The Standard (St. Catharines)

Colour payoff with NARS blush collection

Also: AG Natural Line helps you have ‘good hair day’

- ALEESHA HARRIS VANCOUVER SUN

When it comes to blush colours, it doesn’t get much more iconic than Orgasm from NARS.

The cult-classic shade, which is a pretty peachy-pink hue with a slight subtle undertone of gold, has inspired dozens of dupes — and more than a few lineups when it was first released.

Now the colour has expanded into a curated collection of pink beauty staples with the introducti­on of an Orgasm Liquid Blush and lipstick.

The liquid blush formula provides full colour payoff with one drop, giving skin a sheer pop of colour with a silky kiss of gold. Infused with Monoi and Tamanu oils, the formulas transforms skin as well as giving it that telltale flush.

The lipstick gives lips a translucen­t hit of pink with a hint of a shine.

NARS has also re-released the tried-and-true pressed powder blush to mark the launch with a limited-edition compact.

You don’t have to be a diehard NARS fan to appreciate this collection. (Although it will obviously help.)

The universall­y flattering blush shade really does work well on most (if not all) skin tones, so the trio of products in the pretty pink shade should prove popular with a wide range of beauty fans. Our tester was especially taken with the liquid blush. One pump applied to cheeks with a damp beauty blending sponge yielded a natural blush that was pretty — and perfect for summer. The lightweigh­t formula doesn’t feel heavy on skin and stays in place, even on a sunny day.

While you may not need yet another blush compact or lipstick in your beauty kit, this liquid blush format is worth taking the steps to procure just a few more makeup items in any (likely ever-growing) makeup cache. $35 to $38

What it is: A hair-care collection from West Coast profession­al brand AG Hair, the Natural Line featuring “modern minimalist” products.

The vegan-friendly line’s five products — Balance apple cider vinegar sulphate-free shampoo, Boost apple cider vinegar conditione­r, Remedy apple cider vinegar leave on mist, Rosehip Balm dry lotion and Dry Lift texture and volume paste — boast 98-per cent plant derived ingredient­s.

While apple cider vinegar is a main ingredient theme throughout the collection, other natural additions include mango seed butter, coldpresse­d essential oils, coconut oil, rosehip oil and hydrolyzed quinoa to leave hair healthier and more manageable.

Suitable for all hair types (including colour-treated tresses!) and with scents that are meant to give you a “good mood and a good hair day.”

We want to love all-natural hair care lines, but quite frankly, if you’re a fan of big suds — AU naturale collection­s are not always the best fit.

Thankfully, this release performs at a level that will have even the most skeptical of beauty fans taking note. Our tester was pleased with the scent and post-washing results of the shampoo and conditione­r. Hair felt clean and healthy — if a tad tangly post-use. With the assistance of the Remedy leave-on mist, our tester reported troublesom­e knots were quickly smoothed out, leaving soft strands that dried to surprising­ly smooth finish.

While the entire collection was a treat, it was the Dry Lift balm that was a quick hit. It provided a manageable grit and did double duty as a dry shampoo and texturizer. Perfect for travel.

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