NARS Gilda blush review

I received NARS Gilda powder blush for Christmas from my boyfriend's parents. I told them what colour I wanted because on the site it looked like a soft coral colour. I was honestly so excited by this product, I know that NARS Orgasm is always raved about but that seems to divide opinions more so than the other colours.

Anyway, back to NARS Gilda. I opened it in the evening on Christmas day and it looks much scarier in the pan to what it does on the website. In the pan it looks very vibrant and I was just thinking 'how is a pale girl like me meant to wear this colour?' My thoughts were almost confirmed when I was reading reviews on it (after I'd received it, oh dear) and lots of reviewers were saying that they felt it looked really great on their tanned/dark skin. I thought I'd made a mistake asking for this blush for Christmas. I was under the impression that it was a soft coral, it's not like I'd wittingly opted for the Taj Mahal or Exhibit A (click here to view). They'd definitely be too bright and unnatural on my skin. The thing is, what attracted me to Gilda more than anything is that I love coral blushes. I have dark hair and pale skin and I prefer the way they look on me compared to pinks. I do like some pinks, but gold shimmery ones are just not me.

I felt like I should give this blush a go, even though I was a little disheartened with the reviews that it received and how it looked in the pan. I wasn't disappointed as the blush is a gorgeous colour, I was just worried that it wouldn't suit me. 

L-R Nars blush packaging, Nars blush (Gilda) in artificial light, arm swatch in artificial light, Nars blush (Gilda) in natural light.

I don't really understand the point of an arm swatch, seeing as I'm not going to be using the blush on my arm, but I thought I'd add it anyway. I just included the pictures of the gilda in natural and artifical light so you could get an idea of how bright/scary it looks in the pan, but how much more wearable it looks in natural light. These are the most accurate representation of the colour I could get with my camera,  I think they're pretty accurate, especially the last picture where it looks much less scary!

The blush retails at £20.50 for 4.5g and you can find them here. The powder is finely milled which means that it has such a lovely consistency and when I was doing the arm swatch it felt almost creamy to blend (it was unblended on my arm in the picture). The quality of the blush means that when you are applying it the powder isn't going everywhere and it's easy to blend, because don't you just hate it when you are applying blush and you can't blend it properly so you have areas of really bright and pigmented colour surrounded by areas of faint colour? Like all NARS blushes are renowned for, it is very highly pigmented so lightly sweeping the pan with my blusher brush is all I needed. The colour lasts well on skin, I did the arm swatch yesterday at about 8pm and it was still on my arm when I got up in the morning, and only when I had a shower did it come off. It is more matte than other NARS blushers (I've not tried the others, but I've seen plenty of pictures and reviews), and Gilda has no shimmer in it.

I know that it looks almost orangey in the pan in artificial light and on my arm swatch, but for my arm swatch I applied it heavily and more than I do to my cheeks, and I never think artificial light is an accurate representation of a product's true colour. I think the natural light photo is a very accurate representation and I don't think it looks at all different in the picture to what it does in person. Anyway, once I blend it into my cheeks, I think it gives a nice warm flush to the cheeks without being too overpowering. I love it. It's been the only blush that I have worn since Christmas and I own several BeneFit ones and the raved about Topshop Neon Rose, but I can't get enough of the gorgeous glow it gives to my cheeks. Below is a picture of how it looks.

Other make up - Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation 1C1 Shell, BeneFit Hello Flawless Powder in Ivory, BeneFit Benetint, Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara. Rimmel Glam Eyes Liquid Eyeliner.

I apologise for the slightly gormless look on my face, I don't think I've mastered looking into the camera with a normal expression yet, I just find it a bit awkward. As you can see though, it just gives a subtle warm coral glow, but nothing too unnatural or garish!

I'd definitely recommend this blush to everyone and anyone who was willing to look past the price tag, as £20.50 is really expensive. The quality is excellent and you just need the tiniest bit so I can see this blush lasting me a good while. I've used it for almost a month now and I've not even made a dent in it. NARS do so many blushes in so many different colours you're bound to find one which suits you, but I'd recommend this one for both fair and dark skinned girls alike, if you're more of a coral than a pink person.

Short Version

• NARS Gilda, £20.50, 4.5g
• Was worried about the colour in the pan at first, looked quite vibrant. 
• Powder is finely milled, almost creamy texture, easy to blend, well pigmented and long lasting. 
• This blush is more matte than other NARS blushers, and has no shimmer.
• Colour looked more subtle and softer if applied lightly. 
• Extremely happy with product, would purchase again, even if it's slightly expensive. 

What colour blushers do you wear?