What garners a product its “cult” status? What elevates a product from being deemed “popular” to deserving of a cult following?
Sali Hughes counts “influence and memorability” amongst the criteria in her book Pretty Iconic, noting that the most iconic, cult products have all “changed how countless beauty products were designed and used thereafter.”
Similarly, the Nylon Book of Pretty states that “being exemplary goes beyond sales or popularity. A truly emblematic product has to stand the test of time, and remain as desirable today as it was the day it launched.”
I agree with the above and will add my own definition into the mix, as I feel a “cult” product is one that, love or hate, all beauty consumers will at least have an opinion on. As Sali so aptly puts is, “you may not love Chanel No 5, but the fact is you will probably still have an opinion on what is, without question, the towering icon of perfumery.” This idea of a product being cult, iconic and emblematic serves as the basis for my newest series of beauty stories- Cult Products.
Nars are known for their cheek products and they are, arguably, the best in the business at blush. Launched in 1999, Nars Orgasm is of undisputed cult status- if you’ve heard of one Nars product, it’s the original Orgasm blush.
Orgasm is so popular and such an icon that I don’t even feel uncomfortable asking for it in a store or telling people the name of the cheek colour I’m wearing- regardless of if the company I’m in includes the beauty savvy or not. This word no longer feels taboo to me.
What makes Nars’ Orgasm so iconic? While the formula is impressive (as it is across the entire Nars cheek powder offering- finely milled, long wearing, easy to blend, intensely pigmented), its success lies in the colour itself. Orgasm is universally flattering, a phrase rarely applicable to cheek products. Orgasm works as well on porcelain skin as it does on the deepest complexions, and it’s the perfect blend of both pink and peach so it works for every undertone (remember that pale skin isn’t necessarily cool and dark skin isn’t necessarily warm- there’s a myriad of skin tones and undertones and this works for them all).
Is this my favourite blush of all time? Not necessarily although I do reach for it often. Orgasm contains subtle, very fine gold shimmer particles which, while part of its appeal, means it can slightly enlarge the appearance of pores or fine lines. That said, the gold shimmer is what prevents this blush from appearing ashy on darker skin tones, as other pink blushes can.
A fact that I feel cements this colour as a cult product is that each year, Nars release a limited edition collection of other Orgasm hued products. While the Orgasm Multiple, Illuminator and Liquid Blush have made their way into the permanent collection, this year’s limited edition offering sees a Jumbo Blush, Lip Balm and Illuminating Loose Powder Blush thrown into the mix.
Love it, hate it or an emotion in between, Nars Orgasm Blush boasts an undisputed cult following and can, in part, be credited with the brand’s notoriety.
Which cult products would you like to see featured next? Send me an email, Instagram message or comment below to let me know.
