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The all-time cult-favorite and the best-selling NARS blush is now coming to your makeup stashes in a cheaper form.
The NARS Orgasm blush has achieved undisputed success throughout the years, and the A-listers can attest to that.
From Megan Markle to Kim K, most celebrities swear by this blush.
Although it’s undoubtedly worth the price, it’s still beyond the reach of beauty enthusiasts who are on a tight budget.
To make the same glow more accessible to everyone, we’ve curated a list of the most affordable yet the closest alternatives to this cult favorite.
Read on to and take note; here’s our meticulously curated list of 6 NARS Orgasm blush alternatives you wouldn’t want to miss.
- Streak-free
- Richly pigmented and highly buildable
- Has vibrant color and velvety texture
- Soft focus effect
- Blends seamlessly
- Long-lasting and buildable color
- Ultra-fine shimmery pressed powder
- Applies evenly and long-lasting
- Dermatologically tested and does not cause acne
Table of Contents
What the Hype is All About
NARS has a shade of blush that is to die for; we all know that by now.
But why is the NARS Orgasm so famous?
Apart from a bold name that sparks intrigue and curiosity, it’s famed for its universally flattering shade.
The iconic, well-balanced warm and cool tones of peach and pink with the added dazzle of gold shimmers is such a standout that the blush has become the leading blush in the US, with one product sold every minute.
Additionally, the versatility of this product doesn’t stop there. It’s super blendable in that it allows you to play with its sheer finish.
You can apply it softly as a highlighter or build it up for the natural radiant-looking flush.
Since 1999, this has been one of the brand’s cult-favorite products, which led the brand to release an entire Orgasm line based on it.
They now offer the same shade for each of your makeup needs: as an eyeshadow shade, as a matte and liquid blush, as a lip balm, and as a multipurpose stick for the eyes, cheeks, lips, and body.
How to Apply Blush on Different Face Shapes
Each of us wants to highlight and improve different bone structures and facial features with the use of makeup.
And if you think blushes can only give your cheeks a pop of color to make your look stand out, then you probably haven’t explored the different ways you can apply your blushes.
With the proper shade and the proper technique based on your face shape, blushes can be a game changer.
Allow us to teach you how to add colors to your cheeks for the best look each time. You can also try doing it simultaneously using our guide to contouring.
For Oval Faces
First things first: locate your cheekbones using your fingers.
To add definition and to create the illusion of lifted cheeks, gently sweep the blush on the uppermost portion of your cheekbones.
Avoid placing the blush below or on the hollows of your cheekbones; that’s where you contour.
For Round Faces
Put those shimmery blushes down and opt for a matte one. Apply the blush starting from your ears and dragging it down towards the sides of your mouth.
The goal here is to create an angle and to make your cheekbones pop, so avoid sweeping the color to the center or the apples of your cheeks.
For Square Faces
To soften out your facial structure, sweep the blush under the cheekbones or focus the blush on the apples of your cheeks, going slightly under your cheekbones.
Make sure to not drag it too horizontally to avoid having the face appear wider.
For Diamond Faces
You’re already gifted with high cheekbones, so to highlight them, buff the blush from the upper portion of your cheekbones up to your ears.
This draws the attention upwards by creating a healthy, sun-kissed glow without exaggerating your features.
For Rectangular Faces
Work on the center of the cheeks. Sweep the blush starting from the apples out towards the ears in a semi-circular motion.
This will hug your cheekbones, make the features softer, and create the illusion of a shorter face.
For Heart-Shaped Faces
This face shape can be a little bit pointy, so if you would like to soften it out, sweep the blush starting from the upper corner of the cheekbones, which is just beside the ears.
Then blending it in a “C” motion, bring it up towards the end of your brows.
You can also brush a bit of color to your temples. Just remember to blend everything properly.
6 NARS Orgasm Blush alternatives
This finely milled blush pressed in a compact will give your cheeks a natural glow from within, thanks to its nourishing ingredients.
Primary Benefits: Soft focus effect; long-lasting and buildable color; blends seamlessly
Features:
- Has a velvety soft pressed powder formula
- Cruelty-free, fragrance-free, and gluten-free
- Infused with jojoba oil for a silky-smooth texture
A gorgeous shade and a good formula for a fraction of the price of NARS? It’s a yes to this dupe!
We’re starting this alternative list strong with a Wet n Wild blush that has been in the market for quite some time now.
It first came out in 2013 and was reformulated for the brand’s spring 2016 collection.
Comparing the two versions of this blush is a different deal, but regardless, both of them have the gleaming peachy pink blush that gives a natural glow to the face, just like the NARS Orgasm blush.
You would want to be more careful with this one though, as it tends to be more opaque, so if you want it to imitate the NARS glow, apply it gently and blend it properly to diffuse the pigments better.
When it comes to longevity, the two can also be comparable. The staying power is there as it lasts for a decent time but not quite enough to stay throughout the day.
For a budget-friendlier alternative to the NARS Orgasm blush, this one does a great job!
This product keeps it serious with its claims. In fact, it’s really baked!
Primary Benefits: Richly pigmented and highly buildable; streak-free; has a vibrant color and velvety texture
Features:
- Easy and even application
- Has a mirror and brush included
- Cruelty-free, paraben-free, and vegan
It’s compact and comes with a mirror and a brush, so you won’t have to worry about an emergency retouch.
Before we jump into why this blush makes the cut for the NARS alternative, let us tell you what makes this product worth the try.
Milani Cosmetics has been known for releasing promising makeup that doesn’t cost much.
Second, the Baked Blush line wasn’t called “baked” for a gimmick or whatnot. Each shade is sunbaked on Italian terracotta tiles for real!
This gives the blushes their vibrant colors, velvety textures, and that warm, luminous glow that looks natural especially when light touches your face.
Comparing them straight from the pot, they look relatively alike; the Dolce Pink is just more shimmery.
But color-wise, they both have the perfect mix of the coral and baby pink hues, with a subtle gold luster.
If you’ll swatch them on the face and build both products up, the shade difference is that the Milani Baked Blush outshines NARS Orgasm with the former’s gold afterglow.
But overall, you can see how this Milani blush makes a great alternative if you want a pinker NARS Orgasm.
Want to know how Mary Kay offers an intense color payoff that endures long hours of wearing? It’s the technology mixed into their products!
Primary Benefits: Has pure color and light reflecting pigments; silky and weightless; “lifeproof” formula that weathers through work and play
Features:
- Oil-free and non-comedogenic
- Powered by Mary Kay’s chromafusion matrix technology
- Dermatologically and clinically tested for skin irritants and allergies
It’s the underrated dupe we won’t gate-keep.
The brand that continues to empower women might have formulated the best NARS alternative we’re looking for.
Measuring the sizes, it’s clear that you’ll get more product with the high-end cult favorite. But in terms of color, we almost can’t tell the difference.
It may be underrated, but the perfect peachy-pink shade with golden shimmers on the Mary Kay is so point, you can tell straight from the swatches how this qualifies as one of the best alternatives for NARS blushes.
There may be a difference with the pigmentation, as the high-end one needs more time and buildup to be as vibrant as the alternative.
But you can easily solve this by blending out Shy Blush.
And just like Mary Kay’s notable eyeshadows and highlighters, it is powered by their chromafusion technology, which allows the pigment and the products themselves to last all day.
You’ll be amazed by how similar the undertone and the sparkle are.
Plus it’s oil-free, non-comedogenic and tested by dermatologists, so you can keep oily skin problems at bay!
Before the uniquely quilted design stuns you, give it a swatch and be amazed.
Primary Benefits: Highly pigmented; long-lasting; smooth product application
Features:
- Cruelty-free
- Has a silky powder blush formula
- Pressed in a signature quilted compact
A teeny-tiny blush you can even pop in your pockets!
If you’re looking for the best NARS Orgasm alternative that you can squeeze into your budget, then NYX has got the answer for you.
Doing a cheek-to-cheek comparison of the two, however, brings out their distinct differences.
The NYX blush comes in a warm medium coral hue.
And even if that sounds pretty much the same as how the NARS blush looks, the NYX blush is faintly pinker both on the pot and on the cheeks.
To give you a clearer picture, the NYX powder blush appears as if it has more of the base color pigmentation, and NARS has a sheerer warm pink shade but has a more luminous finish.
Texture-wise, the high-end one is more blendable, while the cheaper one is chalkier.
But considering how it makes your cheeks pop despite the drugstore price, it’s a great alternative for NARS!
It’s as pretty as a petal; you’ll think twice about using it.
Primary Benefits: Blends smooth and silky; enhances the skin tone with a flush of color; buildable
Features:
- Cruelty-free
- Gives a natural warm-looking glow
- The pot itself has an engraved flower design
Grab it while it’s still out in the market.
It might even be too pretty to take a swatch! But the beauty of this blush goes beyond the flower embossed on the actual pot.
Flower Beauty’s Warm Hibiscus puts a healthy and radiant-looking wash of a warmer NARS Orgasm shade. Hold your thoughts; this isn’t a bad thing. Those with warm undertones will find the shade flattering.
It also has a phenomenal color payoff and a longer staying power, which even plays better than its high-end counterpart.
These blush shades add a beautiful opaque peachy-pink warmth, and if concentrated softly, it’s almost the exact alternative for NARS Orgasm.
The multipurpose sheerness of this powder blush gives you the power of a blush + a highlighter in one single compact!
Primary Benefits: Ultra-fine shimmery pressed powder; applies evenly; long-lasting; dermatologically tested; does not cause acne
Features:
- Silky formula
- Sheer to buildable formula
- Adheres lightly to the skin
A great dupe if you’re out there to stretch your budget a bit.
Among all of the alternatives listed, this one may be a bit expensive, but is also one of the most popular blushes as far as the NARS alternatives’ concern.
The shade Springsheen from the same line is also a great alternative.
In terms of the color, both can be considerably identical.
But this one is a lot sheerer and is often used as a highlighter than a blush on, which is also something the NARS Orgasm blush can do if you dust it very lightly.
In terms of the color, the two shades from the brand also diffuse the same hint of pink and peach with a golden shiny overlay.
So if you’re looking for a multi-use compact to keep in your makeup bags, then you can give this one a go.
FAQ
What is the exact shade of the NARS Orgasm?
The NARS Orgasm’s versatility comes in a balanced mix of pink, peach, and gold, for the perfect flush of color with a radiant sheen that suits all complexions.
It has a warm light pink base with flecks of gold shimmers that blend out into a warm-toned peachy pink blush in a frosted finish.
What are the other products released in the Orgasm shade?
The wide success of the NARS Orgasm blush has brought the entire Orgasm collection into existence, and here are the rest of them:
- NARS Quad Shadow in Orgasm
- NARS Afterglow Lip Balm in Orgasm
- NARS The Multiple: Multi Stick Makeup in Orgasm
Does the NARS Orgasm blush suit all skin tones?
As per its claims and the reviews it has been receiving for over two decades, yes.
The Orgasm blush has been globally known for being universally flattering because of the perfect balance between warm and cool tones.
On fair skin tones, it will appear as a natural pink flush.
On olive to medium skin tones, the peachier sheen will emerge and will naturally brighten the complexion.
On medium to deep skin tones, the golden shimmer from the blush will steal the spotlight and make the look pop.
Conclusion
In the cosmetic industry, some products may be so similar that you almost won’t be able to tell which one is which, but each one of them is made to be entirely unique or to have a feature that would set them apart from one another.
The NARS Orgasm has set exceptional standards when it comes to a universally flattering shade, but you don’t always have to max out your budget just to get a similar effect.
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