NARS | Tribulation Blush Fall 2015

NARS Tribulation blush opener

Upon first setting eyes on this lovely, I naturally assumed it was a highlighter; imagine my surprise to learn it’s actually a blush. François Nars, Founder and Creative Director of his eponymous range of products, is usually skewed somewhere left of centre and no one can deny his vision isn’t original … but, this? A blush? Released as part of the Fall 2015 Color Collection and one of two limited edition items of the group, meet Tribulation Blush. And for reasons I’ll get into further on, I’m really digging it.

Let’s break this down, shall we?

 

NARS Tribulation blush compact

NARS | Tribulation Blush Fall 2015

NARS Tribulation blush 1

NARS | Tribulation Blush Fall 2015

NARS Tribulation blush

Tribulation Blush, limited edition (CAN $37.00) | A champagne/oyster hued blush shade that can lean both warm and cool so that it should suit a broad range of skin tones. The powder is buttery soft, even suede-like to the touch, while the shimmery bits are ground so ultra-fine as to fuse into a gorgeous glow upon the skin, as opposed to standing out in glittery chunks. With the surface texture being so dense you’d think it would be hard to pick up enough product per use, but in this case it works in Tribulation‘s favour as my brush raises hardly any powdery residue when swirled through.

Now, calling this a blush is quite the stretch; even with the light peachy/pink hint seen at certain angles; only Snow White with her alabaster skin could probably get away with using Tribulation in that capacity — certainly my light-medium skin tone with its yellowish undertones so totally does not apply.

But used as a highlighter? JACKPOT. With so many highlighting products in my arsenal, I still don’t have any powdered versions that can compare to the effect Tribulation has upon my skin, and that’s an ‘honest-to-God-beachy-kind-of-glow’ (and not of the oil-slick variety, either). Easily blended into the skin, I was initially worried that the shimmer would emphasize my pores, but somehow, magically, it doesn’t. As to staying power, over bare skin I can get a good 6 hours before fading (less, if I touch my face overly much) while applied over foundation, that number easily stretches to 9+ hours.

 

NARS Tribulation blush 2

NARS | Tribulation Blush Fall 2015

 

NARS Tribulation blush macro

NARS | Tribulation Blush Fall 2015 (detail)

 

NARS Tribulation blush 3

NARS | Tribulation Blush Fall 2015

 

NARS Tribulation blush swatch 1

NARS | Tribulation Blush swatches (in sunlight)

NARS Tribulation blush swatch 2

NARS | Tribulation Blush swatches (alternate light)

 

You’ve got to give props to Monsieur Nars; once more, his vision has proven “on fleek” with the release of Tribulation Blush, especially in light of the whole strobing trend happening at the moment. And while I never in a million years expected to fall for this product (my thinking: “I need another highlighter, like I need a hole in the head … never mind that it’s supposed to be a blush”), I am seriously loving its combination fairy/candlelit effect upon my skin. The bad part? Yes, it’s the dreaded limited edition thing. Here’s hoping more people chime in to make this a part of the permanent range. Nars Cosmetics, listen up – you’ve got a winner here.

Available now at all NARS retailers (Sephora, sephora.com, The Bay, thebay.com, Holt Renfrew, Nordstrom and Murale) as well as www.narscosmetics.com

NARS Tribulation blush closer

Press sample kindly provided for my unbiased consideration

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