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Friday, April 10, 2015

Review: Nyx High Definition Blushes in Crimson and Intuition

A few months ago when Nyx launched all of their new 2015 products, I did some major damage on the Ulta website and purchased several of these new items to review for you (who am I kidding? I also purchased them just because I wanted them!). To date, I've reviewed one of the new Prismatic Eyeshadows (HERE), the new Tres Jolie Gel Pencil Liner (HERE), and today I'd like to share with you my thoughts on two of the new High Definition Blushes that I ordered.

Nyx High Definition Blushes in Crimson and Intuition
(retail: $6.50 each, 0.16 oz)

There are 24 shades in this new blush line, and you can purchase them directly from the Nyx site, as well as at Ulta, both in-store and online (please note that Ulta carries 11 of the 24 shades on their website). 

Safety sealed

Made in Taiwan

I think that the amount of product you get (0.16 oz.) is generous for the price of $6.50. To put it into perspective, the Milani Baked Blushes, which I think are quite generous in size, are 0.12 oz. for about $7.


The compacts are slim and sleek, and they include the signature Nyx bow clasp.

Crimson, Intuition

Intuition

Intuition has a very NARS Orgasm feel to it. It's one of those peachy-pink shades that contains fine gold glitter (hard to see in my photos, but trust me, it's there). I thought this shade was going to be quite shimmery based on how it looks in the pan, but it actually isn't SUPER shimmery on the skin (more of a soft, shimmery sheen):


Swatched over foundation
Swiped vs. blended

NOTE: To date, I have always swatched blushes for you on bare skin. But it occurred to me recently that I never actually WEAR my blushes on bare skin, so why not swatch them over foundation? I'm guessing that most of YOU don't wear blushes on bare skin either, so it makes sense to start swatching my blushes over foundation, from this day forward. That way, you'll have more of an idea of how a blush is going to look on top of your particular foundation, which I think is more accurate than swatching on bare, dry skin. Some may argue that the color may become altered, but I think that's marginal since the color is altered anyway, due to my natural skintone. I hope you agree with me about this decision moving forward, but if not, please feel free to sound off in the comments below (I can always go back to bare skin swatches for blush if most of you prefer that).

Back to Intuition...

This blush is quite pigmented--so much so that I had to blend quite a bit to get it to the level you see above in the "blended" swatch. The sheen of this blush is more visible on my cheeks than it is in my swatches, and it indeed feels very NARS Orgasm-ish on me. 

Crimson

Crimson definitely has a NARS Exhibit A feel to it (I have never owned Exhibit A, so I can't tell you just how close they are, but I believe that the NARS shade has more orange to it than Crimson). In the pan, Crimson looks like it could veer into orange territory but, on my NC20 skintone, this looks more like a bright, maraschino cherry red (pink undertones). This is a matte blush, but in person there is a teeny tiny bit of sparse glitter here (seriously, it's barely noticeable and it pretty much disappears after blending).

Swatched over foundation
Swiped vs. blended

This blush is intensely pigmented and you're going to need a very light hand during application, even if your skintone is deep. I looked like a clown the first time I wore this. Seriously, start with just the tiniest dab on your blush brush and work up from there if you think you need more (you probably won't).

On the whole, I have very mixed feelings about these blushes. On the one hand, the pigmentation is extremely impressive, which I think most of us can appreciate when it comes to drugstore level blushes. Also, the staying power is extremely impressive. I can easily get a full day's wear from both of these shades, even on my oily skin. I've taken a (long) nap while wearing Crimson, only to discover that it was just as bright and vibrant when I woke up, which pretty much never happens for me when it comes to blushes and naps.

I also like that both of these shades blend quite nicely and evenly with a standard blush brush. I have had excellent luck using my e.l.f. Studio Blush Brush, but I do not like how these blushes blend out with a stippling brush. I find that they just don't blend as thoroughly with a stippling brush (they can look a little patchy), so I would suggest using a traditional blush brush for application and blending.

That said, here's what I don't like about these blushes. They are extremely fragile. I'm guessing you've heard this before from other bloggers and YouTubers, so I'm just joining the chorus here. I purchased a third shade when I ordered from Ulta, and it arrived completely shattered. That's why I'm not showing you that third shade today (I waited too long to return/exchange it so I may have to just suck it up and use it in its crumbled state; I haven't decided if I will purchase another or just review it as-is yet). Anyway, I've seen countless other bloggers mention that their blushes arrived shattered as well and, just from daily use, Intuition in particular is starting to look crumbly in the pan, as if it's going to start breaking up into pieces the longer I use it. Crimson, and perhaps the other matte shades in the range, do seem a tiny bit sturdier and not quite as prone to crumbling from daily use.

Also, these blushes kick up a LOT of powder during application. Neither shade actually looks powdery on the skin, but powder does fly everywhere during application. In fact, when I'm blending Crimson on my cheeks, sometimes the color transfers to my hair. If you have blonde or light brown hair, that's definitely something to be aware of if you get the shade Crimson. It looked like I used red hair chalk near my temples the first time I used it!

There is no real fragrance to these blushes--they smell sort of like pen ink to me, but it's faint and I can only really detect the scent if I hold the compact right up to my nose.

FINAL VERDICT: Excellent price, excellent pigmentation, excellent staying power, but the texture of these blushes is quite lacking, in my opinion. They are extremely powdery during application (though not powdery-looking on the skin) and VERY fragile. I would not travel with these blushes or keep one in my makeup bag. Intuition in particular feels like it's going to crumble at any moment, just with regular, daily use. I think that if your top priorities for blush are pigmentation and staying power, and you were only going to use these blushes at home (not for travel), then these might be worth considering. But even then, be aware that they're messy, so you need to use a very light hand and pay attention to your blending (especially if you have light-colored hair, as I mentioned above). Due to their extremely fragile nature, I can't see myself purchasing additional shades. But if Nyx reformulates these down the road to make them less powdery and fragile (and the pigmentation and staying power remain the same) I would most certainly purchase additional shades.

Do you own any Nyx High Definition Blushes? If so, I would absolutely love to hear about your experiences!

The products featured in this post were purchased with personal funds. For more information, click here.
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19 comments

  1. I have Intuition and Soft Spoken... When I ordered them, they both arrived broken (as well as some of the Prismatic Shadows I ordered). I contacted Ulta and they quickly sent me replacements...some of which also arrived broken. I just ended up doing the "rubbing alcohol repair" and they're all fine now... Yes, they're very pigmented blushes, and they do kick up a lot of powder. I do like them a lot though-I put them on between foundation and powder so the color is just right and they really DO last!

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    1. Aaah I was thinking about doing the rubbing alcohol technique with the third shade I bought! Thanks SO much for letting me know it worked for you. Maybe I'll do that and then review that shade after all! :)

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  2. Hm I dislike orgasm because on my dark skin all that shows up is glitter, but I think I might like intuition. I do like exhibit A so I'd probably try crimson too.

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    1. I think Intuition might be a better option for you. The glitter is not as prominent as in Orgasm, plus it's more pigmented than Orgasm. I'd love to know what you think if you end up getting it! :)

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  3. Out of curiosity, what was the third shade you bought?

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    1. The third shade I got was Amber, because I was thinking it might be a nice alternative to NARS Dolce Vita. :)

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  4. Based on store swatches I agree about the powderiness and fragility. The slightest touch and you have product everywhere. While pigmentation is usually a good thing, there can be too much of a good thing and this is it.. especially with the bright shades. I want a blush I can apply without holding my breath and hoping I didn't tap the lightest bit too hard on, or have to wipe off on a tissue first. I tried the bright orange one (double dare?) and it was insane.. one slight swipe with a finger and I had enough to swatch three or four times at full strength and still had too much to blend out.. and when I tried to remove it I had orange all over my arm, stained fingers, it was a total mess.

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  5. This is so exciting! They look beautiful

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  6. Whenever I have that problem with my powders, I add a drop or two of glycerin into the alcohol mix and then spray with a bottle and press. That keeps it from kicking up powder and being too soft but also keeps the pigmentation. I also like using the elf blush brush to apply and the flat top brush from the studio line to blend. It works like a dream. Blending is a little tough on slightly tacky foundation so let it set for a few minutes or powder then apply blush. This is just what works for me :) thanks for the review G. :)

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    1. I have Crimson and Taupe. I agree. I powder after foundation, then apply blush with both of the ELF brushes you mentioned. Works great for me as well. No problems with breakage either.

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    2. Good idea with the glycerin, thanks :)

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  7. I just purchased intuition about a week ago based on EmilyNoel83's recommendation and I think it's a pretty shade but it didn't seem to last on me. None of the drugstore blushes I own seem to last. Any tips? I never thought about searching blushes over foundation. It makes perfect sense to me G! Great review as always!

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  8. Thank you for doing these reviews. You've really saved me so much money when it comes to makeup shopping.
    I have this blush in the shade Taupe which works well as a contour color on my very fair skin. I've traveled with it alot and although it is very powdery, I haven't had a problem with it getting crumbly. LOL. That might also be because my makeup case is actually a hard sided Vaultz pencil case.

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  9. I ordered one of these and it also arrived totally shattered. Same with one of the four Prismatic eyeshadows I ordered...definitely a bummer but I don't have an Ulta near me so ordering online is my only option. I like the idea of swatching them over foundation. It makes sense! It also gives the color something to grip to.

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  10. Shame that they break so easily :(
    I'm a huge klutz, but I bet I'll cave and get the dolce vita dupe lol

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  11. I ordered and just received yesterday Nyx Taupe and three prismatics and all came in great shape. They packed it well with air bags and bubble wrap. So glad now. Thought it might be overkill but obviously was not. I have not opened them unwrapped that is. But it's so good to know to be very careful with them. I love the now packaging to know what mixture it is that @Sapiens used??? I have always wondered about that incase I need it. I like to be prepared. I'm a little neurotic that way.lol. Also I have heard some make their own setting spray or something like that? Wish I had that one too. If u know anything or where please let me know. Love this blog as I hope u know. My go to first thing of the day.

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  12. I've been looking forward to your review G. Thank you so much for the great review and info. I think I'm going to give Crimson a try and attempt to use it to get the "burnt" look Wayne Goss demos in one of his older tutorials. It's a lot cheaper than the NARS blush he used and Sleek UK was the only other company that I could find online that had a red that looked similar. Unfortunately the shipping and handling deterred me. I can't wait to try this!

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  13. Wow, those look amazing! I love how pigmented they are!

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  14. Mine came smashed into a million pieces too. :(

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