We tried Nars' new orgasm x collection – here's what we thought of the new blush shade
It's the first time the brand has released a new version of its orgasm blush since 2008
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Your support makes all the difference.A make-up shade that has dominated the market for decades, few products earn the cult status that Nars’ orgasm blush enjoys.
The provocatively named blusher is the brainchild of François Nars, the French make-up artist and photographer behind the brand. Launched in 1999, the peachy pink shade is designed to emulate that post-intimacy flushed glow, with an undertone of fine gold shimmer which helps the product buff seamlessly onto the skin, delivering a natural-looking finish.
Although blush is having somewhat of a renaissance in recent make-up trends, no other brand has matched the popularity of Nars’ best-selling formula. It’s lauded for being universally flattering across the complete spectrum of skin tones, and for this reason, more than two of the blushes are sold every minute globally.
For the first time in 12 years, Nars has created a new iteration of the classic colour, much to the anticipation of fans around the globe. The new hot coral shade, named orgasm x, is an intensified version of the original, packing more pigment for a bolder finish.
Although the new shade launched in February as a permanent addition to the brand’s blush line, Nars has announced a limited edition collection dedicated to orgasm x, with three eyeshadow palettes, a cheek palette and a lip tint all inspired by the deep pink colour.
The new range, launching on 1 July, also includes the orgasm lip tint, which launched last year as a limited edition product but is back by popular demand as a permanent shade. A limited edition "ultimate orgasm set", featuring orgasm blush, orgasm afterglow lip balm, orgasm lip tint and a travel make-up bag, will also be available from 13 July.
As well as the new blush shade, we got our hands on some of the products from the new range, to compare the cult classic with the new contender, and to help you decide which products from the collection are worth your money.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.
Orgasm vs orgasm x: Comparing the shades
The original orgasm blush shade is a peachy pink with a fine gold shimmer running through it, delivering a natural flush of colour on the cheeks that is buildable rather than highly pigmented. The shimmer comes through onto the skin as a warm glow, adding dimension to the skin rather than appearing flat and dull. The finely milled formula is famous for being effortless to blend and works on all skin tones.
Nars' new shade, orgasm x, is a deeper, more intense version of the original. The hot coral colour delivers more pigment on the skin than the original, which is designed to have a subtle finish. The formula is similar to orgasm, but the gold shimmer is less of a focal point as the pink colour dominates on the skin, rather than the glowy undertone you get from the original. It does, however, blend just as well as orgasm, but as with any highly pigmented blush, this takes a bit more work to build seamlessly on the skin, as it commands a lighter touch.
Orgasm x taps into the latest blush trend where a bolder flush of pink or red is worn as a statement rather than a "your-skin-but-better" finish. Although it’s a bolder look, we still found this to be super wearable on our fair skin, particularly with a glowy base and a glossy lip. For deeper skin tones, we’d recommend sweeping this over the high points of the cheekbones where the orange-pink tone and shimmer will really pack a punch.
Although inspired by the original, orgasm x is a completely different shade and finish to orgasm, so if you’re a fan of the classic and want to expand your collection, we’d say it’s worth it, especially if you’re not afraid of a bolder blush, a look we’re loving right now.
Buy Nars orgasm x blush now
Buy Nars orgasm blush now
Nars mini orgasm eyeshadow palette: £25, Cult Beauty
This certainly lives up to its miniature status, as the palette is small enough to fit in the palm of our hand. It is, however, more versatile than it seems, as the sleek compact is the perfect handbag accessory to take your look from day to night, and the pink shades are less daunting that you might think.
Comprised of six (miniscule) shades, the palette has three shimmers, two glitters and one matte formula that centre around orgasm-esque pinks and golds. The hot fuchsia pink is the only matte shade in the palette and reminds us of the new orgasm x blush. On first application, it isn't as pigmented on the eye as it looks in the pan, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing, as it gives you ample opportunity to build up the colour on the eye, rather than getting stuck with too much product to blend.
We found it easy to blend and build for a more intense look, but also loved it as a subtle flush of colour with one layer. The glitter shades are best applied with your finger, as they aren't as finely pressed as the shimmers, meaning you can experience fall-out. The shades looked intense on the lid and didn't need an eyeshadow primer to really pop. Given it's part of a limited edition collection, we'd recommend this as a fun, collectable palette for fans of the orgasm shades, rather than a super practical product for creating an endless range of looks.
Nars orgasm x cheek palette: £36, Cult Beauty
The perfect way to try the new orgasm x shade while stocking up on the original, we think this palette offers far more value for money than the mini eyeshadow compact. The three-pan palette includes the cult-classic orgasm shade, the new orgasm x, and the orgasm highlighting powder, and considering that the individual blushes cost £25, this is a great option for blush lovers who love to mix up their looks.
The highlighter is a champagne gold shimmer with flecks of pink that reflect the orgasm shades. It's highly pigmented but finely milled, meaning it blends beautifully on the skin, unlike other formulas with chunkier formulas that can often emphasise the appearance of blemishes. This is our favourite product in the collection, we love having all three shades in one place and the sleek packaging is just as we'd expect from Nars.
Nars orgasm x oil-infused lip tint: £23, Cult Beauty
While the original orgasm lip tint has returned as a permanent part of Nars' make-up line, the brand has also launched an orgasm x shade in the same formula. Much like the blushers, the new shade is an intense version of the original, with a golden pearlised finish running through the coral pink tint. The colour just screams summer and the formula is perfect for those who hate the stickiness of a gloss but want something less heavy than a matte or satin lipstick.
The nourishing oil-based formula leaves a sheer wash of colour, giving your lips a mirror-like sheen that immediately makes them look fuller. Our lips genuinely felt rejuvenated after wearing this, as it does all the work of a balm but with a prettier finish. We love the original orgasm lip tint for a your-lips-but-better, natural finish, but for a warmer shade with more pigment and shimmer, we'd recommend the new orgasm x shade too.