Let’s Review: NARS Orgasm on the Beach Cheek Palette

Charlotte Tilbury has Pillow Talk, Pat Mcgrath has Divine Rose and NARS has their Orgasm line. Perhaps to many it may seem redundant and outdated, but I have always adored the NARS blushes, and Orgasm was one of the very first high end blushes I tried back in the day.

As many blushes come and go, and as many favorites I may go through, the Orgasm blush seems to be a reliable constant for me. Apart from it’s peachy pink luminous shade, perhaps there’s a sentimental factor to it also. NARS’ 2021 release of it’s Orgasm collection definitely caught my eye and was love at first sight.

I already have the Orgasm blush single, and I passed on the jumbo sized release in gorgeous pink packaging and went for the cheek palette with equally gorgeous packaging and even more beautiful shade selections inside. This post will focus on the review, swatches and try-on for that palette aptly called for the Summer: Orgasm on the Beach.

What Is It

It is a cheek palette with six shades that are all inspired by the original peachy-pink Orgasm shade. It was designed to deliver the look of sunkissed skin that’s warmed by the sun and has a more innovative powder base with translucent micro-spheres that suspend pure pigments. Think of a baked gelée kind of feel. It claims to achieve maximum colour clarity and have a lightweight texture that builds and blends effortlessly on all skin tones.

Shades & Swatches

The six shades are:

• Turtle Bay – shimmering peach champagne

• Naples – metallic rose gold

• Mandalay – satin caramel bronze

• Montezuma – shimmering golden peach

• Orgasm – peachy pink with golden shimmer

• Zuma – satin rouge

They all have a very smooth and silky texture, quite different from their single blushes. They have a good amount of pigment where it’s not light or sheer, but also not overly empowering so you are able to have a nice level of control as you apply it. A layer provides radiant blushing cheeks already, but it can absolutely be built up to intensify the color.

I can definitely see that these are able to suit a range of skin tones as well going from fair to deep. These shades also have the flexibility to work on the eyes as well as cheeks so if you find that some shades are too bright or too soft, they can multi task as a shadow, luminous bronzer or highlighter.

Personally for my light skin tone with yellow undertones, I like to use all shades as a shadow, and then the shade Turtle Bay and Naples as a highlighter, Mandalay as a bronzey blush and the rest as a blush combo either alone or together. I have to have a very light hand working with Zuma as it is quite bright for my skintone.

Formula & Finish

In addition to the stunning shade range, I really appreciate this kind of gel-baked texture. It’s not too powdery and it gives a really beautiful, flattering sheen rather than a glittery, shimmery finish. It looks smooth on the skin and it long wearing as well.

On areas where there is texture, it may emphasize it slightly due to it’s glowy nature, however it doesn’t crease (when worn on the lids) nor does it look heavy even though different shades are layered and combined.

It works best over a base that’s been set with powder and doesn’t drag when applied. I find using a denser stiffer brush to be better to pick up pigment and then blending it onto the skin.

Everytime I reach for the palette I feel so inspired with it and playing around with combinations that I don’t feel the need to use other products. So even though it’s on the pinkier, warmer side, it works very well as a versatile face palette as well, for a glowy blushy look.

Try-On

Here I am wearing all shades from the Nars Orgasm on the Cheek Palettes.

Final Thoughts

I must say that I think this is my favourite Orgasm collection launch in quite some time. It’s one I feel that the shades are distinct enough from one another to make a difference, with a far superior formula that those from previous years.

Even with the Orgasm shade, the peach pink with golden shimmer shift is more “true” and lively because of the baked formula, and so it falls much nicer on the skin. It’s made me love the idea of wearing just blush on my cheeks and forgoing bronzer, which is something I wouldn’t have thought of doing before.

It is limited edition, so if you’re interested in it, I suggest picking one up soon. I do find unlike other brands’ limited edition pieces, when the NARS ones run out, they do become harder to find.

If you love blushing glowy cheeks, and vibrant summery colors, this is one to consider. It gets a 10/10 from me.

Shop Nars Orgasm Products I Love

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