Freedom
NARS Freedom Air Matte BlushNARS Freedom Air Matte Blush ($30.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a medium, pink-coral with subtle, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. The texture felt like a lightweight, velvety mousse–thin, lightweight, and “dry” like a silicone-based primer but still had a lot of slip. The product applied terribly, regardless of trying to use a brush or fingertips to do so. It felt more powder-like as soon as it came into contact with my skin; it was almost an instant dry-down.
The blush balled up into small, pill-like bits when applied to bare skin. I was able to use enough pressure to smooth most of it out on my arm, but I couldn’t use that same pressure on my cheeks–especially not over foundation, as it just resulted in lifting and shifting my foundation all around.
When applied with fingertips, I was able to get a sheer layer of product that went on unevenly. The more I tried to blend it out or spread it out, the more product that lifted away and left even sheerer coverage behind. I could not build up the product at all as applying a second layer lifted the first layer almost entirely off my skin! It was only worse if I tried to do so over a foundation (even set with powder).
What little transferred and stayed on my cheeks–however blotchy and uneven it may have looked–lasted for six and a half hours before fading a bit.
FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).
- NARS Croisette (LE, $30.00) is darker (95% similar).
- KIKO 108 Orange Coral (DC, $12.00) is more shimmery, lighter, glossier (95% similar).
- Tarte True Love (P, $29.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- MAC Hey, Coral, Hey (P, $29.00) is cooler (95% similar).
- ColourPop Holiday (2019) (P, $8.00) is more shimmery, darker (90% similar).
- Smith and Cult Warm Pink (P, $24.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- OFRA Sweet Stuff (LE, ) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
- Tarte Smashing (LE, $29.00) is cooler (90% similar).
- Tom Ford Beauty Warm (Winter 2016) Blush (LE, $60.00) is more shimmery, lighter (90% similar).
- ColourPop Ooh She’s Blushing (LE, $8.00) is darker, cooler (90% similar).
$30.00/0.21 oz. – $142.86 Per Ounce
The formula is supposed to have a “soft matte finish” with “sheer, buildable coverage” that is “perfectly diffused” and “beautifully blends and blurs for second-skin color that lasts.” Per the brand, the formula can be applied with fingertips or a brush, and I didn’t have good luck with fingertips at all. A brush was marginally better, but I failed to achieve even coverage with any method or tool that I tried.
The amount of pressure one needed to get a smooth application just did not lend itself for actual cheek application; I could get somewhat smoother, more even coverage on my arm, where I could really push and rub at my skin, but it’s not practical to do that to one’s cheek (which is less of a flat surface), particularly if one has any base products on (welcome to Lift City!).
The texture of the blush felt airy and mousse-like, but it immediately pilled upon contact of my skin, and I just couldn’t get it to smooth out in practice. I tried applying the product to the back of my hand to try and warm it up, but it was quick to dry down and still quite pilled, and by the time I transferred product to my skin, there was almost no coverage available. If I tried to build up coverage, the initial layer just pushed or lifted off my skin, so everything looked worse the more I fussed with it.
What little product translated (and as poor as it looked on), it stayed there for six to seven hours before fading. They delivered on the sheer coverage, but they weren’t buildable, blendable, smoothing, blurring, or long-wearing.
Browse all of our NARS Air Matte Blush swatches.
DIMETHICONE · HYDROGENATED POLYISOBUTENE · C30-45 ALKYL DIMETHICONE · JOJOBA ESTERS · OCTYLDODECANOL · MICA · HDI/TRIMETHYLOL HEXYLLACTONE CROSSPOLYMER · DIMETHICONE/VINYL DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER · DIMETHICONE CROSSPOLYMER · NYLON-12 · SILICA · PASSIFLORA EDULIS SEED OIL · SORBITAN OLEATE · MAGNESIUM OXIDE · ALUMINA · TOCOPERHOL · PHENOXYETHANOL · [+/-(MAY CONTAIN/PEUT CONTENIR): BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE (CI 77163) · IRON OXIDES (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499) · RED 28 LAKE (CI 45410) · RED 7 LAKE (CI 15850) · TITANIUM DIOXIDE (CI 77891) · YELLOW 5 LAKE (CI 19140)] ·
Disclaimer: Ingredient lists are as available by the brand (or retailer) at the time of publishing. Please always check product packaging, if it exists, for the ingredient list applicable
to the product you’re purchasing, or the brand or retailer’s website for the most up-to-date ingredient list.
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush
NARS Freedom Air Matte Blush ($30.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a medium, pink-coral with subtle, warm undertones and a semi-matte finish. The texture felt like a lightweight, velvety mousse–thin, lightweight, and “dry” like a silicone-based primer but still had a lot of slip. The product applied terribly, regardless of trying to use a brush or fingertips to do so. It felt more powder-like as soon as it came into contact with my skin; it was almost an instant dry-down. The blush balled up into small, pill-like bits when applied to bare skin. I was able to use enough pressure to Continue Reading… Temptalia
XOXO
