“Don’t judge a book by its cover,” says the English proverb. And why shouldn’t we? Answer: because looks can be deceiving, as they are for Nars Mounia powder blush ($25).
When I swatched this shimmery reddish brown coral with golden pearl before I left for Florida, I was convinced it was going to cause crazy clown cheeks. It looked almost like bright paint in the pan and on the back of my hand.
Undeterred, I busted out my Shu Uemura 7.5EX fan brush ($35). Because Mounia was so intense in the pan, I applied slowly, shooting for very thin, sheer layers.
To my surprise, the shade didn’t look anywhere near as bright on my cheeks. It delivers a bright yet natural, just-pinched flush — not at all what I expected.
That’s Mounia on my cheeks and colors from the JK Jemma Kidd Fashion Palette on my eyes and lips.
With bright red cheek colors like Nars Mounia, I like to wear neutral lips and eyes because if I don’t — if I wear too many bright colors at the same time — it looks like there’s a party on my face, LOL!
Nars Mounia Powder Blush
Price: $25
Use: A bright yet natural red blush
Makeup and Beauty Blog Rating: A+
Nars blushes cost an arm and a leg, but since Mounia packs such a pigment wallop, it should last a little longer than the average blush.
Do you remember the last time a blush or eyeshadow surprised the heck out of you?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
i’m falling in love with nars blushes! i need to pick that one up lol is there a cheaper alternative to that fanbrush do u know?
Roxy´s last blog post..Eyeko – get TWO free gifts with purchase!
Wow it looked so bright in the swatch but looks gorgeous on you! It reminds me sort of a more bling version of MAC’s Devil blush. You look wonderful, btw! 🙂
I love bright pink or red blushes especially from Nars or Shu. It really looks great on you too!
I love the color palette of your make-up. I think it looks very festive yet natural.
Stay pretty!!!
Roxy´s last blog post..Me at work…
Nars Desire scared me when I first got it. It’s such a bright PINK pink, but it’s really nice on cheeks not clown-ish at all on me and I’m pretty fair. This looks great on you!
omg, i just purchased this TO-DAY. i’ve been so curious about this and because i can only find it at nordstroms made me wanted it even more. i thought i was crazy to want this scary blush but omg, when applied with care its like pinched my cheeks color and i don’t even notice the shimmer.
Naaaaaars… *drool* I don’t have this one. But I have ‘crazed’ which I think is very similar when applied. So I am trying to convince myself that I don’t need this one =)
Don’t you love the Shu 7.5EX brush? I don’t own Mounia but you’re making me want to check it out. Do you have Crazed? That is another bright one in the package but so pretty on.
Also I read somewhere that if you apply Super Orgasm with a skunk brush you can avoid the chunky chunk glitter.
I love bright blushes! I gotta get my hands on this one.
beautytalk´s last blog post..The Recession Can’t Stop Me! The Sephora Edition
Nars Exhibition A blush. It looks so orange, it scared me. But when I tried it on, it looked so good on me 😛 I snapped it up right away.
MAC Ambering Rose Sheertone Shimmer. It’s a really deep rose in the pan but the formula really is sheer and lovely, especially when applied with a duofiber brush. I have porcelain skin and I love how natural it looks. It’s my go-to blush!
Hi Karen. You look gorgeous! I can’t wait to try Nars blushes! Sephora is opening here soon and I may have the chance to buy these blushes there. 🙂
For me Dollymix was a very pleasant surprise 🙂 It looked so so scary to me but as you recommended I did buy it and I love it now 🙂
Karen B´s last blog post..What colour today?
You are SO right! It’s way more wearable than it looks!!
jeannie´s last blog post..Star of the Color
ooooooh pretty!!!
Wow that’s such a pretty flush! =D
I usually get completely deterred by really bright colours in pans..maybe I should take a second look next time. =)
You look RADIANT, Karen!! This NARS blush looks great on you.
After I tried MAC beauty powder in Sweetness, I realized that blush doesn’t have to look like the color in the pan if you don’t want it to. Since then I haven’t been afraid to try bolder shades.
Lilan´s last blog post..Parlez Vous OPI? Qui, Madame!
Looks great on you but it would not work for me
Katee´s last blog post..Lippmann Collection – Party Like A Rockstar Set
ooh.. u look so pretty in this pic.. the blush definetly fooled me.. i was thinking really red cheeks but after u put it on u just look a lil flushed. interesting
You look beautiful! And what a suprise about the blush!!
You are looking fierce than ever ma! I LOVE your long hair. So seeexay! And that blush looks fantastic on you. Way to rock it chick 😀
“Party on your face”-hahahhaha! I’ll spare you the perv comments. It’s a beautiful blush though, I think I’ll buy it! I’ve been wanting to get another NARS blush, something in the coral/red family. It looks great on you! I ought to get a fan brush too but probably from Sonia Kashiuk. I won’t be scurrred.
When I saw the picture of the Mounia blush I literally became wide eyed. I can’t believe how natural it looks on your skin. I am really interested in buying some NARS blushes. I have brown filipina skin like you and I was wondering which shades you would reccommend. Thanks!
Hi Karen,
I totally know what you mean with this blush I have a MAC one called Breezy which is terrifying in the pan but looks amazing when applied in sheer layers however, I dont really know why but I love applying blush that I can really load on like NARS Orgasm, I think because I like to really blend it into my skin.
It looks gorgeous on you! I wish it would have shown up bright clown red though, I’m in the mood for crazy makeup right now.
Wow that looks great on you Karen. I definitely would have been skerred.
A blush/shadow that surprised me? hhhmmm MAC’s Parrot. After all the hype, I was let down. I prefer Freshwater.
Marisol´s last blog post..Happy Thanksgiving!
oh this looks nice on you! i’ve been tossing between this and taos but ended up getting Gilda instead. talk about diversion.
is this as pigmented as crazed? i find crazed to be very difficult to use.
lyn´s last blog post..was i a better girl in november?