Okay, this blog’s a family show and all, but c’mon! You can’t expect me not to enjoy the perverted wordplay possibilities afforded by the new NARS Foreplay Cheek Palette ($49).
Fore-play? Four blushes, one of them a big ol’ pan of Orgasm? Oh, François, you so crazy! 🙂
As a fellow diner at le buffet de beaute, you’re probably well aware of NARS Orgasm blush’s wonderful reputation. Makeup lovers have been lavishing praise upon it for years, calling it a universally flattering peachy golden pink that looks great on just about everyone.
I wear it, love it and reach for it often in the NARS Orgasm/Laguna Duo, which I never leave home without.
Seriously. I don’t think I’ve taken a trip without it once over the past three years.
Recognizing the product’s popularity, NARS decided to make Orgasm the main dish in Foreplay, a new limited edition cheek palette available exclusively at Sephora.
The palette serves up a big pan of Orgasm and three tasty sides — a matte rosy peach that reminds me of a sheerer NARS Amour, a matte hot pink that resembles a sleepy Mata Hari, and a shimmery golden yellow highlighter which, hello! — has glitter for days (starts off on my cheeks, ends up on my chin, weird!).
There’s been some rumbling about the blushes in Foreplay being different than their namesakes in the NARS permanent line, and I have to agree. The Foreplay Orgasm (did I really just type that?), for instance, sure looks more glittery than its permanent collection counterpart does to me, and the golden pearl glitter bits look larger, too, as do the grains within the powder itself.
Heck, I can see the blush sitting on my skin, which is something I’ve never noticed with my older pan of the big O. The overall effect seems more intense and less natural than the effect I get with the Orgasm in the Orgasm/Laguna Duo.
Same goes for the glitter bits in the shimmery golden highlighter. They’re big, and they have a tendency to wander.
I’m definitely diggin’ both of the mattes, though, which remind me of Amour and Mata Hari, two of my favorite NARS blushes of all time.
Wearing the matte pink shade
Orgasm Blush
Wearing the rosy peach matte shade
Really, I love the idea here, the idea of getting a bunch of different NARS blushes in a single palette, but given a choice between two full-size pans of NARS permanent collection blush for $56 (they’re $28 each) and the Foreplay palette’s four blushes for $49, hmm… That’s a tough one, but I’d probably go with the former.
Not that I think these blushes are bad at all. On the contrary — I like the colors, level of pigment and all-day wear time, but I feel like there’s something a little off about the textures, at least compared to what I’ve come to expect from NARS.
PRICE: $49
AVAILABILITY: Available now at Sephora stores and online at sephora.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: B
Dear Photograph…
Found my new favorite corner of the Interwebz. 🙂 It’s called Dear Photograph. It’s a site where people share present-day pictures that they’ve taken of important places from their past.
Some of them are very touching. Each pic has a little story that explains what the shot means. Warning: You may want to stay away if you’re PMS-ing… Just saying.
In other news, I hope you had a good Tuesday. I’ll see you again at the top of the hump!
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Sara says
July 17th, 2012 at 10:07 pmKaren! What are you wearing on your eyes and lips? You look great!:)
S. says
July 18th, 2012 at 3:17 amI was about to ask the same thing!
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Jane says
July 18th, 2012 at 7:56 amNo kidding! That red is beautiful on you!
Jacy says
July 17th, 2012 at 10:10 pmI’d like to know about your eyes and lips too!
Becca @ The Beauty Sample says
July 17th, 2012 at 10:40 pmI love how the rosy peach matte shade looks in the pan and on your cheeks (the matte pink also looks INCREDIBLE on you!)–but I completely agree and would rather buy 2 full sizes blushes than this palette. Especially since I was not taken with Orgasm unlike many others…I found it to be a little too shimmery for my liking–it also wasn’t as peachy as I had hoped. I gave it away to my sister shortly after purchasing. Sometimes my dumb beauty-addicted brain tells me that maybe i made a mistake and should repurchase it, since everyone and their mother seems to love it so much–but I have stayed strong…so far. 😛
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Lulle says
July 17th, 2012 at 11:25 pmI really love how it looks in the pan, so pretty! But I owned Orgasm, and gave it away because I wasn’t really into it… It just looked “blah” on me. I think I’m one of the few people who didn’t really like it.
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Rachel says
July 17th, 2012 at 11:36 pmI liked the concept over all but I was hoping for orgasm to be without shimmer so we can control how much shimmer we want. Glitter running around my face is a no no since I have very oily skin. This is a no buy for me. 🙁
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Marina says
July 18th, 2012 at 1:22 amI really love how you look on the photo ‘Wearing the matte pink shade’, looks great on you!
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Catanya says
July 18th, 2012 at 1:33 amI love NARS Palettes! Even yhough I already wn more NArs blushes I can possibly use inmy life! And now this one is calling my name!
THe fact it is so glittery puts me off a little but I think the matte ones are worthy.
Do you consider the shades are unique?
Kiss & Make-up says
July 18th, 2012 at 1:54 amWhat great names, I love it 🙂 The colors look great, too. Definitely my colors. I think it’s easy to go overboard with these though.
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Ava Roxanne says
July 18th, 2012 at 4:19 amWow I love Nars! I go that set they had at Sephora at Christmas that sold out! This one looks much better since it is smaller and easier to handle.
Wow I just had a thought! What is they had a Nars Spa? Maybe one here will make you dream of spas too! Take a look at http://www.SpaTravelGal.com if you are a spa gal too!
Chat soon!
Ava Roxanne
artemis says
July 18th, 2012 at 4:58 amhehe, i like the names too 😀 maybe i’ll buy some someday, lol, but i wouldn’t buy this one if i had money :/ it’s a turn off that it has an off texture.
when you said francois, i immediately thought of the actor that plays cesare borgia in the tv series ‘the borgias'(hehe) and wondered if you watch it. it airs on my HBO but i guess it’s aired in the US one too(or another channel) 😀
http://www.tvequals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/The-Borgias-Stray-Dogs-Season-2-Episode-4-14.jpg
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4i18z12Vc1rvztypo2_1280.jpg
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3rh2x94IM1qb7o0vo1_r1_500.gif
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m3rh2x94IM1qb7o0vo2_500.gif
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m432x7jqkx1rovxbno1_500.png
tehe, those legs. i love tall guys with long legs
Nina says
July 18th, 2012 at 5:58 amTuesday was slightly better… not buy much though but im trying to move on. Trying being the operative word.
I havent caved on this palette but a friend who has a Nordstrom card helped me buy the Joie de Vivre palette – now that one is awesome. The blushes are slightly smaller but the selection cannot be beat!
Tiffany C. says
July 18th, 2012 at 6:47 amWOW Karen! Orgasm looks great on you! I think i’m a shade lighter than you (NC30) and it did nothing for me when i had it, but i might try it again since i have the Joie de Vivre palette.
Kim says
July 18th, 2012 at 7:45 amI am so glad you reviewed this because I was looking at it yesterday and it was yet another option for blush and then I got itchy. 🙂 I’m taking it off my list now.
That sounds like an awesome site. I love old pictures. I know people are really excited about Pinterest right now but it’s definitely not up my alley. OK, Dear Photograph is fantastic – I just checked out the first few photos and I love it. Thanks for passing it on!
Stephanie R says
July 18th, 2012 at 7:48 amKaren, have you checked out the Nars blush palette that’s currently available as a presale at Nordstrom yet? Six pans and has Laguna, Orgasm, Luster, Gaiety, Albatross and Angelika for $65. I got it last Thursday during a presale appointment and I’m definitely liking it, although I’ve found I really need to use a fan brush to pick up pigment. My regular blush brushes pick up TOO much otherwise.
Alison says
July 18th, 2012 at 7:48 amI love the rose peach on you! And your earrings.
Liz says
July 18th, 2012 at 8:06 amI’ve tried Orgasm and love it…I’ll have to check this one out. You are so lucky that all of the shades look great on your skin tone!
Yelena says
July 18th, 2012 at 8:07 amKaren, this was my bday gift to myself lol. I love it! I haven’t used the orgasm becuz i like matte blushes and the highlighter was used on my eyes rather than my cheeks and I loved it!
For me this is a keeper, now if only all th colors were matte!
Agata says
July 18th, 2012 at 8:36 amWhat are you wearing on your eyes Karen? You look fabulous! I am so tempted to buy that palette but I have so many blushes…not a single Nars blush though. I know, it’s a shame!
musical says
July 18th, 2012 at 8:39 amLove the idea of this palette-but i am not feeling the extra shimmer. I think if i buy Orgasm powder blush, it will be with the Laguna bronzer.
Also, to echo others: deconstruct the lovely eye-look, please :).
Katherine G says
July 18th, 2012 at 9:15 amThe palette looks interesting, but I think Orgasm has enough shimmer without having to add anything to it! I like Orgasm in the Multiple cream stick – if you layer Bare Minerals Mineral Veil over top (which I do as a finishing powder – it’s SPF 25), it cuts down on some of the shimmer and makes Orgasm a little more matte. All of the blushes look great on you 🙂
Marian says
July 18th, 2012 at 9:24 amWhy does NARS always put Orgasm in every palette? Doesn’t everyone have this by now? Thanks for the Dear Photograph site. Looks like one I’ll really enjoy!
Trina J says
July 18th, 2012 at 11:50 amSeriously, I can’t wait to get my hands on this “blusher” palette! Very pretty…maybe I can keep this one in my makeup bag instead of my kit LOL
Phyrra says
July 18th, 2012 at 12:23 pmI think the idea of the palette is great, but it’s disappointing to hear the texture is different!
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Tina B says
July 18th, 2012 at 1:17 pmLove the shimmery highlighter shade even if it does have big bits of glitter, I LOVE GLITTER 🙂
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Ava says
July 18th, 2012 at 1:44 pmI definitely agree with your review! I just got it in the mail yesterday and it just seems so blah and I do feel guilty spending about $50 on something like this. I would rather get the laguna-orgasm bronzer. I wish the palette was a bit bigger but the three other shades look like eyeshadow sizes :/ the mattes are beautiful but the peach reminds me of a mix of gilda and amour and the pink reminds me of a mix of mata hari and desire. I already own mata hari and gilda so it feels like a waste getting this. Now if they can just do a palette with the other colors: deep throat, taj mahal, lovejoy, torrid…c’mon NARS!
Swatch And Learn says
July 18th, 2012 at 5:26 pmHaha – as usual, your blog title is very witty, Karen. 🙂
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Michelle says
July 18th, 2012 at 5:38 pmI already have Desire, Amour and Albatross, I don’t really care for Orgasms (gosh! that sounded awkward!)… they just don’t show up on my dark skin.
I think its a great palette especially for someone who doesn’t have a lot of other very similar Nars blushes.
It really is nice and compact too
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Gwen @ Makeup Toys says
July 18th, 2012 at 10:44 pmLove the Nars Cheek Palette!!! So pretty!!!
Ankita@corallista says
July 18th, 2012 at 11:46 pmAll the 3 shades look absolutely stunning on you! I
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Clare @ The Blossom Shed says
July 19th, 2012 at 9:18 amThis is pretty adorable – but you’re definitely right about the Orgasm shade (never thought I’d type that phrase) – I have the NARS trio with blush/bronzer/highlighter, and the color is much more golden/shimmery than in the fullsized. Still looks lovely though, so I don’t mind:)
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millie says
July 19th, 2012 at 6:19 pmgosh i love nars but i’m hook with mac now..i’ll try it soon..
and oh i will just share this site saversclub.us for you get discounts.
Nicole says
July 26th, 2012 at 1:56 pmWOW you look very pretty in this make-up! What color is your lipstick?