July 31, 2012

NARS Foreplay Cheek Palette Review & Swatches

I must say, being a fan of NARS Orgasm, the NARS Foreplay Cheek Palette is a thrilling little creation I had to own. This not only holds my very favorite blush of all time, Orgasm, but three other shades of blush that actually make up that beloved color.

Allow me to explain.

Orgasm is golden peachy pink gorgeousness. Inside the NARS Foreplay Cheek Palette you’ll get three shades of color that make up the golden peach pink that is Orgasm. At a glance, there’s a lot to be excited about here but after carefully thinking about it I realized it’s a passing fancy that isn’t really something you absolutely have to have.

At $49 with a NARS Orgasm Blush inside the size of a NARS Eyeshadow and three even smaller sizes of blush this isn’t exactly a value. It didn’t hit me until I actually got the palette and realized how tiny the wells were. Although NARS Orgasm is decently sized and I can comfortably fit a brush into it I had issues with the other shades. These are smaller wells about the size of a quarter with the gold highlighter being even a smaller strip of color.

Le sigh.

Overall, I hate to say it, it’s just a poorly designed palette for practical application of blush and highlighter.

The star of the show here is Orgasm and it lives up to all that is great about the shade. It’s golden, it’s peachy, it’s pink…! It’s just a fabulous color. You either really love the shade, like me, or you think it’s overrated. I personally love the color and thought it novel that NARS put together a palette that consists of individual shades that made up what Orgasm was all about.

Although…

After carefully thinking about it I realize that these shades aren’t REALLY all that Orgasm-like. The golden highlighter is very much Orgasm-like however the bright, matte shades of pink and peach combined with the golden highlight do not make an Orgasm-shade like at all. Granted, they are meant to be used together or individually but my issue with using them individually would be the fail of a formula here.

I had absolutely no problems with Orgasm and the gold highlighter however, both the peach and pink shades I wasn’t as successful. These are drier mattes that produce very little color when a brush is swiped across them. They also have a dry formula which produces patchy application and issues blending the shades out.

Overall, the idea of having a selection of Orgasm-like shades in one palette is a novelty but the novelty is fleeting. I ask that you think before you purchase and don’t let your purchase be guided by excitement as mine was. It’s easy to feed into the frenzy and excitement of a color or product you really love and just as easily feel let down or disappointed after trying it. In this case the NARS Foreplay Cheek Palette was a terrible disappointment with colors and a formula that simply failed to rock my world.

Did you indulge?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this one.

I thought the value, formula, and overall idea was just a dud after thinking it over. It’s the first product I’ve returned to Sephora in a long time. Sadly, it has to go back! Just not worth my fifty bucks.

I purchased this item.

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • grlnxdor

    Thank you for giving such an honest review. I was concerned about the size of the blushes. Now that I know they are hard to work with too— I’ll pass.

  • Laci

    Some of my friends who have purchased this say the pink and coral colors are super similar to Angelika and Amour.

    This is a pass for me.

  • Kiss & Make-up

    I didn’t induldge. And after reading this, I won’t 🙂 I have to admit that I really like how this palette looks, though. Nice and sleek. And I love the colors in the pan.

  • yelena

    muse, I love ya but I have to completely disagree with you on this one. I got this palette for my birthday and I’m absolutely IN LOVE! I dont like shimmer so I haven’t even tried the orgasm yet, but the matte blushes are to die for! I am actually glad they are small becuz I have to use a very light hand to apply these, and usualy I have to use several layers of blush because of my tan skin. And I found mine to be super blendable. In face I like that they give me an air brushed look! do u thinkt here’s any chance u got a bad one?

    the highlighter I just use as eyeshadow because I don’t like shimmer on my face. I may do the same with orgasm or use it for when i go out at night. During the day I need the matte blushes and have been using them everyday since I got it! <3 LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!

    • the Muse

      hey yelena aw so glad you like it and find it works for you! 🙂 mmm I dunno it’s possible. I got it from Sephora.com where did you get yours? I’m not a fond lover of matte anything so def take that into account when reading the review ;-D I think that orgasm was awesome I just had issues with the mattes being dry and applying patch. Really didn’t LOVE the well size either, hard to get a brush in there :-/

      I’m so glad it worked for you! Enjoy and wear in health chica!

      • yelena

        yes that may be it. i LOVE MATTE. I wish I found more matte products!
        I feel like shimmery = shiny – greasy looking so no not for me. and my skin is dry! but i do apply a BB cream first, then a bronzer and m y blush last so maybe thats helping with the application.

        havent tried applying on bare skin. is that how u wore yours?

        • the Muse

          I wish I could say the same 😀 Mattes just don’t work for me blah! nope, not on bare skin. Moisturizer, SPF, primer, bb cream, and blush 🙂

  • LaLa

    I still think I’m going to give it a try eventhough I own all the Nars blushes I like have the convenience of the palette at hand :-).

  • MIchele Loya Chhabra

    Thank you for the through and honest review. I also love the Orgasm blush and would have been highly willing to spring for the compact until I read your review. The wells do seem way too small and I have to say, the pink shade does not “wow” me. I will stick to my trusty “orgasm ” blush. Thanks for the review.

    • the Muse

      my pleasure michele! The wells are so very tiny 🙁 disappointingly so imho! I just wasn’t amazed by this and felt like it was a bit much $$ for what you get!

  • Ruth

    I thought that it would be big like the biggem christmas pallet that they released but a touch smaller to house all of those colors. orgasm could never disappoint since it’s such a fantastic color. It’s pink! It’s peach! It sparkles! how could anything so awesome be bad?? it’s not possible.

  • cinthia

    I was so excited to get this because of the nars exclusive for nordstrom and i must say after going to Sephora today to have a look in persoon I was very disappointed. It was sooo tiny and it just didnt do it for me. Was worth the $49 and it doesnt look as great when you try to swatch all the colors. The size is just not practical.

  • Trish

    Thanks Muse! I was thinking about buying this, but was feeling guilty about the price. I think I’ll pass on this one and save the money for another blush 😀

    • the Muse

      my pleasure trish, if nothing else indulge in two nars blushes, you’ll get better quality imho!

      • amy

        I agree. Even if it’s the gold that’scatching your eye, Albatross is a nice alternative. It’s not quite as opaque, in terms of the gold color, but it is easily buildable, and doesn’t end up looking cakey. NARS has other matte blushes, and for the price of this palette, you can pick up Albatross & another matte blush.

  • Kara

    Glad I saw this review because this thing was on my To-Buy list. Every other blog posted great reviews about the palette.

    The swatched colors don’t look all that great for someone as pale as me. I’ll pass.

    • the Muse

      hey kara, I didn’t really like it. there are some raves in the comments here though, do check over those as some folks had a great experience for it. I personally thought it was a little too expensive and the formula wasn’t all that great!

  • Maureen

    I’m glad I can take something off my too-long wish list! I was intrigued by the palette, but based on this review I’d rather buy two other Nars blushes for almost the same price.

  • SJG

    I think this would be way more appropriate for someone who didn’t own Orgasm already. Since that ain’t me…I’ll pass.

  • Sudeki

    I returned mine also. I like the gold highlighted, but the orgasm in this is not the same as the orgasm single, I can barely get this show on my checks, yuck!

    • the Muse

      sigh same experience sudeki 🙁 I’d rather just buy another nars full size blush as this was rubbish!