wear ‘Orgasm’. It’s a bit ‘DING!’ but makes me look like I’ve been sleeping a lot and have just come back from Greece!
mn says
December 14th, 2011 at 7:41 pmNoticed this blush yesterday at Sephora and was thinking of getting it for my mom- thanks for the swatch.
On the off chance you or any other MAC fans read this- any comments on which MAC lip products don’t have that vanilla scent? I thought they all did until I ready one of your posts a few days ago. I am fond of pigmented lipglosses- any help woudl be appreciated.
Karen says
December 14th, 2011 at 7:58 pmYou’re welcome, MN. 🙂 Hmm, let me think about that…
Alex says
December 14th, 2011 at 8:03 pmSanta better bring this for my stocking! I love the color, any dupe suggestions?
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Y. says
December 15th, 2011 at 12:01 amlooks great on you karen! I have torrid instead;)
Marina says
December 15th, 2011 at 12:47 amThis blush is gorgeous and looks beautiful on you. I love using NARS blushes as eye shadows, too. And this one would make a great one. Reddish but wearable (for me at least).
I am waiting for Game Of Thrones mostly. but TB is welcomed, too 🙂
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DalaLuz says
December 15th, 2011 at 6:17 amI have several Sleek blushes that also look quite terrifying in the pan, but I do love them to bits, especially now that I have discovered the existence of fan brushes LOL For the moment NARS blushes are not within my price segment, but they sure look pretty!
Nina says
December 15th, 2011 at 6:31 ami didnt buy Taos because i own Torrid and they looked similar … but after reading this, i think it needs a second look!
shiny says
December 15th, 2011 at 6:44 amWhen you mentioned Detective *un*Stabler + True Blood, the blood rushed to my head and I almost swooned away (fans self). As it is, I can barely type this sentence :D.
Anyway, could you create a category for your NARS Unsung Heroes, the way there’s a dedicated category for MAC? Although, you’re probably doing this already.
Thanks for showing Taos – it looks divine!
Any chance of your comparing it to Tom Ford’s blushes?
Vonvon says
December 15th, 2011 at 3:30 pmTill I finish up some of the blushes in my stash…. This will have to wait, but nevertheless a very pretty Colour. Also….I don’t seem to be able to finish up a pan of blush even though I use it almost everyday for the last 2-3 months. It’s not a very pigmented blush. So I tend to swipe and swipe my blush several times….. Yet it still hasn’t hit pan!
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Dominique says
December 15th, 2011 at 4:37 pmI’m in search of a new blush and now I’ve added Taos to the list. I want Exhibit A as well. I think both colors are absolutely beautiful for women of color.
I can’t wait to see Stabler on True Blood, I miss him on Law & Order SVU, it’s not the same. 🙁
Karen B says
December 15th, 2011 at 11:06 pmI don’t have Taos, also because it would look SO strong on my super-pale skin. The effect on your skin does make me think of how Amour looks on me. Very pigmented and super-pretty.
Yelena says
December 16th, 2011 at 6:15 ami tried this on yesterday while at sephora and boy is this super pigmented! the girl did it first and i looked like a clown, then i cleaned it off and tried again with a gentle hand and what i got was a gorgeous flush of healthy color. wow. this is going to go on my wish list 🙂 absolutely gorgeous!
nlinton says
December 16th, 2011 at 9:29 amI have Taos and I love it. I wear it with Flair lipstick (reddish color) and it looks very polished. I’m a brown girl and it looks GREAT with my skin tone.
a beauty loft says
December 17th, 2011 at 6:39 pmGreat post! I only own 2 blushes from Nars–Torrid and Taos!