E.L.F. • Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder • Blush

Where To Buy?

gazelma on 5/21/2013 2:07:00 AM more reviews by gazelma

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Tan   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I own Nars Orgasm and imho, it's not THAT great of a dupe but this is comparable and great on its own. At first I was frightened because when I applied it, it looked so strong on my face! So you need a light hand with this and a little goes a long way. Perhaps a stippling brush? I dab some on my hand before applying on my cheeks. I always get compliments on my makeup wearing this! I have a fat round face and I get the appearance that I have cheekbones. For $3, this is a great product, and I hope they never stop making it. Compared to years ago ELF has been stepping up their game with their products.

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jwong32 on 5/19/2013 12:05:00 AM more reviews by jwong32

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Medium   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

This is often touted as a dupe for the NARS orgasm and Laguna duo, but since I've never used NARS products, I can't speak to that. However, I would say that this product is really nice. I mainly use the blush, and even though it looks shimmery in the package it comes out a very nice color on the cheeks. I usually have trouble with blushes (the color never shows up!) and this is one that I can depend on daily. It's looks natural and understated so it works well for school and work. In addition, it's really inexpensive and not tested on animals; definitely worth a try!

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*TOP REVIEWER* nattiekins05 on 5/13/2013 6:02:00 AM more reviews by nattiekins05

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Blond, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Green    

First of all, I want to tell you that I bought this product because beauty bloggers were calling this product- the E.L.F. contouring blush and bronzing powder a dupe for the famous (and one of my all time favorites) NARS Orgasm and Laguna Blush Duo (which I already own). One cost $3 and the other cost about $40, so I really wanted to buy this to see how it compares! Here is what I found:
Let's talk about the Blush first. It's a peachy color with a slight touch of pink and quite a bit of tiny gold shimmer (NOT glitter, but shimmer) to round it off. I'm not a fan of anything glittery (as I am no longer 8 years old) but this blush does not give the look of glitter but rather a slight glow after everything is applied and blended. Just a note: when applying, make sure to tap the excess product off your brush before applying. This is also good as a highlighter, if I may add. For me it is not so pigmented though buildable for 2-3 swipes. Personally, the blush part is really hard for me to wear, maybe of my skin tone. Though I can recommend this to ladies with fair skin and will surely give a beautiful glow on their cheeks. If ever I wan't to use the blush part, I combined it with the bronzer. To give a little bit of color to show on my face
Now onto the Bronzer... The bronzer is a light-medium tan color with a hint of gold shimmer (the exact shimmer in the blush). I can say that both my sister (olive skin) and I (fair skin) had luck with this bronzer and it looked beautiful on both skin tones! I also love how it looked when I contoured my face with it (using my thinner smashbox bronzing brush). Unlike the blush in this set, the bronzer is really pigmented, which is why I believe it looks good on all skin tones because you can blend it to lighten the tan or build it for a deeper tan! I also love how it's forgiving and pretty fool proof also... very easy to apply and blendable. Note that, because the bronze color is so pigmented, be sure to tap excess product and make sure to apply the product on your face with a light hand. We all know that it's ALWAYS easier to apply more if needed than it is to take back or remove what gets applied (i hope that makes sense! Lastly, I wanted to add- if you worry of having a glittery face because of the gold shimmer, do not worry at all. When it is applied, you can't see it hardly at all. After you are done blending, it will look smoothe and the shimmer will make your skin look dewy with a light glow- in the best way possible.

Recap on the PROS:

ULTRA affordable at $3 for the set - 2 Shades in 1 compact, duo - Sturdy and sleek looking packaging - The bronzer is pigmented - Both blush and bronzer are buildable - Gold shimmer allows both the blush and bronzer to be used to contour - The product is easy to blend - I love the big mirror inside the compact - Generous amounts of both blush and bronzer - Can look good on ALL skin tones with little a little work and manipulation - Will hold all day (8 hours) without needing touchups -

Recap on the CONS:

-The blush doesnt suit everyones skintone - The blush is not pigmented - The powder is not well pressed on the pan, so it comes loose and attaches way more product on my brush than what is needed - Much wasted product from having to tap all the excess product on my brush - E.L.F. cosmetic selection is very limited in stores - Very few stores even carry the brand, must be ordered on-line - Their online orders can take up to 6 weeks to arrive at your door - The quality is by no means, NARS quality - It only comes in ONE duo color, and no more -

Overall, this E.L.F. duo was a HIT! I loved both the shades of blush and bronzer on my fair skin tone. This product works on darker skin tones, you just have to manipulate it and build it until it suits you well. I love how inexpensive this product is, and even if it takes a long time to get shipped- its still worth it, being so inexpensive. Now the real question... Will I stop purchasing my beloved NARS and substitute their duo, for the E.L.F duo? Absolutley not! Even though they have many of the same qualities, I know I will always reach for my NARS first. With that being said, I will re-purchase the E.L.F duo when I run out, just to have on hand for use!

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*TOP REVIEWER* UrbanObsession on 4/24/2013 3:20:00 AM more reviews by UrbanObsession

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond, Curly   Eyes: Blue    

ELF does it again!! Bought this duo in St. Lucia for the bronzer cuz I heard it was a great product to contour with. Honestly, it's amazing for contouring my face because its a natural looking bronze that takes minimal product to get my desired effect. Btw I apply this with my ELF kabuki brush or blush brush when I want more precision. I have a wide, oval shaped face and contouring is an essential for me since it slims and adds definition to my face. The blush IMO is too sheer and takes way more effort than necessary to get any semblance of color, so I took a lippy off for that. Ladies, if you're learning how to contour or in the market for a summer bronzer, this is it! Ill repurchase definitely. Be aware that the color is very dark looking in the pan, but if you buff and blend it correctly, it looks natural and glowy- I have NC25 skin for reference.

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majesticax on 4/11/2013 7:22:00 PM more reviews by majesticax

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

I like the blush, but the bronzer was too much. All in all, good product.

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*TOP REVIEWER* judy46970 on 4/11/2013 5:02:00 AM more reviews by judy46970

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Black, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I like the blush well enough, but I hate the bronzer-way too dark!! I will probably buy E.L.F.'s regular powder blush next time. It's a waste to get the bronzer.

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xoxoskylar on 4/6/2013 11:59:00 PM more reviews by xoxoskylar

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Tan   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Black    

I absolutely HATE the bronzer. It makes my face look dark && dirty. I love the blush though,((:

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louisamakeup on 4/2/2013 4:50:00 PM more reviews by louisamakeup

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I have this in the colour Antigua, and it's superpigmented! The bronzer is probably two or three shades too dark for my skin tone, but if i'm blending it out well it's not a big problem. I gave this a 4/5 because it's really powdery, and very messy. I would definitely recommend this though :)

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Sroupas on 3/29/2013 11:49:00 PM more reviews by Sroupas

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Other    

I love the packaging, but the product is crap. Please DO NOT BUY THIS! I bought this to replace my $40 Lorac tantalizer to contour my face- and this stuff is hiiiighly pigmented. I look ridiculous when I have this on! I tried using the blush to blend it in- and my cheeks did not blend in with the rest of my face- it only made it patchy :l i have oily, olive skin and bought this in turks and caicos. I think I'll stick to splurging $40 for my Lorac....

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galsunday on 3/27/2013 7:03:00 AM more reviews by galsunday

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I bought this becos of the so-called Nars Orgasm /Laguna dupe hype. The first thing I noticed when I got my box was the "Made in China" thing. I do have my concerns but glad there`s no animal testing. I got my set in St Lucia 83601. I swirled my brush in the blusher pan and applied to the apples of my cheeks and... Wow! This is a peachy gold flecked baby. Nice! If I go to the office I just go light handed so it looks like a natural flush of color. The bronzer on the other hand, was way too pigmented and left me with streaks of muddy red on my jawline. I suggest going extremely light handed with a really soft brush that doesnt pick up too much pigment... But nothing beats my Smashbox sun tanned matte bronzer. Overall I like the black studio packaging plus its travel friendly.

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kmciolli on 3/25/2013 9:14:00 PM more reviews by kmciolli

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I have been wanting to try NARS Orgasm bronzer/blush for a very long time but was hesitant to shell out the money for it. I heard that E.L.F. made a decent dupe and for the price I had to try it. Unfortunately I think it would be much more worth it to just buy the real product.

I bought this in the Antigua color, which is a bright, shimmery pink coupled with a dark, shimmy bronzer. It looks gorgeous in the packaging. Only problem for me is that the colors actually have too much pigment. The bronzer, when I applied it with the E.L.F. professional bronzing brush, looked like a dark smudge on my face, and was very difficult to blend. I ended up having to just fully take off all my makeup and start over (without reapplying the bronzer, needless to say.) The blush is a little less pigmented, but still a little too dark for my skin tone (I usually wear "beige" shades; I am not that pale, but I guess too pale for this particular product.)

However I must say this product may look GREAT on someone with a darker skin tone!

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breeolvera on 3/23/2013 11:05:00 PM more reviews by breeolvera

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

Okaye so there's three diffrent duos now. I have all of them and antigua is my favorite And the bronzer is so pigmented!

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stefani100780 on 3/23/2013 10:39:00 AM more reviews by stefani100780

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Great Dupe for Nars Orgasm!!!

I've been using Nars Orgasm blush for the past 2 years religiously. Anyone who asked about my rosy cheeks would get an hour full of praise about how amazing Nars blush is and how it's the only one worth buying. But then, I grew up and realized that even though I'm a HUGE fan of Nars Orgasm, there's really no point in spending ~$30 on blush when there's a $3 dupe available. (I'm not afraid to admit that I'm definitely a label whore which is why it took me so long to stray.) But seeing as how the closest Sephora to me is out of town, and I was in a bind, I decided to try the E.L.F contouring blush and bronzing powder just until I could make the out of town trip. A lot of people have said that they love the bronzer but hate the blush because it's too glittery. I'd have to say that I absolutely hate the bronzer but ADORE the blush. It is shimmery, but I'm used to it after having used Orgasm so long ( I think Orgasm is actually more glittery than this one). As I said, I used Nars for 2 years straight and went through THREE different packages. I've been using E.L.F for about 8 months and still haven't hit pan. With Nars, my blush seemed to fade after a few hours but with E.L.F, my blush lasts all day. I did notice with E.L.F, that after the first week or so, the glitter that's in the blush seemed to die down. It was as though they just sprinkled glitter on the top and that was it. When it comes to dupes, this is by far the best dupe I've ever found. As for the bronzer, I used it a few times and found it was way too dark for my light-medium skin. It made my skin look flaky and gross. I haven't used it since, but I will continue to buy this product for the blush alone. If you're looking for a cheaper version of the beloved Nars Orgasm blush, I would definitely recommend this product. It's only $3, so even if you only prefer non drugstore brands (like me), it's really worth a try. Or if you're interested in buying Nars but don't want to shell out the dough, give this a whirl first. I will say the E.L.F version is a little deeper in shade, but just make sure to watch how much you apply if you're wanting a lighter application.

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Gardengrenade on 3/22/2013 3:19:00 AM more reviews by Gardengrenade

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Other   Eyes: Hazel    

I'd actually give this product a 3.5, but that is just due to my personal preference. First of all, I'm quite fond of most E.L.F packaging. Especially their studio line. It's sleek and reminds me of NARS. And if you consider the price, it's pretty nice. I got this around a month ago and was a little turned off because both the blush and bronzer have that sparkle in them that a lot of products seem to have. I was hoping for something a little more matte, especially for the bronzer. I decided to try it out when I was going out in the evening and was pleasantly surprised because it didn't look like my face was covered in sparkles (I used both the blush and bronzer). Still, I don't think it's really a day time product unless you're going for a little more glam look as there still is a shimmer to it. The powder went nicely on my face, felt like other products I have. So all in all, I would buy it again, but I doubt that will be any time soon as I'll only really use it in occasion.

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*TOP REVIEWER* missmanic on 3/20/2013 11:30:00 PM more reviews by missmanic

Age: 19-24   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Black, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I had to throw this and the seperate blush I purchased away. It made my skin feel super dry and itchy. Yuck. Powdery and cheap.

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MakeupAlleyJunkie on 3/20/2013 11:24:00 PM more reviews by MakeupAlleyJunkie

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Dry, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

If you're looking for a matte blush/bronzer duo then this product is definitely not for you. Both the blush and the bronzer contain these huge chunks of gold glitter. It's the perfect product for parties, clubbing or raves. It's not an everyday product. I'd also like to add that the blush isn't very pigmented. I dip my brush into a little bit of M.A.C.'s studio fix+ spray then dust it into the blush and apply to my cheeks. Many people say that this a good dupe for the Nars blush/bronzer duo but I honestly don't think so. The Nars one is much more pigmented and in my opinion better. You have to take into consideration that the E.L.F. blush and bronzer duo is MUCH cheaper so of course there's going to be a difference in quality. I find myself wearing this product when I go out to parties. Overall it's a great product for such a low price but I don't think i'll be re purchasing.

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JenellaG on 2/21/2013 6:43:00 PM more reviews by JenellaG

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

I'm over 40 with light/medium complexion that is neutral and I have large pores. With that said I LOVE this blush/bronzer duo! I bought the St. Lucia duo at Target for $3. I had been looking for an alternative to my HG NARS Orgasm blush and Laguna bronzer. The blush is a tiny bit more pink and not quite as pigmented as the NARS one but it is close enough and at $3 it is great buy.

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MConnolly29 on 2/17/2013 3:47:00 PM more reviews by MConnolly29

Age: 30-35   Skin: Dry, Fair-Medium   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

LOVE this blush so much!! The bronzer isn't the best but the blush side is great. Adds nice color and highlight. The case is amazing too! Has a great mirror which I've noticed most products don't anymore. All in all this gives a flattering glow to any completion!

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seven12 on 2/7/2013 8:46:00 PM more reviews by seven12

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I was interested in this product, because I lost my Nars Orgasm and many people list this product as a dupe. It's NOT a dupe for Nars, but I think this product is damn impressive for $3.


I'm NC20 and I love the color of both the blush and bronzer on my skin. The blush pulls warm on me (warmer than Nars Orgasm, but less glittery and shiny). It really brightens up my whole complexion, but in a subtle way. These colors both look a little chalky in the pan, but go on smooth without any chalkiness, even on my dry skin. The lasting power is average.


I love the Nars copycat packaging. It's a nice sleek, space-saving compact with a big mirror. And unlike Nars, the outside is smooth plastic rather than the rubberized plastic, so the packaging doesn't get dirty and smudged.


Overall I love it. At $3, there's not much to complain about! I think it would work best for neutral and warm skin tones from fair to tan.

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*TOP REVIEWER* beautyforless on 2/2/2013 8:16:00 PM more reviews by beautyforless

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair, Cool   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

I'd do cartwheels if I could. This is the first bronzer that hasn't oxidized on me! I could sing! Actually, I did sing...which I guess just shows how great this little duo is.
First off, I don't use the blush. It looks like something Lady Gaga would wear. Seriously, it's a pink glitter bomb. I'm all for some shimmer, but that's a little much.
But the bronzer, oh baby, it's fabulous. I don't use it for contouring (it's gotta be matte for contouring because I'm difficult) but it's great for adding some much needed color to a pale face. And if you didn't catch me the first hundred times...it doesn't oxidize! Oh yes! Heavenly orange-less bronzer, we meet at last.
Add to the fact that your wallet won't hate you as it is a mere $3 and the packaging is sleek and expensive-looking, I don't know what more I could ask for. I love that it comes in such a nice little container, since I'm a student with my main means of makeup purchasing coming from a part-time minimum wage job, the more high end it looks, the better. I guess the only way it could top everything else is if it cured my acne and sung a harmony, but until I find a bronzer that can do that, this is my go to.

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