When I purchased my first NARS Eyeshadow Trio (Ramatuelle) and my favoritest lipstick (Vendanges), the SA gave me a bunch of samples, one of which was a “re-potted” bit of their Illuminator in Orgasm. I’m a big fan of the blush version, and I shied away from the Multiple pretty much because of intimidation, but I did not even consider the Illuminator until that sample.

The NARS Orgasm Illuminator is categorized as a “multi-use” product. NARS claims that it acts as a highlighter, applied all over the face, or mixed with foundation. It is “deceptively sheer” and “decidedly luminous.” Reading that, I feel like it’s something designed to make me glow.

NARS Orgasm Illuminator swatches. L: unblended, R: blended

Orgasm is a peachy pink with a lot of shimmer. The blush version is practically everyone’s favorite blush, with but a few naysayers who dislike it because of all the shimmer (and the hype, I suppose). When I first saw the Illuminator, I was so intimidated by the glitter. It was so gold, I ended up just dabbing a few little points on my cheeks, dismissing it because it didn’t really do much.

When I was making my look for The Birth of Venus, I decided to be a bit more generous, and wow. It just lit up my face.

Granted, I was using it in tandem with the Guerlain Météorites, which is your ticket to Radiant City, but still. I felt, well, illuminated. As for pigmentation, it was very, very sheer, with the lightest wash of color. I got a healthy peachy pink flush, and a natural glow. It’s easy to overdo it with shimmer, so be careful when you apply this on your cheeks.

NARS Orgasm Illuminator swatches, in direct light. L: unblended, R: blended

As you can see from this second image of the same swatches, it is really a highlighter, created to catch light and give your face a radiant glow. Some people have complaints about light pigmentation, but I don’t think it’s that big of an issue for a highlighter.

An issue I do have with it is that it’s a tad bit unforgivable when it comes to pores. Up close, they seemed a bit bigger, but as you can see, they are fine-looking from a distance.

Would I get this for myself? Probably, when I run out and if I have the money.

If I remember correctly, it’s upwards Php 1,000 or $30 for about 6.4 oz of product. I don’t think that’s a bad price to pay if you want your face all lit up and aglow.

Product image from NARS.