Beauty Care: NARS Scandalous Air Matte Blush Review & Swatches

Scandalous

NARS Scandalous Air Matte Blush NARS Scandalous Air Matte Blush ($30.00 for 0.21 oz.) is a medium-dark raspberry with subtle, cool undertones and a mostly matte finish. It had sheer color coverage in a single layer–it almost instantly sheered out when applied in person–and could not be built up as any attempt to do so merely lifted away that first layer of product.

The texture felt like a velvety, almost whipped mousse, with moderate slip but not the inherent wetness one would associate with a traditional cream blush. The formula turned powder-like as soon as it came into contact with skin, and it was difficult to diffuse and blend out from the get-go. The primary issue I had was the product itself pilled, so I could not readily get an even layer of product without really pressing and mashing it back together, almost like bits of dry dough. On my arm, I managed to do this, but that level of pressure and technique did not translate to my cheeks (which have more give and are not as flat/firm as an arm would be).

As a result, even when I was able to pat and dab color onto my skin, I could not really blend it out or spread out the edges well. The only way to really “blend” would be to use leftover foundation from a brush or sponge to soften the edges, but it would look splotchy in the middle area. Even though the application looked sad, the color lasted for six hours. The formula was a total failure over foundation as it lifted base products very quickly even with the first layer, so only on bare skin did it really show up at all.

FURTHER READING: Formula Overview for details on general performance and characteristics (like scent).

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Formula Overview

$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.

Ingredients

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.