DUPES: The Blush edition

As I've gotten older and a little more money conscious, I discovered that there are a lot of very affordable alternatives to my high end (and ridiculously high priced) blushes.  Some of these dupes are not exact replicas, some are more like sisters than twins, and some look more different in the swatches, but when applied to the cheeks, are indistinguishable.

I tend to gravitate to blushes that look like a natural flush, and one of the most iconic of these is NARS Orgasm.  There is such a loyal fan base for this blush that suggesting a drugstore alternative may be blasphemous to some.  It is a peachy pink blush with a hint of a shimmer, and when applied to the apples of the cheeks makes you look like you've just well, had a rather good roll in the hay.  And who doesn't want to look that satisfied?   However, at $29.00 the original Orgasm is a steep proposition.  Here are a few drugstore alternatives:

ELF's Contouring Blush from the Studio Line is spot on in color, with less of a shimmer, but is chalkier and not as finely milled as the NARS version.  It requires more product to build up to the same intensity as the high end version, but at only $3.00 each on the ELF website or at your local Target - you can afford to pack it on.

Milani has two offerings that are similar to NARS Orgasm.  Dolce Pink is in the same color family but a little cooler (pinker) and Rose D'Oro is a bit warmer (peachier).  They look pretty much identical on the face though and are a very reasonable alternative at $7.99.  Milani's blushes are long lasting and finely milled, so they apply and blend extremely well.  I'd venture to say that I actually prefer the two Milani blushes over the NARS which was not as pigmented.

The Balm's Hot Mama is another one of those peachy pink blushes, but is stronger on the peachy side than the pink.  It retails for $20.00 and can also be used as a highlighter on the tops of the cheekbones.

Another Milani dupe for this one is Luminoso, and again at $7.99 you can get an identical look with high end quality color and application on the cheap.

Saving the best dupe for last, Tarte's Amazonian Clay12HR  blushes are pretty amazing.  They are highly pigmented, easy to blend out, and the colors are just beautiful.  You will pay a premium for looking that pretty at the cost of $26.00 for a blush.

Wet N' Wild's Color Icon Blush in Pearlescent Pink is an EXACT color match without the chunky sparkle that Tarte's Splendor has.  It is as pigmented, and lasts just as long, without any hint of chalkiness.  I know some of you ladies out there are turning your noses up at the mention of the high school makeup horror that was Wet N' Wild in the 80s & 90s.  Trust me - they have revamped their formulations and these blushes are GREAT.  And they cost $2.99, seriously, that is less than a Grande Caramel Macchiato.  You may find that some of their blushes are TOO pigmented.  Use a light hand, and a clean powder brush to blend it out if you go too heavy the first time you apply it.  Duo Fiber brushes are great for any highly pigmented blush or bronzer.