Monday, May 2, 2011

NARS Portrait of Paradise Blush Bronzer Trio

The new, limited-edition Blush Bronzer Trio ($55) from NARS is delightful in many ways. The three cheek shades are gorgeous, and the little zip-up case is handy for anyone who wants to take it along. The trio is part of the Portrait of Paradise Collection - radiant, tropical riches for eyes, lips, cheeks, and body.

Laguna Bronzing Powder, Orgasm Blush, and Albatross Highlighter complement each other beautifully. They will make you beautiful too. Laguna has become my go-to brown. The Laguna powder shade is in this compact. The Albatross Highlighter is a nice highlighter - there's not much product here in the small stripe, but you wouldn't want to apply much at any given time. The surprise to me in the compact is the Orgasm Blush. I would swear it's a different color from the "regular" shade.

I don't have easy access to my Orgasm Blush. It's packed away with almost everything that was in my bathroom before my surgery. I still haven't unpacked that makeup! I wanted to do a comparison the second I swatched the blush in this trio because I could swear this shade is pinker. You know that Orgasm Blush is a pinky-peach - or peachy-pink. The shade in this trio - my trio - is more pink, and it's an exquisite pink. I am in love with it.

The three shades are swatched on my arm at right and below. I applied all three with a sponge-tipped applicator and took my photos in full sun. You can see that Laguna is a nice brown - more golden than the new Laguna Multiple (in my humble opinion). The pretty highlighter is Albatross. At the top is the drop-dead gorgeous Orgasm Blush - if that's what it really is. What do you think? Am I crazy to think that this shade looks different?

I like this blush shade so much, I'm now motivated to dig out my regular one and compare. I knew I had to dig out eventually, but I've been lazy. Now, I need to figure it out to know whether I need to hoard this trio.

I bought mine online from NARS. You can also purchase this trio at Neiman Marcus. Nordstrom has it, so it's probably available at all NARS counters. Definitely check it out. Please let me know if you think I'm losing my eyesight.

Update 5/3 at 5:00 am: I awakened this morning to find a photo from beautiful reader Beth. It proves I am not crazy, which certainly makes me feel better about my eyesight and my memory. Beth had her regular compact and the new trio at the ready, and she sent me the photo below. Additionally, Eileen commented that the color was different, and I trust her eye completely. That's two trusty friends who were able to solve the riddle for me.

So, there you have it, and a photo from Beth - so considerate! Keep in mind that the shades in the compact do appear as shown in the photo at the top of this post. Beth may have taken her photo in the warm, artificial light inside her house at night. The pink "Orgasm" appears very orange in the photo below. Lighting will do that. Your eye should make the same adjustment for the regular Orgasm. Add color.


Photo at top courtesy of NARS; photo immediately above courtesy of the beautiful Beth

14 comments:

Beth said...

Hi, since you're always helping us out and taking such great pics, I got out my new trio and compared the 2 Orgasms. Even my DH (who now thinks I'm nuts!) said that they are 2 totally different colors! I emailed you a pic.

thanks again, I love reading your blog!
Beth

Heather Elyse said...

Oh wow! i love this! i have to have this! Im so mad i already have the three of them separately! Great Post!

Eileen said...

Well, Charlestongirl and Beth, I guess we're all nuts together :-) These are two different colors. When I was purchasing this, I told the SA that it looked like a prettier, pinker version of Orgasm. So, we compared it to the Orgasm tester, and you know what? It was a slightly different color--a bit pinker. I understand, though, that colors do morph a bit over the years and from formulation to formulation. There are now so many different incarnations of Orgasm that I'm sure there's going to be a bit of variation in color. No matter the name, though, it's a lovely, warm, summertime pink and I'm glad I picked this beauty up.

Joey said...

If the blush is a different color, then I HAVE to buy this. I remember griping to you on Twitter that I didn't want yet another Orgasm, but you may have just pooh-poohed my doubts! You are dangerous for my wallet!!!

Charlestongirl said...

Beth! That's fabulous! Thank you!!

I am so happy to awaken this morning and find this! It's so validating that I'm not crazy. :)

BTW, I went to bed really early because I was sleep-deprived from staying up so late with the bin Laden news the night before.

THANK YOU!
xoxoxo

Charlestongirl said...

Thanks, Lovely Miss M. I am going to try to get Beth's photo posted so you can see why you need it.

Charlestongirl said...

Hi Eileen!

That doubles my joy! I am not crazy!

Isn't it the prettiest pink? I love it, and now that you gals have helped me with my memory, I am buying a second one today. You never know when Orgasm will become the old color again. :)

Charlestongirl said...

Hey Joey,

Yep, bunny gal, you need to have it if you like pinks. It's not surgary pink, as you can see in my photo. Check it out!

lovethescents said...

Now I'm very curious...I've tried the Orgasm Original and don't care for the colour against my skin. Since this one is different, I should have a look and see what it's like.

Regarding the trio as a set, I won't be running out to get it since I do have a Laguna Multiple on the way :-), and I never use a highlighter. BUT, would it really make sense to purchase a set for just one item? Why do I even ask :-)

Charlestongirl said...

Well, I did, Lovethescents. :)

Mamavalveeta03 said...

I think it's a beautiful trio, and Laguna powder is more wearable, IMO, than Laguna multiple. And, no, I don't think your eyesight is failing: I checked out 2 different testers of "Orgasm" at a local store and they are definitely different. It is possible that one was old and faded, but they ARE not the same!!

Charlestongirl said...

Val, as much as I love some NARS items, I'm thinking the company has quality issues at the production site. I find that fascinating since they are owned by Shiseido, and Shiseido has no such issues.

kellinicole86 said...

I think this is a really good value palette as well as having some great signature NARS products. I may be remembering wrong, but I think you get more Laguna in this than if you bought it alone - plus a very generous amount of the blush and highlighter. The trick will be finding a brush to fit into the smaller sections.

Charlestongirl said...

You're right, Kellinicole!

I found a small contour brush that works well for the blusher. I have no idea what that old brush was intended for, but it's perfect.

I did buy a second one of the trios. Since it's limited, and since I find all three shades useful, I decided I "needed" it. :)