Nars Gaiety review and comparisons

Nars Gaiety (new for spring, but permanent) is my second purchase of the year (the first was Rouge Bunny Rouge Long-Lasting Pencil Calypso, swatched here). I decided to make it one of my twelve after running around swatching it against every other pink blush Selfridges had to offer, and turning up no 'dupes'. The closest -- Illamasqua's Katie and Nymph powders, and Sob and Laid creams, and the new Dior Rosy Glow -- were all much warmer once on the skin. I have been searching for years for a truly cool acid-pastel that would pop in true Japanese pop cultural style on my skin:

cover of TOMOTOMO June 2011

...and Gaiety, my dears, is it. Another selling point was the unusually silky, satin finish. I am not a fan of Nars textures in general (mattes can look chalky, shimmers rain down nightmarish glitter dandruff), but Gaiety swatched smoothly on my very parched winter skin and its subtle silvery sheen helps it retain that cool lavender undertone once applied. As soon as I swatched this, I remembered that Shiseido is Nars' parent company -- which, if you know of my adoration of Shiseido textures, is very high praise indeed.

Here it is against some of my other cool-ish pinks and lavenders.
All swatches are one-swipe (though the mix of textures skews things), pictured in natural light.

Etude House Miss Tangerine Cream Choux Blusher #4 Miss Grape

Becca Lip and Cheek Cream Rosebud (housed in a detachable Muji pill case)

Rouge Bunny Rouge Gracilis

Shu Uemura Colour Atelier M225

Nars Gaiety

Addiction Amazing powder blush and cheek stick

Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Moist Glow Liquifuchsia

Blended swatches of Gaiety (applied with Suqqu Cheek Brush) against its closest shades:

London winter lighting being what it is, you may have to take my word for it that Liquifuchsia has a more reddish base, and Amazing lacks Gaiety's cool lavender undertone.

You've seen this look before -- for different angles and the product listing, click here.