Nars Blush in Goulue — First Look + Swatches
This post contains affiliate links. To learn more, hop over to our Disclosure page.
Check out Sephora’s new & exclusive goody, Nars blush in Goulue!
I received this blush in my VIB Rouge Welcome Kit, and it is currently for sale on the Sephora website for VIB Rouges only. Goulue is priced at $3o.00 USD, which isn’t cheap, but it is well worth it.
Keep reading to see the shade swatches on my hand and on my face.
On a personal note– I’m feeling a bit weird today. And by that I mean guilty. For something incredibly mean I did back in middle school. So bear with me; I’m feeling small and so is my vocabulary.
Goulue is a berry shade with very fine gold micro-glitter
While the photo on Sephora’s website shows the color as looking more red-based, it is actually more plum-y in real life. While not really purple, the color definitely leans more on the cooler toned side of the spectrum.
The shade is on the deeper side, so it will show up well on most skin tones when applied accordingly. Though the gold micro-glitter is visible in the pan, it doesn’t show up strongly on the skin. In its place is a light, dewy sheen that is very flattering.
Nars Blush in Goulue >> Purchase at Sephora
Goulue offers medium to buildable color payoff
The swatches shown below are relatively accurate representations of the color. The left swatch includes several layers of product built up, while the right swatch includes the remainder of product on my finger blended out. The color builds nicely, and doesn’t appear powdery after multiple layers. I was unable to get the color to full, clown-like opacity without going ridiculously overboard.
Texture is what you’d expect from a $30 blush
The texture feels finely-milled, and the powder is pressed to a nice density. It isn’t so soft that it kicks up excess powder when you dip your brush in, but it also isn’t so packed that you have to scrub at it like you have to scrub blue eyeshadow off your white-bristled brushes.
The powder is smooth and easy to blend. When combined with the moderate pigmentation, I find that the blush is basically goof-proof. Even after multiple applications, the finish is still smooth and wispy on the cheeks.
Goulue applies smoothly with medium pigmentation
To apply, I used by favorite E.l.f. Blush Brush, (like I always do, ’cause I’m boring, haha,) and carefully blended the blush onto my cheeks.
I tend to use blush quite sparingly, and so one layer of color is usually all I need. With Goulue, one layer gave a very subtle flush. It was definitely visible in person, but it didn’t show up well in photos. Depending on how I’m feeling, I may leave it at that, or I may want to build up the color. Though I usually like the subtle look, I really wanted the blush to show up in pictures, so I applied a light second layer. This made the color show up well on my cheeks, as well as a light, but visible flush in photos.
As mentioned above, although there seems to be quite a bit of shimmer in the pan, the shimmer doesn’t transfer onto the face very well, which I like. With my huge cheeks, the last thing I need is a boatload of shimmer to make them stand out like disco balls. (The glow you see in the photo below comes from a separate highlighting powder.)
If you are someone who really likes to see the blush, then I suggest applying several light layers until you reach the color payoff you are looking for.
Product offer respectable wear time, depending on heaviness of application
As for wear time, I find that this blush lasts an exceptionally long time on me. Granted, I have never tried any other Nars blushes, so I can’t speak to the wear time on those, but I was able to wear this blush for a solid 9 hours before I saw any fading at all. That is quite amazing for me, as my blush is typically the first thing to go.
So is Goulue a must-have?
Goulue is a nicely pigmented blush; it’s buildable, it’s easy to work with, and there is little risk of screwing up your face makeup with too much pigmentation.
While I like the color, I don’t think it is anything amazingly unique, especially when it is blended on the face. It gives a nice, rosy glow, but so do so many other blushes.
According to Sephora’s description, Goulue is limited edition. We’ll see how true that turns out to be, because it seems that companies often throw around the term in order to generate buzz, only for the product to show up in the permanent line down the road.
I am happy I gave Goulue a try, but I’m not dazzled enough to purchase the full size. And I definitely won’t be stalking it on Ebay for $300 or something crazy if it never becomes permanent.
Nars Blush in Goulue >> Purchase at Sephora
Has Goulue landed in your collection yet? What do you think of it?
That’s all for today!
Related: Wet n Wild Ombre Blush Review + Swatches
If you found this post interesting, informative, or just plain entertaining, tell me about it in the comments below. And don’t forget, sharing is caring. Share this post on Pinterest!
Till next time. ♥︎
Sign up for my free monthly e-journal, The Millennial Maven Love Letters for exclusive content + millennial inspiration and lifestyle hacks. Plus get instant access to my library of on-the-go style downloads!
FTC- This post is not sponsored by any brands mentioned. I purchase all products myself. All opinions are my own. Some links may be affiliated.
Alex says
Blush is nothing special. But what lip gloss is that? It’s the most beautiful color I’ve ever seen.
Kay says
Glad I’m not the only one that wasn’t completely wowed by this blush. My lip color is actually a combo of two Milani Statement Lipsticks in Flirty Fuchsia and Hot Pink Rage. They’re quite similar, but Flirty Fuchsia is just a bit darker. I applied Hot Pink Rage all over my lips, and then applied Flirty Fuchsia just in the middle for a light ombre effect. Thanks for reading! xo