Review & Swatches: NARS Blush in “Mata Hari”

NARS Blush in Mata Hari

Availability: Sephora, NARS
Price: $26.00

Company’s Description

NARS Blush offers a range of translucent, natural shades, each with a subtle pink for natural blush undertone, created to highlight the complexion. Designed to be worn alone or layered together for more depth, NARS Blush provides a healthy glow to flatter any skintone.

This review is for NARS’ Mata Hari blush, which the company describes as a rose petal pink.

Packaging: 9/10

The NARS Blush packaging is made of NARS’ classic rubberized black plastic and has a lid with a mirror inside that snaps shut. The outside of the packaging is a magnet for powder products, which makes it difficult to keep clean.

Quality: 8.5/10

Mata Hari is a bright, but slightly dusty rose pink with a very matte finish. If you have problems with dry skin, this matte blush’s finish may not be the best choice for you.

This blush has good pigmentation and color payoff. The formula is a little dry, making the powder fairly stiff. The blush still blends over the skin decently well–it imparts some unevenness that needs to be blended out and layered over. So while it’s not as seamless or smooth as I’d prefer, it’s not particularly difficult to work with.

I had no problems with the blush retaining its color throughout the day and don’t see any fading even after 8 hours of wear.

Ease of Use: 8.5/10

This blush transfers onto the skin easily, though it does apply with a bit of unevenness. I find that I have to go back and add more color on the highest planes of my cheeks, where the blush doesn’t seem to apply as strongly. The formula doesn’t blend out as effortlessly as some softer powders, but is certainly workable with a little buffing.

Price: 9.2510

For $28.00 you get 0.16 ounces (4.8 grams) of blush. You actually get more blush for the price compared to Make Up For Ever and Bobbi Brown blushes.

Final Grade