It’s hard to say what’s more splendid about the new NARS Splendor in the Grass Cheek Palette ($49) — the fact that it comes with one of my favorite NARS Blushes, Dolce Vita…
…or the fact that it doesn’t come with Orgasm.
Don’t get me wrong — I love NARS Orgasm, but sometimes it’s like the Kardashian sister of the NARS Blush family. It’s everywhere! And you just can’t escape it no matter how hard you try. (SIDE NOTE: anyone else out there convinced that Kris Jenner is a Svengali marketing genius?)
As the largest pan in the palette, dark rosy pink Dolce Vita takes Orgasm’s place on center stage, but truth be told, I can see how it might look a little dark and scary at first glance.
Give it a chance, though, ’cause it’s all kinds of awesome. When my default blush, MAC Blushbaby, is out of reach, I’ll often grab Dolce Vita.
It’s easy to blend, I barely have to use any of it at all, and it works with almost every eye and lip color combination.
And I think the other two blushes in the palette — Sex Appeal, a subtle, appealing peach matte and Angelika, a sheer pink with golden glitter — are just as fab.
Oh, and psst! You can blend them with each other and Dolce Vita to create custom cheek colors.
Last (but not least), the highlighter, golden Albatross. If you’ve ever felt like you’re just not a prime candidate to wear highlighter because of how shimmery they are, sweep this one on your upper cheekbones and down the bridge of your nose. It just might change your mind.
The finish glows with a soft sheen, as opposed to a loud frost. It’s subtle, but still noticeable, and extremely forgiving of less-than-perfect skin.
I’ll wear it on my upper cheekbones atop one of the blushes in this palette, or maybe buff it on bare cheeks, and then layer either Dolce Vita, Sex Appeal or Angelika on top. When Albatross peeks through one of the blushes, I think it looks very cool.
Of note to my fellow pet assistants (and others), if you sweep any of these blushes or the highlighter on your cheeks after your pet’s first morning feeding, they’ll last all day long until evening gravy. 🙂
For me, this palette borders on perfect, and its only potential annoyance is Angelika’s glitter. The flecks are kind of large, so you have to be cool with that. If you want, you could mellow them out by thoroughly tapping your blush brush off after loading, and buff the product really well on your cheeks. As long as I remember to do that, I get more pink and less sparkle.
PRICE: $49
AVAILABILITY: Coming November 1 to NARS boutiques, select retailers and narscosmetics.com
MAKEUP AND BEAUTY BLOG RATING: A-
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
I love Albatross and have yet to try the other three. I’ve been trying to shop and spend sparingly, but I think I might pick this one up! I’m really into all of these colors. I’ll have to try your technique of putting Albatross under a blush!
Hi Erin,
It’s one of my favorite tricks. Do you wear bronzer? Try Laguna first, then Albatross, then a 50/50 mix of Dolce Vita and Sex Appeal on top. It’s super pretty.
Seriously Karen, I adore you!
How could you post eveyday?
I just subscribe to your website and I get your update every day in my email.
You are like a super makeup girl.
I just heart you and your post and I feel like buying every product you reviewed!
Xo
Thanks, Yunie. LOL, well, I’ve been doing this for a while — almost 7 years! Keep on blogging, girl!
Hi Karen,
Which brush do you apply Dolce Vita with? I find it a little hard to wear because it is just so darn pigmented. It is superbly stunning on you!!
Hi Sylvia,
I use whatever blush brush is around. 🙂 I do a single swipe and dilute the brush before I sweep it on. If you’re having trouble with the amount of pigment, try applying Dolce Vita with a skunk or a fan brush. Both those brushes lay down sheer amounts of color and should make it easy!
Looks amazing! Unfortunately we don’t have NARS makeup here.. 🙁
Hi Maria Therese,
Aww, bummer. Whereabouts do you live?
This palette is so tempting! I have no idea if Sex Appeal will show up easily on my skin tone, so I really need to see if I can quickly swatch it here in Taipei (fingers crossed it’s already in stock)!
Hi Sunny,
It should. I wear it all the time, and I’m an NC42. Have fun in Taipei. When are you leaving?
Not have orgasm, the more I think this combination is not need incredible
The dolce vita was gorgeous on you loved this blush
I want this palette loved all colors
too beautiful
Kisses
Thanks Thatiane!
This palette looks awesome! I’m such a sucker for NARS products. I just love em.
Hi Natalie,
Me too! I could happily wear NARS 24/7. Do you wear any NARS on a daily basis? I use Pure Radiant concealer every single day. And I also go through phases where all I want to do is wear Laguna bronzer!
I probably wear NARS blush basically everyday, and most days I will wear their shadows too. I have Laguna phases too! It switches between Laguna and Benefit Hoola.
Nars is quickly becoming a tie with MAC for my favorite makeup brand. I love Orgasm too and sometimes think its too much, but I get so many compliments when I wear it so I keep buying that Orgasm/Laguna duo they have at Sephora. This palette looks great too!
Hi Rachel,
I have the Orgasm/Laguna duo too and absolutely love it. It always comes with me on trips! 🙂
What are your faves from NARS?
It’s great that they include 4 products all in one! I have DV and Albatross and I love them both.
Hi Chris,
Yes! It makes it that much easier to take along with ya because it easily fits into a makeup bag.
Do you ever wear Dolce Vita and Albatross together?
I also love Dolce Vita! It’s such a pretty natural blush on me. I just ordered a Danmari palette (soo lucky to find one!) and it doesn’t look like Sex Appeal will work on me but I want this! I’m so excited to see a palette that doesn’t include Orgasm, Deep Throat or Laguna lol. I’m hoping this becomes a new trend for NARS palette. I’ll scoop up everyone of them lol
I’m loving how Angelika looks.
Super pretty!
This looks beautiful! But I have to confess, I am beginning to get all their recent blush palette releases mixed up. I think I need a round up post to compare them all. I am overdue for some Nars blush, and these are a great value if you are a Nars fan!
This seems like a great palette! And it would be good for anyone traveling during the holidays.
Dolce Vita looks great on you! I’m not sure I could pull it off because it is so pigmented. The other colours in the palette look very pretty too.
Karen – I love the advice you gave Erin up there. So I’ve been debating between this palette, the “killing me softly” palette, and the new “one night stand” palette. Thing is, I already have the Danmari palette and Foreplay palette. I’m so scared of “dolce vita” because with my NC42 tone, it may look like someone punched me AND it’s bad enough my skin gets red when it’s cold and shows my acne marks more. I do have my eye on albatross and I’m loving “outlaw” from the “killing me softly” palette. They did say “outlaw” is similar to dolce vita. Also, it’s another “orgasm” i’d be getting if I got “killing me softly”. I also don’t have high hopes with “sex appeal” bc it may be too pale. Also, I’ve been doing reseach with the “one night stand palette” and the colors look to be nice…deep throat is also included. Anyhoo, sorry to confuse you! I was hoping you could give me some feedback if you have time 😉 Thanks Karen!
Thats a lovely palette! I think Dolce Vita is gorgeous on medium to deeper skin tones.