NARS • Creme Blush in Cactus Flower • Blush

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deanna424 on 5/19/2013 11:50:00 PM more reviews by deanna424

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

Very pretty light red cream blush with glitter. I thought it would be too much for my nw15 skin but applied lightly it looks very natural and gives me a healthy glow with some shimmer.

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Blackdoll24 on 5/17/2013 3:24:00 AM more reviews by Blackdoll24

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Dark, Warm   Hair: Brown, Kinky, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

Lovely colour which gives me a summer glow, great for black skin!

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alextuthreefour on 4/29/2013 2:59:00 AM more reviews by alextuthreefour

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Dry, Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

Oh what a beaut! this blush is a pinky red with gold shimmer throughout. Super blendable and makes you glow!

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cjpramix on 4/11/2013 7:54:00 PM more reviews by cjpramix

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

Cactus flower is a pretty coral shade with lovely gold shimmer! This goes so nice with my fair skin, perfect for daytime. Frankly, i dont use it as often as my other Nars powder blushes coz i find it a bit taxing to use my fingers instead of a brush (im OC about this and wash my hands before). But the color is so pretty and refreshing. The staying power is good too. Lasts me morning to afternoon. :)

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*TOP REVIEWER* Horny on 2/4/2013 11:01:00 AM more reviews by Horny

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Olive, Warm   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Hazel    

This blush is just so gorgeous! The colour in the pan looks fairly scary, but on me it is a pretty pink glow, very girly! I am NC30/C4 if that helps. The texture is a dream, it blends so easily and isnt greasy at all! I normally steer well clear of cream blushes as I have had a bad time with them (Mac, Bobbi Brown, Stila) but this one is superb quality. The lasting power is great, it lasted until I washed it off. I have noticed a lot of people complaining about the glitter. The gold glitter isnt overly noticeable I dont think, it just makes the colour look slightly shimmery on me. Maybe it shows up different depending on your skin type? Overall this is a fantastic and very unique colour, worth owning for sure!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Parisa909 on 1/27/2013 12:13:00 PM more reviews by Parisa909

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

Possibly one of the very few NARS products I dislike. Pulls far too red on me, and it's loaded with chunky gold glitter. Hello mirrorball! Quite hard to blend on my cheeks and not worth the effort of trying.

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hufs on 1/20/2013 10:47:00 PM more reviews by hufs

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Brown    

I just love this blush!!! It really gives you a natural warm glow.
But you have to apply it with a very light hand. i apply it with my fingers and spread it with circular motions. i am very fair the brightest fd in cle de pau and HD117. i don't see why people mention the sparkles though i used to stick to benefit dandelion for the natural look but now i know this is it for me. Compared to this even dandelion looks chalky.

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TrishyB on 12/11/2012 7:29:00 AM more reviews by TrishyB

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black, Wavy, Coarse   Eyes: Brown    

I was excited to try this out, at first I thought the product would be quite firm and difficult to work with, but I was wrong! Its smooth and ewasy to work with. Biggest down side to me is the glitter, in the pan it doesn't look too bad, but once I apply it, you could just see a whole lot of glitter and not much of the actual colour (or maybe I was distracted with all the glitter). Tried using with my fingers and a stippling brush, still the same effect *sigh*

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88angels on 11/3/2012 6:18:00 PM more reviews by 88angels

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Olive, Neutral   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Green    

This is a staple in all 3 of my makeup kits: home, work (tv show) and mobile kit. it my HG blush when someone needs an extra pop of color. works on all skintones, don't let the color scare you! its easy to use, very blendable and buildable color. i like to apply to the apples lightly with a stipple foundation brush. gorgeous!

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DressageDiva on 11/1/2012 11:44:00 PM more reviews by DressageDiva

Age: 44-55   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown, Wavy   Eyes: Brown    

I confess that this is a great color for me: It looks like I just came in from a brisk walk on a cold day.
I'm NW20.
I will say that the gold shimmer will go a bit crazy if you aren't careful. The first time I wore this I looked like I was all a-glitter.

I think wear time is shorter than a powder, but for me it leaves a bit of a glow even after 12 hours of wear.

I've worn it above and below foundation and love the "glow from within" effect.

The only reason I wouldn't buy it is that I don't enjoy the glitter so much, it's almost too big to be a shimmer.

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sukayna on 8/19/2012 9:14:00 PM more reviews by sukayna

Age: 18 & Under   Skin: Acne-prone, Olive, Warm   Hair: Black, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

Cactus flower is very intimidating in the pan- BRIGHT watermelon pink complimented by a plethora of gold GLITTER. However, if applied with a light hand, this produces a gorgeous, fierce flush of color with a beautiful gold highlighting sheen. The beauty of this product is that since it is so pigmented, you can apply a very light hand for gorgeous and natural looking results, or a heavier hand for the more true to color, watermelon pink in the pan. I think even lighter skin tones can get away with this if they just use a light hand. On my NC30-35 skin, lightly swiping my stippling brush (MAC 188) on the pan gives me a natural flush, which is buildable if I want something heavier. This does not look as glittery on the face-I promise. It ends up just leaving a subtle gold sheen that produces a very beautiful highlighting effect. The texture is perfect- not too dry, not too creamy. A little of this goes a very long way, but I would repurchase if ever needed in the future!

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jezebeljunk on 8/7/2012 8:33:00 PM more reviews by jezebeljunk

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

Originally, I was hesitant when I first started considering and swatching this blush. I had heard a few raves about Cactus Flower and was looking for a summer time blush, so I thought I would check it out. The intense color is VERY SCARY in the packaging and the golden flecks are also VERY SCARY to someone who abhors a glittery, sparkly face. When, I swatched the blush on my hand, I still wasn't totally sold because I felt that it still looked quite sparkley on my hand.

Against reason, I still bought the blush. And I am just tickled, pickled and absolutely satisfied. The color melts into a rosey glow on your cheeks. The sparkle totally blends out - like a lot of other NARS products. In fact the product itself blends out so well, which is crucial for a color with this much impact. It's definite color, but it definitely blends into a lovely flush. For me, this is the perfect summer blush. It seems to last about 4-6 hours on me and leaves me with a luminescent cheek.

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cheapcasualchic on 7/26/2012 11:10:00 PM more reviews by cheapcasualchic

Age: 25-29   Skin: Very Oily, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Brown    

This is my blush for work! I work for an airline that's why I need a blush that's long-lasting and would still look intact even after hours of not retouching. Nars Cactus Flower never fails me!! I got this at a discounted price (about 70% off) at a local forum, it's about 10% used when I received it (not bad!) Because my face is an oil mine, I tend to shy away from creme formulas but this beauty changed it all! It stays on my face even without setting it with powder blush, it sets into a powdery finish, reddish coral with gold glitters which is so pretty! Others may not like it's glittery stuff but at least try it first before judging it lol! The glitters doesn't bother me and looks quite "natural with a glow" on my NC20 skintone! Even my coworkers love it when I put it on. The glitters makes my face look smooth! (I have acne scars on my cheeks!) Overall, I really love this blush and I already hit the pan!! I would repurchase despite it's steep price and would gladly try other nars creme blushes too!

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*TOP REVIEWER* Lydia07 on 6/9/2012 9:13:00 PM more reviews by Lydia07

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

The color would be a very pretty coral red and it is very pigmented except for the gold glitter! This stuff is loaded with it and it just looks so unnatural when applied. I don't want disco ball cheeks!

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deedeelite on 4/10/2012 1:35:00 PM more reviews by deedeelite

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Blue    

I LOVE this blush.It gives a lovely, fresh glow.

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*TOP REVIEWER* TiaDGB on 1/7/2012 5:44:00 PM more reviews by TiaDGB

Age: 19-24   Skin: Oily, Olive   Hair: Black, Curly, Fine   Eyes: Black    

It's very pretty...But not my favorite blush in the world. I would not repurchase this particular shade, but I would purchase other NARS cream blushes because I adore the formula itself (buttery soft texture, not sticky or greasy looking, long-wearing, easily blendable etc).


I do adore the base shade of this blush, (deep reddish/coral), but I find that the shimmer is a bit much. I know that NARS products in general are shimmery, but I find the glitter in this blush to be far too obvious and unnatural looking for everyday wear. But like I said, the base shade is lovely (probably best suited to darker, warm complexions). It makes my face look so healthy and alive, almost like I just finished a workout.


I usually apply this blush with a stippling brush because I find that it sheers out the rich, intense pigments very well. A little of this goes a long way.


I like this blush, but the glitter (not shimmer, not sheen, but GLITTER) is a bit too much for me...I'm still giving it four stars though because the product itself is high quality and it IS a pretty shade. Just wish that it had more of a demure shimmer to it like most NARS blushes, instead of child-like glitter.

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*TOP REVIEWER* josette on 12/7/2011 5:00:00 PM more reviews by josette

Age: 44-55   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Warm   Hair: Brown, Curly, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This is my final attempt with cream blushes. I disliked the MAC ones which were too greasy and not pigmented enough.
This NARS cream blush is definitely more pigmented and the red/pink shimmer is pretty nice but I won't purchase again and will give this one away.
Because-
1] I look prettier in MAC powder blushes like Blushbaby and in Mally powder blushes.
2] Tried this with my MAC 188 stippling brush - [too faint once I powdered over it] and I tried using my fingers. That worked better but I had to blot with tissue and then add more.
3] To get the supposed 'in from the cold' look you need to put on alot and then lightly powder over it.
4] It's alot of work for an average effect - I can achieve a really nice look with a good powder blush and my MAC 109 brush. And that is so easy to achieve too!

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elambie on 12/4/2011 4:07:00 PM more reviews by elambie

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette, Wavy, Fine   Eyes: Green    

I have a few NARS blushes, and I love them. And I really do love the color of this blush and I can stand the sparkles that it has as well. I bought it probably in September and tested it in stores and loved the creamy texture the Sephora sample had and the color is just gorgeous!! But, it dried up completely on me by mid November. I've had my NYX cream blushes for upwards of a year now and they are still just as creamy as they were when I bought them. For some reason this blush just died on me!! I tried warming it up in my hands to see if that would liquify it anymore, but it did nothing. I found myself essentially stabbing my blush brush in a NARS blush, and that NEVER happens. I'm not sure if the packaging was flawed and allowed air to get into the product, or what, but this shouldn't have happened. It's such a gorgeous color though!!

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Paavaki on 12/2/2011 1:00:00 PM more reviews by Paavaki

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Medium, Warm   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

Amazing color payoff, buttery quality and it settles like a powder on the cheeks. Wears for hours and adds a beautiful natural glow to the skin. I am NC 42 for reference. Love love it and will definitely recommend and buy it again.

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Corley on 11/28/2011 12:32:00 PM more reviews by Corley

Age: 25-29   Skin: Acne-prone, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

I have had a compact of this stuff for years. I don't know what it is about NARS products - but they last and last and last. This blush will seriously brighten up your face. The color in the compact is, admittedly, slightly daunting - but it goes on your skin silky-smooth (this is not an icky-sticky creme blush) with a beautiful, bright reddish-coral color. I use this blush primarily in the summer (I also use NARS Orgasm powder blush, but who needs a review on that??), but it's suitable for all seasons, depending on the look you're going for. This blush gives you a sort of "just-worked-out" flush (or whatever sort of flush is comparable to having just worked out ;) that actually seems to brighten up my eyes, as well. Slap on a little Benetint to brighten the lips, a few spots of concealer, and a bit of mascara and, my dear, you have fresh-faced perfection!

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