Thursday, April 25, 2013

Faint Sin

Sometimes after I've bought something and had it sit in my pile of makeup for a while, I can no longer remember the driving factors or feel the same haze of desire that led me to purchase it in the first place. I vaguely remember being introduced to NARS Sin in a tutorial by Tanya Burr, but can't for the life of me pinpoint which one. I'm sure what must've happened is that after watching a video of her wearing it, I suddenly became hooked on the idea of a plummy blush threaded with gold shimmer. Sin seemed unusual yet sophisticated — something different to the pink and peach blushes I usually pick.








NARS Sin on the cheeks, NARS Douceur to contour

The first thing that struck me about Sin is that to describe it as "pigmented" simply doesn't cut it. Anything more than a feathery touch to the pan is too much. It's one of those blushes that's naturally heavy. I always go over the blush I've applied with a kabuki or buffing brush (usually the one I've used for my foundation) to soften the colour and blend out the edges. I find that the more the blush is blended out, the more it transforms into a warm berry shade that gives an earthy rosiness to the face. However, if applied straight to the cheeks and a little too heavily, it looks very obvious and harsh, even bordering on muddy. It can take on a hideous ashy/dirty appearance if too much is put on.

While you can detect a soft gold shimmer to Sin, I don't find it to be very noticeable once worn. The shade is distinctly autumnal to me, though it's probably more versatile than I give it credit for. Sin was really more my experiment in more purple-leaning blush, but the only way I can wear it is if it's sheered out considerably, at which point it loses its mauve edge and becomes more of a reddish colour. Despite those issues, I love the quality of NARS blushes, the way they apply to the skin and the wear time, so I still consider Sin a worthy addition to my blush drawer.

59 comments:

  1. this blush looks so pretty! i've been moving towards blushes in this range...even though you didn't seem estatic, i think you've convinced me to add it to my stash!

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  2. this blush looks extremelly pigmented and pretty!I love the shade on you and it'll definitely as I see will suit in my paler skin tone!check!
    xxx

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  3. I love it too! :) Is it similar to Benefit Dallas?

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    1. Not really - I have a comparison photo here:

      http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8518/8523364683_3b0a2afecd_z.jpg

      (Dallas is the first, Sin is the second from the left).

      Sin is more berry/purple with subtle gold sheen while Dallas is a soft tan mixed with dusty, reddish pink and a very slight silver shimmer.

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  4. This blush looks great on you, in fact I think it's my favourite I've seen so far. Despite all the required blending I believe is worth the hassle. The Balm Cabana Boy blush is a deep mauve colour with a hint of gold, maybe a bit darker than Sin and looks so amazing on fair and yellow-undertoned skins that it doesn't compare to anything else. If you feel like ventiruing even more into the mauve Universe I suggest giving Cabana Boy a go. xx
    noiredame

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for the recommendation Lau! Will make a mental note to check it out someday :)

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  5. I adore the colour-it looks perfect :) The shade does sound like it would be tricky to apply and blend with it being so pigmented but if it looks as great as this I'll happily take the time to do it!!

    www.ngofficial.blogspot.co.uk

    <3

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  6. This is such a lovely shade! Seriously I need to get my hands on some nars blushes! :-)

    Leanne @ Leanne-Marie | Beauty, fashion & lifestyle. x x

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  7. Looks very pretty on you. I have Sin in my Nars blush palette but to be honest I can't remember the last time I wore it!

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  8. It's a very pretty shade! I love Nars Blush!

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  9. This blush looks so pretty :) I have always wanted to try it! x
    http://xtouchofbeautyx.blogspot.co.uk/

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  10. I love Nars blushes! This colour looks gorgeous! :) ♥

    http://abeautyromancee.blogspot.co.uk/
    http://abeautyromancee.blogspot.co.uk/

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  11. oh I think we have all been there.. that's totally not my shade but it looks pretty on you:) I'm glad you like it, anyway:)

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  12. completely agree with everything you said about this blush. It was hard to describe what I thought of it but you've summed it up perfectly. I would definitely favour this as an Autumn/Winter blush and at first I was really disappointed but if you work with it it looks so beautiful on. Glad you liked it too!

    Emma x

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  13. oh I love autumn/winter blushes.. this one doesn't look really deep though in pictures.
    Now I really really want to try NARS Blushes! maybe I should take a risk and order them online soon!
    it sucks that NARS isn't available here T.T

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  14. I really want to try a NARS blush, but can never decide if it's worth the price tag!

    Great blog :)

    www.redlipstickandlace.blogspot.com

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  15. I really liked Sin but agree with you that it can be tricky getting it to look pretty instead of dirty/muddy. I got rid of the Danmari palette that it came in and really wish I hadn't.

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  16. This color is so pretty in the pan! I think for someone pale like me it would be a great 'hollows of the cheeks' color to give some contour to the face xx - Boho Vanity

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  17. so pretty. The nice gold shimmer will be perfect for the upcoming warmer weather to resemble a nice tan.

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  18. I want at least one NARS blush in my life, and with so many amazing options, I just can't decide which one to pick first. x

    Shang J.| The Feminine Crusade

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  19. This is my FAVORITE nars blush - possibly my favorite blush ever.
    great post :)

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  20. I think the shine that has SIN is actually very subtle. As for the color I see something dark for my taste in the same ways thank you very much for your review. could be an alternative for this summer.

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  21. Hi! I'm wondering, I also have the same blush from NARS but mine doesn't look like yours. My Sin (I'm referring to the blush here) is a bit more purple-y. Yours look more like dusty rose. I'm confused now :p but, beautiful post as always :)

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    Replies
    1. Could just be the lighting in the photos. It's strange how different colours can look depending on the light!

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  22. Such a beautoful blush that looks so good on you! (:

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  23. This is soo pretty. I need to get this one for my collection!

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  24. This color looks gorgeous! I love light colors/pinky nudes and this one surly hits the spot. It looks lovely on you!

    http://ahemitsemme.blogspot.com/

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  25. Sin looks gorgeous! A beautiful rosy color. I think it is very much a staple and def a good well rounded blush :)

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  26. pretty!! definitely want to try it!!

    ps. do you want to follow each other?

    lesleykim.blogspot.com

    LesleyKim

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  27. This really does look gorgeous on you!! And this probably sounds totally creepy of me but I think this is the most of your face I've seen in a photo and I must say you are a beaut :) Anyways, back to the blush. Sounds like the type of thing that I wouldn't mind having in my makeup drawer but also am not going to rush out to buy either; shame because, like you said, NARS blushes really are top-notch quality (and it sounds like this one is the most pigmented of all!).

    Cassie
    thriftthick.blogspot.com

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    1. Ahhhh Cassie, you are far too kind ;) I do love NARS blushes (they're probably my favourite) but Sin is just so tricky to work with that often it's neglected. Which NARS shades do you have? Think I better take a look at the NARS tag on your blog! :p

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  28. I actually was debating between Sin and Dolce Vita for a while, but I liked how Dolce Vita was more of a dusty rose. Having said that though, Sin looks very pretty on you. I would probably have to invest in another stippling brush or buffing brush though, just to apply super pigmented blushes like this one xx

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  29. It looks very suitable for autumn /winter although I'm not so sure it suit my yellow toned skin.. anyways, I must say the packaging looks beautiful x

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  30. I had the lady at mecca try this on me but I didn't really like the results :( I think she applied it a little heavily though, so maybe I should go back and try it on again!

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    1. Heavily with this one is a definite no-no, if I apply it like how I would any other blush (just say for example, Benefit Hervana), I look like I'm wearing sad clown makeup :p

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  31. It's such a nice natural plummy shade :) But probably too earthy for me.
    You sure do own quite a few Nars blushes haha!

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    1. It's madness - apologies for the inundation of blushes of late. A year ago I wasn't even into blush. How times have (scarily) changed.

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  32. It looks good on you, but it is a shame it takes so much effort and loses the quality you liked about it in the pan.

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  33. I think its really pretty and compliment your face nicely! loved it ^_~

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  34. Sin is my favourite Autumn/Winter blush!

    Laura
    www.whitewintersblog.com

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  35. I've often looked at this and thought it would be a bit too muddy for me, but it sounds like you just have to apply it in the right way and it looks beautiful. Will have to have another look at it! x

    Evelyn @ We Were Raised By Wolves

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  36. I love this shade so much, but I haven't seen it at Sephora in so long! Might have to order it online! Looks great on you! xx

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  37. I need this shade in my life for sure, it's such a beautiful colour <3

    Jennie xo | sailorjennie.com

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  38. This looks beautiful, I'm rather wary of really pigmented blushers but I guess it is just a case of blend, blend, blend! :)

    Amy xx
    A Little Boat Sailing

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  39. I've been keeping an eye out for a NARS Sin post! Yay! Everybody loves this and I never understood what they meant when they said "it's purple in the pan, but you have to see what it's like on the skin" but it looks really nice on you! Very autumnal- I was so surprised when Tanya Burr said she wore it throughout the summer months! Maybe because we get so much sun, and they don't get much at all. I'm very tempted to get a couple more NARS things (Douceur, Laguna) but I really don't need them especially after getting Zygomatic as a neutral shade- I'm set on the blush front for now. :)

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    1. It looked a lot better on her than me, haha. Don't fall down the blush hole - it's hard to believe less than a year ago I basically had no interest in blush. Yikes! Still eyeing Laguna but for now I'm putting it out of reach. Zygomatic is a good choice, glad you like it.

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  40. You've got a beautiful blog.. I just stumbled across it whilst looking for NARS swatches. I have had to follow you, your photo's are amazing.
    I really love NARS Luster and Douceur! xx
    Gemma ♥ | Miss Makeup Magpie

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    1. Thank you so much for your kind comment and for following :)

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  41. I remember Tanya using it a lot last summer too!
    This looks so lovely, and the pigmentation sounds amazing!
    I'm yet to get a Nars blush, maybe this should be it...

    xoxo

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  42. I adore the simplicity of NARS' packaging for their products, the matte black case is just so sleek. This wouldn't be a shade I'd normally pick for a blush, but somehow it just works. Personally I'm not a fan of pigmented blushes as I can easily go overboard, and having cheeks that have a tendency to blush doesn't help either, and I go out looking like a clown! However you've made this work, and I like how Douceur was used to contour underneath :)

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  43. looks really nice on your cheeks. i like the contouring effect you did here!

    Joyce @carouselstreet.com

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  44. I really love this blush, Douceur will forever be a favourite of mine too! x

    http://thebeautyvisual.blogspot.co.uk

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  45. I think this blush is beautiful but I just can't make it work for me *sad face*, it looks extremly muddy on me. I think it looks amazing on you and I am jealous, because Sin is kinda unusual and complex. / Claire xxx

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  46. Oh yep, definitely picking this one up soon. I don't think I've ever seen it worn and it really looks beautiful. Appreciate the heads up about the high pigmentation! x

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  47. i used to love this blush! but now i prefer mostly matte products. It looks great on you :)

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  48. This is so pretty! i have SO MANY nars blushes on my wishlist, i just always seem to want every color i see LOL

    à la foliee

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