NYX • Taupe • Blush

Where To Buy?

moushka26 on 5/14/2013 4:35:00 PM more reviews by moushka26

Age: 56 & Over   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Brown, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

HG for me (NW20, blue/green eyes, dark ash brown hair). A great, natural looking contour colour that mimics real shadows to accentuate my cheekbones and slim my jawline. Every other contour or bronzer I've tried has been too brown, too orange or too dirty looking. NYX's "Taupe" blush is perfect. I use it under my cheekbones with a tiny pop of warm pink on the apples of my cheeks for instant contour and a healthy glow. NYX is now available in Canada at Target but at ridiculous prices. I bought mine on ebay (3/$12 plus minimal shipping). The packaging is serviceable and does the job. NYX is all about good products at reasonable prices. If you're fair and cool, and have had trouble finding a good contour colour, give this one a try.

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CountessOfPerth on 5/14/2013 4:06:00 PM more reviews by CountessOfPerth

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Grey    

This is a perfect contour shade for pale girls. NARS Laguna? Forget about it. This is a matte, soft, easy to blend dusty brown shade that is neutral and just simply works. I've been complimented on my cheekbones before when in reality I don't have any, I just use this to contour every single day. Give it a shot if you can't find a bronzer that works for you. It's basically made for pale girls. Contour shades are meant to be matte, neutral with no yellow/orange undertones, and darker than your natural skin color, so I have no idea why people use bronzers to contour anyhow. There are plenty of options out there to contour with besides shimmery, orange bronzers.

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Polydroogie on 5/4/2013 6:30:00 PM more reviews by Polydroogie

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this for countouring after I did some research on how to countour fair skin. Bronzers never really did the trick for me because it ended looking ridiculously obvious and unnatural. It doesn't really help I don't have sleek cheekbones either.
My skin has a really weird tone, it's really hard to tell whether its undertones are pink or yellow, maybe I'm more neutral or something; even Coralista by Benefit makes me look tanned! So weird!
Anyway I'm not sure about this Taupe thingy. Some days it seems to give me quite nice cheekbones, but other days it seems to do absolutely nothing. Some days it comes out all reddish like some of the girls have said and other days I really can tell the difference it makes. It's really cheap so it's good if you want to try it, if it doesn't work it's not like you're spending a fortune. Packaging is all right, nothing too fancy but still good to protect the powder from breaking. Might repurchase once I hit pan, but you need such a tiny amount that I don't see that happening any time soon.

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seacolourr on 5/4/2013 4:43:00 PM more reviews by seacolourr

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Hazel    

I consider myself a contour queen. I have quite prominent cheek bones, but i love making them even sharper. I love contouring my forehead, tightening my chin, and sharpening my jaw etc. obviously, for me, contour products are a must in my everyday routine. Even in my laziest state, I never skimp out on contouring. I've tried so many contour powders. Kevyn Auction Sculpting powder, Mac pro sculpting cream in Coffee Walnut, Tom Ford shade and illuminate, etc. While those area all lovely and provide a nice brown shadow with different undertones (Kevyn Aucoin- gray undertone, Mac Pro Sculpting cream in Coffee Walnut- green undertone, Tom Ford S&E- rich brown with neutral undertones), I was looking for something completely cool, with a gray undertone. This is perfect for that. I really like the purple tone in this, because it really mimics the shadow of a bone. That being said, do not go OTT with this, because chances are, you will look like a corpse. The muavey tones help this work nicely for pale skin, and not look too harsh. This is a nice cross between the illamasqua hollow and delirium cream pigments.
I'd really recommend this for a cheap contour. It's really nice for everyday, I haven't pushed my other ones to the back of the drawer over this or anything, but it is really nice and natural. Maybe not perfect for a night out, but great for a daytime natural look!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

samiiyo on 4/20/2013 9:52:00 PM more reviews by samiiyo

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

I've already repurchased this product, which is saying something because it's really hard for me to use up a blush/bronzer. I even bought a backup because I don't want to be without this ever. It's PERFECT to contour my super pale skin. I tried many many bronzers, but all of them looked like I was wiping orange dirt on my face. This one is perfect. I buy it online (I can't find it in stores) and it's only around $4-5. It's a brown/gray color instead of brown/orange, which works really well for pale skin. Highly recommended.

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orenjinominh on 4/19/2013 4:55:00 PM more reviews by orenjinominh

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

Perfect. Compact, great and cool toned. Not obviously orange like Hoola. Cheap as hell. Sturdy case. No complaints here.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

lilblacksky on 3/31/2013 11:20:00 PM more reviews by lilblacksky

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Black, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I am very fair and cool toned and this is much too warm and reddish to be used as contour for me. Instead of looking like natural shadow (which is what a good contouring should do), it shows up as dark peachy-reddish brown. I don't mind that it's dark because I can carefully sheer it out but the red tones are a no for me. I wish it was a lot cooler toned and grayed; natural shadows are grayish, not red-brown.
Now the color by itself doesn't make for a bad product. It's pigmented enough, for sure. But this is sooo soft and powdery. Every time I click the lid closed, a piece of the powder cracks off. I have been extraordinarily gentle with it, and yet at least a third of the product (more than I've used in half a year) has cracked off and crumbled. I haven't dropped it yet, but I am certain that on the day I do, it will explode. This is my first NYX blush, and frankly, I don't see myself buying any more if they're all like this. Too bad because I really like their eyeshadows & lippies. I'm glad NYX Taupe seems to work for a lot of people here. But not for me, thanks!

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*TOP REVIEWER* 1017 on 3/28/2013 1:53:00 PM more reviews by 1017

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

So I finally got my hands on this. I am NW20 (pink tones, fair -medium). You were right MUA...you were right. This is a kick butt contour powder. If you are ever lucky enough to come across this, pick it up! I had to order mine via drugstore.com.

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

dukebdc on 3/27/2013 12:10:00 PM more reviews by dukebdc

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

Ok, I am very low-maintenance person when it comes to makeup. No foundation, only moisturizer and just a little concealer where needed, eyeliner, and GO! However, one of my pet peeves is my squarish, very fair skinned face, which always looks flat to me, due (I think) to my square jaw. In photos, I am the pale blob with the 2-D face. :)

Anyway, I have tried some blushes and bronzers over the years, but none of them were what I was looking for (looked too dirty or "done-up" for my taste). I spent some time on the Google and saw the recommendations for this NYX Taupe. Finally ordered it and tried it out for the first time a few weeks ago. Hello! Can you say easy and natural looking? I can see my cheekbones without making Zoolander duck lips. :) A quick, narrow swipe just under my cheekbones, blended in with fingers or brush, and voila! Instant natural shadow that doesn't look makeup-y or thick.

So in conclusion, even a non-beauty junkie like me was able to use this product to her benefit. I am very fair, freckled and cool-toned (blue eyes and brown hair), so I would think that similarly hued ladies might also find this product to be a great, easy addition.

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

jackiii18 on 2/4/2013 9:52:00 AM more reviews by jackiii18

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

HG bronzer here!!!! I am super fair skinned and I have NEVER found a bronzer that was light enough and cool-toned enough to not look crazy on my light skin. This stuff is fantastic! Definitely only for those with cool toned skin because it does give a light greyish cast, but it looks so natural on my skin. I use this to contour my nose and face (on my cheeks and temples) and I honestly cannot live without this now! Will repurchase for life!

4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

helloroo on 2/3/2013 12:21:00 PM more reviews by helloroo

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Medium   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

NC30 bought this to contour. It looked unnatural and had a greyish/orangeish tint to it. Ended up just tossing it because I couldn't get it to work for me.
Tip for those who want NYX and don't have an ULTA by them and don't mind ordering online: order from Ebay. They often have pick 2 or 3 shades and you save a little bit of money. This goes for eyeshadow, eyeliner, blush, etc.

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rmt2104 on 1/29/2013 2:28:00 PM more reviews by rmt2104

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This is too red/orangey to use for contouring on my very fair NW10-ish skin. But I gave it 4 lippies because it is still a pretty decent blush color on me. The search for a good contour shade continues...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

MariaaPaul on 1/29/2013 8:12:00 AM more reviews by MariaaPaul

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

I bought this thinking it would be a great shade for contouring. Well, I was wrong, I have fair skin with yellow undertones and this makes my face look really dirty.
In addition, this had no pigmentation, I had to scrape it with a knife and still it has little pigmentation.
I was very disappointed with this product, I guess I can use it has eye shadow, but still.. What a waste.

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*TOP REVIEWER* Menolikepolos on 1/16/2013 1:58:00 AM more reviews by Menolikepolos

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

About me: NW10-15 (neutral-cool toned, very fair), blue eyes, Color season is True Summer, Baumann Skin Type is OSPW.

Believe the hype. It is a beautiful DRUGSTORE cool-toned brown/gray/mauve blush that works wonders as a contouring powder for anybody NC/NW30 and below. Much more natural looking than the orangey bronzing powders I was using before.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

MissEstelle on 12/17/2012 8:51:00 AM more reviews by MissEstelle

Age: 25-29   Skin: Normal, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Holy miracle makeup Batman! I never, ever did contouring or shaping before since the whole bronzer concept seemed so 80's to me, and all I could envision was those hard, dark triangles under the cheeks.
But I swiped this on just this morning, and WOW - just one light swipe on the lower slope of my cheek bones, and it looked AMAZING. Without even really showing a shadow, it made my face look runway-perfect! With a big of highlighter on top, it was all the makeup I needed today!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

cindy604 on 11/30/2012 2:04:00 AM more reviews by cindy604

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Black    

It has only been a week, but I already cannot live without this blush. I bought it thinking I would only take the time to contour my nose and cheekbones for special occasions. Well, this product is so easy to use and foolproof that I have been applying it on a daily basis.


The colour payoff is a lot less than I expected from looking at the pan. This is GREAT because it's why it works so well for people of different skin colours. I use NYX HD Foundation and Concealer in a Pot in 'medium', and Taupe is a perfect contouring shade. I use an angled eyeshadow brush and do 2 swipes over the pan (1 each side) before applying.


I do one line on either side of my nose, and one under each cheekbone. The angled brush lets me get a fine line in the nose area (to be blended out later). I do 2 applications per area: the first application is faint on my darker skin, but is still visible, so I can see if I don't like where I've put it! The second application intensifies the colour to the point where it would be noticeable if I don't blend it out. I use the same brush to blend outward in 4 or 5 quick swipes.


I am a very lazy person when it comes to makeup in the morning, but this blush is so foolproof, it adds seconds to my morning routine. The colour doesn't fade throughout the day, and I am careful to pat and not swipe with my touch-up powder throughout the day. By the end of a 14-hour day, the edges of the contour lines may have "bled" a little to be less defined, but nothing a quick finger swipe wouldn't fix!


I ordered this off Cherry Culture for $4.50 CAD (doesn't include shipping). This is much cheaper than the $8.99 CAD local drugstores and grocery stores were going to charge me! Even with the addition of shipping, it comes out to be more economical to order it online (unless you get a lucky customs check!). However, Canadians looking for the product to swatch can find it at select Save-on-Foods and London Drugs. Lastly, NYX doesn't test on animals - a final plus!

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

MissMicky88 on 11/28/2012 11:57:00 AM more reviews by MissMicky88

Age: 19-24   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Blond, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Other    

Bought this after reading about it on this bord. I have a very light skin color (around NC10-NC15 although I don't own a MAC foundation) and because of my warm undertone of my skin I wondered if it was still a right bronzer to me ( I have freckles, my face easily gets red) . Turns out: it is and I've never had such a wonderful bronzer like this. If you have a very light skintone and you think shaping with a bronzer is not your thing and always looks dirty: try this one!

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*TOP REVIEWER* dollbird on 11/7/2012 3:07:00 AM more reviews by dollbird

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Straight, Coarse   Eyes: Black    

Medium-fair yellow toned skin. This is the perfect contour color for me; better than bronzer which can be too orange. A matte greyish brown, this mimics the hue of natural shadows on the face and gives it more dimension. For the price and lasting quality, this will be a mainstay in my makeup bag.

5 out of 5 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

shizia on 11/6/2012 5:47:00 AM more reviews by shizia

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Green    

I've been on a hunt for a contour colour for a long time... and finally I found NYX Powder Blush in Taupe. I'm quite pale with a peachy-pink undetone, so everytime I tried a bronzer, they were all too warm for my complexion. I was advised to try NYX's Taupe blush as a contour colour. It looks absolutely gorgeous on my skin, it's cool toned and not orange at all, which is great! It's quite pigmented, so be careful when applying. It defines my cheekbones like a dream. I recommend to everyone with cool toned, pale skin. Works great!

3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* dddoxie on 11/5/2012 11:19:00 AM more reviews by dddoxie

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Hazel    

I pined over this blush forever, but when I finally got my hands on it, it turned out to be such a dud.

I'm very warm and I think this is just too cool-toned for me. It looks like I got punched in the cheeks when I wear it.

I also don't like how poorly it blends. It's so splotchy no matter how much I blend.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No