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NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blush Makes Me Want to Twist and Shout

March 10th, 2011 by Karen 40 Comments

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blush
NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blush in English Rose

Ah, to be a bored teen without wheels in the Easy Bay suburbs circa 1992 again… When you live in a town where the most exciting thing to do is get an ice cream cone at Thrifty’s, you figure out ways to amuse yourself.

On Friday nights my friends and I loved to watch The Grind on MTV. Remember that dance show? We’d crank up the volume and electric slide around the living room as the show’s host, Eric Nies, who was almost always shirtless for some reason, introduced the hits.

It wasn’t the most exciting way to start the weekend, but it was either that or ice cream at Thrifty’s…

We sure could have used something like these new NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blushes ($16.50 each; available in eight shades) back then. Dang if these things wouldn’t have kept us busy.

New for spring, they have a cheese grater-like contraption similar to the one Smashbox uses with their Halo powders. By turning the rim of the jar, the grater shaves off a small amount of blush into the pan.

NYX sangria in madrid
Sangria in Madrid

nyx hd grinding blush english rose
English Rose

nyx hd grinding blush menage a trois
Menage a Trois

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blushes w phone

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blushes

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blush box

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blush box

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blushes ingredients

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blush swatches
Swatches from left: Menage a Trois, English Rose and Sangria in Madrid

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blush
NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blush in Menage a Trois

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blush
NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blush Sangria in Madrid; Additional makeup worn in this by NYX: Nude on Nude Palette, NYX Eyebrow Push-Up Bra Pencil and Doll Eye Mascara on eyes; Soft Matte Lip Creme in Milan on lips

I don’t mind having to use a little elbow grease in the name of beauty, but I cannot seem to find the sweet spot with these blushes. With all three of the ones I tried, I ended up dispensing more product than I needed, every single time.

And re-sealing the jar with any excess inside doesn’t rectify the situation. The extra product floating around in there gets up all over the place, on the counter, the floor, my favorite pair of Pajama Jeans, etc.

I’ve spent a LOT of time this week cleaning up after this blush, and I’m kinda cranky about it…

But apart from my packaging woes, I actually like this blush. I like how pigmented it is, that it’s easy to blend, and that it manages to last the entire day. I also like how good it looks in photographs and that it doesn’t look heavy on my skin.

NOTE: They also get the Tabs Stamp of Approval for being cruelty-free.

It’s a big improvement in terms of texture and wear time over NYX’s $6 powder blushes, which are also pretty good, but these are considerably more expensive.

Sure, $16.50 isn’t expensive compared to a $40 Chanel blush, but it’s not inexpensive for drugstore either. Price is usually one of NYX’s strong points, and it feels like they may have drifted away from that here.

Overall, I still think the NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blushes are good, but gimme simpler packaging (please hold the bells and whistles!). If NYX can find a way to get the same formula into a basic blush pan and reduce the price…WOOT! I’d hoard all eight colors!

PRICE: $16.50 each
AVAILABILITY: Available now at select drugstores, Ulta and also online
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B

Speaking of the ’90s

Remember this song? Groove *is* in the heart. 🙂

Onward to Friday!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

NYX HD Studio Photogenic Grinding Blush Makes Me Want to Twist and Shout / Originally published March 10th, 2011

There are 40 comments on this post. Leave yours.

Categories: Drugstore Beauty Finds, Makeup, Product Reviews Keywords: nyx

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amber says

    March 10th, 2011 at 8:55 pm

    Did you really get some Pajama Jeans? 😀

    Reply
  2. Instant Karma (formerly L) says

    March 10th, 2011 at 9:06 pm

    Aw, man, I had been wanting to check these out because I’m a sucker for new blush! I’m a real klutz, and I don’t want to get blush all over the place, lol.

    Tigger is howling right now. He has a special howl for when he’s playing with his “pet” at night. He has a little stuffed gerbil that he’s spent years moving around all over the place, but I’d never actually seen it with him. Then one day, I heard the howl, and looked up to see him with the toy in his mouth. He loves it! He’ll bat it around, but what he really likes doing is carrying it around with him everywhere like a little kid with a security blanket. If you give it to him while he’s sleeping, he’ll tuck it under his chin or hold it up to his chest. 😀

    Reply
  3. BeautyMaven says

    March 10th, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    omg i love the packaging!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    BeautyMaven recently posted … No worries!!

    Reply
  4. Vijaya says

    March 10th, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    I really want to try this. It’s a bit expensive for a nyx product, though.
    Vijaya recently posted … Zapzyt Pore Treatment Gel

    Reply
  5. Suzanne says

    March 10th, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    i was waiting and hoping for your assessment of these. Menage a trois actually looks like it might be pale enough for pasty celtic blushophobes like myself. Speeeend!!
    Suzanne recently posted … Haus of Gloi – Valentines Day 2011 limited edition

    Reply
  6. Antonia at Swedish Love Affair says

    March 10th, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    The Sangria one looks fabulous on you! Also, your posts just make me want to run and buy a macro lens, right away!..

    Reply
  7. Rae says

    March 10th, 2011 at 9:58 pm

    Eeee! Okay, so I’m not loving the price & (like you,) would probably prefer simpler packaging, but these look *super* cute! Absolutely loving the look of English Rose, of course 😉

    Reply
  8. dani@callitbeauty says

    March 10th, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    english rose looks like quite a bluey pink swatched, but it looks warmer on your cheeks. it’s LOVELY 🙂

    and i think like a lot of people, i was shocked at the price. $16.50 for a drugstore blush? Uhhh…
    dani@callitbeauty recently posted … Collection Spotlight- Jason Wu – Resort 2011

    Reply
  9. Angela says

    March 10th, 2011 at 10:38 pm

    Love the novelty of the packaging and love the colours (though English Rose is a little too cool for me). Not sure how I feel about having to constantly clean up after this blush–for the pricetag I would expect packaging is that mess-free.
    Angela recently posted … eucerin calming creme experiment

    Reply
  10. The Angel says

    March 10th, 2011 at 10:47 pm

    i really like the idea. But what is the use if you cannot grind just enough

    Reply
  11. Kimmi says

    March 10th, 2011 at 11:18 pm

    Despite the negatives you mentioned I still think I really want these. The packaging problems sound pretty nasty but I seem to get blush everywhere even when it is a solid, so I think I could look past it. Decisions, decisions.

    Reply
  12. Nicole says

    March 11th, 2011 at 12:36 am

    I like the English Rose color BUT I don’t think I can feel good about paying $16 for a drugstore blush.

    Reply
  13. Kate Williamson says

    March 11th, 2011 at 1:36 am

    The price is a little steep for a drugstore blush, but they DO look beautiful on you. I am especially liking English Rose. “Pink Blushes, I just can’t quit you!” I so remember Thrifty’s ice cream. I wonder if they still have it, or Thrifty’s for that matter. Thrifty’s ice cream always reminds me of visiting my cousins in Foster City. There was one nearby and we would ride our bikes over the bridge to get some 50 cents ice cream from there. I loved that weird ice cream scoop contraption that they had. It made the ice cream come out in this cylindrical shape that was so fun to eat. Thanks…I haven’t thought about that in a long time.

    Reply
    • Brian McD aka Roulette says

      March 11th, 2011 at 1:01 pm

      The place right next to my work sells Thrifty Ice Cream in cones and they use that funny scoop thingy too.. 🙂

      Reply
      • Karen says

        March 11th, 2011 at 2:40 pm

        I totally forgot about that weird scoop thingy!

        What I’d give for a big scoop of Thrifty’s pistachio right now, yum!

        Reply
  14. gio says

    March 11th, 2011 at 1:49 am

    Sangria looks beautiful! But the price is steep for a drugstore blush specially considering the packaging problems… I’m not keen on having to clean up every time I apply blush…

    Reply
  15. Tiffany says

    March 11th, 2011 at 2:23 am

    These look so great on you that I might have to look past the drawbacks and try one anyway!

    Reply
  16. kalcedon says

    March 11th, 2011 at 4:15 am

    I love Sangria in Madrid, Apricot, Georgia Peach and Meneg a Trois! <3

    Reply
  17. Marie says

    March 11th, 2011 at 4:15 am

    Ha yes! That’s supposed to be Ménage à trois, but accents aren’t supported by the font they used.

    Reply
  18. Kim says

    March 11th, 2011 at 4:36 am

    We make one of my best friends do the Groove is in the Heart dance all the time. Love it! Wow, The Grind. That is definitely a great blast from the past. I’m sure younger readers are like “MTV had music?”. 🙂

    I think the NYX package is cool (especially the outer carton, where a picture is worth 1000 words), but I can see how you’d always be grinding too much. I feel like my pencil-liner sharpener is a pain, so this is totally not for me.

    PS You’re kidding about the Pajama Jeans, aren’t you? If not, I’m waiting for the full review!! 🙂

    Reply
  19. Fieran says

    March 11th, 2011 at 5:39 am

    I really, really, want Sangria in Madrid – the colour and the name are both getting to me. I picked up MAC’s Fever blush yesterday. Holy pigment, batman. Just one swipe and I have a red splotch on my cheek. Spent more time sheering it out than applying the product. But I cannot complain. It does make me look alive and happy 🙂

    These blushes look really good on you. I’ve never used any of these grinding products before so I might have to pick one up just for the experience 🙂
    Fieran recently posted … Shall We Go To Venice- Madam

    Reply
  20. Susan says

    March 11th, 2011 at 6:57 am

    Karen, this is completely off topic, but watching the news this morning and praying for safety for your family in Hawaii, as well as you and your family in California. Hugs and love from Indiana!

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 11th, 2011 at 7:50 am

      Hi Susan,

      Thank you. We got a few phone calls early this morning; our fam is okay. A few people had to be evacuated but otherwise everyone is okay.

      Reply
  21. Nina says

    March 11th, 2011 at 7:14 am

    its a smart and nifty concept but i was worried about the excess blush and what it would do. the OCD in me cannot stand product on my counters/vanity/any other stuff.

    i hope everyone in your family stays safe, Karen. 🙂

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 11th, 2011 at 7:51 am

      Thank you, Nina. We got word early this morning — everyone’s fine. 🙂

      Reply
      • Nina says

        March 11th, 2011 at 8:57 am

        that is good to hear. 🙂

        Reply
  22. Lilly says

    March 11th, 2011 at 8:12 am

    No way im spending $15 on a drugstore blush. Might as well buy MUF HD blush cream.

    Reply
  23. Stef says

    March 11th, 2011 at 8:58 am

    Oh, I’m sad these weren’t all you (or I) were hoping for. I so excited at the thought of hand grinding my blush every morning. It sounds like something my Grandmom would have said “In my day, we had to grind our own blush, and WE LIKED IT!”

    Reply
  24. Mandy says

    March 11th, 2011 at 9:19 am

    Totally depressing that they are $16.50!! …

    …at that price I might as well just shell out a couple extra bucks and get my favorite NARS blush (in “Amour”), especially since I know NARS blushers are triple-milled, with fabulous pigmentation and — most convenient of all? — no mess to worry about.

    Reply
  25. Kim says

    March 11th, 2011 at 9:55 am

    I felt the exact same way! I have the blushes in 3 colors and I love everything about them, except the packaging and price! If I could, I would rip off the grinder!

    Reply
  26. Erika says

    March 11th, 2011 at 10:11 am

    What makes grinding your blush fresh any better?

    Also- Where in Novato do you go to get all the NYX stuff I cant find any in Rohnert Park, ack!

    Also where in the East bay did you grow up?!

    Reply
  27. Sarah says

    March 11th, 2011 at 11:29 am

    You take the best pictures of products!

    I love the Menage a Trois Blush! Very pretty.
    Sarah recently posted … Perfume Review- Rihanna Rebl Fleur Eau de Parfum Spray

    Reply
  28. Cassie says

    March 11th, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    Menage a trois looks sooo pretty! The shimmer’s gorgeous!

    I’m rather shocked at the price though. Like you said, Nyx normally is fantastic on pricing, so I’m really hoping they’ve jacked the RRP up simply because it’s a new fangled product. I’m not looking forward to paying an arm and a leg to fund a Nyx addiction over the pond here!
    Cassie recently posted … My mini haul- Mac and the 7 magazines

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 11th, 2011 at 2:42 pm

      I really hope that they find some way to pop this blush into a regular blush pan. It’s actually really great, but the packaging’s a pain.

      Reply
  29. Paige says

    March 11th, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    This cheese grater-liked container is nothing new. YSL already has this kind of device for their ‘semi-loose’ powder. The purpose of it is to make carrying loose powder on-the-go more easier. But for blushes, does it really make a difference using a grinded version vs. the solid version?

    Reply
    • Karen says

      March 11th, 2011 at 2:39 pm

      Nope, it isn’t. Both Smashbox and Elizabeth Arden have powders with similar contraptions.

      I don’t really see a significant difference in terms of blush effectiveness in this product.

      Reply
  30. Elizabeth says

    March 11th, 2011 at 8:32 pm

    Have you tried the HD Grinding Powder? I wanted to get Smashbox Halo, but the NYX powder looks similar for over half the price. Just wondering how they compare to each other…

    Reply
  31. Ana says

    March 13th, 2011 at 10:52 pm

    I am waiting for my Ulta to carry more of the new HD line! So far I’ve only seen the lash/brow growth serums and a couple other things but not the things I really want! Definitely hoping Ulta will carry these blushes and the new NYX HD foundation. Karen, do you know of any drugstores/Ulta stores in the Bay Area that carry them already?

    Reply
  32. bethbr00tality says

    March 27th, 2011 at 11:23 pm

    I just wanted to post & tell you that I was having a really hard time choosing between Menage A Trois and Sangria in Madrid and this post really, really helped. =] Thank you so much!!

    Reply
  33. Hazel says

    April 29th, 2013 at 9:11 pm

    I bought this as soon as it came out in 2011. I’ve hit pan last year, December 2012. Availability here in my locale is unfortunately poor. Online sellers who buy things from NYX, Urban Decay, Tarte, Sephora, etc. and resell it here don’t have it… So I’m going to have to suck it in and buy one from eBay, though the waiting time is going to be torture. (The ones in Sangria, Menage a Trois, and Apricot took over a month to arrive as the Philippine Postal Service is quite slow.) Anyway, I will still do it. This blush is my HG blush. I know longevity isn’t anything special but it’s the only blush I’ve owned you can’t go overboard with and produces a natural, soft flush on my skin. All others look powdery, sitting on the top of my skin, or just too bright and flashy.

    In the meantime, I purchased the Tarte Amazonian Blush in Dollface, hoping it’s a good substitute blush.

    Need to buy two of Georgia Peach as my mom loves it as well.

    Reply

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Welcome to Makeup and Beauty Blog
Hi there! I’m Karen, your friendly neighborhood beauty addict, and I’m a Bay Area girl who hoards brown eyeshadow and covets coral lipstick. Every morning, I wake up and say, “I’m going to do something other than a smoky eye today.” Then…I end up doing a smoky eye anyway (most days). When I’m not putting on makeup, taking pictures of makeup or writing about makeup, which I’ve been doing daily since 2007 (!), you’ll find me hanging out with my hubby (“El Hub”), my four-year-old daughter (Connor Claire) and my torbie girl cat (Pretty Girl Rosie, a.k.a. PGR).

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